The TORONTO TEA FESTIVAL returns February 1-2, 2025 in its 11th year at Toronto Reference Library!

The ever-popular Toronto Tea Festival is back for 2025, ready to delight tea enthusiasts with a celebration of the diverse and fascinating world of tea. This annual event will be held at the iconic Toronto Reference Library, offering the perfect setting for attendees to explore a rich tapestry of flavors, aromas, and cultures.

Through presenting sponsors Tao Tea Leaf and the Tea Guild of Canada, the Toronto Tea Festival continues to thrive as a hub for education, exploration, and community. The event would not be possible without the dedication of its tea-loving volunteers, whose enthusiasm ensures a memorable experience for all attendees.

About the Toronto Tea Festival: The Toronto Tea Festival is an annual event that brings together tea lovers, vendors, and experts to celebrate the world of tea. Focused on education, exploration, and community, the festival has become a must-attend event for tea enthusiasts everywhere.

It’s Always Tea Time in Toronto!

This year, we’re brewing up an unforgettable experience:

Over 40 Vendors: Explore premium teas, accessories, and tea-related products.

Your Gift Tote: Every attendee receives a signature gift tote bag, complete with a tasting cup.

Tea Tastings: Enjoy the winning teas from the Fabulous Tea Tasters Box 2025.

Captivating Performances: Witness elegant Chinese and Japanese tea ceremonies by Sabrina Chen, Momo Yoshida, Reina Sakao, and more.

Engaging Talks & Demos: Learn from tea experts on topics like Indigenous Knowledge and Tea, Regenerative Tea Farming, Japanese White Tea, Tasseomancy, and more.

Special Guests: Meet Shabnam Weber (President of the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada), Kevin Gascoyne (Camellia Sinensis), and other renowned tea professionals.

In addition to our lineup of talented Speakers, Vendors, and Demonstrators, we are proud to announce our exclusive VIP event each day: Journey through Terroir: Wine and Tea Pairing with Edward Qu of Niagara College (requires VIP event ticket in addition to general admission, available on the website) in the Cultural Demo Stage area.

VIP Experience:
Don’t miss our exclusive VIP event each day: Journey through Terroir: Wine and Tea Pairing with Edward Qu of Niagara College

Tickets:
Single Day pass: $20
Two- Day Pass: $35
At the Door (Limited): $25 for one day, $45 for both days

Event sponsors:
Tao Tea Leaf, The Tea Guild of Canada,
Niagara College: Division of Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies, HOJICHA CO.

More information can be found: https://teafestivaltoronto.com
Facebook: Toronto Tea Festival
Twitter: @TOTeaFestival
Instagram: @torontoteafestival

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Fashion visionary Bob Mackie made a special visit to Toronto this weekend in support of his new Documentary NAKED ILLUSION, directed by Matthew Miele.

With two Q&A appearances following weekend screenings of the Film at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Mackie reflects on a dazzling six-decade-spanning career having designed iconic looks for the likes of Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett (and her eponymous show), Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Donna Summer, Elton John, Tina Turner, Miley Cyrus, and several more. Some of these names even appear in the Documentary. He has won Primetime Emmys and TONYs and his vision to this day,.still dictates red carpet sensibilities. Mackie is an American treasure.

So delighted to have met the man behind some of Fashion’s most unforgettable moments. And he is absolute angel, still looking great and full of life in his mid–80s! He mentioned needing to go get his glasses after having drinks with some notable names in Canadian fashion, prior to his screening. Will never forget this moment! He was so personable!

You can now stream NAKED ILLUSION on-demand on Prime Video.

(Photo/video credit: QE Deux | Mr. Will Wong)

MUFASA: THE LION KING reclaims the top spot this weekend with $12 million from 3,555 theatres for Disney. This brings its North America run to $210.5 million over five weekends.

Debuting in second is ONE OF THEM DAYS with $11 million from 2,675 theatres for Sony Pictures. The Buddy Comedy starring SZA and Keke Palmer gets a stellar 96% on the Tomatometer.

Third is WOLF MAN with $10.5 million from 3,354 theatres for Universal Pictures. This Horror starring Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, gets 53% on the Tomatometer.

Fourth goes to SONIC THE HEDGEHOG with $8 million for Paramount Pictures. Its run now is brought to $218.2 million.

DEN OF THIEVES 2: PANTERA rounds the Top Five out with $7.4 million, taking it to $28.5 million for VVS Films/Lionsgate.

Paramount+ today announced that the Paramount Pictures’ epic, GLADIATOR II, will stream on the service beginning Tuesday, January 21, in Canada and the U.S..* GLADIATOR II is the long-awaited sequel to the Best Picture® Oscar-winning film, GLADIATOR, directed by legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott. GLADIATOR is also currently available to stream on Paramount+ alongside a robust collection of critically acclaimed movies and series. Over the course of the 28 days following the sequel’s release, the original film saw a massive 96% lift in viewership.

