The Departure Festival + Conference from Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group (OVG) today announced that TD has signed on as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 edition, reinforcing its commitment to supporting creativity, innovation, and the next generation of musical leaders.

As Presenting Sponsor, TD will help spotlight moments that celebrate industry excellence and emerging talent. This includes presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Departure Honours, recognizing Bruce Allen for his lasting impact on Canada’s music landscape. TD will also present the highly anticipated Choir! Choir! Choir! Angel: An Epic Singalong featuring special guest Sarah McLachlan at Massey Hall, marking a marquee moment of the festival experience.

“TD coming on board as our Presenting Sponsor speaks to the strength of Departure as a platform for ideas, talent, and collaboration across industries,” said Kevin Barton, Executive Producer at Departure Festival + Conference. “Their support allows us to continue building something that reflects the energy and ambition of Canada’s creative community.”

“This sponsorship amplifies the platform we’ve built and TD’s commitment to celebrate Canada’s creative community across Departure Honours, live programming, and beyond and ensures we continue to shine a national spotlight on the people and organizations driving music, arts and culture forward,” said Tom Pistore, President, OVG Canada.

“We’re proud to join the Departure Festival + Conference as the Presenting Sponsor,” said Michael Armstrong, Vice President, North American Brand and Sponsorships, TD. “For us, it’s about showing up in a more human way – being there for the fans, the artists, and the music that makes those experiences more memorable. With Departure, we can’t wait to help spotlight talent, build truly fan-first moments, and amplify the industry in new ways.”

From May 4–10, Departure Festival + Conference brings together leaders across music, media, technology, and culture for a dynamic program of conversations, performances, and experiences. With TD as Presenting Sponsor, the 2026 edition will continue to expand its reach and impact, creating new opportunities for connection and discovery.

Premiering Globally on Prime Video May 20, 2026

After four successful seasons on Prime Video, this feature film finds our relatable hero Jack Ryan pulled back into the world of espionage for his most personal and dangerous mission yet.

Set on a global stage, this intelligent thriller blends sharp storytelling with high-stakes action.

John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, and Michael Kelly round out this dynamic ensemble, whose characters and relationships made audiences fall in love with the series.

Sienna Miller joins the cast as MI6 officer Emma Marlowe and proves every bit as sharp and savvy as Jack Ryan, forming an unstoppable duo.

ABOUT TOM CLANCY’S JACK RYAN: GHOST WAR

In this new film, Jack Ryan is reluctantly thrust back into the world of espionage when an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy, forcing him to confront a rogue black-ops unit, and the clock is ticking. Operating in real time with lives on the line and the threat escalating at every turn, Jack reunites with battle-tested CIA operative Mike November (Michael Kelly) and former CIA boss James Greer (Wendell Pierce), their combined experience the only edge they have against an enemy who knows their every move. Backed by an unlikely new partner – razor-sharp MI6 officer Emma Marlowe (Sienna Miller) – Jack and the team navigate a treacherous web of betrayal, facing a past they thought was long put to rest – making this the most personal, high-stakes mission any of them have ever faced.

Directed by Andrew Bernstein

Screenplay by Aaron Rabin, John Krasinski

Story by Noah Oppenheim and John Krasinski

Based on characters created by Tom Clancy

Produced by Allyson Seeger, p.g.a., John Krasinski, p.g.a., Andrew Form

Executive Produced by John J. Kelly, Alexa Ginsburg, Carlton Cuse, Tom Clancy

Starring John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, Max Beesley, JJ Feild, Douglas Hodge with Betty Gabriel and Sienna Miller

Genre Action and Drama

Rated R for “violence and language” | 105 Minutes

Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament: a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don’t, it’s GAME OVER!

Helmed by director Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter is set to bring the battle from the arcade to the big screen with Hadoukens, roundhouses, and all your favorite characters.

