TIFF 2016: Artists for Peace and Justice | 2016 Festival Fair @Casa Loma (Sep 11, 2016)

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 21, 2016
Posted in: Arts, charity, Gala Scene, Red Carpet Gala, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Words+Images: BK on the SCENE

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Poverty in Haiti is an injustice. Severe lack of access to education perpetuates the cycle of poverty between generations. The Haitian people have enormous potential but oftentimes lack the resources to fulfill. Thus, Artists for Peace and Justice was created to combat this injustice.

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This year’s Artists for Peace and Justice: 2016 Festival Fair guest list was impressive, with many high-powered celebrities attending to lend their support for a cause close to their hearts: Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer Paul Haggis, Maria Bello, r&b soul superstar Maxwell, Pascal Raffy of Bovet 182, Jeremy Renner, Catherine Keener, Dean & Dan Caten (DSQUARED), artist Peter Tunney, Jeanne Beker, songstress Nelly Furtado, co-chair Natasha Koifman, and notable honoree of the event, actor Sean Penn.

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Some startling facts:

  • Over 75% of youth in Haiti cannot read or write. Only 50% attend primary school and from there, only 20% go on to secondary school. Only 1 out of 100 children in Haiti has the chance to attend college.
  • Haiti has an unemployment rate of over 40%. Of those who do have jobs, more than 2/3 are employed “informally,” meaning they are selling their goods in the market or on the streets.
  • Only 1 in 10,000 Haitians have access to a modern doctor. 70% lack access to running water and sanitary facilities. And only 11% have electricity.
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Artists for Peace and Justice supports communities in Haiti through programs in education, healthcare, and dignity through the arts, by removing the barriers that poverty poses to a future of opportunity for children in Haiti.

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More than $1.2 million was raised at this year’s event, for more information and support visit: www.apjnow.org

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TIFF Hollywood North Party@Lavelle (Tues.,Sept.13th,2016)

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 20, 2016
Posted in: celebration, Festival, film, Food and Drink, Gala Scene, reception, Red Carpet Gala, review, Showcase. Leave a comment

By A.J.Lam

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It’s TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) time and once again, Mode Events and CanWood Entertainment, hosted its annual Hollywood North event with some of
Canada’s most beautiful, talented, and influential people.
Hollywood North is a celebration of Canadian talent, from film, fashion, music, art, and innovation, because our local talent is undeniable and unstoppable. They say it takes a village to make a movie, and luckily in St. Lawrence Iroquoian the word Kanata does mean ‘village’, so it was a beautiful night to celebrate it all together at a premier VIP networking event, at Toronto’s newest rooftop restaurant and pool lounge, Lavelle, with its amazing view of the CN Tower and skyscrapers of downtown TO.

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The VIP reception, from 8 – 11pm, allowed guests to indulge in complimentary drinks from local craft brewery, Amsterdam Breweries. For those needing to stay hydrated from too much fun over the TIFF opening weekend, complementary Flow Water was the liquid of choice.

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A special thanks to Sophon Chou for organizing this exclusive event and the invitation.

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Canadian Art Gala Auction Preview Cocktail Reception@Waddington Auctioneers(Thurs.,Sept.15th,2016)

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 20, 2016
Posted in: Art Exhibit, Arts, Design, Events, Exhibition, Foundation, grand opening, premiere, reception. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

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It was an Auction Preview Cocktail Reception at Waddington’s Auctioneers, 275 King St. E. on Thursday night. This preview is in anticipation of the gala which takes place at Andrew Richard Design on Thursday, September 22nd,2016, and includes more than 350 influential art, cultural, philanthropic and business leaders. The gala offers one of the largest live and silent auctions of exceptional Canadian contemporary art and is an essential source of funding for the Canadian Art Foundation.

