The TIFF Tribute Awards is officially the must-attend event on the TIFF calendar. Wrapping up the first week of festivities there’s no other marquee event that quite highlights just how big the festival has become and just how important it remains on the international stage. It was an evening to rub shoulders with the film industry’s biggest names, a chance to take in the iconic Fairmont Royal York Hotel in style and it also included a special toast courtesy of Don Julio Tequila to celebrate 50 years of TIFF.
See also: Tiny bottles, big toast: Don Julio 1942 powers TIFF’s 50th from red carpets to Nobu nights
A who’s who of celebrities
Imagine finding your seat only to notice legendary director Guillermo Del Toro, who’s in Toronto for his new film Frankenstein, is seated at the table across from yours. Or better yet, as you get up to stroll the room, a hulking Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson casually walks in. Or EVEN better than that, you go to snap a video of the beautiful room only to have the iconic Catherine O’Hara walk into your shot and apologize to you for ruining it…true story. We laughed it off together.
ADVERTISEMENT |
It was an evening to remember. The awards were being handed out and the icons shared deep intimate reflections in their speeches. Among the attendees included Channing Tatum who received the TIFF Tribute Performer Award, presented by Cineplex, actor/director Jodie Foster, Lee Byung Hun, Idris Elba along with Oscar Isaac, Brendan Fraser and Eugene Levy, among many more.
Toasting to 50 years with Don Julio Tequila
This was an evening of celebration, to show appreciation for what TIFF brings to Toronto and a reminder, based on the speeches, just how important Canada is to cinema. The people’s festival brings out droves of movie lovers to revel in all that cinema has to offer. So it was only natural to take a moment to celebrate this and what better way than to have a room full of the industry’s most inspiring people toast with the new Don Julio 1942 mini bottles. A fun moment that had the room absolutely buzzing and a great way to ring in the final days of this year’s festival.
The night was a reminder that it’s alright for Canada to brag a little about what it has accomplished. That it’s okay to puff out the chest every once in a while. But also, as Del Toro so simply said, “be proud”.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Editor's Note: A special thank you to the Don Julio team for hosting me for the second year in a row at the Tribute Awards.
