Who wore it well? 12 Best Dressed Ladies at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival (George Pimentel photography)

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MALIN AKERMAN and RYAN PHILLIPPE premiere “The Bang Bang Club” at Roy Thomson Hall Gala in Toronto

photos: Malin Akerman and Ryan Phillippe arrive for Gala Toronto Film Festival premiere of “The Bang Bang Club” at Roy Thomson Hall (September 15, 2010 / George Pimentel photos)

While covering TIFF tends to occupy the majority of a Festival Insider’s schedule – leaving little time for actually seeing any films. If this insider finds time for one this festival – it will be The Bang Bang Club. It’s based on the true story of four photojournalists who set out to capture the final days of apartheid in South Africa.

MEGAN FOX makes a return trip to the Toronto International Film Festival for the red carpet premiere of PASSION PLAY

photos: The beautiful MEGAN FOX makes a return trip to the Ryerson theatre red carpet for the 2010 Toronto Film Festival premiere of “Passion Play.” It was exactly one year earlier that Fox walked the Ryerson red carpet when “Jennifer’s Body” made a 2009 TIFF premiere. (George Pimentel photos)

Black Swan opens the 67th Venice Film Festival – Natalie Portman joins director Darren Aronofsky in Italy – Mila Kunis still filming in New York

The world’s oldest International Film Festival – Venice kicked off their 67th edition last night with a Gala world premiere of DARREN ARONOFSKY’S Black Swan. The eagerly awaited thriller features NATALIE PORTMAN and MILA KUNIS as dueling ballerinas and will also make a Toronto International Film Festival debut next week. Variety’s Peter Debruge called it a “wicked, sexy and ultimately devastating study of a young dancer’s all-consuming ambition.”

Portman made the trip to Italy to accompany her director and was a beautiful vision of red on the Gala opening night red carpet.

Unfortunately, Natalie’s co-star from the film, MILA KUNIS did not make the trip to Venice. Mila’s career is on fire of late and has been filming back-to-back projects for the last while. So on the same day Portman was supporting the film in Venice, Kunis was in New York shooting a romantic comedy with Justin Timberlake.

Will Mila’s busy filming schedule also keep her from TIFF’s red carpet when Black Swan has it’s Toronto premiere? This Festival Insider is betting there just might be enough space in Mila’s schedule next week for a quick Toronto visit.

“Six months ahead of the film, I went into sort of hyper-training, where five hours a day I was doing both ballet and cross-training, with swimming. A few months before was when we started getting into the choreography. It was very extreme.” – Natalie Portman, in Venice on her preparation for Black Swan

WHIP IT stars MARCIA GAY HARDEN is one very proud mother to EULALA SCHEEL at Toronto Roller Derby exhibition and red carpet

(festivalinsider.ca) There were some proud parents on display during TIFF ’09. Ivan and Jason Reitman were at the Toronto festival to support multiple movies. Michael Moore’s father was beaming on the Capitalism red carpet. And Oscar and Tony award winning actress Marcia Gay Harden and her daughter Eulala Scheel joined her WHIP IT cast at TIFF. Both have roles in the Drew Barrymore directed film.

CAREY MULLIGAN earning rave reviews in Toronto premiering AN EDUCATION – coming to America next in Wall Street 2 with Shia Lebouef

Your going to be hearing a lot more about British up-and-coming actress Carey Mulligan in the next year. Mulligan has a breakout role in AN EDUCATION, playing to rave reviews at TIFF and other film festivals. Mulligan’s stay in Toronto for the films premiere was a brief one. She had to get back to the New York set of Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps acting opposite Shia Lebouef in the Oliver Stone directed sequel to the eighties hit. It will be Carey’s first big role in an American movie. If that doesn’t endear her to North American audiences, Ms. Mulligan is sure to appear in the gossip mags as she is rumored to be dating her Wall Street co-star Lebouef.

Bollywood star PRIYANKA CHOPRA arrives in Toronto for TIFF premiere of What’s Your Rashee?

(festivalinsider.ca) Top Bollywood actress PRIYANKA CHOPRA arrived at the Toronto International Film Festival for a day of press to talk about What’s Your Rashee? The film also features HARMAN BAWEJA in the lead role of someone who returns home to India and has to find a bride within 12 choices of women presented (all played by Chopra.) On arrival to the press conference, Ms. Chopra greeted a handful of fans gathered and signed autographs.

rising star Amber HEARD at TIFF’09 with THE JONESES – Next up is THE RUM DIARY with Johnny Depp

Rising star AMBER HEARD was in Toronto for the world premiere of The Joneses. The film also stars Demi Moore and David Duchovny. Heard was channeling old-school Hollywood glamour during her stop at the after-party at AME on Mercer St. for the TIFF premiering film which has been earning strong reviews. Next up for Amber is a movie based on Hunter S. Thompson’s The Rum Diary, opposite Johnny Depp.