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Bid on Gala artworks online
The Canadian Art Foundation has partnered with Waddington’s Auctioneers to offer pre-event online bidding on the artworks in this year’s Canadian Art Gala fundraising auction.Online bids can be placed on the artworks in this year’s Gala auction until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21, after which time the bidding will transfer to the event on Thursday, September 22.
Please visit the Canadian Art Foundation’s Gala auction page on Waddington’s registration page for more information about signing up to bid and to view the artworks.
https://onlineauctions.waddingtons.ca/Register.aspx

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We would like to thank Megan Leahy of The Knot Group for the invitation to this event.

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TIFF 2016: “Below Her Mouth” Red Carpet @Isabel Bader Theatre (Sat.,Sept.10th,2016)

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 20, 2016
Posted in: Camera Call And Announcement, Festival, Movie Preview, reception, Red Carpet Gala, review. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

By A.J.Lam

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Below Her Mouth is a rarity in more than one wBy A.ay: it’s a
fiction film shot with an entirely female crew, and it’s an
uncommonly frank look at the all-encompassing nature
of attraction — the good, the bad and the ugly.

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One of the boldest and sexiest dramas of the year, April
Mullen’s Below Her Mouth tells the story of an
unexpected romance between two women whose
passionate connection changes their lives forever.
Jasmine (Natalie Krill) is a successful fashion editor
living with her fiancé, Rile (Sebastian Pigott). On a
night out in the city with her best friend, she meets
Dallas (Erika Linder), a roofer recently out of a
relationship. Jasmine is taken by surprise when Dallas
confidently hits on her; she turns Dallas down, but can’t
get her out of her head.
Dallas continues her cool, self-assured advances. In a
matter of days, Jasmine succumbs and the two women
embark on a steamy affair. It feels like a fantasy world
compared to Jasmine’s life and plans with Rile, but soon
reality rears its head, and she will have to face the
profound changes their sudden romance has wrought in
her.

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Stephanie Fabrizi’s screenplay powerfully and honestly
explores what happens when two women fall for
each other, and Mullen brings the story to the screen
with uninhibited flair and assurance, showing us how
love can arise from some of the messiest times in our
lives.
We would like to thank Daniela Ponce-Publicist, TIFF+Touchwood P.R. for the invitation to this event.

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Nordstrom Opening Gala @Eaton Centre (Wed.,Sept.14th,2016)

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 19, 2016
Posted in: celebration, Charity Gala, Events, Fashion Spotlight, Foundation, Gala Scene, Health, Health Care, Life & Culture, reception, Red Carpet Gala, review. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Nordstrom Eaton Centre, at 220,000 square feet,  held a pre-opening gala at their Eaton Centre store on Wednesday featuring shopping, fashion shows, as well as delicious food. signature cocktails, savour dinner and amazing desserts. We enjoyed live music by The Dwayne Gretzky,  and we also did a bit of shopping.
All proceeds, which totalled over $270,000,  benefit St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation, Toronto’s leader in critical and trauma care; Women’s College Hospital Foundation, Canada’s leader in advancing healthcare for women; Covenant House Toronto, which serves homeless youth; the state-of-the-art Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario; Humber River Hospital Foundation, which is currently focused on equipping a new hospital; and the globally renowned children’s hospital, Hospital for Sick Children’s Sick Kids Foundation.

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There were two fashion shows under the white tents, held across the street. An interesting show that lasted half an hour each with high tech lasers, smoke, and different colour schemes. The featured brands carried by the store were showcased but the brand names were not shown on the big screen.
Nordstrom Eaton Centre officially opens to the public on September 16. Other locations in Toronto include Yorkdale (opening in October) and Sherway Gardens (opens in 2017). A Nordstrom Rack will debut in 2018.

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We would like to thank John Bailey, Nordstrom PR for the invitation to this event.

