movies
Top Toronto Party Host Expects More Studio Bashes, Tighter Budgets
Restaurant and nightclub kingpin Charles Khabouth, a top party host for major studio and streamer movie premieres at the Toronto Film Festival each year, expects to feed and honor more Hollywood A-stars in town this year for the 2026 edition.
“Last year we did 46 events. This year we’re at 51 (parties) and counting,” Khabouth told The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, ahead of TIFF getting underway on Sept. 10 for an 11-day run. That’s good news for the wait and bar staff at his downtown Toronto venues around TIFF Lightbox like Vinny, Bisha Hotel, STORYS Building, Portland Room, Animl Steakhouse & Cocktail Den, Kost, Byblos and Bar Romy as prime locations for Hollywood star-watchers during the festival’s 51st edition.
And Khabouth expects even more American players to call about late-party bookings, or to upgrade cocktail events or intimate dinners to full-blown movie premiere parties. “With last-minute changes, I estimate we will hit 60 events this year,” he added, with around 35 of those expected to be parties with an average of 200 attendees.
That’s also good news for local food and alcohol suppliers, limo drivers, security personnel, tablecloth and glassware suppliers. And Toronto launching its inaugural TIFF: The Market is also predicted to offer even more business for local party suppliers, including those installing drapery, lighting and red carpets.
Khabouth cautions, however, party spending by Hollywood studios and streamers this year will continue to come down in Toronto, as it has since COVID. “There’s nobody throwing money around like they used to,” the top restaurateur, who has been in business in Toronto with his Ink Entertainment banner since 1983, reported as the Hollywood bean counters are now in charge.
That’s made lavish Hollywood premiere parties in Toronto, where the champagne flowed to help toast or tout upcoming award season contenders, a thing of the past. “It’s all budgeted. It’s all calculated. The studios are no longer doing what they used to. Budgets have been cut back everywhere and we understand,” Khabouth argued.
That means his restaurant and nightclub venues will continue to work within the budgets of the major American players, while still offering a superior product to ensure repeat business. “It’s still important to deliver that great experience. It showcases that we’re doing a good job,” Khabouth insisted.
The Toronto Film Festival is set to run Sept. 10 to 20 this year.
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movies
Nicole Kidman On “Spontaneous” Appearance In Troye Sivan Video
Nicole Kidman seems to be popping up onscreen everywhere the past few years, and Troye Sivan‘s latest music video was no exception.
After the Oscar-winning actress made a surprise appearance in the 3x Grammy-nominated artist’s “She’s the Best” music video earlier this month, she recently explained the “spontaneous” decision.
“I love him. I’ve known him for such a long time,” Kidman told Attitude. “He called me up and just said: ‘Will you be in this with me?’ I didn’t even need to read anything, I didn’t need to have any information, I just said: ‘Yeah! I’m in!’ But that’s me! I make very spontaneous decisions!”
Marking the lead single on Sivan’s upcoming fourth studio album of the same name, the video for “She’s the Best” features Kidman on a night out in New York City, where Sivan serenades and dances with her at a bar before slipping into drag.
Kidman’s appearance in her fellow Aussie’s video came after they co-starred in the 2018 Joel Edgerton-helmed adaptation of Garrard Conley’s memoir Boy Erased, recounting the author’s experience as an LGBTQ kid in conversion therapy.
Announced a day before the video dropped, She’s the Best is scheduled for an Oct. 9 album release via Interscope’s EMI Records.
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movies
‘Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence’ Sets Fall VOD Release
EXCLUSIVE: The fifth installment of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, titled Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, is coming to VOD platforms on Sept 22. This is following a theatrical release that began on Aug. 7 for the David Ferino directed comedy.
The release comes via a strategic distribution partnership between Starboard Entertainment and Stonecutter Media. Additional titles distributed through the collaboration will be announced in the months ahead.
In the latest installment to the series which first launched in 1978, a young biotech prodigy develops a revolutionary genetically engineered vegetable intended to solve humanity’s greatest problems. When the experiment spirals out of control, it unleashes a new generation of killer tomatoes and sets the stage for another wildly unpredictable chapter in the cult saga. The production was shot in Southern California and stars John Astin (The Addams Family), reprising his role as Professor Gangreen, David Koechner (Anchorman), Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier), Dan Bakkedahl (Veep), Myrna Velasco (Star Wars Resistance) Vernée Watson (Shrinking, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Paul Bates (Coming to America), Zachary Roozen (Romeo and Juliet Killers), Samantha Bailey (Just Add Magic) and Noor Razooky (The Old Man).
“Stonecutter Media is in the business of distributing and promoting edgy, over-the-top films, and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence fits right in our wheelhouse,” said Steven Karel, Owner and President of Stonecutter Media.
