The Walt Disney Studios dazzled attendees at the 2024 CinemaConÂŽ Convention in Las Vegas earlier today. The studio provided an exclusive look at its upcoming theatrical releases, including films from some of its famed production studios: Disney Live Action, Marvel Studios, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures.
Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, took to the stage at The Colosseum at Caesarâs Palace to speak about the power of the theatrical film experience and the upcoming flow of exceptional cinematic events Disney will be delivering to theatres in the coming months before turning the microphone over to Tony Chambers, executive vice president and head of theatrical distribution.
Chambers thanked the members of the exhibition trade industry in attendance and kicked off the Studioâs presentation with 13 minutes of thrilling footage from the highly anticipated all-new action-adventure spectacle from 20th Century Studios, âKingdom of the Planet of the Apes,â which opens in theatres nationwide on May 10. Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesarâs reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously, and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all he has known about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.
Next up was Disneyâs âYoung Woman and the Sea,â the extraordinary true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel, which comes exclusively to U.S. theatres only in a special engagement on May 31. Chambers tossed to a taped greeting from legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who then introduced the brand-new trailer featuring Daisy Ridley as the accomplished swimmer born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and animosity to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the staggering achievement â a 21-mile trek from France to England. CinemaCon attendees were the first to see the trailer.
Chambers welcomed Emmy AwardÂŽ- and Golden Globe AwardÂŽ-winning actor Amy Poehler to the stage. Poehler, who returns to cinemas as the voice of Joy in Disney and Pixarâs âInside Out 2â and who is receiving this yearâs CinemaCon Vanguard award at the Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony, spoke about the film, which is a return to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as Headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith),
Smith), Anger (voice of Lewis Black), Fear (voice of Tony Hale), and Disgust (voice of Liza Lapira), whoâve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, arenât sure how to feel when Anxiety (voice of Maya Hawke) shows up. And it looks like sheâs not alone: enter Envy (voice of Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (voice of Adèle Exarchopoulos), and Embarrassment (voice of Paul Walter Hauser). âInside Out 2â is directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen.
CinemaCon attendees were then treated to the first 35 minutes of the animated film, which opens in theatres June 14.
Looking ahead to two of the most anticipated upcoming releases, Chambers brought Kevin Feige, producer and president of Marvel Studios, to the stage, who, in turn, welcomed Cap himself, Anthony Mackie, to talk about Marvel Studiosâ âCaptain America: Brave New World.â Mackie offered up a little behind-the-scenes insight before introducing a first look at the film, which hits theatres on February 14, 2025. Directed by Julius Onah, produced by Feige and Nate Moore, and executive produced by Louis DâEsposito, Charles Newirth, and Mackie, âCaptain America: Brave New Worldâ also stars Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, Shira Haas, with Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford.
Feige then spoke about Marvel Studiosâ âDeadpool & Wolverineâ and introduced Shawn Levy, the filmâs director. The filmmaker, who is receiving CinemaConâs Director of the Year award at the Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony, thrilled the audience with an exclusive look at the film, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen. Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis DâEsposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. âDeadpool & Wolverineâ is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy. âDeadpool & Wolverineâ opens in theatres July 26.
Chambers then shared a special greeting from âAlien: Romulusâ producer Ridley Scott and director/writer Fede Alvarez, who thanked exhibitors for their ongoing partnership and their support of the âAlienâ franchise over the past 45 years and introduced a special look at the upcoming film, a truly terrifying cinematic experience opening in theatres August 16. 20th Century Studiosâ âAlien: Romulusâ takes the phenomenally successful âAlienâ franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
Up next was Searchlight Pictures, which recently released âPoor Things,â the winner of four Academy AwardsÂŽ last month and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. On June 21, âKinds of Kindness,â which will premiere this summer at the Cannes Film Festival, opens exclusively in theatresâdirected by Yorgos Lanthimos, the film stars recent OscarÂŽ winner Emma Stone, who is joined by Jesse Plemons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Joe Alwyn, Mamoudou Athie, and Hunter Schafer. The film is a triptych fable, following a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life; a policeman who is alarmed that his wife, who was missing at sea, has returned and seems a different person; and a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader.
The first footage from 20th Century Studiosâ âThe Amateurâ was then screened exclusively in the room. The film, an action-packed espionage thriller directed by James Hawes and starring OscarÂŽ winner Rami Malek, Rachel Brosnahan, Caitriona Balfe, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, and Laurence Fishburne, opens in theatres nationwide on April 11, 2025.
OscarÂŽ winner Barry Jenkins then took to the stage to talk about Disneyâs âMufasa: The Lion King,â the follow-up to 2019âs global phenomenon, and showcase the teaser trailer for the film, which opens in theatres on December 20. Told in flashbacks, âMufasa: The Lion Kingâ reveals the rise of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Lands as Rafiki, Timon, and Pumbaa share the story of Mufasa with a young lion cub. The film is produced by Adele Romanski & Mark Ceryak, and executive produced by Peter Tobyansen.
The Studio closed out the presentation with a surprise appearance by Dwayne Johnson, who came to a stage filled with Polynesian drummers and dancers from Tiana Liufauâs Nonasina (Liufau is the choreographer on the âMoanaâ films). Johnson returns as the voice of Maui in Walt Disney Animation Studiosâ âMoana 2,â opening in theatres on November 27. Bergman returned to the stage to introduce NATO chairBob Bagby, who presented Johnson with the NATO Spirit of the Industry Award in recognition of his unparalleled dedication, passion, and commitment to the motion picture theatrical experience.
âMoana 2â reunites Moana (voice of Auliâi Cravalho) and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything sheâs ever faced. Directed by Dave Derrick Jr., co-directed by Jason Hand, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, the epic animated musical features music by GRAMMYÂŽ winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, GRAMMY nominee Opetaia Foaâi, and three-time GRAMMY winner Mark Mancina.
Canadian Film Fest (CFF) presented by Super Channel, the indie-spirited festival dedicated to celebrating Canadian filmmakers, revealed the 2024 award winners on Saturday, March 23, 2024 following a successful 6-day event at Torontoâs Scotiabank Theatre.
Kim Albrightâs With Love and a Major Organ won Best Feature, Anna Fahr was honoured with DGC Ontario Best Director award for her film Valley of Exile, and Jonas Chernick & Diana Francesâs The Burning Season won the feature film jury award for Best Screenplay. Additionally, Eva Thomasâs Redlights won Best Short Film and Ian Harnarineâs film, Doubles, was awarded the Reel Canadian Indie Award and took home Peopleâs Pick for Best Flick.
âWeâre so proud to have showcased amazing storytellers on the big screen from filmmakers in our own backyard. The joy and excitement inside the theatre throughout the festival reminds us of the power of film to captivate, enlighten, and unite audiences. Congratulations to all of this yearâs award winners!â said Ashleigh Rains, Festival Director, Canadian Film Fest.
See below for the complete list of winners for CFF 2024. For more information, visit canfilmfest.ca.
The 2024 Canadian Film Fest Award Winners:
BEST FEATURE – With Love and a Major Organ
DGC ONTARIO BEST DIRECTOR – Anna Fahr for Valley of Exile
REEL CANADIAN INDIE AWARD – Doubles
*This award honours a film that exemplifies the spirit of indie filmmaking.
BEST SHORT FILM – Redlights
BEST SHORT FILM PRODUCER – Kiarash Dadgar for The Steak
*This prize is awarded to a BIPOC short film producer and includes a 2025 CFF All-Access festival pass
BOUNDLESS IMAGINATIONS BEST WRITING FOR SHORT FILM – Charles Dionne for Virga
PEOPLEâS PICK FOR BEST FLICK – Doubles
Feature Film Jury Awards:
The feature film jury included Adrian Murray (Filmmaker), Navin Ramaswaran (Director & Editor), Cory Bowles (Actor & Director), and Sarah Booth (Actor).
SCREENPLAY – Jonas Chernick & Diana Frances for The Burning Season
BEST PERFORMANCE – Taylor Olson for Look at Me
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – Errol Sitahal for Doubles
Short Film Jury Awards:
The short film jury consisted of Nathalie Younglai (Writer & Director), Patrick Yang (Talent Agent, Oldfield Management), and Madeline Rose (Co-Chair, outACTRAto).
BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE – EITR
BEST COMEDY SHORT – Dead Cat
BEST ANIMATED SHORT – Boat People
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY – Hello Anson
BEST DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE – Gauri Prasad for Rock the Cradle
HONOURABLE MENTION – Breathe
About the Canadian Film Fest:
The Canadian Film Fest is a non-profit organization whose mission is to celebrate the art of cinematic storytelling by exclusively showcasing Canadian films. The festival unites film-loving audiences with diverse selections of features and shorts from across the country. The CFF provides Canadian filmmakers with essential professional development and networking opportunities through its Industry Series and awards.
CBC and The Canadian Academy of Arts and Sciences (CARAS) are bringing Canadaâs biggest celebration of music to audiences on all platforms at home and around the world with a special lineup of programming that showcases the best in Canadian music leading up to The 2024 JUNO AWARDS. Nelly Furtado hosts The 53rd Annual JUNO Awards, broadcasting live in all time zones across the country from Halifax on Sunday, March 24 at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. AT/9:30 p.m. NT/ on CBC, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, and CBC Listen. The JUNO Awards will also be available on CBC Musicâs YouTube page and for audiences around the globe at cbcmusic.ca/junos.
New to the JUNOS broadcast lineup, CBC and CARAS today announced the presenters who will take the Scotiabank Centre stage in Halifax, in addition to previously announced Academy AwardÂŽ-nominated actor and Nova Scotia native, Elliot Page, who will present Tegan and Sara with the 2024 Humanitarian Award. The broadcast will include appearances by host of CBCâs This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Best in Miniature, Aba Amuquandoh, two-spirit nurse practitioner and talented drag artist Anita LandBack, Canadian music legend Jim Cuddy, co-founder and executive director of the Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance John R Sylliboy, actor/comedian Jonny Harris from CBCâs Murdoch Mysteries and Still Standing, 2024 Single of the Year nominee and pop singer/songwriter LU KALA, R&B/dancehall fusion and 2024 Reggae Recording of the Year nominee Omega Mighty, Minister of Canadian Heritage The Honourable Pascale St-Onge and JUNO Award winner and 2024 nominee William Prince. Crash Adams have been named the 2024 TikTok JUNO Fan Choice Award presenters and CBC Musicâs Odario Williams will bring his Afterdark groove to the JUNO party as the Broadcast announcer. 2024 JUNO Award Nominee for Underground Dance Single of the Year, DJ Karaba will be the showâs official DJ, sharing her energy and beats throughout the Broadcast to keep the party going. The 2024 JUNOS will also feature a special moment for this yearâs Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Maestro Fresh Wes, who will be inducted by Kardinal Offishall – his Induction will be presented by JUNOS Premier Sponsor, TD Bank Group.
On Sunday, March 24 the 53rd Annual JUNO Awards broadcast will feature performances by host Nelly Furtado, The Beaches, Charlotte Cardin, Jeremy Dutcher and Elisapie with fiery Miâkmaq fiddler Morgan Toney featuring artistic creator Sarah Prosper, Josh Ross, Karan Aujla, TALK and special performances by Alexandra StrĂŠliski, Allison Russell and Aysanabee paying homage to legendary artists Karl Tremblay, Gordon Lightfoot and Robbie Robertson. Producer and composer Ikky, will make a Broadcast appearance to round out the 2024 JUNO Award performers.
As the home for Canadian music, CBC is dedicated to showcasing homegrown artists throughout the year and during JUNO Week. See below for this weekâs full schedule of JUNO programming.
MONDAY, MARCH 18
CBC MUSIC LIVE PRESENTS: ROAD TO THE JUNOS
Recorded in front of a live audience at The Marquee Ballroom in Halifax, audiences can enjoy performances by Jenn Grant and Rose Cousins, hosted by CBC Musicâs Odario Williams.
Broadcasts on CBC Music and CBC Listen at 6 p.m. local time (6:30 NT), with a video version available to stream on CBC Gem.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19
CBC MUSIC LIVE PRESENTS: ROAD TO THE JUNOS
Recorded in front of a live audience at The Marquee Ballroom in Halifax, audiences can enjoy performances by Reeny and Adam Baldwin, hosted by CBC Musicâs Odario Williams.
Broadcasts on CBC Music and CBC Listen at 6 p.m. local time, with a video version available to stream on CBC Gem.
THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES
22 Minutes salutes the JUNOS with special appearances by 2024 JUNOS host Nelly Furtado and JUNO Nominee Amanda Marshall.
Broadcasts on CBC and CBC Gem at 8:00 p.m. local time (8:30 NT)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
RECLAIMED PRESENTS: ROAD TO THE JUNOS
Recorded in front of a live audience at The Marquee Ballroom in Halifax, audiences can enjoy performances by DeeDee Austin, Wolf Castle and Morgan Toney, hosted by CBC Musicâs Jarrett Martineau.
Broadcasts on CBC Music and CBC Listen at 6 p.m. local time, with a video version available to stream on CBC Gem.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21
THE BLOCK PRESENTS: ROAD TO THE JUNOS
Recorded in front of a live audience at The Marquee Ballroom in Halifax, audiences can enjoy performances by Jah’Mila and Aquakultre, hosted by CBC Musicâs Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe.
Broadcasts on CBC Music and CBC Listen at 6 p.m. local time, with a video version available to stream on CBC Gem.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Q WITH TOM POWER
Join host Tom Power for a sit-down interview with 2024 JUNOs host Nelly Furtado. sheâll talk about returning to the 53rd annual JUNO Awards as a host and how sheâs grown over 25 years in music.
Broadcasts on CBC Radio One and CBC Listen at 10 a.m. local time (10:30 NT). The Nelly Furtado interview will also be available on CBC News: The National at 10 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem.
MAINSTREET WITH JEFF DOUGLAS
CBC Nova Scotia host Jeff Douglas celebrates the 2024 JUNOS with a special Atlantic-wide show with industry insiders and musical performances, live from the Sutton Place Hotel in downtown Halifax.
Broadcasts on CBC Radio One and CBC Listen from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. AT (3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. NT)
MARVINSâ ROOM PRESENTS: ROAD TO THE JUNOS
Recorded in front of a live audience at The Marquee Ballroom in Halifax, audiences can enjoy performances by Zamani Folade and Gary Beals, hosted by CBC Musicâs Jemini.
Broadcasts on CBC Music and CBC Listen at 6 p.m. local time, with a video version available to stream on CBC Gem.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
THE 2024 JUNO OPENING NIGHT AWARDS
Presented by Music Canada
Celebrating Canadaâs top musical talent. This yearâs Opening Night Awards shine bright all the way from beautiful Halifax, NS. Catch electric performances and award presentations from new faces and treasured favourites as well as winners of coveted JUNO statuettes for: The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award, and 40+ JUNO Awards.
Available to stream live at 5 p.m. ET (2 PT/ 3 MT/ 5 CT/ 6 AT / 6:30 NT) on CBC Gem, CBC Musicâs YouTube page and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos
SUNDAY, MARCH 24
JUNO SONGWRITERSâ CIRCLE
Presented by SOCAN and FACTOR in association with Music Publishers Canada
Taped in front of a live audience from Halifaxâs LightHouse Arts Centre on Friday, March 22, the 2024 JUNO nominees join CBC Music host Damhnait Doyle in Halifax for a unique event that strips away the layers of production to present the essence of music in its purest form: the song itself. Hear candid conversations, acoustic performances, and unforgettable connections from Begonia, Dominique Fils-AimĂŠ, Jeremy Dutcher, Leith Ross, Luna Elle, Matt Andersen, RĂŞve and William Prince.
