TORONTO, Ont. – The stars shone brightly over the city of Toronto on day twoof the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.

Some of the biggest highlights of the day included a visit by Canadian heartthrob Ryan Gosling, in town for the premiere of his flick ‘The Place Beyond the Pines,’ which was shown at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

“It’s always great to come home,” he told CityTV’s Colin and Justin on the red carpet, as the screams of women echoed from behind.

“I think this is a perfect festival for this film so I’m just over the moon to be here,” he said.

When asked whether or not he would star in the film version of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, his publicist pulled him away into the theatre.  

Also making her mark on the red carpet today was ‘Bridesmaids’ and former SNL star Kristen Wiig, who stars in ‘Imogene’, where her character fakes her own death in order to gain sympathy from her boyfriend.

“I don’t have a good answer – I know that’s going to be boring,” she told reporters when asked if she had ever done anything like that for a man before.

The film was produced by Sting’s wife Trudie Styler, who made her way down the carpet with her daughter who also stars in the film.

“I’m very proud of her because she works very hard,” she said.

And another ‘Imogene’ heartthrob had fans in a frenzy – Glee’s Darren Criss, who stopped to sign autographs and pose for photos.

At another red carpet, actor and director Ben Affleck made an entrance as he went to see the premiere screening of his new movie ‘Argo’. Also starring Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman and Canadian Victor Garber, it’s set in 1979 and tells the true story of the Canadian lead rescue of six Americans in Iran.

“It’s really, really exciting to premiere it here in Toronto, because so much of the movie is about how the Canadians saved these American lives, and harboured them in the Canadian embassy, and really stuck their necks out,” Affleck told CityTV.

“Even today, the Canadians pulled their diplomats from Tehran, so this is an ongoing thing and it’s about in some parts, saying thank you Canada.”

Prior to the start of TIFF, 680′s showbiz editor Gloria Martin spoke with Victor Garber, who explained how details of the operations had been kept under wraps for years.

“The story is unknown because it was classified information,” Garber said. “The CIA’s involvement with Canadian government is enormous.

“The plot is unimaginable. I mean how they got away with it, how these six people were ushered out of Tehran at a time when it was impossible to get out.”

On the lighter side, actor James Franco brought along young costars Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson for the premiere of their film ‘Spring Breakers,’ which is about four college friends who end up in jail after robbing a Florida restaurant to pay for their spring break.

“Doing the independent route would probably be best for me, and it’s been a really great experience,” Gomez said of moving away from her Disney past into an adult role.

“It’s a hard transition I think, but I’m having fun doing it.”

For Franco’s role, meanwhile, the actor had to transform himself into a metal mouth rapper named Alien. The part required him to prepare by listening to hip hop sent to him from the film’s director.

“Everyone from Yellow Wolf to Lil’ Wayne,” he said. “Looks are very important in this movie.”

And also in town for his documentary ‘Reincarnated’ was Snoop Lion – formerly known as Snoop Dogg. His film chronicles his name change and major spiritual change as he embraces the life of a Rastafarian, and also shows him travelling to Jamaica to learn about the culture and record a reggae album.

“I wanted to just figure out how could I get into the minds, bodies and souls of the people of Jamaica, and not just go and steal their culture and take their music and run off with it,” he told 680News.

Lion said he realizes not everyone will believe his transformation, but viewers have a choice whether or not they want to go along on the journey with him.

Day two ended with a fundraising event, as actor Paul Haggis of ‘Million Dollar Baby’ fame and several of his actor friends met at an eatery on Bloor St. West. to bring attention to issues in Haiti.

Haggis and his group Artists for Peace and Justice hope to raise $500,000 over the weekend to build schools in the country, which was slammed by Hurricane Isaac two weeks ago.

On hand for the event was Jude Law, members of Canadian band Arcade Fire, Trudy Styler, and many others.