Yesterday we presented you with our ten stand-out films of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, because as we all know TIFF is first and foremost about the movies. Yeah, right. In fact, sometimes it feels like the 300-plus films that screen at TIFF every year are just an excuse to party-hop, star-gaze (that’s Corduroy Issue 7 fave Juliette Lewis at the Alliance Films party on the right), and grab free swag for ten days. (Yes, we’re just as guilty as you are).
And while we weren’t able to go to every screening or make it to every party (blame it on a small staff and a self-imposed curfew that seems earlier and earlier each year), we did our best to gauge the generally festive festival atmosphere. Here are our picks for the best and worst TIFF 2010 moments we experienced outisde a movie theatre.
Amidst all the shoulder-rubbing, movie-premiering, celebrity-stalking, party-hopping and gossip-blogging that has come to define the Toronto International Film Festival (or TIFF as the locals like to call it), a sixth and perhaps most crucial modus operandi has emerged at the 10-day fest: fund-raising. This past Saturday, we were fortunate enough to attend the cream of the charitable crop: Artists For Peace and Justice’s second annual TIFF fundraiser, held at the luxury auto dealership-turned-hip-event-space, PEARS.
This year, the Paul Haggis-helmed Haiti fundraising effort carried new resonance after the horrific earthquake that devastated the already poverty-stricken country in January. Soon after the disaster, Haiti became the trendy cause celebre, and in a twisted bit of irony, Haggis finally had the world’s attention squared solely on the nation he’s been trying to help for years. But the director isn’t looking to rub it in anyone’s face. “There was no ‘I told you so’ moment,” said the Oscar winner, speaking to Corduroy at the event. “It was just ‘How do we get down there and help’?” For starters, Haggis brought celebrity friends (and APJ board members) James Franco, Josh Brolin, Annalynne McCord, Mario Bello and New York artist Peter Tunney to the proceedings, which included a raucous auction hosted by Haggis himself. At one point, McCord openly broke down during a recounting of her time in Haiti after the quake. Clearly, the cause is dear to all those involved.
Now Haggis and co.’s mission is to ensure that the world doesn’t turn a blind eye on Haiti, a country that needed international aid long before the quake. “That’s why we keep doing these events,” he said. “That’s why we’re doing the Golden Globes; that’s why we’re doing the BAFTAs, and Cannes again. We use celebrities, and what little celebrity I have, and the efforts of great people to keep the attention focused on Haiti.”
The director had considerable help from PR maven Natasha Koifman, whose firm NKPR threw the lavish fundraiser. Koifman has also been donating five dollars to APJ with every new twitter follower she gets, money that will go directly to Haiti. “After the earthquake, all the NGOs raised 5.3 billion dollars, and the Haiti government has only seen 10% of that. It was so devastated,” she said. “With APJ, we know that 100% of everything we raise goes to the country.” It’s a cause Koifman clearly believes in, and proof that the film festival has got more than just glamorous fashions and photo ops; it’s also got a lot of heart.
More than 50 Canadian artists joined together last month to re-record K’Naan’s song, “Wavin Flag,” as a tribute to the people of Haiti. Calling themselves “Young Artists for Haiti,” the group — which includes Drake, Sam Roberts, Nelly Furtado and others — met up in a Vancouver recording studio to lay down the track and film an accompanying music video. The video was just released this week, and the track is also available to download on iTunes. Proceeds from all downloads will go toward War Child, Free the Children and World Vision — three humanitarian aid organizations who are helping those affected by the recent earthquake in Haiti. Check out the video below and visit iTunes to purchase the single and contribute to the cause.
Who doesn’t like miniatures? Miniature ponies, miniature teacups, miniature trains and maybe even miniature golf. There is something about tiny things that makes one wiggle with admiration. So when Montreal-based Bruxe Design decided to make a new line of pendants that featured collectible (mini) chairs, they were definitely on to something. The “Tiny Little Chairs” series of pendants and necklaces are handmade in Montreal and feature precious metal charms that pay homage to mid-century furniture designers who forever changed the design world. Modern icons from the 20th century such as the LCW Plywood Chair by Charles and Ray Eames and the Barcelona Chair designed by Mies van der Rohe are honoured in Bruxe’s collection. The first series of pendants is on sale now and features five chairs available in solid gold, silver and bronze.
The best part is, a portion of the sales from Tiny Little Chairs will be donated to Yele Haiti, in the hopes of contributing to the aid of those who need help during this critical rebuilding period for the devastated country. You can purchase the pendants on both the Bruxe Design and Tiny Little Chairs websites or in store at Colette Paris, Commissaires Montreal, and Trolley Singapore within the next couple weeks. A fashionable accessory that also helps those in Haiti? Just another example of how something small and miniature can sometimes make a big difference.
If you missed the “Hope for Haiti” telethon in the U.S. and the “Canada for Haiti” telethon in Canada last night, check out two of our favorite performances below. The numbers you see on the screen will continue to be active to take your donations, even as the telethon is over. In the U.S. call 1-877-99-HAITI or visit hopeforhaitinow.org. In Canada, the number to call is 1-877-51-HAITI or visit canadaforhaiti.com. Donations will be split between a number of charitable and relief organizations, including the Red Cross, Unicef and Oxfam America. So listen to the songs below, read up on the needs of Haiti and then call or click on the links to donate what you can…
“Lean on Me” – Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock and Keith Urban
Yesterday we presented you with our ten stand-out films of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, because as we all know TIFF is first and foremost about the movies. Yeah, right. In fact, sometimes it feels like the 300-plus films that screen at TIFF every year are just an excuse to party-hop, star-gaze (that’s Corduroy Issue 7 fave Juliette Lewis at the Alliance Films party on the right), and grab free swag for ten days. (Yes, we’re just as guilty as you are).
