#BOXOFFICE: “INSIDE OUT 2” HAS A RECORD-SMASHING SECOND FRAME

INSIDE OUT 2 continues to turn it up, bringing-in a stellar $90 million in its second weekend out for Disney. This number is a record for best second week ever for an Animated Feature, taking it to $345 million already, domestically.

BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE continues to performing fantastically, taking $18 million in its third weekend for Sony Pictures, a tally of $146 million over three weekends.

Third goes to a debuting THE BIKERIDERS with $9.5 million from 2,665 theatres for Focus Features/Universal Pictures. This Jeff Nichols film starring Austin Butler and Jodie Comer, gets 82% on the Tomatometer.

In fourth is THE GARFIELD MOVIE with $4 million, taking it to $85 million over five weekends for Sony Pictures.

Rounding things off is THE KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES with $3.7 million, a total domestic run of $165 million for 20th Century Studios.

#BOXOFFICE: “INSIDE OUT 2” TURNS COMPETITION UPSIDE DOWN IN OPENING

INSIDE OUT 2 turns its competition upside down with a smashing opening of $155 million from 4,440 theatres for Disney. This makes it the second highest opening for an Animated Feature behind the studio’s Incredibles 2 which debuted with $182.6 million. This bests its predecessor from 2015, which opened with $90 million. Critics also agree this is sensational, giving it 92% on the Tomatometer.

Second is BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE with a great second weekend of $28 million from 3,885 theatres for Sony Pictures. This brings it to $107 million domestically.

Third up is KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES with $4.5 million for 20th Century Studios, a run now of $157 million.

Fourth is THE GARFIELD MOVIE with $4.1 million, a tally of $77.6 million for Sony Pictures.

Rounding it all off is IF with $3.3 million, suprassing $100 million now in its fifth weekend for Paramount Pictures.

#INSIDEOUTTO: 2024 INSIDE OUT 2SLGBTW+ FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The 2024 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival has revealed the Award winners for the 34th edition of the festival, with $22,500 in prizes handed out to 2SLGBTQ+ filmmakers. Top honours went to Laurie Townshend’s A Mother Apart, which received three awards including Best First Feature and Best Canadian Feature juried awards as well as the Audience Award for Best Documentary; while Susie Yankou’s Sisters received the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, and Simon Gualtieri’s Friend of a Friend (Ami d’ami) won the Best Canadian Short Film.

The festival is also delighted to announce Andrew Chappelle’s upcoming project, I’m Gonna Kill You, won the annual “Pitch, Please!” contest. The “Pitch, Please!” competition took place in person on June 1 with competitors from across the globe presenting a short, two-minute pitch to a jury and audience. Prizes awarded to the winner include a cash production grant of $5,000 sponsored by Netflix.

The 2024 edition of Inside Out took place in Toronto at TIFF Lightbox from May 24 to June 1 and continues virtually to June 5. The festival showcased 106 films from 25 countries, including 30 feature films and 5 world premieres. This year Inside Out opened with Amazon MGM Studio’s My Old Ass – Megan Park’s sophomore feature, starring Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella and Maddie Ziegler, and closed with the Canadian premiere of Karen Knox’s sophomore feature, We Forgot To Break Up, a love letter to Toronto’s indie music scene.

The 2024 award winners are:

CANADIAN JURIED AWARDS

The jurors for the 2024 Canadian jury were Syriah Bailey, Beth Warrian, and Jay Wu.

Emerging Canadian Artist

Hayley Morin – I’ll Tell You When I’m Ready

$5,000 cash prize presented to an early career Canadian filmmaker.

Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank

Best Canadian Feature

A Mother Apart – Laurie Townshend

$3,000 cash award presented to a Canadian artist for their feature-length narrative or documentary film.

Sponsored by DGC National

Best Canadian Short

Friend of a Friend (Ami d’ami) – Simon Gualtieri

$2,000 cash award presented to a Canadian filmmaker for their short-form narrative or documentary film.

Sponsored by Warner Brothers Discovery

INTERNATIONAL JURIED AWARDS

Sponsored by NBC Universal

The jurors for the 2024 International jury were Loveleen Kaur, V.T. Nayani, and Alex Schmider.

Best First Feature

A Mother Apart – Laurie Townshend

$3,000 cash award presented to the International Jury’s selection for best film by a first-time feature director.

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Sponsored by Paramount+

Best Narrative Feature

Sisters – Susie Yankou

$2,500 cash award presented to the audience’s favourite feature-length film.

Best Documentary Feature

A Mother Apart – Laurie Townshend

$2,500 cash award presented to the audience’s favourite feature-length documentary film.

Best Short

The History of the Carabiner – Gianna Mazzeo

$1,000 cash award presented to the audience’s favourite film within a shorts program.

LEADERSHIP CIRCLE PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE

Lou Goossens – Young Hearts

$1,000 cash award presented by the Leadership Circle for the most outstanding performance by an actor in a feature-length narrative film.

PITCH, PLEASE!

Sponsored by Netflix

The jurors for the 2024 jury were Sarah Barzak, Lindsay Blair Goeldner, and Dylan Mitro.

