The Variety and Chanel Female Filmmakers Dinner brought together an A-list lineup of Hollywood stars and creatives including Andrew Garfield, Elizabeth Olsen, “Nightbitch” director Marielle Heller (who attended this event mere moments before her film’s premiere), Danielle Deadwyler, Barry Keoghan and more for a vibrant night amidst the Toronto Film Festival. The vibe was electric, with drinks flowing, delicious food on hand and a spontaneous game of “Two Truths and a Lie” breaking out.
The event, which took place at Soho House Toronto, featured a cocktail hour downstairs before a three-course dinner on the second floor of the social club. Inside, the hotly anticipated “Saturday Night” film cast Cory Michael Smith, Lamorne Morris, Ella Hunt and Dylan O’Brien stopped in before their Tuesday night premiere. The film, a hot title at TIFF, is set within the chaotic 90 minutes before the first episode of “SNL” aired in 1975. The group mingled with fellow comedic actor “Veep” star Tony Hale, who was also in town to promote his new film “Sketch.”
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Heller walked in with her husband and fellow director, Jorma Taccone, from The Lonely Island and “MacGruber.” Also making their way across the cocktail lounge were “Conclave” star Isabella Rossellini, “Baby Reindeer” breakout Nava Mau and awards hopeful Deadwyler, who is pulling double duty at TIFF with “40 Acres” and “The Piano Lesson.”
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By the bar, stars posed for photos, including Himesh Patel, Edgar Ramirez, Amanda Collin and Leila George. Elsewhere, “The White Lotus” breakout Beatrice Grannò led a game of “Two Truths and a Lie” with “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” and “The Apprentice” star Maria Bakalova, “The Fire Inside” director Rachel Morrison, agent Tom Jeggo and the author of this article. Take a guess which one may or may not have been a competitive tennis player.
Before the dinner, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey delivered opening remarks celebrating women filmmakers at the festival.
“Some of the most talented people in film, some of the most exciting people here at the festival, are here in this room tonight to celebrate the contribution that women make, which is massive in cinema and growing, and that’s what we’re here to support,” said Bailey. “It’s wonderful also to celebrate some of the talented filmmakers who are part of the ‘Share Her Journey’ program.”
Bailey pointed out the “Share Her Journey” alumni in attendance, including Sophie Jarvis, Asia Youngman and Rebecca Fisseha. This toast was followed by Variety co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh, who urged the women filmmakers in the room to raise their hands so the room could raise a glass in their honor.
“Variety and Chanel partnered for the last five years on this dinner and on this event. We keep it small, we keep it intimate because it’s really important for people to meet each other, to talk, to inspire each other, and to talk about storytelling,” Setoodeh said. “At Variety, we’re so privileged and proud to have written about the women who have come through this room in the pages of our magazine and on our website. And we look forward to doing that for years to come for the women who are here tonight.”
Setoodeh also thanked Chanel and Variety CEO and publisher Michelle Sobrino-Stearns.
Upstairs, dinner consisted of shared plates coursed out over the evening. Guests gathered in small tables and plush booths, passing dishes including burrata salad, salmon crudo, roasted potatoes and steak.
