#FIRSTLOOK: PRIME VIDEO RENEWED FOR FOURTH SEASON

Today, Prime Video announced that it has ordered a fourth and final season of fan favorite sci-fi comedy series Upload. Season Three of Upload launched new episodes weekly starting October 20, 2023, culminating in a jaw dropping finale on November 10, 2023. The fourth installment is set to premiere on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

“I’m thrilled to share that Upload will return to Prime Video for a fourth and final installment. We are grateful to Greg and the fantastic team behind the series and while goodbyes are bittersweet, we know that the series will be uploaded to its well-deserved idealistic after-life,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios.

“When I conceived Upload many years ago, I had the story arced out over four seasons, so I am thrilled to make the ending the fans deserve and the characters and creative team have been working towards,” said Greg Daniels creator, writer and executive producer of Upload, “Jen Salke and Vernon Sanders have been our Angels and they deserve 5 stars.”

Upload is a sci-fi comedy series from Emmy-winning writer Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation, King of the Hill), set in a technologically advanced future where holographic phones, self-driving vehicles, AI assistance, and 3D food printers are the norm. And, forget about dying – instead, you’ll be “uploaded” to a virtual reality afterlife, and enjoy all the comforts of a world-class resort. Provided you can afford it.

The series was created and showrun by Greg Daniels, who also serves as executive producer along with Howard Klein and Jeff Blitz.

Series stars: Robbie Amell as Nathan, Andy Allo as Nora, Kevin Bigley as Luke, Allegra Edwards as Ingrid, Zainab Johnson as Aleesha, and Owen Daniels as A.I. Guy.

#FIRSTLOOK: THREE NEW TITLES ADDED TO NETFLIX IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD WEBSITE

Netflix Canada have shard three new additional films added to the Netflix in Your Neighbourhood (www.netflixinyourneighbourhood.ca) website. The update, which went live this morning, features the Ontario-filmed Code 8 Part II, produced by and starring Toronto-born actors Robbie and Stephen Amell; Avatar: The Last Airbender, filmed in British Columbia and starring Fillipino-Canadian actor Gordon Cormier as ‘Aang’ and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as ‘Uncle Iroh’; and the hit drama series My Life With the Walter Boys, which filmed across Alberta.

Launched back in 2021 to help fans of Netflix films and series discover filming locations in their neighbourhoods and beyond, Netflix in Your Neighbourhood now boasts a collection of 40+ films and series, all showcasing the breathtaking Canadian landscapes and vibrant communities in which they were filmed. From set locations, to beloved family-run restaurants, local festivals, cultural institutions and everything in between, Netflix in Your Neighbourhood provides visitors with everything they need to plan the ultimate fan-trip to the sites of their favourite shows and movies.

CODE 8 PART II – Set in the fictional Lincoln City where corruption and superhumans run rampant, industrial and urban parts of the Greater Toronto Area make for a fitting backdrop to this gritty sci-fi film. Code 8 Part II was filmed in Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton and Kingston.

AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER – The ​​diverse outdoor oasis of British Columbia set a beautiful backdrop for Avatar: The Last Airbender’s four elemental nations: the Air Nomads, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Water Tribes. Filming for this title happened in Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Langley and Surrey, BC.

MY LIFE WITH THE WALTER BOYS – This young adult series takes place in a small fictional farming town in Colorado, where Manhattan-raised teen Jackie Howard settles after the passing of both her parents. Between the picturesque farm fields, sports-centric highschools and small-town amenities, Alberta offers the perfect backdrop for this cozy romantic drama. Filming for this title happened across the city of Calgary, Kananaskis Country, Crossfield and Cochrane, AB.

Reaching #1 on Netflix’s Top 10 Film list Worldwide with 20M views as of March 3, Code 8 Part II features a Canadian cast led by proud Torontonians, Robbie Amell and Stephen Amell. The pair reprised their roles from the films prequel Code 8, which landed in fourth place on the Top 10 with 7.8M views. See what they had to say in the video above about filming in their hometown and nearby communities that are close to their hearts.

#FIRSTLOOK: “SHŌGUN” PREMIERES TO RECORD 9 MILLION VIEWS

FX’s 10-episode limited series Shōgun—an epic saga of war, passion, and power set in feudal Japan, based on James Clavell’s bestselling novel—garnered 9 million views* globally for the premiere episode on Disney+, (and Hulu in the US) based on six days of streaming—making it the No. 1 scripted General Entertainment series premiere globally. Additionally, Shōgun is the No. 1 FX premiere on Disney+ Canada.

