Esther Garnick always seems to be in charge of the wilder side of TIFF. You won’t see her by day but at night – watch out for the brunette babe, wearing 3-inch pumps, directing red carpet traffic with both panache and humour.  This year Esther is working with Liberty Entertainment Group, who play host to dozens of TIFF parties. and she’s organizing the “Revenge of the Nerds” themed Ubisoft launch party on the 12th, where we will most definitely be rocking out with Peaches. Like that’s not enough, Esther is also the mastermind behind the Essentials Lounge, a revitalizing experience for those of us behind the scenes. 

When she’s not lashing out at Gene Simmons or diving after Michael Douglas she’s probably the first to pass you a vitaminwater – because she gets it – we’re all fucking tired and barely standing. 

How are you preparing for TIFF right now? I actually just started doing Spynga classes. I’m really hyper, so it’s a good way to burn anxious energy and zen into a welcomed concentration mode.

During TIFF, where would we most likely find you at 2PM? At 2AM? You won’t find me anywhere before at least 6pm because, frankly,  I’m unshowered and ugly.  During the day my head is down: sending, reading and responding to emails,  making and taking calls and double/triple checking that I’ve crossed everything off my to-do lists before heading out for the evening’s events.  If I’m not running a red carpet or event during Tiff, you’ll likely find me swishing around the Liberty Entertainment Group parties.

What has been your most memorable TIFF party to date? Why? My first time running a red carpet by myself. TIFF, 2006. Samuel L. Jackson was the first celebrity to arrive and things just erupted. Perez Hilton was a special correspondent for MTV on the carpet too – this was before he was an EVERY household name. I was so nervous but it worked out and thankfully, I never have to relive that fear again.

What’s your celebrity story, or moment, that gets rehashed most at dinner parties? Outside of my legendary brawl with Gene Simmons (eff him), last season’s ‘Solitary Man’ after party when Michael Douglas was dropped off at the wrong entrance and walked AROUND my patiently waiting, dehydrated and exhausted press line. I actually found the nerve to dive after him and he was about to make a return to the carpet with me before a curmudgeonly hanger on refused to allow it.   It was such a colossal fail.

What are three things you need to survive during TIFF? A back-up blackberry, a pair of flip flops in my bag (I have a weird thing whereby I insist on sky high heels when I’m working, so its nice to transfer my footwear at the end of the night) and without a doubt, my ‘right hand in command’, Jesse Warner.

What film are you looking forward to most this year? Black Swan, I LOVE all the actors in this film. I’m looking forward to seeing Wynona Rider again and I’m really interested to see Mila Kunis in a darker role. (Home girl dates Macaulay Culkin. You know it’s in there).

What party are you most excited about this year? Do I have to choose? I’m really excited to be working with The Liberty Entertainment Group this season. For the past 10 years, they’ve played host to some of the most memorable TIFF events.  Their marquee event, ET Canada Festival Central Lounge keeps growing and it will be even more impressive this year. I’m also *really* excited about video game giant Ubisoft’s  Toronto Studios Launch with a special DJ set by Peaches Geldof. Beautiful people are nerds too! Geek Chic as  the theme, it can only be a hilarious evening.  Hazard of the trade: I’ll be working, but certainly having a great time too.

If you could grab a drink with one celeb who is attending TIFF this year, who would you choose? LAST YEAR it would have been Drew Barrymore, but you beat me to it…  This year, it’s Vincent Cassel. I saw Eastern Promises when it premiered at TIFF a few seasons back, and I’ve been fascinated with him ever since.  Plus, I’m secretly able to speak french but always too self conscious to exercise my chops unless I’ve knocked back a drink or two.  Who knows, our pretend evening could be tres romantic. 

What’s the first thing you’ll do once TIFF is over? Order a glad bag of sushi, collapse, shut in and watch 10 episodes of Modern Family and Bored to Death back to back.