Originating in 2020, The Legacy Awards returned again at History in Toronto’s East End, celebrating excellence in the Black Canadian community in Entertainment. Brought to us by The Black Academy, co-founded by Actors and Brothers Stephan James and Shamier Anderson, the gala brought out leaders in the community in a fashionable affair to celebrate the cause.

Honourees this year included:

JULLY BLACK – Icon Award

TONYA WILLIAMS – Visionary Award

X – Trailblazer Award

LU KALA – Emerging Artist Award

KIA NURSE – Legacy Athlete Award

Williams made a poignant statement when accepting her award about the importance of celebrating storytellers from under-represented communities. “Stories about the trauma of Black people, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian people of colour are the stories that win awards, and whoever tells those stories are more likely to win those awards…. You know what happens to those who win those awards? Doors open for them.”.

Several stars and notables walked the Red Carpet prior to the event, including the likes of Stephan James, Shamier Anderson, Cameron Bailey, Maxine Bailey, Jully Black, Donovan Bailey, Lu Kala, Tonya Lee-Williams, X, Tracey Moore. Marci Ien, Dr. Jill Andrew, Saukratres, Tynomi Banks, Kimora Amour, Lamorne Morris and more. Keshia Chanté carried hosting duties for the night.

See a reel of highlights below:

The Awards aired on CBC and are available to stream on CBC Gem.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It was a very close finish at the Movies this weekend with THE NUN 2 prevailing in its third weekend out with $8.4 million for Warner Bros. from 3,536 theaters. It has grossed $69 million over three weeks.

New challenger EXPEND4BLES debuted with $8.3 million from 3,518 theaters for Lionsgate, getting 14% on the Tomatometer. Top opening for the franchise goes to the first film in the Series, with $34 million in 2010.

A HAUNTING IN VENICE lands in third with $6.3 million from 3,305 theatres, a two week tally of $25.3 million for 20th Century Studios.

EQUALIZER 3 is fourth with $4.7 million from 3,270 theatres, a total $81.2 million grossed over four weeks for Sony Pictures.

BARBIE rounds out the Top Five with $3.2 million from 2,634 theaters, totalling $630 million over ten weeks for Warner Bros.

After taking the world by storm, the global phenomenon known as SQUID GAME is back and here’s a new Teaser!

Synopsis: 

456 real players will enter the competition show in pursuit of a life-changing reward of USD $4.56 million. As they compete through a series of games inspired by the original show – plus surprising new additions – their strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test while competitors are eliminated around them.
Executive Producers: Nicola Brown (The Garden), Tim Harcourt (Studio Lambert), John Hay (The Garden), Toni Ireland (Studio Lambert), Anna Kidd, Stephen Lambert (Studio Lambert), Louise Peet, Nia Yemoh (Studio Lambert), Stephen Yemoh (Studio Lambert).
Production Companies: Studio Lambert & The Garden

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Winner, winner! It’s official, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) has confirmed its final attendance for the 144th edition of the Fair, totalling approximately 1,604,000 visitors who passed through its gates during the 18-day event from August 18 – September 4, 2023. The tally marks the highest attendance in recent history dating back a quarter century; and surpassing the relevant record of 1.601 million set in 2015*.

The 2023 CNE drew massive crowds with marquee attractions such as the return of programming to the waterfront with the Fountain Show and the Canadian International Air Show, the largest Ferris Wheel to grace the Toronto Skyline, the Ice Skating and Acrobatic Show starring Elvis Stojko, The Pink Floyd Exhibition; as well as a star-studded Bandshell line-up featuring Grammy-winning icon Dionne Warwick and Canadian superstars Jann Arden, Amanda Marshall, Kim Mitchell, Tynomi Banks and Kardinal Offishall among the headliners.

“Last year, we attributed the impressive attendance in part due to pent-up demand following the pandemic; however, this year is validation that the CNE remains steadfast as one of the most enduring, resilient, and beloved annual events that continues to evolve and resonate with people across generations,” says Darrell Brown, CNE CEO. “Despite inflation and challenging economic times for many, we want to thank our patrons for coming out to enjoy the Fair. The CNE is an important tradition for so many Ontarians, and we’ll continue to connect and create memories for new audiences each year.”

