Right off its TIFF ’22 Premiere comes this new Trailer for ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT from Director Edward Berger.

Synopsis:
All Quiet on the Western Front tells the gripping story of a young German soldier on the Western Front of World War I. Paul and his comrades experience first-hand how the initial euphoria of war turns into desperation and fear as they fight for their lives, and each other, in the trenches. The film from director Edward Berger is based on the world renowned bestseller of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque.

Limited Theatrical Release:
Wednesday, October 12: Toronto (TIFF Bell Lightbox), Montreal (TBA)

Friday, October 14: Vancouver (VIFF Centre)

Friday, October 21: Ottawa (ByTowne Cinema), Kanata (Landmark Cinemas Kanata), Waterloo (Princess Twin Cinemas), Hamilton (Playhouse Cinema), Calgary (Landmark Cinemas), Edmonton (Landmark Cinemas 9 Edmonton City Centre), Victoria (The Vic Theatre)

Global Launch on Netflix:
October 28, 2022

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

THE WONDER, starring Florence Pugh and adapted from Emma Donoghue‘s acclaimed Novel, just premiered at TIFF ’22 and here’s a first look at the Trailer.

About THE WONDER:

The Irish Midlands, 1862 – a young girl stops eating but remains miraculously alive and well. English nurse Lib Wright is brought to a tiny village to observe eleven-year old Anna O’Donnell. Tourists and pilgrims mass to witness the girl who is said to have survived without food for months. Is the village harbouring a saint ‘surviving on manna from heaven’ or are there more ominous motives at work?

A psychological thriller inspired by the 19th century phenomenon of the “fasting girls” and adapted from the acclaimed novel by Emma Donoghue (writer of Room).

THE WONDER streams November 16, 2022 on Netflix.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY is based on the best-selling novel of the same name and is in theatres this weekend!

Synopsis:

Based on the New York Times best-selling novel, A.J. Fikry’s life is not turning out as he expected and hits emotional and financial rock bottom. He lives alone, his bookstore is in a sales slump, and his most valuable possession, a book of poems, has been stolen. But when a mysterious package appears, he soon discovers he has a second chance at life, and love.

Starring: Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, Christina Hendricks, Blaire Brown, Lauren Stamile, with David Arquette, and Scott Foley
Directed by: Hans Canosa
Release Date: 10/7/22

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY opens Friday, October 7, 2022 as follows in:

Toronto

Montreal (English)

Vancouver

Calgary

Edmonton

Victoria

Winnipeg

Halifax

Ottawa

Disney+ and National Geographic announced the following casting of the Original Series “Genius: MLK/X,” produced by 20th Television, Imagine Television and Undisputed Cinema: Kelvin Harrison Jr. (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”) as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Aaron Pierre (“The Underground Railroad”) as Malcolm X, Weruche Opia (“I May Destroy You”) as Coretta Scott King, and Jayme Lawson (“The Batman”) as Betty Shabazz. Principal photography will begin in October 2022 in Atlanta.

“We are beyond excited to have put together the incredible foursome of Kelvin, Aaron, Jayme and Weruche to bring the depth, complexity, and humanity to these indelible icons,” said the Bythewoods. “They are all next level in their chops and their passion to tell this story.”

As previously announced, in a first for the franchise, the new season of the Emmy® Award-winning anthology series will focus on two iconic geniuses: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. “Genius: MLK/X” will explore the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies and key personal relationships of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Pierre). While King advanced racial equality through nonviolent protest, Malcolm X argued forcefully for Black empowerment, identity and self-determination. With their formidable wives, Coretta Scott King (Opia) and Betty Shabazz (Lawson), by their sides, King and Malcolm X became synonymous with the civil rights era and the fight for racial and economic justice. While they met only once and often challenged each other’s views, neither would have been as successful without the other.

In addition to casting news, executive producers Reggie Rock Bythewood and Gina Prince-Bythewood announced a think tank of renowned historians and experts serving as production consultants prior to the start of the writer’s room to guide the production, including the following (in alphabetical order):

Jamal Joseph (“Panther Baby: A Life of Rebellion and Reinvention”), formerly a member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, is a writer, director and professor of professional practice at Columbia University School of the Arts in the film department.

