::: George Christy ::: From the Beverly Hills Courier

If itÕs September, it must be Toronto, where cinema cognoscenti of all ages gather annually to hold court at the Toronto International Film Festival. In its 32nd year, the festival is a filmmakerÕs dream, attracting hundreds of stars, producers, studio tigers, PR handlers, stylists, arrogant screw-upers and more journalists and paparazzi than there are in Hades or heaven, everyone text-messaging madly with BlackBerrys and frantically glued to cellphones. As of midweek (the festival wraps this weekend), more than $50 million was committed for pick-up deals. Invited by Helga Stephenson 28 years ago, I predicted then in my Hollywood Reporter columns that this was, indeed, the Festival of Festivals. And that Hollywood should come running. Time and again, I reiterated this, as my friend Michael Budman of the Roots stores reminded me this week. And the who-and-the-who heeded the call. Why Toronto? The audiences are incorrigible movie fans, we speak the same language, and our dollar has had considerable value. The city is welcoming, with a multiethnic mix that evokes a sophisticated aura. Beautiful women, classy shops, and restaurants like Yannick Bigourdan and chef David LeeÕs Splendido, where CTVÕs Ivan Fecan and Sandra Faire celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last December with a posh black-tie dinner. Popular havens like Fernando TemudoÕs Bistro 990, crowded, celebrity-filled trattorias like Marisa RoccoÕs Soto Soto for her letÕs-go-back-for Italian cuisine thatÕs a favorite of photographer Bruce Weber and Uma Thurman, while Canadian Idol host Ben MulroneyÕs favors Vaticano, where he orders two pastas, never missing out on Felice VaccaÕs spaghetti Bolognese. (For Internet readers, this column continues on the following page.) This is the 23rd year of my annual Four Seasons Hotel festival luncheon, where I ask 150 Canadian power players and Hollywood folks for drinks in the infamous Avenue Bar, and 80 for luncheon in the Print Room on the mezzanine floor where the six tables buzz with Tinsel Town gossip and news. Initially, I hosted the lunch for my Canadian buddies, with a mix of Hollywood spice, as it remains to this day. Always served is my signature chicken pot pie prepared by chef Robert Bartley, and that go-to-hell sundae I created of chocolate and vanilla gelato intertwined with golden Niagara peaches, topped with rich chocolate sauce and sprinkled with crushed amaretti. Guests received RootsÕ passport wallets of the finest Italain leather, author George AnthonyÕs memoir about the late great TV interviewer, Starring Brian Linehan, the Putney Heath FarmsÕ fine maple syrup from Norman Jewison, SwaroskiÕs surprises, Salvador Dali fragrances and ChanelÕs luxury bath products. Party animals roar through the midnight hours at clubs and dives, superstars come and go, all hustling good, bad and ugly films with intelligent and moronic interviews from reporters. Outstanding was the OneXOne Sunday evening at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Founded by the indefatigable Joelle Berdugo Adler to benefit children world-wide, hosted by Matt Damon and produced by the tireless Barry Avrich, the gala honored the Duchess of York, Richard Gere, Bonnie and Fred Cappuccino, now wed 54 years, with two children and an adopted 19 from a dozen backgrounds (ÒI still get weak at the knees when I look at Bonnie,Ó confessed Fred). Honorees also included model Petra Nemcova, National Chief Phil Fontaine, an advocate for First Nations rights, and the three runners of Asian, Canadian and American heritage, who ran 7,000 kilometres across the Sahara for 111 days through six countries to raise funds. Matt Damon produced the Running the Sahara film, which the festival curiously chose not to screen, with Matt hosting his own private screening in TorontoÕs Little Italy. Honoree Wyclef Jean dueted one number with Shakira, and then wowed the sold-out audience with his sensational, impromptu hour-and-a-half concert that will be long remembered for his hot-damn musicianship. Ben Affleck joined Matt Damon for the live auction, and Wyclef later auctioned a night of his performing at the bidderÕs home with Petra cooking that fetched $150,000 from CTVÕs programming president Susanne Boyce. All in all, a philanthropic triumph, and you had to be there. As well as the next night for a Valentino show of his signature red stunners. Another Toronto week that was!