#TIFF: TIFF ANNOUNCE DEEPA MEHTA RETROSPECTIVE AT CANADA’S TOP TEN CELEBRATION | MIRYAN CHARLES TO RECEIVE CHARLES OFFICER LEGACY AWARD

Earlier tonight, TIFF honoured the best in Canadian cinema at a celebration of Canada’s Top Ten, the nation’s best feature films and shorts of 2024. The celebration of Canadian cinema included announcements of the renaming of TIFF Film Circuit to the Donald Shebib TIFF Film Circuit, thanks to a generous donation in honour of the late Canadian filmmaker by his son Noah Shebib and the 40 Foundation, as well as an upcoming TIFF Cinematheque retrospective celebrating the more than 30-year career of iconic Indo-Canadian director Deepa Mehta. As part of this ceremony, it was announced that Miryam Charles was the inaugural recipient of the Charles Officer Legacy Award, presented by TIFF and CBC.

The 24th Canada’s Top Ten showcase, presented by MUBI, runs now through February 9 at TIFF Lightbox and is curated by TIFF programmers in consultation with festival programmers from across Canada. For more information, visit tiff.net/canadas-top-ten.

As announced at the event, TIFF will continue to share the love of film with communities across the country thanks to a gift from Noah Shebib and the 40 Foundation, in honour of the late, iconic Canadian filmmaker, Donald Shebib (1938–2023). In recognition of this gift, TIFF Film Circuit has been renamed the Donald Shebib TIFF Film Circuit. In addition to his pivotal role in Canadian cinema and directing the landmark film Goin’ Down the Road, Shebib was a Festival mainstay and champion who had a profound impact on TIFF. His film The Ascent premiered at TIFF in 1994, and his last feature film Nighthawk premiered at TIFF in 2022.

The generous contribution from the Shebib family will bolster TIFF’s national film outreach programme, expanding access to communities across Canada. Founded in 1989, Film Circuit engages grassroots networks and strong community partnerships to bring the best of Canadian and world cinema to communities across the country. For more information, visit filmcircuit.tiff.net.

During the Canada’s Top Ten event, TIFF also announced that TIFF Cinematheque will celebrate the incomparable Indo-Canadian director Deepa Mehta with the retrospective Through the Fire: The Films of Deepa Mehta in April. Over her remarkable 30+ year career, Mehta has established herself as a bold, humanistic filmmaker. Renowned for her ability to craft deeply moving stories through a culturally hybrid perspective, this retrospective celebrates how Mehta’s groundbreaking work gives voice to individuals’ capacity for resilience and hope in the face of profound marginalization and will include her feature debut Sam & Me (1991); her influential Elements trilogy Fire (1997), Earth (1998), and Water (2005); Bollywood/Hollywood (2002); Heaven on Earth (2008); Beeba Boys (2015); Anatomy of Violence (2016); and Funny Boy (2020).

Over the past five decades, TIFF has evolved from the “Festival of Festivals” (the organization officially changed its name to the Toronto International Film Festival in 1994) to the largest public film festival in the world, which in 2024 welcomed approximately 700,000 guests, more than 700 talent, and 280 films as part of its Official Selection.

As announced last week, Rogers, the official Presenting Partner of the Festival, will develop and produce a TIFF 50th edition television special exploring the history, and featuring archival footage, to be aired exclusively on Citytv.

The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will run September 4–14, 2025. For more information, visit tiff.net.

MIRYAM CHARLES TO RECEIVE INAUGURAL CHARLES OFFICER AWARD

Also, earlier this evening as part of TIFF’s opening ceremony for Canada’s Top Ten, Miryam Charles was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Charles Officer Legacy Award, presented by TIFF and CBC. This award recognizes a Canadian Black director and/or writer whose body of work exemplifies the award-winning filmmaker’s creative excellence, strong point of view, and community-mindedness. Miryam Charles first feature film, Cette maison, was a Canada’s Top Ten selection in 2022, premiered at the Berlinale, and was named one of the best films of that year by Sight and Sound.

Jury statement: “The nominees for the award’s inaugural year were overwhelmingly strong and acknowledged Black creators of all experience levels from across the country. As a committee, we are thrilled to select Miryam Charles of Montreal for the 2025 Charles Officer Legacy Award. Miryam is a person whose vision, creativity, and commitment to storytelling truly embody the spirit of the award. Her work is extremely bold in its artistic vision, and she leads with a curiosity that pushes a unique style and form in a way that echoes what Charles sought to do on his own. Through her unique and powerful voice, Miryam tells stories that are both deeply personal and universally relatable and have an underlying dedication to strengthening her community. Her colleagues praise her commitment to the mentorship of those on her productions and the authenticity with which she engages her community. We’re proud to celebrate Miryam, and know Charles would have jumped at the opportunity for them to connect and learn from each other.”

Jury members: Kish Iqbal, co-owner, Gary Godard Agency; Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF; Lea Marin, Director of Development, Drama, CBC; and Jake Yanowski, producer.

Miryam Charles will receive $25,000 CAD, a TIFF Industry Membership for one year, and an Industry pass to the 2025 Festival.

About Miryam Charles:
Miryam Charles is a Canadian director, producer, and cinematographer of Haitian origin, based in Montreal. In addition to Cette maison (TIFF ’22), her short films including All the Days of May (TIFF ’23) and Second Generation (TIFF ’19) have been showcased in various festivals worldwide. She is currently working on her next feature.