Broadcasts on CBC Music at 6:00 p.m. ET and on CBC Radio One at 6:30 p.m. ET (7:30 AT, 5 CT, 4 MT, 3 PT)
THE 2024 JUNO AWARDS BROADCAST
Hosted by music icon Nelly Furtado, Canadaâs Biggest Night in Music features the presentation of various JUNO Awards and performances by Canadaâs hottest artists live from Halifax for the 53rd annual celebration of Canadaâs top musicians, singers, songwriters, producers, and more.
Broadcasts live on CBC, CBC Gem, CBC Radio and CBC Listen at 8 p.m. ET (5 PT/ 6 MT/ 7 CT/ 9 AT / 9:30 NT) with encore broadcasts on CBC TV in PT and MT time zones at 8 p.m.. In addition to described video and closed captioning CBC Gem will also offer ASL interpretation made available courtesy of the Disability Screen Office, CBC and Insight Productions with the support from the Canada Media Fund.
MONDAY, MARCH, 25
CBC MUSIC MORNINGS WITH DAMHNAIT DOYLE
Host Damhnait Doyle is live from Halifax, looking back at Canadaâs biggest night in music. Hear interviews with 2024 JUNO winners and nominees, as well as some of the top music headlines to come out of Halifaxâs JUNO week.
Broadcasts on CBC Music and CBC Listen at 6 a.m. local time (6:30 NT)
COMMOTION WITH ELAMIN ABDELMAHMOUD
Featuring a panel live from Halifax, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud brings together music critics from across the country to recap the wins and surprises of the 2024 JUNO awards.
Broadcasts on CBC Radio One and CBC Listen at 11 a.m. local time (11:30 NT)
Paramount+ celebrates the triumphant return of iconic Latina heroine Dora the Explorer with the reveal of the official trailer and key art for the upcoming original preschool series DORA. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation and featuring 26 CG-animated 11-minute episodes, DORA will premiere on Friday, April 12, exclusively on Paramount+ in Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia.
With all-new CG animation and imaginative character-driven storylines, the upcoming DORA series follows everyoneâs favorite bilingual explorer, Dora (Diana ZermeĂąo), and her best monkey friend, Boots (Asher Colton Spence), as they embark on epic adventures in a fantastical rainforest. Guided by trustworthy Map (Anairis QuiĂąones), Dora and her friends must work together to overcome many obstacles while being challenged by the sneakiest fox, Swiper (Marc Weiner). Kathleen Herles, the original voice of Dora the Explorer, returns to the new series as Mami, and Mike Smith Rivera joins the cast as Papi.
In addition to ZermeĂąoâs breakout role as Dora, previously announced cast members joining DORA include Maria Canals-Barrera as Abuela; Danny Burstein as Grumpy Old Troll and The Fiesta Trioâs Frog and Marmoset; Katarina Sky as Backpack; Donovan Monzon-Sanders as Tico; Tandi Fomukong as Isa; QuintĂşn MuĂąoz as Benny; Chris Gifford as Big Red Chicken; and QuiĂąones as The Fiesta Trioâs Armadillo. Featured guest stars this season are Taboo as Quickatoo and Kate del Castillo as Ale the Alebrije.
DORA is produced by Nickelodeon Animation in Burbank, California. Rich Magallanes, Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes serve as executive producers. Henry Lenardin-Madden serves as co-executive producer, and Alejandro Bien-Willner serves as story editor. Marielle Kaar is Nickelodeon’s Executive in Charge of Production for the series. DORA THE EXPOLORER was created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes and Eric Weiner.
Also launching this spring is DORAâS RECIPE FOR ADVENTURE, Nickelodeonâs brand-new podcast for preschoolers and families, which centers on Dora and celebrates culture, food, family and the importance of embracing oneself. Featuring all-new music, the 10-episode audio series follows Dora and Boots on their exciting expeditions through the rainforest as they search for the missing ingredients for some of her familyâs favorite dishes, such as caldo de piedra (stone soup), arroz con huevos (rice with eggs) and maduros (fried sweet plantains). DORAâS RECIPE FOR ADVENTURE will be available wherever listeners get their podcasts.
Since its launch on Nickelodeon on August 14, 2000, DORA THE EXPOLORER quickly emerged as a global pop culture phenomenon, and nearly 25 years later, itâs still one of the most-watched preschool shows of all time. Dora has crossed social, racial and language boundaries and stands as a hero and friend to millions of children around the world. The series currently is seen in more than 150 countries and territories and translated in 32 languages through Nickelodeon channels, Paramount+ around the globe and syndication. Over its eight-season run, which is currently available to stream in full on Paramount+, DORA THE EXPLORER received countless accolades, including Emmy, Peabody, NAACP, Alma, Imagen, Latino Spirit, Gracie Allen, Parentsâ Choice, Common Sense Media and Television Critics Association awards.
Canadian Music Week, which has selected the conferenceâs spotlight country this year as India, is pleased to announce the 23rd annual Jim BeamÂŽ INDIES on June 6, 2024, at Torontoâs Danforth Music Hall, with a headlining set by Canadian-born chart-topper AR Paisley.
The rising rapper, whose Spotify monthly listeners leapt from 1.1M to 3.2M since December, won Hip-Hop/Rap Artist of the Year at last yearâs INDIES.
The awards, sponsored by Jim BeamÂŽ and SiriusXM, are a celebration of new music and the artists and teams who inspire the independent spirit, both nationally and internationally. The evening will include award presentations interspersed with live performances by select nominees.
AR Paisley, who has a top 10 hit in Canada with a feature rap on the posthumous single âDrippyâ by his friend and mentor the late Sidhu Moose Wala, will take the stage for a full set to cap the night. The winner of the 2024 Jim BeamÂŽ National Talent Search will kick off the INDIES.
Tickets will be on sale at Ticketmaster on Tuesday Feb 27th 10:00 AM, 2024.
Born into an Indo-Canadian Punjabi Sikh family, in Mississauga, Ontario, Paisley, whose real name is Amarit Rehal, conveys raw vulnerability through his explosive verses. Taking his stage name from the street he was raised on (Paisley Boulevard), he turned to creating music after a turbulent grade 12. In 2018, he started releasing singles including “Beat the Odds” and “Lavish,â then dropped his debut mixtape, Screwface, which gained over five million streams. He followed it up with Timeless, which included “Cost Ya,â which racked over a million streams and put him on the Toronto music map in 2019. That year, he toured with Sidhu Moose Wala.
2020 saw Paisley refine his craft with AR Paisley vs. AR Money and the reflective single “Still Grateful.” Collaborating with another Punjabi superstar, AP Dhillon, on “Takeover” expanded his reach to global audiences. In 2022, Paisley and Moose Wala collaborated on “Love Sick,” to date his most popular song on Spotify. Shortly after, he performed at Rolling Loud and opened for Dhillon’s arena tour before embarking on his own solo tour in 2023. In June, he was named Hip-Hop/Rap Artist of the Year at the Jim BeamÂŽ INDIES.
Since then, Paisley has signed 91 North Records, a joint venture between Warner Music Canada and Warner Music India, and dropped the single âWhatâs Beefâ and the Wala track, âDrippy.â
Nominations for the 23rd Annual Jim BeamÂŽ INDIES are being accepted through indies.ca until Feb. 27, 2024. Artists or their representatives can submit their nominations to be considered for the 2024 Jim BeamÂŽ INDIE Awards, with national music release dates that must fall between the eligibility period of January 1, 2023, and April 1, 2024. For complete nomination details, eligibility criteria and award categories, see âcriteriaâ on the INDIESâ website.
ABOUT CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK:
Canadian Music Week is the leading annual event dedicated to the expression and growth of the countryâs music, media and entertainment industries, combining multifaceted, information-intensive conferences, a trade exposition, awards shows and the nationâs largest new music festival.
Singing Back the Buffalo the new feature length documentary from award-winning Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard (niĚpawistamaĚsowin: We Will Stand Up, Birth of a Family) will have its world premiere this February at the 2024 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. Singing Back the Buffalo follows Indigenous visionaries and communities who are rematriating the buffalo to the heart of the North American plains they once defined, signaling a turning point for Indigenous nations, the ecosystem, and all our collective survival.
Singing Back the Buffalo is written and directed by Hubbard and produced by Hubbard, Jason Ryle (Amplify), George Hupka (niĚpawistamaĚsowin: We Will Stand Up, Obmin, On the Edge), associate produced by Marie-Eve Marchand (Iniskim), and executive produced by Bonnie Thompson (The Secret Society, niĚpawistamaĚsowin: We Will Stand Up). A one-hour version will be broadcast on CBC The Nature of Things, feature version on APTN later in 2025.
As a girl growing up on the prairies in Saskatchewan, Hubbard would imagine herds of buffalo roaming vast open plains on which she lived. 165 years ago, it was common for big herds to stretch out as far as the eye could see and take two days to pass by. Three decades later, after massive campaigns of deliberate slaughter, there were as little as 250 buffalo left from the over 50 million that moved across the continent. The impact on Indigenous plains nations, who had depended on the buffalo for food, shelter, and spiritual sustenance, was disastrous. The buffaloâs fate forced Indigenous Peoples, now starving, into confinement on the reserves. For over a century, neither have been free to walk the lands for which Indigenous Peoples have cared for millennia.
Hubbard is now an award-winning filmmaker, a buffalo academic and buffalo activist. With Singing Back the Buffaloshe takes viewers on an epic journey that has not yet been told on screen, exploring concepts of buffalo consciousness, buffalo personhood, and relationships between buffalo and Indigenous Peoples. From her Indigenous point of view, we learn the importance of rematriating teachings from the buffalo, and how the land needs the buffalo back more than ever in this time of climate change, food insecurity, and uncertainty. We meet Indigenous visionaries, leaders, scientists, and communities who are restoring the buffalo to the land they once defined. Their return back across the heart of North America signals a turning point for the long-term collective survival of Indigenous nations, the environment and all of humanity.
âI’m thrilled to premiere Singing Back the Buffalo at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. It is the ideal place to start our journey of sharing this film to honour the Buffalo and the Great Plains and those who love them. So much of this story’s heart is in Montana, and we’re excited to bring our buffalo family to the festival,â said Hubbard.
Singing Back the Buffalo is produced in association with CBC and APTN and produced with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Indigenous Screen Office and Telefilm Canada, with the assistance of the Government of Alberta, the participation of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and Rogers Documentary Fund, as well as support from the Nia Tero Foundation. Fiscal sponsorship provided by Redford Center.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Dr. Tasha Hubbard, Writer/Director/Producer: Dr. Tasha Hubbard is a filmmaker and an associate professor in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta. She is from Peepeekisis First Nation in Treaty Four Territory and has ties to several First Nations in Treaty Six Territory. She is also the mother of a seventeen-year-old son. Her academic research supports Indigenous efforts to return the buffalo to the lands, as well as Indigenous narrative sovereignty in North America. She has been working to support the Buffalo Treaty since 2015 and is one of the founding directors of the International Buffalo Relations Institute. Her first solo writing/directing project Two Worlds Colliding, about Saskatoonâs infamous Starlight Tours, premiered at ImagineNATIVE in 2004 and won the Canada Award at the Gemini Awards in 2005. In 2017, she directed an NFB-produced feature documentary called Birth of a Family about a 60s Scoop family coming together for the first time during a holiday in Banff. It premiered at Hot Docs International Film Festival and landed in the top ten audience choice list. It also won the Audience Favourite for Feature Documentary at the Edmonton International Film Festival and the Moon Jury prize at ImagineNATIVE. Her last film was niĚpawistamaĚsowin: We Will Stand Up, an exploration of the impact of the death of Colten Boushie that premiered in the spring of 2019. It was the first Indigenous-directed film to open the Hot Docs International Film Festival and it won the top Canadian documentary prize. It also won the Colin Low Award for the top Canadian film at the DOXA International Film Festival and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Feature Documentary in 2020. Hubbard was awarded the DGC Discovery award in 2019.
Jason Ryle, Producer: Jason Ryle is a producer, programmer, curator, story editor, and arts consultant based in Toronto. Through his mother, he is Anishinaabe and a member of Lake St. Martin First Nation, Manitoba. Jason was the Executive Director of imagineNATIVE from July 2010 to June 2020. In addition to Singing Back the Buffalo, Jason has produced the docuseries Amplifyfor APTN and several award-winning shorts. In February 2021, Jason received the Clyde Gilmour Award from the Toronto Film Critics Association. The award is bestowed to Canadians whose work has in some way enriched the understanding and appreciation of film in their native country. Jason is also the International Programmer, Indigenous Cinema for TIFF.
George Hupka, DOP, Producer: George is a freelance Director and DP, who has worked with Tasha for over 25 years. They formed Downstream Documentary Productions to make niĚpawistamaĚsowin and continue to bring Indigenous stories to the screen. As a cinematographer, Hupka has shot projects around the world for the UKâs Windfall Films, documentary features and shorts for the National Film Board, and many award-winning projects for CBC, CTV, and TSN. He directed and produced Obmin, a documentary about the Soviet Union before the fall of the Berlin Wall as seen through the eyes of Canadian exchange students and was the producer and DP of the Rogers series On the Edge. His short film about photographer and artist Lesia Maruschak, The Diggers, was recently screened at Landskrona Foto Festival in Sweden.
Bonnie Thompson, Executive Producer: Bonnie is a veteran and independent Canadian media producer of documentary, animation, and interactive projects. She worked as a producer with the National Film Board of Canada for many years, and now works independently. Her productions have been screened by national and international broadcasters and streamers (CBC, The Doc Channel, SuperChannel, APTN, PBS, NHK, Netflix, Apple), in festivals around the world (TIFF, Hot Docs, IDFA, Berlin, Sundance, Annecy) and on the web, with numerous awards and nominations, including Canadian Screen nominations and awards, an Oscar and Emmy nomination, and Webby awards.
Marie-Eve Marchand, Associate Producer/Production Manager: Marie-Eve is the Director of the International Buffalo Relations Institute supporting the implementation of the Buffalo Treaty with over thirty indigenous communities in the Great Plains of North America and she is Business Manager and Strategy for the UICN WCPA Beyond the Aichi Task Force working globally on setting global goals for people, nature and climate. She successfully coordinated the movement to bring the plains bison back to Banff National Park and received the Golden Leaf National Award for her conservation work in Quebec.
Get ready for some big laughs as Just For Laughs VANCOUVER, in association with SiriusXM Canada, brings the lively spirit of comedy back to the city with their 8th edition of the festival running February 15 to 24, 2024. As Western Canadaâs biggest comedy festival, this yearâs lineup will feature many of your favourite comedians including comedy icons youâve always wanted to see, and emerging stars you may already know from TikTok and YouTube; alongside hilarious hosts of todayâs most downloaded comedy podcasts. Also joining are some of today’s prominent international stand-up comedians from Egypt, Mexico, Australia, the U.K. and Brazil, who will also perform in various languages. We will continue to showcase vibrant comedic voices from across Canada, including rising talent from Vancouver, adding an extra layer of excitement as we prepare for a truly memorable festival ahead. Plus, thereâs more to come! We will be revealing additional artists joining the roster in the coming weeks.
