#COOKING: PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM CROSTINI RECIPE

Portobello Mushroom Crostini. Got this idea from Lisa and Pandora Vanderpump. An amazing quick-to-prepare, light yet substantial brunch, which you can double if you have more guests! 🍞🍄

Ingredients:

4 slices of French bread
200g Smooth Ricotta
4 tbsps Goat Cheese
6 large Portobello Mushrooms, sliced thin
1/2 white onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cloves garlic, halved
3 tbsps red wine
2 tbsps pine nuts, toasted
1/4 tsp Thyme
1 tsp Truffle Oil
Olive oil
Sea salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Sautée onions on medium-high heat and garlic in olive oil till almost caramelmized. Toss-in mushrooms and cook till wilted.
2. Add wine and reduce heat to medium-low. Stir-in Thyme. Do not cook too long. Once wine reduces, add Truffle Oil, salt and pepper and remove from heat.
3. Rub garlic clove halves on bread and toast in oven at 350°F for 5-6 minutes till crisp. Drizzle olive oil on-top.
4. In small bowl, whisk Ricotta, olive oil, salt and pepper.
5. Layer Ricotta onto Crostini. Spoon mushroom mixture on-top. Spoon Goat’s Cheese and toasted Pine Nuts on-top. Garnish with a bit more Thyme and serve with olives. Serves 4.

Gallery:

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: WHAT TO WATCH AUGUST 2020 – “FEAR CITY”, “THE KISSING BOOTH 2”, “THE REMIX”, “GOOD GIRLS”, “MUPPETS NOW”, “BLACK IS KING”, “THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY”, “SUGAR RUSH: EXTRA SWEET”

It’s Civic Day weekend, meaning it’s time to stream something new! Here’s some of our best recommendations to help make this an even better long weekend!

THE KISSING BOOTH 2 (NETFLIX)

Joey King is back in this direct sequel to 2018’s The Kissing Booth, reprising her role as Elle, who is now in her senior year of high school. Returning also is her flame Noah (Jacob Elordi) who now is studying at Harvard. The love triangle game is strong in this Sequel with her visiting him in Boston, only to meet Chloe, who appears to be getting rather close to him. Bringing back The Kissing Booth for her school’s charity fair, she and BFF Lee (Joel Courtney) recruit heartthrob Marco (Taylor Perez) for a dance competition and before we know it, they start developing feelings for one another. Matters are complicated as Elle isn’t sure if she if Noah is cheating with Chloe and at the same time she feels a romance blooming between her and Marco. She finds herself resented also as Lee‘s girlfriend Rachel (Meganne Young) can’t get a moment together with him, without Elle always being in the picture. All the while, Elle‘s trying to figure out if she will choose Harvard to be with Noah or just go to Berkeley. Above this, she’s worried she won’t have enough money to go to the school of her dreams. While we clearly don’t remember our senior year of high school having this much drama, kudos to Elle who is played well again by King. This Sequel really doesn’t resolve much, leaving room for yet another installment of this Franchise and still capturing that sweet spot in her life where she still is free to do whatever she wants before college. Judging by interest in this, a third Film seems likely!

FEAR CITY: NEW YORK VS THE MAFIA (NETFLIX)

The Producers of Don’t F**k With Cats are back with this gripping three-part Docu-Series which takes us back to the ’70s when New York went from the “City of Fun” to the “City of Fear” as various five big mafia families had their hands in controlling every aspect of the City whether it be garbage collection to real estate. With a combination of interviews, photographs, actual surveillance tapes and re-enactments, we learn how under eventual Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the FBI and a team of undercover agents in gut-wrenching detail, walks us through how they infiltrated the Mafia’s cars, homes and frequented establishments. We see also the challenges the Prosecutors faced convincing a jury with collected surveillance footage, before a ruling defined an era of change for a crime-riddled New York. Once again, some great haunting storytelling here from both sides of law enforcement, which educates as well as it entertains.

THE REMIX: HIP HOP X FASHION (NETFLIX)

The ’90s were a pivotal period for Urban Music and Fashion with several of today’s looks and sounds having stemmed from that renaissance period. But did these artists all come armed with their own sense of style to go along with their groundbreaking music? THE REMIX: HIP HOP X FASHION is a concise 67-minute Documentary which premiered at Tribeca, taking a look at some of the unsung heroes of fashion who conceptualized some of the ’90s biggest acts like Mary J. Blige, Lil’ Kim and more. They came out of the underground and into the mainstream in much of the fashion we see today from major fashion houses like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Fendi. The Film looks at the likes of Dapper Dan who now is an official collaborator with the former, April Walker of Walker Wear and Stylist Misa Hylton who still is working with the likes of Beyoncé. We see their unsung legacies on style as we know today and how it has left an indelible mark on black and mainstream culture.

