“Red carpet situations are always interesting. The strangest I’ve experienced was likely when MGMT brought stuffed animals out to do the carpet last year.”
How do you prepare for TIFF? I’m currently working on two parties that Holt Renfrew is hosting during TIFF. The first is Holts’ launch of our vignettes – two short films staring Coco Rocha and Behati Prinsloo and The Stills. For the first time, we are holding our party outside of the store, it will be at the Burroughes Building on Saturday, September 12. The second event I’m working on is the launch party for Shinan Govani’s novel, Boldface Names, to be held at Holt Renfrew on Tuesday, September 15.
Where would we most likely find you during TIFF at 2PM? 2 PM? At the office, definitely. 2 AM – hopefully in my bed asleep to be honest!
What has been your most memorable TIFF party? Probably Holt Renfrew’s party to launch Sienna and Savannah Miller’s clothing line Twenty8twelve held two years ago at the Bloor store. The visual team completely transformed the third floor into a Victorian-era circus. You would never have thought it was the same building that housed clothing only a few hours earlier.
What are the three things you need during TIFF to survive? Sleep, Starbucks and comfortable shoes.
If you are looking for a moment of peace and quiet within the ten days – where do you go or what do you do? I’ll hopefully be able to attend some films this year. I was finally able to see two at last year’s festival – it’s such an amazing opportunity to be able to hear directors and actors talk about their projects while in the same room.
Which celebrity run-in has been your favourite? Or had you the most awestruck? Definitely Sean Penn, who came to Holt Renfrew’s Twenty8twelve party in 2007. At one point, I was standing right next to him – I was completely starstruck, I mean – he’s Sean Penn!
What has been the strangest interaction you’ve had during TIFF? Red carpet situations are always interesting. The strangest I’ve experienced was likely when MGMT brought stuffed animals out to do to the carpet last year and didn’t actually speak to anyone – they just pretended to talk on their phones. Very interesting situation actually!
Which film are you most looking forward to this year? Probably the Pedro Almodovar film, Broken Embraces, or the Jane Campion film.
What’s your best advice for someone who’s never attended TIFF before? I’m still very new to what happens in Toronto during TIFF and wish I had some advice to give! I would say, go to the films as much as you can – that’s what I’m going to try and do this year.
Best SWAG ever? Any swag is great swag as far as I’m concerned!
You have a huge smile on your face at TIFF – what just happened? Likely after attending a great event or a fantastic film. I just love the energy in the city during TIFF, you can truly sense the feeling in the air, there’s just so much going on. It’s really exciting.
If you could pick the brain of one filmmaker – who would it be? Again, probably Pedro Almodovar.
If you could grab a drink with one celeb – who would you choose? Maybe Tilda Swinton, I think she has the most incredible style and I would imagine her to be an amazing conversationalist. Otherwise, George Clooney for obvious reasons.
What’s the first thing you’ll want to do once the insanity is over? Sleep in…..and then on to the next event!