Peniel E. Joseph is a writer whose book, “The Sword and The Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.,” serves as inspiration for the series and also serves as a series consultant.
Michele Norris is a columnist and consultant for Post Opinions and founding director of Peabody Award-winning The Race Card Project.

Dr. Kameelah Rashad is the founder and president of the Muslim Wellness Foundation (MWF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healing and emotional well-being in the American Muslim community.

Dr. Barbara Reynolds is an award-winning journalist, author and minister who penned several books, including “Jesse Jackson, America’s David” and “No, I Won’t Shut Up: 30 Years of Telling It Like It Is,” with a foreword by Coretta Scott King.

Ambassador Shabazz, producer, writer, diplomat and eldest daughter of Dr. Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X Shabazz, also serves as consulting producer for the series.
Jeff Stetson, whose play “The Meeting” serves as inspiration for the series, is an internationally acclaimed award-winning playwright and screenwriter for film and television. He also serves as an executive producer on the series.

Jeanne Theoharis, a political science professor at City University of New York, is the author or co-author of eleven books and numerous articles on the civil rights and Black Power movements.
Pastor Michael A. Walrond, Jr., senior pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church, received numerous honours, accolades and recognitions, including induction into Morehouse College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers.

“We wanted to assemble a consortium of scholars and experts who can not only lend their extensive knowledge, expertise and research but also create a space for meaningful debate and discussion to ensure an honest portrayal of the complexities of these iconic geniuses. The legacies of Martin and Malcolm are critical to our understanding of the social justice movements of today, so we had to get this right. We could not have asked for a more incredible group to guide us through their stories,” added the Bythewoods.

Additionally, Channing Godfrey Peoples was named as co-executive producer and will direct the pilot episode for “Genius: MLK/X.” Godfrey Peoples made her feature directorial debut with “Miss Juneteenth,” for which she received the coveted National Board of Review Award for Best Directorial Debut and was also recognized with multiple nominations from the Gotham Awards and the Film Independent Spirit Awards, among others. Her television credits include Apple TV+ “Roar” and HBO Max’s “Generation” for directing and OWN’s “Queen Sugar” for screenwriting.

(Photo credit: Disney+)

Jennifer Lopez x Josh Duhamel team-up in SHOTGUN WEDDING, and we’re invited January 2023! Here’s a brand-new official Trailer for us to enjoy. This looks so fun!

Synopsis:

In Shotgun Wedding, Darcy (Jennifer Lopez) and Tom (Josh Duhamel) gather their lovable but very opinionated families for the ultimate destination wedding, just as the couple begin to get cold feet. And if that wasn’t enough of a threat to the celebration, suddenly everyone’s lives are in danger when the entire party is taken hostage. “’Til Death Do Us Part” takes on a whole new meaning in this hilarious, adrenaline-fueled adventure as Darcy and Tom must save their loved ones—if they don’t kill each other first.

Prime Video Canada release SHOTGUN WEDDING January 27, 2023.

(Photo credit: Prime Video Canada)

I’ve been raving about them for some time now and I’m so happy I finally got to see FIJI BLUE live. The L.A.-based Duo consists of Frontman Trevor Dering and Co-Producer/Writer Valentin Fritz. If I could describe their sound, I’d say it were like a kiss from the California sun, yet moody like the waves of Malibu Beach.

They’ve embraced their “Sad Boy Pop” brand but really they are so much more than that, delivering Housey Bangers, to vibey Guitar Pop and also some very gorgeous introspective Balladry. Fiji Blue‘s music evokes feelings and word of mouth is spreading quickly. They’ve already signed to Capitol Records and their Toronto show at The Drake Undergound sold-out rapidly to a diverse mostly twenty-something crowd, with secondary market tickets going for at least three to four times the original value.

Dering tells me Fritz has moved back to Europe to be closer to his family and more contributes to the Duo on the production side. This didn’t make a difference as Dering had the crowd on their feet singing along start-to-finish during the 75-minute set which included a two-song Encore. Dering isn’t shy to tell the stories behind his song, thoughtfully giving a brief synopsis about the heartbreak behind much of his repertoire. He’s just as adept a Singer-Songwriter as he is a Guitarist, just shining in several of the solos – some 36 bars long. Such a joy witnessing what is just the early stages of what will be a lasting legacy.

