Today, Disney Branded Television and the BBC jointly announced that season two of “Doctor Who” will premiere Saturday, April 12 (12:00 a.m. PDT / 3:00 a.m. EDT) on Disney+. New episodes from the eight-part season will premiere weekly.

Emmy® Award winner Alan Cumming (“The Traitors”) will guest star in the second episode as Mr Ring-a-Ding, a happy, funny, singalong cartoon, who lives in Sunny Town with his friend Sunshine Sally. However, in 1952, after years of repeats in cinemas across the land, Mr Ring-a-Ding suddenly looks beyond the screen and sees the real world outside — and the consequences are terrifying. Cumming is returning to the Whoniverse after previously playing King James I in the 2018 episode “The Witchfinders.”

Showrunner, executive producer and writer Russell T Davies said, “Only Alan Cumming could give a runaway cartoon so much wit, malice, danger and fun. He makes the whole universe of ‘Doctor Who’ wilder and madder than ever, and it’s an absolute honour to welcome him on board the TARDIS.”

Synopsis: The Doctor meets Belinda Chandra and begins an epic quest to get her back to Earth. But a mysterious force is stopping their return and the time-traveling TARDIS team must face great dangers, bigger enemies and wider terrors than ever before.

Cast: The new season stars Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday. Previously announced guest cast includes Rose Ayling-Ellis, Christopher Chung, Anita Dobson, Michelle Greenidge, Jonah Hauer-King, Ruth Madeley, Jemma Redgrave and Susan Twist.

Creative Team: In addition to Davies, executive producers are Joel Collins, Phil Collinson, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter.

Production: “Doctor Who” is produced by Bad Wolf, with BBC Studios for Disney Branded Television and BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

ABOUT “DOCTOR WHO”

Quintessentially British, Doctor Who is one of the longest running action-adventure television series in the world with legions of fans across the globe since it was launched by the BBC in 1963. Ncuti Gatwa took on the role of the Fifteenth Doctor in The Church On Ruby Road. Doctor Who remains one of the most watched programmes on iPlayer and was a top 5 series on Disney+ globally every week it aired, as well as being the BBC’s top drama for under 35’s this year making it one of the biggest programmes for the demographic across all streamers and broadcasters.

Doctor Who has a variety of licensees and partnerships spanning comics and collectibles, audiobooks, podcasts and magazines. Since 2012, over 17 million Sonic Screwdrivers and action figures, 19 million DVDs and over one million tickets for Doctor Who live events have sold globally. In 2023, BBC iPlayer launched the Whoniverse, a dedicated area where UK viewers can see more than 800 shows within the orbit of Doctor Who. Produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for BBC and Disney Branded Television.

Doctor Who is available now on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ in the rest of the world, where available. www.doctorwho.tv

After an extended wait, visionary Atom Egoyan‘s acclaimed Drama SEVEN VEILS finally sees a release next month. To celebrate the occasion, a special Red Carpet Advance Screening was held with its stars in attendance, including Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Actress AMANDA SEYFRIED. The Oscar-nominated screen veteran filmed the Movie in Toronto early 2023 and it premiered at TIFF during the SAG-AFTRA strike later that year, with Critics praising this is some of Seyfried‘s best work yet.

Also in attendance at TIFF Lightbox were:

-Atom Egoyan (Writer & Director)
-Amanda Seyfried (Actress – “Jeanine”)
-Rebecca Liddiard (Actress – “Clea”)
-Vinessa Antoine (Actress – “Rachel”)
-Joey Klein (Actor – “Charlie”)
-Lanette Ware (Actress – “Beatrice”)
-Maia Jae Bastidas (Actress – “Dimitra”)

SEVEN VEILS centers in a Theatre Director who is tasked with helming a production of Salome. She must face ghosts of her past life and some suppressed trauma as she delves deeper and her work comes to life.

We are delighted to have chatted with Seyfried and Egoyan about their reunion after much success with their 2009 film CHLOE. We are curious how their experiences on that Film might have informed this latest collaboration. Seyfried, who looked stunning in a chic Carolina Herrera dress, also tells us about her favourite Canadian libation!

Elevation Pictures release SEVEN VEILS March 7, 2025. Review here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Elevation Pictures)

FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN arrives May 23, 2025 on Netflix! Today, we get a brand new Teaser!

