Photography by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Grey Goose

TIFF 2018: We Went to the Wildlife Premiere Party

 

So I attended a TIFF Party! To help those who couldn’t make it feel like they were there, I completed this comprehensive post-party questionnaire.

What was the party for?

Wildlife, the writing and directing debut for Dano that’s based on the Richard Ford novel. The film shows the life of a young boy (Ed Oxenbould) who has to adjust to the quick changes in his life in 1960 Montana when his father loses his job and leaves to pursue the odd alternative of fighting wildfires elsewhere, essentially abandoning his wife and kid.

What brands were present as partners?

Grey Goose Vodka and Soho House.

Which celebrities were supposed to be in attendance?

Paul Dano and Carey Mulligan.

Which celebs did you actually spot?

Dano and Mulligan were both wonderful to chat with and easily approachable. The party definitely had a very laid-back and easy-going vibe to it the entire evening, with people constantly mingling with the celebrities and one another. Dano and Mulligan both hung around from the beginning to the end, both gracious to a fault.

Food? Cocktails? 

Cocktails were provided by Grey Goose vodka, who had several drink recipes designed just for the event. One such cocktail included popcorn-flavored syrup and coconut milk with Grey Goose. Of course, the usual vodka martinis and Grey Goose and Tonics were on hand, as well.

As for food, a great variety of pizza and finger foods made the rounds all night long, the standout being some grilled cheese sandwich bites and Korean chicken bites.

Describe the general vibe.

This party was a lot like a casual after-dinner event, or the kind of gathering you’d expect either just before or just after a live performance. This wasn’t a black tire affair, so everyone was dressed well but without any grand expectations. Truth is, if you’re going to mingle with creative types, this is the kind of party in which you want to do it.

Please repeat one conversation you overheard.

“I didn’t realize that Paul Dano is so tall,” was a conversation I overhead numerous times. The guy is over six feet tall, something I never noticed onscreen.

If you had to title the party as if it were a film, what would it be called? 

Tall Paul.

Did the party fill you with joy and wonder, remembering the reason you fell in love with cinema in the first place?

Mostly, it filled me with vodka and grilled cheese sandwiches. But, make no mistake, the movie is going to be a hit.

The picture I painted wasn’t clear enough? Well, here are some photos from inside the party.

 

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