TIFF is here, and while some parties boast a red carpet, velvet ropes, and scary security guards, the best soirées (which the coolest celebrities often defect to) are off the beaten festival path. Here are our party picks for this week.

Wed., Sept. 5th: Young Filmmakers Party @ Brant House, 522 King St. W. 8 pm

Bran Van 3000, Hill & The Sky Heroes and Hands & Teeth will all perform at this festival kick-off, which will bring together all the hottest young talent in the city, whether they wield guitars or Super 8s. $5 donation to the Riverton School gets you in, and Uber is offering discounted rides to partygoers. RSVP to steph@audioblood.com.

Thurs., Sept. 6th: Drake Overdrive TIFF Launch Party @ The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W., 9 pm-4 am

Come walk the black carpet. Sponsored by Stella Artois and Sailor Jerry, the Drake will be transformed into an ode to 1960s cinema’s bad boys and glam girls (and bad girls, too. We love our leather.) Still Life Still and Dinosaur Bones are performing, there will be a secret headliner, a truck parked outside offering free tattoos (SERIOUSLY!), and a free barbershop in Room 222. $10. No guest list bullshit. Be there.

Fri, Sept. 7th: Fred Falke She Does The City TIFF Edition @ The Hoxton, 69 Bathurst St., 10 pm-5 am

Legendary French remixer Fred Falke will be spinning the official She Does The City TIFF Party. With 4 am last call and a sexy French cinema theme, this is sure to be one sweaty, sultry evening. For tables and guestlist: steven@thehoxton.ca.

Fri, Sept. 7th: Young Lions Music Club presents The Shining: The Party @ The Overlook Hotel (Secret Venue near College & Bathurst), 10 pm-2 am

Performances by Absolutely Free and al x, DJ selections by Paradise Animals, and artwork and installations will all set the scene for a creepy night paying homage to one of the greatest horror films of all time. “Look for Room 237 in the alley that runs east-west, behind everyone’s favourite punk rock’d tex mex establishment."

~ Haley Cullingham