The first three episodes of Shōgun are now streaming, and new episodes will debut every Tuesday through April 23. The next episode, “The Eightfold Fence,” will begin streaming Tuesday, March 12, on Disney+ in Canada.

Filmed in Vancouver, B.C., Shōgun is created for television by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, with Marks serving as showrunner and executive producer alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca, and Kondo. Alongside Cosmo Jarvis who stars as John Blackthorne, the series features an acclaimed Japanese cast—unprecedented for a U.S. production—that includes producer Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko, Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige, Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari, Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, Tokuma Nishioka as Toda Hiromatsu, Shinnosuke Abe as Buntaro, Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado, Yuka Kouri as Kiku, and Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba no Kata.

*A view is defined as total stream time divided by runtime.

SOCIAL MEDIA

X: @DisneyPlusCA

Instagram: @DisneyPlusCA

Facebook: @DisneyPlusCA

Hashtag: #DisneyPlus, #ShogunFX

Official Site: https://www.fxnetworks.com/shogun

#FIRSTLOOK: 2024 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH CANADA FILM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

The annual Human Rights Watch Canada Film Festival, celebrating its 21st year, in partnership with Hot Docs Cinema will present a program of four films covering a range of human rights topics from March 21 to 28, 2024. The films will be presented from March 21-23, 2024 in-person at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, and March 24-28 on the HRWFF digital platform. More here.

The films address the plight of the Yazidi, a small religious and ethnic minority in Northern Iraq
persecuted by ISIS; LGBTQ+ youth in Canada; Indigenous forest guardians in the Amazon; and
refugees attempting to reach Europe. Following the tradition of past festivals, all tickets for both
in-person and digital screenings are free and accessible to everyone in Canada with Internet.

“Suffering and injustice are on the rise globally, and one essential step in reversing these
terrible truths is to witness and to document wherever and whenever people’s rights are in
jeopardy,” said Jennifer Baichwal, filmmaker and festival programming committee member.
“This is the work of both Human Rights Watch and the brave filmmakers who have brought us
the compelling narratives that make up this year’s festival.”

“The festival strives to prioritize space for identities, viewpoints, forms of expertise and
experiences either silenced or marginalized in the film industry, news and media,” said Nicholas
de Pencier, filmmaker and festival programming committee member. “We should learn from
these stories and be inspired to take up their causes.”

The energy and power of young people in the fight for human rights take centre stage in two
films this year, beginning with the opening night film, Mediha, a heartfelt and intimate account of
a teenage Yazidi girl recently returned from Islamic State (ISIS) captivity, who turns the camera
on herself as she initiates investigations into the crimes committed against her, and in the
process, stands up for her family and the Yazidi people. With a very different energy, Summer
Qamp is an uplifting, funny and moving look at Camp fYrefly in the forests of Alberta, Canada,
where LGBTQ+ teens explore their authentic selves, make friends, and build community – far
away from the fierce political battle being waged against them.

We Are Guardians presents the powerful and dangerous work of Indigenous forest guardians
battling governmental indifference, politically connected agribusinesses, cattle ranchers, and
illegal loggers as they fight to protect their traditional land in the increasingly vulnerable Amazon
rain forest.

In this year’s drama entry, the cinematic Green Border from acclaimed filmmaker Agnieszka
Holland unfolds a complexity of struggles facing a small group of refugees caught in the middle
of larger political machinations between Belarus and Poland as they attempt to reach Europe.

The festival is committed to expanding opportunities for audience members to enjoy the events
together and works to create features that more people can access, including people who are
blind or have low vision, and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Three of the four festival
films this year will be descriptive video and play with open captions, with live transcription for the
conversations to follow two films. Please refer below or visit the festival website for accessibility
specifications and panel discussions for each film in the lineup.

The four films selected for the festival program include (listed in order of screening date):

MEDIHA Canadian Premiere
Directed by: Hasan Oswald

Presented on: Thursday, March 21 | 7:00 p.m. screening

Synopsis: Mediha, a teenage Yazidi girl recently returned from Islamic State (ISIS) captivity,
turns the camera on herself, capturing an astonishing journey as she confronts her past to fight
for her future. In 2014, ISIS committed atrocity crimes against the Yazidis, a small religious and
ethnic minority in Northern Iraq. Those who survived are still unable to return home. Mediha
and her brothers, Ghazwan and Adnan, must now rebuild their lives with the whereabouts of
their parents and brother unknown. Mediha takes us on her quest for justice by initiating
investigations to uncover the truth about the people who caused her family harm and sharing
her story with the world.

