Day#5 – Mon., Sept. 11th, 2023

By The BKONTHESCENE Team

Our day started with a Camera Call: TIFF STORY: Celebrities Battleground: Uniting for a Cancer-Free Tomorrow “1st Annual Battleground: Uniting for a Cancer-Free Tomorrow.”

Our day started with Battleground, a celebrity basketball event that raised awareness on mental health and cancer, was where well-known figures from music, film, sports, and television came together to display their basketball talents on the court. Organizer Emmanual Kabongo gave fans a unique opportunity to watch their favourite celebrities compete in a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere while contributing to meaningful charitable endeavours. It was a fun time for everybody while positively impacting society.

After the Camera Call: TIFF STORY: Celebrities Battleground we attended-

The Pain Hustlers-Based on the non-fiction 2022 Evan Hughes book, The Hard Sell, on the current tragic opiate crisis and deaths resulting from corporate greed and unethical practices.
Emily Blunt and Chris Evans star as pharmaceutical drug reps/salespeople who, in the quest for a livelihood and financial success, unwittingly initiate the crisis of opiate addiction in those with chronic severe pain, despite apparently having scientific evidence of the safety of the pain medication being promoted.
As a result of crises such as that of opiate addiction, strict guidelines have been imposed on the pharmaceutical industry on its activities relating to promotion of prescribed medications to physicians in Canada.

The Burial- In this film based on true events, corporate greed gets its comeuppance in this dramatic David vs Goliath legal battle with Jamie Fox and Tommy Lee Jones teaming up. Based in the deep south, this tale of corporate greed and exploitation in the funeral home business brings this real-life story to the glorious revelation of deceitful practices and subsequent comeuppance of huge international corporations.

The Burial shows how a large Canadian corporation, run by CEO, Ray Loewen (Bill Camp), during “the golden age of death” tries to shamelessly exploit the financial difficulties of small Mississippi funeral home owner/director Jeremiah O’Keefe (played by Tommy Lee Jones). However, the corporate greed runs against resistance when it goes against the team of O’Keefe and personal-injury-superstar lawyer, Willie E. Gary (played by Jamie Foxx).

Oscar winners Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx star in this highly entertaining David and Goliath courtroom drama showing corporate greed has no boundaries even when people are at their most vulnerable.

Daddio-Daddio is a surprising engaging 4-3 personal journey “rain dance” contest in a taxi cab ride featuring wonderful performances from a blonde Dakota Johnson and wise older man Sean Penn as a social commentator/philosopher driver.

As the distracted female protagonist playing a truth and tell game with the experienced New York City cabbie, Dakota Johnson tries to keep track of her sexting older boyfriend while being engaged in a profound conversation with Sean Penn, the careful attentive cab driver.

CLOSE TO YOU – starring Elliot Page.

Close to You by Dominic Savage is an emotionally observant drama about coming home as yourself, only to have everyone treat you like a completely different person. This is the first time Sam has been home since his transition and he’s dreading it. It’s a powerful new film starring Canadian Elliot Page.

Capturing the coming home experience, Sam exercises patience with his family’s apparent acceptance and awkwardness. Reconnecting with people, dealing with sitting around a table in a difficult situation with people who don’t necessarily understand. The rekindled friendship between Sam (Page) and his former girlfriend Katherine is beautifully and emotionally presented. The emotions are felt… of sadness and understanding.

Key words in the film as the film ends are that we have to get over that saying that ‘family is everything’ because it isn’t. One creates family with friends and community. The symbolism of the father giving the expensive watch back to the son-in-law shows the father’s ultimate support of his son Sam. A very touching moment.

A wonderful film with current topic, excellent acting and plot for all to see and understand.

In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon by Alex Gibney – this film was seen in 2 parts due to its nearly 3 and a half hour length (seen 2 different days at TIFF). The documentary about musician Paul Simon deals with his current issue of becoming hard of hearing and how it affects his musical skills. Even if you’re not a big Paul Simon fan, you will become one. The film is so well done with present day scenes of clips of Central Park Concerts, Simon & Garfunkel when very young and how they grew apart. Footage from the past with Art Garfunkel showing their relationship and how their music partnership grew together and then apart. It’s all presented in a fascinating way. Each beautiful song takes the viewer into the past – an emotional past of memories. Cameos by other famous musicians! Seeing the second half (due to scheduling of other films) actually worked well and luckily was able to see the first half later. A fantastic music documentary of one of music’s greats, Paul Simon!

It was the last day of Cinema Center,and we were there for the red carpet and reception for The Critic. A top King West Restaurant Marbl, known for its amazing food, ambiance, service, and exclusive invite-only TIFF movie afterparties, this year’s upcoming stars shined bright while posing on the red carpet and mingling with the lucky invited cinema fans. This year’s stars and fans enjoyed Sommsation’s varied independently-produced exquisite wines from around the globe, tasty Blue Moon Belgian beer, and top vodka or tequila-inspired cocktails, made with high-end Belvedere vodka or Tres Generaciones Tequila, while tasting delicious hors d’oeuvres.

We had an amazing time at Cinema Center and we would like to thank Roxstar Entertainment and Media Blitz for the invitation to Cinema Center and we look forward to the event next year at TIFF2024

Next we arrived in Yorkville-MSSM for the cast party for Concrete Utopia.The film was marked on the calendar for Friday,Sept.15th,and we were excited to view the screener at the Scotiabank Theatre.

This restaurant is a Omakase,it’s Japanese term that translates to “I’ll leave it up to you” or “chef’s choice”. It refers to a dining experience in which the customer entrusts the chef to select and prepares a series of dishes, typically in a multi-course meal.

Some the attendees of the Concrete Utopia event included:PR’s for the film,the cast and directors. Emily Lu Aldrich publicity and consulting/us pr) Kim Hyein (lotte),Choi Suyeon (lotte),Lee Haewon (lotte),Anthony Shim,Atom Egoyan,David Cronenberg,Cherri Campbell (Lantos staff members), Anita Lee Chief Programming Officer of TIFF, Giovanna Fulvi,Kana Koido,Matt Miller (writers / directors BlackBerry),Matt Johnson (writers / directors BlackBerry),Don McKellar (co-showrunner The Sympathizer),Lee Byunghun,Park Seojun, Park Boyoung,Um Taehwa and Chef Saito. The event continued a block away at the Speak Easy themed lounge-C-Suite.

Our last stop was CANIFFF fashion show during TIFF2023 on King St.

“An Ode to Fashion in Film” was an unforgettable event that brought together beauty, glamour, style, and creativity against the stunning backdrop of Toronto’s skyline with the iconic CN Tower in view from the rooftop of Lavelle. Some of the best-dressed and most stylish partygoers in town celebrated fashion and arts in film and even participated in a unique project together. A fashion film was also live in the making at the venue, with models and crews preparing makeup and outfits and setting up cameras and lights to capture the magic.

What makes this fashion film special is the active participation of the guests themselves. Award-winning director and producer Raha Euphoria guided attendees to turn on the flashlights from their smartphones and point them toward the sky as drones captured this extraordinary spectacle from above. Can’t wait to see the final result!