Today, the Canadian National Exhibition announced the inaugural Inductees to the 2024 CNE Food Hall of Fame, a new legacy commemorating the iconic, the innovative, the creative, and the memorable foods that have shaped the culinary reputation of Canada’s favourite fair. The introduction of the CNE Food Hall of Fame is in celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Food Building, and in recognition of foods that have made an impact and influence on CNE food culture – deserving of being immortalized in the building that started it all.

With a plethora of carnival treats to choose from that have been enjoyed over the decades by generations of visitors, the CNE plans to make the CNE Food Hall of Fame an ongoing tradition to select a handful of food items to induct each year. Each Inductee will be recognized with a banner that will hang in the iconic Food Building year-round, and for years to come.

The 2024 Class of Inductees to the CNE Food Hall of Fame Are:

Tiny Tom Donuts – Since making their CNE debut in 1960, Tiny Tom Donuts have captivated fairgoers as they watch perfectly-piped miniature donuts float down its signature conveyor belt in the Food Building – churning out tens of thousands of donuts over the 18-days of The EX. The smell of deep-fried dough and cinnamon is synonymous with the CNE, and what makes Tiny Tom Donuts a CNE Food Hall of Famer.

Ice Cream Waffle – The combination of good ol’ fashioned vanilla ice cream sandwiched between warm freshly made waffles is a match made in CNE heaven. It’s hard to believe that the Ice Cream Waffle has been a staple at the CNE for more than 80 years! The first Ice Cream Waffle sandwich was served in 1940, out of the original Conklin booth in the Midway; and its recognizable cow-patterned booth is still go-to destination in the Midway, and still serving the original recipe that has stood the test of time.

Pickle Pizza – A relatively recent food item that made a name for itself in 2019, the Pickle Pizza was not just a novelty, it was downright delicious. The wood-fired pizza made fresh to order in the Midway, consisted of a dill-ranch sauce base, pickles, cheese and sprinkled with more dill on top. It would become one of that year’s best-selling food items, and inspired the creativity of CNE food vendors alike, as pickles have found their way into almost every sort of food iteration one can imagine.

Primo Spaghetti – In a cornucopia universe of outrageous foods, deep-fried delights, and carnival staples, it’s amazing how a humble cup of perfectly al dente spaghetti with tomato sauce can evoke such nostalgia for so many generations of CNE visitors. For more than four decades, the Primo booth was known as the home of 99 cents spaghetti, a budget-pleasing price that that remained the same since the early ‘80s; but not even a mighty cup of spaghetti could beat inflation food costs – so while it is now $1.99 spaghetti, it is still a fan favourite.

Deep-Fried Butter – The one that started it all…Deep-Fried Butter was introduced at the CNE in 2010 as a novel food item offered by Vicky Skinkle’s Sweet Treats concession stand in the Midway. She perfected the recipe to deep fry frozen butter in funnel cake batter to create the perfect consistency. Deep-Fried Butter was an instant hit with fans who flocked to the CNE for the unapologetically outrageous treat, and media were just as fascinated for the attention-grabbing headlines.
AND – To celebrate the inaugural year of the CNE Food Hall of Fame, the CNE is bringing back Deep-Fried Butter starting today until September 2, or until quantities last; available at the Deep Fried booth in the Food Building, and Legend Dairy in the Midway.

Although the subject of wacky foods has become synonymous with the CNE in recent decades, the fact is that food has played a significant role at the Fair since the inception of what was introduced as the Food Products Building, that was funded and built by the Canadian National Exhibition in 1954.

The Food Products Building replaced the old Pure Food Building that was demolished in 1953 to make way for an ultra-modern architectural marvel, designed by H.H. Angus & Associates. At a cost of $1.5 million, the new structure boasted 138,000 sq.ft. of floor space, high ceilings, spacious aisles, and beautiful interior features that would attract visitors. It was advertised as a prestigious place to showcase Canada’s innovative food industry, and where companies could introduce and sell produce, supplies, and food products to the masses. CNE organizers prophetically touted that “The Food Building will be the talk of Canada…and a source of interest for many years to come.”

Some of the interesting products offered in the Food Building in the ‘50s and ‘60s included:

The introduction of Heinz’ Cream of Tomato canned soup
Canned Fish
Ketchup
Liquorice Confections
Corn Syrup and Starch
One-A-Day Vitamins
Chili Sauce
Maraschino Cherries
Fruitcake
Alka-Seltzer

CLICK HERE for more archival images of Food Building
The 145th annual CNE runs from August 16 to September 2, 2024. Let’s go to The EX!