ABOUT FEAR STREET: PROM QUEEN
Director: Matt Palmer
Writer: Matt Palmer & Donald Mcleary
Producers: Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Kori Adelson for Chernin Entertainment
Based On The Book Created By: R.L. Stine
Executive Producers: Yvonne Bernard, Joan Waricha, Jane StineKey Cast: India Fowler, Suzanna Son, Fina Strazza, Chris Klein, David Iacono, Ella Rubin, Ariana Greenblatt, with Lily Taylor and Katherine Waterson.
Also Starring: Darrin Baker, Rebecca Ablack, Ilan O’Driscoll, Damian Romeo, Dakota Taylor, Eden Summer Gilmore, Brennan Clost, Cecilia Lee, Ryan Rosery
Logline: Welcome back to Shadyside. In this next installment of the blood-soaked Fear Street franchise, prom season at Shadyside High is underway and the school’s wolfpack of It Girls is busy with its usual sweet and vicious campaigns for the crown. But when a gutsy outsider puts herself in the running, and the other girls start mysteriously disappearing, the class of ’88 is suddenly in for one hell of a prom night.

Hot Docs announced today that the upcoming Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival 2025, April 24 to May 4 in Toronto, will boldly expand the scope of its popular Made In program, shifting the spotlight from a single country to instead celebrate the powerful voices of filmmakers and protagonists in exile.

For the first time in the program’s history, Made In will showcase documentaries created by filmmakers and participants who, driven from their homelands by war, conflict, or humanitarian crises, continue to tell stories that demand to be heard. This year’s lineup will include deeply personal and timely narratives from Afghanistan, Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine and beyond, offering audiences a rare and resonant perspective on survival, displacement and the enduring strength of the creative spirit.

“This special program has been years in the making. With each festival, we’ve seen a growing number of projects addressing exile and displacement, and it feels as though we’ve reached a boiling point in history. We deeply believe in the power of documentary filmmaking to build bridges, foster empathy and bear witness to the world’s most urgent realities,” shared Heather Haynes, Hot Docs’ Director of Programming. “Through the Made In Exile program, we urgently amplify the critical work of filmmakers and participants who, despite unimaginable challenges, continue to tell their stories and bring them to the public. These are stories of survival, courage and unyielding hope that must be heard.”

Titles in the Made In Exile program will be announced at the Hot Docs Festival 2025 Press Conference on Tuesday, March 25.

Past Made In programs have showcased the vibrant documentary traditions of countries including Spain (2024), Ukraine (2023), Chile (2022), Colombia (2021), Northern Ireland (2020), Italy (2019), Mexico (2018), Japan (2017), Australia (2016), India (2015), Denmark (2014), Poland (2013), Southeastern Europe (2012), Italy (2011), South America (2010), South Korea (2009), Mexico (2008), Brazil (2007), Japan (2006), South Africa (2004) and Taiwan (2003).

Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca), North America’s leading documentary festival, conference and market, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing and celebrating the art of documentary and to creating production opportunities for documentary filmmakers. Hot Docs will present its 32nd annual edition from April 24 to May 4, 2025, in cinemas across Toronto. Hot Docs will also mount a dynamic series of knowledge sessions, networking opportunities and market programs for documentary practitioners and industry delegates, including the renowned Hot Docs Deal Maker and Works-in-Progress screenings. Year-round, Hot Docs supports the Canadian and international industry with professional development programs and a multi-million-dollar film fund portfolio, and fosters education through documentaries with its popular free program Docs For Schools. Hot Docs owns and programs the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, a century-old landmark located in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood and the world’s first and largest documentary cinema.

Starting Tuesday, March 25, Festival ticket package holders, including Doc Soup subscribers, can redeem their ticket packages, and Hot Docs Members can purchase single tickets. Starting Tuesday, April 1, single tickets will be available to the public. Tickets and ticket packages can be purchased and/or redeemed online at www.hotdocs.ca or in person at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema Box Office, located at 506 Bloor Street West (hours vary daily in accordance with cinema screenings). Single tickets are $20 to regular Festival screenings and $23 to Special Presentations screenings ($18-$20 members). Special events vary in price. A Festival 12-Pack is $209 and a Festival 20-Pack is $299. Hot Docs offers free tickets for all screenings before 4:00 p.m. to seniors and students with valid photo I.D., available online the day of the screening, subject to availability. Free screenings for students courtesy of CBC and CBC Gem.