From legendary director Ridley Scott, GLADIATOR II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Packed with an all-star cast including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington, GLADIATOR II has earned over $455 million at the global box office. The film, which is Certified Fresh™ on Rotten Tomatoes® and has received widespread acclaim from The New York Times, TIME Magazine, Rolling Stone, RogerEbert.com and other top tier publications, has been praised for its astonishing action sequences and powerhouse performances.

The film has been included in the National Board of Review Awards’ Top Ten Films of 2024 and has been nominated for two Golden Globes®, four Critics’ Choice Awards, three BAFTA Film Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Paramount Pictures presents GLADIATOR II, a Scott Free, Lucy Fisher / Douglas Wick Production, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ridley Scott, with a story by Peter Craig and David Scarpa and a screenplay by David Scarpa, based on characters created by David Franzoni. The film is produced by Douglas Wick, p.g.a., Ridley Scott, p.g.a., Lucy Fisher, p.g.a., Michael Pruss, p.g.a. and David Franzoni, and is executive produced by Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Raymond Kirk and Aidan Elliott.

GLADIATOR II is rated R for strong bloody violence.

• The film’s availability in additional international Paramount+ markets will be announced at a later date.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a copy of WICKED on 4k Ultra HD! Available on-demand right now, the highest-grossing Broadway Musical adaptation of all time continues to be a huge hit!

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WICKED IS AVAILABLE ON 4K UHD, Blu-ray™ and DVD on FEBRUARY 4, 2025.

(Photo/video credit: Univeral Pictures)

AMERICAN MANHUNT: O.J. SIMPSON steams only On Netflix January 29, 2025. Today, we get a new Trailer.

ABOUT AMERICAN MANHUNT: O.J. SIMPSON:
This four episode docuseries takes an in-depth look at the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and the trial that dominated the news cycle in the mid-1990s, from the chase on LA freeways to the riveting court proceedings. Featuring new and candid interviews with key individuals — including Goldman’s sister Kim, O.J. Simpson prosecutor Christopher Darden, L.A. police detective Mark Fuhrman, O.J. Simpson defense attorney Carl Douglas, and key witness Kato Kaelin — informed by 30 years of reflection, the series reexamines the true crime story that changed American culture . From director Floyd Russ (American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing, Untold: Malice at the Palace) American Manhunt: OJ Simpson offers a fresh perspective on a case viewers only think they know.

Format: Documentary Series; 4 x 60 minutes

Director: Floyd Russ (American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing, Zion, Malice at the Palace)

Executive Producers: William Green, Aaron Ginsburg, Floyd Russ, Kerstin Emhoff, Ali Brown, Tiller Russell

NITV is excited to announce that our Inuit-language broadcast service, Uvagut TV, will start streaming on basic cable packages across Canada on January 20, 2025. One of the first solely-Indigenous language networks in the world, this is a truly historic moment for Inuit and Indigenous communities, and all Canadians.

To celebrate our launch on January 20, Uvagut TV will share a full programming line-up of some of our most popular and beloved programs from our archives. Since our initial launch in 2021, we have been proud to share an incredible line-up of award-winning feature films, documentaries, children’s programming, community interviews, and more. Tune in on January 20 to learn more!

CRTC Approval

After the landmark CRTC decision approving NITV’s application under Section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act in October, NITV began to work to ensure that our broadcast service will be available for basic cable packages across Canada to over 10 million subscribers. We anticipate that our service should be fully operational nationwide in the coming few weeks.

We are so grateful to the many people and organizations across Canada who made this happen with your support, hard work and advocacy. We are also so grateful to our hard-working staff, partners, and community media teams across Canada who’ve been working so hard keeping Uvagut TV operational over the four-year application process.

New Productions

With the CRTC approval for mandatory distribution in 2024 Uvagut TV is looking for new, original productions to finance. We can provide producers with broadcast license fees and performance envelope allocations for Inuit language productions including feature films, documentaries, children’s programming and series. Send us your ideas, or stay tuned for more information coming on our website.

Producer Training Workshops

In November, 2024, NITV hosted the first Producer Training Workshops series for Inuit and northern participants with great success. “25 students joined us from across Canada,” said Lucy Tulugarjuk, NITV Executive Director. “In the workshops, we covered the basic skills needed to develop creative projects, from development through production, post-production and management.”

The online workshops, held in English and Inuktitut, were designed to be accessible for participants of all backgrounds, with information about how to apply for funding, work with actors, and work on location in northern productions. “[It] was very useful for me…The workshops gave me a broad overview of the filming process from start to finish,” said participant Robby Qammaniq, from Gjoa Haven (Nunavut).