I’m Gonna Kill You – Andrew Chappelle

$5,000 production grant presented to the filmmaker with the best two-minute pitch at the Pitch, Please! competition.

#INTERVIEW: 2024 INSIDE OUT 2SLGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL

The INSIDE OUT 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival is back on now till June 1, 2024 at TIFF Lightbox and online! Now in its 34th edition, the Festival boasts 106 films from 25 countries this year, including several exciting titles like opening night selection MY OLD ASS, starring Aubrey Plaza which just premiered at Sundance to raves; SPARK starring The Polititian‘s Theo Germaine and decorated Olympian-turned-Actor Danell Levya; CORA BORA starring Hacks’ Megan Stalter; Series STORIES FROM MY GAY GRANDPARENTS; and a pair of Best Friend Comedies in SISTERS and EXTREMELY UNIQUE DYNAMIC. WE FORGOT TO BREAK UP is the closing night selection, centering on a band setting out to ignite a musical revolution.

It was a pure delight seeing some of the incredible talent behind some of this year’s titles at the Festival on the colourful carpet last night at TIFF Lightbox, as part of Opening Night celebrations.

We chat with the following about their bonding experiences and what they hope audiences will take away from their productions:

•Theo Germaine and Danell Levya of SPARK
•Harrison Xu and Ivan Leung of EXTREMELY UNIQUE DYNAMIC
•Sarah Khasrovi and Kausar Mohammed of SISTERS
•Scott Farley, Jane Moffatt, James Kall, Alexander Nunez and Tricia Black of STORIES FROM MY GAY GRANDPARENTS

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More on tickets and showtimes here.

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#INSIDEOUTTO: 2024 INSIDE OUT 2SLGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW

The 34th edition of the INSIDE OUT 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival is ready to kick-off May 24, 2024, running through June 1, 2024 at TIFF Bell Lightbox and online in Ontario as well! The Festival boasts innovative work from 2SLGBTQ+ filmmakers from across the globe, showcasing 106 films from 25 countries, including 30 feature films and 5 world premieres.

The opening night selection at the Festival this year is Toronto’s Megan Park‘s MY OLD ASS which premiered to raves at SXSW ’24. The Film centering on a young woman who’s visited by a future version of herself, warning her not to fall in love, stars Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella and Maddie Ziegler, who wowed us with this year’s BLOODY HELL.

Closing off the Festival is WE FORGOT TO BREAK UP which is about a band of misfits who ditch their small town to chase their dreams as indie rock gods in the big city. Lane Webber, Daniel Gravell, June Laporte, Hallea Jones and Jordan Dawson star in this latest from Director Karen Knox.

EXTREMELY UNIQUE DYNAMIC

Harrison Xu (Shameless, American Horror Stories), Ivan Leung (The Tender Bar) and Katherine Dudas co-write and co-direct this meta Stoner Buddy Comedy which is set around a pair of childhood friends, Xu and Leung, playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Their friendship reaches a crossroads as Xu is ready to move back to Canada from L.A. and some unresolved issues in their friendship rise to the surface. Leung has hidden his sexuality from Xu all along and in a way to confront the matter, he plays out his “coming out” in a meta film they are making about their own lives and friendship.

As their filming picks up momentum, the complex emotions arise until the duo have to confront the deeper underlying issue in their friendship – that Leung never felt safe to be his true authentic self in their friendship, and Xu coming to the realization his own best friend didn’t feel safe doing this. From here, the Comedy transcends its Stoner Comedy premise and becomes something more meaningful. Certainly entertaining enough in its innovative storytelling.

EXTREMELY UNIQUE DYNAMIC gets its international Premiere at 2024 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival on Saturday, May 25, 2024 7 PM at TIFF Lightbox.

ILY, BYE

I love, love, love Megan Stalter (Hacks) and what a treat it was seeing her latest Short at INSIDE OUT ’24 as part of the SHORTS: SHOW STOPPER lineup. The Funnywoman plays Siobhan, embody all the confidence and slay of a Gen-Xer. She’s looking for a job and with the help of her friend Gary (Kanoa Goo) she’s referred over to his boss (heard only, played by Rainn Wilson). Her anxiety gets the best of her and she leaves him a rambling, winded, inappropriate voice message which could effectively sabotage her. Until she sneaks into his office to try to delete the voice message!

A Comedy of errors in the best way. Love seeing Stalter doing what she does best, clumsy, awkward Comedy. Fun! ILY, BYE is one of eight Shorts playing May 26, 2024 4:30 pm at TIFF Lightbox 3.

Justin Waldman (@DubsReviews) also shares his thoughts on a couple key titles at the Festival!

SISTERS

Family is a complicated thing, and it gets even more complicated when it comes to chosen family and family one never knew they had. With Susie Yankou’s directorial debut capturing the very essence of this dilemma beautifully with their Feature, Sisters. Equal parts hilarious, heartwarming, and upsetting, Sisters takes the dynamic of Broad City to new heights and gives audiences something they can get behind, regardless of their biological or chosen family situation.