HOLLAND stars Nicole Kidman, and this Thriller arrives March 27, 2025 on Prime Video! Today we get the new Trailer.

In this wildly unpredictable thriller, Nicole Kidman is the meticulous Nancy Vandergroot, a teacher and homemaker whose picture-perfect life with her community pillar husband (Matthew Macfadyen) and son (Jude Hill) in tulip-filled Holland, Michigan tumbles into a twisted tale. Nancy and her friendly colleague (Gael García Bernal) become suspicious of a secret, only to discover nothing in their lives is what it seems.

Directed by Mimi Cave

Written by Andrew Sodroski

Produced by Kate Churchill, p.g.a., Peter Dealbert, Nicole Kidman, p.g.a., Per Saari, p.g.a.

Starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, Jude Hill, Gael García Bernal

Runtime: 108 minutes

Rated R

Today, Disney Branded Television revealed that the next chapter of the beloved “Descendants” movie franchise is officially in the works for Disney Channel and Disney+, with production on a fifth installment set to begin soon. The newly greenlit Disney Channel Original Movie will expand the music-and-dance-fueled stories centered around the teenage progeny of Disney’s most iconic characters and villains. Kylie Cantrall and Malia Baker will reprise their roles as Princesses Red and Chloe, the daughters of the Queen of Hearts and Cinderella, respectively. The film’s official title will be announced at a later date.

Picking up shortly after the events of the 2024 hit film “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” the next chapter explores what “happily ever after” is really like for Red and Chloe, following their return from their time-traveling adventures. Set primarily in present-day Wonderland, the sequel delves into the warning at the end of the previous movie: “There are consequences when you alter the fabric of time.”

In addition to Cantrall and Baker, Leonardo Nam returns as Maddox Hatter. New descendants to the franchise include: Liamani Segura as Red’s sister Pink, Brendon Tremblay as Max Hatter, Alexandro Byrd as Luis Madrigal and Kiara Romero as Hazel Hook. Additional characters to be confirmed as casting continues to unfold.

Kimmy Gatewood (“The Baby-sitter’s Club,” “Girls5eva”) is set to direct, with a script by co-executive producer Tamara Chestna (“Sneakerella”) and Dan Frey and Ru Sommer (“Descendants: The Rise of Red”). Returning to the franchise are executive producers Suzanne Todd and Gary Marsh. Gatewood also serves as co-producer. EmmyⓇ Award-winning choreographer Emilio Dosal (“Wicked,” “Sneakerella”) will bring the brand-new music-and-dance sequences, which have become a beloved hallmark of the “Descendants” franchise, to life.

“The love for the ‘Descendants’ franchise runs deep, and the incredible response to ‘Descendants: The Rise of Red’ last year proved just how much fans are invested in these characters and their stories,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television. “Our next movie will build on that legacy and deliver even more of the magic, music and heart that make ‘Descendants’ so special — brought to life by an amazing cast and creative team who continue to elevate this world in new and exciting ways.”

To further extend the storytelling, the first two movie soundtracks are certified gold, with the third and fourth movie soundtracks hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Soundtrack chart and Children’s Album chart. Additionally, more than 57 books inspired by the “Descendants” worlds and characters have been published, including a four-time New York Times bestselling series. This summer, the North America-wide “Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour” will celebrate the music from the popular “Descendants” and “Zombies” franchises.

Available now on Disney+: “Descendants: The Rise of Red,” the first three “Descendants” movies, animated spinoff series “Descendants: Wicked World,” animated special “Descendants: The Royal Wedding” and several “Descendants”-inspired music videos.

Today, Lucasfilm announced the return of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith’’ to the big screen on April 25 to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary. The film will run in select theatres and select international territories for one week only and will be available in several formats, including, for the first time, 4DX. 4DX features high-tech motion chairs that sync with over 21 effects, all designed to complement the narrative of the film.

Renowned graphic artist Matt Ferguson created an exciting new poster for the re-release event.

“Revenge of the Sith” takes place years after the onset of the Clone Wars, when the noble Jedi Knights lead a massive clone army into a galaxy-wide battle against the Separatists. When the sinister Sith unveil a thousand-year-old plot to rule the galaxy, the Republic crumbles and from its ashes rises the evil Galactic Empire. Jedi Hero Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark side of the Force to become the Emperor’s new apprentice – Darth Vader. The Jedi are decimated, as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Master Yoda are forced into hiding.

