MUBI, the global distributor, streaming service and production company, is proud to announce that Akinola Davies Jr.’s directorial debut feature, My Father’s Shadow, will be released in cinemas across Canada from February 6, 2026.

Starring Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (Slow Horses, Gangs Of London) and introducing Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo. My Father’s Shadow had its World Premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and was the first Nigerian film eve to premiere in the festival, playing in the prestigious Un Certain Regard strand. Akinola Davies Jr. (Lizard) earned a Special Mention from the Awards Jury for the Camera d’Or. The film has since had its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival and is the most nominated film at the British Independent Film Awards with 12 nominations in total, the film also received Gotham Film Award nominations in the Breakthrough Director and Outstanding Lead Performance categories.

A semi-autobiographical tale set over the course of a single day in the Nigerian metropolis Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. The story follows a father, estranged from his two young sons, as they travel through the massive city while political unrest threatens their journey home.

Co-written by Akinola Davies Jr. and Wale Davies, and exquisitely shot by cinematographer Jermaine Edwards, My Father’s Shadow captures, through a child’s eyes, a moment of profound historical upheaval – when everything is on the verge of change.

MY FATHER’S SHADOW IS RELEASED IN CANADA ON
FEBRUARY 6, 2026

About MUBI
MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI creates, curates, acquires and champions visionary films, bringing them to audiences all over the world.

MUBI is a place to discover ambitious films, from both iconic directors and emerging auteurs. All carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators. With MUBI GO, members in select countries can get a free ticket every week to see the best new films in cinemas. And Notebook explores all sides of cinema culture — both in print and online.

Some previous and upcoming MUBI Releases include: Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, Joshua Oppenheimer’s The End, Magnus von Horn’s The Girl with the Needle, Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane’s Grand Theft Hamlet, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, Ira Sachs’ Passages, Pedro Almodóvar’s Strange Way of Life, Molly Manning Walker’s How to Have Sex, Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves, Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun, Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave, Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World, Lukas Dhont’s Close, and Céline Sciamma’s Petite Maman.

MUBI Productions include Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind starring Josh O’Connor, Christopher Andrews’ Bring Them Down starring Christopher Abbott and Barry Keoghan, Elizabeth Sankey’s Witches, and Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross’ Gasoline Rainbow. MUBI Co-productions include Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother starring Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Tom Waits, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat, Karim Aïnouz’s Rosebush Pruning starring Callum Turner, Riley Keough, Jamie Bell, Lukas Gage, Elena Anaya, Tracy Letts, Elle Fanning and Pamela Anderson, and Michel Franco’s Memory starring Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard.

Founded in 2007 by Efe Cakarel, MUBI is the biggest community of film lovers anywhere, with members across 190 different countries. MUBI is headquartered in London, with 15 offices across the world and over 400 employees. MUBI acquired renowned sales agent and production company The Match Factory and Match Factory Productions in January 2022, and a majority stake in leading Benelux film distributor Cinéart in February 2024.

Subscription plans are $14.99 a month or $119.88 for 12 months, or $19.99 a month or $167.88 for 12 months to include MUBI GO. MUBI is available on the web, Roku devices, Apple Vision Pro, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, LG and Samsung Smart TVs, as well as on mobile devices including iPad, iPhone and Android.

Game Theory Films announced today that they have boarded writer-director Alexander Carson’s (O, Brazen Age) sophomore feature film ALBERTA NUMBER ONE for distribution in Canada and the US. The Alberta-shot film from Calgary-based North Country Cinema, will launch in theatres starting November 15th with screenings and Q&As in locations including Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and more locations to be announced.

In ALBERTA NUMBER ONE, an eccentric documentary crew treks across the vast roadways of Alberta, to document monuments, museums, and other roadside curios. Armed with only a loose idea of the project’s final form, the wayward director struggles to manage a slew of messy personal entanglements and rivalries embroiling her collaborators. They look for meaning in the landscape, but their search turns inward as they’re inspired to reckon with their own lives. Directed with a light touch, this charming cross-country odyssey is part revisionist Western and part road movie.