A reel of highlights:

Some Snaps:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We really enjoyed friendship Comedy FIREFLY LANE and it’s back for one final season this Fall! Some new Stills for you.

About Season 2 Part 1:
What could possibly have ended the tight-knit thirty year friendship of Tully and Kate, our “Firefly Lane Girls Forever”? We’ll learn the answer this season — but first — Kate grapples with the painful aftermath of Johnny’s ill-fated trip to Iraq, while Tully faces a lawsuit after walking away from her talk show, and must start her career over from the bottom. This leads her to search for answers about who she is and where she comes from — including a quest to find the father she never met, against the wishes of her secretive hippie mother, Cloud. In the ’80s, we see Kate and Johnny first fall in love, creating more than a little drama in the newsroom where they work, as Tully’s career rises and she spars (and flirts!) with cocky sportscaster Danny Diaz. She just might have met her match — that is, if they can stop arguing for five minutes. While in the ’70s, teenage Kate and Tully struggle to keep their friendship together as Cloud goes to jail for dealing drugs and Tully goes to live with her grandmother, far away from Firefly Lane. As the girls face the tumult of high school apart, they know the one thing they really need is each other.

Firefly Lane returns this December 2nd with a concluding 16-episode, supersized season. Part 1 debuts December 2, 2022 and includes episodes 201-209. Part 2 will launch in 2023 and include episodes 210-216.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

Focus Features announced today that it has acquired and will release INSIDE, a psychological thriller starring Academy Award® nominee Willem Dafoe in filmmaker Vasilis Katsoupis’s directorial debut, on March 10, 2023. Ben Hopkins wrote the script based on an original idea by Katsoupis. The deal was negotiated by Bankside’s Stephen Kelliher on behalf of the filmmakers.

The film is produced by Giorgos Karnavas alongside producers Marcos Kantis, and Dries Phlypo and executive produced by Katsoupis, Jim Stark, Konstantinos Kontovrakis, Charles E. Breitkreuz, Martin Lehwald, Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, and Stephen Kelliher. Focus Features is distributing INSIDE domestically, with Universal Pictures International distributing internationally.

Creator-Director Katsoupis and Karnavas, the critically acclaimed producer of Greek boutique production and sales outfit, Heretic, whose credits include the Cannes Palme d’Or winner Triangle of Sadness, La Semaine de la Critique winner Feathers and Greece 2022 Academy Award® entry Magnetic Fields, said in a joint statement, “It’s a dream to have made this film, the way we wanted to, having the priviledge to work with Willem and all these amazing filmmakers that supported us. Focus is the perfect place for the film, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”

INSIDE tells the story of Nemo, an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive.

“With INSIDE, Focus continues our commitment to first-time and international filmmakers,” said Kiska Higgs, President of Production & Acquisitions at Focus Features. “Vasilis’s thought-provoking film explores an experience we’re all now familiar with – isolation – and explores it in a visually stunning way.”

Dafoe’s additional upcoming projects include Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things and Patricia Arquette’s Gonzo Girl. His most recent credits include Walter Hill’s Dead for A Dollar, Robert Eggers’ The Northman, Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley and Jon Watt’s Spiderman: No Way Home.

Upcoming features for Focus include Todd Field’s TÁR, starring Cate Blanchett in the titular role; James Gray’s Armageddon Time starring Jeremy Strong and Academy Award winners Anthony Hopkins and Anne Hathaway; Champions directed by Bobby Farrelly and starring Woody Harrelsonl A.V Rockwell’s directorial debut A Thousand and One starring Teyana Taylor; Spoiler Alert based on Michael Ausiello’s Memoir and starring Jim Parsons, Sally Field, and Ben Aldridge; Polite Society directed by Nida Manzoor and starring Ritu Arya; Bill Holderman’s Book Club 2: The Next Chapter starring Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton and Andy Garcia, and Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers starring Paul Giamatti.

Currently in production for the studio is Asteroid City, the star-studded feature reuniting Wes Anderson and Focus for the first time since Moonrise Kingdom, and Lisa Frankenstein from debut feature filmmaker, Zelda Williams, written by Academy Award and Tony winner, Diablo Cody, and starring Cole Sprouse and Katheryn Newton.

Dafoe is represented by WME and Circle of Confusion. Hopkins is represented by Curtis Brown Group.