Festival Director, Heather Wallace shares, “As we approach our 8th edition, we’re excited to build on the legacy of consistently delivering top-tier comedy to our city. We take tremendous pride in presenting the world’s biggest comedy stars; artists who are truly making waves across the industry.â She adds, âThe valued support of our festival partners makes it possible for us to continue to grow and produce ten days of incredible programming that has something for everyone!â
To get in on all the action, tickets for Just For Laughs VANCOUVER will go on sale to the general public this Friday, December 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM PST at JFLVancouver.com
Performing at the 8th edition of Just For Laughs VANCOUVER, in association with SiriusXM Canada,
Rogers Arena
Bill Burr I Friday, February 23, 2024 I Rogers Arena I 8:00 PM
Emmy and Grammy-nominated comedian Bill Burr stands out as a leading comedic voice of his generation, achieving major success in numerous television and film roles as well as the live stage. In October, Burrâs film, OLD DADS, which he directed, co-wrote and stars in, premiered as the most-watched film on Netflix in its first and second week of release. On November 21, Burr starred with Adam Sandler in the animated Netflix film, LEO, which also premiered as the #1 film on Netflix. His diverse roles include appearances in the Judd Apatow film, The King of Staten Island, Disney+’s The Mandalorian, Hugh Jackman’s film, The Front Runner, and the Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell film, Daddy’s Home just to name a few. Additionally, he hosted Saturday Night Live and played the memorable recurring role of ‘Kuby’ on the acclaimed AMC show, Breaking Bad. Renowned for hosting his widely downloaded âMonday Morning Podcastâ, in 2023. Burr toured arenas and amphitheatres throughout North America and Europe. In 2022 he made history as the first comedian to perform at Fenway Park. His 2022 Netflix special, Bill Burr: Live At Red Rocks, shot at the legendary venue, further stakes his role as one of the most versatile talents of his time.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Ronny Chieng: The Love to Hate It Tour I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Queen Elizabeth Theatre I 9:30 PM
Ronny Chieng is a stand-up comedian, actor and Correspondent on The Daily Show. He starred in the worldwide hit movie Crazy Rich Asians, his Netflix stand-up comedy special Asian Comedian Destroys America! and has appeared on Young Rock, Godzilla vs Kong, Bliss, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and has been featured in The New York Times, GQ amongst others. Most recently, he also starred in the mega Marvel Studio’s hit movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Wanda Sykes: Please and Thank You I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Queen Elizabeth Theatre I 7:00 PM
Wanda Sykes is an Emmy winning stand-up comic, writer, actress and producer who has been entertaining audiences for over twenty years. She has ranked among Entertainment Weekly’s â25 Funniest People in Americaâ and her peers have called her âone of the funniest stand-up comicsâ in the field. In 2023 she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Nominations; Two for her Netflix special Wanda Sykes; Iâm an Entertainer (her sixth stand-up special) and another for her role as in Crank Yankers. In 2020, she received Emmy nominations for both her role as real-life comic Moms Mabley in The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel and for her voice work in Crank Yankers. Her guest-starring role on ABCâs Black-ish also brought her two back-to-back Emmy nominations. Her fifth standup special, Wanda Sykes: Not Normal, is streaming on Netflix and was nominated for two 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards.
The Orpheum
Ben Schwartz and Friends I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I The Orpheum I 8:00 PM
Ben Schwartz can next be seen in Lord & Millerâs AppleTV+ miniseries The After Party, as well as the second season of Greg Daniels and Steve Carellâs Netflix series Space Force, in which he stars opposite Steve Carell and John Malkovich. Previous credits include the Disney feature, Flora and Ulysses, based on the popular novel, the indie feature Standing Up, Falling Down, for which He received rave reviews for his lead performance opposite Billy Crystal; Night School.
He starred opposite Don Cheadle & Kristen Bell in the Showtime comedy series House of Lies and acted alongside Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt and Aziz Ansari as Jean Ralphio on Parks and Recreation. As a writer, he has published four books and written television shows and movies for many major studios.
Vogue Theatre
Marlon Wayans I Saturday, February 17, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Marlon Wayans is an actor, producer, comedian, writer and film director. His films have grossed more than $736-million in domestic box office and $1-billion in global box office. As a stand-up comedian, he is selling out nationwide and adding shows every weekend. His newest stand-up special, God Loves Me, premiered on HBO Max in March 2023. Wayans can most recently be seen on the big screen in Ben Affleckâs Nike drama AIR for Amazon Studios. Wayans is commonly recognized for his role as Marcus Copeland in Columbia Picturesâ 2004 hit comedy White Chicks. He also starred in the horror comedy spoof films Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2.
Bassem Youssef I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (Arabic show) & Wednesday, February 21, 2024 (English show) I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
BassemâŻYoussef will return for an encore performance to make history at the festival this year as the first artist ever to do one show in Arabic, and one show in English.
His one-of-a-kind solo English comedy performance, the audience is taken on a personal journey from Youssefâs career as a heart surgeon in Egypt to finding himself in the middle of the Arab Spring and becoming the host of the largest political satire show in the history of the Arab World. His jokes earned him worldwide recognition as âThe Egyptian Jon Stewart,â but also got him arrested, interrogated, and ultimately prompted his escape to America just as the country was going through its very own identity crisis.
For his Arabic show: Youssefâs Arabic standup show is a unique and new experience showcasing a 90-minute show of ground breaking Arabic comedy. Standup comedy is a relatively new art form for Arabic culture. The show challenges the audience with subversive narratives that use very âstrongâ language that is not usually are not heard on Arabic live shows. That is why there is a clear warning for Arabic audiences to attend âat their own riskâ. Youssef connects with all Arabic audiences from all the Arab countries which is almost an impossible task knowing that Arab dialects extremely vary from one country to another with totally cultural references making each
dialect almost have its own comedic language. He takes the audience into a very personal journey for Hal life before the fame touching on hilarious nuances that connect different generations and cultures. A unique performance of Arabic comedy that has had massive success in the US, Canada, Europe and the Middle East.
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the PTSD-List I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I
6:30 PM
Kathy Griffin is a two-time Emmy and Grammy Award winning comedian, television star, best-selling author and advocate known for her biting satire and fearless comedy. The legendary performer holds the Guinness Book of World Records for writing and starring in an unprecedented 20 televised stand-up specials. She is perhaps best known for her hit Bravo series, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, which aired for 6 years and won 2 Emmys. She starred on NBC’s Suddenly Susan and guest starred on Seinfeld, Law & Order: SVU, Glee, You, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She has lent her unique voice to animated characters in Shrek Forever After, The Simpsons, American Dad, Futurama and Dilbert. She co-produced and co-hosted CNN’s New Year’s Eve special, with Anderson Cooper for 10 years. Her memoir, Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Her second book, Kathy Griffinâs Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index, was also a New York Times Best Seller.
Nicole Byer I Friday, February 16, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 9:30 PM
Nicole Byer is one of the most versatile voices in the comedy landscape today. An actress, comedian, writer, author and podcaster, she is perhaps most well-known as the host of Netflixâs Emmy nominated competition baking series Nailed It!, which has gained a cult following of viewers since its premiere on the streaming platform in 2018. In 2020, she made history by becoming the first black woman ever to be nominated in the category of âOutstanding Host for A Reality or Competition Programâ and was nominated again in 2021 and 2022. The series premiered its seventh season in October 2022. She can currently be seen in her debut solo stand-up special on Netflix Nicole Byer: Big Beautiful Weirdo and the NBC comedy Grand Crew. She is also known for her standout appearances on MTVâs hit show Girl Code, a female-driven comedy series that opens the dialogue for the wonders and woes of womanhood.
Bob The Drag Queen I Thursday, February 15, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
The alter ego of non-binary comic/actor Caldwell Tidicue, âBob The Drag Queenâ describes herself as âhilarious, beautiful, talented andâŚhumble.â Their unabashed confidence won them the title of Americaâs Next Drag Superstar on season 8 of RuPaulâs Drag Race, multiple acting roles for HBO, Netflix, Sony Tristar, MTV, and VH1. The third season of her Emmy Award nominated HBO Max series Weâre Here was released in 2022. They are also an accomplished stand-up comedian with two solo specials under their belt and a starring role in the recent Netflix comedy concert film Stand Out executive produced by Wanda Sykes. Sibling Rivalry â Bobâs podcast with his comedy partner Monet X Change – is now on its sixth season and is also hitting the road playing major venues in the US and Canada.
Christina P. I Friday, February 16, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Christina P. is a stand-up Comedian, podcaster and mother of two young, savage boys. She recently premiered her second one-hour Netflix special, Christina P: Mom Genes, which led to her being written about in outlets such as The Los Angeles Times and Forbes, with Ready Steady Cut calling it, “One of the best specials of the year.” Her previous one-hour stand-up special, Christina P: Mother Inferior, premiered in 2017. Her second half-hour special is featured on The Degenerates, shot in Las Vegas in 2018 and is streaming on Netflix as well. She has a hugely successful podcast Your Momâs House which she hosts with her husband, comedian Tom Segura, and is a top-rated comedy podcast on iTunes. Launched in October of 2010, the podcast has acquired cult-like status and continues to raise low and loose jeans worldwide. If you enjoy 7th grade humour, youâll love Your Momâs House.
Tom Papa: Good Stuff Tour I Friday, February 23, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
With more than 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa is one of the top comedic voices in the country, finding success as an actor, host, and author, in film, TV, radio and podcasts as well as on the live stage. The comedian has had 5 highly rated stand-up specials on Netflix including his most recent Netflix special, What A Day! The special was taped at the iconic Wilbur Theatre in Boston. His other critically acclaimed specials include Human Mule, Freaked Out and Tom Papa Live in New York City, two of which were directed by Rob Zombie. On June 6, 2023, he released his highly anticipated third book, Weâre All In This TogetherâŚSo Make Some Room.
Jessica Kirson I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Jessica Kirson is a powerhouse on stage. Sheâs a hilariously relatable performer of sheer silliness, vulnerability, and ridiculous characters. Her countless comedic character videos have racked up over 200 million views on social media. Her audience is multigenerational, creating an excuse for large groups of friends and families to spend a night out together. In an era where only 10% of all touring comedians are female, Kirson stands out as one of the strongest comedians regardless of gender. She produced FXâs Hysterical, a feature-length documentary that premiered at SXSW 2021. Her one-hour special Talking to Myself was executive produced by Bill Burr and debuted on Comedy Central. She is a regular on This Week at the Comedy Cellar and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, HBOâs, Crashing, Netflixâs, Friends Who Kill, and Kevin Can Wait. She also acted in and served as a consultant, producer, and writer on the Robert De Niro film, The Comedian.
Patti Harrison: My Huge Tits Huge Because They Are Infected NOT Fake! I Saturday, February 17, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 9:30 PM
Patti Harrison can currently be seen in the Sundance hit comedy Theater Camp, which will be released later this year by Searchlight. Last year was an amazing year for her, with audiences seeing her in the Paramount blockbuster The Lost City, and being nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in Nikole Beckwithâs Together Together, co-starring Ed Helms. Later in the summer, she performed to rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a sold-out residency at Londonâs famed Soho Theatre. She can be seen on I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson, High Maintenance, and Search Party. She can currently be seen on the current and upcoming seasons of HBO Maxâs hit series Made For Love and She Hulk, on Disney+.
Che Durena I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 9:30 PM
Haitian Canadian comedian Che Durena was born and raised in British Columbia and is based in Toronto after spending time performing standup in Mexico. He is known for his work as a host and writer for My Most Amazing Top 10 (over 7.6 million subscribers) and he has amassed a social media following of over 7 million with over 197 million likes on his viral TikTok rants and commentary. He has appeared on JFL All Access, Comedy Network, Crave, and recently dropped his debut comedy album Tales From My Butthole. His comedy offers an absurd angle on his experiences living abroad and his perception of matters like culture, race, relationships and drugs.
Justin Willman: Magic for Humans in Person Tour I Monday, February 19, 2024 I
Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Justin Willman wants to melt your brain while making you laugh. Heâs best known as the star and creator of the hit Netflix series Magic For Humans. But you may recognize him from one of his many television appearances on The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Ellen, Conan and many more. Or maybe you know his work as a host: Baking Impossible; Cupcake Wars; Win, Lose or Draw. Or maybe heâs the child magician you hired in suburban St. Louis in the â90s. If you donât know him, heâs a magician and comedian whoâs mastered the art of turning cynics into believers (or at least getting them to laugh).
Sooshi Mango: Off The Boat I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 4:30 PM
Eight years ago, three average guys sat in their cars and started producing truly relatable content. Brothers Joe Salanitri, Carlo Salanitri and their best mate, Andrew Manfre came together for what started out as a fun hobby, which has now turned into what we know as Sooshi Mango. The Melbourne based trio are the only comedy act ever to sell out Rod Laver Arena three times in a row. Receiving an AACTA award for Favourite Australian Digital Comedy Creator in 2021, starring in Wog Boys Forever with Nick Giannopoulos and Nick Colosimo. They toured with their Off the Boat Tour across Australia in 2022, 7 states, 50 shows and a whopping 150,000+ tickets sold. With over 600+ million views online and over 2 million subscribers to their platforms, they continue to grow their brand.
Carlos Ballarta: TLATOANI (All Spanish Show) I Thursday, February 22, 2024
Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Carlos Ballarta is a Mexican standup comedian and actor, born in Mexico City, with a ten-year career in the Spanish speaking stand up scene and to this day he is the only stand-up comedian with 3 jokes about elotes. He has three Netflix specials: El amor es de put*s (2016), Furia Ăąera (2018) and Falso profeta (2021). His most recent special, Rebelde Comodino, was released on Youtube in 2023. He has successfully toured all around Mexico, Latin America, the United States, Canada and many cities in Europe.
This is That Live I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 4:00 PM
Each week, hosts Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring introduce you to the voices and stories that give this country character in this 100% improvised, satirical send-up of public radio, society and Canadian culture.
Rio Theatre
Big Jay Oakerson I Friday, February 23, 2024 – 7:00 PM & Saturday, February 24, 2024 – 9:30 PM I Rio Theatre
Big Jay Oakerson is one of the most beloved and easily recognizable comedians working today. His laid-back style and dirty delivery are the signature marks of his comedy. Jayâs career spans two decades, starting in Philadelphia as a âcomicâs comicâ before rising mainstream fame in New York. Oakerson, co-hosts a weekly radio segment on Sirius XM 95, The Bonfire. On the screen he can be seen on This is Not Happening, Comedy Underground, Inside Amy Schumer and more. This year, he released his newest hour, Dog Belly on YouTube.
Catherine Cohen: Come For Me I Friday, February 23, 2024 – 9:30 PM & Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Catherine Cohen is best known for her hit Netflix comedy special The TwistâŚ? Sheâs Gorgeous, which premiered earlier this year. The same live show won her the coveted title of Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in 2019. She can be seen next in the Paramount+ feature film, At Midnight, and in the upcoming Hulu series What Was I Doing While You Were Breeding. Last year, she found herself in Comedy Central’s Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, and she joined the cast for Season 3 of FXâs critically acclaimed series What We Do in The Shadows. Additionally in 2021, she published her first book entitled God I Feel Modern Tonight, which is her collection of comedic poetry.