It’s empowering to see Mediha as both a character and creator,” said Sarah Sanbar,
Middle East and North Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.” As a viewer, you
really empathize with her and understand why it’s so important to bring home the
thousands of Yazidis who are still missing, compensate survivors, and hold perpetrators
accountable.”

Programming: A post-screening discussion with producer Jason Loftus and Human Rights
Watch international justice associate director Balkees Jarrah, moderated by the Human Rights
Watch senior Canada director Carine Chehab.

Accessibility: The film is captioned and descriptive video; the discussion panel following the
film will be live captioned.

SUMMER QAMP
Directed by: Jen Markowitz
Presented on: Friday, March 22 | 7:00 p.m. screening
Synopsis: Summer Qamp follows a group of LGBTQ+ youth as they attend a camp like no
other: a judgment-free zone where they explore their authentic selves while building community,
finding joy, and making memories that will last a lifetime. In the forests of Alberta, Canada, sits
Camp fYrefly, a haven for LGBTQ+ teens far away from the fierce political battle being waged
against them. Uplifting, funny, and moving, Summer Qamp joins the campers as they make
friends, explore crushes, and share experiences around transitioning and intersectionality, while
never losing sight of the bravery of these young protagonists whose identities are challenged by
society outside of the camp boundaries.

“The film captures such a range of conversations, everything from coming out to your parents,
to working through self-harm, to how an alien looking at earth through a telescope would
perceive it,” said Bill Van Esveld, associate children’s rights director at Human Rights Watch.

Programming: A post-screening discussion with Camp fYrefly counselor and film participant
Grace Donner, along with guests, moderated by the Human Rights Watch senior Canada
director, Carine Chehab.

Accessibility: The film is captioned and descriptive video; the discussion panel following the
film will be live captioned.

GREEN BORDER
Directed by: Agnieszka Holland
Presented on: Saturday, March 23 | 3:00 p.m. screening
Synopsis: This stunning new drama by the Academy-Award nominated Polish director
Agnieszka Holland zeroes in on the human collateral and political opportunism at stake in
Europe’s battle over migration. In the treacherous and swampy forests that make up the so
called “green border” between Belarus and Poland, migrants from the Middle East and Africa
trying to reach the European Union are trapped in a geopolitical crisis cynically engineered by
the Belarusian dictator, Alexander Lukashenko. In an attempt to provoke the EU, migrants are
lured to the border by propaganda promising easy passage to the bloc. The lives of Julia, a
newly minted activist who has given up her comfortable life, Jan, a young border guard, and a
Syrian refugee family, all pawns in this hidden war, intertwine.

WE ARE GUARDIANS
Directed by: Chelsea Greene, Rob Grobman and Edivan Guajajara
Presented on: Saturday, March 23 | 6:00 p.m. screening
Synopsis: Meet Brazilian Indigenous activists fighting to protect their home, an illegal logger in
a desperate financial state, and a landowner driven to preserving the rich ecosystem at all
costs. Directed by an Indigenous activist and environmental filmmakers, produced by Fisher
Stevens, and executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, this film offers intimate storytelling,
providing a human entry-point into the Amazon’s critical situation that affects us all.

“We Are Guardians is a poignant portrayal of the diverse group of people on the front line of
efforts to save the Brazilian Amazon. The filmmakers expertly dissect the economic drivers that
fuel large-scale environmental destruction, while exposing the corruption and partisan politics
that enable it. A loud call to action,” said Luciana Téllez Chávez, environment and human rights
researcher at Human Rights Watch.

-30-

Interviews are available with Human Rights Watch experts, directors, programmers/co-chairs
and festival organizers. For media inquiries, please contact: info@mercuryfilms.ca

John Biaggi, director, HRWFF

E: biaggij@hrw.org

Human Rights Watch

For more than 40 years, Human Rights Watch has defended people at risk of abuse by
investigating abuses scrupulously, exposing the facts widely, and relentlessly pressing those in
power for change that respects rights. Our researchers examine situations in about 100
countries around the world.

Human Rights Watch Film Festival (HRWFF)

Through the HRWFF we bear witness to human rights violations and create a forum for
courageous individuals on both sides of the lens to empower audiences with the knowledge that
personal commitment can make a difference. The film festival brings human rights abuses to
life through storytelling in a way that challenges each individual to engage and demand justice
for all. HRWFF hosts upwards of 15 film festivals and film events around the world each year.
Human Rights Watch researchers vet selected films to verify facts and make sure topics are
responsibly represented.

