Wrapping-up Canadian Screen Week, March 25-31, 2019, the 7th edition of the Canadian Screen Awards Broadcast Gala took place tonight at Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. The week-long series of awards and events presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, serve to honour excellence across multiple platforms in the Country from Film, to TV to Digital Media.

Noticeably absent this year was these presence of English-language Feature films up for Best Motion Picture, with French-language films leading the way. Coming-of-Age Drama A Colony: Blackfly by Director Geneviève Dulude-De Celles won the coveted award ultimately. Teen Actress Emilie Bierre won Best Actress for her work in the Film which sees her grappling with bullying entering junior high school.

The Great Darkened Days earlier in the week swept the Gala Honouring Cinematic Arts, held at the Four Seasons Hotel, with wins for Sound Editing, Costume Design, Art Direction/Production Design, Cinematography and Actress in a Supporting Role (Sarah Gadon).

Ryerson graduate Jasmin Mozaffari was awarded for Direction with her debut effort FIRECRACKERS which premiered at TIFF to much acclaim. “I am honoured to be part of the group where 60% of the nominees were women” , she says.

ANNE WITH AN E had tied with SCHITT’S CREEK with 15 nominations apiece. The former would prevail though with seven wins at the Broadcast Gala including Best Drama Series and Best Lead Actress, Drama Series (Teen Actress Amybeth McNulty). CARDINAL also would win seven Awards in the Television categories including Best Actor and Actress in a Drama Program or Limited Series, Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse.

Honouring a Canadian talent making waves abroad, the Radius Award was presented tonight for the first time ever to Toronto’s Stephan James who starred both in Awards Season contender and winning, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK and also Amazon Prime Series HOMECOMING alongside Julia Roberts. He came with his brother Shamier Anderson and they told the Newsroom about their joint venture, The B.L.A.C.K Ball which earlier this Awards Season was held for the first time ever in Los Angeles with the likes of Tessa Thompson, Tiffany Haddish, Jesse Williams, Amandla Stenberg and more attending.

Other Awards handed-out tonight included the Academy Icon Award which honoured the Cast of THE KIDS IN THE HALL. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Filmmaker Deepa Mehta (Water, Beeba Boys), while Funnywoman Mary Walsh was handed the Earle Gray Award. The first-ever Industry Leadership Award went to our dear friends at Entertainment One.

For the first time ever this year, the Canadian Screen Arts Festival took place at Cineplex theatres every Saturday in March from Iqaluit to Vancouver, giving audience a chance to see some of this year’s nominated Films including Sashinka, Stockholm, What Walaa Wants, Immaculate Memories and Just a Breath Away.

See some Snaps from the night:

The Cast of Schitt’s Creek

Four-time Canadian Screen Award winner, Catherine O’Hara

Beth Janson, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television

Billy Campbell, Cardinal: Blackfly

Karine Vanasse, Cardinal: Blackfly

Stephan James x Shamier Anderson

Cindy Sampson, Private Eyes

Melanie Scrofano, Wynonna Earp

Kim Coates, Bad Blood

The Cast of Kim’s Convenience

Aaron Ashmore, The Killjoys

Sarah Gadon, The Great Darkened Days

Tynomi Banks, Canada’s a Drag

Moira Walley-Beckett, Amybeth McNulty x Miranda de Pencier of Anne With an E

Natasha Negovanlis x Elise Bauman

Rebecca Romijn x Jerry O’Connell

Yannick Bisson, Murdoch Mysteries

Mary Walsh

Tori Anderson x Allan Hawco

Catherine Reitman x Danielle Kind x Philip Sternberg of Workin’ Moms

Wendy Crewson

Jasmin Mozaffari x Caitlin Grabham, Firecrackers

The Kids in the Hall

See our Highlight Reel with our George Kozera (@PartyG):

More on the Gala here.

All photos shot on the Nikon D3400. Video on the Samsung S8+.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The Red Carpet was rolled out last night at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX in Toronto for the Premiere of Toronto Filmmaker Natty Zavitz‘s ACQUAINTED. The Drama centers on two former high school classmates who cross paths again one day at a bar and the sparks ignite. Reluctantly, they reveal to one another that they are in committed relationships and what unfolds is a refreshing conversation set against a Toronto backdrop, about shifting views on monogamy and generational identity. The story is semi-autobiographical and stars a Cast filled with accomplished Toronto talent including Giacomo Gianniotti (Grey’s Anatomy), Laysla de Oliveira (Locke & Key), Rachel Skarsten (Batwoman), Jonathan Keltz (Entourage), Raymond Ablack (Narcos) and more. The stars came out to fete the Film’s premiere with a Q&A moderated by George Stroumboulopoulos, followed by an Afterparty at the Maverick Condos VIP Registration Event Space.