Chris Redd I Thursday, February 15 & Friday, February 16, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 9:30 PM
After becoming a JFL New Face in 2016, Emmy-winning comedian Chris Redd has made his mark on comedy with his 5-year tenure on Saturday Night Live and his starring role on Peacockâs Bust Down, which he co-created, writes, and stars in. Recently, Redd featured in the biographical drama Spinning Gold, alongside Jeremy Jordan, Wiz Khalifa, and Jay Pharoah. His one-hour comedy special Why Am I Like This? premiered on HBO Max in November 2022. He received the Emmy Award in 2018 for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the SNL song âCome Back, Barack.â Over his impressive career, he has appeared in the Lonely Island film Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, opposite Kathy Bates in the Netflix comedy Disjointed, and featured in NBCâs Kenan, Big Mouth, Wet Hot American Summer, Will & Grace, Netflixâs Love, and more. Later this year, he will star in Prime Videoâs Candy Cane Lane, a Christmas comedy with Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Nick Offerman, among others.
Zarna Garg: Practical People Win I Wednesday, February 21 – 7:00 PM & Thursday, February 22, 2024 – 9:30 PM I Rio Theatre
Zarna Garg is âOne in a Billionâ, and thatâs not the just name of her first comedy special. Sheâs also the only Indian mom comedian taking on her mother-in-law. She was recently profiled as one of the gutsiest women in comedy on Apple TVâs new Gutsy Women series, and featured on This American Life with Ira Glass. When sheâs not doing 15 shows a week at Comedy Cellar in New York City, she is touring the world with her show. She is the winner of Kevin Hartâs Lyft Comics, the winner of the 2021 Ladies of Laughter Award, and has over a million followers across social media platforms. Her debut feature screenplay, Rearranged won Top Comedy Feature award at Austin Film Festival in 2019 and was a 2019 Nicholl Fellowships Semi-Finalist.
Aparna Nancherla: Uh Oh, I’m BackâŚand I Have Some Thoughts I Friday, February 16 – 7:00 PM & Saturday, February 17, 2024 – 9:30 PM I Rio Theatre
Aparna Nancherla is an acclaimed comedian, writer, and actor. Praised by critics and fans alike for her distinctive dry, existential, and whimsical sense of humour, she has toured her standup comedy extensively around the U.S. and the world. A true multi-hyphenate, her work spans film, TV, podcasts, and books. She presently hosts The Introvertâs Survival Guide, a new eight-part self-help interview podcast that premiered on Audible via Fresh Produce Media, which features a plethora of notable guests such as Seth Meyers, Elyse Myers, and Eric Smith. On TV, she has starred in many memorable roles on such series as Search Party, Space Force, Bojack Horseman, Corporate and many more. Her late-night standup debut was on Conan in 2013 and she was named a Just For Laughs New Face.
Caroline Rhea: I Identify As A Witch I Thursday, February 22, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Caroline Rhea is a stand-up comedian and actress, best known for her role as Hilda Spellman on the ABC hit series Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and numerous comedy specials on Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime. She is currently starring in Disney Channelâs Sydney to the Max, and hosts Caroline and Friends, her hit game show for Game Show Network, now in its second season. She is a regular panellist on ABC’s Match Game with Alec Baldwin and is often on other game shows such as Hollywood Squares and Funny You Should Ask. She was the host of the Caroline Rhea Show, has appeared on Phineas and Ferb for over 10 seasons, and has guest starred on many hit series, including Two Broke Girls, The Marc Maron Show, and The Grinder. She starred as Noleta Nethercott in the cult classic series Sordid Lives and reprised her role in the film A Very Sordid Wedding, which ranked #1 on Amazon Films for a full month following its release. Most recently, she can be seen on the dais of Comedy Centralâs Roast of Alec Baldwin. This marks her 30th year as a stand-up comedian.
Mo Gilligan: In the Moment World Tour 2024 I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 9:30 PM
With his high-energy style and stunning physicality, triple BAFTA winner Mo Gilligan is one of the UKâs biggest comedy stars with an online reach running into multiple millions. Named âThe Funniest Man in Britainâ by The Times, his debut Coupla Cans stand up tour was a total sell out, including a huge two-week residency in Londonâs West End. The show went on to be recorded as his debut Netflix Original Momentum, which was globally released in 190 countries. Gilligan fronts his own multi award winning entertainment format The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan, which saw him win his first BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance in 2020. That year he also produced and fronted the ground-breaking documentary Mo Gilligan: Black, British and Funny (Channel 4), which achieved huge critical acclaim.
Rafi Bastos: Unfamiliar Territory I Saturday, February 17, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Rafi Bastos is a 6â7â tall Jewish-Brazilian comedian with an accent like Dracula and a rapidly growing social media presence of stand-up clips in English. Many of his super-viral stand-up clips come from nightly performances at the prestigious Comedy Cellar. In his home-country of Brazil, he is a trailblazer of comedy, media and is one of the first comedians to pioneer the art of American-style stand-up comedy in Brazil. His 17-year comedy and acting career, before coming to the United States, garnered many firsts and was covered in an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience. He has starred in movies, had his own controversial talk show, been an infield journalist and hosted reality shows Ultimate Beastmaster for Netflix. He is the Co-Founder and owner of Comedians, the largest comedy club in South America. Letâs just say Bastos has done almost everything in Brazil and now heâs in the USA to do it all with a fresh perspective.
Chris Fleming I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Chris Fleming was named one of Varietyâs Ten Comics to Watch for 2019. He has amassed over 70 million views on his Youtube channel and has appeared in Comedy Centralâs Corporate, Splitting Up Together, Netflixâs Last Laugh and Twelve Forever. The Huffington Post has called him âperhaps one of the best things on the internet.â Of his live show, Chortle says, âyou canât take your eyes off this unpredictable, exciting performer.â Splitsider says, âa madman and I think, genius.â According to Vulture, âequal parts imagination and inferiority complex, a combination that has led him to create some of the most bizarrely funny performance art taking place online and onstage today.â
Lewberger I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Lewberger is Keith Habersberger, Alex Lewis, and Hughie Stone Fish. This handsome 3-man comedy band based in Los Angeles, CA, got a standing ovation on Americaâs Got Talent and were finalists on NBCâs Bring The Funny. Their viral songs have been heard by millions online and on TV and theyâve been described as the illegitimate love child of Lonely Island and Flight of the Conchords. Lewberger has played clubs and colleges all over the country. Their latest comedy special Lewberger: Live at Lincoln Hall can be found on Amazon Prime, and their podcast Celebrity Theme Song can be heard on all streaming platforms. Habersberger is a member of internet sensations The Try Guys, boasting millions of subscribers and their own production company. Lewis is an actor and comedian who can be seen on several TV shows and the movies All About Nina as well as the remake of MGMâs Valley Girl. Stone Fish is an Emmy Award-winning songwriter and a music producer/educator with a non-profit bringing arts education to his hometown of Syracuse, New York.
Celebrity Memoir Book Club I Thursday, February 15, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Celebrity Memoir Book Club is the podcast where New York comedians Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton read celebrity memoirs so you don’t have to. An Apple Podcast top comedy podcast, a Vulture must listen, and featured in the New York Times, This podcast follows them as they comb through the pages of celebrity memoirs for the juiciest moments. Lauded by Vogue as “deftly balancing a tongue-in-cheek, humorous look at its celebrity specimens with generous doses of empathy” and named a best podcast of 2022 by Esquire, they are analyzing the celebs and giving unfiltered takes on celebrity gossip using the celebrities’ own words.
Get ready for some big laughs as Just For Laughs VANCOUVER, in association with SiriusXM Canada, brings the lively spirit of comedy back to the city with their 8th edition of the festival running February 15 to 24, 2024. As Western Canadaâs biggest comedy festival, this yearâs lineup will feature many of your favourite comedians including comedy icons youâve always wanted to see, and emerging stars you may already know from TikTok and YouTube; alongside hilarious hosts of todayâs most downloaded comedy podcasts. Also joining are some of today’s prominent international stand-up comedians from Egypt, Mexico, Australia, the U.K. and Brazil, who will also perform in various languages. We will continue to showcase vibrant comedic voices from across Canada, including rising talent from Vancouver, adding an extra layer of excitement as we prepare for a truly memorable festival ahead. Plus, thereâs more to come! We will be revealing additional artists joining the roster in the coming weeks.
Festival Director, Heather Wallace shares, “As we approach our 8th edition, we’re excited to build on the legacy of consistently delivering top-tier comedy to our city. We take tremendous pride in presenting the world’s biggest comedystars; artists who are truly making waves across the industry.â She adds, âThe valued support of our festival partners makes it possible for us to continue to grow and produce ten days of incredible programming that has something for everyone!â
To get in on all the action, tickets for Just For Laughs VANCOUVER will go on sale to the general public this Friday, December 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM PST at JFLVancouver.com
Performing at the 8th edition of Just For Laughs VANCOUVER,
in association with SiriusXM Canada,
Rogers Arena
Bill Burr I Friday, February 23, 2024 I Rogers Arena I 8:00 PM
Emmy and Grammy-nominated comedian Bill Burr stands out as a leading comedic voice of his generation, achieving major success in numerous television and film roles as well as the live stage. In October, Burrâs film, OLD DADS, which he directed, co-wrote and stars in, premiered as the most-watched film on Netflix in its first and second week of release. On November 21, Burr starred with Adam Sandler in the animated Netflix film, LEO, which also premiered as the #1 film on Netflix. His diverse roles include appearances in the Judd Apatow film, The King of Staten Island, Disney+’s The Mandalorian, Hugh Jackman’s film, The Front Runner, and the Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell film, Daddy’s Home just to name a few. Additionally, he hosted Saturday Night Live and played the memorable recurring role of ‘Kuby’ on the acclaimed AMC show, Breaking Bad. Renowned for hosting his widely downloaded âMonday Morning Podcastâ, in 2023. Burr toured arenas and amphitheatres throughout North America and Europe. In 2022 he made history as the first comedian to perform at Fenway Park. His 2022 Netflix special, Bill Burr: Live At Red Rocks, shot at the legendary venue, further stakes his role as one of the most versatile talents of his time.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Ronny Chieng: The Love to Hate It Tour I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Queen Elizabeth Theatre I 9:30 PM
Ronny Chieng is a stand-up comedian, actor and Correspondent on The Daily Show. He starred in the worldwide hit movie Crazy Rich Asians, his Netflix stand-up comedy special Asian Comedian Destroys America! and has appeared on Young Rock, Godzilla vs Kong, Bliss, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and has been featured in The New York Times, GQ amongst others. Most recently, he also starred in the mega Marvel Studio’s hit movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Wanda Sykes: Please and Thank You I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Queen Elizabeth Theatre I 7:00 PM
Wanda Sykes is an Emmy winning stand-up comic, writer, actress and producer who has been entertaining audiences for over twenty years. She has ranked among Entertainment Weekly’s â25 Funniest People in Americaâ and her peers have called her âone of the funniest stand-up comicsâ in the field. In 2023 she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Nominations; Two for her Netflix special Wanda Sykes; Iâm an Entertainer (her sixth stand-up special) and another for her role as in Crank Yankers. In 2020, she received Emmy nominations for both her role as real-life comic Moms Mabley in The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel and for her voice work in Crank Yankers. Her guest-starring role on ABCâs Black-ish also brought her two back-to-back Emmy nominations. Her fifth standup special, Wanda Sykes: Not Normal, is streaming on Netflix and was nominated for two 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards.
The Orpheum
Ben Schwartz and Friends I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I The Orpheum I 8:00 PM
Ben Schwartz can next be seen in Lord & Millerâs AppleTV+ miniseries The After Party, as well as the second season of Greg Daniels and Steve Carellâs Netflix series Space Force, in which he stars opposite Steve Carell and John Malkovich. Previous credits include the Disney feature, Flora and Ulysses, based on the popular novel, the indie feature Standing Up, Falling Down, for which He received rave reviews for his lead performance opposite Billy Crystal; Night School.
He starred opposite Don Cheadle & Kristen Bell in the Showtime comedy series House of Lies and acted alongside Amy Poehler, Chris Pratt and Aziz Ansari as Jean Ralphio on Parks and Recreation. As a writer, he has published four books and written television shows and movies for many major studios.
Vogue Theatre
Marlon Wayans I Saturday, February 17, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Marlon Wayans is an actor, producer, comedian, writer and film director. His films have grossed more than $736-million in domestic box office and $1-billion in global box office. As a stand-up comedian, he is selling out nationwide and adding shows every weekend. His newest stand-up special, God Loves Me, premiered on HBO Max in March 2023. Wayans can most recently be seen on the big screen in Ben Affleckâs Nike drama AIR for Amazon Studios. Wayans is commonly recognized for his role as Marcus Copeland in Columbia Picturesâ 2004 hit comedy White Chicks. He also starred in the horror comedy spoof films Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2.
Bassem Youssef I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (Arabic show) & Wednesday, February 21, 2024 (English show) I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
BassemâŻYoussef will return for an encore performance to make history at the festival this year as the first artist ever to do one show in Arabic, and one show in English.
His one-of-a-kind solo English comedy performance, the audience is taken on a personal journey from Youssefâs career as a heart surgeon in Egypt to finding himself in the middle of the Arab Spring and becoming the host of the largest political satire show in the history of the Arab World. His jokes earned him worldwide recognition as âThe Egyptian Jon Stewart,â but also got him arrested, interrogated, and ultimately prompted his escape to America just as the country was going through its very own identity crisis.
For his Arabic show: Youssefâs Arabic standup show is a unique and new experience showcasing a 90-minute show of ground breaking Arabic comedy. Standup comedy is a relatively new art form for Arabic culture. The show challenges the audience with subversive narratives that use very âstrongâ language that is not usually are not heard on Arabic live shows. That is why there is a clear warning for Arabic audiences to attend âat their own riskâ. Youssef connects with all Arabic audiences from all the Arab countries which is almost an impossible task knowing that Arab dialects extremely vary from one country to another with totally cultural references making each
dialect almost have its own comedic language. He takes the audience into a very personal journey for Hal life before the fame touching on hilarious nuances that connect different generations and cultures. A unique performance of Arabic comedy that has had massive success in the US, Canada, Europe and the Middle East.
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the PTSD-List I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I
6:30 PM
Kathy Griffin is a two-time Emmy and Grammy Award winning comedian, television star, best-selling author and advocate known for her biting satire and fearless comedy. The legendary performer holds the Guinness Book of World Records for writing and starring in an unprecedented 20 televised stand-up specials. She is perhaps best known for her hit Bravo series, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, which aired for 6 years and won 2 Emmys. She starred on NBC’s Suddenly Susan and guest starred on Seinfeld, Law & Order: SVU, Glee, You, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She has lent her unique voice to animated characters in Shrek Forever After, The Simpsons, American Dad, Futurama and Dilbert. She co-produced and co-hosted CNN’s New Year’s Eve special, with Anderson Cooper for 10 years. Her memoir, Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Her second book, Kathy Griffinâs Celebrity Run-Ins: My A-Z Index, was also a New York Times Best Seller.