The film stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz as Yoda, Jimmy Smits, Peter Mayhew, Ahmed Best, Oliver Ford Davies, Temuera Morrison, Anthony Daniels, Silas Carson, Kenny Baker with Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu and Christopher Lee as Count Dooku. George Lucas wrote and directed the film.

Toronto Comicon, presented by FAN EXPO Canada returns on March 14-16, 2025 bringing an action-packed weekend of fandom family fun in the north building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this March break!

Whether you’re a caped crusader, or prefer to wield a lightsaber, prepare for three days of unparalleled entertainment across the realms of sci-fi, fantasy, comic, anime, gaming and horror. Fans of all ages can enjoy a variety of attractions with over 400 exhibitors with must-have collectables, celebrity Q&A sessions, autograph and photo opportunities. Learn from industry pros at the “How-To” workshops and watch them in the popular Sketch Duels. Dive into Community Zone fan meetups and showcase your best cosplay in competitions and on the cosplay red carpet. Families can enjoy special programming for their skeleton crew, including a photo opportunity with the 30-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man!

“Toronto Comicon is a fan-favourite destination, welcoming both die-hard enthusiasts and newcomers to the fandom scene. Whether you champion villains, superheroes or the supernatural, this multiverse of pop culture will delight everyone”, said Andrew Moyes, Vice President of FAN EXPO HQ. “With the stars from The Boys and Supernatural – plus even more celebrities guests – fans can expect exclusive experiences, endless shopping opportunities and unforgettable moments across every fandom corner”.

Special guests appearing at Toronto Comicon 2025 include, Karl Urban, Antony Starr, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Nathan Mitchell, and Tomer Capone from The Boys, British punk vampire James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), the cast of Supernatural, Jared Padalecki, Mark Sheppard, Alexander Calvert, Jim Beaver, and Ruth Connell, plus everyone’s favourite Sith Lord, fighter pilot, and purgatory resident, Canadian actor Manny Jacinto (The Acolyte, Top Gun: Maverick, The Good Place) plus more celebrity announcements to come.

TORONTO COMICON 2025 HIGHLIGHTED GUESTS INCLUDE:

JARED PADALECKI (Supernatural, Gilmore Girls)

KARL URBAN (The Boys, The Lord of the Rings, Mortal Kombat II)

ANTONY STARR (The Boys, Banshee)

MANNY JACINTO (The Acolyte, The Good Place)

MARK SHEPPARD (Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly)

ALEXANDER CALVERT (Supernatural, Arrow, Gen V)

JIM BEAVER (Supernatural, The Boys)

JAMES MARSTERS (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Smallville)

RUTH CONNELL (Supernatural)

JESSIE T. USHER (The Boys, Smile)

LAZ ALONSO (The Boys, Avatar)

NATHAN MITCHELL (The Boys, Ginny & Georgia)

TOMER CAPONE (The Boys)

For a complete list of guests, info and tickets, visit:
fanexpohq.com/comicontoronto

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMMING INCLUDE:

CELEBRITY PRESENTATIONS

AUTOGRAPHS & PHOTO OPS

SKETCH DUELS

COMIC CREATOR PANELS

ARTIST ALLEY

COSPLAY

FAMILY FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING

Follow @FANEXPOCanada for more guest and programming updates over the coming weeks.

Information and pricing for the Toronto Comicon are available at fanexpohq.com/comicontoronto.

This March, Hollywood Suite is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day by spotlighting women in front of and behind the camera. Included in the lineup are the exclusive Canadian broadcast premieres of Shiori Itô’s Academy Award® nominee for Best Documentary Feature Black Box Diaries (2024) premiering on March 1, 2025 at 7:15pm ET; the Canadian musical comedy series Less Than Kosher (2023), co-written by and starring Shaina Silver-Baird (The Communist’s Daughter) premiering on March 11, 2025 at 9pm ET; and Valerie Buhagiar’s (Carmen) award-winning Canadian thriller The Dogs (2024) premiering on March 26 at 9pm ET. All three titles will be available on Hollywood Suite On Demand on March 1, 2025

One of this year’s Oscar®-nominated documentaries, Black Box Diaries (2024), sees journalist and filmmaker Shiori Itô investigate her own sexual assault, exposing Japan’s outdated judicial and societal systems in a landmark case. The seven-episode Canadian musical comedy series Less Than Kosher (2023) strikes a chord with a heartfelt journey of self-discovery when a young singer’s failing music career forces her back home, landing a job as a cantor at her family’s synagogue. Starring Katheen Munroe (Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent), Donovan Colan (Theater Camp) and Kris Holden-Ried (The Umbrella Academy), mysteries abound in director Valerie Buhagiar’s Canadian feature The Dogs (2024), which follows a mother-son duo who move into a quiet farmhouse only to learn about its haunting past.