A who’s-who of Toronto Entertainment were present including Tyrone Edwards (E! News), DVSN, Aaron Poole (Salvation), Dillon Casey (Remedy), Paula Brancati (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Dalmar Abuzeid (Anne with an E) and several more.

See the Trailer:

Zavitz tells the audience about his love for the City and how his Film is a reflection of such. “Toronto’s the best and I love being Torontonian”, he says. “I feel like I haven’t seen Toronto on-screen like the way I experienced it. This whole Cast is Torontonian. The Soundtrack is as well (with contributions from Daniel Caesar, Charlotte Day Wilson and DVSN). Most of Cast lives in L.A., works in L.A. and came home to make a story about our City.”. On whether or not he feels the Film is “Canadian” Zavitz states, “It feels more Torontonian than Canadian I think.”.

Giannotti who currently is working in L.A., has made a point of supporting this Film to the fullest, flying-in between filming to both make the Movie and promote it.  To him, the Film is a statement of what it means to be a person. “We have a lot of pressures as human beings on this planet to be relationships and to think of ourselves in a certain way. So we thought this Film beautifully explores all that and how you process that. It’s about being a human being.”. Giannotti, along with his friend Keltz not only star in the Film, but also serve as Producers.

See some Snaps from the night, including the Afterparty sponsored by Nobis. Stars also sipped on George Clooney‘s Casamigos Tequila.

A71 Films release ACQUAINTED Friday, April 5, 2019 in Toronto and Vancouver.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/A71 Films)

DUMBO flies in its debut for Disney, taking-in $44 million from 4,259 theatres. The live-action Adaptation of the animated classic, gets 51% on the Tomatometer and and A- CinemaScore.

US slips to second spot with $33.6 million in its second week, still performing brilliantly. Over two weeks, the Jordan Peele Horror makes $128.2 million for Universal Pictures.

CAPTAIN MARVEL lands in third with $20.2 million for Disney, a total $353.5 million over four weeks.

FIVE FEET APART is in fourth with $6.3 million, a total $35.9 million over three weeks for CBS Films/eOne Films.

HOTEL MUMBAI expands to 924 theatres for Bleecker Street Films/VVS Films, with $3.4 million. The TIFF ’18 selection gets 74% on the Tomatometer.

THE BEACH BUM opens in tenth with $1.8 million from 1,015 theatres for NEON/VVS Films. The Matthew McConaughey starrer which just premiered at SXSW, gets 50% on the Tomatometer.

Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto + Vancouver a chance to win Advance Passes to see LITTLE! Screenings are as follows:

LITTLE Advance Screening – Toronto
Wednesday, April 10
7:00 PM
Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP

LITTLE Advance Screening – Vancouver
Wednesday, April 10
7:00 PM
Cineplex Odeon International Village

Synopsis:
Girls Trip’s Regina Hall and Black-ish’s Marsai Martin both star as Jordan Sanders — Hall as the take-no-prisoners tech mogul adult version of Jordan and Martin as the 13-year-old version of her who wakes up in her adult self’s penthouse just before a do-or-die presentation.

Insecure’s Issa Rae plays Jordan’s long-suffering assistant April, the only one in on the secret that her daily tormentor is now trapped in an awkward tween body just as everything is on the line. LITTLE is an irreverent new comedy about the price of success, the power of sisterhood and having a second chance to grow up — and glow up — right.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City! Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance!

 LITTLE is in theatres Friday, April 12, 2019!

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Primetime EMMY Award nominee Chris Meloni currently is in Toronto and today he got a quick break from filming Season Three of The Handmaid’s Tale to promote Season Two of HAPPY! Known best for his outstanding work on Series like Oz, True Blood and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, HAPPY! is a more comedic departure from what we are used to for him, starring as a corrupt ex-cop who moonlights as a Hitman to make ends meet.

Meloni arrived in style for a morning of Press for HAPPY!. Visits included Entertainment Tonight Canada, The Morning Show and more. He appears to have forgotten his glasses, but all is well as his driver saved the day, retrieving them for him in

HAPPY! Season Two premieres Thursday, March 28, 2019 on Showcase in Canada at 10 PM ET.