Human Rights Watch Canada

In 2002, Human Rights Watch Canada was established to advance education on human rights
issues, both in Canada and around the world, and to increase support for the work of Human
Rights Watch worldwide.

The Canadian office organizes several larger public and smaller private events throughout the
year. This includes the annual Human Rights Watch Canada Film Festival. Toronto is one of
our longest running festivals, now in its 21st season. In 21 years, we have showcased over 200
films at our Toronto Festival, and over 700 as a global initiative.

Hot Docs

Owned and operated by Hot Docs, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing
and celebrating the art of documentary, Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is the world’s
largest documentary cinema. A historic, century-old landmark located in Toronto’s
vibrant Annex neighbourhood, the Cinema is a year-round home for non-fiction film and
storytelling, presenting first-run international and Canadian documentaries, curated film
and speakers series, signature events including Hot Docs Canadian International
Documentary Festival and Curious Minds Author Talks, as well as hosting for some of
the city’s premier festivals and events. Since assuming management in 2012, Hot Docs
has screened over 1,425 films to audiences of more than 1.3 million. In 2016, a
generous $5-million donation from Rogers Foundation enabled Hot Docs to purchase
the venue.

Social Media

Human Rights Watch Canada:

● https://twitter.com/HRWcanada

● https://www.facebook.com/hrwcanada

● https://www.instagram.com/hrwcanada/

#FIRSTLOOK: “HOW TO HAVE SEX” COMING TO MUBI CANADA

MUBI, the global film distributor, streaming service and production company, has announced today the exclusive streaming date for Molly Manning Walker’s award-winning and critically acclaimed debut feature How to Have Sex. Streaming exclusively on MUBI in Canada from March 5, How to Have Sex is a vibrant and authentic depiction of the agonies, ecstasies and ride-or-die glory of young female friendship.

Three British teenage girls go on a rites-of-passage holiday, drinking, clubbing and hooking up in what should be the best summer of their lives. As they dance their way across the sun-drenched streets of Malia, they find themselves navigating the complexities of sex, consent and self-discovery. Captured with luminous visuals and a pitch-perfect soundtrack, Manning Walker’s directorial debut paints a painfully familiar portrait of young adulthood, and how first sexual experiences should – or shouldn’t – play out.

How to Have Sex stars Screen Stars of Tomorrow 2023 & 2024 EE BAFTA Rising Star winner Mia McKenna-Bruce (Persuasion, Kindling) and BAFTA-nominated Samuel Bottomley (Somewhere Boy, Ladhood), alongside Lara Peake (Mood, Brave New World), Shaun Thomas (Ali & Ava, The Long Shadow), and newcomers Enva Lewis and Laura Ambler.

The film is produced by Wild Swim’s Ivana MacKinnon (Beast, Bring Them Down) and Emily Leo (Under the Shadow, Nocebo), alongside Heretic’s Konstantinos Kontovrakis (Triangle of Sadness). Film4 and the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, developed the project and financed the production, alongside mk2 Films. Executive producers are Farhana Bhula and Ben Coren for Film4, Kristin Irving for the BFI, Nathanaël Karmitz and Fionnuala Jamison for mk2 Films, Giorgos Karnavas for Heretic, and Phil Hunt and Compton Ross for Head Gear.

HOW TO HAVE SEX WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON MUBI IN CANADA FROM
APRIL 5, 2024.

#FIRSTLOOK: KEN LOACH’S “THE OLD OAK” TRAILER AND RELEASE DATES

Two-time Palme d’Or winner Ken Loach returns with THE OLD OAK. We have a new Trailer and Canadian release dates.

SELECTED FESTIVALS:
Cannes Film Festival 2023 – Nominee Palme d’Or
Ghent International Film Festival 2023 – Audience Award Winner
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2024 – Bridging the Borders Award – Special Mention
Cinéfest Sudbury 2023 – Audience Choice Award: Best Film
Calgary International Film Festival 2023 – Audience Award: Special Presentations

SYNOPSIS:
The Old Oak pub is hanging by a thread. It’s one thing to be forgotten and abandoned, but quite another to be dumped on. When one day a bus arrives with refugee families from Syria, pub landlord TJ and refugee Yara find issues in common. Can they use The Old Oak so that Syrians and locals can eat together? Will fear, desperation and hatred take over, or could the Syrians and locals come together in mutual support?