GOOD GIRLS – SEASON 1 (NETFLIX)

Acquiring NBC’s GOOD GIRLS has proven to be a winning move for Netflix. The Series now available on the streaming service shot straight to #1 on its Trending list in Canada. Starring Mad Men‘s Christina Hendricks in the lead role of Beth, teams-up with best friend Beth (Retta) and her little sister Annie (Mae Whitman) deciding to rob a supermarket to make ends meet. Aiming for $30,000 but instead walking away with $500,000, they soon become the target of a band of criminals, led by Christopher (Manny Montana). Unable to re-pay their debt, they soon find themselves caught in a criminal underworld carrying-out jobs for Christopher, unable to escape. Matters get even more complicated as Christopher and Beth develop a complicated relationship, which at any moment feels like it’s ready to implode. Despite a story which takes some implausible turns, Hendricks carries the lead role superbly, making this a fun watch.

MUPPETS NOW (DISNEY+)

A huge emphatic stamp of approval for this six-episode improvisational Comedy Series which has our beloved Muppets back and funnier than ever as they are in an age of Instagram, Vlogs and Social Media. The episodes are part Talk Show and part Game Show, with a diverse variety of celebrity guests (including RuPaul, Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, Aubrey Plaza, Roy Choi and more!) who play it straight like they are on any other interview, but what truly makes this a joy is how the Muppets true to form, ham it up true to brand and they ultimately are the stars of the interview. Danny Trejo in a Taco Challenge in episode 2 against The Swedish Chef is outrageously-funny! While this looks like it’s for the kids, it’s definitely more for the big kids. We adore The Muppets and our only complaint is how quick the time passes. We want more!

BLACK IS KING (DISNEY+)

“You can’t wear a crown with your head down” is a quote heard in Beyoncé‘s Visual Album BLACK IS KING, available now on Disney+. And this line sums it all up entirely. Fans have been hungry for new music from the Icon and she rewards them with this gorgeously-shot 85 minute Musical Film immersed in a new Afrobeat-inspired sound, starring, writing, directing and producing. The Film, serving as a companion piece to often-forgotten album The Lion King: The Gift, centers on a young African king, exiled by his family and like Simba, he learns just how dangerous it is out there in the world. While her message is to empower the young to reclaim what is theirs, this might go over the heads of the young audience she is speaking to, but it sure talks to her fans of a generation who are responsible for leading and raising these children by example. BLACK IS KING is loaded with star power including appearances in the Album and Film by Pharell Williams, Kelly Rowland, Lupita Nyong’o, Naomi Campbell, Canada’s Jessie Reyez and of course Jay-Z and their children Rumi, Blue Ivy and Sir Carter. If I Were a Boy, Crazy in Love, Single Ladies and Say My Name were an era of the past for Beyoncé. She is here with a new vision and is in it to be heard.

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY SEASON 2 (NETFLIX)

Picking-up from the end of Season 1, this quirky Toronto-made fan favourite returns with 10 new episodes. Five (Aidan Gallagher) uses his time travel ability and takes his siblings back in time to stop the Apocalypse from happening. Things go awry however and his siblings all revert back to different eras. Vanya (Ellen Page) has Amnesia and is living with a family; Diego (DavidCastañeda) finds himself in an asylum and eager to get out to prevent JFK from being assassinated; Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) is married to an Activist; charismatic Klaus (Robert Sheehan) is finding himself in trouble as usual, having started a cult; and Luther (Tom Hopper) is working in a club as a bodyguard. Season 2 takes us a journey as these siblings find one another again, navigating the scenarios they have landed in, but reuniting is only the tip of the iceberg in the many complex problems they have to tackle.

SUGAR RUSH: EXTRA SWEET (NETFLIX)

This is our first time checking-out this competition Baking Series which takes pairs of skilled bakers, pitting them against other duos in new themed baking challenges each episode. The first round involves cupcakes, the second a confection and the third a cake. This new six-episode set includes celebrity guests like Tyler Posey and the late Naya Rivera and we were entertained as more often than not we agree with the panel of judges’ assessments. Some really brilliant and inspired talent tasked with challenges that update as trends evolve. We were floored by some of these creations including a cake that lit-up under black lights and even levitating cakes!

(Photo/video credit: Disney/Netflix)

#HORSERACING: PRINCE X PRINCESS DIARIES – AUGUST 2020

We hope your long weekend is starting great! Amazing news! Our boy MR WILL is back and ready to rumble in his second race ever, Thursday, August 7, 2020, race 5 at Woodbine Racetrack! We’re so thrilled that we’ve been invited as a guest to watch him race amidst COVID-19 precautions.

In case you missed it, his debut on July 2, 2020 was aired nationally on TSN‘s RACING NIGHT LIVE and he ran a smashing race, pressuring the pace all the way, never backing down to finish a game second. The betting public let him get away at a big 15-1 odds, but we feel his odds will be much lower this time around based on that run under jockey David Moran.

Here is the race:

We couldn’t be happier and prouder of MR WILL. And if we were going to come second, we couldn’t be more pleased coming second to DOUBLE THE HEART from Team John Ross, who gifted me with the experience of our dear Princess (A PIC BY MRWILL). That one race earned him $7,110 paying back his original purchase price and more.

See how proud he was of himself after the race! He’s honestly just adorable! He loves to race!

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MR WILL has taken a while to get to the races, but is proving well worth the wait. He is coming into this second race in amazing shape and his main obstacle is a step-up in class. He ran a very quick race the first time out garnering an 84 Speed Figure on Equibase, and looked like he has it in him to go a little bit further.