“These types of films have proven time and time again to have a sales edge that you don’t get with softer movies,” he added.
“Steve and I have known each other for years, and we always believed we would eventually find the right project to work on together,” said Starboard found Thomas Zambeck.
“Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence is exactly that project. It has a worldwide fan base, an unmistakable identity and the kind of bold creative vision that cuts through a crowded market. Stonecutter understands how to reach the audience for a film like this, and this partnership gives us an opportunity to build something that extends well beyond a single release,” Zambeck added.
Stonecutter delivers film, sports and entertainment content across broadcast, cable, pay-per-view and major VOD and OTT platforms, developing release strategies designed to connect distinctive programming with its core audience. Stonecutter Media has distributed such movies as Red Wing, featuring Glen Powell in his first leading film role alongside Bill Paxton and Luke Perry.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence produced in association with Atomic Toybox Entertainment. The film continues the creation of original Attack of the Killer Tomatoes filmmakers Costa Dillon and Steve Peace.
Editor’s note: David Ferino is a former head of video production at Deadline Hollywood
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movies
Coyote vs. Acme: Will Forte Celebrates Film’s Long-Awaited Release
The time has finally come: Coyote vs. Acme is now playing in theaters.
To celebrate the film’s official release day, director Dave Green shared a thank-you letter on social media, writing in part, “COYOTE VS. ACME IS FINALLY, GLORIOUSLY, IN THEATERS NOW. Which means one thing. WE WON. You can go see this movie. In a theater. In your favorite seat. With your favorite snacks. With your favorite people. You can head into a dark room and laugh with strangers. Together. Congratulations to everyone who made this happen.”
Coyote vs. Acme, a hybrid live-action and animated movie set in the Looney Tunes universe, follows Wile E. Coyote as he sues the Acme Corporation after its products repeatedly fail him in his pursuit of the Road Runner. The film stars Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, Eric Bauza and Martha Kelly.
The film’s journey to theaters has been anything but typical. The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reported in November 2023 that Warner Bros. had shelved Coyote vs. Acme after the movie was completed. The project had been in development at the studio for years and was originally intended as an HBO Max streaming original before Warner Bros. ultimately decided not to release it.
At the time, Warner Bros. said the decision came as the studio shifted its global strategy to focus on theatrical releases following the relaunch of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. However, reports indicated that the studio planned to take an estimated $30 million tax write-down by shelving the approximately $70 million movie.
The decision sparked widespread backlash from fans, filmmakers and the film’s stars, who continued to publicly advocate for the movie’s release.
In March 2025, Ketchup Entertainment acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Coyote vs. Acme from Warner Bros., giving the film a path to a theatrical release. The deal was reportedly valued at around $50 million.
Green went on to explain why the film’s theatrical release is a “victory.”
“It’s a record of the cast and crew, post, prep and animation teams who poured so much love and passion into it over years and years,” he wrote. “It’s shared, permanently, with the audience who fought so hard for its survival. Your fight is the reason this film finally made it to the big screen. Thank you @ketchupentertainment for hearing the audience. We’re so grateful that you did.”
“This is a celebration, it’s proof that movies don’t just go away. We make work so it can be seen and shared — that’s the whole reason we do what we do. Persistence and resilience have truly won the day. Enjoy Coyote vs. Acme on the big screen. Where it was always meant to be seen!” Green concluded his letter.
Forte took to X on Friday to reply to Green’s letter, writing, “Beautifully put, Dave.” He also shared a video thanking people for their efforts to push for the movie’s release and explaining how its messages correlate with the film’s journey.
“It’s about hope and determination. It’s about fighting injustice, and it’s about the importance of friendship and the importance of community. And that last one really strikes a chord because we went through some weird times with this movie, and it is only because of the support of the community that we’re here today, seeing this movie,” Forte said. “You guys lifted us up on your shoulders and just fought and fought for this movie. Most of you, without even having seen it. So I am forever thankful, and just want you to know that I’m so excited for you to see this because I think you’re going to see that it was worth the fight.”
In THR‘s profile of Green, published earlier this month, DC Studios co-head James Gunn, who produced the feature and worked on the story, also reflected on Coyote vs. Acme‘s journey.
“Dave was a great guy throughout the ups and downs. He was never overly bitter and negative, although a little bit of bitterness and negativity was understandable in the given circumstances,” he said. “However, I think you see, when people show true character in the face of adversity, the world rises up to meet them. And in this case, it did — Coyote vs. Acme being saved is because of Dave’s character and because he made a great movie too powerful to be buried. And gosh, perseverance is kind of what Wile E. and the movie are all about.”
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