DIRECTOR:
Ken Loach (I, DANIEL BLAKE – Palme d’Or, THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY – Palme d’Or)
*** Interviews available on request with director Ken Loach

WRITER:
Paul Laverty (I, DANIEL BLAKE, SWEET SIXTEEN – Cannes’ Best Screenplay)

CAST:
Dave Turner (I, DANIEL BLAKE, SORRY WE MISSED YOU)
Ebla Mari (Feature film debut)

RUNTIME: 113 minutes

THEATRICAL ROLLOUT:
Toronto – TIFF Lightbox
Ottawa – Bytowne Cinema
***More cities to be added

THE OLD OAK opens on April 5, 2024 via Photon Films.

#FIRSTLOOK: “LITTLE BIRD” AND “BLACKBERRY” LEAD NOMINATIONS AT 2024 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS

Today, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (the Canadian Academy) announced the nominees for the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards in 156 television, film, and digital media categories. The annual awards celebrating excellence on-screen will be presented over four days during Canadian Screen Week 2024, including The 2024 Canadian Screen Awards broadcast show, hosted by Mae Martin, airing on Friday, May 31 at 8 PM (9 AT, 9:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem.

Crave Original limited series Little Bird leads both television and overall 2024 Canadian Screen Award nominations with 19, including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Performer, Drama Series, presented by the Canada Media Fund, nominations for Darla Contois and Ellyn Jade. The final seasons of CBC comedies Sort Of and Workin’ Moms follow with 18 and 12 nominations, respectively.

In film, Matt Johnson’s BlackBerry tops nominations with 17, making it the most nominated film in the history of the Canadian Screen Awards. Honours include Best Motion Picture, Achievement in Direction, and Performance in a Leading Role, Comedy for Jay Baruchel. Ariane Louis-Seize’s Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person | Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant follows with 12, while Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool secures 11.

The Drop and How to Fail as a Popstar lead digital media nominations with five, including Best Web Program or Series, Fiction; followed by I Hate People, People Hate Me and Streams Flow From A River with four.

“In a landscape as diverse and dynamic as ours, the 2024 Canadian Screen Award nominees highlight the breadth of talent our nation proudly nurtures,” said Tammy Frick, CEO, The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “My sincere congratulations to all the nominees, and I eagerly await gathering together to celebrate their achievements in May.”

“My heartfelt congratulations to all of the 2024 Canadian Screen Award nominees,” said Thomas Santram, Chair, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “As we continue to champion and uplift these storytellers, we’re honoured to recognize the vital role they play in shaping our cultural identity through these nominations.”

The 2024 Canadian Screen Awards will be handed out in a series of award shows at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Toronto all culminating with The 2024 Canadian Screen Awards broadcast show, hosted by Mae Martin, where viewers at home can tune in to be a part of all the excitement. The full schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, May 28, 2024
7:00 PM ET: The News, Entertainment, and Sports Awards, presented by CTV

Wednesday, May 29, 2024
12:30 PM ET: The Television Craft Awards
7:00 PM ET: The Television Program and Performance Awards

Thursday, May 30, 2024
12:30 PM ET: The Documentary, Factual, Lifestyle, and Reality Awards, presented by CTV
7:00 PM ET: The Cinematic Arts Awards, presented by Telefilm Canada, supported by Cineplex

Friday, May 31, 2024
4:00 PM ET: The 2024 Canadian Screen Awards Gala
8:00 PM (9 AT, 9:30 NT): The 2024 Canadian Screen Awards (broadcast show on CBC and CBC Gem)

The 2024 Canadian Screen Awards Box Office opens today, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Each of the award presentations from May 28 to May 31 will include cocktail receptions for attendees, taking place before and after the shows. Canadian Screen Award nominees and guests can book their tickets online at academy.ca/boxoffice.

The nominees for the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards were chosen by voting members of the Canadian Academy and by nominating juries, conducted virtually with representatives from the film, television, and digital media industries. The membership will now cast their votes between Thursday, March 7 and Monday, March 25 to determine the winners.

For the full list of 2024 Canadian Screen Award nominees, please visit academy.ca/nominees; view the full schedule for Canadian Screen Week 2024 at CanadianScreenWeek.ca.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR “A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW”

Paramount+ has released a brand new Trailer from its upcoming limited series A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW, and announced that the original series will premiere on March 29, 2024 exclusively on Paramount+ in Canada.

An adaptation of Amor Towles’ internationally best-selling novel, A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW follows Count Alexander Rostov, played by Emmy Award winning actor Ewan McGregor (Star Wars franchise, Halston, Trainspotting), who, in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, finds that his gilded past places him on the wrong side of history. Spared immediate execution, he is banished by a Soviet tribunal to an attic room in the opulent Hotel Metropol, threatened with death if he ever sets foot outside again. As the years pass and some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history unfold outside the hotel’s doors, Rostov’s reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery. As he builds a new life within the walls of the hotel, he discovers the true value of friendship, family and love.

