STK Also Hosts Events for That Pretty Thing That Lives In The House and Below Her Mouth
Jennifer Connelly, Dakota Fanning, Ewan McGregor, Maria Bello, Nick Cannon, Parker Posey, Lou Gossett, Jr., Uzo Adubo, Jennifer Beals, Christopher Guest, Jonathan Demme, Paul Haggis, Jim Sheridan, Terry George, Ron Chapman, Jonathan Keltz attend TCC Gala
Paul Haggis and Parker Posey Credit Ernesto DiStefano
Last night (Saturday, 10 September 2016) STK Toronto and A-List Communications along with sponsor Grey Goose hosted three Festival events including The Creative Coalition’s Spotlight Initiative Gala Awards Dinner at the STK Supper Suite during the Toronto International Film Festival. Guests included Ewan McGregor, Dakota Fanning, Paul Haggis, Christopher Guest, Lou Gossett Jr., Jennifer Beals and Terry George who presented awards to honorees including Uzo Aduba (American Pastoral, “Orange Is the New Black”), Mario Bello (The Journey is the Destination, A History of Violence), Nick Cannon (King of the Dancehall, Chi-Raq), Jennifer Connelly (American Pastoral, A Beautiful Mind), Jonathan Demme (JT & the Tennessee Kids, Rachel Getting Married), Parker Posey (Mascots, Café Society), Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father), and Ron Chapman (Poet of Havana).
Nick Cannon and the Black Turban Credit Ernesto DiStefano
Upon arrival, Maria Bello (star of The Journey is the Destination), Parker Posey (in town for the Netflix comedy Mascots) and Paul Haggis (Oscar® winning Director) worked the red carpet and then slipped into a quiet corner to catch up before entering STK to enjoy the star studded award ceremony and classic STK dishes. Bello arrived in a chic lipstick red suit and red silk blouse with bow detail complemented by turquoise drop earrings while Parker Posey donned stylish black harem pants with a textured shirt and tousled hair that withstood the evening drizzle. The three cozied up inside the venue while continuing conversation over passed plates of STK’s shaved Brussels sprouts salad, crispy rock shrimp with chili remoulade and tuna tartare with soy, honey emulsion and taro chips.
Dakota Fanning and Uzo Aduba Credit Ernesto DiStefano
Jennifer Connelly received an award from American Pastoral co-star and director Ewan McGregor. The fashionable friends made a statement with Connelly in a fitted colour-blocked Louis Vuitton dress and McGregor in a black t-shirt and slacks with leather jacket. McGregor gave a warm speech complimenting Connelly on her courageous independent film work. After accepting the award and sharing a heartfelt embrace, the two slipped back to their dinner table as the guests were enjoying STK’s dry aged strip steak accompanied by local heirloom tomato fondue, roasted squash and goat cheese truffled mash potato au jus.
Additional cast members of American Pastoral, Uzo Aduba and Dakota Fanning also rubbed shoulders with the star-studded crowd. Fanning went on to honour Aduba for her commitment to creativity in the arts. Aduba, best known for her role as ‘Crazy Eyes’ in “Orange is the New Black,” was wearing a black dress with ruffled collar and shared a laugh with Fanning over their very first meeting when Fanning summoned her from a deep sleep just to meet her on set.
Jennifer Connelly and Ewan McGregor credit Tom Sandler
Nick Cannon, in town for his directorial debut with King of Dancehall, strode in and charmed the photographers wearing a black suit with a matching studded turban adding flair to his outfit. The charismatic personality received a Creative Coalition honour from venerable Academy Award® Winner Louis Gossett Jr. Gossett Jr. praised Cannon for shining the spotlight on impoverished Haiti by filming there.
Jennifer Beals Credit Tom Sandler
Jennifer Beals (Flashdance, “The L Word”) dressed in a smart black Max Mara jumpsuit and Collette Avital jewelry, offered a moving speech while presenting an award to Jonathan Demme, director of Justin Timberlake & the Tennessee Kids. Beals’ heartfelt admiration for Demme’s willingness to support projects of creative community members from all walks of life, including her photography was palpable.
Irish director Terry George, Director of Armenian genocide film The Promise, commanded laughs and loud cheers of support upon losing his train of thought when presenting an award to Jim Sheridan. George explained his moment of silence saying “Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts. I was just thinking that Canada should build a wall and make America pay for it!”
Christopher Guest, director of Netflix improve-style comedy Mascots, was also seen chatting with Ron Chapman, Maria Bello and Parker Posey while guests enjoyed flourless Valrohna chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream.
Bob Balaban Credit Tom Sandler
STK also hosted the film premiere pre-party for "That Pretty Thing That Lives In The House" distributed by Netflix and directed by Osgood Perkins. Expected cast includes Ruth Wilson (The Affair, Saving Mr. Banks), Lucy Boynton (Rebel In The Rye), and Bob Balaban (Grand Budapest Hotel, The Monuments Men).
Finally, STK hosted the premiere party for “BELOW HER MOUTH” which included cast Natalie Krill, Erika Linder, Sebastian Pigott, Mayko Nguyen, and Tommie-Amber Pirie, as well as Actor Lyric Bent; Director Atom Egoyan; Producer Robert Lantos; Ellis Jacob - president and CEO Cineplex; Michael Kennedy; Producer Anant Singh; Randy Lennox - president broadcasting and content- BELL MEDIA; and Michael Friisdahl - president and CEO of MLSE.