About the Canadian National Exhibition
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is governed by the Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA), comprised of a volunteer Board of Directors. The CNEA is responsible for the planning and presentation of the annual Canadian National Exhibition at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1879, the CNE generates an economic impact of approximately $112 million for the Greater Toronto Area and $143 million for the province of Ontario each year (when in operation). In 2023, the CNE attracted a record-breaking 1.604 million visitors to its 18-day fair, the highest-ever attendance in the past 25 years.

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and CBC are pleased to announce another remarkable group of performers who will make up the 2024 cohort of the CBC Actors Conservatory starting September 3, 2024 at CFC’s campus in Toronto and running until February 28, 2025.

Eight exciting actors with a range of experience in film, television, and theatre have been selected to participate in the 2024 Conservatory. This full-time, six-month immersive screen acting program will provide hands-on experience, expand the performer’s reel and their instrument, establish strong creative partnerships, grow their professional network, strengthen their abilities to navigate the business, and help build their confidence.

“The CBC Actors Conservatory has helped strengthen and expand Canada’s on-screen talent network and by extension the industry as a whole. We’re proud to continue our partnership with the CFC to offer mentorship and training to this year’s dynamic group of performers – we wish them all the best in the program,” said Trish Williams, Executive Director, Scripted Content, CBC.

Thanks to the generous support of program partners CBC, the RBC Emerging Artists Project and the Government of Ontario, the CBC Actors Conservatory has supported and helped elevate the voices and talent of over 112 actors including Supinder Wraich (Allegiance, Sort Of), Lovell Adams-Gray (Coroner, Brother), Andy McQueen (Station Eleven), Michelle McLeod (Women Talking), Patrick Kwok-Choon (Star Trek: Discovery), Giacomo Gianniotti (Wild Cards, Grey’s Anatomy), Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek) and Eli Goree (One Night In Miami).

“We’ve met so many wonderful actors from across this country reinforcing what an inspiring and creatively resilient talent community we have,” said Kathryn Emslie, Executive Lead, Programs, CFC. “This program and our longstanding partnership with the CBC is all about nurturing and celebrating the incredible contribution actors and actor/creators make to the storytelling process and to the stories that need to be told. I cannot wait to see how these actors shape the future of storytelling!”

Meet the 2024 Actors Conservatory residents:

Theresa Cutknife (She/Her) is an Alberta-born Toronto-based Nêhiyaw/Puerto Rican actor, writer, and producer. She is a member of the Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacîs, Alberta located on Treaty 6 Territory. Theresa is an alumni of The Centre for Indigenous Theatre and a graduate of the 2023 Soulpepper Academy. Her co-written play Talk Treaty To Me received two Sterling award nominations for Outstanding Fringe Ensemble and Outstanding Fringe New Work at the 2023 Edmonton Fringe Festival. Recent credits include assistant directing De Profundis: Oscar Wilde In Jail (Soulpepper). Acting credits include: Heartless (Favour The Brave Collective), Niizh (Native Earth Performing Arts), My Sister’s Rage (Tarragon Theatre/Studio 180 Theatre/TOLive), The House of Bernarda Alba (Aluna Theatre/Modern Times Theatre), Diggstown (CBC Gem).

Anna Morreale (They/Them) is a multidisciplinary artist who grew up in Hamilton, Ontario and now based in Montreal, Quebec. Since graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada in 2021, Anna has been working professionally in the theatre, film and voice acting industries. As an actor, writer and producer, they have been lucky enough to collaborate with companies like Playwrights Workshop Montreal, Centaur Theatre, Repercussion Theatre, Difuze Inc and more. They are also the artistic producer for Scaredy Cat theatre, an emerging theatre company helmed by Chelsea Dab and Cole Hayley. Anna is consistently inspired by art that is absurd, surreal, intrepid and accessible. Their own work spans themes of queerness, mortality, oral history, grief, dreams and corporeality. Their practice is informed by various movement based techniques such as dance, contact improv, mask, and clown.

Eva Foote (She/Her) is a Dora-Award nominated actor and musician based in Edmonton, Alberta. She attended the National Theatre School of Canada and Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. Eva was a recipient of the 2019 Montreal English Theatre Award for Lead Performance in a Musical & Emerging Artist and the 2019 Syd & Shirley Banks Prize for Emerging Musical Theatre Artists. Some of Eva’s credits include Kelly v. Kelly (Musical Stage Company/Canadian Stage), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stratford Festival), Once (Segal Centre), Uncovered: The Music of Fleetwood Mac & The Eagles (Musical Stage Co.), Murdoch Mysteries (Season 15), and upcoming After the Rain (Tarragon Theatre).