Nice guy Rick Campanelli of ET Canada gives his jacket to a shivering NATALIE PORTMAN on Toronto red carpet

ET Canada reporter Rick Campanelli proved chivalry is not dead on the red carpet of the Toronto International Film Festival. NATALIE PORTMAN arrived at her Roy Thomson Hall Gala premiere for Love and Other Impossible Pursuits looking simply sensational in a strapless mini dress. But with the red carpet outside and it being September in Toronto, there was a slight chill in the air. As Ms. Portman was doing her media duties, Campanelli noticed Natalie was cold. So he offered up his jacket – an offer Ms. Portman gladly accepted. We do hear the jacket was returned to Rick later that evening. And yes, the insider wonders, does Rick ever wash that coat again?

The TIFF Celebs DO CARE about the photos taken of them – DREW BARRYMORE & ELLEN PAGE in Toronto for WHIP IT red carpet premiere

DREW BARRYMORE and her WHIP IT star ELLEN PAGE enjoyed the photos just taken of them at a WHIP IT pre-party during the Toronto International Film Festival. The duo were curious how some of the shots they were posing for turned out. Barrymore then turned to one TIFF photographer for a sneak peek. The film marks Drew’s directorial debut and has played to good reviews and an enthusiastic response from Toronto audiences.

NATALIE PORTMAN wonders what she will be doing 10 years from now during TIFF 2009 LOVE & OTHER IMPOSSIBLE PURSUITS press conference

NATALIE PORTMAN was in Toronto for the 2009 TIFF press conference for Love and Other Impossible Pursuits. One journalist asked Ms. Portman what she thinks she will be doing ten years from now? “I don’t know if I will want to work. I don’t if I’ll be able to work?” wondered the 28 year-old actress.

Jennifer’s Body star Megan FOX doesn’t really DO HORROR but thinks THE EXORCIST is most scary

(festivalinsider.ca) Probably the most photographed woman at TIFF this year – MEGAN FOX makes a Toronto Film Festival press conference entrance in support of her film Jennifer’s Body.
Since Jennifer’s Body is in the horror genre, Ms. Fox was asked what horror films scared her growing up. Megan admitted to not really watching much horror. But if she had to pick one film that really frightened her? “The Exorcist” she said.

A TIFF IT GIRL – MELANIE LYNSKEY has 3 films during 2009 Toronto festival – including BOTH Clooney films

With so many films playing in festivals this year for Melanie, she was asked if there is anything she likes to travel with to make her more comfortable away from home, “my dog and my husband… well, maybe NOT in that order.”

Playboy founder HUGH HEFNER (and FRIENDS) makes Toronto appearance for Playboy, Activist, Rebel documentary premiere

(festivalinsider.ca) HUGH HEFNER made a grand TIFF red carpet entrance at The Elgin Theatre on Saturday afternoon for the screening of Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist, Rebel. The legendary PLAYBOY founder emerged from a black stretch limo (emblazoned with the famous Playboy symbol) and was accompanied by three lovely ladies. Hef is well into his eighth decade- and it literally took that long for him to open up and support a film about his life’s work. Director Brigitte Berman met Hefner years ago, but it wasn’t until Hefs 80th birthday party that Berman was able to talk the icon into participating in a documentary. “For me, this film has it all – sex, glamour, politics, romance, tragedy, and conflicts – and many great surprises about a man people think they know, but don’t really know,” Berman said.

Jennifer Connelly overcome by tears thinking of her father’s death at 2009 TIFF press conference for Creation

The press conferences at TIFF always provide their share of surprises. And when Jennifer Connelly, took time in her CREATION presser to address remarks a media executive made about her and her husbands very brief pre-Gala party appearance it generally stunned the packed room of media.

A newspaper report had quoted Astral Media’s John Riley as being upset his family didn’t get a chance to personally meet Mrs. Connelly and husband Paul Bettany at an Astral Media TIFF launch event. Connelly took time in the press conference to explain the evening of her and husband’s Gala premiere, was also the 1st anniversary of her father’s death. and THAT was the reason she cut her party celebrations short. To their credit, Mr. Riley and Astral Media did release a statement.

TWO red carpet looks – ONE night for Amanda SEYFRIED at TIFF’09 premieres of AN EDUCATION and JENNIFER’S BODY

(festivalinsider.ca) One of the “it girls” for the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival – Amanda SEYFRIED made not but one, but TWO! red carpet appearances on the opening night of TIFF. Amanda joined boyfriend Dominic Cooper for the premiere of An Education (a film getting Oscar buzz in some circles already) and at the same theatre, four hours later (and to a much more packed carpet of fans and media) Amanda joined Megan Fox and the cast of Jennifer’s Body. Next week, Ms. Seyfried is sure to grace another TIFF red carpet when Canadian writer / director Atom Egoyan’s CHLOE premieres.

Jennifer’s Body star MEGAN FOX and BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN arrive early in Toronto – the weekend BEFORE TIFF starts

Arriving early for TIFF? Jennifer’s Body star Megan Fox and boyfriend Brian Austin Green are in Toronto this weekend. The couple paid a visit to Holt Renfrew on Bloor St. and strolled Yorkville ave. on Friday. Probably a smart thing for the couple to do now. By next weekend, Yorkville will come alive with the Toronto Film Festival and the relatively unnoticed walk the couple made yesterday, will be impossible.