“Thank you so much for this opportunity…[the workshops] balanced the aspects of producing with practical, hands-on advice,” said participant Joshua Baker, from Vancouver, BC.

Enhanced Programming

In addition to children’s programming, award-winning feature films, and documentary television series, Uvagut TV consistently shares special events and live broadcasts from communities across Inuit Nunangat. This year, Uvagut TV shared 121 programs (over 100 hours) of original programs created by community media teams in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Ontario and Québec.

These programs included current affairs coverage, demonstrations of traditional crafts, and interviews with artists, elders and community leaders. Featured performances included musicians Louise Nigiyok, Lucien Taleriktok, Mark Sr. Arualak, Alaina Joe Beaudin, and Jason Nasogaluak; traditional singing and drumming with Nina Kautuq and Jutanie Kautuq; and special events coverage of the Return of the Sun celebration, Nunavut Days, Jon Lindell Memorial Hockey Tournament, National Indigenous Day, Great Northern Arts Festival, Traditional Drum Dance and Ajaaja gathering in Rankin Inlet and the Terence Tootoo Memorial Hockey Tournament.

ABOUT UVAGUT TV
Launched in 2021, Uvagut TV (meaning “our” TV) is Canada’s first 24/7 Inuktut language television station. Broadcasting to 600,000 subscribers on Shaw, Arctic Co-op and local satellite channels across Canada, Uvagut TV is owned and operated by Nunavut Independent Television (NITV), an Inuit owned non-profit founded in 1991. Sharing award-winning, Inuit-created feature films, documentaries, current affairs, children’s programming, and live broadcasts every week, Uvagut TV provides a vital service for Inuit audiences in the north and the south. Uvagut TV is available online at: www.uvagut.tv.

The Mac Miller Estate releases Balloonerism, the fan-favorite album that Mac created in 2014 from the same creative period that birthed his beloved mixtape Faces, officially for the first time. After being initially teased with a cryptic trailer at Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival this past fall, Balloonerism was preceded by the single “5 Dollar Pony Rides,” which was released last week. The album arrives alongside Balloonerism – A Film Based On The Album By Mac Miller, directed by Samuel Jerome Mason and produced by Hornet. Presented by Remember Music & Warner Records, the film represents a long-form companion to the album that further illuminates the world showcased by the album’s trailer and is available to stream globally via Prime Video now.

Speaking about the process of conceptualizing and creating the film, Samuel Jerome Mason shares:

I was first approached by Miller and Karen to work on a music film to accompany Mac Miller’s unreleased album, Balloonerism, in 2023. I began by trying to find a thematic thread running through the album, which features illustrative lyrics that tell beguiling and tangential stories. The line, “but do you feel as big as your shadow,” struck me, and it became the thesis of sorts for the video.

Understanding the album to be about growing up, I set out to make a film that meditates on time—racing time and losing innocence. The roles that children adopt and how those roles ossify into adults who at their cores are still those shadowy children. The main character, Timmy, takes on the role of the wizard or storyteller, the one who summons a vision of the future for his group of friends.

In racing ahead, the children play out their darker instincts, letting their shadows run wild. In trying to fly they fall. But that journey is life itself, and the wisdom of older age resides in the newfound empathy we can extend to our younger, clumsier selves.

This interplay between gravity and light hopefully echoes the emotional effect of Malcolm’s music. He captured the way we all feel at times—lost, confused, and small—with humor, humility, and honesty. This album immortalizes Malcolm’s distinct spirit—as all wizards live forever through their magic—and I tried to do his legacy justice.

The project is indebted to Malcolm and the work surrounding the album—the artwork and plans laid, the maps drawn. As animators and filmmakers, we feel immense gratitude in joining ranks of collaborators and contributors to this album.

The album is available now digitally as well as in a variety of physical formats including CD, cassette and vinyl, all of which are now available for purchase. The vinyl, which was designed by Bráulio Amado with Mac’s commissioned cover art by Alim Smith, is available as a two-LP release across two exclusive variants only available through balloonerism.com – a one-time, limited edition deluxe pressing that features a rainbow foil-wrapped slipcase with white splatter cloud vinyl and a 32-page color booklet featuring photos and lyrics as well as a limited one-time pressing that features clear vinyl.

Listen to Balloonerism and watch Balloonerism – A Film Based On The Album By Mac Miller above now.

1. Tambourine Dream
2. DJ’s Chord Organ (feat. SZA)
3. Do You Have A Destination?
4. 5 Dollar Pony Rides
5. Friendly Hallucinations
6. Mrs. Deborah Downer
7. Stoned
8. Shangri-La
9. Funny Papers
10. Excelsior
11. Transformations (feat. Delusional Thomas)
12. Manakins
13. Rick’s Piano
14. Tomorrow Will Never Know