Emidio Lopes (He/Him) is a Black Angolan-Canadian actor fluent in English and Portuguese. He currently trains at The Lighthouse Acting Studio under Angela Besharah, with whom he has studied since 2019. His recent credits include the NBC series The Irrational and the feature film Welcome, directed by Jevon Boreland and produced by Mark Taylor, which is set to premiere in the fall of 2024.

Taelor Lewis-Joseph (She/Her) is an actor based in Tkaronto. Born in Scarborough and first generation Canadian, she studied theatre at Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts and graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University studying Communication. She created a docu-web series, How.T.O Art, which won best web at the Canadian Diversity Film Festival and official selection for festivals internationally. Taelor is an alumni of New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade, The Second City Conservatory Programme and acting schools in Tkaronto. Her credits include Digi Art (CBC Gem), How to Fail as a Popstar (CBC Gem) and Abroad (OMNI).

Aldrin Bundoc (He/Him) is a Dora Award-nominated actor, physical-theatre creator, and producer born in Manila, Philippines, and currently based in Toronto. Aldrin has made a significant mark in both theatre and screen acting. Aldrin’s notable screen credits include Schitt’s Creek (CBC/Netflix), Glamorous (Netflix), The Boys (Amazon), Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent (CityTV), and Star Trek: Discovery (CBS). Currently, Aldrin stars in the satirical sketch comedy series Abroad (OMNI), now in its third season. The show offers a humorous and insightful look at the experiences of Filipino immigrants in Canada.

Arianna Laya-Garcia (She/Her) is a Toronto-based actor whose on-screen credits include World’s Best (Disney), Macy Murdoch (CBC Gem), and Accused Season 2 (Fox). She attended the Etobicoke School of Arts, where she majored in Musical Theatre and Canada’s Model and Talent Convention twice, where she won first in Best Cold Reading Scene (2017) and Best Self-Tape (2022). When not in front of the camera, Arianna has freelanced as a Production Assistant, and recently worked as a Production Coordinator working with Canada’s premier food and tabletop production company for clients such as A&W, Tim Hortons, Wendy’s, Nissan, and McDonald’s.

Ed Pinker (He/Him) is a British-Canadian actor based in Toronto. He trained at the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and graduated from East15 Acting School in London. His TV/film credits include The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu/MGM), The Love Club (W Channel), How To Win a Prince (ReelOne), and Locke & Key (Netflix). Previous theatre highlights include Macbeth (Shakespeare’s Globe), The Mousetrap (West End), The Beggar’s Opera (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), and Top Story (Old Vic Tunnels).

Learn more about the CBC Actors Conservatory here.

Corus Entertainment’s drama networks Showcase and W Network announced today the highly-anticipated fall premiere dates for new and returning programming. As the exclusive home of marquee Peacock Original content in English Canada, these networks feature top-tier talent, and compelling stories, fan-favourite returning series, and heartwarming Hallmark Channel movies. Corus’ drama networks are set to deliver another must-watch lineup of premium entertainment, which will also be available to stream on STACKTV.

“This fall, Showcase and W Network are set to captivate audiences with an array of fresh premium content, from star-powered dramas and edge-of-your-seat thrillers to laugh-out-loud comedies and heartwarming stories,” said Jennifer Abrams, SVP, Programming and Multiplatform, Corus Entertainment. “With a carefully curated lineup of compelling captivating storylines and standout characters, our premier drama networks offer a standout slate for viewers to enjoy, along with exclusive streaming flexibility for STACKTV subscribers.”

Showcase

The Showcase fall programming begins on Sunday, September 8 at 9 p.m. ET as the star-studded, limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist makes its Canadian debut. Featuring Kevin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard, the series is based on the acclaimed iHeart true-crime podcast and follows the infamous story of how an armed robbery on the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic 1970 comeback fight changed not only one man’s life, but ultimately transformed Atlanta into the “Black Mecca”. When a hustler named Chicken Man (Kevin Hart) hosts an afterparty to celebrate the fight with a guest list of the country’s wealthiest, the night ends with the most brazen criminal underworld heist in Atlanta’s history. Suspected of masterminding the crime, Chicken Man is hellbent on clearing his name but must convince his old adversary, J.D. Hudson (Don Cheadle), one of the first Black detectives in the city’s desegregated police force, who is tasked with bringing those responsible to justice.

