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Paolo Virzì’s The Leisure Seeker is among the several films which world premiered at the Venice Film Festival before bowing in North America in Toronto. Virzì is less known than Italian compatriots like Paolo Sorrentino, Matteo Garrone or Nanni Moretti but he has been a solid chronicler of his generation, with personal stories mostly centered around his native Tuscan city of Livorno.

There was no breakout trend at this year’s HFPA/InStyle party – the freedom to choose and reflect one’s own personality refreshing in the range of colors and styles on display.

Julianne Moore has had a busy month, first hitting the Lido at the Venice Film Festival with co-star Matt Damon and filmmaker George Clooney for their movie Suburbicon, and now the 56-year-old Golden Globe-winning actress is being feted again, along with her co-star and director, at the Toronto Film Festival. Suburbicon stars Matt Damon as Gardner Lodge, a seemingly model husband and father living in the picture-perfect suburb of Suburbicon in the 1950s.

Festive fashion ran the gamut as friends and colleagues caught up with each other at the HFPA/InStyle party.

Black was a surprising trend at the glittering HFPA/InStyle party with George Clooney making an early arrival and all the stars turning up to celebrate TIFF.

As usual, the Toronto International Film Festival’s first Saturday culminated with what has become a tradition. The annual HFPA/InStyle bash took over the Windsor Arms off Bloor street, as a veritable who’s who of filmdom descended on the hotel to celebrate film, the beginning of the Fall awards season, and generally catch up with one another at North America’s largest festival.

The Italians did not just run the festival, they also ruled the red carpet. This year there were more local designers than ever before, and jury president Annette Bening, as well as Rebecca Hall, set the tone by wearing Italian designers exclusively.

Guillermo del Toro’s Cold War fantasy drama The Shape of Water took home the top award at the 74th Venice Film Festival. “ I believe in life, I believe in love and I believe in cinema,” del Toro said as he accepted the Golden Lion to a massive standing ovation at the Palazzo del Cinema’s Sala Grande.

Margot Robbie, Lady Gaga, Nicole Kidman and that’s just a partial list of the mega wattage stars stalking up the red carpet to promote their projects.

As the Venice Film Festival closes, the Toronto Film Festival begins – and it was mainly men on the carpet, though Priyanka Chopra added a splash of pizzazz while Lady Gaga made heads turn.