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TIFF 2016: We Kill Death@Thompson Hotel+Creative Coalition@STK

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 18, 2016
Posted in: Arts, Award Gala, Festival, film, Gala Scene, Life & Culture, reception, Red Carpet Gala, review. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Photo Credits: Tom Sandler, Ernesto DiStefano+BK on the SCENE

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We were privileged to be invited on Friday to view history being made as three free climbing roof toppers–Mustang Wanted, Vadim Makhorov and Vitaliy Raskalov–climbed a construction crane atop a 60-story building in downtown Toronto in celebration of the new film they’re starring in called “WE KILL DEATH”. Producers Alex Ginzburg and Tony Lee, as well as invited guests, were in awe from the roof of Thompson Toronto as the three incredible daredevils made their way onto the construction site and to the very top of the crane, dangling by their hands and feet several hundred meters from the ground. I was hoping for some “Chin Ups” but that’s asking too much LOL. The group sent a live feed of their aerial feet to the assembled people on the roof of the nearby hotel. The group joined the party following their descent from the tower. We all toasted these amazing daredevils! Very impressive and there’s no way I could perform their acrobatic moves!
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4s8gak5k6xfw9mv/AABLrXJV6opGIlpLk82ZIQMsa?dl=0

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On Saturday STK Toronto Rolled Out the Red Carpet for The Creative Coalition Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner
STK also hosted the events for I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House and Below Her Mouth on Saturday, September 10, 2016. STK Toronto and A-List Communications, along with sponsor Grey Goose, hosted The Creative Coalition’s Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner at the STK Supper Suite during the Toronto International Film Festival. Guests included Ewan McGregor, Dakota Fanning, Paul Haggis, Christopher Guest, Lou Gossett Jr., Jennifer Beals and Terry George who presented awards to honorees including Uzo Aduba (American Pastoral, “Orange Is the New Black”), Mario Bello (The Journey is the Destination, A History of Violence), Nick Cannon (King of the Dancehall, Chi-Raq), Jennifer Connelly (American Pastoral, A Beautiful Mind), Jonathan Demme (JT & the Tennessee Kids, Rachel Getting Married), Parker Posey (Mascots, Café Society), Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father), and Ron Chapman (Poet of Havana).
Upon arrival, Maria Bello (star of The Journey is the Destination), Parker Posey (in town for the Netflix comedy Mascots) and Paul Haggis (Oscar® winning Director) worked the red carpet and then slipped into a quiet corner to catch up before entering STK to enjoy the star studded award ceremony and classic STK dishes.
Jennifer Connelly received an award from American Pastoral co-star and director Ewan McGregor. McGregor gave a warm speech complimenting Connelly on her courageous independent film work. After accepting the award and sharing an embrace, the two slipped back to their dinner table
Additional cast members of American Pastoral, Uzo Aduba and Dakota Fanning also mingled with the star-studded crowd. Fanning went on to honour Aduba for her commitment to creativity in the arts. Aduba, best known for her role as ‘Crazy Eyes’ in “Orange is the New Black,” sharing a laugh with Fanning over their very first meeting when Fanning summoned her from a deep sleep just to meet her on set.
Nick Cannon, in town for his directorial debut with King of Dancehall, personally received a Creative Coalition honour from venerable Academy Award® Winner Louis Gossett Jr. Gossett Jr. praised Cannon for shining the spotlight on impoverished Haiti by filming there.
Jennifer Beals (Flashdance, “The L Word”) , offered a moving speech while presenting an award to Jonathan Demme, director of Justin Timberlake & the Tennessee Kids. Beals’ heartfelt admiration for Demme’s willingness to support projects of creative community members from all walks of life.
Irish director Terry George, Director of Armenian genocide film The Promise, commanded laughs and loud cheers of support upon losing his train of thought when presenting an award to Jim Sheridan.
Christopher Guest, director of Netflix improv-style comedy Mascots, was also seen chatting with Ron Chapman, Maria Bello and Parker Posey
STK also hosted the film premiere pre-party for I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House distributed by Netflix and directed by Osgood Perkins. Expected cast includes Ruth Wilson (The Affair, Saving Mr. Banks), Lucy Boynton (Rebel In The Rye), and Bob Balaban (Grand Budapest Hotel, The Monuments Men).
Finally, STK hosted the premiere party for Below Her Mouth which included cast Natalie Krill, Erika Linder, Sebastian Pigott, Mayko Nguyen, and Tommie-Amber Pirie, as well as Actor Lyric Bent; Director Atom Egoyan; Producer Robert Lantos; Ellis Jacob – president and CEO Cineplex; Michael Kennedy; Producer Anant Singh; Randy Lennox – president broadcasting and content- BELL MEDIA; and Michael Friisdahl – president and CEO of MLSE.
Images of the events can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pxw9uq1hqn96cfa/AAApmE94Q5SVsXZe-S0l_gYZa?dl=0
Photo Credit Tom Sandler and Ernesto DiStefano where appropriate (all attached are Tom Sandler)Also below are images from BK on the SCENE.
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We would like to thank Henry Eshelman, Managing Director, PMG Platform Media Group for the invitation to these events.