Alongside McGregor, the series stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ahsoka, Kate, Birds of Prey) as glamorous, self-made film actress Anna Urbanova; Alexa Goodall (The Devil’s Hour, Lockwood and Co) as the Count’s unlikely young friend Nina; Johnny Harris (Without Sin, This is England ’86) as conflicted secret police officer Osip; and Fehinti Balogun (Dune, I May Destroy You) as Mishka, the Count’s best friend from university. Additional cast includes Leah Harvey (Foundation), Paul Ready (Motherland, The Terror), John Heffernan (Becoming Elizabeth, The Pursuit of Love), Lyès Salem (Coupez, Abou Leila), Björn Hlynur Haraldsson (Lamb, The Witcher), Dee Ahluwalia (Consent, Sex Education) and Anastasia Hille (I Hate Suzie Too).

A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW is produced by Lionsgate Television in association with Paramount. Ben Vanstone serves as Showrunner on the series, which is the first production to come through Lionsgate’s first look deal with Tom Harper’s company Popcorn Storm Pictures. Harper (War and Peace, Peaky Blinders) will also executive produce alongside Vanstone, McGregor, Sharon Hughff, (Three Pines), Pancho Mansfield (Queen of the South), Moonriver TV’s Xavier Marchand (Nautilus, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris) and the novel’s writer, New York Times best-selling author Amor Towles. BAFTA® award winning director, and Emmy nominee Sam Miller (Surface, I May Destroy You, Luther) serves as director to select episodes and executive producer. Sarah O’Gorman (The Witcher, The Last Kingdom) also serves as director.

#FIRSTLOOK: ACTS NAMED FOR “CANADA’S GOT TALENT MILLION DOLLAR SEASON”

It’s almost showtime! As we gear up to take centre stage, Citytv reveals the showstopping performers appearing on Canada’s Got Talent’s Million Dollar Season, thanks to Rogers, beginning Tuesday, March 19 at 8 p.m. ET/PT with a two-hour episode on Citytv or stream anytime on Citytv+. The highly anticipated talent competition series spotlights 116 acts on the Canadian stage as they face the #CGT judges – Howie Mandel, Lilly Singh, Trish Stratus, Kardinal Offishall – and compete to win the grand prize.

The winner of Canada’s Got Talent’s Million Dollar Season receives a life-changing prize of $1M – the biggest cash prize in Canadian television history – thanks to Rogers, plus financial advice from CIBC. And that’s not all! Every Golden Buzzer recipient will receive $25,000 (totalling $150,000), courtesy of CIBC, to help realize their ambitions. Orville Redenbacher, Kruger (Scotties Tissues), and Unilever (Dove and Dove Men + Care) join Canada’s Got Talent’s Million Dollar Season as premium sponsors, in addition to returning partners – Rogers, CIBC, and Tim Hortons.

#CGT’s Million Dollar Season is upping the ante with wild and weird acts, world-record breaking stunts, and several contestants who are pursuing their dreams abroad but now coming home to compete on the Canadian stage. Hosted by Lindsay Ell, Canada’s Got Talent culminates in a live two-hour finale on Tuesday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT from OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls.

Together with Canada’s Got Talent, Rogers is committed to investing in premium original Canadian content while fostering homegrown talent. Last year, Rogers contributed approximately $950M to Canadian content and produced over 12,700 hours of unique Canadian programming.

Contestants for Canada’s Got Talent’s Million Dollar Season, thanks to Rogers, are listed below. Click here to learn more about each contestant.