Paramount Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present

In Association with Capcom

A Legendary Pictures Production

“STREET FIGHTER”

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY

JJ Hook, Jay Ashenfelter, Kenzo Tsujimoto, Haruhiro Tsujimoto

PRODUCED BY

Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Jason Momoa, Takayuki Nakayama, Stefan Makhoul

Based on the CAPCOM Video Game

STORY BY

Dalan Musson and Gary Dauberman

SCREENPLAY BY

T.J. Fixman and Kitao Sakurai

DIRECTED BY

Kitao Sakurai

STARRING

Noah Centineo as “Ken Masters”

Andrew Koji as “Ryu”

Callina Liang as “Chun-Li”

Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoai as “Akuma”

David Dastmalchian as “M. Bison”

Cody Rhodes as “Guile”

Andrew Schulz as “Dan Hibiki”

Eric André as “Don Sauvage”

Vidyut Jammwal as “Dhalsim”

Orville Peck as “Vega”

Olivier Richters as “Zangief”

Hirooki Goto as “E. Honda”

Rayna Vallandingham as “Juli”

Alexander Volkanovski as “Joe”

With Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson as “Balrog”

And Jason Momoa as “Blanka”

CREDITS ARE NOT FINAL AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE
THIS FILM HAS NOT YET BEEN RATED

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is pleased to announce Sophie Nélisse will receive the Radius Award, presented by MADE | NOUS at The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards.

The Radius Award, presented by MADE | NOUS, is presented to a Canadian whose work is gaining significant international recognition and acclaim. This award celebrates individuals who are expanding the reach of Canadian talent and creativity on the world stage, contributing to Canada’s global reputation in the media and entertainment industry.

Sophie Nélisse is an internationally recognized Canadian actress whose career has steadily evolved from award-winning breakout roles to leading performances in acclaimed global productions. After gaining international attention in Philippe Falardeau’s Monsieur Lazhar, she went on to star in The Book Thief, establishing her internationally and earning multiple breakthrough awards. Sophie has built a diverse body of work across film and television in both French and English, having appeared in notable Quebec films such as Endorphine and 1:54.

She currently stars in the critically acclaimed series Yellowjackets, a role that has further solidified her presence on the international stage. Sophie continues to balance French and English-language projects, establishing herself as one of Canada’s most compelling international talents of her generation.

The Radius Award, presented by MADE | NOUS, will be awarded at The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 8 / 9 AT / 9:30 NT on CBC, CBC Gem, Crave, CTV, Global, and STACKTV.

Learn more about Sophie Nélisse and all 2026 Special Awards recipients here.

Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR (LIVE IN 3D)!

One lucky winner wins a Prize Pack that includes Eilish’s acclaimed album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT on Vinyl and a $50 Cineplex gift card!

Screenings are as follows:

TORONTO

Monday, May 4th | 7:00PM

Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Eglinton and VIP

________

MONTREAL (ENGLISH)

Monday, May 4th | 7:00PM | ENG

Cinéma Cineplex Banque Scotia Montréal

MONTREAL (FRENCH)

Monday, May 4th | 7:00PM | FRE

Cinéma Starcité Montréal

________

CALGARY

Monday, May 4th | 7:00PM

Scotiabank Theatre Chinook

________

VANCOUVER

Monday, May 4th | 7:00PM

Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK, X or IG. In the comments, indicate your City and tag 1 friend you’re taking with you! Multiple entries permitted. You must be following.

Rules and regulations here

Paramount Pictures Canada release BILLIE EILISH HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR (LIVE IN 3D) May 8, 2026.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Today, BritBox released first look images for the second season of the acclaimed detective series Ludwig, starring David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin, which will air later this year on BritBox. The photos feature a first preview of new series regulars Mark Bonnar and Sian Clifford, who join the cast this season.

Picking up from the end of season one, master puzzle-setter John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor (David Mitchell) is now a Crime Scene Consultant, working alongside DCI Russell Carter (Dipo Ola), on ‘impossible’ crimes for the Cambridge Police Authority. No longer having to masquerade as his brother, he’s openly more ‘Ludwig’ than ever – brilliant at solving puzzles but hopeless at everything else. But John’s identical twin brother, James, is still missing, and now that he’s an official employee of the station, John is forbidden from using any police resources to look for his brother or uncover exactly what he was investigating. Of course, John won’t stop and neither will Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin), John’s sister-in-law and wife of his missing brother James. A puzzle needs solving and a husband and father needs bringing home. One masquerade may have ended, but a new one has just begun.