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TIFF 2016: The 2016 Birks Diamond Tribute during TIFF@Shangri-La(Mon.,Sept.12th,2016)

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 13, 2016
Posted in: Award Gala, Events, Gala Scene, Life & Culture, reception, Red Carpet Gala, review. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

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Telefilm Canada and Birks paid tribute to 12 Canadian women in film at the 2016 Birks Diamond Tribute during Day 5 of TIFF at the Shangri-La hotel in downtown Toronto.
The 2016 honourees of the Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film were directors Tracey Deer, Ann Marie Fleming,April Mullen, Léa Pool and Ann Shin; actors Amanda Crew, Caroline Dhavernas, Christine Horne, Sandra Oh and Jennifer Podemski; as well as scriptwriters Emma Donoghue and Marie Vien.
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The TIFF 2016 Rising Stars were :
Jared Abrahamson (Hello Destroyer)
Grace Glowicki (Her Friend Adam)
Mylène Mackay (Nelly)
Sophie Nélisse (Mean Dreams)
OC Ukeje (The Arbitration)
Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama (The Arbitration)
From Telefilm Canada was:Carolle Brabant – Executive Director
Representing Birks was:Eva Hartling – VP Marketing & Communications+Jean-Christophe Bédos – President and CEO
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Apothic White Reprises Role as the Premier Wine Partner of the 2016 USA Series of Le Dîner en Blanc

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 12, 2016
Posted in: Food and Drink, Life & Culture, Showcase. Leave a comment

