Nominations for the 2019 Canadian Screen Award were announced this morning at The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto, honouring accomplishments in Canadian Film, Television and Digital Media. Leading this pack once again this year are ANNE WITH AN E and SCHITT’S CREEK with 14 nominations each.

Dominating the Film categories are French-language Films Just a Breath Away (Dans la brume) and The Great Darkened Days (La grande noirceur), the latter which partly is English.

Others to be honoured at the Awards this year include: The Kids in the Hall receiving the Academy Icon Award, Deepa Mehta, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Mary Walsh receiving the Earle Grey Award and Golden Globe nominee Stephan James who will be named the first ever recipient of the Radius Award.

Women were front and center this year with receiving 50% of all nominations in Writing, Film Direction, Feature Film and Web Performance categories. We continue to see a focus on equity and diversity in the Canadian  Entertainment landscape with several initiatives like #AfterMeToo and #ShareHerJourney aiming at sharing the female voice and addressing women’s concerns.

Canadian Screen Week runs March 25 – 31, 2019 and includes five Galas:

•The CTV Gala Honouring Non-Fiction Programming (March 26, 2019)
•The CTV Gala Honouring Creative Fiction Storytelling (March 27, 2019)
•The Gala Honouring Digital & Immersive Storytelling (March 28, 2019)
•The Cinematic Arts Gala (March 31, 2019)
•The Canadian Screen Awards: Broadcast Gala (March 31, 2019)

Canadians can vote for their favourite screen personality to win the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award here.

The 2019 Canadian Screen Awards Broadcast Gala airs on CBC Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 8 PM ET.

A complete list of this year’s Nominees here.

(Photo credit: Canadian Academy)

Some cars leave a deeper imprint on your heart than others and while it’s been a while since we’ve previewed a Honda Pilot, reuniting with it was like catching-up with a dear friend allover again this past week. Times have been tough. Those of you who follow me on Social Media know that my mom broke her leg last week amidst the ice  and snow pile that blanketed Southern Ontario. It has been stressful figuring out accommodations for her and it hit particularly hard that she would be in the hospital this Chinese New Year instead of home. My dad, now well into his 80s, has been stressed also. Above this, I found out that Billy’s Lymphoma has returned. Hence while my test drive of the Pilot was originally intended to attend my niece and future nephew-in-law’s engagement party out near Niagara Falls, it wound-up serving another purpose. Being there for my family when they needed me most.

While I love the strength and security the Pilot gives me, especially in these unpredictable road conditions, I always have found it a bit excessive for my needs as a bachelor with a dog. This is not to say it isn’t perfect for a young family, of which many of my Readers now have or are starting. In fact, my friend Jennifer, a mother of two after seeing me post about the Pilot, asked me what I thought about it as she was considering it for her family. I had nothing but raves for her. With an optional three rows of seats which would work for her – I drove with two – the Pilot empowers you to be there for your friends and family, seating up to eight. You should see how spacious its trunk is! Mini-Van practicality, SUV style and sensibility.

It boasts a 3.5L engine, 24 valve, Direct Injection, SOHC, i-VTEC V6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management and a nine-speed Automatic Transmission with Grade Logic Control. The Pilot is all about power, dominance and being in control of the road. I’ll never forget picking-up some Roast Pork on Chinese New Year’s Eve and the owner seeing me drive-up asked me what I did for a living to drive a car like that. “Lawyer? Businessman?” , he inquired as he chopped the pork into bite size pieces on his wooden board. The Pilot is about status and prestige and I felt elevated in it, and not just physically!

With a combined 11L per 100 km fuel economy, I honesty was expecting the car to be a gas guzzler but it wasn’t, thanks to its amazing ECON mode option. I had to drive twice this week out to the country in Milton to see historic Sam-Son Farm‘s first foal of 2019 one day and also celebrate sweet Princess’ fifth birthday the next day in Caledon. This, plus also trekking downtown and back to the suburbs twice in a week, totaled just $60, thank you also in due part to low gas prices!

Let’s talk about its opulence. While I speak of power and performance, the Pilot is undeniably stylish. I previewed it in a luxuriant White Diamond Pearl, feeling like royalty in its perforated leather-surface seats (steering wheel too!) with heating and cooling, and was in awe at the climate control options for the passengers at the back too. We love that Honda recognizes the needs of the passenger too, making it a hit for everyone. They even get a 10-inch WSVGA screen to view Blu-rays and media streaming apps. And headphones too! Jealous!