Nicole Byer I Friday, February 16, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 9:30 PM
Nicole Byer is one of the most versatile voices in the comedy landscape today. An actress, comedian, writer, author and podcaster, she is perhaps most well-known as the host of Netflixâs Emmy nominated competition baking series Nailed It!, which has gained a cult following of viewers since its premiere on the streaming platform in 2018. In 2020, she made history by becoming the first black woman ever to be nominated in the category of âOutstanding Host for A Reality or Competition Programâ and was nominated again in 2021 and 2022. The series premiered its seventh season in October 2022. She can currently be seen in her debut solo stand-up special on Netflix Nicole Byer: Big Beautiful Weirdo and the NBC comedy Grand Crew. She is also known for her standout appearances on MTVâs hit show Girl Code, a female-driven comedy series that opens the dialogue for the wonders and woes of womanhood.
Bob The Drag Queen I Thursday, February 15, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
The alter ego of non-binary comic/actor Caldwell Tidicue, âBob The Drag Queenâ describes herself as âhilarious, beautiful, talented and…humble.â Their unabashed confidence won them the title of Americaâs Next Drag Superstar on season 8 of RuPaulâs Drag Race, multiple acting roles for HBO, Netflix, Sony Tristar, MTV, and VH1. The third season of her Emmy Award nominated HBO Max series Weâre Here was released in 2022. They are also an accomplished stand-up comedian with two solo specials under their belt and a starring role in the recent Netflix comedy concert film Stand Out executive produced by Wanda Sykes. Sibling Rivalry â Bobâs podcast with his comedy partner Monet X Change – is now on its sixth season and is also hitting the road playing major venues in the US and Canada.
Christina P. I Friday, February 16, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Christina P. is a stand-up Comedian, podcaster and mother of two young, savage boys. She recently premiered her second one-hour Netflix special, Christina P: Mom Genes, which led to her being written about in outlets such as The Los Angeles Times and Forbes, with Ready Steady Cut calling it, “One of the best specials of the year.” Her previous one-hour stand-up special, Christina P: Mother Inferior, premiered in 2017. Her second half-hour special is featured on The Degenerates, shot in Las Vegas in 2018 and is streaming on Netflix as well. She has a hugely successful podcast Your Momâs House which she hosts with her husband, comedian Tom Segura, and is a top-rated comedy podcast on iTunes. Launched in October of 2010, the podcast has acquired cult-like status and continues to raise low and loose jeans worldwide. If you enjoy 7th grade humour, youâll love Your Momâs House.
Tom Papa: Good Stuff Tour I Friday, February 23, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
With more than 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa is one of the top comedic voices in the country, finding success as an actor, host, and author, in film, TV, radio and podcasts as well as on the live stage. The comedian has had 5 highly rated stand-up specials on Netflix including his most recent Netflix special, What A Day! The special was taped at the iconic Wilbur Theatre in Boston. His other critically acclaimed specials include Human Mule, Freaked Out and Tom Papa Live in New York City, two of which were directed by Rob Zombie. On June 6, 2023, he released his highly anticipated third book, Weâre All In This Together…So Make Some Room.
Jessica Kirson I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Jessica Kirson is a powerhouse on stage. Sheâs a hilariously relatable performer of sheer silliness, vulnerability, and ridiculous characters. Her countless comedic character videos have racked up over 200 million views on social media. Her audience is multigenerational, creating an excuse for large groups of friends and families to spend a night out together. In an era where only 10% of all touring comedians are female, Kirson stands out as one of the strongest comedians regardless of gender. She produced FXâs Hysterical, a feature-length documentary that premiered at SXSW 2021. Her one-hour special Talking to Myself was executive produced by Bill Burr and debuted on Comedy Central. She is a regular on This Week at the Comedy Cellar and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, HBOâs, Crashing, Netflixâs, Friends Who Kill, and Kevin Can Wait. She also acted in and served as a consultant, producer, and writer on the Robert De Niro film, The Comedian.
Patti Harrison: My Huge Tits Huge Because They Are Infected NOT Fake! I Saturday, February 17, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 9:30 PM
Patti Harrison can currently be seen in the Sundance hit comedy Theater Camp, which will be released later this year by Searchlight. Last year was an amazing year for her, with audiences seeing her in the Paramount blockbuster The Lost City, and being nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead in Nikole Beckwithâs Together Together, co-starring Ed Helms. Later in the summer, she performed to rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a sold-out residency at Londonâs famed Soho Theatre. She can be seen on I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson, High Maintenance, and Search Party. She can currently be seen on the current and upcoming seasons of HBO Maxâs hit series Made For Love and She Hulk, on Disney+.
Che Durena I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 9:30 PM
Haitian Canadian comedian Che Durena was born and raised in British Columbia and is based in Toronto after spending time performing standup in Mexico. He is known for his work as a host and writer for My Most Amazing Top 10 (over 7.6 million subscribers) and he has amassed a social media following of over 7 million with over 197 million likes on his viral TikTok rants and commentary. He has appeared on JFL All Access, Comedy Network, Crave, and recently dropped his debut comedy album Tales From My Butthole. His comedy offers an absurd angle on his experiences living abroad and his perception of matters like culture, race, relationships and drugs.
Justin Willman: Magic for Humans in Person Tour I Monday, February 19, 2024 I
Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Justin Willman wants to melt your brain while making you laugh. Heâs best known as the star and creator of the hit Netflix series Magic For Humans. But you may recognize him from one of his many television appearances on The Tonight Show, The Today Show, Ellen, Conan and many more. Or maybe you know his work as a host: Baking Impossible; Cupcake Wars; Win, Lose or Draw. Or maybe heâs the child magician you hired in suburban St. Louis in the â90s. If you donât know him, heâs a magician and comedian whoâs mastered the art of turning cynics into believers (or at least getting them to laugh).
Sooshi Mango: Off The Boat I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 4:30 PM
Eight years ago, three average guys sat in their cars and started producing truly relatable content. Brothers Joe Salanitri, Carlo Salanitri and their best mate, Andrew Manfre came together for what started out as a fun hobby, which has now turned into what we know as Sooshi Mango. The Melbourne based trio are the only comedy act ever to sell out Rod Laver Arena three times in a row. Receiving an AACTA award for Favourite Australian Digital Comedy Creator in 2021, starring in Wog Boys Forever with Nick Giannopoulos and Nick Colosimo. They toured with their Off the Boat Tour across Australia in 2022, 7 states, 50 shows and a whopping 150,000+ tickets sold. With over 600+ million views online and over 2 million subscribers to their platforms, they continue to grow their brand.
Carlos Ballarta: TLATOANI (All Spanish Show) I Thursday, February 22, 2024
Vogue Theatre I 7:00 PM
Carlos Ballarta is a Mexican standup comedian and actor, born in Mexico City, with a ten-year career in the Spanish speaking stand up scene and to this day he is the only stand-up comedian with 3 jokes about elotes. He has three Netflix specials: El amor es de put*s (2016), Furia Ăąera (2018) and Falso profeta (2021). His most recent special, Rebelde Comodino, was released on Youtube in 2023. He has successfully toured all around Mexico, Latin America, the United States, Canada and many cities in Europe.
This is That Live I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Vogue Theatre I 4:00 PM
Each week, hosts Pat Kelly and Peter Oldring introduce you to the voices and stories that give this country character in this 100% improvised, satirical send-up of public radio, society and Canadian culture.
Rio Theatre
Big Jay Oakerson I Friday, February 23, 2024 – 7:00 PM & Saturday, February 24, 2024 – 9:30 PM I Rio Theatre
Big Jay Oakerson is one of the most beloved and easily recognizable comedians working today. His laid-back style and dirty delivery are the signature marks of his comedy. Jayâs career spans two decades, starting in Philadelphia as a âcomicâs comicâ before rising mainstream fame in New York. Oakerson, co-hosts a weekly radio segment on Sirius XM 95, The Bonfire. On the screen he can be seen on This is Not Happening, Comedy Underground, Inside Amy Schumer and more. This year, he released his newest hour, Dog Belly on YouTube.
Catherine Cohen: Come For Me I Friday, February 23, 2024 – 9:30 PM & Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Catherine Cohen is best known for her hit Netflix comedy special The TwistâŚ? Sheâs Gorgeous, which premiered earlier this year. The same live show won her the coveted title of Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in 2019. She can be seen next in the Paramount+ feature film, At Midnight, and in the upcoming Hulu series What Was I Doing While You Were Breeding. Last year, she found herself in Comedy Central’s Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, and she joined the cast for Season 3 of FXâs critically acclaimed series What We Do in The Shadows. Additionally in 2021, she published her first book entitled God I Feel Modern Tonight, which is her collection of comedic poetry.
Chris Redd I Thursday, February 15 & Friday, February 16, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 9:30 PM
After becoming a JFL New Face in 2016, Emmy-winning comedian Chris Redd has made his mark on comedy with his 5-year tenure on Saturday Night Live and his starring role on Peacockâs Bust Down, which he co-created, writes, and stars in. Recently, Redd featured in the biographical drama Spinning Gold, alongside Jeremy Jordan, Wiz Khalifa, and Jay Pharoah. Hisone-hour comedy special Why Am I Like This? premiered on HBO Max in November 2022. He received the Emmy Award in 2018 for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the SNL song âCome Back, Barack.â Over his impressive career, he has appeared in the Lonely Island film Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, opposite Kathy Bates in the Netflix comedy Disjointed, and featured in NBCâs Kenan, Big Mouth, Wet Hot American Summer, Will & Grace, Netflixâs Love, and more. Later this year, he will star in Prime Videoâs Candy Cane Lane, a Christmas comedy with Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Nick Offerman, among others.
Zarna Garg: Practical People Win I Wednesday, February 21 – 7:00 PM & Thursday, February 22, 2024 – 9:30 PM I Rio Theatre
Zarna Garg is âOne in a Billionâ, and thatâs not the just name of her first comedy special. Sheâs also the only Indian mom comedian taking on her mother-in-law. She was recently profiled as one of the gutsiest women in comedy on Apple TVâs new Gutsy Women series, and featured on This American Life with Ira Glass. When sheâs not doing 15 shows a week at Comedy Cellar in New York City, she is touring the world with her show. She is the winner of Kevin Hartâs Lyft Comics, the winner of the 2021 Ladies of Laughter Award, and has over a million followers across social media platforms. Her debut feature screenplay, Rearranged won Top Comedy Feature award at Austin Film Festival in 2019 and was a 2019 Nicholl Fellowships Semi-Finalist.
Aparna Nancherla: Uh Oh, I’m Back…and I Have Some Thoughts I Friday, February 16 – 7:00 PM & Saturday, February 17, 2024 – 9:30 PM I Rio Theatre
Aparna Nancherla is an acclaimed comedian, writer, and actor. Praised by critics and fans alike for her distinctive dry, existential, and whimsical sense of humour, she has toured her standup comedy extensively around the U.S. and the world. A true multi-hyphenate, her work spans film, TV, podcasts, and books. She presently hosts The Introvertâs Survival Guide, a new eight-part self-help interview podcast that premiered on Audible via Fresh Produce Media, which features a plethora of notable guests such as Seth Meyers, Elyse Myers, and Eric Smith. On TV, she has starred in many memorable roles on such series as Search Party, Space Force, Bojack Horseman, Corporate and many more. Her late-night standup debut was on Conan in 2013 and she was named a Just For Laughs New Face.
Caroline Rhea: I Identify As A Witch I Thursday, February 22, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Caroline Rhea is a stand-up comedian and actress, best known for her role as Hilda Spellman on the ABC hit series Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and numerous comedy specials on Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime. She is currently starring in Disney Channelâs Sydney to the Max, and hosts Caroline and Friends, her hit game show for Game Show Network, now in its second season. She is a regular panellist on ABC’s Match Game with Alec Baldwin and is often on other game shows such as Hollywood Squares and Funny You Should Ask. She was the host of the Caroline Rhea Show, has appeared on Phineas and Ferb for over 10 seasons, and has guest starred on many hit series, including Two Broke Girls, The Marc Maron Show, and The Grinder. She starred as Noleta Nethercott in the cult classic series Sordid Lives and reprised her role in the film A Very Sordid Wedding, which ranked #1 on Amazon Films for a full month following its release. Most recently, she can be seen on the dais of Comedy Centralâs Roast of Alec Baldwin. This marks her 30th year as a stand-up comedian.
Mo Gilligan: In the Moment World Tour 2024 I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 9:30 PM
With his high-energy style and stunning physicality, triple BAFTA winner Mo Gilligan is one of the UKâs biggest comedy stars with an online reach running into multiple millions. Named âThe Funniest Man in Britainâ by The Times, his debut Coupla Cans stand up tour was a total sell out, including a huge two-week residency in Londonâs West End. The show went on to be recorded as his debut Netflix Original Momentum, which was globally released in 190 countries. Gilligan fronts his own multi award winning entertainment format The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan, which saw him win his first BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance in 2020. That year he also produced and fronted the ground-breaking documentary Mo Gilligan: Black, British and Funny (Channel 4), which achieved huge critical acclaim.
Rafi Bastos: Unfamiliar Territory I Saturday, February 17, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Rafi Bastos is a 6â7â tall Jewish-Brazilian comedian with an accent like Dracula and a rapidly growing social media presence of stand-up clips in English. Many of his super-viral stand-up clips come from nightly performances at the prestigious Comedy Cellar. In his home-country of Brazil, he is a trailblazer of comedy, media and is one of the first comedians to pioneer the art of American-style stand-up comedy in Brazil. His 17-year comedy and acting career, before coming to the United States, garnered many firsts and was covered in an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience. He has starred in movies, had his own controversial talk show, been an infield journalist and hosted reality shows Ultimate Beastmaster for Netflix. He is the Co-Founder and owner of Comedians, the largest comedy club in South America. Letâs just say Bastos has done almost everything in Brazil and now heâs in the USA to do it all with a fresh perspective.
Chris Fleming I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Chris Fleming was named one of Varietyâs Ten Comics to Watch for 2019. He has amassed over 70 million views on his Youtube channel and has appeared in Comedy Centralâs Corporate, Splitting Up Together, Netflixâs Last Laugh and Twelve Forever. The Huffington Post has called him âperhaps one of the best things on the internet.â Of his live show, Chortle says, âyou canât take your eyes off this unpredictable, exciting performer.â Splitsider says, âa madman and I think, genius.â According to Vulture, âequal parts imagination and inferiority complex, a combination that has led him to create some of the most bizarrely funny performance art taking place online and onstage today.â
Lewberger I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Lewberger is Keith Habersberger, Alex Lewis, and Hughie Stone Fish. This handsome 3-man comedy band based in Los Angeles, CA, got a standing ovation on Americaâs Got Talent and were finalists on NBCâs Bring The Funny. Their viral songs have been heard by millions online and on TV and theyâve been described as the illegitimate love child of Lonely Island and Flight of the Conchords. Lewberger has played clubs and colleges all over the country. Their latest comedy special Lewberger: Live at Lincoln Hall can be found on Amazon Prime, and their podcast Celebrity Theme Song can be heard on all streaming platforms. Habersberger is a member of internet sensations The Try Guys, boasting millions of subscribers and their own production company. Lewis is an actor and comedian who can be seen on several TV shows and the movies All About Nina as well as the remake of MGMâs Valley Girl. Stone Fish is an Emmy Award-winning songwriter and a music producer/educator with a non-profit bringing arts education to his hometown of Syracuse, New York.