ab
California Table Wine, ©201
6 Apothic Wines, Modesto, CA. All rights reserved.
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts: Henry Eshelman/Sabrina Zeile PMG 323.337.9042
heshelman@platformgrp.com; sabrina@platformgrp.com
Apothic White Reprises Role as the Premier Wine Partner
of the 2016 USA Series of Le Dîner en Blanc
Modesto, CA, August 19, 2016— Apothic White—the white wine with dark motives—
has announced it will reprise its role as the Official U.S. Wine Partner for the 2016
season of Le Dîner en Blanc, the world’s largest global pop-up dinner party. By the time
the unique series of outdoor picnics featuring white-clad diners, waving napkins, music, pageantry, camaraderie and gastronomy concludes later this fall, Apothic White and Le Dîner en Blanc will have visited more than 20 cities and delighted over 40,000 guests. Apothic, a crisp, refreshing white blend with bright floral notes and vibrant flavors of peach and apricot,deftly combines Old World mystery with modern sophistication.
Apothic is a natural partner for the refined and unique event that is part spontaneous
picnic and part mystery tour.
From piers to beaches, from public squares to civic monuments, Apothic and Le Dîner en Blanc take guests to places they never imagined they could visit and sharing that
experience with thousands of in-the-know urban adventurers. The event secretly takes
over civic landmarks and reveals these mysterious locations at the last minute. Then,
white-clad revelers converge from across each city to arrive at the secret location at the
same moment… guests bring their own food and may pre-order the delicious flavors of
Apothic White and share with friends, often spending weeks designing menus to
prepare sumptuous and creative repasts. Le Dîner en Blanc has also become a popular
venue for guests to exhibit their unique fashion style, showcase their taste for design,
while enjoying Apothic White wine.
Apothic White comes to life at the event through its ever-popular photo booth.
Attendees can capture their magical evening and share their Apothic-inspired
experience on social media with the hashtag #ApothicWhite, along with a printed photo
to take home. Apothic White will also be celebrated at satellite sampling events at other
artistic and culinary landmarks surrounding the Dîner en Blanc evenings.
“We welcome Apothic as the blithe spirit of Dîner en Blanc—so truly complementary
with our guests and their unique, individual bring-along cuisines and styles,” says Sandy
California Table Wine, ©201
6 Apothic Wines, Modesto, CA. All rights reserved.
Safi, co-founder of Dîner en Blanc International. “Apothic’s elegantly decadent soul
provides a perfect companion for Le Dîner en Blanc: unpredictable yet poised, relaxed,
yet flavor-forward. Apothic White is a wine that’s not afraid to paint outside the lines.”
Christine Jagher, Marketing Director for Apothic, concludes, “Our Apothic White wine is
a perfect match for the Dîner en Blanc guests. We are excited for this white wine with
dark motives to connect with these guests, who are true cultural adventurers. Apothic is
looking forward to helping them make memories along the way.”
About Apothic
Named for the mysterious place, Apotheca, where vi
ntners stored their most coveted concoctions in 13th century Europe. The Apothic blends fuse Old World intrigue with modern sophistication. Winemaker Debbie Juergenson lets the character and flavor of each varietal guide the shape of her wines. Debbie offers a selection of distinctive blends including Apothic Red, Apothic White, Apothic Dark, Apothic Crush and Apothic Inferno. Apothic White is the #1 white wine blend in the US Apothic wines are priced around $14 SRP. Learn more at http://www.apothic.com and connect with us at #apothicwine @apothicwine and
http://www.facebook.com/apothicwine
About Le Dîner en Blanc
Launched in Paris in 1988 by François Pasquier and a handful of friends,
Le Dîner en Blanc has become a
worldwide epicurean phenomenon. Le Dîner en Blanc
– Paris now attracts over 10,000 people each year.
What was a “friends and word
-of-mouth only” event has grown into an international sensati
on celebrated
on five continents. While the technology behind the event may have changed over the years, the
principles fuelling this fantastic event have not: guests continue to gather at a secret location for the sole
purpose of sharing a gourmet meal wi
th good friends in one of their city’s most beautiful public
spaces. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada,
Dîner en Blanc International is responsible for developing this secret posh picnic in over 70 cities in more than 25 countries around the world. Each event is headed by passionate local organizers who fell in love with the concept and wanted to bring it to their city, giving this rendezvous a local flair. For more information, please visit the official website http://dinerenblanc.infoand follow #dinerenblanc and @dinerenblanc

TIFF 2016: Citizen Jane:Battle For The City@Varsity Theatre+Round Table Interview@Trinity Square Video, 401 Richmond St. W.(Fri.,Sept.9th,2016)

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 11, 2016
Posted in: Architect, Arts, Design, Events, Festival, film, Life & Culture, premiere, review, Showcase. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