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Hollywood Suite will be turning prime time programming over to four multi-talented women, showcasing films that excite and inspire them. Catch movie selections from Shaina Silver-Baird (Less Than Kosher) with Legally Blonde (2001), La La Land (2016) and Booksmart (2019); Cat Hostick (Poly Is The New Monogamy) with Liar Liar (1997), Run Lola Run (1998) and 10 Things I Hate About You (1999); Keeya King (Guess Who) with 9 to 5 (1980), Dirty Dancing (1987) and Beaches (1988) and Valerie Buhagiar (The Dogs) with Don’t Look Now (1973), The Omen (1976) and The Deer Hunter (1978).

“Spanning multiple decades and a wide variety of genres, we have curated an exciting lineup of female-driven projects for viewers to discover this March,” said Suzanne Marshall, Hollywood Suite Senior Manager, Programming. “We are also thrilled to have four Canadian women in film lead our programming on International Women’s Day with their personal film favourites.”

Hollywood Suite will also be celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the six-time Oscar®-winning classic film All About Eve (1950). Starring Anne Baxter as Eve Harrington, who maneuvers herself from fan to leading lady, and Bette Davis as Margo Channing, the Broadway mega-star standing in Eve’s way, the role solidified Davis as a Golden Age star who refused to be brushed out of the spotlight – no matter her age. The film also includes an early performance from the legendary Marilyn Monroe.

Additional March programming highlighting women in film can be found below and viewed here.

Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)

First Comes Courage (1943)

Daisies (1966)

The Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)

It’s My Turn (1980)

Real Genius (1985)

Smooth Talk (1985)

Dirty Dancing (1987)

A Dry White Season (1989)

Look Who’s Talking (1989)

Awakenings (1990)

Look Who’s Talking Too (1990)

Mississippi Masala (1991)

Stepping Out (1991)

The Prince of Tides (1991)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)

The Watermelon Woman (1996)

Dance With Me (1998)

The Matrix (1999)

American Psycho (2000)

Riding in Cars With Boys (2001)

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

The Holiday (2006)

Old Joy (2006)

Things We Lost In The Fire (2007)

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

Carrie (2013)

The Intern (2015)

Certain Women (2016)

Professor Marston & the Wonder Women (2017)

The Beguiled (2017)

Booksmart (2019)

The Short History of a Long Road (2019)

Late Night (2019)

Marvelous and the Black Hole (2022)

The Winnipeg-set comedy Universal Language has won the Toronto Film Critics Association’s 2024 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award. Its companion prize, Rogers Best Canadian Documentary, was awarded to the musical biopic Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story.

Universal Language imagines a Winnipeg where Persian is the dominant language and turkeys roam the snowy streets while tourists admire the drab cityscape. Any Other Way tells the story of R&B singer Jackie Shane, who broke ground as an out Black trans performer on the Toronto scene in the 1960s before fading into obscurity.

The richest annual film prize in Canada was shared by narrative and documentary features, with $50,000 to each winner, courtesy of Rogers. Actor/writer/director Don McKellar (The Sympathizer) presented the award to Universal Language writer/director Matthew Rankin. Comedian Rick Mercer presented the doc prize to Any Other Way’s Michael Mabbott, who directed the film with Lucah Rosenberg-Lee.

Drawing influences from Canada’s Guy Maddin and Iran’s Abbas Kiarostami, Universal Language is an irreverently funny consideration of our multicultural landscape. The film was Canada’s official submission in the Oscar race for Best International Feature and made the 15-film shortlist. Any Other Way, which explores histories of trans erasure and visibility, brings Shane’s story to screen using her own words combined with animation and dramatic recreations. Universal Language is currently in theatres, while Any Other Way is streaming on Crave.