Celebrity Memoir Book Club I Thursday, February 15, 2024 I Rio Theatre I 7:00 PM
Celebrity Memoir Book Club is the podcast where New York comedians Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton read celebrity memoirs so you don’t have to. An Apple Podcast top comedy podcast, a Vulture must listen, and featured in the New York Times, This podcast follows them as they comb through the pages of celebrity memoirs for the juiciest moments. Lauded by Vogue as “deftly balancing a tongue-in-cheek, humorous look at its celebrity specimens with generous doses of empathy” and named a best podcast of 2022 by Esquire, they are analyzing the celebs and giving unfiltered takes on celebrity gossip using the celebrities’ own words.
Biltmore Cabaret
Joel Kim Booster I Friday, February 16, 2024 – 9:30 PM & Saturday February 17, 2024 – 7:00 PM I Biltmore Cabaret
Joel Kim Booster is a Chicago-bred, Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian, writer, and actor who was recently named one of TIME 100 Next (2022) as an emerging advocate and creative, and a 2022 Variety Screenwriter to Watch. Joel has also been recognized as one of The Queer Young Comics Redefining American Humor by the New York Times. He has starred in shows like Search Party and Huluâs Shrill, as well as writing and producing Netflixâs Big Mouth and HBO Maxâs The Other Two. In 2022, Booster starred in the critically praised Fox Searchlight rom-com Fire Island alongside Bowen Yang. The film, which he also wrote, received a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay, a Gotham Award, and a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Film. His first stand-up special for Netflix, PsychoSexual, also premiered in 2022. He currently stars on the Apple TV+ series Loot alongside Maya Rudolph.
Annie Lederman I Wednesday, February 21, 2024 – 7:00 PM & Thursday, February 22, 2024 – 9:00 PM I Biltmore Cabaret
Annie Lederman is a comic, podcaster, writer & actress. She is co-host of the hit podcast Trash Tuesdays along with Khahlya Kuhn and Esther Povistky, as well as featuring on a number of others. Most recently, Lederman can be seen featured in Showtimeâs hit documentary miniseries The Comedy Store alongside Jay Leno, David Letterman, Joe Rogan, and many other Comedy Store legends. Additionally, Lederman has been seen or heard on many TV networks, including Comedy Central, MTV, E!, & Trutv. Lederman has also acted alongside Ron Livingston in the 2017 Cannes darling The Long Dumb Road. On the writing front, she wrote and starred in Stand Ups, a scripted Comedy Central pilot produced by Dan Powell of Inside Amy Schumer, while writing for Impractical Jokers and Borat. Additionally, she was a producer and writer on Sacha Baron Cohenâs series Who Is America?
Andrea Jin I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Andrea Jin is a stand-up comedian and writer born in Shanghai, relocated to Canada, and currently based in Los Angeles. She gained recognition in the comedy scene after winning Comedy Album of the Year in 2021 at the Juno Awards from the Canadian Academy of Recording Artists for her solo album Grandma’s Girl. She recently made her first late night TV debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden, was selected as a New Face at the Just for Laughs Montreal Festival in 2021, and has performed at several festivals like JFL Northwest, SiriusXMâs Top Comic, Seattle International Comedy Competition, CBCâs The Debaters, and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Her writing has been featured on Vice, CBC Comedy, and the Vancouver Sun among other publications.
Chris Gethard I Thursday, February 15, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 9:00 PM
Chris Gethard is a comedian, actor, and author whoâs been doing comedy stuff for over twenty years. Heâs the host of the Beautiful/Anonymous podcast, the former host of legendary public access television show The Chris Gethard Show, and had a special on HBO called Career Suicide where he talked about a few times he tried to kill himself. It was a comedy special. Heâs acted on shows like The Office, Broad City, Space Force, Parks and Recreation, and a bunch more. Heâs been in some movies like Donât Think Twice, The Heat, The Other Guys, and Ghostbusters.
Emma Willmann I Thursday, February 22, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Emma Willmann is a stand-up comedian, actress, and podcaster originally from Blue Hill, Maine. A comic whoâs mastered chaos under control, Willmannâs vibrant presence, warmth, and unflinching honesty make her a comedian to be reckoned with. She was a part of the inaugural season of Netflixâs The Lineup, and has made memorable appearances in CWâs Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Judd Apatowâs Crashing and The Good Fight on Paramount+. Willmann has also made multiple appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. You can catch her as a regular at the prestigious Comedy Cellar in New York City or on her podcast Ask Men Anything on the BETCHES network.
Jesus Trejo I Saturday, February 17, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 9:30 PM
Jesus Trejo is one of the fastest rising names in the stand-up comedy scene. Trejo will be taping his first hour stand-up special for Showtime this fall, which aired in 2020. He can be seen recurring on the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias, and in roles on Alone Together and Teachers. He was selected to be a New Face comedian in 2016 for the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, and was named a Variety Top 10 Comic to watch at JFL in 2017. Born and raised in Long Beach, CA, Trejo is a paid regular at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles.
Sydnee Washington: How To Start a Fire I Saturday, February 24, 2023 I Biltmore Cabaret 9:30 PM
Sydnee Washington was born in New York City but spent most of her childhood in Oakland, California. She is the host of her own Instagram Live show Syd Can Cook and the host of Headgum’s Hobby Hunter. She co-hosts the popular podcast The Unofficial Expert, where she discusses her many fields of expertise, like flirting, porn, daddy issues, online dating, cookouts, stalking, sex toys, and Runaway Brides. She was recently honoured as an âUpNextâ comedian at Comedy Centralâs Clusterfest. Washington also hosted a weekly comedy show at the Knitting Factory and can be seen on this season of TruTVâs Laff Mobb Laugh Tracks. Her humour and view toward vanity, dating both sexes, and how to party safely as a woman are both unique and refreshing.
Aaron Chen I Thursday, February 15, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Aaron Chen has quickly climbed the ranks of the international comedy scene. He made his mark on Australian comedy with his debut solo show in 2017 and since then has toured nationally in front of sold-out crowds and rave reviews, earning him the sought-after awards for 2017 Best Newcomer and 2019 Directorâs Choice. Since his critically acclaimed performance at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, he supported comedian Ronny Chieng on his Live Australian Tour, and had feature roles in Ronny Chieng International Student, Orange is the New Brown, and FISK. As a comedian, he also appears on Australiaâs #1 panel show, Have You Been Paying Attention. His stand-up special, If It Werenât Filmed, Nobody Would Believe was released on YouTube in September 2022 and has accumulated almost 1 million views.
Nathan Macintosh: Down with Tech I Friday, February 16, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Energetic, loud, and funny, Nathan Macintosh is a comedian and writer originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia now living in New York. Most recently performing for his second time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC, he has also appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS, Conan on TBS, and multiple Just For Laughs Galas. His debut album I Wasn’t Talking was featured in Exclaim Magazine’s âTop Ten Hilariously Good Comedy Momentsâ and his newest special, âMoney Never Wakesâ, was reviewed highly by The New York Times. He also has a show called Trapped, that he wrote and starred in, which is on Bell Fibe, was reviewed by The Globe and Mail and has two seasons.
Leslie Liao I Friday, February 23, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Leslie Liao is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. Audiences around the world have been drawn to her relatable, introspective, and matter-of-fact style of humour which is often anchored around her experiences as a single Chinese-American woman living in Los Angeles. She was recently selected to be a New Face of Comedy at Montreal’s prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival 2023, and her debut set on Don’t Tell Comedy platforms, Fixing Straight Men, debuted boldly on YouTube with clips from her set going viral on Instagram and TikTok. She will next be seen in the new multi-comic standup series on Netflix called Verified Standup which will debut on the platform later in 2023. She has toured with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Fortune Feimster, and can often be seen in Los Angeles gracing the stages of The Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv, Laugh Factory, Flappers, and many more.
Mark Little I Friday, February 23, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 9:30 PM
Mark Little is an award-winning actor, writer and comedian. He has appeared on JFL and Conan, co-founded the sketch comedy group Picnicface and was named one of Varietyâs 10 Comics To Watch For 2013. He has starred in multiple TV shows, including Mr. D and Cavendish, and has won a combined 15 Canadian Comedy Awards. In recent years, Mark has written and provided voices for numerous animated series, including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Cupcake and Dino, and Doomlands. The second season of his animated series Gary and his Demons premiered on Prime Video earlier this year.
An Hour with Josh Johnson I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Josh Johnson is an Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up, actor, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana by way of Chicago. He is currently a writer on The Daily Show, and is a former writer and performer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he made his late-night debut in 2017. In addition, Johnson is Comedy Centralâs âmost watched comedian everâ with 40M+ views to date across their platforms. Johnsonâs most recent stand-up special, Josh Johnson: Up Here Killing Myself, premiered on Peacock earlier this year to rave reviews.
Emil Wakim I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Emil Wakim is a stand-up comedian and writer based in Brooklyn, NY by way of Bloomington, Indiana. He recently made his late-night television debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and can be seen on the latest season of Comedy Centralâs Stand-Up Featuring. He was selected as a New Face of Comedy at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He has opened for Roy Wood Jr., Kyle Kinane, Nikki Glaser and Neal Brennan.
Desi Comedy Fest – On Tour I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 9:00 PM
Desi Comedy Fest is the Biggest South Asian Comedy Festival in America. Their mission is to showcase the funniest South Asian comedians from around the world & create a unique live comedy experience for the South Asian diaspora.
The Pearl
Tina Friml: Something Very Particular I Thursday, February 22, 2024 I The Pearl I 7:00 PM
Tina Friml is a standup comedian who uses animated optimism to talk about living with cerebral palsy. Her sharp jokes and fearless honesty about the social assumptions that come with living with a disability has earned her a dedicated social media following with over 200K followers on Instagram and over 140K on TikTok. She made her late-night debut on the Comedy Central series Featuring series and was a 2019 New Face in the acclaimed Just For Laughs Festival. She performs all over the country to sold out audiences and fans.
Just For Laughs VANCOUVER is proud to welcome its partners SiriusXM Canada,Province of B.C., Creative BC, Destination Vancouver, BCLC, Phillips Brewing & Malting, Downtown Van, Huer Foods, Vancouver Sun, The Province, and DailyHive to its 2024 event.
FESTIVAL TICKET DETAILS:
Pre-sale tickets will be available starting today – Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at various times at www.jflvancouver.com
Tickets will be available to the public as of Friday, December 1, at 10:00 AM PT at www.jflvancouver.com
Joel Kim Booster I Friday, February 16, 2024 – 9:30 PM & Saturday February 17, 2024 – 7:00 PM I Biltmore Cabaret
Joel Kim Booster is a Chicago-bred, Los Angeles-based stand-up comedian, writer, and actor who was recently named one of TIME 100 Next (2022) as an emerging advocate and creative, and a 2022 Variety Screenwriter to Watch. Joel has also been recognized as one of The Queer Young Comics Redefining American Humor by the New York Times. He has starred in shows like Search Party and Huluâs Shrill, as well as writing and producing Netflixâs Big Mouth and HBO Maxâs The Other Two. In 2022, Booster starred in the critically praised Fox Searchlight rom-com Fire Island alongside Bowen Yang. The film, which he also wrote, received a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay, a Gotham Award, and a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Film. His first stand-up special for Netflix, PsychoSexual, also premiered in 2022. He currently stars on the Apple TV+ series Loot alongside Maya Rudolph.
Annie Lederman I Wednesday, February 21, 2024 – 7:00 PM & Thursday, February 22, 2024 – 9:00 PM I Biltmore Cabaret
Annie Lederman is a comic, podcaster, writer & actress. She is co-host of the hit podcast Trash Tuesdays along with Khahlya Kuhn and Esther Povistky, as well as featuring on a number of others. Most recently, Lederman can be seen featured in Showtimeâs hit documentary miniseries The Comedy Store alongside Jay Leno, David Letterman, Joe Rogan, and many other Comedy Store legends. Additionally, Lederman has been seen or heard on many TV networks, including Comedy Central, MTV, E!, & Trutv. Lederman has also acted alongside Ron Livingston in the 2017 Cannes darling The Long Dumb Road. On the writing front, she wrote and starred in Stand Ups, a scripted Comedy Central pilot produced by Dan Powell of Inside Amy Schumer, while writing for Impractical Jokers and Borat. Additionally, she was a producer and writer on Sacha Baron Cohenâs series Who Is America?
Andrea Jin I Sunday, February 18, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Andrea Jin is a stand-up comedian and writer born in Shanghai, relocated to Canada, and currently based in Los Angeles. She gained recognition in the comedy scene after winning Comedy Album of the Year in 2021 at the Juno Awards from the Canadian Academy of Recording Artists for her solo album Grandma’s Girl. She recently made her first late night TV debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden, was selected as a New Face at the Just for Laughs Montreal Festival in 2021, and has performed at several festivals like JFL Northwest, SiriusXMâs Top Comic, Seattle International Comedy Competition, CBCâs The Debaters, and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Her writing has been featured on Vice, CBC Comedy, and the Vancouver Sun among other publications.
Chris Gethard I Thursday, February 15, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 9:00 PM
Chris Gethard is a comedian, actor, and author whoâs been doing comedy stuff for over twenty years. Heâs the host of the Beautiful/Anonymous podcast, the former host of legendary public access television show The Chris Gethard Show, and had a special on HBO called Career Suicide where he talked about a few times he tried to kill himself. It was a comedy special. Heâs acted on shows like The Office, Broad City, Space Force, Parks and Recreation, and a bunch more. Heâs been in some movies like Donât Think Twice, The Heat, The Other Guys, and Ghostbusters.
Emma Willmann I Thursday, February 22, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Emma Willmann is a stand-up comedian, actress, and podcaster originally from Blue Hill, Maine. A comic whoâs mastered chaos under control, Willmannâs vibrant presence, warmth, and unflinching honesty make her a comedian to be reckoned with. She was a part of the inaugural season of Netflixâs The Lineup, and has made memorable appearances in CWâs Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Judd Apatowâs Crashing and The Good Fight on Paramount+. Willmann has also made multiple appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. You can catch her as a regular at the prestigious Comedy Cellar in New York City or on her podcast Ask Men Anything on the BETCHES network.
Jesus Trejo I Saturday, February 17, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 9:30 PM
Jesus Trejo is one of the fastest rising names in the stand-up comedy scene. Trejo will be taping his first hour stand-up special for Showtime this fall, which aired in 2020. He can be seen recurring on the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias, and in roles on Alone Together and Teachers. He was selected to be a New Face comedian in 2016 for the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, and was named a Variety Top 10 Comic to watch at JFL in 2017. Born and raised in Long Beach, CA, Trejo is a paid regular at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles.
Sydnee Washington: How To Start a Fire I Saturday, February 24, 2023 I Biltmore Cabaret 9:30 PM
Sydnee Washington was born in New York City but spent most of her childhood in Oakland, California. She is the host of her own Instagram Live show Syd Can Cook and the host of Headgum’s Hobby Hunter. She co-hosts the popular podcast The Unofficial Expert, where she discusses her many fields of expertise, like flirting, porn, daddy issues, online dating, cookouts, stalking, sex toys, and Runaway Brides. She was recently honoured as an âUpNextâ comedian at Comedy Centralâs Clusterfest. Washington also hosted a weekly comedy show at the Knitting Factory and can be seen on this season of TruTVâs Laff Mobb Laugh Tracks. Her humour and view toward vanity, dating both sexes, and how to party safely as a woman are both unique and refreshing.