ALBERTA NUMBER ONE asks: What is the contemporary role of museums, institutions that often perpetuate representations of cultural authority? Are these public places complicit in maintaining unequal power relations and existing stereotypes? In the development phase of the film, seven accomplished Canadian artists joined Carson as writing correspondents and collaborators: Benjamin Carson, Bebe Buckskin, Kris Demeanor, Alexandra Lazarowich, Randall Okita, Liz Peterson, and Ingrid Vargas. All of the collaborators stayed with the film, six are featured in the film as the characters they researched and Lazarowich stayed on as Executive Producer.

Alexander (Sandy) Carson is a Canadian filmmaker whose work explores the intersections of collective practice and personal storytelling. Carson’s films have screened at TIFF and the San Francisco International Film Festival, where he received the Golden Gate Award for New Visions in 2014. His critically acclaimed first feature film, O, Brazen Age, was released in 2015, he is a graduate of the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University (BFA, MA) in Montreal, and completed his MFA in Creative Practice at Transart Institute, Liverpool John Moores University (UK). He is a founding member of the North Country Cinema media arts collective in Calgary, and holds the position of Chair of the Bachelor of Creative Arts program at Yorkville University. Alexander sophomore feature ALBERTA NUMBER ONE debuted at Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (FNC) in Montreal and premiered in the United States at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival. ALBERTA NUMBER ONE was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Film at the New Jersey Film Festival at Rutgers University in 2025. Carson was born and raised in Ottawa, lived in Alberta, which inspired the making of the film, and now resides in Toronto.

ALBERTA NUMBER ONE was produced by North Country Cinema, written, directed and produced by Alexander Carson, produced by Sara Corry and Kyle Thomas and cinematography by David Ehrenreich. The film was shot in and around Calgary, Alberta and was produced with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Alberta Media Fund, Telefilm Canada and is being distributed by Game Theory films. The film will screen across Canada with dates set in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and more locations and dates to be announced.

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The audible full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is now available and has quickly become number 1 in Canada!

The reimagined production brings the story to life with a dynamic, ensemble cast (including Hugh Laurie, Matthew Macfadyen, and Riz Ahmed), immersive sound design, and a rich cinematic score transporting you to Platform 3/4. Whether revisiting the series or it is your first time, it is a fresh experience for all.

Details:

Premiered November 4th

By J. K. Rowling

Narrated by a full cast including Frankie Treadaway, Max Lester, Arabella Stanton, Hugh Laurie, Matthew Macfadyen, Riz Ahmed, and Michelle Gomez

Later audiobooks in the series will also feature Kit Harington, Keira Knightley, Iwan Rheon, Daniel Mays, Bill Nighy, and more

The beloved stories as you’ve never experienced them. Get ready to be transported to the world of Harry Potter in a captivating production that features hundreds of unique voices and immersive sound design that brings the wizarding world vividly to life in Dolby Atmos. You’ll hear footsteps echoing through the corridors of Hogwarts and the heart-racing whoosh of the Golden Snitch as it darts past your ears in the heat of a Quidditch match. Also featuring an electrifying new musical score, The Full-Cast Audio Editions present J.K. Rowling’s iconic series as a truly spellbinding listening event for the whole family.

Focus Features, Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will are delighted to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of tiff50 People’s Choice Award winning HAMNET.

Screenings take place as follows:

TORONTO

Wednesday, November 19

Cineplex Varsity 

7:00PM

VANCOUVER

Wednesday, November 19

Cineplex International Village

7:00PM

MONTREAL

Wednesday, November 19

Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal

7:30PM

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK or IG. In the comments tell us which City and tag 1 friend you’re taking. You can enter multiple times. You must be following on the platform you are entering on.

Rules and regulations here.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada release HAMNET November 27, 2025.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada/Focus Features)

THE RUNNING MAN IS IN THEATRES, 4DX, PREMIUM LARGE FORMAT AND IMAX ON NOVEMBER 14, 2025!

