Review: Tastemakers Lounge provides brief but luxurious reprieve at TIFF (Includes first-hand account)

Many film festival goers and celebrity gawkers look forward to the star gazing such events bring to the host city. Premiere screenings and promotional obligations promise to bring any number of famous personalities, presenting the chance for an in-person glimpse, autograph or perhaps even selfie. It’s quite obvious what the public gets in exchange for their time and/or money, but what do the stars have to look forward to when they attend these events? Talking to press and dressing to impress can be exhausting – therefore in their “off-hours,” they’re invited to attend various gift lounges. These conveniently stationed rooms offer a variety of new, useful and/or delicious products and services for celebs to enjoy… and if they’re wont, to mention to their friends and followers. The annual Tastemakers Lounge is definitely one of the top events in this category and we had a chance to preview this year’s offerings.

In spite of being presented by Krispy Kreme Canada, the prominent donut makers are not coming out with a new, low-fat version of their yummy pastries — because let’s face it, the flavour is in the fat. However, they are supplying a much-needed sugar and carb fill-up to all attendees. In addition to their original glazed donut, they’ve made a special TIFF-themed treat in the form of a chocolate-glaze sprinkled with popcorn. And for that extra caffeine boost to get everyone through the rest of their busy day, they have their specially branded coffee, hot or iced.

Of course everyone receives a Guess? tote gift bag of these sponsored goodies to take home. And since no film experience is complete without popcorn, there’s also a full-sized bag of Indulge Gourmet Kettle Corn to enjoy at the next screening.

These lounges are meant to give its visitors a break from the constant hustle-and-bustle, as well as create a buzz around the featured products. Based on what we’ve seen, I don’t think this year’s selections will have a problem with supplying either.

Similar Posts

  • Review: TIFF 2018: ‘Firecrackers’ delivers a feisty, genuine experience (Includes first-hand account)

    Being a teenage girl often feels like a trial, but it’s one that seems to be getting more difficult… or at least more people are now acknowledging the problems unique to being a young woman in a patriarchal society. Social media and technology have certainly been game changers as immediacy has grown paramount, judgements are delivered more freely and typical adolescent mistakes have gained a permanency that has long-term consequences. In Firecrackers, two young women are desperate to escape the oppression they feel in their small town, but even the best laid plans can be upended.

  • Review: TIFF 2016: ‘Catfight’ wrestles its way to the comedic top (Includes first-hand account)

    High school and college reunions are events viewed with either great anticipation or extreme dread. One’s response is often influenced by their lot in life post-graduation. The successful ones can’t wait to flaunt their good fortune, while the others fear the moment everyone asks, “So, what’ve you been up to?” But at least an organized event provides some time to prepare — it’s those unexpected run-ins with people from your past that can really throw someone for a loop. In Catfight, two women find they have a lot of unresolved animosity for each other in spite of going their different ways decades earlier.

  • Review: TIFF 2018: ‘Her Smell’ tells a reckless story with precise flair (Includes first-hand account)

    The image of the “tortured artist” is cliché only because it’s been shown to be true so often. The same goes for addicted musicians and celebrities entering rehab… or worse, dying from overdoses. Of course, all of these things happen to “regular” folk too, but their exploits don’t usually make headline news, nor do they have hundreds/thousands/millions of fans hanging on their every word. It’s almost a tale as old as time and one that’s been portrayed many times for the screen, but there’s still some people out there looking for different ways to tell this story — as shown in Her Smell.

  • Review: Jimmy Carr is a Just for Laughs regular with good reason (Includes first-hand account)

    A 20-plus-year comedy career is more than enough time to experiment with various types of humour, determine one’s skills and discover what makes audiences chuckle. Thus, going to a veteran’s stand-up comedy hour is nearly a guaranteed fun night out filled with laughter provided by a well-developed talent — assuming of course you share the entertainer’s sense of humour. “Jimmy Carr: Funny Business” didn’t disappoint in the least, delivering a night of absolute enjoyment at Just for Laughs.