ALBERTA

ERIC KANE – Singer/Musician, Spruce Grove

EYE CANDY COMPANY – Dance Act, Edmonton

JEFF NEWMAN – Magic Act, Calgary

JORDON HO – Singer/Musician, Edmonton

LEVI STANFORD – Singer/Musician, Cardston

LISA BAKER – Comedy Act, Edmonton

SAM BENTY – Novelty, Calgary

STERLING V SCOTT – Comedy Act, Edmonton

BRITISH COLUMBIA

CROSS PARALLEL – Singer/Musician, Chilliwack

DANIEL POWTER – Singer/Musician, Vernon

DR. BRAD GOOSEBERRY – Novelty, Victoria

ESHAN SOBTI – Singer/Musician, Mission

FRESHH 2.0 – Dance Act, Vancouver

FUNKANOMETRY – Dance Act, Vancouver Island

HOLLY MELVILLE – Singer/Musician, Victoria

HUMUZZA – Dance Act, Surrey

MANINDER WARAICH – Comedy Act, Victoria

MOM BOP – Vocal Group, Vancouver

NORBERT THE TOAD – Novelty, Vancouver

RACHEL CHIU – Singer/Musician, Vancouver

TERA DRUM – Singer/Musician, Langley City

MANITOBA

THOSE GUYS – Vocal Group, Winnipeg

NEW BRUNSWICK

MAGGIE THE GOALIE – Animal Act, Tracadie

SAM BABIN – Singer/Musician, Moncton

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

HAROLD BUTLER – Novelty, St. John’s

MATTHEW COOPER – Singer/Musician, Carbonear

NOVA SCOTIA

ADAM COOKE – Novelty, Port Hawksbury

TRAVIS LINDSAY – Comedy Act, Halifax

VICENZO RAVINA – Magic Act, Halifax

ONTARIO

ACRO ACADEMY – Stunt, Oakville

ALEXANDRA BURGIO – Stunt, St. Catherines

ALICIA KAYLEY – Singer/Musician, Ottawa

ASHWYN SINGH – Comedy Act, Toronto

BALLOON MAESTRO – Novelty, Toronto

BEN STAGER – Comedy Act, Kitchener-Waterloo

BONGGUN KIM – Comedy Act, Toronto

BRIAR NOLET – Dance Act, Oakville

CARMEL KALLEMAA – Dance Act, Toronto

CARSON & TAYLOR – Magic Act, Toronto

DAMIAN SHILLIS – Dance Act, Burlington

DANA SCHIEMANN – Novelty, Toronto

DRASTIC – Singer/Musician, Toronto

EKATERINA – Magic Act, Barrie

ELENA – Singer/Musician, Toronto

ESSENCE WILLIAMS – Novelty, Glencoe

FOX REVETT – Singer/Musician, Toronto

GORDON NEILL – Novelty, Toronto

GREAT CANADIAN DUELING PIANOS – Novelty, Toronto

HEATHER NICHOLSON – Novelty, Ajax

JAIME BRUNO – Novelty, Toronto

JAMES CHAPESKIE – Singer/Musician, Waterloo

JERRI GALLAUGHER – Animal Act, Mulmer

JESSE – Novelty, St. Catherines

JOEL VAN VLIET – Comedy Act, Queenston

JOHN MUIRHEAD – Singer/Musician, Toronto

KAIRO MCLEAN – Singer/Musician, Scarborough

KIBRA & FORTUNE – Animal Act, Toronto

LIZ UNDERHILL – Singer/Musician, St. Thomas

LUKA & JENALYN – Dance Act, Toronto

MARIELLA LAROSE – Singer/Musician, Toronto

MARK CLEARVIEW – Magic Act, Toronto

MARK LEWIS – Magic Act, Toronto

MIKE GLENNEY – Dance Act, Waterdown

MISS T THE BUBBLE QUEEN – Novelty, Cambridge

NATALIE MORRIS – Singer/Musician, Toronto

NOAH KOSTA – Singer/Musician, Maple

NOAH TAJU GEORGE – Novelty, Oshawa

PEPE – Comedy Act, Vaughan

PROFESSOR DAN THE HARMONICA MAN – Novelty, Warkworth

RON DESCHENES – Novelty, Toronto

RORY GARDINER – Comedy Act, Ottawa

RORY VAN ULFT – Stunt, Ottawa

ROY ZIV – Novelty, Richmond Hill

SAI JUTTUKONDA – Singer/Musician, King City

SAM TAJU NINAN – Singer/Musician, Oshawa

SANSKRITI ARTS – Dance Act, Mississauga

SIMON ZENKER – Stunt, Elmira

SLAVIC BLING – Novelty, Toronto

SOON KEUN KWON – Singer/Musician, Mississauga

STEVE GOODTIME – Novelty, Holland Landing

STEVE KASE – Novelty, Toronto

STITCHES – Stunt, St. Catherines

SUPER SLICK DUDE – Novelty, Toronto

THE ULTIMUTTS – Animal Act, Sparta

TRISH O’BRIEN – Singer/Musician, Richmond Hill

TROY JAMES – Stunt, Brampton

WALLACE WONG – Novelty, Mississauga

YUVIN MARASINI – Singer/Musician, Ajax

ZACH MCCABE – Singer/Musician, Aylmer

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

MEGAN & CAMERON – Dance Act, Charlottetown

QUEBEC

AIR SUP ACROYOGA – Novelty, Ste-Agathe des Monts

BAO HOANG – Magic Act, Montreal

CLIQUE – Dance Act, Saint-Basile-le-Grand

DADDY COOL – Dance Act, Sainte-Julie

EVE PARKER FINLEY – Singer/Musician, Montreal

FRANCOIS OUIMET – Singer/Musician, Montreal

ICEBOXSOUND – Singer/Musician, Montreal

JADE MATHIEU – Singer/Musician, Longueuil

LIANA ADAM – Singer/Musician, Farnham

