Hollywood and other stars of global entertainment will return to this year’s Toronto Film Festival in pre-pandemic numbers and splendor, says local restaurant and nightclub boss Charles Khabouth.

“I feel like TIFF is 100 percent, if not 110 percent, coming back. Everyone has been looking forward to it for so many years,” said Khabouth The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday. This is in stark contrast to the 2023 TIFF edition, where striking Hollywood actors did not show up and local party venues, restaurants and their suppliers suffered financial losses.

And before that, Toronto struggled with two years of pandemic disruption, with scaled-back digital editions in 2020 and 2021. “TIFF is the most exciting time of the year in Toronto and we’ve missed it,” Khabouth added, as Toronto’s newest festival, which runs Sept. 5-15, is about to kick off.

As CEO of Ink Entertainment, Khabouth is in close contact with representatives from major studios and streamers who come to Toronto with film premieres, and his downtown Toronto venues such as the Bisha Hotel, Pink Sky, Kost, Mister C Bar Room and private members’ club Clio will again serve as top locations for Hollywood star-spotters at the 2024 edition of TIFF.

The 10-day event, which includes Venice and Telluride, is the kickoff to awards season, when Hollywood stars come to Toronto to toast or promote their latest film, whether at traditional press conferences, talent dinners or pre- and post-screening parties. TIFF events that Khabouth’s venues are hosting include an opening night party at the Daphne on Richmond Street and a premiere party for Ben Stiller’s nutcrackerthe TIFF opener, at the Mister C Bar Room in the Bisha Hotel.

“Currently, we have confirmed that people like Angelina Jolie, Selena Gomez and Pharrell Williams, with whom we are hosting an event, as well as Ben Stiller and Jude Law will be coming to town,” said Khabouth, listing his guest list so far.

The return of Hollywood actors to help directors and producers premiere their films in Toronto also means a financial boost for the local businesses that transport, feed and honor American celebrities who come to town for the film festival.

Khabouth also hosts premiere parties on the opening weekend for The Penguin Lessonsthe dramedy from director Peter Cattaneo starring Steve Coogan, and at Clio the Billboard Women in Music event honouring Alanis Morissette at Adelaide Street nightclub DPRTMNT, as well as a first-ever BAFTA event at Mister C, which promises a host of British film and TV stars.

And Khabouth’s restaurant Pink Sky on King Street hosts premiere parties for Amy Adams’ Night slutDakota Johnson’s Loser baby, Jude Laws The Order And friendshipwith Paul Rudd.

Khabouth adds that having Hollywood superstars in his restaurants and nightclubs is exciting and morale-boosting for his staff. But he adds that his wait staff are trained to treat Hollywood stars with care and discretion, which means not gawking or asking for selfies or autographs.

And while waiters may know well-known Hollywood actors because they are in the public eye, Khabouth says film directors and producers are not as easily recognized, and yet they are important VIPs that waiters are made aware of in advance.

Food and beverage vendors, limousine drivers, additional service staff hired during TIFF, and specialists who install curtains, lighting and red carpets downtown in and around the TIFF Lightbox rely on the annual film festival for their business.

Khabouth adds that he always orders extra champagne and wine, as well as tablecloths and glasses, before TIFF so he doesn’t run out of supplies. And he always keeps a case of fine cigars and cognacs on hand in case anyone has a craving for the finer things in life.

“People are allowed to be a certain way and ask for certain things, and we try our best,” Khabouth said.