The Movie focuses on Lou (Susie Yankou) and Esther (Sarah Khasrovi), as they’re best friends. They are chosen sisters, and do practically everything together, and could be argued that they share a brain, that is how close they are. Their relationship with their parents is uneasy at best, but when their father passes away, they discover he had another daughter with another woman, named Priya (Kausar Mohammed) which creates a riff between Lou and Esther. Trying to navigate their new biological sister and their chosen sister as old and new relationships get tested and their limits get pushed. Sisters is a wonderfully charming tale about family, whether they’re blood or not and how we must remember the ones who’ve always been there for us.

Sisters works so well because Susie Yankou manages to beautifully craft the story and act so effortlessly in the story they wrote, directed, and star in. With the juxtaposition of Sarah Khasrovi, whose character never sees the wrong they’re doing until its nearly too late perfectly captures the blindness people suffer when humans face tragedy, despite their relationships. As well Kausar Mohammed brings together this trifecta of brilliance in the performances which is sure to capture the audience and resonate with them long past the credits. Sisters is equally hilarious as it is heartwarming.

Sisters screens at the 2024 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival on May 25^th at 6:45 pm at the TIFF Lightbox.

SPARK

Nicholas Giurichich is a name that should be watched out for in the near future, in his feature directorial debut there is tons of promise that gets mostly delivered on as he tackles both pen and paper and the camera in his first feature. Doing a time lapse movie is always a dangerous choice, as there are so many classic films that deal with time travel and time loops, or time manipulation in general that are well regarded and the comparisons are inevitable. While Giurichich brings his own take on the story, it is one that focuses on love and the complications that come with the territory – including the games people play when it comes to love.

The Movie focuses on Aaron (Theo Germaine) who is a hopeless romantic, as they have a meet and greet with a mysterious stranger, Trevor (Danell Leyva) and things get off to a hot and steamy start. It appears to be a hot game of cat and mouse scavenger hunt essentially, and one thing leads to another and a streamy sexual encounter is the catalyst of this Groundhog Day-esque hopelessly Romantic Comedy. However, it is not as simple as hoping to break the circle of repeat may not entirely be Aaron’s decision as Dani (Vico Ortiz) tries to convince Aaron this is not healthy, and should break things off instead of continuing this vicious cycle, even if their motive is not the well-intentioned.

Spark works because the performances from all three actors, of Theo Germaine, Danell Leyva and Vico Ortiz are all exceptional. They create such an engaging feel in the Film and a world to get sucked into for the audience to fall in love with and have their hearts broken over. Nicholas Giuricich crafts such a unique story that transcends emotion and makes the audience examine loss, grief, love, and lust in a new perspective.

Spark screens at the 2024 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival on May 24^th at 9:30 pm at the TIFF Lightbox.

CORA BORA

I don’t think anyone will be questioning the star status of Megan Stalter after her terrific performance in Hannah Pearl Utt’s Cora Bora where she plays the titular character. While the Movie itself needs a little more umph from the rest of the Cast (not their performances but more in their development and creation of characters) Megan is truly the glue that holds the Film together and realizes not everything is as it seems. The Movie is truly a masterclass in realizing ones self, and exploration on how to fix ourselves even if we don’t see it as a necessity. Cora Bora asks the hard questions, and ends with hilarious results.

Cora (Megan Statler) is in a long distance open relationship with her girlfriend, Justine (Jojo T Gibbs) but they haven’t seen each other in years. Love can withstand all, but an open long distance relationship is clearly a lot to overcome, and when Cora doesn’t seem too keen to return to their home for Justine’s graduation until she realizes she needs Justine, she is in for a rude awakening. Refusing to believe that Riley (Ayden Mayeri) is Justine’s new girlfriend, and despite seemingly moving on from Cora, there are still lingering feelings and some chaotic antics ensue.

With a Supporting Cast behind Megan Stalter, she shines throughout the chaos and insanity that unfolds in Cora Bora, but unfortunately she is the only one who seems to have fleshed out her character enough to create a character for the audience to get behind. However, her humour and presence carries the film and the audience feels for Cora and feels for her overall journey, even though she is the cause and effect of most of the chaos that is created overall. Cora Bora shines because of its star and creates an unholy whirlwind of madness, that only Megan Stalter can truly deliver on.

Cora Bora screens at 2024 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival on May 31^st at TIFF Lightbox at 6:45 pm.

More here on schedule and tickets.

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN PASSES TO AN ADVANCE SCREENING OF DISNEY & PIXAR’S “INSIDE OUT 2”

Walt Disney Studios Canada x Mr. Will are thrilled to give readres a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of Disney & Pixar‘s INSIDE OUT 2!

Screening Details

Toronto

Wednesday, June 12

7:00pm

Cineplex Cinemas Queensway

1025 The Queensway, Etobicoke, ON M8Z 6C7

Vancouver

Wednesday, June 12

7:00pm

Scotiabank Theatre

900 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 3G5

Calgary

Wednesday, June 12

7:00pm

Scotiabank Theatre Chinook

6455 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0K4, Canada

Edmonton

Wednesday, June 12

7:00pm

Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton

8882 170 St NW #3030, Edmonton, AB T5T 4M2, Canada

Montreal (ENG)

Wednesday, June 12

7:00pm

Cinéma Cineplex Forum

2313 Saint-Catherine St W #101, Montreal, Quebec H3H 1N2

SYNOPSIS: 

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns 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, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety, Envy, Ennui and Embarrassment show up. “Inside Out 2” releases only in theatres June 14, 2024.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post on MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK, IG or X! Indicate in the comments your city and tag a friend in the comments who you’d like to bring. Enter as many times as you like.