Then slam dunk mockumentary comedy series Mr. Throwback, starring NBA legend Stephen Curry and Adam Pally, kicks off the network’s hottest new comedy block on Thursday, September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. The series tells the story of a down-on-his-luck memorabilia dealer (Adam Pally) who seeks redemption by reuniting with his sixth-grade teammate, NBA legend Steph Curry.

Following next is Mr. Bigstuff, a Sky Original series, airing on Thursday, September 12 at 9:30 p.m. ET. The six-part comedy explores broken families, fragile masculinity and carpet sales, and tells the story of two estranged brothers; Glen (Ryan Sampson), a nervy perfectionist striving to live in the suburban ideal and Lee (Danny Dryer), an alpha male with a prescription drug addiction and a biscuit tin full of their dad’s ashes. Glen and his fiancée Kirsty share a perfect, perfectly mundane life together. Sure, Glen’s got crippling erectile dysfunction and Kirsty has a secret shoplifting habit, but they’re happy. That is until Lee comes crashing into their lives, whilst on the run from a past that’s quickly catching up with him. The trio are forced together: a perfectionist, a fantasist and an anarchist all living under the same roof in an Essex cul-de-sac. It’s not long before their ‘perfect’ lives start to unravel faster than a cheap carpet.

Premiering Tuesday, October 22 at 9 p.m. ET is new pop-horror thriller Hysteria! starring Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis and Nikki Hahn. When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings and reported “supernatural activity” triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them.

Lastly on the Showcase fall slate is the highly anticipated Sky and Peacock Original series The Day of the Jackal, premiering Sunday, November 10 at 9 p.m. E.T. An unrivalled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, (Academy & BAFTA award winner Eddie Redmayne) makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer (BAFTA award winner Lashana Lynch) who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake.

Plus, new episodes of Season 3 of the hit series Bel-Air, the modern-day reimagining of the iconic culture-defining ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, air Mondays at 9 p.m. ET and available to stream on STACKTV.

W Network

Hallmark Channel’s Fall into Love programming event returns to W Network on Saturday, September 7, ushering in fall with six brand new movie premieres for audiences to cozy up to and enjoy all season long, including:

Saturday, September 7: His and Hers (starring Lacey Chabert & Brennan Elliott)
Saturday, September 14: The Heiress and the Handyman (starring Jodie Sweetin & Corey Sevier)
Saturday, September 21: Falling Together (starring Ashley Williams & Paul Campbell)
Saturday, September 28: The Real West (starring Kimberley Sustad, Lucas Bryant & James Denton)
Saturday, October 5: Autumn at Apple Hill (starring Erin Cahill & Wes Brown)
Saturday, October 12: Haunted Wedding (starring Janel Parrish & Dominic Sherwood)

Then in October, the biggest event of the year returns, as Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas kicks off on W Network. This non-stop holiday extravaganza features more movie premieres and beloved festive favourites than ever before. More information coming soon.

Celebrating its landmark 10th year anniversary, the highly anticipated return of Outlander, Season 7 premieres on W Network on Monday, November 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. As W Network’s #1 rated program last Summer*, the series picks up from the harrowing events of Season 6, when Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Young Ian (John Bell) race to rescue Claire (Catriona Balfe) before she’s tried and wrongfully convicted for the murder of Malva Christie. However, their mission is complicated by the beginning of a geopolitical firestorm: The American Revolution has arrived. In the seventh season of Outlander, Jamie, Claire, and their family are caught in the violent birth pains of an emerging nation as armies march to war and British institutions crumble in the face of armed rebellion.

The land the Frasers call home is changing – and they must change with it. In order to protect what they’ve built, the Frasers have to navigate the perils of the Revolutionary War. They learn that sometimes to defend what you love, you have to leave it behind. As the conflict draws them out of North Carolina and into the heart of this fight for independence, Jamie, Claire, Brianna (Sophie Skelton), and Roger (Richard Rankin) are faced with impossible decisions that have the potential to tear their family apart.

Matthew B. Roberts, Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Toni Graphia, Luke Schelhaas, Andy Harries, Jim Kohlberg, Caitríona Balfe, and Sam Heughan serve as executive producers on “Outlander,” which is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Left Bank Pictures and Story Mining & Supply Company, in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Showcase is available on National Free Preview from October 1-31, and W Network is available on National Free Preview from November 1-30.

Showcase and W Network can be streamed via STACKTV, available on Amazon Prime Video Channels, Bell Fibe TV app, Fubo, Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite Streaming. The network is also available through all major TV distributors, including: Shaw, Shaw Direct, Rogers, Bell, Videotron, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink and SaskTel.