Its audio system is comprised of a flashy 600-watt, 11- speaker and 5.1 Surround Sound capability. The world is at your fingertips with the Pilot’s 7-inch touchscreen display, letting you navigate the roads, your listening experience and whatever menu needs you have.

Connecting through Bluetooth to my Spotify playlists was a cinch and of course it it was Sirius XM-enabled, making it tricky for me to get out of the car at times. Not a bad problem to have!

We love that it has auto headlights so we never have to fuss when driving, our line of vision always being clear. And of course we adore the moonroof, which we wished we could’ve enjoyed under better weather than what we’ve had this past week. Driver’s Seat Position Memory and Proximity Key Entry (we loathe fumbling for our keys!) make our lives that much easier, with one less thing to worry about. Ambient blue lighting can be found within the car, with cupholders lit in the dark. A large storage under armrest is super-convenient, while wireless charging and tons of USB ports are very today in terms of needs to stay connected.

I have never felt safer in any offering from the Honda family than in the Pilot, and considering the Carmaker’s reputation for safety, this is extremely high-praise. Its Forward Collision System, Collision Mitigating System, Lane Departure System, Four-Wheel Anti-Locking Brake System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Advanced Front Airbag System, SmartVent Side Airbags and three-row Side-Curtain Airbags serve their purpose and beyond. Rear-view camera aids in perfect parking no matter what the conditions, even with dirt and slush caked onto it.

While the Honda Pilot won’t solve all my problems in life, it certainly was an honourable sidekick this past week, transporting my dad to visit my mom daily safe and warm. It got me to work without a hitch, hassle-free even in the worst road conditions. And while this might be my last Chinese New Year with Billy, I made it memorable, sneaking into the mall with him to get his favourite Hong Kong Style Egg Waffles. And I got a moment to escape in style to the countryside to visit the horses, letting me forget about my worries for bit. These are things I’ll never forget and memories that are irreplaceable.

The 2019 HONDA TOURING starts at $52,490 CAN. More here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Two new exciting star-studded Netflix Original Films to tell you about which will see a theatrical release and also be streamed right to your homes!

THE HIGHWAYMEN
The outlaws made headlines. The lawmen made history. From Director John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side), The Highwaymen follows the untold true story of the legendary detectives who brought down Bonnie and Clyde. When the full force of the FBI and the latest forensic technology aren’t enough to capture the nation’s most notorious criminals, two former Texas Rangers Frank Hammer (Kevin Costner) and Maney Gault (Woody Harrelson) must rely on their gut instincts and old school skills to get the job done.

March 22 – Limited Theatrical Release in Toronto
March 29 – Netflix

More here.

TRIPLE FRONTIER
A group of former Special Forces operatives (Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund and Pedro Pascal) reunite to plan a heist in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. For the first time in their prestigious careers these unsung heroes undertake this dangerous mission for self instead of country. But when events take an unexpected turn and threaten to spiral out of control, their skills, their loyalties and their morals are pushed to a breaking point in an epic battle for survival. Directed by Academy Award® nominee J.C. Chandor (Margin Call, All Is Lost, A Most Violent Year) and co-written by Chandor and Academy Award® winner Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty).

March 6 – Limited Theatrical Release in Toronto
March 13 – Netflix

See the Trailer:

A new Trailer and Poster have surfaced for THE BEACH BUM, starring Matthew McConaughey! This is by the same Director as Spring Breakers, Harmony Korine! Check them out!

Synopsis:
The hilarious misadventures of Moondog (Matthew McConaughey), a rebellious rogue who always lives life by his own rules.

Zac Efron, Martin Lawrence, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher and Jonah Hill also star!

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

VVS Films release THE BEACH BUM Friday, March 29, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

A new Trailer has surfaced for MISSING LINK!

Synopsis:
Mr. Link (Zach Galifianakis) is 8 feet tall, weighs 630 pounds, and covered in fur. He can also talk and write letters, as he does to fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) when he grows tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest.

Frost is astounded when he meets the creature, especially when he realizes how humanlike Mr. Link is. They go on a journey to find Link‘s longlost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana), the explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world.

