IMDb brought together an impressive lineup of filmmakers, actors, industry leaders and digital creators on September 14 for The IMDb Cocktail Party at KŌST in Toronto’s Bisha Hotel during the Toronto International Film Festival. Hosted as an exclusive celebration of filmmaking and creative talent, the invitation-only event honored guests including Andrew Haigh, Andrew Rhymer, Kat Sandler and Scarlett Bermingham, while welcoming notable names such as Clark Backo, Fred Hechinger, Noah Reid, Demet Özdemir, Fawzia Mirza, Rachel Morrison and Noah Segan. The gathering also highlighted IMDb’s growing collaboration with Canadian industry guilds and the recent launch of its Digital Creator profession.
Guests at the cocktail reception included IMDb CEO Nikki Santoro, IMDb Founder and Executive Chair Col Needham; Guests of Honor Andrew Haigh (A Long Winter), Andrew Rhymer (All That She Wants), Clark Backo (YAGA), Fred Hechinger (A Long Winter), Kat Sandler (YAGA), Noah Reid (YAGA), and Scarlett Bermingham (All That She Wants); writer Alexandra Pechman, producer Carolyn Newman, producer Catherine Keane, producer Damon D’Oliveira, actor Demet Özdemir, director Fawzia Mirza, actor Kaan Yıldırım, industry consultant Keri Putnam, producer Leopold Hughes, filmmaker Louise Bagnall, producer Mackenzie Donaldson, director Małgorzata Szumowska, cinematographer Michał Englert, actor Noah Segan, producer Pancho Mansfield, cinematographer Rachel Morrison, actor Sarp Bozkurt, actor Watson Rose, actor Will Price; Digital Creators including Aicha Bastien-N’Diaye, Alex Nikolajev, April Reyes, Aryaan Kanji, Ashley Hufford, Azis Celestino, Becca Rhodes, Breonna Stephens, Bridget Darcey, Brigitte Truong, Cameron Kozak, Daniel Baptista, Daniela Manzano, Dawn Yang, Eagle Blackbird, Ella Neal, Eric de Montigny, Jennah Blau, Jocelyn Yates, Julie Nolke, Liz Duff, Mahima Dutt, Maysa Maleek, Myah Elliott, Nathalie Restoule, Nick Palmai, Nicky Reardon, Reangsei Phos, Richardo Acosta, Shahbaz Siddiqui, Spencer West, Tofunmi Oladapo, Tope Babalola, Violet Ferguson, Yasin Muhammad, and Yuvi Randhawa; and many more!
TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Nikki Santoro, CEO, IMDb, speaks onstage during the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Fawzia Mirza, Andria Wilson Mirza, Alex Schmider and CC Wemedi attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) John Morayniss, Pancho Mansfield and Noah Reid attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Jocelyn Yates and Breonna Stephens attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Brigitte Truong and Kemana Otosi attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Guest attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Spencer West, Violet Ferguson and Gabi D. attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Nick Antosca, Alexandra Pechman and Brennan Clost attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Romy Weltman, Brennan Clost and Watson Rose attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Ricky Acosta and April Reyes attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Romy Weltman, Brennan Clost and Watson Rose attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Lucy Kayumov and guest attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Guest attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Paul Ridd, Fred Hechinger, Andrew Haigh, Alex Schmider, Eagle Blackbird, Breonna Stephens, Tope Babalola and Azia Celestino attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Maysa Maleek attends the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Leopold Hughes, Noah Segan and guest attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Emma O’Neill attends the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: A guest attends the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Violet Ferguson attends the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Romy Weltman, Brennan Clost and Watson Rose attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Kat Sandler and Clark Backo attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Fred Hechinger attends the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Noah Reid attends the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Leopold Hughes attends the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Jocelyn Yates, Breonna Stephens and Kemana Otosi attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Catherine Keane, Louise Bagnall and Alexandra Pechman attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Kat Sandler, Mackenzie Donaldson, Noah Reid and Clare Stone attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Romy Weltman and Brennan Clost attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: Kat Sandler attends the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 14: (L-R) Fred Hechinger, Andrew Haigh, Kat Sandler, Noah Reid, Clark Backo, Nikki Santoro, CEO, IMDb, Col Needham, Founder and Exec. Chairman, IMDb, Andrew Rhymer and Scarlett Bermingham attend the IMDb Celebration of Filmmakers in Toronto on September 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb)
