Rain failed to dampen the sizzling Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and InStyle party celebrating the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Stars from veteran Patrick Stewart and Golden Globe Best Actor winner Eddie Redmayne to eight-year-old Jacob Tremblay, sensational actor of the acclaimed Room, trooped to The Windsor Arms Hotel Saturday night, Sept. 12, the peak night of the festival.
Patrick Stewart

Susan Sarandon and Eddie Redmayne

Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, co-stars of acclaimed Room

Photo Credits: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA
The seemingly nonstop cavalcade of stars alighting from limos (delighting the fans who braved the rain outside the hotel) made the bash the hottest ticket in town. It was the kind of star-studded night where a photographer casually pointing his camera at the party crowd for “ambience” shots found stars captured in tete-a-tetes in the photos.
Fans braved the rains outside to get a glimpse of stars
who attended the HFPA/ InStyle party

Ambiance

Photo Credits: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA
HFPA president Lorenzo Soria welcomed the guests who packed the main room and spilled into the outside patio, where folks huddled even amid the wet weather conditions. Talent from the various festival entries mingled in a harmonious celebration. Stars bumped into each other and reconnected or met for the first time.
HFPA President Lorenzo Soria and Naomi Watts

Photo Credit: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA
Eddie Redmayne, who is stirring a lot of buzz for his performance in The Danish Girl, arrived in a standout (amid the usual black attires) Ralph Lauren cream suit while his lovely wife Hannah Bagshawe wore an intricate Valentino dress.
HFPA President Lorenzo Soria, Hannah Bagshawe and Eddie Redmayne

Photo Credit: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA
Susan Sarandon, in Toronto for About Ray, bumped into Eddie when she arrived at
The Windsor Arms. She hugged Eddie and began catching up animatedly with the actor.
The two starred in the 2011 TV movie drama, The Miraculous Year.
Susan Sarandon and Eddie Redmayne

Photo Credit: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA
Dakota Johnson, dazzling in a black dress with sheer cutouts, came with her Black Mass producer, John Lesher. She later joined her Black Mass co-star Joel Edgerton and director Scott Cooper. Rachel Weisz of The Lobster and a bearded Michael Shannon of Freeheld soon joined them in the same corner, making it one of the night’s hottest spots.
Dakota Johnson and Black Mass producer John Lesher

Joel Edgerton, Rachel Weisz, Dakota Johnson and director Scott Cooper

Photo Credits: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA
Naomi Watts of Demolition, dressed in a black and green lace dress, was one of the talents who arrived early at the annual bash. She later chatted with Geoffrey Rush of The Daughter.
At one point, Jacob, who was accompanied by his mom, caught up with his Room co-star Brie Larson. The boy, who is earning raves for his performance (along with Brie), is turning 9 in October. He looked sharp in a blue Ralph Lauren suit.
Sarah Silverman of I Smile Back engaged Soria in a cheerful banter.
HFPA President Lorenzo Soria and Sarah Silverman

Photo Credit: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA
Benicio del Toro, who arrived late in the evening, went straight to Sicario director Denis Villeneuve and friends.
Benicio del Toro and Sicario director Denis Villeneuve

Photo Credit: Ruben V. Nepales/HFPA
Christian Slater of Mr. Robot was dressed in a brown John Varvatos jacket and shoes. Christian, also one of those who arrived early, talked about the finale of Mr. Robot.
Michael Peña of The Martian said that he had so much fun working with Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara and the rest of the key cast that he would love to do another movie with them.
Patrick Stewart of Green Room walked into the party and was immediately surrounded by photographers.
Crimson Peak and I Saw the Light star Tom Hiddleston also arrived later in the night but did not lose time mingling with his friends and guests.
Hiddleston’s I Saw the Light co-star Elizabeth Olsen, who wore an edgy white top with black pants, was one of the early guests. Olsen told us how excited she was to be in Toronto again for the festival. “I’ve been having a great time here,” she said.
Crystal Reflections, the theme for this year’s fête, was designed by creative director Frank Rea of Forget Me Not Flowers. Guests admired the Swarovski crystals that glittered in the courtyard set in a garden of Mokara orchids and chartreuse hydrangea.
As the evening heated up, even as the downpour outside did not subside, the youngest guest in the house, Jacob, held court before admiring guests. He even broke into dance moves. It was a spontaneous move that exemplifies the fun spirit of this annual party, which has now become the festival’s most popular bash.
Janet R. Nepales