*Source: Numeris PPM Data, Total Canada, Summer’23 (May 29 – Aug 27/23), 3+ airings, A25-54, AMA(000), CDN SPEC COM ENG excluding sports

TIFF is pleased to announce its renowned 2024 award categories, distinguished jury members, and prizes to celebrate and honour the outstanding works in this year’s Festival lineup. Back this year after a five-year hiatus and with a new name and criteria, the Best Canadian Discovery Award salutes the best of emerging Canadian filmmakers in Official Selection. The juries, featuring distinguished film critics and filmmakers, include three jurors for the two Canadian feature film awards; five members for FIPRESCI, the International Federation of Film Critics; three jurors for NETPAC, the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema; and three jurors each for Platform and Short Cuts (both previously announced). All awards will be announced on September 15 at TIFF Lightbox.

“TIFF’s annual Festival awards for films in Official Selection are integral to recognizing the excellence and artistry within our industry,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “Every year, we gather to celebrate the wide spectrum of cinematic talent with the collaboration and endorsement of our distinguished global juries and peers, and we look forward to continuing this tradition again in just a few weeks.”

Awards descriptions including eligibility can be found here: tiff.net/awards

BEST CANADIAN DISCOVERY AWARD
Back this year after being on hiatus since 2019, and with a new name and new criteria, the Best Canadian Discovery Award celebrates works of emerging filmmakers who contribute to enriching the Canadian film landscape. All first or second feature films in Official Selection by Canadian filmmakers are eligible for this award. The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000.

BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM AWARD PRESENTED BY CANADA GOOSE
Canada Goose has always played a supporting role in the magic of filmmaking. TIFF continues to celebrate the unique craft and storytelling within Canadian cinema with the Best Canadian Feature Film Award. All Canadian feature films in Official Selection — excluding first or second features — will be considered for the award. The winning filmmaker will receive a $10,000 cash prize. The 2024 Best Canadian Feature Film Award is presented by Canada Goose.

The 2024 Jury for the Best Canadian Feature Film and for the Best Canadian Discovery Award:

Estrella Araiza is the General Director of the Guadalajara International Film Festival and Cineteca FICG. Her work has focused on Mexican and Latin American cinema. Her career includes experience as the director of Industry and Market at the FICG, a sales agent, an academic, and a cinema distributor. She has served on juries for international film festivals and has collaborated with international film markets.

Chelsea McMullan is a director and producer based in Toronto. Their work in documentary, experimental narrative, and hybrid films often explore the work of leading international artists through the cinematic frame. McMullan directed Swan Song (CBC/Dogwoof), a vérité-driven feature documentary that premiered at TIFF ’23 and four-part limited series that follows the National Ballet of Canada as the company mounts a new production of Swan Lake. Their other films include Ever Deadly, Crystal Pite: Angels’ Atlas, and My Prairie Home.

Randall Okita is a Japanese Canadian artist and filmmaker known for innovative storytelling and rich visual language. His work, which spans film, VR, and sculpture, has earned more than 20 international awards, including two Canadian Screen Awards, a Webby, and a Japan Prize.

FIPRESCI JURY
The FIPRESCI Prize is presented by an international jury selected by the International Federation of Film Critics. Founded in 1925, the Federation is an organization of professional film critics and film journalists for the promotion and development of film culture and the safeguarding of professional interests. The Federation awards the prize at international film festivals and film festivals of particular importance to promote film art and to encourage new and young cinema. The FIPRESCI Jury will award the Prize of International Critics, dedicated to emerging filmmakers, to a debut feature film having its World Premiere in TIFF’s Discovery programme. Last year’s winner was Meredith Hama-Brown’s Seagrass.

Li Cheuk-to is Curator at Large of Hong Kong Film and Media for M+ Museum, and is also the current Board Chairman of Hong Kong Film Critics Society after serving as its founding President from 1995 to 1999. He has been the Artistic Director of Hong Kong International Film Festival Society from 2004 to 2018.

Pierre-Simon Gutman is deputy editor of the movie review L’Avant Scene Cinema. After studying literature at La Sorbonne, he wrote his PHD thesis on the American filmmaker Michael Cimino. He has written for 3 Couleurs, Les Fiches du Cinéma, and Eclipse(s). He teaches cinema at l’ESRA in Paris and Brussels, after having previously taught at the universities Paris VII and Nancy 2. He has also directed several short features and was for many years a programmer for the Critics’ Week of the Cannes Film Festival, on both the short and feature-film committees. He currently sits on the administration board of the Critics’ Week. He also was a member of the official jury for the Camera d’Or at the 2021 edition of the Cannes Film Festival.