See the Trailer:

Elevation Pictures release MISSING LINK Friday, April 12, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

In celebration of ISN’T IT ROMANTIC, a special limited-time-only Pop-Up will be surfacing on Queen Street to get us in that Valentine’s spirit!

WHEN: February 13 and 14
TIME: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: 277 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

Inside the pop-up, visitors will be asked to share how they will be spending their Valentine’s Day. Those celebrating with All of the Feels will receive a date night mini-makeover using Quo Cosmetics, from Shoppers Drug Mart, along with makeup advice and a free Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffle sample. Visitors with None of the Feels will enjoy a ‘No Rom-Com Guaranteed’ shopping experience, where they’ll spin the Movie Genre Wheel to receive a complimentary copy of a Warner Bros. drama, comedy, action, fantasy or horror DVD or Blu-Ray® to enjoy on Valentine’s Day. The grand finale to the visitors’ pop-up experience is a stop at the glamourous ISN’T IT ROMANTIC flower wall, where attendees can take an amazing photo and share on social media using #IsntItRomantic and either #AllOfTheFeelsContest or #NoneOfTheFeelsContest for a chance to win a romantic weekend getaway with that special someone or the perfect weekend escape with their squad.

Don’t forget to follow Warner Bros. Canada on Twitter for more details here!

ISN’T IT ROMANTIC is in theatres Thursday, February 13, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Canada)

In case it wasn’t on your radar, CAPTIVE STATE hits theatres next month and looks riveting! Check-out its new Trailer:

Synopsis:
After 10 years of occupation, some chose cooperation, others chose resistance. Set in a Chicago neighbourhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, CAPTIVE STATE explores the lives on both sides of the conflict – the collaborators and the dissidents.

Cast: John Goodman, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors, Colson Baker (Machine Gun Kelly), Vera Farmiga

See the Trailer:

Universal Pictures Canada release CAPTIVE STATE Friday, March 15, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

The buzz for US continues to build feverishly. If you missed last night’s Super Bowl TV Spot, you must check it out here!

Synopsis:
Set in present day along the iconic Northern California coastline, Us, from Monkeypaw Productions, stars Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide Wilson, a woman returning to her beachside childhood home with her husband, Gabe (Black Panther’s Winston Duke), and their two children (Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex) for an idyllic summer getaway.

Haunted by an unexplainable and unresolved trauma from her past and compounded by a string of eerie coincidences, Adelaide feels her paranoia elevate to high-alert as she grows increasingly certain that something bad is going to befall her family.

After spending a tense beach day with their friends, the Tylers (Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Cali Sheldon, Noelle Sheldon), Adelaide and her family return to their vacation home to discover the silhouettes of four figures standing in their driveway. Us pits an ordinary American family against a terrifying and uncanny opponent: doppelgängers of themselves.

See the Trailer:

Universal Pictures Canada release US Friday, March 22, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Prison Warden, Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard), starts slipping away from her husband after several years of carrying-out executions at a maximum security prison.

Clemency is a fresh and emotional take on the Prison Drama. It is a character study primarily of two people: the warden and death-row inmate Anthony Woods (Aldis Hodge). Writer-Director Chinonye Chukwu has created an absorbing and heartbreaking feature that subtly poses ethical questions while following characters who are trying to find redemption. Both Actors, Woodard and Hodge, translate the internal torments of their characters into visual struggles. Woodard is a force-of-nature as Williams. From the opening scene until the last, you watch more of her slowly slip away the further her profession takes her. And Hodge is a scene-stealer who leaves a lasting impression.

Clemency screens at Sundance on Jan 27 at 6PM at Library PC, Jan 29 at 12:15PM at Eccles PC, Jan 31 at 12PM at Temple PC, Feb 1 at 6:30PM at Rose Wagner SLC, and Feb 2 at 8:30AM at Egyptian PC.

In case you missed it during last night’s SUPER BOWL, here is the TV Spot for upcoming Animated Feature WONDER PARK!

SYNOPSIS:

WONDER PARK tells the story of a magnificent amusement park where the imagination of a wildly creative girl named June comes alive.

STARRING:

Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick, John Oliver, Mila Kunis, Kenan Thompson, Ken Jeong, Norbert Leo Butz, Brianna Denski and Ken Hudson Campbell

See the Trailer:

Paramount Pictures Canada release WONDER PARK Friday, March 15, 2019.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)