As a TIFF blogger since 2008, my heart skips a beat the first week of September as I watch the Twitter and Facebook feeds that speak about the Toronto International Film Festival.   The main focus of TIFF is the movies.  From documentaries to Internationally acclaimed Oscar contenders, TIFF has quickly become world renowned and highly respected within the film industry.

It’s so nice to see local talent like George Stroumboulopoulos credit our great Canadian brands and culture and introduce them to the International celebrities who come to enjoy this event.

GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS TONIGHT will launch the fifth iteration of its successful ‘Made in Canada’ Lounge at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This year, more than 75 brands will be showcased at the lounge, with products from local artists and sought-after design talent, to homegrown-turned-international success stories. The common thread? Canadian roots.

Among the selection of everything from coats, toques, t-shirts and bags, to beauty products, décor items and gourmet food and beverage, there are a number of past lounge participants returning. Plus, guests can expect a fresh crop of proudly Canadian brands, including some products featured on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.

The 2013 ‘Made in Canada’ Lounge will embrace Canada’s heritage, translated through décor to reflect a cool, but cozy cabin in the woods, complete with perfectly-Canadian highlights. Think: aBrothers Dressler “Branches Chandelier”; a feature wall of reclaimed wood punctuated by Atelier 688‘s famous paddles, and a fireplace feature; rocking furniture by Toronto- and Vancouver-based Style Garage; resin artwork by Christine Flynn of Love The Design; and even a nod to Canada’s national sport–a screen of hockey sticks. The design vision and its orchestration are a collaborative effort between BEST PR Boutique and Apartment 4-a Montreal design collective.

The product and décor sponsors that make it possible for guests of GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS TONIGHT during TIFF to sample some of Canada’s most coveted products, gain international exposure with celebrity interaction. The ‘Made in Canada’ lounge has previously hosted such top talent as: Javier Bardem, Drew Barrymore, Jay Baruchel, Benjamin Bratt, Michael Douglas, Joshua Jackson, Wyclef Jean, Juliette Lewis, Ewan McGregor, Edward Norton, Clive Owen, Robert Plant, Jason Reitman, Seth Rogen, Geoffrey Rush, Martin Sheen, David Spade, Kristin Scott Thomas, Marisa Tomei and Olivia Wilde.

In addition, audience members at live tapings of GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS TONIGHT have a chance to take home a selection of the products featured at the lounge. Canadians across the country will also be able to sample a cross-section of the brands through an online contest atwww.strombo.com (Visit  cbc.ca/strombo.com for more details as of September 5, 2013.)