More here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

eOne Films x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to attend an Advance Screening of STOCKHOLM. Screenings are as follows:

Toronto – Wednesday April 10 – 7pm at Cineplex Varsity
Vancouver – Wednesday April 10 – 7pm at Cineplex Fifth Avenue (19+)

Synopsis:
Based on the absurd but true 1973 hostage crisis in Stockholm that was documented in the New Yorker as the origins of the ‘Stockholm Syndrome’. The story focuses on a female bank clerk (Noomi Rapace) who falls for her captor, an unhinged American outlaw (Ethan Hawke) as she turns against the police and aids in his escape attempt.

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Noomi Rapace, Mark Strong

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

eOne Films release STOCKHOLM Friday, April 12, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Running April 2-6, 2019 at Roy Thomson Hall, THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA present BEST OF HOLLYWOOD! Under the guidance of Conductor Richard Kaufman, the audience will have a chance to enjoy two hours of some of the greatest Oscar-winning and nominated music of all time!

Check-out the incredible Setlist!

•Hooray for Hollywood from Hollywood Hotel
•Parade of the Charioteers from Ben Hur
•Flying over Africa from Out of Africa
•Godfather’s Waltz from The Godfather
•Love Theme from The Godfather
•Prelude and Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago
•“The Trolley Song” from Meet Me in St. Louis
•“Through the Eyes of Love” from Mary Poppins
•“Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas
•Theme from The Untouchables
•Theme from To Kill a Mockingbird
™Tara: Short Tone Poem for Orchestra from Gone with the Wind
•Suite from The High and Mighty
•“Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz
•“Almost There” from The Princess and the Frog
•“When You Wish upon a Star” from Pinocchio
•“Let It Go” from Frozen
•Suite from The Magnificent Seven

You don’t need to be a connoisseur of Classical to have a great time. Take a walk down memory lane with these timeless tunes.

Tickets are on sale now.

Click here for details.

(Photo credit: TSO)

We know you love Noah Centineo and Camila Mendes! Now they’re together at last in this new Trailer for THE PERFECT DATE!

Synopsis:
Brooks Rattigan (Noah Centineo) has the academic chops to get into his dream Ivy League school, but what he’s missing is an outstanding extracurricular — and the money. When he seizes on an opportunity to make some extra cash by posing as the boyfriend of a self-assured, combat boot-loving girl named Celia Lieberman (Laura Marano), he finds he has a knack for being the perfect stand-in. Together with his programmer friend Murph (Odiseas Georgiadis), Brooks launches an app selling himself as a plus-one for all occasions. Along the way, he meets the girl of his dreams (Camila Mendes). But when business starts to boom, Brooks must reassess everything he was once sure of.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

THE PERFECT DATE streams on Netflix Friday, April 12, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

The popularity of Netflix‘s QUEER EYE has exploded internationally winning legions of fans with its refreshing and uplifting take on the modern makeover, not outside but inside too. Montreal’s Antoni Porowski came back to Canada for a visit, partnering with high-end kitchen appliance maker Café, which prides itself on its sleek, customizable designs. He spent the day setting-up at the Art Gallery of Ontario, presenting appliances to the Media before a private dinner in the evening at the venue. More here.

We have long been singing the praises of QUEER EYE and we were so delighted to meet Porowski quickly after wrapping for the day. Despite being rushed to get out of the cold and into his car, he came back out to take a Selfie, not quite understanding my gesturing through his window. A gem!

While here, he enjoyed the cuisine of Ossington‘s La Banane.

Porowski next has a Cookbook out this September titled ANTONI IN THE KITCHEN, in addition to Season Three of QUEER EYE streaming now on Netflix.

See our Snap:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Rux Martin/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

VVS Films x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Toronto a chance to win Passes to the Canadian Premiere of HELLBOY with stars David Harbour and Milla Jovovich in attendance!

When: Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 pm (Doors: 6:00 pm)
Where: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto (259 Richmond St. W)
Q&A with David Harbour and Milla Jovovich to follow directly after the screening.

Starring: David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, and Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, with Daniel Dae Kim
Directed by: Neil Marshall

Synopsis:

Hellboy is back, and he’s on fire. From the pages of Mike Mignola’s seminal work, this action packed story sees the legendary half-demon superhero (David Harbour, “Stranger Things”) called to the English countryside to battle a trio of rampaging giants. There he discovers The Blood Queen, Nimue (Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil series), a resurrected ancient sorceress thirsting to avenge a past betrayal. Suddenly caught in a clash between the supernatural and the human, Hellboy is now hell-bent on stopping Nimue without triggering the end of the world.

Hellboy also features Ian McShane (John Wick), Daniel Dae Kim (“Hawaii Five-0” and “Lost”), and Sasha Lane (American Honey).

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance!

VVS Films release HELLBOY Friday, April 12, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)