Copy Editor Michelle Higgins poses with Kristen Wiig
Hateship/Loveship x Gansevoort Las Vegas
Who: Kristen Wiig and Guy Pearce
What: Goodnight Gansevoort party
Where: C Lounge
Why: To celebrate the premiere of Hateship/Loveship, directed by Liza Johnson (and based on a short story by Alice Munro), as well as the spring 2014 opening of Gansevoort Las Vegas
A brunette Wiig, looking teeny and fit in a black lattice top and high-waisted patterned shorts from Vena Cava, relaxed in a poolside booth and dug into snacks like tacos and empanadas. At one point she freaked out adorably over a wasp hovering above the table (they’re just like us!). Also hovering nearby: several fans, including me, who couldn’t resist asking for a photograph (I did resist blurting out random lines from Bridesmaids). Rather than bristle at the mid-snack interruption as some stars might, the actress apologized for having food in her mouth and sweetly obliged my request (and many others throughout the evening). Later on, guests took their chances at a mock casino (up for grabs: trips to Gansevoort in New York) while showgirls entertained by the pool, Vegas-style—Wiig’s fellow bridesmaids would have approved. —Michelle Higgins
Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Grey Goose Vodka
Horns x Grey Goose Vodka
Who: Daniel Radcliffe and Juno Temple
What: Horns premiere after-party
Where: Soho House
Why: To celebrate the premiere of Alexandre Aja’s new film, Horns
The Soho House is tough to beat for location for a TIFF party. The cozy velvet couches and old-world lounge decor made for a glam backdrop to the freeflowing Grey Goose cocktails, whether it was a fizzy elderflower concoction served in elegant flutes or the blackberry slushie deliciousness. In addition to watermelon salad and oxtail ravioli, a giant roast was carved up to stave off wanton voddie drunkeness: Perhaps in honor of the Horns stars’ English lineage? Radcliffe and Temple mingled and chatted with the guests (the Soho’s strict no-photo policy must be a nice break from the seizure-inducing weeklong onslaught of fan iPhone pics; Radcliffe has THREE films at TIFF). Temple was easily located in the lights-turned-low murk of the House due to her constant excitable shouting (which made her seem lovably human) and lovely wavy platinum hair; she wore a long-sleeved black Miu Miu dress for the occasion. Her co-star Radcliffe elicited the usual tidal wave of whispers surging through the crowd on how tiny he is, but he looked dashing and oh-so-cute regardless in a dark suit, helping himself to some nibblies from the mahoghany table groaning under the weight of the roast. The perfect antidote to the giant, impersonal TIFF parties of yore. —Briony Smith
Nicole Kidman at The Railway Man After Party Presented by Soda Stream // Sonia Recchia, George Pimentel Photography
The Railway Man x Soda Stream
Who: Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Alicia Vikander and Jeremy Irvine
What: The Railway Man after-party presented by Soda Stream
Where: Second Floor Events, Live at the Hive
Why: To celebrate the premiere of Jonathan Teplitzky’s The Railway Man
Being a candyphile, any event with a bonbon bar is my kind of party, so walking into Second Floor Events for The Railway Man fete my knees were already shaking. Then throw Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman into the mix. All in all, it was a dashing affair. Soda Stream-infused cocktails were keeping guests hydrated (the mojito was my favourite!) and the stars were mingling in the crowd—except for Kidman who remained sequestered behind a velvet rope for much of the evening. From Colin Firth hanging out on the patio to chatting The Social with Lainey Gossip, the bash was a perfect nightcap for day two of TIFF. —Andrew Lovesey
Stephane Baschiera, CEO of Moet, and Susan Sarandon
The Last of Robin Hood x Moet and Chandon
Who: Susan Sarandon and Kevin Kline
What: The Last of Robin Hood pre-screening bash by Moët and Chandon
Where: Park Hyatt Sky Bar
Why: To celebrate the premiere of directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland’s The Last of Robin Hood
Perched atop the Park Hyatt, the pre-screening party for The Last of Robin Hood was bustling with guests all meandering through the crowd carrying golden goblets of Moët. Toward the final hour, the stars of the film (well, two of them) arrived for photos with the directors, and a quick interview with ET Canada, before moving on to mingle in the crowd. Sarandon, a frequenter of Toronto—and her famed ping pong lounge Spin—stood out in her black dress with nude geometric cutouts. It was becoming doubtful that Dakota Fanning would stop by so I doubled up with Shinan Govani for a bit, knowing he would get the down low on whether she’d arrive. After much waiting, it became apparent she was making a fashionably late entrance, rather no entrance at all, so it was off to the next event! —Andrew Lovesey
Check out our party photo gallery of all the celebs here.