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

The Film just had its U.S. Premiere last night! What a Cast!

Paramount Pictures Presents

In Association with Domain Entertainment

A Kinberg Genre / Complete Fiction Production

An Edgar Wright Film

“THE RUNNING MAN”

SYNOPSIS

In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY

George Linder, James Biddle, Rachael Prior, Audrey Chon, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, Andrew Lary

PRODUCED BY

Simon Kinberg, p.g.a. Nira Park, p.g.a. Edgar Wright, p.g.a.

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY

Stephen King

SCREENPLAY BY

Michael Bacall and Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright

DIRECTED BY

Edgar Wright

STARRING

Glen Powell, William H. Macy, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, Jayme Lawson, Sean Hayes, Katy O’Brian with Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin

Celebrating the release of her new single “Mature,” multiplatinum global superstar Hilary Duff will return to the stage for the first time in over a decade with a very special run of intimate live shows in January 2026. The “Small Rooms, Big Nerves” dates kick off January 19 at London’s historic O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, followed by stops at HISTORY in Toronto, ON (January 24), New York City’s brand new Brooklyn Paramount (January 27), and Los Angeles’ iconic Wiltern (January 29).

Fans can sign up for the artist presale now HERE until Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm GMT. No codes are needed (access is tied to the fan’s Ticketmaster account), and anyone who signs up can join the sale. The artist presale begins on Friday, November 14th at 10am local time. General on sale begins Friday, November 14th at 3pm local time HERE.

“It’s happening,” says Hilary. “I’m over the moon to be stepping on stage again. I’ve got some new songs that I can’t wait to share with you and of course some old favorites we can scream together. It’s been a minute and I’ve missed you. Let’s make some mems.”

Marking a bold and self-assured return to pop, “Mature” marks her first new music in a decade. Co-written by Duff, her husband, and GRAMMY®-winning songwriter/producer Matthew Koma (Britney Spears, Pink), and hitmaker Madison Love (Halsey, Ava Max), the sardonic, shimmering track arrives as a piece of autofiction inspired by romantic misadventures in her formative years. Set against bright pop production and layered with Duff’s signature wit and vulnerability, “Mature” is accompanied by an evocative music video directed by Lauren Dunn (Olivia Rodrigo, Dove Cameron, Saweetie) – watch HERE.

“‘Mature’ is a little conversation that my present self is having with my younger self,” shared Hilary. “The two of us are reflecting on a past experience and sending love to each other. It’s a chuckle, a wink, and a sense of being grateful that we are sure footed in where we landed.”

“Mature” follows the news of Duff’s upcoming docuseries, which will chronicle her long-awaited musical return and personal journey, offering an unfiltered vignette into Hilary’s world. Embracing the ups, downs, and everything in between, fans will ride shotgun as she balances raising a family, recording new music, live show rehearsals, and preparing to perform on stage for the first time in over a decade. Directed and executive produced by GRAMMY®-nominated and Emmy Award-winning director Sam Wrench [Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter] through Next of Kin Content, an EverWonder Studio company, the series will feature a fascinating fusion of vérité footage, stylized interviews, performances, and videos from her personal archive.

Hilary Duff is using Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange to help fans get tickets at the original price. Tickets can only be resold on Ticketmaster at face value. In New York, where laws prevent resale restrictions, Ticketmaster will still honor Hilary Duff’s terms by keeping resale prices at face value on its site.

ABOUT HILARY DUFF

One of the defining stars of her generation, multiplatinum global icon Hilary Duff is returning to the pop world with her boldest and most self-assured project yet. After rising to fame as the titular star of the Disney Channel blockbuster, “Lizzie McGuire,” Duff first kicked off her music career with 2003’s 4X platinum Metamorphosis (featuring the Top 40-charting “So Yesterday” and “Come Clean”), then released her platinum-selling 2004 self-titled LP and 2007 autobiographical dance-pop collection Dignity. With those three albums alone selling a collective 15 million copies worldwide, she also established herself as a producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and New York Times-bestselling author, all while continuing to deliver standout performances in TV and film, including her award-nominated turn on Darren Star’s “Younger.”