Joining the cast as series regulars are Mark Bonnar (Dept. Q, Guilt) as newspaper editor Gareth Fisher, Sian Clifford (Fleabag, The Ballad of Wallis Island) as local MP, Joanne Kemper, Ben Ashenden (Deep Cover, Black Mirror) as DC Ethan Cole, and Rumi Sutton (After the Flood, Mutiny) as DC Caitlin Sullivan.

Returning cast include Dylan Hughes as Henry Betts-Taylor, Dorothy Atkinson as DCS Carol Shaw, Ralph Ineson as Chief Constable Ziegler, and Karl Pilkington as DI Matt Neville.

Ludwig is created and written by Mark Brotherhood and produced by Big Talk Studios (part of ITV Studios), in collaboration with That Mitchell and Webb Company. Season one of the binge-worthy comedy-drama is BritBox’s biggest scripted series launch to date.

Ludwig season two (6×60’) is a Big Talk Studios production in association with That Mitchell And Webb Company, in co-production with BritBox and ZDF, for the BBC. It is produced in association with ITV Studios, which also handles international distribution. The series was commissioned for BBC One and BBC iPlayer by Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy. Season two is again written by Mark Brotherhood, and the directors are George Kane (episodes 1,2 & 3) and Stella Corradi (episodes 4, 5 & 6). The executive producers are Kenton Allen and Toby Welch for Big Talk Studios, Mark Brotherhood, David Mitchell, Kathryn O’Connor, Chris Sussman; Robert Schildhouse and Stephen Nye for BritBox; and Claus Wunn and Frank Seyberth for ZDF. The producer is Georgie Fallon, with Anya Wilson serving as co-producer. The Commissioning Editors for the BBC are Gregor Sharp and Roya Eslami.

The first season of Ludwig is available to stream on BritBox.

Today we get a new Trailer for tiff50 selection, BLOOD LINES. Elevation Pictures release June 26, 2026.

Directed by: Gail Maurice
Starring: Dana Solomon, Derica LeFrance, Mélanie Bray, Bertha Durocher, Maggie Maurice, Mary Burnouf, Tamara Podemski, Gail Maurice

An estranged Métis mother and daughter struggle to overcome their differences, but their world comes crashing down when an alluring woman enters their lives.

Telefilm Canada invests $24M+ in 11 big-budget features in the English market

Telefilm Canada invests over $24 million to fund 11 feature-length films in the English market as part of the first round of decisions under the Production Program’s big budget stream, seven of which are majority coproductions and several book-to-screen adaptations. This investment accounts for 69 per cent of Telefilm’s annual budget for funding English market feature films under the Production Program’s big budget stream.

The selected projects represent impactful stories, told from distinctly Canadian perspectives, that will resonate widely and satisfy commercial and arthouse audiences.

In addition, four projects are receiving greenlight funding for additional pre-production support, including projects from Newfoundland, Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec; and three of which are majority coproductions.

The evaluated projects featured filmmakers with experience levels ranging from award-winning veterans to mid- and early-career creatives and those selected for funding echo that exciting mix.

A Thread of Violence (mystery/crime)
Director: Robert Budreau
Screenwriters: Robert Budreau and Grayson Moore
Production: January Media and Lumanity Productions
Co-Production: Sleeper Films
Distributor: Mongrel Media
Province: Ontario
Language: English
*Majority coproduction with Ireland

Eggplant (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Yung Chang
Production: Medium Density Fibreboard Films Inc.
Distributor: Game Theory Films
Province: Ontario
Language: Mandarin
*Majority coproduction with Ireland

Forgiveness (historical drama)
Director: Deepa Mehta
Screenwriter: Mark Sakamoto
Production: Hamilton-Mehta Productions Inc.
Distributor: Mongrel Media
Province: Ontario
Language: English and Japanese

Half-Blood Blues (historical drama)
Director: Clement Virgo
Screenwriters: Patrick Whistler and Clement Virgo
Production: Conquering Lion Pictures Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures
Province: Ontario
Language: English, French and German
*Majority coproduction with Germany