While he’s never been known to throw “bullet” workouts in the morning, he does just enough to get fit and doesn’t usually let his workmates pass him. Owner/Trainer Michelle Love is having a productive season so far and we’re hoping MR WILL notches her another win to reward her for her excellent work!

In preparation for the race, he’s put-in a solid workout and is as sharp as ever!

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Here are the entries. Among others we’ll be squaring-off with Mark Casse trainee PRICELESS WILL! What a coincidence! He is pegged at 6-1, the fourth choice.

Good luck to all other entrants!

We hope you’ll tune-in on the HPI channel. Unfortunately our race is just right before the start of TSN RACING NIGHT LIVE and you won’t be able to see him on TSN this time.

A very special thanks to Erica of Security at Woodbine Racetrack, who knew how much a photo of MR WILL on his big day with his Caretaker Jayne meant to me!

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Wish us luck! Hope you make some money! We’ll be extra careful following some strict COVID-19 safety guidelines in order to enjoy the race. But we’ll take lots of pics!

Meanwhile on the Princess front, she’s been loving life with her family at her newly-renovated home with her Mama Emily Fisher. Outdoor life doesn’t look like it’s been too tough a transition for her. She’s never been happier! Gotta love how she still lifts one leg up while enjoying something yummy! Love it!

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Everyone continue to stay safe, we have a ways to go!

(Photo/video credit: Michelle Love/Woodbine Entertainment/Emily Fisher/Erica Daniela)

#FIRSTLOOK: BEYONCÉ FT. SHATTA WALE AND MAJOR LAZER – “ALREADY” FROM “BLACK IS KING”

Right in time for the release of Beyoncé-directed BLACK IS KING, comes this new Track from its Soundtrack! Check-out the new Video for ALREADY by Beyonce ft. Shatta Wale and Major Lazer.

See the Video:

BLACK IS KING is available now on Disney+. The Film’s Soundtrack is available to stream now also!

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music Entertainment)

#COOKING: AIR FRYER HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE RECIPE

Air Fryer Roasted Hainanese Chicken Rice. This is a different take on the traditional version of this Singaporean Hawkers Market fave where the chicken is air-fried to juicy, succulent perfection. This is quick, easy to clean and most of all devastatingly-delicious.

Chicken
2 1/2 to 3 lb chicken
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 stalk green onion
4 tbsps soy sauce
2 tbsps white wine
2 tbsps oyster sauce
1 tbsp organic raw sugar
1 tsp white pepper

Hainanese Rice
1 1/2 cups long grain rice, rinsed
2 cups of reserved chicken stock
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsps reserved chicken fat
2 tbsps sesame oil
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tsp sea salt

Instructions:

1. Clean chicken well and pat dry with paper towels. Trim fatty bits off for later use.
2. Combine all other ingredients and run chicken inside and out with marinade. Stuff cavity of chicken with green onion.
3. Marinate chicken minimum three hours in refrigerator, flipping every hour.
4. Pat chicken dry with paper towels.
5. Preheat Air Fryer on Air Fryer mode for 3 minutes at 360°F.
6. Fry chicken for 25-27 minutes, flipping it over at half-way mark. Ensure chicken does not touch top of fryer.
7. While cooking chicken, in a skillet, sautée garlic, oil, ginger, salt and reserved chicken fat from prior. Once crisp, add rice to mixture. Fry for 3 minutes and remove from heat. Discard chicken fat.
8. Cook rice mixture in chicken stock. Fluff rice once cooked.
9. Test chicken by poking leg with fork to ensure juices run clear. Dare I say, this chicken is best served just slightly under-cooked for optimal juiciness. Reserve oil collected at bottom.
10. Let chicken stand for 30 minutes before cutting. Serve with rice and sauces.

Sweet Chili Sauce:
1 tbsp Sambal Sauce
1 stalk green onion, minced
1 chili pepper, seeds removed and minced
1 tsps organic raw sugar
1 tbsp reserved oil from Fryer
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp olive oil

In skillet, sautée garlic, ginger, oil, onion and chili in oil. Stir-in sugar, vinegar and Sambal Sauce. Add lime juice and remove from heat.

Dark Soy Dipping Sauce:
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tbsps dark sweet soy sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbp reserved oil from Fryer

Combine all in a bowl, mix well.

Gallery:

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Hainanese Chicken Rice Rice Singapore

#FIRSTLOOK: TRAILER FOR “ODD MAN RUSH”

Hockey is here again but so is this new Trailer for ODD MAN RUSH!

Synopsis:
ODD MAN RUSH, a comedic coming-of-age hockey film based off a memoir by Bill Keenan about playing professional hockey in Europe and dreaming about the NHL, will be available on digital and on demand Tuesday, September 1st. It is directed by Doug Dearth and stars Jack Mulhern (The Society) and Dylan Playfair (Letterkenny) with special appearances by Trevor Gretzky (Mile 22) and Alexa Lemieux, daughter of Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux. 