Aaron Chen I Thursday, February 15, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Aaron Chen has quickly climbed the ranks of the international comedy scene. He made his mark on Australian comedy with his debut solo show in 2017 and since then has toured nationally in front of sold-out crowds and rave reviews, earning him the sought-after awards for 2017 Best Newcomer and 2019 Directorâs Choice. Since his critically acclaimed performance at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, he supported comedian Ronny Chieng on his Live Australian Tour, and had feature roles in Ronny Chieng International Student, Orange is the New Brown, and FISK. As a comedian, he also appears on Australiaâs #1 panel show, Have You Been Paying Attention. His stand-up special, If It Werenât Filmed, Nobody Would Believe was released on YouTube in September 2022 and has accumulated almost 1 million views.
Nathan Macintosh: Down with Tech I Friday, February 16, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Energetic, loud, and funny, Nathan Macintosh is a comedian and writer originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia now living in New York. Most recently performing for his second time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC, he has also appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS, Conan on TBS, and multiple Just For Laughs Galas. His debut album I Wasn’t Talking was featured in Exclaim Magazine’s âTop Ten Hilariously Good Comedy Momentsâ and his newest special, âMoney Never Wakesâ, was reviewed highly by The New York Times. He also has a show called Trapped, that he wrote and starred in, which is on Bell Fibe, was reviewed by The Globe and Mail and has two seasons.
Leslie Liao I Friday, February 23, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Leslie Liao is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. Audiences around the world have been drawn to her relatable, introspective, and matter-of-fact style of humour which is often anchored around her experiences as a single Chinese-American woman living in Los Angeles. She was recently selected to be a New Face of Comedy at Montreal’s prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival 2023, and her debut set on Don’t Tell Comedy platforms, Fixing Straight Men, debuted boldly on YouTube with clips from her set going viral on Instagram and TikTok. She will next be seen in the new multi-comic standup series on Netflix called Verified Standup which will debut on the platform later in 2023. She has toured with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Fortune Feimster, and can often be seen in Los Angeles gracing the stages of The Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv, Laugh Factory, Flappers, and many more.
Mark Little I Friday, February 23, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 9:30 PM
Mark Little is an award-winning actor, writer and comedian. He has appeared on JFL and Conan, co-founded the sketch comedy group Picnicface and was named one of Varietyâs 10 Comics To Watch For 2013. He has starred in multiple TV shows, including Mr. D and Cavendish, and has won a combined 15 Canadian Comedy Awards. In recent years, Mark has written and provided voices for numerous animated series, including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Cupcake and Dino, and Doomlands. The second season of his animated series Gary and his Demons premiered on Prime Video earlier this year.
An Hour with Josh Johnson I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Josh Johnson is an Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up, actor, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana by way of Chicago. He is currently a writer on The Daily Show, and is a former writer and performer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he made his late-night debut in 2017. In addition, Johnson is Comedy Centralâs âmost watched comedian everâ with 40M+ views to date across their platforms. Johnsonâs most recent stand-up special, Josh Johnson: Up Here Killing Myself, premiered on Peacock earlier this year to rave reviews.
Emil Wakim I Saturday, February 24, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 7:00 PM
Emil Wakim is a stand-up comedian and writer based in Brooklyn, NY by way of Bloomington, Indiana. He recently made his late-night television debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and can be seen on the latest season of Comedy Centralâs Stand-Up Featuring. He was selected as a New Face of Comedy at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He has opened for Roy Wood Jr., Kyle Kinane, Nikki Glaser and Neal Brennan.
Desi Comedy Fest – On Tour I Tuesday, February 20, 2024 I Biltmore Cabaret I 9:00 PM
Desi Comedy Fest is the Biggest South Asian Comedy Festival in America. Their mission is to showcase the funniest South Asian comedians from around the world & create a unique live comedy experience for the South Asian diaspora.
The Pearl
Tina Friml: Something Very Particular I Thursday, February 22, 2024 I The Pearl I 7:00 PM
Tina Friml is a standup comedian who uses animated optimism to talk about living with cerebral palsy. Her sharp jokes and fearless honesty about the social assumptions that come with living with a disability has earned her a dedicated social media following with over 200K followers on Instagram and over 140K on TikTok. She made her late-night debut on the Comedy Central series Featuring series and was a 2019 New Face in the acclaimed Just For Laughs Festival. She performs all over the country to sold out audiences and fans.
Just For Laughs VANCOUVER is proud to welcome its partners SiriusXM Canada,Province of B.C., Creative BC, Destination Vancouver, BCLC, Phillips Brewing & Malting, Downtown Van, Huer Foods, Vancouver Sun, The Province, and DailyHive to its 2024 event.
FESTIVAL TICKET DETAILS:
Pre-sale tickets will be available starting today – Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at various times at www.jflvancouver.com
Tickets will be available to the public as of Friday, December 1, at 10:00 AM PT at www.jflvancouver.com
Winners at the 2023 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival have been announced. The Festival, now in its 27th edition takes place through November 19, 2023.
RBC Best Canadian Feature Film Award
THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS by Fawzia Mirza
This audacious film takes us on a captivating joyride through Bollywood dreams, the swinging Karachi of the 60s via the generational conflicts within a contemporary Pakistani family. Full of theatrical flair, bold design, and a hint of camp The Queen of my Dreams marks the debut of a strong new voice, making Fawzia Mirza a filmmaker to keep a close eye on.
Osler Best Feature Film Award
TERRESTRIAL VERSES by Alireza Khatami & Ali Asgari
An uncomfortably captivating feature of revealing scenes between regular Tehranis and their frustrating interactions with oppressive authority figures. The jury recognizes the duoâs homage to classic Iranian cinema with performances so convincing one may mistake the film for a stylized documentary. The filmâs austere form kept the jury riveted and is a challenge to audiences everywhere to consider personal agency in the face of tyrannical oppression.
Cinesend Best First Feature Award
Q by Jude Chehab
Chehab artfully blends home movies along with her striking cinematography to contemplate desire, spiritual longing, and family bonds. Resisting the urge to over-explain, her storytelling allows mystery to simmer, resulting in a complex, emotionally nuanced portrait. In honour of this bold new voice, the jury awards Jude Chehabâs Q the Best First Feature prize.
SHORTS AWARDS
Reel Asian Best International Short Film Award
éť (TO WRITE FROM MEMORY) by Emory Chao Johnson
The jury recognizes To Write From Memory by Emory Chao Johnson as the Winner of Reel Asian Best International Short Film Award in the spirit of enunciating the unspeakable feelings of a personal experience with unrelenting honesty.
National Film Board of Canada Best Emerging Canadian Short Film Award
ABBY by Fanny Lord-Bourcier
Drawing from the directorâs personal journey, Abby is an animated short that offers a poignant exploration of the unspoken feelings of isolation experienced as a transracial adoptee, all expressed with a gentle and sincere voice.
Air Canada Short Film or Video Award
ADAGIO by Emma Zuck
JUNGLEFOWL by Kalainithan Kalaichelvan
SAWO MATANG by Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto
THE REPAIR SHOP (LâATELIER) by NamaĂŻ Kham Po
UNIBROW by Nedda Sarshar
PIXELS OF THE ORIENT by Warren Chan
Each film is sharply unique thanks to each directorâs distinct perspective, yet each delves into the universal complexities of connection and the struggles, fears, and hopes of being truly seen.
Michael Fukushima Animasian Award
THE SEA ON THE DAY WHEN THE MAGIC RETURNS (ë§ë˛ě´ ëěě¤ë ë ě ë°ë¤) by Ji-won Han
This captivating short employs ingenious visuals to explore personal desires and the essence of the human experience. Its delicate storytelling and open vulnerability linger, leaving a lasting resonance.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMER AWARDS
Armstrong Acting Studios Outstanding Performer in a Canadian Feature Film
Amrit Kaur, The Queen of My Dreams
The jury was captivated by Amrit Kaurâs range of performance and her ability to embody two distinct women in one film, which is why we enthusiastically present her with Outstanding Performance in a Canadian Film in The Queen of My Dreams.
Armstrong Acting Studios Outstanding Performer in a Canadian Short Film
Sherrylyn Vivero, APOY
Sherrylyn brought a special nuance to her performance as the main characterâs mother, which made her incredibly engrossing to watch. The complex emotions she is able to convey in this charged piece showcases that she is truly a talent to watch.
Tickets here.
Today, Disney+ announced that the critically acclaimed, award-winning hit series FXâs âThe Bearâ has been renewed for a third season, coming 2024. The first two seasons are available to stream now on Disney+ in Canada.
ââThe Bear,â which wowed audiences in its first season only to achieve even greater heights in season two, has become a cultural phenomenon,â said Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. âWeâre so proud to partner with Christopher Storer, Joanna Calo, Josh Senior, and the rest of the creative team, as well as the brilliant cast led by Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. What they and the crew have done is truly remarkable, and we and our partners at Disney+ join fans in looking forward to the next chapter in the story of âThe Bear.ââ
Season one is currently nominated for 13 EmmyÂŽ Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, acting nominations for Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Jon Bernthal and Oliver Platt, along with nominations for writing, directing, casting, production design, picture editing, sound editing and sound mixing. The critically acclaimed series was also honored as an AFI TV Program of the Year in its first season, and racked up numerous awards including a WGA Award, PGA Award, Film Independent Spirit Award, American Cinema Editors Award and ACE Eddie Award. Additionally, Jeremy Allen White won the Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics Choice awards for lead actor in a comedy series.
Season two followed Carmen âCarmyâ Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) and Richard âRichieâ Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they worked to transform their grimy sandwich joint into a next-level spot. As they stripped the restaurant down to its bones, the crew undertook transformational journeys of their own, each forced to confront the past and reckon with who they want to be in the future.
Of course, it turned out the only thing harder than running a restaurant was opening a new one, and the team had to juggle the insane bureaucracy of permits and contractors with the beauty and creative agony of menu planning. The transition brought a newfound focus on hospitality as well. As the entire staff was forced to come together in new ways, pushing the boundaries of their abilities and relationships, they also learned what it means to be in service, both to diners and each other.
FXâs âThe Bearâ was created by Christopher Storer (âRamy,â âEighth Gradeâ), who acts as executive producer alongside Joanna Calo (âBoJack Horseman,â âUndoneâ), Hiro Murai (âAtlanta,â âStation Elevenâ) of Super Frog, Josh Senior and Matty Matheson, with Tyson Bidner (âRamyâ) serving as producer. The series is produced by FX Productions.
The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian), Canada’s premier pan-Asian festival, today announced its 2023 programming lineup, which will open with Canadian filmmaker Fawzia Mirzaâs debut feature The Queen of My Dreams. From November 8 to 19, 2023, the Festival will take audiences on a cinematic journey, transcending borders and bringing the world closer together. This yearâs lineup consists of 15 features and 57 shorts from Canada, India, Iran, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the United States. Reel Asian will also present three thoughtful and creative multimedia experiences through their RA:X programme and welcome a number of esteemed industry professionals for their Reel Ideas conference. For the full programming lineup and ticket information visit reelasian.com.
âThe continued success and popularity of Asian cinema in Hollywood has brought our collective stories and experiences to the forefront, leading to significant growth in our communityâs industry both abroad and in Canada,â said Deanna Wong, Executive Director, Reel Asian. âWeâre so proud to welcome audiences back to the festival, which aims to bridge cultural divides, inspire meaningful conversations, and celebrate Asian voices. There is a need for our stories now more than ever and we hope to continue offering a bigger and better festival each year.â
Below highlights Reel Asianâs programming. For the full Festival programme and schedule, please visit reelasian.com or view the 2023 Programme Guide here.
FEATURES
[*] indicates expected attendance
THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS (Opening Night)
Dir. Fawzia Mirza * | Canada 2023 | 97 min. | Urdu, English
When Azra, a queer Muslim grad student, hears of her fatherâs sudden death, she flies back to her ancestral home in Karachi, Pakistan for the funeral, where she is received by her conservative mother, Mariam, perpetually disappointed by Azraâs choices. As a self-assured Azra wrestles with Karachiâs customs and norms, we time travel back to Mariamâs own life in the city 30 years ago, a remarkably different era in Pakistanâs political and cultural history.
Official Selection at TIFF 2023
WED, NOV 8 ⢠7:30 PM ⢠HOT DOCS TED ROGERS CINEMA
THE TASTE OF MANGO
Dir. Chloe Abrahams | United Kingdom 2023 | 73 min. | English
Chloe Abrahamsâ debut feature, is an enveloping, hypnotic, urgently personal meditation on family, memory, identity, violence, and love. At its centre are three extraordinary women: the directorâs mother, Rozana; her grandmother, Jean; and the director herself. What emerges is a delicately layered, personal and collective portrait of coping with physical and sexual violence, the damage of grief and estrangement, and the possibilities of hope, joy, healing, and reconciliation.
THURS, NOV 9 ⢠5:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
OKIKU AND THE WORLD ăăăăŽăăă
Dir. Junji Sakamoto ćŤăć㎟ | Japan 2023 | 90 min. | Japanese with English subtitles
Set near the end of the Edo period, the film presents a fresh take on the time and on samurai culture. Okiku (Haru Kuroki) is the daughter of a fallen samurai. The two of them now live in a tenement far from luxury. One day, she meets Chuji (Kanichiro) and love blooms. The problem is that Chuji is a manure man who collects excrement to sell to farmers. Despite the downfall of samurais, there is still a social gap between them.
THURS, NOV 9 ⢠8 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SMALL FRY
Dir. Joongha Park * | South Korea 2023 | 95 min. | Korean with English subtitles
Ho-jun, a flailing actor, has found relative success as a social media influencer, hawking fishing hacks. He preps his live stream at his preferred fishing spot, only to be disrupted by an obnoxious stranger, Director Nam, a hotshot independent film director about to shoot his first feature. Heâs invited rising actress Hee-jin for a quiet pondside chat to convince her that his film will be a star-making breakout roleâonly Hee-jin isnât sure about Director Namâs film, or his ulterior motives. As the day progresses, links between Ho-jun, Director Nam, and Hee-jin entwine and unravel to reveal each characterâs ambition, pettiness, and pathos as they try to reel in their respective dreams.
FRI, NOV 10 ⢠5:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
IN FLAMES
Dir. Zarrar Kahn * | Canada, Pakistan 2023 | 98 min | Urdu with English subtitles
Mariam, a medical student, is dealing with her grandfatherâs passing, her grieving mother, and preparing for upcoming exams. When an estranged and suspiciously helpful uncle re-enters their lives and promises support with their property and finances, Mariam senses trouble. At school, she meets a charming fellow student who presents a tempting option of marriage and financial security, a supposed avenue of freedom and autonomy. When Mariam begins to feel haunted by the presence of men around her and the spirits of those long gone, escape starts to seem elusive.
Official Selection at Cannes 2023 and TIFF 2023
FRI, NOV 10 ⢠8 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
RIVER ăŞăăźăćľăăŞăă§ă
Dir. Junta Yamaguchi | Japan 2023 | 82 min. Japanese with English subtitles
From the team behind Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (Reel Asian Official Selection,2021) comes Junta Yamaguchiâs latest time loop comedy. Set in a quaint inn along the Kibune river near Kyoto, staff and guests find themselves stuck in a continuous two-minute time loop. Mikoto, a waitress, returns to the river bank after each loop, plunging into a relentless cycle of perplexing scenarios. Her coworkers, the cook, and the mystified guests all grapple with mounting confusion. Despair and disorientation engulf those at the inn, as the uncanny sensation of repeatedly returning to the same moment leads to a frantic quest for answers.
