Cinema Center returns to host some of TIFF’s biggest stars

Roxstar Entertainment’s Cinema Center has returned to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to once again infuse the city with the glitz, glam, and famous faces of Hollywood. After two years of a relatively subdued film festival, Cinema Center hosts some of TIFF’s most coveted after-parties and press junkets – naturally, with a super-strict guest list in effect. No stranger to A-list-worthy celebrations, Roxstar Entertainment is the leading Hollywood events and communications group. They’re back in Toronto for the third year help TIFF’s A-listers feel right at home.

“We do a lot of top film festivals, but TIFF is unique in that it’s the biggest festival with not only the most films admitted but most films with big names and also typically with films that seed the Oscars race,” says David Manning, Managing Director, Head of Experiences & Communications at RoxStar Entertainment. “As such, it’s an elegant red carpet affair that brings the dazzle you expect while seeing big stars on the red carpet.”

Events take place at MARBL, Soluna, KISSA, and the soon-to-open Milos Toronto (the famed estiatorio Milos brand also has spots in New York and Montreal). 

Presenting Sponsor Range Rover Sport as well as supporting sponsors poppi soda, Don Julio Tequila, and new premium spring water brand, Legend engage guests with product offerings and special brand experiences onsite. “We’re so excited this year as we really round up top Canadian brand partners all in the luxury space so it’s a great fit to the events/talent and our brands including Range Rover Sport, People’s Group financial services, Tequila Don Julio, and the new soda poppi that’s a favuorite to the stars,” says Manning.

The annual three-day Collider Media Studio held at TIFF Hospitality Partner, MARBL, kicks off the opening weekend. Here, top filmmakers and actors have been stopping in during their press circuits to conduct interviews for exclusive content on the popular entertainment site, Collider. 

Some of the expected talent for TIFF 2024 include Bobby Carnavale, Mark Hamill, Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gilian, Cobie Smulders, Ben Foster, Olympic Gold Medal Boxer Claressa Shields, Chloë Sevigny, Henry Golding, Beatrice Grannò, David Gordon Green, Ben Stiller, Pamela Anderson, Orlando Bloom, John Turturro, Caitríona Balfe, Anderson .Paak, Soul Rasheed, Jee Young Han, Dakota Johnson, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Olsen, Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Ron Howard, Ana De Armas, Isabella Rosellini, Ed Burns, Minnie Driver and Gretchen Mol (in other words, basically every A-lister in town). 

“It’s an incredible amount of coordination and planning between organizing the events, the locations and the activations,” says Manning of the behind-the-scenes planning for Cinema Center. “It’s a labor of love, because the end experience really dazzles.”

What are the most important things to consider when throwing an A-list party? Location and service, says Manning. “First and foremost, we need to ensure we have the top venues offering comfortable and delicious hospitality and incredible service staff for our A-list clientele and VIPs,” says Manning. “I’m just thrilled we continue our partnerships with venues including MARBL Toronto, Soluna, and KISSA and honoured this year that we get to partner with estiatorio Milos Toronto and be the first events to this iconic restaurant group during TIFF before it opens to the public.”

Estiatorio Milos will offer guests a sneak peek of its first Toronto location that is set to open to the public at 330 Bay Street on September 26. This collaboration will introduce TIFF attendees to a series of VIP gala events and premiere parties hosted by the esteemed founder of estiatorio Milos, Costas Spiliadis. 

The new Greek restaurant is home to after-parties for films like ‘Relay” (featuring Sam Worthington, Lily James, Riz Ahmed, Will Fitzgerald, and directed by David Mackenzie); “The Last Showgirl” (with Pamela Anderson, Kiernan Shipka, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jason Schwartzman, and directed by Gia Coppola); “Megalopolis” (starring Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Nathalie Emmanuel, and directed by Francis Ford Coppola); and “The Millers in Marriage”(starring Juliana Margulies, Minnie Driver, Gretchen Mol, Morena Baccarin, Benjamin Bratt, Patrick Wilson, Brian d’Arcy James, Campbell Scott, and directed by Edward Burns). 

Mixologists from estiatorio Milos have crafted a TIFF-themed cocktail menu in collaboration with official spirits partner Diageo, featuring the ultra-premium Tequila Don Julio, as well as Ketel One Vodka, Tanqueray Gin, and Bulleit Bourbon. Attendees will arrive in style, thanks to Range Rover Sport. 

Meanwhile, guests for the poppi-sponsored red-carpet events will enjoy a selection of gourmet canapés as well as a specialty premium cocktail list, along with the selection of Strawberry Lemon, Orange, Cola, and Doc Pop flavors of poppi, the better-for-you soda brand made famous by celebs like Post Malone, Hailey Bieber, and  Kylie Jenner. 

As for Manning, he and his team have hit the ground running, with press junkets and parties in full force all weekend (sorry, we can’t share those details). “Our team is so grateful to come to Toronto and work with such kind and welcoming people each year, including the media,” says Manning. “The open arms and support we receive each year is always the best from any festival each year.”