See the Trailer:

Pacific Northwest Pictures release ODD MAN RUSH on digital and on-demand Friday, September 1, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Pacific Northwest Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN” GETS AN EARLY CANADIAN RELEASE

To celebrate its fruition in Montreal, Paramount Pictures Canada have announced today that THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN will get an exclusive early release in Canada!

SYNOPSIS:

This August, SpongeBob SquarePants, his best friend Patrick Star and the rest of the gang from Bikini Bottom hit the big screen in the first-ever all CGI SpongeBob motion picture event. After SpongeBob’s beloved pet snail Gary is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to The Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home. As they navigate the delights and dangers on this perilous and hilarious rescue mission, SpongeBob and his pals prove there’s nothing stronger than the power of friendship.

VOICE CAST:  Tom Kenny, Awkwafina, Clancy Brown, Rodger Bumpass, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Douglas Lawrence, Reggie Watts     

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE ON THE RUN opens in theatres across Canada Friday, August 14, 2020.

(Photo credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)        

 

#FIRSTLOOK: TRAILER FOR “THINGS I DO FOR MONEY”

Hot off its rounds on the Festival circuit comes the release of THINGS I DO FOR MONEY by Canadian Filmmaker Warren P. Sonoda. Check out the Trailer!

Bold in its execution and a historic addition to the Canadian crime cannon, Things I Do For Money is a dynamic thriller, set to the full-bodied sounds of the cello. Eli and Nick Yaguchi, two Japanese-Canadian cello-playing brothers from Hamilton, Ontario (played by real-life virtuoso brothers Theodor and Maximilian Aoki in their film debuts) inadvertently steal a bag of money. And yes, trouble ensues, starting with a lethal Vancouver hit man that turns out to be their estranged uncle Just Jimmy (played by their actual father, Edward Aoki). Through a confluence of events and massive bad luck, they also have to save their father’s life, steal an $8 million dollar painting and fight for their lives to get into a prestigious music conservatory. Along the way they discover that everyone has a price and that family never bails on family, no matter the cost.

Rounding out the cast is Yodit Tewoderos (Laura), Rhett Morita (Tosh Yaguchi), Jennifer Lynn Walton (Mary Yaguchi), Dax Lough (Alexi Raduli), Danilo Reyes (Gonzo), Colette Zacca (Brenda Mickel) and Ali A. Kazmi (Cossy).

The film also features some of Canada’s best recording artists, The Arkells, July Talk, Jane’s Party and the legendary, iconic, The Northern Pikes whose titular song anchors the film’s most intense scene. Not to mention the phenomenal original score, composed and performed by acting leads and brand-new film composers, Maximilian and Theodor Aoki. This original soundtrack for THINGS I DO FOR MONEY – will be released through IndieCan Records later this year.

See the Trailer:

THINGS I DO FOR MONEY is available via Raven Banner Releasing Tuesday, August 11, 2020. It will be available on iTunes (pre-sale August 4, 2020), Bell, Cineplex, Cogeco, Rogers, Shaw, Telus, and Vimeo.

(Photo/video credit: Raven Banner Releasing)

#FIRSTLOOK: 2020 INSIDE OUT FILM FESTIVAL TO GO DIGITAL THIS YEAR

All is not awash in 2020. INSIDE OUT, North America’s largest LGBTQ Film Festival has announced earlier this week it will be going digital, effectively merging their Toronto and Ottawa editions of the Festival. The Festival, now it its 30 edition runs October 1-11, 2020.

In converting to a digital format this year, the Festival will be hosted on the Cinesend platform incorporating films with live events, Q&As, and exclusive conversations with LGBTQ talent.

The full lineup of short films below, many grouped by Carly Rae Jepsen song names! Feature films to come.

BOLD

POMPEII (United Kingdom) – Marco Alessi / Harry Lighton / Matthew Jacobs Morgan      
Wearing only a crop-top and high-waisted jeans, Tam feels conspicuous. So he plugs in his earphones and begins reliving his messy Halloween night via social media.

2 DOLLARS (United States) – Robin Cloud    
As a black queer artist, Syd deals with daily challenges from ignorant co-workers and a killer workload. When they enter the office lotto pool, everything changes.

ACROSS, BEYOND, AND OVER (United States) – Brit Fryer / Noah Schamus    
Two trans men who used to date in middle school reconnect over a long weekend and develop a hybrid documentary about their past.

ADELINE, THE GREAT (United States) – Jessica Siqueiros          
A woke boarding school student questions her commitment to activism when she finds herself with no friends, countless enemies, and facing some very serious accusations that threaten to get her expelled.

ZANMI (Martinique) – Nadia Charlery
A New Year’s Eve party in Martinique with friends and champagne leads to an innocent game with unexpected consequences.

BODY SO FLUORESCENT (Canada) – David Di Giovanni 
Desiree and Shenice go out for a fun night of dancing, but when Shenice takes things a step too far, Desiree is confronted with who Shenice really is and how Desiree may be the one responsible for her insidious transformation.

POSTMARKED (United States) – Malakai    
With the help of an eccentric woman, some gas station snacks, and a torch of bright burning hope, Scooter sets out to find his estranged trans sister.

