Inside TIFF 50’s Campari Cinema Center: A-List After-Parties, Red Carpets & Cocktails

TIFF 50 at the Campari Cinema Center: Where films meet unforgettable celebrations

​​TIFF 50 wasn’t just about the films on screen.  The real magic happened at the Campari Cinema Center, Toronto International Film Festival’s ultimate hub for press junkets and after-parties. Running from September 5–11, 2025, and produced by Roxstar Entertainment, the Cinema Center returned bigger than ever with Campari as Title Sponsor, joined by Lavazza Coffee, Rodeo FX, Vellamo Natural Spring Water, Discreta Toronto, and Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse.

By day, the space transformed into Collider’s Media Studio, welcoming a dazzling lineup of talent from Riz Ahmed, Kirsten Dunst, Jodie Foster, Ethan Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Lily James, and Channing Tatum for interviews and portraits. By night, it came alive as the city’s most exclusive party destination, hosting celebrations for some of TIFF’s most talked-about films.

Eleanor the Great & Blue Moon Premiere Party at Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse

Sony Pictures Classics hosted a dual celebration for Eleanor the Great (Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut starring June Squibb) and Blue Moon.

The event was held at Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse, one of Toronto’s most acclaimed dining destinations. Guests sipped Campari Negronis and Spritzes while mingling with stars like Scarlett Johansson, Ethan Hawke, Bobby Cannavale, June Squibb, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Erin Kellyman.

Insider Moment: Earlier that morning, I actually spotted Scarlett Johansson ducking into a convenience store before heading to her press circuit. Later that evening at the party, I couldn’t resist asking her what she’d bought, and she laughed, saying it was a teddy bear for her son. It was such a sweet, human moment that made her warmth at the party even more genuine. At Jacobs, she floated between the bar and piano lounge, catching up with Cannavale and Hawke, while June Squibb dazzled in a sequined red pantsuit, she was absolutely glowing and somehow had more energy than all of us combined.

 Easy’s Waltz & Adulthood at Discreta Toronto

Campari Cinema Center closed out the week at Discreta, Toronto’s newest King West lounge, with back-to-back celebrations for Easy’s Waltz and Adulthood.

For Easy’s Waltz, stars Vince Vaughn and Simon Rex brought a mix of laid-back charm and infectious energy. Vaughn spent much of the night tucked into a booth, chatting with friends and colleagues, while Rex moved through the crowd, stopping to greet guests with warmth and humor he’s known for.

Later, Adulthood took the spotlight with Kaya Scodelario turning heads in an ombré purple suit, Alex Winter making a quick but memorable red-carpet appearance, and Anthony Carrigan keeping things grounded as he mingled with cast and crew. With Campari cocktails like the Rosita and the classic Negroni flowing, the night felt celebratory yet effortless, just the perfect way to wrap TIFF’s bittersweet final weekend.

Wrap up

From Scarlett Johansson’s Eleanor the Great to Vince Vaughn and Simon Rex lighting up Easy’s Waltz, the Campari Cinema Center once again proved why it’s TIFF’s premier hospitality hub. These weren’t just after-parties but they were curated experiences that captured the spirit of the festival: connection, conversation, and celebration.

A big shout to the Campari Cinema Center, powered by Campari’s Red Passion and supported by an incredible lineup of partners including Lavazza Coffee, Rodeo FX, Vellamo Natural Spring Water, Discreta Toronto, and Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse. 

Thank you to Boulevard of Dreams PR, the amazing team working behind the scenes to bring all of this together.

And personally, wanted to thank our good friend Will Wong for experiencing and bringing me on this journey- from brushing shoulders with Scarlett Johansson at the bar to watching Simon Rex charm a room full of guests, these are the behind-the-scenes TIFF moments  that make TIFF 50 truly a special one. 

[All photography by Lu Chau @Photagonist]

ABOUT CAMPARI GROUP 

Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spanning across Aperitifs, including iconic brands like Aperol and Campari, Agave spirits such as Espolòn tequila, Whiskeys and Rum, with Wild Turkey and Appleton Estate, as well as Cognac and Champagne, including Courvoisier and Grand Marnier. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. It has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group operates via 24 production sites worldwide and its own distribution network in 27 countries. Campari Group employs approximately 5,000 people. The shares of the parent company Davide Campari-Milano N.V. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM) have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001.

For more information: http://www.camparigroup.com/en.

Please enjoy our brands responsibly.

ABOUT RODEO FX
Repeatedly voted one of Montreal’s Top Employers and Employer of the Year for the 2022 Mercuriades Awards, Rodeo FX is a high-end creative company offering services in visual effects, advertising, animation, and experiential. Nominated for multiple Emmy® Awards for its work on the series Stranger Things season 4, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, the independent, Oscar®-winning company boasts close to 800 artists crafting from studios in Montreal, Québec City, Toronto, Los Angeles and Paris. Rodeo FX is a creative partner to the world’s best storytellers including Netflix, HBO, Disney, Marvel, Amazon Studios, Warner Bros. and Sony, and has collaborated on ads for YouTube, NBC and Apple. Current projects include HBO’s Welcome to Derry, Foundation Season 3 and The Running Man. Recently released projects include The Rings of Power Season 2, The Sandman, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and House of the Dragon Season 2.

For more information, please visit rodeofx.com

ABOUT LAVAZZA GROUP

Lavazza, founded in Turin in 1895, has been owned by the Lavazza family for four generations. Today the Group is one of the leading players on the global coffee scene, with turnover of over € 3.3 billion and a portfolio of top brands that lead their respective markets, such as Lavazza, Carte Noire, Merrild and Kicking Horse Coffee. It is active in all business sectors and has operations in 140 markets, with 9 manufacturing plants in 5 countries and about 5,500 collaborators all over the world. The Group’s global presence is the result of 130 years of growth and the more than 30 billion cups of Lavazza coffee produced every year are a testament to a remarkable success story, with the goal of continuing to offer the best coffee possible, in all forms, by focusing on every aspect of the supply chain, from the selection of the raw material to the product in the cup. Lavazza Group has revolutionized coffee culture by investing continuously in research and development: from the intuition that marked the company’s earliest success – the coffee blend – to the development of innovative packaging solutions; from the first espresso sipped in Space to the dozens of industrial patents. The ability to be ahead of the times is also reflected in the attention to economic, social and environmental issues – which have always been a benchmark to guide corporate strategies.

“Awakening a better world every morning” is the corporate purpose of Lavazza Group, with the aim of creating value for shareholders, collaborators, consumers and the communities in which it operates, combining competitiveness with social and environmental responsibility.

For more information, go to www.lavazza.ca and follow @lavazzaca    

ABOUT ROXSTAR ENTERTAINMENT
Roxstar Entertainment (the DBA for Twenty35 Agency LLC) is a leading Hollywood service agency specializing in social media, communications, and experiential services, run by veteran Hollywood producer David Manning. Its signature annual programs include The Cinema Center at top film festivals, while also owning a robust roster of relationships across entertainment, sports, and talent to help brands create unique and impactful branded content that amplifies across digital media.  For more information, go to www.roxstarentertainment.tv and follow @roxstar_entertainment

ABOUT DISCRETA TORONTO

At Discreta, Toronto’s newest nightlife Lounge, every element is considered—every experience, intentionally curated. Whether you’re unwinding in the privacy of our VIP lounge or moving with the rhythm of our live DJ on the floor, Discreta is the kind of place you arrive at with intention—and leave wanting more. The night, done differently.  Visit:  www.discretato.com