Azadeh Jafari is a film critic, writer, and translator based in Tehran. She contributes regularly to different film magazines in Iran. Her English writing on world cinema has appeared in Cinema Scope, Film Comment, Reverse Shot, LOLA, and on the TIFF website. She has translated Berenice Reynaud’s book A City of Sadness on Hou Hsiao-hsien’s masterpiece into Persian and has also contributed to the book Luminous Void – Twenty Years of Experimental Film Society.

Saffron Maeve is a Toronto-based critic and film programmer. Her writing has appeared in Film Comment, The Globe & Mail, MUBI Notebook, Cinema Scope, Toronto Star, and Screen Slate. She is an active member of the Toronto Film Critics Association and GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.

Wilfred Okiche is a Rotten Tomatoes–certified culture critic and film programmer. He has attended critic programs and reported from film and theatre festivals in Locarno, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Sundance. Wilfred has worked on the programming team for Film Africa in London and Encounters in South Africa. He has mentored fast rising film critics at Talents Durban and served on the selection committee of Berlinale Talents. His writing has appeared in Variety, IndieWire, The Continent, and Senses of Cinema among other publications. He is a member of FIPRESCI and has participated in juries at the Berlinale, Palm Springs, and Carthage film festivals. He is in graduate school studying film and media at the University of Southern California.

NETPAC JURY
Presented by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema, the NETPAC Award recognizes films specifically from the Asian and Pacific regions. The jury consists of three international community members selected by TIFF and NETPAC, who award the prize to the best Asian film by a first or second-time feature director. In 2023, the NETPAC Award went to Jayant Digambar Somalkar’s A Match.

Hannah Fisher has spent many years working in the international industry as a festival director, a festival artistic director, and, most recently, as an international consultant and programmer. She has particularly loved working in events abroad as with festivals such as Dubai (UAE), Kolkata, Kerala Ladakh (India), Bangkok, (Thailand), Krakow (Poland), San Diego, Heartland Festival (USA), and Montreal, and as Director of the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Dr. Vilsoni Hereniko, this year’s jury chairperson, had his first narrative feature film, The Land Has Eyes, premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 and was Fiji’s submission to the Academy Awards in 2005. It also won Best Dramatic Feature at the Toronto ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in 2004. His animated short film won the Berlin Independent Film Festival in 2022 as well as the Los Angeles International Film Festival the same year. He is also the current President of NETPAC/USA and a professor at the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Hawaiʻi.

Kerri Sakamoto is an award-winning Japanese Canadian author whose books have been translated into numerous languages and published internationally. She has worked with acclaimed filmmakers as a screenwriter and story editor.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS PRESENTED BY ROGERS
A longstanding TIFF tradition, the People’s Choice Awards are marking their 47th year. The People’s Choice Award is an Oscars bellwether with a rich history; past winners include Chariots of Fire, The Princess Bride, Slumdog Millionaire, and the 2023 debut feature from Cord Jefferson, American Fiction. All feature films and Primetime series in TIFF’s Official Selection are eligible. The winners of the People’s Choice Awards will be announced on Sunday, September 15, 2024. The three audience-voted awards are the People’s Choice Award, the People’s Choice Documentary Award, and the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award. The 2023 winners were American Fiction, Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe, and Dicks: The Musical. The 2024 People’s Choice Awards are presented by Rogers.

The 2024 Jury for TIFF’s competitive programme, Platform, was announced earlier this year and includes Atom Egoyan, Hur Jin-ho, and Jane Schoenbrun.

As previously announced, the Short Cuts Awards 2024 Jurors are Luis De Filippis, Micah Kernan, and Shane Smith.

Episodes 3 & 4 of Simone Biles Rising will premiere globally on Netflix October 25, 2024.

Part Two of Simone Biles Rising follows along as she competes at the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Trials and officially qualifies for the U.S. Olympic Team to her incredible performances in Paris, all the while sharing personal thoughts and moments of her incredible journey to become the most decorated gymnast in history.

The episodes provide intimate access to Biles as she captures three gold medals and one silver medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Director: Katie Walsh
Executive Producers: Gotham Chopra, Ameeth Sankaran, Giselle Parets, Janey Miller, JT Taylor, Yiannis Exarchos, Jérôme Parmentier and David Herren.
Production Company: Religion of Sports in association with the Olympic Channel.
Format: 4 x 45 minute episodes

In theatres November 22, 2024, we are so stoked to see Jon M. Chu‘s adaptation of WICKED! Today we get a new Featurette!