Boy Problems

BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE (Brazil) – Leandro Goddinho       
It is the first week of 2019 in Brazil and a new president takes office. Locked in a hotel room, two teenagers decide to change the course of their lives.

HOW TO SAY I LOVE YOU AT NIGHT (United States) – Andree Ljutica 
A single-take film explores notions of male-on-male intimacy, sexuality and violence,during one romantic encounter gone wrong.

HAVANA (United States) – Faith Strongheart        
Antonio, an immigration officer by day, sells exit visas illegally by night. His secrets go beyond his work, though: he is also hiding his relationship with Jian.

EN MI ALMA (United States) – Sara Pinar Onder     
Power dynamics shift between an asylum officer and an asylum seeker when they run into each other at a bar.

WE’RE NOT HERE (Australia) – Bonnie Moir           
Anton, a closeted right-wing Finnish politician, meets his secret lover, Ryan, for a weekend getaway in the Mediterranean.

POMPEII (United Kingdom) – Marco Alessi / Harry Lighton / Matthew Jacobs Morgan      
Wearing only a crop-top and high-waisted jeans, Tam feels conspicuous. So he plugs in his earphones and begins reliving his messy Halloween night via social media.

BUCK (United States) – Elegance Bratton / Jovan James   
Caught in the midst of a depressive fugue, Lynn turns to debauchery to ease his troubled soul only to discover that achieving happiness is complicated.

I WANT TO SEE GELLIVARE BURN (Sweden) – André Vaara      
Teenage misfits Amandus and Johan find solace in an unconventional friendship, challenging the norms of their provincial Swedish town.

Call Me Maybe

CINDY (Australia) – Rosanagh Griffiths        
Cindy’s first time performing in drag might be camp and outrageous, but is it a success?
 
QUEST FOR JASMINE (United States) – Amanda Hawkes / Jackie MacLean       
Amara tries to make a love potion in hopes of finding romance.

LADYLIKE (United States) – Rachel Bickert / Emily Tapanes          
A queer woman in the American South shatters deep-rooted religious beliefs and cultural stereotypes within her conservative community.

THROUPLE (United States) – Chrissie De Guzman 
Hungover from a bad breakup, a not-so-great stripper makes a house call to a progressive married couple.

ORIGAMI (Iran) – Marjan Hashemi   
A young woman makes an origami bracelet for her crush but when it’s intercepted by her teacher, she must go to great lengths to retrieve it.

SQUARE ONE (United Kingdom) – Emily Jo Sargent          
A semi-autobiographical film demonstrates fishing as a way to avoid sex.

I KNOW HER (United States) – Fawzia Mirza           
In the afterglow of a seemingly fated hookup, two women realize that perhaps they have a little too much in common.

SUPER ZEE (Canada) – Nathalie Younglai  
A queer Black superhero swoops in to save her woman crush from the microaggressions at the office.

Cut to the Feeling

DIRTY (United States) – Matthew Puccini    
Marco cuts class to spend the afternoon with his boyfriend. Things do not go as planned.

ARE WE HERE YET? (United States) – S. Chidi Amadiume
A couple moving in together discover they don’t know as much about each other as they thought.

SUNDAY (India) – Arun Fulara          
When Kamble makes his weekly visit to the neighbourhood barber shop, it’s not just for a shave.

BLACK HAT (United States) – Sarah Smith  
Shmuel is a pious Hasidic man but, when his family leave town for a few days, he will step out of his simple life and into a more complex world.

BOLDLY GO (Australia) – Christopher Cosgrove     
A young gay man is hiding an embarrassing secret about his body but when a long-term crush begins seducing him at a party, he is forced to confront his shame.

SEE YOU SOON (United States) – Tyler Rabinowitz
A gay man travels across the country to spend the weekend with someone he’s been talking to for months on a dating app.

ACUITZERAMO (United States) – Miguel Angel Caballero  
Salvador, a gay Mexican elder who has lost his partner of 15 years, calls his partner’s estranged son, Anthony, to tell him of his father’s passing.

DUNGAREES (United Kingdom) – Abel Rubinstein 
Transgender Blake and cisgender Cane hang out, play video games and grapple with their insecurities. This is their love story.

E•MO•TION

TAPE (United States) – Jojo Ernholtz
A high school hockey team is preparing for the most important game in their season. However, sixteen-year-old Rooney is more focused on her teammate Alex.

THE BUTTERFLY (Japan) – Shiho Fukada  
Kota Ishijima spent most of her life hiding from who she is. After finding the strength to live that truth, her life comes full circle as she awaits the birth of her first grandchild.

REHEARSAL (United Kingdom) – Valentina Gordeeva       
Anna and Emma have decided to marry but first they must come out to Anna’s conservative mother.

LA GLORIA (United States) – Mary Evangelista       
In the days following her suicide attempt, a queer lovelorn teen finds connection and solace with her abuela through the secret language of dreams.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER (Taiwan) – Siew Hong Leong    
On the day Taiwan passes its same-sex marriage law, Wen-de’s daughter is at home, celebrating her new engagement to her girlfriend.

THE MISTRESS (Puerto Rico) – Pati Cruz   
During her husband’s funeral, Maritere receives an unexpected visit.