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Walt Disney Studios Canada release Disney & Pixar’s INSIDE OUT 2 in theatres Friday, June 14, 2024.

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#FIRSTLOOK: 2024 INSIDE OUT TORONTO 2SLGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCED

Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival has revealed the full program lineup for its 34th edition today. The festival, which proudly champions innovative 2SLGBTQ+ filmmakers from across the globe, will showcase 106 films from 25 countries, including 30 feature films and 5 world premieres. The festival will take place May 24th to June 1st in Toronto at TIFF Lightbox as well as online Ontario-wide. Inside Out’s Co-Head & Executive Director, Elie Chivi, and Co-Head & Artistic Director, Andrew Murphy, made today’s announcement. ​​

The festival’s opening night film will be Amazon MGM Studio’s My Old Ass – Megan Park’s sophomore feature, which premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival to standing ovations. Starring Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella and Maddie Ziegler, the queer comedy is about a woman who is visited by her future self and is told not to fall in love.

Fresh from its World Premiere at BFI Flare London Film Festival, the Canadian premiere of Karen Knox’s sophomore feature We Forgot To Break Up will screen as the festival’s closing gala film. Adapted from the novel “Heidegger Stairwell” by Canadian author Kayt Burgess, the film was written by Pat Mills, Noel S. Baker and Zoe Whittall, and has an original soundtrack by Torquil Campbell of the rock band Stars. The cast includes Lane Webber, Daniel Gravell, June Laporte, Hallea Jones and Jordan Dawson, as a band of misfits who ditch their small town to chase their dreams as indie rock gods in the big city.

The World Premiere of Sisters, from Canadian writer-director Susie Yankou, is this year’s 2024 RE:Focus Gala selection. Starring Kausar Mohammed, Sarah Khasrovi, Anna Garcia, and Yankou, the film is about two best friends who want to be sisters until one of them discovers she has a long-lost half-sister. The film was a 2022 Re:Focus grant recipient.

The Centerpiece Gala selection this year will be the Canadian premiere of Anthony Schatteman’s Teddy award-nominated debut feature Young Hearts. This feel-good coming-of-age story is about two gay teenagers discovering their identities and falling in love. It had its World Premiere earlier this year at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.

Highlights from the festival’s International Showcase program include the Canadian premiere of Julia Jackman’s directorial debut, Bonus Track, written by Mike Gilbert and story by Josh O’Connor, about a boy who dreams of being a rockstar. This coming-of-age romantic comedy stars O’Connor, Joe Anders, Josh Cowdery, Samuel Paul Small and Jack Davenport. Other notable titles are the international premiere of Extreme Unique Dynamic, the (likely) first-ever and (possibly) award-winning meta-Asian-stoner-coming-of-age-bromantic-dramedy by Harrison Xu, Ivan Leung, and Katherine Dudas; the Canadian premiere of Hannah Pearl Utt’s festival darling Cora Bora starring Megan Salter and Jojo T. Gibbs, about a budding musician trying to make it in Los Angeles; and the SXSW hit documentary, A House is Not a Disco, a film by Brian J. Smith, which follows a year in the life of residents of Fire Island Pines, the world’s most iconic homonormative community, as it finds itself in the midst of a renaissance.

Highlights from the Spotlight on Canada program this year include the World Premiere of Stories From My Gay Grandparents, an episodic series directed by J Stevens about a grandma and grandpa who reveal to the world their deepest secret; Caden Douglas’s genre comedy Mother Father Sister Brother Frank starring Mindy Cohn, Enrico Colanti, Iain Stewart and Melanie Leishman, about a normal suburban Sunday family dinner that is interrupted by the arrival of an unwanted guest; and nanekawâsis, a documentary about the acclaimed nêhiyaw artist George Littlechild.

Additional narrative premiere highlights include the World Premiere of Nicholas Giuricich’s Spark about a hopeless romantic reliving the same day over and over again after an awkward encounter; 2024 Berlin Official selection All Shall Be Well from Ray Yeung, which explores family dynamics after a sudden death; and the Canadian premiere of the transgender holiday film Carnage for Christmas from prolific teenage filmmaker, Alice Maio Mackay. The festival will also include Dominic Savage’s Close To You, a homecoming drama about a strained family reunion that features a powerhouse performance from Elliot Page.

Documentary highlights in the program include two World Premieres: Colette Johnson-Vosberg’s Unusually Normal, screening in the Icons program, which follows a viral TikTok family that has three generations of gay women, and Regan Latimer’s Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot, which is an insightful and personal look at current queer representation in entertainment and media. Additional films in the program include Adriana Yañez’s The First Women, also playing in the Icons program, which profiles a group of women who were part of the first-ever national women’s soccer team in Brazil, and Eduardo Aquino’s A Big Gay Hairy Hit! Where The Bears Are: The Documentary, which follows three older gay “bears” living in Hollywood who go about producing their own web series.