Synopsis:

After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event this holiday season.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 26, 2025.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.

The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots); a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as the voice of Dr. Dillamond.

Wicked is produced by Marc Platt (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar® nominations, 58 Emmy nominations and 36 Tony nominations, and by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical. The executive producers are David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz and Jared LeBoff.

Based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is adapted for the screen by the stage production’s book writer Winnie Holzman and by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The Broadway stage musical is produced by Universal Stage Productions, Marc Platt, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

Genre: Musical Event

Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Keala Settle and Peter Dinklage

Director: Jon M. Chu

Written by: Winnie Holzman

Based on the musical Wicked, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, from the novel by Gregory Maguire

Producers: Marc Platt, David Stone

Executive Producers: David Nicksay, Stephen Schwartz, Jared LeBoff

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE!

SCREENING DETAILS:

SYNOPSIS:

Beetlejuice is back!  Oscar-nominated, singular creative visionary Tim Burton and Oscar nominee and star Michael Keaton reunite for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the long-awaited sequel to Burton’s award-winning Beetlejuice.  

Keaton returns to his iconic role alongside Oscar nominee Winona Ryder (Stranger Things, Little Women) as Lydia Deetz and two-time Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek, Corpse Bride) as Delia Deetz, with new cast members Justin Theroux (Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, The Leftovers), Monica Bellucci (Spectre, The Matrix films), Arthur Conti (House of the Dragon) in his feature film debut, with Emmy nominee Jenna Ortega (Wednesday, Scream VI) as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid, and Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (Poor Things, At Eternity’s Gate).

Beetlejuice is back!  After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River.  Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened.  With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

Burton, a genre unto himself, directs from a screenplay by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Wednesday), story by Gough & Millar and Seth Grahame-Smith (The LEGO® Batman Movie), based on characters created by Michael McDowell & Larry Wilson.  The film’s producers are Marc Toberoff, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tommy Harper and Burton, with Sara Desmond, Katterli Frauenfelder, Gough, Millar, Brad Pitt, Larry Wilson, Laurence Senelick, Pete Chiappetta, Andrew Lary, Anthony Tittanegro, Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg executive producing.

Burton’s creatives behind the scenes includes director of photography Haris Zambarloukos (Meg 2: The Trench, Murder on the Orient Express); such previous and frequent collaborators as production designer Mark Scruton (Wednesday), editor Jay Prychidny (Wednesday), Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sleepy Hollow), Oscar-winning creature effects and special makeup FX creative supervisor Neal Scanlan (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Oscar-nominated composer Danny Elfman (Big Fish, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman); and Oscar-winning hair and makeup designer Christine Blundell (Topsy-Turvy).

A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be released only in theatres and IMAX on September 6.  It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Click “like” on this Post on our X or IG accounts for an extra chance. Tag a friend you’d bring with you!

Rules and regulations here.

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE is only in theatres September 6, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

For a second consecutive year, Paramount’s THE LODGE returns to Fan Expo Canada where every room is another universe, offering the ultimate fan experience. Enter THE LODGE and cozy up by the Paramount fireplace rustic ambiance and get ready to experience a mountain of entertainment! Pick up your Lodge pass at THE LODGE welcome desk and become immersed in themed activations featuring iconic franchises.

For the first time, the STAR TREK Menagerie makes its debut at THE LODGE at Fan Expo displaying creatures across renowned STAR TREK properties. Come one and all to get an up-close look at exciting specimens from STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, and more! Attendees can become part of the Menagerie as they enter the display for an immersive STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, photo opportunity.

Other fan-favourite Paramount worlds to explore at THE LODGE:

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: Enter the streets of New York City, pose for a photo with the four turtle brothers and fight crime by checking out the new Mutants Unleashed exclusive gaming preview before the official launch on October 18! Guests will be immersed in the turtles’ den beneath the streets where these heroes trained in ninjitsu to fight evil. 

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS 25th ANNIVERSARY: Head to front porch queue of THE LODGE to step into SpongeBob’s Pluto TV world! Join SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, and Plankton in a mini golf experience for a chance to win branded swag! A new prize every day!

The Paramount experience doesn’t end there! Don’t forget to check out the HALO Artifact at booth #1651, just around the corner from THE LODGE. Direct from the set of the series, ”the artifact” was left behind by the ancient race known as the forerunners which, reveals a star map that leads to the sacred ring known as the “Halo.”