MOMSTER (United States) – Drew Denny   
When notorious bank robber “the Momster” catches her daughter Angel mid-gunfight, Angel thinks she’s being rescued — until she realizes she has to do the saving.

I Didn’t Just Come Here to Dance

THE WOODPECKER (United States) – Courtney Bush / Will Carington / Jake Goicoechea
On his way to Brad’s animal-themed housewarming party, Richard stops at a pharmacy and calls a close friend for advice about his costume.

ISLAND QUEEN (United States) – Zackary Grady / Jenn Harris     
On the day a teenage hockey player secretly plans to try out for the figure skating team, he gets trapped on a ferry boat.

MUY GAY TOO MEXICANO (United States) – Lorena Lourenco    
As he prepares for a date, J.D. seeks advice from two dissimilar people.

ACRIMONIOUS (United Kingdom) – Olivia Emden  
Set against the backdrop of multicultural, leave-voting West London, Acrimonious follows Emeka, a gay British Nigerian who is newly divorced.

PETE CAN’T PLAY BASKETBALL (United States) – Nick Borenstein         
In a world where all that matters is basketball, Pete can’t play basketball.

AFTER THAT PARTY (Brazil) – Caio Scot   
Leo never imagined he would see his dad kissing another man in the middle of a party…until it happened.

DECEASED ONES (United States) – Kate Hopkins 
When two friends get involved in the niche service of role playing the dead, they’re forced to help heal grieving strangers through a surreal game of make-believe.

LAZY (SUNDAY) (United States) – Cameron Miller-Desart  
Tired of their friends trying to set them up, two friends turn errands into a fake date, only to find it might not be fake at all.

Icons

PERFECTLY FRANK (United States) – Dan Hunt    
Perfectly Frank is a short documentary chronicling the life of Frank Vilardi, a retired accountant from Long Island who, in his late sixties and after forty years of marriage, comes out.

LIVING OUT LOUD: LBTQI MOVEMENT BUILDING AND FEMINISM IN GEORGIA (United States) – Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy          
While officially a secular nation, church and state are far from separate in Georgia, where homophobia is common. Eka Aghdgomelashvili, a Georgian feminist activist and trailblazer, is on the front lines of the fight against homophobia.

KEYBOARD FANTASIES: THE BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND STORY (United Kingdom) – Posy Dixon          
Capturing five decades of relentless musical output and shifting manifestations of gender and sexual identity, and set against a backdrop of profound social change, the film celebrates the life of Beverly Glenn Copeland who, at 75, is embarking on his first international tour.

Local Heroes

LIAR (Canada) – Wayne Burns         
Two young men meet for a hookup on a church rooftop.

THEY LOOKED AT ME AND I SMILED (Canada) – Ben Edelberg  
Artists use their bodies as a medium and canvas while existing in their natural environments. Are they performing?

SWIMMERS (Canada) – Chris Ross 
Swimmers follows two strangers—Gloria and Sarah—after they meet one summer evening when Sarah pool hops through Gloria’s backyard.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNICORN (Canada) – Mina Sewell Mancuso
A young girl argues with her parents and her Catholic school, demanding that her confirmation sponsor be her transgender aunt.

THE WAY WE ARE (Canada) – Amanda Ann-Min Wong    
The stories of four queer Asian women are presented within an immersive experience of past and present, revealing the real-lives of a different generation.

GHOST (Canada) – M. H. Murray     
Benjamin is ghosted by his lover.

BING! BANG! BI! (Canada) – Jessica Huras
At an inopportune moment, a struggling actor takes a stance on her bisexuality.

Mixed Episodic

MY TRANS JOURNEY (Canada) – Elizabeth Trojian           
Transgender icon Dr. Carys Massarella helps patients work to overcome personal challenges and thrive in their transitions.

BANANAS (Australia) – Rachel Anderson    
Bananas takes a curious, playful look at two awkward, honest, and warm Australian-born Asian friends who are growing up between two cultures in Australia’s Sunshine State, Queensland.

THE OTHERSIDE (Nigeria / Côte d’Ivoire) – Adesua Okosun         
This story follows three people in the LGBTQ community, one queer woman, one trans man, and one trans woman, living in Abidjan. Each character takes us into their world and changes the narrative of West Africa.

MISEDUCATED (United States) – Kevin Pinckney   
In this coming-of-age story, Anton finds himself in his first love triangle –which happens to involve his “straight” best friend Dillion.

CRAZY (United States) – Rachel Leyco        
Crazy follows two queer Asian-American frenemies in their early twenties who are battling mental health conditions that teach them they are more alike than they realize.

APRICOT (United States) – Sam Icklow / Jake G Thompson          
A queer Romy and Michele for the 21st century, Apricot is your fruity summer obsession packed into ten dreamy episodes.

BUTCH PAL FOR THE STRAIGHT GAL (United States) – Assaad Yacoub          
This reality-based comedy about five women, known as the Fierce5, empowers straight women to throw away societal gender norms and fearlessly harness their unique inner voice.

Now That I Found You

BREAK IN (United States) – Alyssa Lerner   
When Nousha accidentally texts erotic fiction to her crush, she enlists best friend Oliver to set out on a mission to delete the text.