Recently signed to Atlantic Records, Duff is now launching a thrilling new chapter and sharing her first new music since 2015’s Breathe In. Breathe Out. (a No. 5 debut on the Billboard 200, made with an extensive lineup of producers/co-writers, including Tove Lo and Ed Sheeran).

HILARY DUFF LIVE 2026

JANUARY

19 – London, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

24 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY

27 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount

29 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian), Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival, is pleased to announce that Montréal, ma belle directed by Xiaodan He has won the RBC Best Canadian Film Award at the 2025 Festival. Also, I Am A Flower directed by Ariel Victor Arthanto was awarded the Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Best Short Film Award. The Reel Asian Awards will be celebrated with an Awards brunch on Sunday, November 9, bringing together filmmakers, jury, and industry partners in attendance. The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival has begun and runs until November 15 and online from November 10 – 23, 2025. For more details, visit reelasian.com.

“As we approach Reel Asian’s 30th year, we’re inspired by the incredible quality and creativity of the submissions we continue to receive,” said Deanna Wong, Executive Director of Reel Asian. “The unprecedented number of entries reflect the festival’s continued growth and impact on Asian cinema globally. Congratulations to all the award winners whose artistry continues to raise the bar.”

The 2025 Features Jury includes Elizabeth Wijaya, Assistant Professor in the Department of Visual Studies and the Cinema Studies Institute at the University of Toronto and producer of Mongrel (Directors’ Fortnight, Caméra d’Or Special Mention, Cannes 2024), Viet and Nam (Un Certain Regard, Cannes 2024) and Taste (Special Jury Award, Berlinale 2021); Lucius Dechausay, Executive in Charge of Production at CBC Documentaries and an award-winning director, producer, and editor; and filmmaker Zarrar Kahn, whose debut feature, In Flames, won the John Dunning Best Debut Feature at the Canadian Screen Awards and represented Pakistan at the 2024 Academy Awards®.

The 2024 Shorts Jury includes writer, programmer and cultural worker Winnie Wang; director, producer, editor, and Diaspora Film Festival programmer Ksan Lee (Miracle on Jongno Street); and 2021 Reel Asian’s So You Think You Can Pitch? winner and award-winning filmmaker Nedda Sarshar (Unibrow).

Reel Asian continues its commitment to supporting diverse voices with the annual Fire Horse Award, recognising an Asian Canadian in the media arts or screen-based industries who have dedicated their energy and talents to breaking down barriers, uplifting Asian Canadian communities, and sparking cultural change. Past Award recipients include Keith Lock, Mary Stephen, Paul Wong and Ali Kazimi. Reel Asian is currently accepting nominations for next year’s Fire Horse Award recipient. More details can be found here.

The 29th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival will wrap up its in-person events with the annual So You Think You Can Pitch? Live Finale on Saturday, November 15, hosted by Rakhee Morzaria (Run the Burbs, Dinner with Friends). Five emerging filmmaking teams will go head-to-head, presenting their short film ideas to a panel of distinguished jurors for a prize package to help bring their project to life. This exciting finale celebrates the innovative and creative stories that define the future of Asian Canadian cinema.

The festival will continue to screen select films online until November 23, extending access to audiences across Canada.

Full list of Reel Asian award winners for the 29th edition:

RBC Best Canadian Feature Film Award
MONTRÉAL, MA BELLE by Xiaodan He

Xiaodan He’s sophomore offering is a deeply-felt portrait of womanhood, family and identity. Joan Chen is nothing short of a revelation as Feng, a character imbued with delicate power. The film is a window into contemporary Montreal, capturing the romance of the city and the rich intersectionality of its citizens. Xiaodan He crafts a tender poem of a film, that aches with a beating passion — for love, for family, and for being true to oneself. The jury is compelled to award the RBC Best Canadian Feature Film Award to Montréal, ma belle.