“We are thrilled to welcome audiences back for the 34th annual Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival,” says Elie Chivi, Co-Head and Executive Director. “As the film festival landscape continues to evolve, we are incredibly grateful to our members, donors, and partners as well as our queer filmmaking family, for their continued loyalty and support, and without whom, this festival would not be possible. On the eve of Inside Out’s 35th anniversary in 2025, it’s a privilege to continue to bring the community together to share in the magic of queer cinema.”

“We are honoured and humbled that Inside Out continues to provide a space for celebration of 2SLGBTQ+ stories, a space for professional development opportunities for queer creators, and a space to share experiences and network so that we can help foster future creative collaborations with our alumni and future alumni,” says Co-Head and Artistic Director, Andrew Murphy. “Through our ever evolving creative pipeline from the inception of an idea, to development, to financing to exhibition of a dream realized on screen, we are ecstatic to host a fantastic lineup of films and key industry programming including our 3rd FREE Industry Day as well as our 8th edition of the B2B Finance Forum where, since 2017, we have seen a success rate of over 40% of participating projects including this year’s Sundance hit Sebastian.”

“Gathering to watch a film, whether at home with friends or immersed in the vibrant energy of a cinema filled with strangers, can be a profound communal experience. Queer cinema can affirm us and create a space for us to learn, reflect, grow, and connect. As we eagerly announce the festival slate, we are honoured to present the work of over one hundred incredible filmmakers, giving the Inside Out audience across Ontario the opportunity to carve out their own curated space – a space built on the love of great film,” added Director of Festival Programming, Jenna Dufton.

In addition to being a major resource for 2SLGBTQ+ filmmakers and showcasing their work through the flagship festival, Inside Out is one the world’s leading 2SLGBTQ+ film organizations, having founded the world’s only 2SLGBTQ+ Feature Finance Forum. The selected participants and participating executives for the 8th edition International Financing Forum will be announced in the coming weeks. One of the films screening in this year’s festival is an alumni of the 2022 finance forum – the Canadian premiere of Mikko Makela’s Sebastian, which world premiered earlier this year at Sundance 2024.

Director of Festival Programming Jenna Dufton heads the programming team with Lu Linares (Programming Coordinator), and programmers Ferdosa Abdi, Rasheed Bailey, Ashley Bodika, Ferrin Evans, Claire Jarvis, Allia McLeod, Emma Pitters-Fisher, Nik Redman, Raphael Sanchez, and Scott Smart.

Inside Out will celebrate the opening night of the 34th edition with a party following the screening of My Old Ass, which will take place at TIFF Lightbox. Following the premiere of We Forgot To Break Up the festival will wrap up with a closing night party at TD Music Hall where Torquil Campbell of Stars will DJ along with live music from Lane Webber.

Individual tickets for screenings, ticket packages, and all-access passes are on sale today at insideout.ca.

The complete 2024 festival selections include:

OPENING GALA

My Old Ass, directed by Megan Park (United States – Narrative)
In this fresh coming-of-age story, an 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella) face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). But when Elliott’s “old ass” starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn’t do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what’s becoming a transformative summer.

CLOSING GALA

We Forgot to Break Up, directed by Karen Knox (Canada – Narrative)
Within Toronto’s vibrant bar scene, a diverse group of musicians come together to form a band with a mission: to ignite a musical revolution. As they channel their individual struggles and experiences into their music, The New Normals create a dynamic rock sound that transcends gender and sexuality. But as they rise to fame, personal and romantic entanglements complicate their journey.
Canadian Premiere

RE:FOCUS GALA

Sisters, directed by Susie Yankou (United States – Narrative)
Lou and Esther are the best of friends. They do absolutely everything together, speak their own language through inside jokes and code words, and share a dreamy curiosity about what their lives would be like had they grown up with a sister. When Lou’s father unexpectedly passes away, she discovers that she has a very real, and very chic, long-lost half-sister, Priya.
World Premiere
Re:Focus grant recipient 2022

CENTREPIECE GALA

Young Hearts, directed by Anthony Schatteman (Belgium/Netherlands – Narrative)
When Alexander moves in next door, Elias is intrigued. Their budding friendship blossoms amidst after-school escapades, exploring abandoned homes and hidden swimming spots, but when Alexander reveals his romantic past a revelation is triggered in Elias.
Canadian Premiere

PREMIERES

All Shall Be Well, directed by Ray Yeung (Hong Kong/China – Narrative)
Angie and Pat have lived together for over three decades in their flat in Hong Kong – a flat that often hosts friends and family for dinners and get-togethers. When Pat unexpectedly passes away without a will, Angie learns that she has no legal right to the home they shared and finds herself at the mercy of a once supportive family displaying dwindling goodwill toward her.
Canadian Premiere

Carnage for Christmas, directed by Alice Maio Mackay (Australia – Narrative)
When true-crime podcaster and sleuth Lola visits her hometown for the first time since running away and transitioning, the local urban legend, The Toymaker, is the least of her worries. A transgender holiday film by prolific teenage filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay and edited by ‘The People’s Joker’ filmmaker, Vera Drew.
Canadian Premiere