Lullabies For Little Criminals (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Sarah Gadon
Production: Brightlight Pictures Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures
Province: British Columbia
Language: English and French

Mary, Mary (drama)
Director: Bruce LaBruce
Screenwriters: Bruce LaBruce and Gabrielle Boulianne-Tremblay
Production: Compass Productions Inc.
Distributor: A-Z Films Inc. (with Raven Banner)
Province: Quebec
Language: English
*Majority coproduction with Belgium

Nightingale (historical drama)
Directors and screenwriters: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson
Production: Thin Stuff Productions Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures
Province: Manitoba
Language: English
*Majority coproduction with United Kingdom

Rapture (horror)
Director and screenwriter: Jordan Tannahill
Production: Elevation Pictures
Distributor: Elevation Pictures
Province: Ontario
Language: English
*Majority coproduction with United Kingdom

Suffering Is Optional (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Zarrar Kahn
Production: CityLights Media Inc., LBG Films Inc., Other Memory Media, and Couronne
Nord Inc.
Distributor: Game Theory Films, with h264 (Quebec)
Province: Ontario, Quebec
Language: English, French and Urdu

Untitled Matt Johnson Film (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Matt Johnson
Production: Zapruder Films Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures
Province: Ontario
Language: English

Worse Together (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Luis De Filippis
Production: JA Productions Inc. and Fra Diavolo Films Inc.
Distributor: Maison 4:3, with MDFF
Province: Ontario
Language: English
*Majority coproduction with Switzerland

In the first intake of the Production Program’s big budget stream, 55 projects – including 13 majority coproductions – were assessed, representing $126 million in funding requests. Telefilm met with the teams behind each project submission.

An advisory committee composed of external and internal representatives has evaluated the projects and made its recommendations. The decision-making process, across multiple rounds of decisions over the coming months, is designed to ensure that Telefilm funds a balanced production portfolio reflecting a variety of genres, budgets, company sizes, regions of the country, and perspectives. A list of the selection committee members will be posted on Telefilm’s Project Financing Advisory Committees page at the end of each fiscal year.

It should also be noted that the project teams selected under the Springboard Initiative will be contacted shortly. Under this initiative, projects that were not selected for production funding but ranked highly during the evaluation process may be invited to apply for development funding to strengthen their project for a future production application.

More funding decisions will be announced through April to September of this year. Statistics on all films funded in the year will be published in the 2026—

Introducing The One Wish Willow – the mysterious vintage object designed to grant your one true wish!

Now available at OneWishWillow.com, The One Wish Willow is at the center of Focus Features’ and Universal Pictures Canada’s upcoming horror film, OBSESSION, from writer/director Curry Barker, which puts a chilling new spin on the classic monkey’s paw tale.

Want to see it for yourself? Check out our new infomercial HERE:

Still not convinced? Customers are already sharing their experiences online and on Reddit. The device is even available in stores at The Green Man in Los Angeles.

And for those less-than-satisfied with their wish (though we guarantee results), additional support is available through our Help Hotline: call 1-323-747-7118.

Be careful what you wish for!

Writer/Director: Curry Barker
Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter
Producers: James Harris (Teashop Productions), Haley Nicole Johnson (Under the Shell), Christian Mercuri (Capstone Pictures), Roman Viaris.
Executive Producers: Jason Blum (Blumhouse), Leonora Darby (Teashop), Mark Lane (Teashop), David Haring (Capstone), Ruzanna Kegeyan (Capstone Pictures).
Synopsis: After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

Today we get a new Featurette for THE SHEEP DETECTIVES!

In this witty, new breed of mystery, George (Hugh Jackman) is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can’t possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers.

Amazon MGM Studios release THE SHEEP DETECTIVES May 8, 2026.

Directed by: Kyle Balda

Screenplay and Screen Story by: Craig Mazin

Based on the novel by: “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann

Produced by: Lindsay Doran, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner

Executive Producers: Sarah-Jane Wright, Amelia Granger, Aditya Sood, Tyson Hesse, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Tim Wellspring

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon with Hong Chau and Emma Thompson

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, Rhys Darby

Genre: Family, Mystery, Comedy

Rating: PG for thematic material, some violent content and brief language