The CNE marked an historical milestone in 2022, which saw the event bounce back from a two-year closure with resounding success attracting over 1.56 million visitors; and generating significant economic impact. An economic study conducted in 2022 indicated that the annual 18-day event contributes an economic impact of approximately $112 million for the Greater Toronto Area and $142 million for the province of Ontario each year.

45% of attendees in 2022 were from outside the GTA, generating valuable tourism dollars for the city. Not only was attendance up, but spending per capita was also up, resulting in CNE vendors and businesses increasing their revenues over the last two years. There are 110 vendors in the Food Building, more than 100 concessions and games in the Midway, and over 700 indoor and outdoor retail vendors who rely on the CNE as a significant contributor of their sales and revenue.

PAW PATROL: THE MIGHTY MOVIE is at the top of many families’ must-see lists and its release is before us, in theatres September 29, 2023 via Elevation Pictures!

Synopsis:

When a magical meteor crash lands in Adventure City, it gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers, transforming them into The MIGHTY PUPS! For Skye, the smallest member of the team, her new powers are a dream come true. But things take a turn for the worse when the pups’ arch-rival Humdinger breaks out of jail and teams up with a mad scientist to steal the superpowers for the two villains. With the fate of Adventure City hanging in the balance, the Mighty Pups have to stop the supervillains before it’s too late, and Skye will need to learn that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference.

Directed by: Cal Brunker
Starring: Finn Lee-Epp, Ron Pardo, Mckenna Grace,
Christian Convery, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Today we get a new Trailer for Telluride selection ALL OF US STRANGERS starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal! ALL OF US STRANGERS will be in theatres January 5, 2024 in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Synopsis:

One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam (a screenwriter, played by Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with his mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal) that punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. As Adam and Harry get closer, Adam is pulled back to his childhood home where it appears his long-dead parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) are both living and look the same age as the day they died thirty years before.

Directed by: Andrew Haigh

Screenplay by: Andrew Haigh

Produced by: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

Cast: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy

(Photo credit: Searchlight Pictures)

From students toppling and beheading the statue of Egerton Ryerson to protestors tearing down monuments of Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Sir John A. Macdonald, the summer of 2021 ignited an era of reckoning and re-evaluation of our past. Commissioned by the CBC and produced by Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media production company, Inside The Statue Wars is a powerful new documentary that examines these events and offers compelling perspectives on how these statues could symbolize dreams or nightmares, depending on your point of view. The documentary premieres on The Passionate Eye, Wednesday, October 4 on CBC Gem and CBC TV at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT). See the Trailer here.

Inside the Statue Wars hears from the key players on the front lines, many of whom are sharing their stories for the first time, including: The History Buff who is a staunch defender of John A Mcdonald; The Professor who explains people’s attachment to the monuments; The Statue-slayer who beheaded Egerton Ryerson’s statue; The Poet who posed in provocative photos with Ryerson’s head; The Artist, a renowned Cowichan/Syilx First Nations artist who is also a survivor of the Kamloops Indian Residential School; The Photographer whose work challenges the messages statues send about identity, power and belonging; The Activist, the face of a powerful Indigenous youth movement that is challenging colonial narratives; and The Land Defender a multi-hyphenate, young, Indigenous land defender, singer and award-winning actress from Tla’amin Nation. 

This documentary explores the why behind these events and gives voice to the two sides: sovereignty and equity-seeking communities who say it is a long overdue reckoning and argue that statues are relics of a racist era that must be removed before we can reach reconciliation; and those who say statue toppling is vandalism and based on a dangerous distortion of history.

For many, the statues glorified individuals who had caused enormous harm to Indigenous communities in particular. In Canada, many of the locations of former statues became make-shift memorials for Indigenous children. More than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children from across the country were separated from their families and communities, forced to attend Indian Residential Schools, often located far from their homes, and many never returned home. 

While the issue has gone to sleep since 2021, the team of creators hope this documentary will restart the conversation.

“Few people think about statues until they come down,” says Producer and Director,  Elizabeth St. Philip. “We know what got toppled. This documentary is about who brought them down and why.”