Join the Club, directed by Kip Andersen, Chris O’Connell (United States – Documentary)
Dennis Peron is San Francisco’s biggest pot dealer. But when the AIDS epidemic sweeps through his community, he realizes that marijuana is more than a good time – it’s medicine. In the wake of his lover’s death, Peron opens the Cannabis Buyers’ Club, a five-storey dispensary complete with rainbow murals, drag shows, and onsite doctors.
North American Premiere

Langue Étrangère, directed by Claire Burger (France/Belgium/Germany – Narrative)
Fanny, a 17-year-old student from France, goes on a language exchange trip to Germany where she will stay with her pen pal, Lena. Willing to do anything to impress Lena, Fanny sees her time in Germany as an opportunity to invent a different life for herself, but as she and Lena grow closer, she runs the risk of becoming caught up in her own web of lies.
North American Premiere

Spark, directed by Nicholas Giuricich (United States – Narrative)
Aaron, a hopeless romantic, finds himself reliving the same day after an awkward but intense encounter with the mysterious Trevor. His excitement at the opportunity for a do-over soon turns sour as Aaron suspects Trevor may be the cause of his time loop.
World Premiere

ICONS

A Mother Apart, directed by Laurie Townshend (Canada – Documentary)
How do you raise a child when your own mother abandoned you? In a remarkable story of healing and forgiveness, Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin, renowned for performances in Def Poetry Slam and hit solo shows like MotherStruck!, radically re-imagines the essential art of mothering.

Dalton’s Dream, directed by Kim Longinotto, Franky Murray Brown (United Kingdom – Documentary)
Singer Dalton Harris’s dreams came true when he won The X Factor in the UK in 2018. But the joy of winning was mixed with pain when people back home in Jamaica threatened boycotts and violence against him, perceiving Dalton to be gay after seeing a photo of him sitting on a man’s lap.
Canadian Premiere

Teaches of Peaches, directed by Philipp Fussenegger, Judy Landkammer (Germany – Documentary)
Filmed during The Teaches of Peaches anniversary tour in 2022, this documentary seamlessly weaves together exclusive archival gems with dynamic tour footage, capturing the transformative journey of local superstar Merrill Nisker into the internationally acclaimed cultural powerhouse Peaches.

The First Women, directed by Adriana Yañez (Brazil – Narrative)
The First Women follows a group of women nearing their 60s who live in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro and share a common past: they were a part of the first ever women’s soccer team in Brazil.
North American Premiere
Re:Focus grant recipient

Unusually Normal, directed by Colette Johnson-Vosberg (Canada – Documentary)
Have you had the pleasure of meeting Canada’s gayest family? Unusually Normal (Our Gay Family) follows three generations of women in one family who, get this, are all gay. Set against the backdrop of their loving and wholly authentic household, this family, with over 165,000 devoted TikTok followers, invites you into their world – a world where normal takes on a whole new meaning.
World Premiere

SPOTLIGHT ON CANADA

Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot, directed by Regan Latimer (Canada – Documentary)
Filmmaker Regan Latimer takes an insightful, immersive, and deeply personal look at Queer representation in television, and the power of the media to shape how we see ourselves.
World Premiere

Close to You, directed by Dominic Savage (Canada/UK – Narrative)
Elliot Page delivers an emotionally resonant performance in this honest and moving drama that follows Sam as he decides to visit his childhood home in Coburg for the first time since his transition.

Mother Father Sister Brother Frank, directed by Caden Douglas (Canada – Narrative)
The Jennings family are having a regular suburban Sunday dinner. Mother wants everything to be perfect. Father wants everyone to drink, which Sister refuses to do. And Brother keeps texting his husband, even though no phones are allowed at the table. Just as tensions reach a boiling point, an unwanted guest arrives: Frank, Father’s wayward brother.
Ontario Premiere

nanekawâsis, directed by Conor McNally (Canada – Documentary)
nanekawâsis follows the acclaimed nêhiyaw artist George Littlechild as he invites audiences into his storied career spanning over four decades. Using archival footage and newly filmed 16mm interviews, the film provides previously unheard insights about his life and work.
Ontario Premiere

Stories from my Gay Grandparents, directed by J Stevens (Canada – Narrative Episodic, episodes 1-6)
After a near-death experience lights a flame within both Grandma and Grandpa, they decide to grab life by the boas and tell the world their deepest secret: they’re gay. Having lived under the guise of a straight relationship for decades, they’re coming out of the closet, ditching their small-town life, and going after their big gay dreams.
World Premiere

INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE

A Big Gay Hairy Hit! Where The Bears Are: The Documentary, directed by Eduardo Aquino (United States – Documentary)
This hilarious and touching documentary tells the story of three older, gay “bears” working in Hollywood, who, tired of having their gay-themed ideas rejected by the mainstream, decide to self-produce their own web series.
Canadian Premiere

A House is Not a Disco, directed by Brian J. Smith (United States – Documentary)
A year in the life within the world’s most iconic homonormative community: Fire Island Pines. Situated 50 miles from New York City, this storied queer beach town finds itself in the midst of a renaissance, as a new generation of millennial homeowners reimagine The Pines for a new, more inclusive era.
Toronto Premiere

Bonus Track, directed by Julia Jackman (United Kingdom – Narrative)
In the screenplay written by Mike Gilbert, the year is 2006 and George, a small-town sixteen-year-old who’s convinced he’s a gifted musician, can’t seem to get anyone’s attention long enough to prove it. When the son of a famous rock star enrolls in his school, George experiences a clarity of passion and a road to success.
Canadian Premiere

Chuck Chuck Baby, directed by Janis Pugh (United Kingdom – Narrative)
As Helen goes back and forth between working at the chicken factory and taking care of everyone at home, her dreary routine begins to take its toll. A bright spot appears in her otherwise mundane life when her high school crush, Joanne, returns to town.

