Events of the Week: ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,’ Beyond Fest and More

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Beyond Fest and AKA Mr. Chow.

New York Film Festival

The festival continued to take over Lincoln Center for its second week, with a Priscilla premiere on Oct. 6.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour premiere

Taylor Swift celebrated the world premiere of her concert film in Los Angeles on Wednesday, alongside celebrity friends Beyoncé, Adam Sandler, Mariska Hargitay, Julia Garner, Simu Liu and Flavor Flav.

CAA’s Annual Young Hollywood Party

Creative Artists Agency hosted its annual Young Hollywood Party fundraiser on Oct. 5, with Pedro Pascal, Damson Idris, Michael Cimino, Ty Simpkins and Lewis Pullman among the attendees.

Step Up Los Angeles Inspiration Awards

Step Up held its 2023 Inspiration Awards in Los Angeles on Oct. 6, celebrating 25 years of Step Up mentorship. Mentors from the inaugural 25 Mentors of The Year List in attendance included Julie Bowen and journalist Lisa Ling, along with guests Linda Cardellini, Rhea Seehorn, Garcelle Beauvais, Melissa Peterman, Abigail Spencer and Maggie Lawson.

Pacific Rim Beyond Fest screening

Guillermo del Toro attended a Beyond Fest screening and Q&A, in partnership with the American Cinematheque, for Pacific Rim on Saturday.

EEEEEATSCON New York

The Infatuation held its signature food festival EEEEEATSCON New York, presented by Chase Sapphire, over the weekend, with celeb participants including Sarah Jessica Parker, Questlove, Saweetie, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day.

Family Style Food Festival

Family Style and The Hundreds celebrated its fifth annual food fest on Sunday, with a lineup of restaurants including Funke, Boia De, Bonnie’s, Camphor, Kato, Trill Burgers and Swan Oyster Depot and a number of celebrity attendees.

Hamptons International Film Festival

Paul Simon, Alec Baldwin, Jesse Eisenberg, Liev Schreiber, Alden Ehrenreich, Jennifer Esposito, Christie Brinkley, Rosanna Arquette, Eugenio Derbez, Griffin Dunne and Alex Gibney were among those who took part in the 31st annual Hamptons International Film Festival, which ran from Oct. 5 to Oct. 12.

Avalon TV premiere

The House of Avalon and World of Wonder hosted a premiere event for Avalon TV on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Bring Change to Mind’s Revels & Revelations fundraiser

Bring Change to Mind, the mental health-focused nonprofit co-founded by Glenn Close, hosted the 11th annual Revels & Revelations fundraiser on Monday, where Ryan Reynolds was honored with the Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter Award. Robin William’s children, Zak and Zelda Williams, presented the award, with attendees including Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Schumer, Roy Wood Jr. and Reba McEntire.  

Pencils of Promise Gala

Pencils of Promise celebrated its 15th anniversary in New York City on Tuesday at its annual gala, raising a total of $1.2 million towards empowering communities through education. Debra Messing received the PoP Activist Award while Ja Rule and Doug E. Fresh were also among the night’s honorees.

Dream Scenario Beyond Fest screening

Nicolas Cage attended a Beyond Fest screening and Q&A, in partnership with the American Cinematheque, for Dream Scenario on Tuesday.

UTA’s Business of Drag roundtable

On Tuesday, UTA, in partnership with GLAAD and PEG, celebrated National Coming Out Day with a roundtable discussion on the business of drag, the effects of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and LGBTQ+ representation in entertainment. Panelists included RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Violet Chachki, Gottmik and Monét X Change alongside UTA comedy touring agent Michael Grinspan and digital talent agent Pranav Mandavia. The conversation was moderated by GLAAD’s vp of communications Anthony Allen Ramos.

National Women’s History Museum event

Sharon Stone and Kaufman Astoria Studios co-founder and NY museum chair Cheri Kaufman co-hosted an event at Casa Cruz in NYC on Tuesday to support the National Women’s History Museum. Guests included Kamie Lightburn, Bonnie Lautenberg, Saundra Whitney, Eleanora Kennedy, Sharon Bush, Fern Malis, Ann Dexter Jones, Janna Bullock, Karen Fisher, Ambassadress Angelique Pitteloud and Susan Gutfreund.

Equality Now Gala

The 2023 Equality Now “Make Equality Reality” gala was held on Wednesday in New York, honoring poet and activist Rupi Kaur in front of guests including Gloria Steinem, Christine Lahti, Kathy Najimy and Sheetal Sheth.

W Magazine’s The Originals Issue party

W Magazine hosted a dinner on Wednesday night to celebrate its annual The Originals Issue, with guests including Karlie Kloss, Brit Marling, Gene Stupnitsky, Eli Bush, Dianna Agron, and Tom Blyth.

UCLA Department of Neurosurgery’s Visionary Ball

Byron Allen was honored at the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery Visionary Ball on Wednesday, where Howie Mandel served as emcee and Jay Leno and Smokey Robinson performed.

Live with Kelly and Mark PaleyFest event

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos spoke at PaleyFest in NYC on Wednesday, in a conversation moderated by Milojo Productions executive producer Albert Bianchini.

AKA Mr. Chow premiere

HBO hosted a premiere event for the documentary film, which follows the artist, actor and famed restaurateur Michael Chow, on Thursday in NYC. Director Nick Hooker and Chow were joined by producer Diane Quon and executive producers Jean Tsien and Graydon Carter on the carpet.

Ghetto Film School Fall Benefit

Danielle Brooks, Quinta Brunson and Sandra Oh were honored by Ghetto Film School on Thursday, at a starry event at Veronica and Brian Grazer’s home that included Sebastian Stan, Bryce Dallas-Howard, Jack Huston, MJ Rodriguez, Daniel Scheinert, Casey Affleck, David O. Russell, Sanaa Lathan, MaCauley Culkin, John David Washington, David Rubin, Darren Bennett, Michelle Rodriguez, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving, Mekhi Phifer and Jeffry Wright.  

Hudson River Park Friends 25th Anniversary Gala

Hudson River Park Friends hosted its 25th Anniversary Gala, emceed by Ronny Chieng, on Thursday in NYC. The evening raised $2.75 million to support the Park’s 400+ free events and programs, the maintenance of its landscapes and gardens and the future care of new park areas including Gansevoort Peninsula and Pier 97.

The Engagement Party opening

Playwright and TV writer-producer Samuel Baum celebrated the West Coast opening of his hit play The Engagement Party at the Geffen Playhouse on Thursday, with support from Brie Larson and Sterling K. Brown.

Fear of Heights premiere

Kevin Flynn’s live one-man show Fear of Heights had its West Coast premiere at Odyssey Theater in West L.A. on Thursday, where it is running through October. The show is produced by Peter and Bobby Farrelly.

Roybal School of Film and Television Production second year kick-off

On Friday, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington celebrated the launch of the second year of the Roybal School of Film and Television Production Magnet, a specialized academy created to drive change across the entertainment industry for students from underserved communities.