CANDIS FOR PRESIDENT (United States) – Michelle Peerali        
Candis Cayne sets out to become the President of the United States with the help of her sarcastic television producer sidekick, Andrea.

DON’T FORGET TO GO HOME (Australia) – Victoria Singh-Thompson     
Two Indo-Fijian sisters miss their cousin’s wedding to go on a drug-fuelled bender.

TOMOKO (France) – Margaux Esclapez       
After losing her eyesight, Tomoko meets a young stripper named Amber who allows her to explore her fantasies and liberate herself.

A POSTCARD TO NINA (United States) – Ronald Baez      
Longtime Instagram pen pals Jean and Nina meet in person for the first time and stumble through a well-meaning dinner with Nina’s ultra-conservative father.

HYPED (Greece) – Alkis Papastathopoulos  
Vera and Lola are anxious about their first big night out together, and struggle to connect.

FRIENDS LIKE THAT (United States) – Francesca De Fusco         
After getting dumped, Maia seeks solace by crashing with her best ex Alex.

HUSH (United States) – Tin Lee        
A teenage girl sets out to discreetly master her burgeoning sexuality with the help of a new friend.

Real Love

WHERE MY GIRLS (United States) – Mads Engel   
Three queer women reflect on the creativity, community, and hustle required to make it in a culture that has left them to their own devices.

A WIDER SCREEN (United Kingdom) – Joe Hunting           
Shot within VRChat, A Wider Screen takes an intimate, insightful look into how virtual reality is affecting people’s social lives for the better.
 
BREAKWATER (Brazil) – Cris Lyra   
A group of young lesbians from São Paulo go on a trip to a remote beach for the new year’s celebration.

JESSE JAMS (Canada) – Trevor Anderson  
A young Indigenous musician and his rock band bring mumblepunk to the Interstellar Rodeo. Jesse Jams is a rock ‘n’ roll survival story of a different stripe.

THE SUCK (United States) – Austin Bunn    
A collector finally decides to give up his strange collection.

DRESS UP LIKE MRS. DOUBTFIRE (United States) – Will Zang   
This throwback looks at the 1993 film, Mrs. Doubtfire, and its cultural impact on drag culture in Hollywood films.

Thrive

DARLING (Pakistan / United States) – Saim Sadiq  
An erotic dance theater in Lahore prepares for a new show just as a sacrificial goat disappears.

MEMORIES REVEALED (France) – Quentin Worthington   
Over the course of 10 months, a camera travels to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Hanover, Germany to meet the founding members of the Archivo De La Memoria Trans Argentina, the first existing Trans Archive in the world.

WELCOME BACK, LENNY (United States) – Vuk Lungulov-Klotz   
Lenny is back in NYC and crashing at her cousin’s place. As a thank you, she cooks dinner for her and some friends, but the night takes a turn.

ACROSS, BEYOND, AND OVER (United States) – Brit Fryer / Noah Schamus     
Two trans men who used to date in middle school reconnect over a long weekend and develop a hybrid documentary about their past.

THE CHANGE UP (United States) – Jordan Auten  
When Tatum and Harley go out for drinks, Tatum becomes distracted by memories of his troubled childhood.

THE ROGERS (United States) – Dean Hamer / Joe Wilson
An intimate glimpse of the Rogers of Samoa, the first visible group of transgender men in the Pacific.

FRATELLO (United States) – Jamie DiNicola           
Fratello explores the ways in which gender warps and infiltrates intimacy.
 
HERE WITH YOU (United States) – Noah Schamus
When Imani goes to her friend’s housewarming party, she meets a man who piques her interest.

Tug of War

VERT (United Kingdom) – Kate Cox 
When Jeff and Emelia are gifted a virtual reality set that reveals a person’s “ideal self,” they discover a secret that could shift their relationship indelibly.

IN ORBIT (France) – Soham Chakraborty / Hanxu Chen / Meton Joffily / Justin Polley / Julia Trouvé       
In a far future, Sonia is about to be transferred from her space station to a newer one, but isn’t ready to let go.

THIS IS A TEENAGE LOVE LETTER (Canada) – Tessa Hall         
A young woman writes a letter to her past love and to what the future might hold.

SAFE AMONG STARS (United States) – Jess X. Snow      
A queer Chinese-American woman struggles to tell her immigrant mother and her partner the reason why she left school.

FIFTH FLOOR ON THE LEFT (Croatia) – Renata Lucic     
When Maja’s parents come to Zagreb to visit their daughter, she must hide the truth about her relationship with her roommate, Nika.

RIDE OR DIE (United States) – Josalynn Smith       
Paula and Jamie are on their way to Thebes—Thebes, Kentucky that is. As they drive through the Midwest, they make a few stops along the way that deepen their relationship.

SWIPE UP, VIVIAN! (United States) – Hannah Welever      
Two agoraphobic women find love via a virtual dating app.

TENDER (United States) – Felicia Pride       
After an unexpected one night stand, two women at very different stages of their lives, share an even more intimate morning after.

