PR Guru Natasha Koifman is a veteran of the Toronto Film festival. Six years ago, she introduced the IT Lounge, a pool of premier gifting suites in the city. This year, the lounge has a partnership with global charity APJ and local beneficiary Camp Oochigeas.

A Day in the Life of Natasha Koifman

7:00 a.m. – My two black labs wake me up by nuzzling at my nose because they want to be fed

7:30 a.m. – Turn on Breakfast Television in the kitchen, make myself a Nespresso. I LOVE my new Nespresso machine that my BF bought me for Christmas. I’m Jewish, but I love Christmas – I talk about it year round). I Turn on my computer and am at 225 new emails. By 12, I’ll be at 500 and by end of day, I’ll be at 1000…Is it 8:00 a.m. yet?

8:30 a.m. – Wash my face and then apply my Kiehl’s Abyssine Eye Cream (I swear the caffeine in this product is more powerful than my Nespresso!)

8:45 a.m. – Just had my new schedule texted to my by my assistant. My day is crazier than ever…Is there going to be anytime for a Snickers break today? FYI, I live on candy and chocolate and FIJI water.

9:00 a.m. – Throw on one of my pre-Film Festival go-to outfits, this one consisting of a black RW&CO. tunic, black Diesel Skinny Jeans and studded Alexander McQueen pumps. It was easy to find my new studded Alexander McQueen pumps because I slept with them the night before…I mean it when I say I LOVE my shoes!

9:15 a.m. – Call into a meeting with a client on my way to work to discuss a high-profile strategic opportunity during TIFF (Might need another coffee or Snickers before this one)

9:30 a.m. – Head to the NKPR offices to participate in our weekly meeting, where we are dividing roles and responsibilities for all of our film festival initiatives. This year, we are involved with more than ever before. Our company has grown to include over 30 people, and everyone has a role for the IT Lounge, our charitable celebrity gifting suite (Sept. 8-14), the TORO After Dark Lounge (Sept. 9 &10), the Aritsts for Peace and Justice (APJ) with Paul Haggis, Gerard Butler and George Strombolopolous Fundraiser (Sept. 9), the APJ Academy Lunch with Eddie Vedder (Sept. 10) and the HELLO! Canada Red Carpet (Sept. 10). Pause. Look around the room. We have a really good looking office. Am I allowed to say that?

10:30 a.m. – Meet with producer from a major network to discuss partnership opportunities during Film Festival.

10:40 a.m. – Enjoy a mid-meeting non-fat, non-stirred Caramel Macchiato on ice from Starbucks….Doesn’t that seem very Bond-esque?

11:00 a.m. – Internal status review meetings to ensure everything is running smoothly for all NKPR accounts not associated with TIFF

12:00 p.m. – Lunch with a publicist for Canadian talent at Luma in the TIFF Bell Lightbox. We order two desserts, and on the way out, I pick up candy and pastries from Canteen to bring back to the “team”.

1:00 p.m. – Sneak-preview interview with a journalist for what the celebrities visiting Toronto will be experiencing at this year’s IT Lounge. Journalist GLOBAL LOCAL wants to know how they can support our two causes Artists for Peace and Justice, and Camp Oochigeas, Canada’s first fully residential camp for children with cancer). Journalist also loves the Simply You jewellery, the Coccinelle handbags and the Goody Spin Pin (so much that she left wearing it!).

1:55 p.m. – Spend five minutes on Net-A-Porter and purchase two new Junya Watanabe dresses which will immediately be moved into my film festival closet

1:57 p.m. – Decide to also purchase a McQueen clutch…that was a quick shopping spree!

2:00 p.m. – Meeting with Charles Khabouth and the INK Entertainment team to strategize on their upcoming high-profile events at Ultra, This Is London, The Guvernment and the newest restaurant hot spot La Societe

3:00 p.m. – Phone meeting with a newspaper to provide my feedback on what is different this film festival from last for an upcoming story

3:20 p.m. – Ask if anyone in the office wants to go spinning after work. Convince two people to go. Ask assistant if she can get a box of Timbits for the office. Make it two.

3:30 p.m. – Phone meeting with the Artists for Peace and Justice team who are based in LA to finalize details for our TORO After Dark event on September 9th hosted by Academy-award winning director Paul Haggis, with Gerard Butler and George Strombolopolous.

4:00 p.m. – Meeting with the NKPR Digital Team to finalize our IT Lounge microsite and to give final approval on our Follow for a Cause campaign (Between August 25 – September 14, NKPR is donating $2 to APJ and Camp Oochigeas, proceeds split evenly, for every new @natashankpr follower)

4:50 p.m. – Quickly change into my exercise gear (always keep Fila running pants, Brooks sneakers and Goody Ouchless elastics in my closet so that I am always ready to go!) and head out to make a 5:00 p.m. spin class, FIJI water in hand

5:00 p.m. – Make up for the timbits while Spinning

6:15 p.m. – Race home to shower and change into a black Miu Miu dress for dinner.

7:00 p.m. – Dinner and drinks with Homedics clients at La Societe on Bloor Street.

10:00 p.m. – Come home and spend some quality time with my son Justin. Light my Dayna Decker candles and relax with my dogs in front of the television. I watch an episode of Y&R and the evening news.

11:30 p.m. – Answer any urgent e-mails. Blow out candles. Bed.

Since launching her PR and marketing agency NPKR in 2002, Natasha Koifman has become quite the TIFF veteran. Introduced 6 years ago, the IT Lounge has become the premier gifting suite in the city, essentially launching the now-substantial pool of suites that pop up every year.  

Natasha has worked with the likes of SKYY Vodka and Mercedes-Benz and she considers Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis a good friend. When she isn’t finding new ways to give back to the global community or organizing guest lists that are as coveted as they are ironclad, Natasha is out searching for the perfect pair of Alexander McQueen heels. Which by the way, she found the other week in LA.