Dipchand LLP Best Feature Film Award
FUCKTOYS by Annapurna Sriram

This glistening film uses confident and inventive film language to create a hilarious and luscious, alternate but familiar world that is tender and cruel, and irreverent yet deeply critical. It builds beautifully messy vignettes that shine a light on people who are usually made invisible. It pushes cinema forward, reminding the audience of how storytelling can transform and challenge perspectives. The film is a wild, rollicking ride from start to finish, with stellar performances, production design, costumes and cinematography. The multi-hyphenate director establishes themselves as a revolutionary voice, while paying homage to the trailblazing artists who came before them — part John Waters, part Gregg Araki, part something that feels intangibly fresh and exciting. The jury awards Best Feature to Annapurna Sriram’s Fucktoys.

Osler Best First Feature Award
AKASHI by Mayumi Yoshida

In this beautifully crafted film, our protagonist Kana struggles with her sense of duty, place and worthiness of love after leaving those who cared for her to chase her own dreams. She can rest assured that because of her art she holds a fond place in the hearts of the jurors.

With its picturesque cinematography, graceful characterisation and mature storytelling, the jury is happy to award the intimate yet ambitious Akashi with the Osler Award for Best First Feature.

Reel Asian–DOC Institute Best Documentary Award
THERE ARE NO WORDS by Min Sook Lee

At once brave, beautiful, and heartbreaking, there are no answers in this investigation of transgenerational silences intertwined with personal and political histories of migration, violence, and family secrets. This haunting film is a moving ode to living on in the face of grief and difficult inheritances. The jury awards the Reel Asian–DOC Institute Best Documentary Award

Air Canada Short Film or Video Award
KARUPY by Kalainithan Kalaichelvan

MOTEL GRAND-PRÉ by Calvin Liu

HAIR! by Sara Jade Alfaro-Dehghani

BUGSICK by Silverfish Pictures

WE WERE THE SCENERY by Christopher Radcliff

The jury put a great deal of thought into the selection of the five films for this year’s Air Canada Short Film or Video Award. The final selection represents the diversity of talent, vision and form behind all films selected at the festival. From a matriarch’s rebellious stance at a family gathering to an intimate portrayal of a family-run business in eastern Quebec to a ritualistic hair removal merging culture and sisterhood to a sad bug’s healing process after a breakup to a refugee couples venture into film, this selection brings an experience that delivers the heart and truth of the human experience, and the bravery needed to deliver it.

Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Best Short Film Award
I AM A FLOWER by Ariel Victor Arthanto

This film presents a profound story of self-affirmation and the embracement of others, showing a compelling narrative of both conflict and reconciliation. Above all, this film serves as a crucial political message calling for respect for diversity in an era of rising far-right extremism. For recreating these essential virtues with such bold and lucid strokes, we proudly present the Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Best Short Film Award to director Ariel Victor Arthanto for I am a Flower.

SAMANSA Short Film Award
THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS by Elham Ehsas

This year’s SAMANSA Short Film Award recognises There Will Come Soft Rains as the winner for its tender yet unwavering depiction of the looming threat of climate change that haunts both the living and even the dead; the great lengths our protagonist takes to protect her beloved father from rising sea levels and ensure posterity is a powerful testament to love amidst a sinking world.

Directors Guild of Canada–Ontario and WIFT+ Toronto Film Award
SAME TIME NEXT YEAR? by Anushay Sheikh

In their debut fiction work, Anushay Sheikh brilliantly crafts a world shared by two former lovers through words that are spoken and unspoken, gazes that are returned and unreturned, and touches that must be deferred to an uncertain future. Within the affordances and limitations of the short film format, Sheikh shows great promise as a director who locates cultural specificity, conveys emotional depth, and above all, understands that what is on screen is equally important as what is left off-screen. For these reasons, we are pleased to grant Same Time Next Year? the DGC Ontario & WIFT+ Toronto Film Award.