THE LODGE, located at booth #PM01, is open and available for you to experience or to use as a backdrop for news hits on Thursday, August 22, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, August 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ComediHa!, the new proud owners of the iconic international comedy brand Just For Laughs / Juste pour rire, are thrilled to announce several upcoming festival dates as the organization moves forward under new leadership. ComediHa! officially acquired Just For Laughs this past June, marking the beginning of a new era for the beloved comedy brand.

JUST FOR LAUGHS SYDNEY

Looking ahead, ComediHa! is pleased to announce the highly anticipated return of the 12th edition of the Just For Laughs SYDNEY festival taking place November 18 – 23, 2024. The festival, which has been a staple in the global comedy calendar, promises to deliver a stellar lineup of talent. This year’s lineup, announced this past Monday, features world-renowned comedians including Trevor Noah, Eric Idle, Brad Williams and the All-Star Gala hosted by Melanie Bracewell, and many more, ensuring an unforgettable experience for comedy fans.

JUST FOR LAUGHS BERMUDA

In addition to the return of the Sydney festival, ComediHa! is excited to confirm that Just For Laughs BERMUDA will be returning for its 17th edition from January 22 – 24, 2025, bringing world-class comedy to the beautiful island.

JUST FOR LAUGHS VANCOUVER

Following closely on its heels, the 9th edition of JFL VANCOUVER will make its much-awaited comeback February 13 – 22, 2025. These festivals will once again bring the best in comedy further solidifying Just For Laughs’ presence on the global stage.

JUST FOR LAUGHS MONTREAL

As the team gears up for these international festivals, one of ComediHa!’s top priorities remains making the next summer’s JFL MONTREAL festival, running July 16 – 27, 2025, one of the most memorable in the brand’s storied history. Returning to the city where this international brand was born, ComediHa! is committed to honouring the legacy of the festival and its profound impact on the world of comedy. With an eye towards the future, the new leadership promises to blend the festival’s rich traditions with the evolving landscape of comedy, ensuring a prosperous and exciting future for Just For Laughs.

Sylvain Parent-Bédard, president of ComediHa!, Just For Laughs’ new owner, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming festivals: “We couldn’t be more excited to present these incredible festivals under the new leadership of ComediHa!. Each of these festivals holds a long and significant history that we deeply respect and cherish. Working with our festival partners, we are bringing a new breath and vision into these events, which we believe will resonate with both long-time fans and new audiences alike. I’d also like to acknowledge our exceptional programming team, some returning and some new programmers, who are working swiftly and diligently to put together some truly remarkable lineups. Their dedication and creativity are at the heart of what will make these festivals a resounding success.”

Nick Brazao, Head of Programming at Just For Laughs, added, “Programming these festivals is an exciting opportunity to innovate while staying true to the core of what has made Just For Laughs so special for over four decades. We’re focused on curating a diverse mix of established names and emerging talent to platform and celebrate comedy’s best. We’re embracing the industry’s dynamic future, and we can’t wait for audiences around the world to experience what we’re putting together.”

Stay tuned for more festival news in the coming months as Just For Laughs will also unveil plans for live tours along with some exciting TV projects in the works.

Exciting news! Starbucks Canada are launching their Fall menu sooner than you think! Starting August 22, 2024 these sre the exciting items you can expect, in addition to the return of the iconic PSL!

-Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice: The beverage that started the pumpkin spice craze more than 20 years ago and that can resist is back at Starbucks and continues to be its most popular seasonal beverage.

– The apple of your eye: Originating as a popular customer customization, the NEW Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Chai features warming spice flavours of chai combined with creamy oat beverage and topped with silky, nondairy apple crisp cold foam.

– New seasonal in-app exclusives: Customers can also find two NEW fall beverages, exclusively in the Starbucks app: The Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte i and nondairy Iced Honey Apple Almond Flat White.

– Bake your day with Autumn goodies: Joining the fall menu for a limited time while supplies last, the NEW Baked Apple Croissant and as a nod to one of the most ubiquitous animals in Canada, customers can enjoy the NEW Raccoon Cake Pop.

– Canada’s first Starbucks x Stanley: Along with new seasonal drinkware, the viral Starbucks x Stanley Quencher is making its way North of border for the first time. Google Trends indicate that Canadian searches for Starbucks Stanley Cups skyrocketed when they launched in the US so now we get our very own!

More fall favourites will be returning to the menu this year including the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, the Apple Crisp Oat Macchiato along with seasonal sweet and savoury food items in the bakery case!