MARIE-JOSEE & JASON – Dance Act, Montreal

MAT & MYM – Stunt, Quebec City

RAPHAEL LAROCQUE – Singer/Musician, Quebec City

THE AMAZING TODSKY – Magic Act, Montreal

THERE IS A BALL ON MY HEAD – Novelty, Montreal

TOGETHER FOR PEACE – Novelty, Levis

WINSLOW DANCERS – Dance Act, Stornoway

WOODY BELFORT – Stunt, Montreal

SASKATCHEWAN

KELLY TAYLOR – Comedy Act, Prince Albert

MITCHELL HRYCAN – Magic Act, Saskatoon

REBECCA STRONG – Singer/Musician, Prince Albert

TERRI ANNE STRONGARM – Singer/Musician, Balcarres

ABROAD

CHIMERA – Stunt, Las Vegas

DAN MEYER – Stunt, Phoenix, Arizona

DUO DESIRE – Stunt, Las Vegas

NICOLAS RIBS – Magic Act, Lyon, France

WILLIAM BRANDON – Stunt, Los Angeles

Canada’s Got Talent is produced by McGillivray Entertainment Media Inc. and Fremantle, in association with Citytv, a division of Rogers Sports & Media based on the Got Talent format owned by Fremantle and SYCO Entertainment.

#FIRSTLOOK: “500 DAYS IN THE WILD” COMING TO PARAMOUNT+

Paramount+ in Canada announced today that its first Original Documentary, 500 DAYS IN THE WILD will premiere on March 15. The documentary from award-winning filmmaker
Dianne Whelan, tracks her incredible adventure as the first person to travel the 24,000 km on the Trans Canada Trail.
500 DAYS IN THE WILD has received numerous awards including the prestigious
Audience Award at the 2023 Whistler Film Festival. Following a limited theatrical release, Paramount+ in Canada is partnering with Hot Docs to host an exclusive screening event
on March 14, including a special Q&A with Whelan.

After a six-year journey, filmmaker Dianne Whelan became the first person to travel 24,000 km over land and water on the Trans Canada Trail—the longest trail in the world. 500 DAYS IN THE WILD weaves adventure, personal reflections, stunning wildlife and landscapes to document a unique ecological pilgrimage and journey towards reconciliation. Just as Dianne was profoundly changed by her experience, 500 DAYS IN THE WILD gives audiences a window into their own possibilities in life.

As Dianne travels from one end of the country to the other, she meets Indigenous elders and
communities, as well as locals and friends who walk and paddle with her. Admittedly, Dianne started out alone, disillusioned with the state of the world, to look for different ways of caring for the land and for each
other. The journey turned more complicated when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, yet after it all, she ended the expedition a bit wiser, more hopeful, in love and with a passion to share this story.

“I’ve made a film on the highest mountain in the world and I’ve made a film on the most northern coastline in the world, but 500 DAYS IN THE WILD is the mother of them all,” said Dianne Whelan. “Unlike most adventure films, which are about conquering something, 500 DAYS IN THE WILD is about connection – I didn’t conquer the trail, I connected with it.”

“500 DAYS IN THE WILD is an absolutely epic documentary adventure from one of our country’s best filmmakers, Dianne Whelan,” said Doug Smith, SVP Streaming & Content Licensing Paramount Global, Canada. “Dianne has captured so many nuances of our country in this beautifully moving film – from the people and the stunning landscape to the threat of climate change and the need for reconciliation, this documentary records a moment in our history that will inform generations to come.”

500 DAYS IN THE WILD
is produced by Betsy Carson and executive produced by Christine Haebler and Dianne Whelan and produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada and distributed by Elevation Pictures in Canada.

500 DAYS IN THE WILD premiered at the 2023 Whistler International Film Festival to rave reviews and earned the prestigious Audience Award, chosen by festival goers. The Paramount+ Original documentary also won the festival grand prize at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival and audience favourite award at the Victoria Film Festival.