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Citizen Jane: Battle For The City
Directed by Matt Tyrnauer
World Premiere
Toronto International Film Festival Docs Programme
Director Matt Tyrnauer, Producer Robert Hammond and Producer Corey Reeser were in Toronto for the premiere were available for interviews.
Before she became one of Canada’s greatest public intellectuals, a defender of Toronto’s diverse urban
fabric, and patron saint of wrecking-­‐ball resistance
, Jane Jacobs was already a city savior.
Jacobs, the journalist, activist, and author of the paradigm-­‐changing The Death And Life Of Great American Cities
, defined her life’s mission in the most storied city of our time: New York.
There she honed her ground-­‐breaking theories, and a new understanding of how a healthy city functions, covering everything from cryptic designs of manhole covers, the inner workings of different types of city markets, to public housing and urban renewal plans. She found herself in a time and place where the people
centred cities of the early 20th Century were in large part under relentless attack in the name of what was at the time thought to be progress.
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”
– Jane Jacobs
“There must be people who are discommoded, inconvenienced, or call it what you will, on the old theory that you can’t make
an omelet without breaking some eggs.” – Post-­‐War New York urban renewal czar Robert Moses
Citizen Jane: Battle For The City is the story of how Jane Jacobs spent the ‘50s and ‘60s battling for the integrity of New York City, and how she formed livability and devised tactics of that have been embraced all over North America and the world. This past May 5, 2016, marked the centenary of Jane Jacobs.
Citizen Jane: Battle For The City begins its tale with the backstory of post-­‐WWII architectural and urban design. It’s the story of the mass embrace of modernistic and was at the time universally known as urban renewal. Remaking the cities and wiping the slate clean, that, in fact, involved the removal of whole neighbourhoods, often labeled “slums” in favour of high‐rise “projects” and an emphasis on expressways and the car centred city. Urban renewal tended to gut the human scaled city, dispensing with the street and sidewalk, and people centred environments the kind of urbanism that serves the desires and needs of citizens—in favour of top-­‐down institutional projects that, in the end, killed cities.
The activism inspired and led by Jacobs literally hit the road, as she led the fight against expressways in Lower Manhattan, the Bronx and an extension of Fifth Avenue that would have all but wiped out Greenwich Village’s Washington Square Park. The movement she fostered spread across the U.S. and some parts of the world. Today her radical ideas for human-­‐scaled urbanism are considered merely common sense. She eventually moved to Toronto and was instrumental in stopping the Spadina Expressway.
Citizen Jane: Battle For The City is also the story of a fight that carries on—particularly in the developing world, where 1.5 million people are urbanized yearly, and in countries like China.
The film is a Robert Hammond and Matt Tyrnauer production with ALTIMETER FILMS.
Produced and Directed by Matt Tyrnauer
Produced by Robert Hammond
Produced by Corey Reeser
Executive Produced by Pierre Legrange, Bernard Legrange and Juliet Page
The Round Table interview with Citizen Jane: Battle for the City director Matt Tyrnauer and producers Robert Hammond and Corey Reeser was held at Trinity Square Video at 401 Richmond St. W.
We would like to thank Ingrid Hamilton and Brian Geldin from Gat P.R. for the invitation to the movie and Round Table interview.

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TIFF 2016: 41st Toronto International Film Festival@TIFF Soirée-Tiff Bell Lightbox with Michael Fassbender (Wed.,Sept.7th,2016)

Posted by BKontheSCENE on September 9, 2016
Posted in: celebration, Festival, film, Gala Scene, reception, Red Carpet Gala, review. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Images by Broadway World

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Toronto kicked off the 41st Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Soirée on Wednesday, September 7, where the city welcomed acclaimed actor Michael Fassbender as the special guest of honour.
The evening included an exclusive onstage conversation at TIFF Bell Lightbox, followed by a rooftop cocktail party with a beautiful view of the Toronto cityscape.
Proceeds from TIFF Soirée enable TIFF to continually showcase world-renowned film programming and innovative exhibitions, provide enriching workshops and diverse educational initiatives for youth and aspiring filmmakers, and support the community through outreach.
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We would like to thank Michelle from The TIFF Communications Department at The TIFF Bell Lightbox for the invitation to The Tiff Soiree.

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