Lights, camera, fashion
If we’ve learned anything from the TFCA’s of years past, we know it’s going to be a champagne-fuelled bender. The “Golden Globes north” is always the first to kick off a very busy awards season that starts in January.
Once again, TIFF Artistic Director Cameron Bailey gave a solid performance as host, as did the legendary Mary Walsh. Cue a full- on eruption of belly laughs.
The Stairs, Hugh Gibson’s riveting documentary about recovering drug addicts in Toronto’s Moss Park, won the Toronto Film Critics Association’s 2016 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award. The award, which comes with a $100,000 cheque from Rogers, was presented to the filmmaker by director Sarah Polley – who won the
award for her documentary Stories We Tell, five years ago.
Another great moment was when actor-writer-director Don McKellar presented the TFCA’s 20th Anniversary Award for Excellence to celebrated director Denis Villeneuve (Polytechnique, Incendies and Enemy), recognizing his record trifecta of Rogers Best Canadian Film Awards.
Villeneuve charmed t he audience as only he could with an acceptance speech which spoke to his deep love for the TFCA. Parfait! Generous sponsors included Rogers; Stella Artois; Canadian Tire; Technicolor; Cineplex.
An invite to a fabulous party at the Louis Vuitton flagship store in Toronto? Yes, please! Even better, it was a party with a cause — to celebrate Louis Vuitton’s one- year, global partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and # makeapromise day to raise funds for children in need.
Cocktail parties were held in 45 stores worldwide for the cause. Since the launch in 2016, the Silver Lockit program has raised $2.5M for UNICEF.
“In the beginning of the year, I count on your commitment to protect childhood.” enthused Michael Burke, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton. “Childhood incarnates the best of humanity: innocence, liberty, future and hope. It’s something we should fight to protect.”