Cora Bora, directed by Hannah Pearl Utt (United States – Narrative)
A few things about Cora: she is a budding musician trying to make it in Los Angeles, she is determined to make her long-distance open relationship work, and she is extremely chaotic. In a moment of desperation, she heads back to her hometown of Portland, Oregon on a mission to fix her shaky relationship.
Canadian Premiere

Desire Lines, directed by Jules Rosskam (United States – Documentary)
Past and present collide as an Iranian American trans man time-travels through an LGBTQ+ archive on a dizzying quest to unravel his own sexual desires.
Toronto Premiere

Extreme Unique Dynamic, directed by Harrison Xu, Ivan Leung, Katherine Dudas (United States – Narrative)
In the (likely) first-ever and (possibly) award-winning meta-Asian-stoner-coming-of -age-bromantic-dramedy, two best friends who will soon be living in different countries decide to make a movie about two best friends making a movie about two best friends making a movie.
International Premiere

León, directed by Andi Nachon, Papu Curotto (Argentina – Narrative)
For Julia, facing life after the loss of her partner seems like an impossible task. But León, their son, is the fuel to keep going. Nothing is easy after Barby’s death, between the return of León’s biological father, Barby’s mother’s distant attitude, and the struggle to keep their restaurant open.
Canadian Premiere

Rookie, directed by Samantha Lee (Philippines – Narrative)
Ace’s first day at her new school starts out on the wrong foot and ends up with her becoming the newest member of the volleyball team against her will. Jana, the team captain, sees Ace as a threat, and a rivalry is born. But love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and little by little, they will discover their feelings for each other.
North American Premiere

Sebastian, directed by Mikko Makela (UK/Finland/Belgium – Narrative)
Young Max is determined to make a name for himself in London’s literary circles, but his work as a freelance writer isn’t quite getting him there fast enough. In order to gain on the job experience to inspire his first novel, he poses as Sebastian, an online sex worker.
Canadian Premiere

Toll (Pedágio), directed by Carolina Markowicz (Brazil/Portugal – Narrative)
Suellen, a Brazilian toll booth attendant and mother, is willing to do almost anything to keep her family afloat. When the opportunity to case drivers passing by her toll booth presents itself, she falls in with a gang of thieves promising a chance at a better life.

OFFICIAL SHORTS PROGRAM

The full shorts lineup can be found here.

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About Inside Out:
Inside Out is Canada’s largest 2SLGBTQ+ film festival and the single largest promoter and distributor of 2SLGBTQ+ content in Canada. Founded in 1991, Inside Out is committed to representing the interests of 2SLGBTQ+ voices within the Canadian film industry. We are dedicated to developing, presenting, and promoting 2SLGBTQ+ content that showcases and supports the broad diversity of voices and identities within our communities, and ensuring that authentic and positive representation of 2SLGBTQ+ people is central in that content. Inside Out presents a 9-day Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival (Toronto’s third largest festival after TIFF and Hot Docs), year-round initiatives in both Toronto and Ottawa, as well as innovative professional development initiatives including the world’s only 2SLGBTQ+ Finance Forum. Inside Out is a Canadian Academy qualifying festival.

Our current high-level partners include RBC Royal Bank (Lead Sponsor), Netflix (Presenting Sponsor), Crave, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Premier Sponsors). The festival received funding support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and Telefilm Canada. Festival Industry Partners include Ontario Creates, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal Launch, DGC Ontario, DGC National, Paramount+, EOne, CMPA, and outACTRAto. Visit insideout.ca for more information

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “INSIDE OUT 2”

A new trailer is now available for Disney and Pixar’s upcoming theatrical release, “Inside Out 2,” which welcomes new Emotions to now-teenager Riley’s mind. Joining Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), Anger (voice of Lewis Black), Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith), Fear (voice of Tony Hale) and Disgust (voice of Liza Lapira) is a group of Emotions perfectly suited for the teenage years.

Maya Hawke voices Anxiety, the previously announced new arrival bound to shake up everything in headquarters and beyond. A bundle of frazzled energy, Anxiety enthusiastically ensures Riley’s prepared for every possible negative outcome.
Envy, voice of Ayo Edebiri, may be small but she sure knows what she wants. She’s perpetually jealous of everything everyone else has, and she’s not afraid to pine over it.
Ennui, who’s voiced by Adèle Exarchopoulos, couldn’t care less. Bored and lethargic with a well-practiced eye-roll, Ennui adds the perfect amount of teenage apathy to Riley’s personality, when she feels like it.
Embarrassment, voiced by Paul Walter Hauser, likes to lay low, which isn’t easy for this burly guy with a bright blush-pink complexion.