We’re so excited about this! A new Trailer for BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER has arrived! Did you know also that tickets are now on sale?

Synopsis:

In the film, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.Introducing Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of Talokan, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livinalli. 

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, opens in theatres November 11, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)

The tenth edition of JUST FOR LAUGHS TORONTO just wrapped, doing it bigger and better than ever before. I know we’ve often envied the Montreal leg of the Festival, but Toronto returning to an in-person format this year of the Festival, the excitement was stratospheric! Among the Comedy heavyweights in-town this weekend were Iliza Shlesinger, Marc Maron, Peter Billingsley, Vince Vaughn and Trevor Noah – hot off his announcement that he’ll be exiting The Daily Show after hosting for the past seven years.

Some amazing highlights of the closing-half of the Festival this year.

PETER BILLINGSLEY & VINCE VAUGHN

Toronto really got a treat as A Christmas Story star Peter Billingsley and adored Actor Vince Vaughn closed-out the Festival with the World Premiere of CHRISTMAS WITH THE CAMPBELLS, an upcoming Holiday Comedy which uses the classic Hallmark blueprint, without sparing the swearing! The duo produced the Film together, while Vaughn had a hand in writing the Scrript.

The Premiere, originally scheduled for last weekend, was slotted in for closing night of what already was a star-studded Festival. The Film stars Brittany Snow, Justin Long and Alex Moffatt, and will be in theatres later this year, while also streaming on AMC+ in the U.S.

So happy we got to chat with Billingsley and Vaughn about their new Film.

Could you describe CHRISTMAS WITH THE CAMPBELLS as a love letter to Hallmark movies? Could you say that?

Vaughn: Kinda. We had a woman, Barbara Kymlicka who writes some terrific Hallmark movies, write a real kind of story with emotion. We put a lot of Hard “R” Comedy in there so it’s kinda funny and kinda heart-felt.

How do you draw that fine balance between it being a parody and an actual love letter?

Vaughn: That was the interesting thing part. So we play it straight. We have a Hallmark Composer, Editor, Cinematographer, Set Designer. But the language and points of view of the characters are straight Comedy. It’s a really interesting blend and the Movie has tested really well. We’re just finally excited to have a World Premiere in Toronto.

Billingsley: We don’t betray the rules of a Hallmark movie, so there’s that. There’s a really good feeling in the end and you laugh a lot along the way.

I know you both have a real affinity for Toronto. What’s one thing that Toronto’s got that you can’t find anywhere else in the world?

Vaughn: You know what? I think Toronto’s a place where people are raising families and going to work. It’s a real city where people enjoy themselves. For me it’s special. My mom was born here, I used to come all the time to see family as a kid. I still see family here, it’s just a great city.

Billingsley: Toronto has a lot of film fans. The Toronto International Film Festival has a reputation of being the Fan’s Festival. It gets great crowds that love movies, so it’s always great to bring a film here.

MARC MARON

This charismatic, all-around Entertainer delighted fans two nights at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. If you haven’t checked-out his observational WTF with Marc Maron Podcast, you absolutely should. Also how cool was it that he was starstruck sitting behind Rush‘s Geddy Lee on his flight out of Toronto?

RHYS NICHOLSON

This Australian Treasure really wowed us with an incredible, tight set where we wouldn’t quit with the laughs. We love them from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, but this was a more accurate capture of his range, amazing comedic timing and writing. Floored. A star on the rise, with some hilarious anecdotes about growing-up non-binary in his native Newcastle.

JERROD CARMICHAEL

It’s Jerrod Carmichael‘s world and we’re all living in it! Hot off his Emmy win for HBO Special ROTHANIEL, he delivered a low-key set at Bluma Appel Theatre, reflecting on life, love and his coming to terms with his sexuality. He has a unique vibe, moving at an unrushed pace, with pensive pauses, and at once has a grip on his audience. So amazing getting to see this burgeoning star, who has in the zone with his headphones on when we spotted him being ushered-in quickly.

Just for Laughs Toronto 2022 was one for the books! While we are a little Festivaled-out in what’s been a hectic September, we wouldn’t trade it in for anything! Cannot wait to see what next year’s Festival brings! More on Just for Laughs Toronto here.

Don’t forget to check-out our Recap of the Festival’s first-half here, which includes some of our favourites as well.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

*All captured on the Samsung S22*