“It’s a piece about those that feel safe in public spaces and the stories of some of the people that don’t,” says Yuma Dean Hester, Producer and DOP. “No matter where we traveled and who we spoke with, everyone had a strong opinion and personal story to tell.” 

“Like so many Canadians, I was deeply moved by events in 2020-21, when statues and monuments across the country became a focal point of protest,” says Producer Steve Gamester. “Two years later, the underlying issues have not gone away, the country is in limbo and we hope the film can contribute to the unfinished discussion.”

Produced and created by Saloon Media’s Elizabeth St. Philip (9/11 Kids, The Colour of Beauty),  Steve Gamester (9/11 Kids, Cheating Hitler: Surviving the Holocaust) and Yuma Dean Hester, a founding member and Creative Director with Bawaadan Collective, a group of like-minded Indigenous artisans and accomplices, who develop collaborative approaches to modern artistic storytelling and film production processes. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual, & Sports; Jennifer Dettman is Executive Director, Unscripted Content; Sandra Kleinfeld is Senior Director, Documentary; and Michelle McCree is Executive in Charge of Production, CBC Docs and The Passionate Eye. Executive Producers for Saloon Media are Steve Gamester and Michael Kot. Inside the Statue Wars was produced with the participation of Canada Media Fund.

Arriving November 17, 2023, THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES continues a massive legacy in a record-breaking franchise. Today we get a new Trailer.

Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Screenplay by: Michael Arndt, Michael Lesslie
Produced by: Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Francis Lawrence
Executive Produced by: Suzanne Collins, Mika Saito, Jim Miller, Tim Palen
Based on the novel by: Suzanne Collins
Cast: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andres Rivera, Jason Schwartzman, Viola Davis
Story: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the one-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.

(Photo/video credit: Cineplex Pictures)

Today we get a new look at HOW TO FAIL AS A POPSTAR, based on Vivek Shraya‘s play and book! It debuts October 13, 2023 on CBC Gem.

SYNOPSIS:

What happens when a star isn’t born? An adaptation of Vivek Shraya’s hit play and subsequent book, How To Fail as a Popstar answers this question with hilarity, vulnerability, a healthy dose of imagination, and of course, music.

As a young queer brown boy growing up in Edmonton, Vivek never quite felt like he belonged. Until one cold morning in his mother’s car, he heard a pop song and his life changed – he knew then he needed to be a popstar! Vivek’s dream compelled him to keep working to it, through highs and lows – from his high school cafeteria’s open mic and local mall singing competitions; to recording an album his producer’s way, living with a moody (and inappropriate) manager, and finding creative ways to get his album heard – chasing the dream takes him from Edmonton to Toronto to Paris and back to Edmonton.

This is a story of longing to achieve a dream and what went wrong – and almost right! – along the way, as a creative dreamer grows and finds their voice, courage, and sense of self, told from the perspective of the now 40-something trans femme artist that boy became.

HOW TO FAIL AS A POPSTAR – TRAILER from Sphere Media Toronto on Vimeo.

(Photo/video credit: Sphere Media)

Today we get a brand new clip from eagerly-awaited THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER from Mike Flanagan!

Synopsis:

From Mike Flanagan, the creator of The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, a wicked horror series based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Ruthless siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege and power. But past secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying at the hands of a mysterious woman from their youth.

Series Launch Date:Thursday, October 12
Format: Limited series; 8 episodes
Creator: Mike Flanagan
Directors: Mike Flanagan and Michael Fimognari will each direct four episodes
Executive Producers: Trevor Macy and Mike Flanagan of Intrepid Pictures; Emmy Grinwis and Michael Fimognari
Cast: Bruce Greenwood, Carla Gugino, Mary McDonnell, Carl Lumbly, Mark Hamill, Michael Trucco, T’Nia Miller, Paola Nuñez, Henry Thomas, Kyleigh Curran, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Sauriyan Sapkota, Zach Gilford, Willa Fitzgerald, Katie Parker, Malcolm Goodwin, Crystal Balint, Aya Furukawa, Daniel Jun, Matt Biedel, Ruth Codd, Annabeth Gish, Igby Rigney and Robert Longstreet

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)