Additionally, Kensington Tallman lends her voice to Riley Andersen, who’s about to begin high school. Lilimar was called on to voice Valentina “Val” Ortiz, a high school hockey player who everyone, including Riley and her friends, looks up to. Diane Lane and Kyle MacLachlan return to voice Riley’s mom and dad; Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green and Grace Lu provide the voices for Riley’s besties; and Yvette Nicole Brown voices Coach Roberts, who heads up a summer hockey camp. The voice cast also includes Sarayu Blue, Flea, Ron Funches, Dave Goelz, James Austin Johnson, Bobby Moynihan, Frank Oz, Paula Pell, Paula Poundstone, John Ratzenberger, Kendall Coyne Schofield, June Squibb, Kirk Thatcher and Yong Yea.

ABOUT THE MOVIE

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns 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, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone. Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen with a score by Andrea Datzman, “Inside Out 2” releases only in theatres June 14, 2024.

#FIRSTLOOK: MAYA HAWKE JOINS CAST OF “INSIDE OUT 2”

The little voices inside Riley’s head know her inside and out—but next summer, everything changes when Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” introduces a new Emotion: Anxiety. According to director Kelsey Mann, the new character promises to stir things up within headquarters. “Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, might be new to the crew, but she’s not really the type to take a back seat,” said Mann. “That makes a lot of sense if you think about it in terms of what goes on inside all our minds.” A trailer, poster and film stills are now available for what promises to be the feel-good (or feel-everything) film of Summer 2024.

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns 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, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone. Maya Hawke lends her voice to Anxiety, alongside Amy Poehler as Joy, Phyllis Smith as Sadness, Lewis Black as Anger, Tony Hale as Fear, and Liza Lapira as Disgust. Directed by Kelsey Mann and produced by Mark Nielsen, “Inside Out 2” releases only in theatres Summer 2024.

#FIRSTLOOK: 2023 INSIDE OUT 2SLGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The winners of the 2023 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival Awards were announced this weekend in Toronto where $32,000 in prizes were handed out to various 2SLGBTQ+ filmmakers. Top honours went to Juan Sebastián Torales’ ALMAMULA (Best First Feature), Lulu Wei’s SUPPORTING OUR SELVES (Best Canadian Feature), Beth Warrian’s ADORE (Best Canadian Short), and Karimah Zakia Issa with SCARING WOMEN AT NIGHT (Emerging Canadian Artist).

The Audience Award winners are Ally Pankiw’s I USED TO BE FUNNY (seen in still above) for Best Narrative Feature, Loveleen Kaur’s LEILANI’S FORTUNE for Best Documentary Feature, and Zeppelin Zeerip’s APAYAUQ for Best Short Film.

The festival is also proud to announce director Judith Schuyler’s upcoming project THERE IS LIGHT won the annual “Pitch, Please!” contest. The “Pitch, Please!” competition took place in person on June 3, 2023, with competitors from across the globe presenting a short, two-minute pitch to a jury and audience. Prizes awarded to the winner include a cash production grant of $5,000 sponsored by Netflix.

The 2023 festival took place in person and virtually from May 25 to June 4 in Toronto, Canada and showcased 107 films from 30 countries, including 33 feature films, and 7 world premieres, This year’s festival opened with the Canadian premiere of Ira Sach’s critically acclaimed drama PASSAGES, and closed with Tom Gustafson’s fantastical summer romance, GLITTER & DOOM, with cast Tig Notaro, Lea DeLaria, Missi Pyle, Alex Diaz, and Alan Cammish in town to present its world premiere.

The full winners and awards are as follows:

CANADIAN JURIED AWARDS

The jurors for the 2023 Canadian jury were filmmakers Odu Adamu, Dylan Glynn, and Alice Wang

Best Canadian Feature – sponsored by Warner Access Media

SUPPORTING OUR SELVES – Director, Lulu Wei

Best Canadian Short – sponsored by DGC National

ADORE – Director, Beth Warrian

Emerging Canadian Artist – Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank

SCARING WOMEN AT NIGHT – Director, Karimah Zakia Issa

INTERNATIONAL JURIED AWARD

The jurors for the 2023 International jury Them Editor Michael Cuby, actor Izaiah Dockery, and filmmaker Kait Schuster.

Best First Feature – Sponsored by NBC Universal

ALMAMULA – Director, Juan Sebastián Torales

Honourable Mention for Best First Feature

SOMETHING YOU SAID LAST NIGHT – Director, Luis De Filippis

Leadership Circle Prize for Outstanding Performance – sponsored by Daydream

Payman Maadi in OPPONENT (MOTSTÅNDAREN)

AUDIENCE AWARDS – sponsored by eOne

Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature

I USED TO BE FUNNY – Director, Ally Pankiw

Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature

LEILANI’S FORTUNE – Director, Loveleen Kaur

Audience Award for Best Short Film

APAYAUQ – Director, Zeppelin Zerrip

“PITCH, PLEASE!” – sponsored by Netflix

THERE IS LIGHT – Director Judith Schuyler

(Photo credit: levelFILM)