Runners-up in both categories received a $5,000 prize from Rogers Communications. Nominated in the dramatic category were Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson (Rumours) and Sophie Deraspe (Shepherds), while Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano, and Jennifer Wickham (Yintah) and Ali Weinstein (Your Tomorrow) were runners-up in the documentary race.

Hosted by actress Tamara Podemski (Outer Range, Fancy Dance), the ceremony took place at a gala dinner held February 24, 2025 at The Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto, featuring a Prime Video cocktail party, and a Netflix dinner.

“This year’s winners are exactly why Rogers awards these prizes to Canadian films,” said Robin Mirsky, Executive Director, Rogers Group of Funds. “Universal Language is a richly imaginative take on Winnipeg, one of our most richly imagined cities. And Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story is about a remarkable chapter in Toronto music history, one that deserves to be better known. Both are films that could only be made by Canadians, about Canadians, and we congratulate all the winners and nominees.”

“We had an embarrassment of riches this year in both the documentary and narrative feature categories, and any of the films could have won,” added TFCA President Johanna Schneller.

“Congratulations to all our splendid nominees. But Universal Language and Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story both do something extraordinary: Each nods to cinematic history, and each advances their respective forms in invigorating new directions. They were thrilling to watch, and we’re thrilled to celebrate them.”

At the gala, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey presented winner RaMell Ross with three TFCA Awards for his drama Nickel Boys: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, co-written by Joslyn Barnes. Adapted from the novel by Colson Whitehead, Nickel Boys is currently nominated for two Oscars including Best Picture. Actor Sarah Gadon (Enemy, Alias Grace) presented Outstanding Performance in a Canadian Film to Félix-Antoine Duval for his turn in Shepherds. Duval plays Quebecois adman Mathyas Lefebure, who quit his job to pursue life as a shepherd in Provence, France.

Podemski introduced video acceptance speeches from TFCA Award winners Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Outstanding Lead Performance, Hard Truths), filmmaker Payal Kapadia (Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay, All We Imagine as Light), director Gints Zilbalodis (Best Animated Feature, Flow), and actor Clarence Maclin (Breakthrough Performance, Sing Sing).

Actor Jamie Thomas King (The Tudors, Mr. Turner) and actor/screenwriter Eva Everett Irving (The Pitt, Orphan Black) presented the Jay Scott Prize for an emerging artist to filmmaker J Stevens, who made their feature directorial debut last year with Really Happy Someday and has directed series including Sort Of and Slow Pitch.

In its mission to recognize new voices in film criticism, the TFCA gave Alexander Mooney the seventh annual Telefilm Canada Emerging Critic Award, presented by Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek). Mooney has contributed to outlets including Exclaim!, Documentary Magazine, and MUBI Notebook. The award comes with a prize of $1,000.

And this year’s Company 3 Luminary Award was presented by three-time Rogers Best Canadian Film winner Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes, Anthropocene) to Tonya Williams, celebrated actor and founder and executive director of the Reelworld Film Festival and Reelworld Screen Institute. A pay-it-forward initiative, the award allows the recipient to donate $50,000 in post-production services from Company 3 to another filmmaker. Williams announced Vancouver-based filmmaker Leena Minifie as the recipient.

The TFCA is extremely grateful to founding sponsor Rogers Communications for the Rogers Best Canadian Film and the Rogers Best Canadian Documentary awards. The TFCA thanks returning sponsors Netflix as Dinner sponsor, Prime Video as Cocktail Reception and After Party sponsor and Air Canada as Official Airline. TFCA salutes Telefilm Canada as the Telefilm Canada Emerging Critic sponsor and Company 3 as the Company 3 Luminary Award Sponsor. The TFCA also thanks sponsors Omni King Edward Hotel and salutes stalwart supporters G.H. Mumm Champagne, L’Eat Catering, Zoomer Magazine, The Printing House, Element Event Solutions and Pinnacle Live.

ABOUT THE TFCA

The Toronto Film Critics Association was established in 1997 and is comprised of Toronto based journalists and broadcasters who specialize in film criticism and commentary. All major dailies, weeklies and a variety of other print, electronic and web outlets are represented. Members of the TFCA also participate in the Federation of International Film Critics (FIPRESCI). As such, they have sat on juries at festivals in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Montreal, Miami, Palm Springs, Chicago, Pusan, Moscow, Amsterdam, London and Vienna, among others.