#TIFF15: “BEEBA BOYS”

Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

Touted as the first gangster movie directed by a woman in 40 years, BEEBA BOYS, from acclaimed, Oscar-nominated Deepa Metha, mixes guns, bhangra beats, cocaine, interracial romance and traditional family values with brutal violence and culture clashes. Set in Vancouver, it tells the story of Indo-Canadian, Jeet Johar (played by Bollywood star Randeep Hooda) and his gang of foul-mouth, outrageously-flashy and colourfully-dressed frat boyish friends who want to take over the drug and arms scene. At face value, other than the intense Jeet, they could be mistaken for a motley crew of misfits, but no one should ever cross their way.

While in prison waiting to be acquitted for murder, Jeet meets Nep (a multi-layered performance from Toronto based actor Ali Momen) and asks him to join his gang as they plot to take over the turf of a respected old school businessman. At his murder trial, Jeet cruises and ultimately winds up with a pretty Polish manicurist. To have a white, preferably blonde, girlfriend gives male Indo-Canadian gangsters status; just another trophy and possession as important as the latest BMW or Rolex.

Metha’s mastery with the camera and exquisite eye for detail is all there to see on screen. Sadly, BEEBA BOYS fails to make the mark on many levels due to a script lacking originality. The screenplay is unable to make it out the shadows of SCARFACE, the F-Bombs and pop culture chats between the gangsters echo PULP FICTION.  There is a plot twist near the end, so ridiculously contrived, it elicits groans from this audience member. Despite a brilliant cameo performance from a manbunned Paul Gross and a stellar job by Ali Momen, BEEBA BOYS regretfully is not Deepa Metha’s finest moment.

Mongrel Media release BEEBA BOYS, screening at TIFF ’15:
Sun Sep 13 6:30 PM
ROY THOMSON HALL

Mon Sep 14 2:30 PM
SCOTIABANK 1

#TIFF13: MAISON BIRKS & TELEFILM CANADA’S DIAMOND TRIBUTE TO THE YEAR’S WOMEN IN FILM

Honouring some of the most significant Females in Canadian Film, Telefilm Canada and Maison Birks honoured ten Women Actors and Directors at their Flagship Toronto Store today at the first ever Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film.  The Event was timed while all eyes are on Toronto during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Selected by a Panel of Journalists who cover the Arts, Cultural and Entertainment fields, an immensely-talented group of Canadian Women were awarded for their achievement and talent, recognition from peers and visibility they have brought Canada.  Drawing a huge crowd to Bay x Bloor despite the threat of rain, Fans were ready in a designated FanZone allowing them an opportunity to connect with the Who’s Who of Film and Television in Canada.

This year’s Honourees include:

Directors: Louise Archambault, Deepa Mehta, Alanis Obomsawin, Sarah Polley and Chloé Robichaud

Actresses: Évelyne Brochu, Geneviève Bujold, Sarah Gadon, Jessica Paré and Alison Pill

The Event being fully at capacity, Archambault, Mehta, Obomsawin, Robinchaud and Brochu were all in attendance today. Gadon‘s Mother accepted her Award in her absence.

Among those in attendance this year were several familiar Canadian faces including the likes of Kelly Rowan, Anthony Lemke, Katie Boland, Aaron Abrams, Kristin Booth, Rob Stewart, Cynthia Preston, Atom Egoyan, Paul Haggis, Liane Balaban, Michael Seater and several more.  TIFF Rising Stars, Cara Gee and Johnathan Sousa also came out to celebrate.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#TIFF13: ENTER TO WIN ACCESS TO THE BIRKS DIAMOND TRIBUTE TO THE YEAR’S WOMEN IN FILM

Mr. Will Wong, Telefilm Canada and Touchwood PR want to give Readers a taste of the Red Carpet Experience at one of the most important Events to fall during TIFF ’13, the Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film. The ultra-exclusive Event honours Ten Women in Canadian Film including Actors and Directors. Among those being honoured are the likes of Sarah Polley, Sarah Gadon, Deepa Mehta, Jessica Paré, Allison Pill, Geneviève Bujold and more!

When: September 11, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Where: Toronto Birks Store (55 Bloor Street W. – Manulife Centre)
There  will be a FanZone set-up for Fans to get up close and person with the Stars!  There will be several in attendance in addition to this year’s Honourees.

To enter to win Tickets, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Share this Post on Facebook and double your chances or Re-Tweet the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/birks @MRWILLW wants us to #win access to the @MAISONBIRKS Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film on 9/11/13!

Good luck.

(Photo credit: Maison Birks)

#SPOTTED: DEEPA MEHTA IN TORONTO AT WHOLE FOODS

Only in Toronto would something like this happen!  Iconic Indo-Canadian Director Deepa Mehta was spotted earlier today of all places doing Groceries with her Husband Producer David Hamilton, at Whole Foods in Yorkville.  As I was grinding my Coffee Beans away, I looked-over to see the Toronto Native browsing some Treats and she was more than sweet herself to stop and snap a Photo together.

Mehta, best-known for her Elements Trilogy: Fire, Earth and Water, just made a splash at TIFF 2012 with her latest Film, Midnight’s Children – currently playing in Toronto at Varsity Cinemas.  “How could you not have seen it yet?”, she asks me teasingly.  I promise soon, Deepa!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)