The invitation-only series welcomed Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Rami Malek and other film industry guests for four celebrations at PUNCH Toronto.
Film premieres bring collaborators together on the red carpet. During the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, CineDine created another place for those connections: the dinner table.
The invitation-only celebrity supper club debuted with four gatherings at the newly opened PUNCH at Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer. Created by Twenty35 Agency and presented in partnership with Redbreast Irish Whiskey, the series combined cast dinners, premiere receptions and industry celebrations with food, cocktails and conversation.
According to organizers, attendees across the gatherings included Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Gael García Bernal, Rami Malek, Cole Sprouse, Esmeralda Pimentel, Jorge Salinas, Adam Arkin, Florian Zeller and Eugene Kotlyarenko.
Four Celebrations Bring Film Collaborators Together
The inaugural CineDine program included events surrounding Bunker, Hombre al Agua and Up Against It, alongside The Creative Coalition Spotlight Awards Dinner.
Each gathering offered cast members, filmmakers and entertainment professionals a private setting to celebrate their work and connect with fellow guests. The smaller format placed conversation at the center of the evening, giving CineDine a distinct role within the festival’s larger schedule of screenings, premieres and parties.
For Twenty35 Agency, the series introduced a hospitality concept built around the relationship between cinema, culinary experiences and the people who bring productions to life.
PHOTO GALLERIES / HI-RES IMAGES:
BUNKER — September 14
Festival premiere reception at PUNCH at Le Germain Mercer
Sponsored by Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Caviar Bar & Co., Isola Serena Tuscany and Château des Charmes
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HOMBRE AL AGUA — September 15
Cast dinner at PUNCH at Le Germain Mercer
Sponsored by Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Caviar Bar & Co., Isola Serena Tuscany and Château des Charmes
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The Creative Coalition Spotlight Awards — September 15
Festival dinner at PUNCH at Le Germain Mercer
Sponsored by Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Caviar Bar & Co., Isola Serena Tuscany and Château des Charmes
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UP AGAINST IT — September 17
Festival premiere reception at PUNCH at Le Germain Mercer
Sponsored by Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Caviar Bar & Co., Isola Serena Tuscany and Château des Charmes
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Inside PUNCH Toronto
PUNCH provided a setting suited to the supper club format. Its 91-seat dining room, designed by Block Plan Studios, combines British guild hall influences with marble, warm woods, artwork and statement lighting.
Leather banquettes, mahogany detailing and feather chandeliers contributed to the atmosphere for CineDine’s private gatherings.
Executive chef Mandar Kulkarni leads a menu that brings together Indian and British influences, family recipes and global flavors. Shareable dishes complement a cocktail program that explores the history of punch through Indian and British ingredients and traditions.
Located inside Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer, the restaurant served as the home for all four CineDine celebrations.
Food and Drink Become Part of the Program
CineDine’s partners contributed distinct elements to the inaugural series.
Redbreast Irish Whiskey provided signature cocktails and selections from its Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey portfolio, including Redbreast 12, 15 and 18 Year Old, as well as expressions from its Iberian Series.
Toronto’s Caviar & Bar Co. offered caviar and macaron service to VIP guests during select celebrations. Exclusive wine partner Château des Charmes supplied Superior Chardonnay, Superior Cabernet Franc and sparkling wine.
Isola Serena, a private villa and estate in Tuscany’s Chianti region, introduced guests to its estate-produced extra virgin olive oil. The oil is made from olives grown and harvested on the property and bottled in Tuscany.
Together, those offerings made food and beverage service a central part of CineDine’s approach to hosting film industry gatherings.
A More Intimate Festival Gathering
CineDine’s Toronto debut established a format focused on shared meals and personal interaction during a busy industry occasion.
Developed for actors, filmmakers, entertainment leaders, and invited guests, the concept brings private dinners and receptions into the celebration of films and cultural events. Across its first four gatherings, the supper club gave those celebrations a common setting: a table where collaborators and industry peers could spend time together.
Learn more about the venue at PUNCH Toronto, located at 30 Mercer St.