FEELING FLUSH (United States) – Erin Brown Thomas     
Vicki idolizes her new girlfriend Samantha but draws the line when it comes to her time on the porcelain throne.

Want You in My Room

SUCKMEOFF, PRINCESS! (United States) – Tristan Scott-Behrends        
Enjoy this menagerie of colourful Busby Berkeley dicks and heartbreaking autobiographical anecdotes.

MOTTA (Netherlands / United Kingdom) – Nish Gera          
Motta follows Brazilian artist Fabio da Motta as he questions the boundaries between fantasy, power, provocation and art.

PLANTONIC (Canada) – Krit Komkrichwarakool      
A unique relationship flourishes between an aspiring artist and the plant man who is growing in his garden.

KIKO’S SAINTS (France) – Manuel Marmier
Kiko, a Japanese illustrator on assignment in France, is suddenly overwhelmed with inspiration while spying on a gay couple on the beach.

FLOSS (China) – Popo Fan   
Ting finds it difficult to commit to his relationship because he has a secret that is difficult to reveal: he has a tooth fetish.

FREE FUN (Turkey) – Fehmi Öztürk 
When Kika enters a virtual reality world looking for fun, she encounters something she never expected.

THE FATHERS PROJECT: CHAPTER 4 (United States) – Leo Herrera     
Fathers is a sci-fi short docuseries that imagines the world if AIDS had never happened and a generation had lived to change the world.

DEEP CLEAN (United Kingdom) – David Wilson      
Cleanliness is next to godliness, as illustrated in this celebration of objectophilia and self-pleasure.

Warm Blood

CONNECTIVE TISSUE (United States) – Oliver Bernsen    
Over the course of one night, six people are bound together by one thing: a 7-year-old girl’s severed leg.
 
SOMETHING IN THE CLOSET (United Kingdom) – Nosa Eke       
A queer teenager struggles with her sexuality, as desires manifest their way from the depths of her eerie closet into reality.

FAMILY (Canada) – Mark Pariselli    
Partners Cal and Jamal embark on an autumn road trip to the cottage. A roadside flirtation turns ominous and the creeping sense of dread intensifies at a deserted farm.

BLACK PILL (United States) – Jessi Gaston 
Set in a near-future techno-dystopia, a suicidal shut-in orders pills from a mysterious online company in a last-ditch attempt to fulfill their wildest fantasies.

CLEANSE (United States) – Magdalene Burger       
A lonely energy healer continues to push her body and her spiritual health to the brink when she is confronted with an especially horrific healing session.

HAND OF POWER (Canada) – Dara Gellman          
Interrogating both present-day and retrospective cultural narratives about gender, this video work examines the gestures of the filmic hand.

THE QUIETING (Canada) – Ali Liebert         
On the night before an important date, Maggie, 33 and newly queer, confronts her crushing anxiety and internalized homophobia.

THE OFFICE IS MINE (United States) – Michael Varrati     
Fuelled by paranoia that he’s being replaced by a new gay at work, Zac sets off on a collision course, ready to prove the office isn’t big enough for them both.

Youth Day

POLLY AND THE POCKETS (Canada) – Gabriella Arno     
Lead singer of the band Polly and the Pockets, Polly must face her fears when her crush arrives at the school dance where her band is performing.

MY BROTHER IS A MERMAID (United Kingdom) – Alfie Dale        
My Brother is a Mermaid is a social realist fairy tale about a transfeminine teenager, as seen through the eyes of their 7-year-old brother.

WERE YOU GAY IN HIGH SCHOOL? (United States) – Niki Ang   
Two queer women recall their awkward, closeted high school days of kissing boys and experiencing straight-girl crushes.

LIT (United Kingdom) – Emma Miranda Moore         
Tension and excitement run high as a clandestine game of Spin the Bottle has unexpected consequences.

S.A.M. (United Kingdom) – Neil Ely / Lloyd Eyre-Morgan     
Two teenage boys, both named Sam, meet at the swings each week to escape their dysfunctional home lives, while slowly falling in love.

WONDER (United States) – Javier Molina    
An 11-year-old kid growing up in the hood secretly dreams of trick-or-treating as Wonder Woman for Halloween.
 
NANCY FROM NOW ON (New Zealand) – Keely Meechan
Nancy From Now On is a coming-of-age film about a young Maori boy who has a burning desire to become a drag queen.
 

The full Festival line-up to be announced in coming weeks, in addition to how to purchase tickets.

More here.

(Photo credit: Inside Out)

#FIRSTLOOK: OPRAH WINFREY IN “THE OPRAH CONVERSATION” ON APPLE TV+

Oprah‘s back! Apple TV+ present THE OPRAH CONVERSATION, debuting today!

The Series has the multimedia queen engaging in timely conversations with thought leaders. The first episode is a two-part discussion with Host of UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH A BLACK MAN, Emmanuel Acho. She also will be having bold discussions in coming weeks with LatinX and white guests. Coming-up is a chat with Bryan Stevenson, Author of the Memoir which inspired acclaimed Drama JUST MERCY.

The first episode will be available to stream for free exclusively on Apple TV+ beginning Thursday, July 30 at 4:00pm PST. 

(Photo credit: Apple TV)