FRI, NOV 10 ⢠8 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
WE WILL BE BRAVE
Dir. Chrisann Hessing * | Canada 2023 | 78 min. | English
The Good Guise is an artist collective in Toronto formed to spark conversations around healthy masculinity. From photography and beat-boxing to poetry and martial arts, these talented artists share their unique lived experiences with inspiring confidence and welcome others to join in their mission of finding radical alternatives to shame and punishment. As each of them grapple with upheavals in their personal lives, their resolve is further tested by a dire lack of resources and the burden of racialized discrimination.
SAT, NOV 11 ⢠12 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
STARRING JERRY AS HIMSELF
Dir. Law Chen | USA 2023 | 75 min. | Mandarin, English
A genre-bending mystery that shakes up notions of traditional storytelling. Jerry Hsu is a loving father of three, a recent divorcĂŠ, and has been keeping a secret. The Taiwanese immigrant and Orlando resident has been accused by the Chinese police of being an accomplice in an international money-laundering scheme. In an effort to clear his name, Jerry agrees to help the police with busting the operation. Hiding his role in the investigation from his family, Jerryâs world begins to unravel with each step he takes deeper into the conspiracy.
SAT, NOV 11 ⢠2:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
Q
Dir. Jude Chehab * | USA, Lebanon 2023 | 93 min. | Arabic, English
Jude Chehab, a Lebanese American cinematographer and filmmaker, has always known her mother and grandmother to be women devoted to their Muslim faith. During a trip to Lebanon, Chehab is propelled by a curiosity to understand the quest for love, acceptance, and meaning that brought three generations of women in her family to pledge loyalty to a secretive matriarchal religious order operating clandestinely in the country.
Best New Documentary Director Award, Tribeca Film Festival 2023
SAT, NOV 11 ⢠5 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TIGER STRIPES
Dir. Amanda Nell Eu | Malaysia 2023 | 95 min. | Malay with English subtitles
Free-spirited 12-year-old Zaffan is the first of her friends to get her period and experience the body-changing horrors that come with puberty and menstruation. Set in a kampong, or a Malaysian village, structured around patriarchy and religious expectations, she tries to conceal her pubescent traits out of fear of ostracization. Panic spreads in the village when a monster or demonic spirit is rumoured to be roaming the surrounding jungle. Exposed by her peers, Zaffan eventually learns to embrace herself in the face of exclusion and cultural condemnation.
Criticsâ Week Grand Prize, Cannes 2023
Selected to represent Malaysia at the 96th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category
SAT, NOV 11 ⢠7:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
TERRESTRIAL VERSES
Dir. Alireza Khatami * and Ali Asgari | Iran 2023 | 77 min. | Persian with English subtitles
A job interview, a childrenâs clothing store, a government registry office. These are just some of the everyday sites for which the characters of Terrestrial Verses must navigate cultural, religious, and institutional constraints imposed on them. Featuring dynamic and fine-tuned performances, the 11 vignettes with conversations (and confrontations) between onscreen citizens and o!screen interrogators are striking in their ability to feel absurd and regrettably real at the same time, a place where the mundane and the menace coexist. Through these stories, we see how citizens respond to and resist these restraints until the final vignetteâs staggering conclusion.
Official Selection at Cannes 2023, Un Certain Regard
SUN, NOV 12 ⢠2:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
SEAGRASS
Dir. Meredith Hama-Brown * | Canada 2023 | 115 min. | English
Judith, a Japanese Canadian woman, and her reluctant white husband attend a week-long coupleâs retreat on a coastal British Columbia island, their two daughters in tow. With Judith grieving the recent loss of her mother and her connection to her Japanese Canadian identity, the coupleâs disconnect grows as she finds herself infatuated with another, seemingly perfect, interracial couple at the retreat. The parentsâ rift impresses upon their daughters, as Emmy, the fearful younger sister, becomes increasingly anxious, while the eldest, Stephanie, cautiously navigates the preteen social dynamics of day camp.
FIPRESCI Prize, TIFF 2023
SUN, NOV 12 ⢠5 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
MUSTACHE
Dir. Imran J. Khan * | USA 2023 | 83 min. | Urdu, English
When 13-year-old Ilyasâs parents yank him out of his comfortable Islamic private school and force him to adjust to life in public school, he develops a plan to change their minds. After a staged fondness for non-halal food and explicit music fails to sufficiently scandalize his parents, Ilyas asks his whip-smart former classmate, Yasmeen, to help devise a more foolproof plan. However, underneath those faux concerns, what really preoccupies prepubescent Ilyas is his wispy, dark mustache growing much sooner than that of his peers, prompting a self-loathing born and reinforced by the taunting and teasing of classmates.
Audience Award, Narrative Feature, SXSW 2023
SUN, NOV 12 ⢠7:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
RELICS OF LOVE AND WAR
Dir. Keith Lock * | Canada 2023 | 40 min. | English
The venerated Chinese Canadian filmmaker Keith Lock narrates the story of how his mother married his father in Australia, who was training with other Chinese Canadian veteran volunteers for the top secret suicide mission, Operation Oblivion. This incredible story is set against the backdrop of the Second World War, a time when Chinese Canadians could not vote, swim in pools, or hire white women for their businesses.
TUES, NOV 14 ⢠7 PM ⢠INNIS TOWN HALL
BABY QUEEN
Dir. Lei Yuan Bin | Singapore 2023 | 62 min. | Mandarin, Malay, Teochew, English
A tender and joyful relationship between Singaporean drag queen Opera Tang and her 90-year-old grandmother, who makes many of her performance costumes. The film follows the rhythm of Opera Tangâs day-to-day activities and conversations with chosen family, loved ones, and community, capturing the struggles and joys of being queer through the quiet notation of the personal.
WED, NOV 15 ⢠7 PM ⢠INNIS TOWN HALL
SHORTS
This yearâs Shorts programming includes:
S-EXPRESS MALAYSIA: MADE BY MALAYSIA: Initiated in 2002, S-Express has become an annual showcase from Southeast Asia. This year, Reel Asian presents S-Express Malaysia, programmed by Chong Lee Yow of Mini Film Festival, featuring five films depicting oneâs ability to (un)trap themselves from limitations set upon them, be it bodily, mind, or soul, to achieve relief and victory. FRI, NOV 10 ⢠5:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
LETâS BE FRIENDS: These shorts look at the soft to even slightly off-kilter bonds we find in one another, the realms we exist in, and ultimately, ourselves, despite ongoing changeâno friendship bracelets required. SAT, NOV 11 ⢠12 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
UNSUNG VOICES 12: Six fearless emerging filmmakers embarked on a summer-long filmmaking journey online. Reel Asian is proud to present their world premiere here in the 12th edition of Reel Asianâs filmmaking program. SAT, NOV 11 ⢠2:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
EMERGENCE: Thereâs no need to be certain about whatâs next as this collection of shorts places us in a position to face specific pivotal moments of reckoning. Whether feeling stuck or turbulent in the chaos of transition, can we remain gentle to ourselves? SAT, NOV 11 ⢠5 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
UNDER THE INFLUENCE: More to the situation than what it seems, these shorts choose to examine, tease, and redefine the forces that pull us to make a decision. SAT, NOV 11 ⢠7:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
HERE WE ARE: With societal, political, and magical forces at play beyond our control, this programme brings together a variety of filmmaking approaches to reflect on what can remain in troubling times, and along with it, agency to construct the narrative. SUN, NOV 12 ⢠2:30 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
THE STRANGE, THE ODD AND THE FAMILIAR: Hmm ⌠this doesnât seem right?! This programme asks us to sit with the discomforting feelings that arise when we begin to confront the unknown in what we believe to know. SUN, NOV 12 ⢠5 PM ⢠TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX
RA:X
Storytelling beyond the screen. RA:X is Reel Asianâs programming section with interactive elements and innovative storytelling tools that seek to engage audiences in new and exciting ways. All exhibitions and accompanying events are free.
MULTIMEDIA EXHIBITION AND PROGRAM â PIGEONHOLE
Visit the Pigeonhole, nest and rest from the festival chaos, listen to collaborative pigeon music, watch raw footage, compose your own ditties, and collage a flock of desired futures together with other attendees. This immersive multimedia installation is inspired by artist Emmie Tsumuraâs evolving relationship with a motley crew of pigeons who visit her kitchen windowsill to eat snacks and hang out on toy keyboards. NOV 8â19, BACHIR/YEREX PRESENTATION SPACE, 401 RICHMOND ST, 4TH FLOOR, VARIOUS TIMES
INTERACTIVE WALK AND TALK â EIGHTY THOUSAND STEPS
As a child, Crystal Chan loved when her âPawpawâ (âgrandmotherâ in Chinese) shared life lessons through fables as the two took walks together. Now Crystal realizes Pawpaw was sharing her journey as a child refugee, hiding tragedy behind adventure. Listeners gradually learn about the heartbreaking contrast between real violence and a childâs interpretation of it. As the listener walks to the store or through a park, theyâre forced to examine their steps and stories next to a refugeeâs. THURS, NOV 16, THE COMMONS AT 401 RICHMOND ST, 4TH FLOOR, VARIOUS TIMES
MINI SYMPOSIUM AND EXHIBITION â THE SARI-SARI XCHANGE
A project that seeks to amplify Asian representation in the creative emerging media industries in Canada, particularly through a community-building residency program that engages artists with digital and extended reality (XR) technologies. There will be a mini-symposium in the morning around issues and accessibility of XR technology, and a public exhibition of works-in-progress will follow in the afternoon. FRI, NOV 17, THE COMMONS AT 401 RICHMOND ST, 4TH FLOOR, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT â FIRST FILMS
In the inaugural First Films event, three award-winning Asian Canadian filmmakers will present and discuss the first films theyâve ever made. The program celebrates their earnest creation, irrational confidence, and the miracle of early- (or pre-)career filmmaking. FRI, NOV 17 ⢠7 PM ⢠INNIS TOWN HALL
HERE I AM, Dir. Sami Khan, 2010, 10 min.
Sami Khanâs most recent film The Last Out, co-directed with Michael Gassert, won the 2023 Emmy for Outstanding Business and Economics Documentary.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, Dir. Renuka Jeyapalan, 1999, 5 min.
Renuka Jeyapalanâs debut short Big Girl won the TIFF 2005 Best Canadian Short Film Award and she also directed episodes of Kim’s Convenience, Workin’ Moms, Murdoch Mysteries, Ginny and Georgia, among others. Renukaâs acclaimed feature Stay the Night screened at 2022 Reel Asian.
HACKING âTIL MY LEGS FALL OFF, Dir. Joyce Wong, 2004, 8 min.
Joyce Wongâs directing credits include the popular shows Workinâ Moms, Baroness von Sketch, and Run the Burbs and she directed the critically acclaimed feature Wexford Plaza (2016).
WEE ASIAN
Free selection of wholesome shorts for all ages and generations to come together, in a relaxed drop-in screening environment. Attendees will also have an opportunity to participate in fun and simple art activities post-screening. SAT, NOV 18 ⢠10:30 AM â 3 PM ⢠INNIS TOWN HALL
This yearâs Wee Asian short film lineup includes:
MON AMI â Canada
EID MUBARAK â USA, Pakistan
GORO GORO â USA
HI ADING â Canada
EVERYWHERE â Hong Kong
SPIRIT OF THE FOREST â India
THE OLD YOUNG CROW (äťćăŤăŠăš) â Japan
HAIR UNIVERSE (ÝÜľŕŽÚżŕ¨
ઍ) â South Korea
DANCE ON! NONOKO! â USA, Taiwan
REEL IDEAS
The Reel Ideas conference unites industry professionals, including screenwriters, producers, filmmakers, and performers, to engage in candid discussions about the challenges and successes of starting from scratch, all while drawing inspiration from our roots. Paving a new pathway for todayâs storytellers and advocates, celebrating their contributions and giving them their well-deserved recognition.
This year, Reel Ideas presents From the Ground Up, learning from our origins, creative journeys, and the path to forging unique trajectories.
HOW TO FAIL AS A POPSTAR: THE CLUMSY ART OF FINDING YOURSELF (screening and panel)
Discover the comedically honest and heartwarming story of the CBC Gem original short-form series How to Fail as a Popstar. Unravel the creative evolution of the series, which was adapted from Vivek Shraya’s hit play and subsequent book, tracing its journey from page to stage to screen. Vivek and the creative team will join for an insightful conversation about adapting for ďŹlm, the realities of the music industry, and the power of oneâs intersecting identities.
Panelists: Vivek Shraya (creator/artist), Vanessa Matsui (director), Ayesha Mansur Gonsalves (actor)
THURS, NOV 16 ⢠7 PM ⢠HOT DOCS TED ROGERS CINEMA
JOURNEY BACK: EXPLORING ORIGIN IN FILMMAKING AND CREATING CHARACTER OUT OF âHOMEâ
There is a profound connection filmmakers forge when revisiting their roots through a cinematic lens. This in-depth conversation explores how filmmakers turn places into their own dynamic character, and unpacks the emotive pull of returning, despite its tensions and contradictions.
Panelists: Fawzia Mirza (director/writer), Zarrar Kahn (director/screenwriter)
THURS, NOV 9 ⢠2:30 PM ⢠FESTIVAL LOUNGE (401 RICHMOND ST W SUITE 440)
BUILDING FORCES: THE DIRECTOR PRODUCER RELATIONSHIP
The producer/director relationship is a partnership constantly in flux. What is required for these roles to work harmoniously? Panelists will explore the vital but tumultuous collaboration behind every successful film.
TUES NOV 14 ⢠1 PM ⢠FESTIVAL LOUNGE (401 RICHMOND ST W SUITE 440)
TO THE WRITERS’ ROOM: CANADIAN TV WRITERS ON CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION AND RESISTING TOKENISM (Online YouTube Live Roundtable)
Step into the thrilling world of TV writing as talented writers share their insights into crafting a successful series, advancing careers in the writers’ room, and promoting diversity in showrunning. Explore their creative processes, approach to pitching, and how they navigate tokenism and stereotypes while fostering collaborative writersâ rooms.
Panelists: Rob Michaels (writer/director/comedian), LĂŠa Geronimo (writer/director), additional TBA
WED, NOV 15 ⢠4:30 PM ⢠ONLINE YOUTUBE LIVE ROUNDTABLE
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN PITCH?
A fun and exciting way to support emerging filmmakers, as the five finalists pitch their projects to esteemed jurors for a chance to win an amazing prize package toward kick-starting or finishing their film. Cheer on a new generation of filmmakers, and let the future of Asian Canadian cinema inspire!
SUN, NOV 19 ⢠5 PM ⢠CSI ANNEX
For more information, visit reelasian.com.
The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of government partners Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Province of Ontario, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Creates, and Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund; and the support of Premier Partners Crave and Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada.
About Reel Asian
The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian) is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema and work from the Asian diaspora. As Canadaâs largest pan-Asian film festival, Reel AsianÂŽ provides a public forum for Asian media artists and their work, and fuels the growing appreciation for Asian cinema in Canada. This yearâs festival runs November 8â19, 2023, showcasing special projects featuring prominent artists, content creators, up-and-coming filmmakers and will also include the âReel Ideasâ program for creative minds in the industry to connect online. Works presented at Reel Asian include films, videos, and presentations by artists in Canada, the U.S., Asia and all over the world.
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