• September 25, 2006
• Vol. 66
• No. 13

North Stars

By Jason Lynch, Michelle Tan

Reese! Brad! Borat! (Wait, Who?) Are Part of Hollywood's Annual Invasion at This Year's Star-Studded Toronto International Film Festival

The posters said Toronto International Film Festival, but at least during the frenzied Sept. 9 premiere of his movie Babel, it was pure Bradfest '06. Not that Brad Pitt seemed to mind screaming fans outside Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall—he even stopped to autograph an admirer's wrist. And there were plenty of other southern imports looking to party: In town to promote his documentary Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show, Vince Vaughn blew off steam with a posse of comedians from his movie. "He's a Renaissance man," said comic Ahmed Ahmed, a pal. In the chic Yorkville district, Vaughn, Brittany Murphy and Samuel L. Jackson kicked back at the hopping Motorola Lounge, while at the swag-filled Luxury Lounge, Heath Ledger scooped up Hatley baby clothes for 10-month-old daughter Matilda. Jude Law escorted Sienna Miller to the All the King's Men afterparty, and the arrival of Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore (in town to promote Kutcher's action movie The Guardian) left no doubt that Hollywood had temporarily relocated north of the border. "Everybody's here!" marveled Matt Damon. "Everybody is in Canada!"

On Sept. 8, Reese Witherspoon hit the red carpet in Nina Ricci to plug her latest project, Penelope, costarring Christina Ricci.

The Last King of Scotland stars (from left) James McAvoy, Forest Whitaker and Kerry Washington partied at hip restaurant George before their Sept. 10 premiere.

In town to film the sci-fi drama Jumper, Samuel L. Jackson greeted fans at the Star! Schmooze bash on Sept. 8 and, the next night, went party-hopping till 1 a.m.

Toronto's festival is "very low key," says Brittany Murphy, who introduced her comedy Love and Other Disasters on Sept. 9, and then went out for a little dancing.

Kazakh import Borat (played by comic Sacha Baron Cohen) arrived via woman-pulled cart to a screening of his self-titled comedy on Sept. 7.

Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard shared a good laugh at the opening of their comedy A Good Year on Sept. 9. Biggest thrill for avid cyclist Crowe? "I've done every bike path in Toronto," he bragged.

Parker Posey and Jeff Goldblum put on happy faces to promote their thriller Fay Grim, which opened on Sept. 11.

The Last Kiss stars Zach Braff and Rachel Bilson chowed down at Italian eatery Sotto Sotto. "It was amazing," says Braff.

Wyclef Jean (with Pitt) roused guests with an energetic performance of "Million Voices" (from the film Hotel Rwanda) with the African Children's Choir.

Damon (with the African Children's Choir) hosted the benefit as part of an effort to raise awareness about poverty in the developing world.

"I'm having a great time," says Jude Law (with his leading ladies from the drama Breaking and Entering, Robin Wright Penn and Juliette Binoche), who also debuted All The King's Men at the festival.

"She's a total diva!" joked Jason Biggs (right, clowning with director Michael Ian Black and Isla Fisher, his costar in The Pleasure of Your Company.

Volver vixen Penélope Cruz painted the town purple at the Sept. 8 premiere of the film by Pedro Almodóvar.

Spanish actress Paz Vega hung around Morgan Freeman, her costar in 10 Items or Less.

To see more of your favorite celebs at the film fest, go to www.people.com/toronto

• Contributors:
• Mark Dagostino/Toronto,
• Mary Green/Toronto,
• Lisa Ingrassia/Toronto,
• Zack Medicoff/Toronto.

More From This Article

Toronto's Hottest Party

The film fest's biggest bash had nothing to do with movies. Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Penélope Cruz, Wyclef Jean and John Legend hit a Sept. 10 party at the Carlu that raised almost $1.8 million for Canada's One X One and the U.S.-based Millennium Promise, headed by United Nations adviser Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, two groups fighting global poverty. Damon ran a celebrity auction for goodies that included escorting him and Pitt to the premiere of Ocean's Thirteen. Sold! (Those Ocean's boys love hanging out—before hitting Canada, Pitt joined costar George Clooney for dinner at L.A. steak house Cut on Aug. 31.) And to seal her $116,000 bid, one lucky woman got something extra: a hug and romantic dip from Pitt.

Matt's Mission

Tell us about the documentary you are making, Running the Sahara.

The film [follows] three ultramarathoners running across the Sahara to shed light on the issues there, particularly the lack of water. As part of that, we've started a group called Africa H20. Lack of clean water and sanitation kills nearly 4,500 children a day.

Is this issue too big to tackle?

What gives me hope is there are basic things that can be done to have an impact [$2,500 can help get a well for an entire village].

Is this only the beginning for you?

I feel like I just started down what's going to be a lifelong trek.