Armstrong Acting Studios Outstanding Performer in a Canadian Short Film
SUMATHY BALARAM for Karupy

It is the jury’s pleasure to name the Armstrong Acting Studios Outstanding Performer in a Canadian Short Film Award to Sumathy Balaram for her portrayal of the main character, Karupy. The jury was beyond impressed by her subtle and restrained performance that conveyed the rage simmering beneath her character’s stoicism. Her remarkable chemistry with the ensemble, as well as the commanding presence she brings to solitary moments on screen, make her performance unforgettable. As the manipulative matriarch at the story’s core, Balaram delivers a portrayal that is somehow chilling, hilarious and deeply human—an extraordinary achievement that left us in awe.

Michael Fukushima AnimAsian Award
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE by Jin

It is not easy to recreate personal stories through film. Yet, this short film fiercely reconstructs inner struggles and competing identities – all with a hand drawn touch. In doing so, the director freely expresses the vitality of their identities and affirms the complexities of selfhood. We highly commend the director’s artistic courage by presenting this year’s Michael Fukushima AnimAsian Award to director Jin for Thank You For Your Love.

Canadian Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography Award
Winner of Best Cinematography: Calvin Liu for MOTEL GRAND PRÉ

With evocative, emotional and patient cinematography, Motel Grand-Pré’s images served the narrative in every way, making it the jury’s unanimous choice for this award. This short documentary is told with immersive compositions and lighting that support its subject matter with remarkable restraint. Liu perfectly pairs his imagery with the storyline to set a mood and tell a story without being self-conscious. An inspiring film, from a strong auteur-driven voice – Liu is a filmmaker to keep an eye on!

Special Mention: Rita Tse for SERENE HUES

A visually stunning, experimental film that provoked discussion and questioned the definition of cinematography. The analog techniques used and unexpected images created were visually transcendent, resulting in a captivating and meditative final piece that defies typical boundaries of cinematic expression.

So You Think You Can Pitch? Awards:

The 2025 Pitch Jury will announce the winner of the Silver Prize Award and Gold Prize Award during the live event on November 15 from 7:00pm ET. The Pitch Jury includes producer Eman Pathan, filmmaker Meelad Moaphi and filmmaker Yung Chang.

Audience Choice Film Awards

The winners of the Blue Ant Media Audience Choice Feature Award and the Audience Choice Short Film Award, sponsored by BFL Canada and Sutton Entertainment will be determined on Sunday November 23.

Click here for a list of 2025 Reel Asian Award Winners and for more information on the Festival, visit reelasian.com.

Reel Asian celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026 and is generously supported by Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Province of Ontario, and Government of Canada.

About Reel Asian
The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian) is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema and work from the Asian diaspora. As Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival, Reel Asian® provides a public forum for Asian media artists and their work, and fuels the growing appreciation for Asian cinema in Canada. This year’s festival runs November 5–15, 2025 all over downtown Toronto and online across Canada, Nov 10–23, showcasing special projects featuring prominent artists, content creators, up-and-coming filmmakers and will also include the “Reel Ideas” program for creative minds in the industry to connect online. Works presented at Reel Asian include films, videos, and presentations by artists in Canada, the U.S., Asia and all over the world. Reel Asian celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026.

PREDATOR: BADLANDS feasts at the Box Office with a $37 million opening from 3,725 theatres for 20th Century Studios. It gets 85% on the Tomatometer as well, and is the second-highest debut for the Franchise, following the $38 million 2004’s mashup ALIEN vs. PREDATOR made, but this as its standalone in the Franchise, can be counted as a Franchise best. Elle Fanning stars. Our Dave Baldwin‘s review here.

Second goes to REGRETTING YOU, taking $7.3 million for Paramount Pictures, en route to $38.7 million domestically.

In third is THE BLACK PHONE 2 with $5.2 million, a tally of $70 million for Universal Pictures.

Faith-based film SARAH’S OIL debuts in fourth with $4.4 million for Amazon MGM Studios.

Rounding things out is historical drama NUREMBERG starring Russell Crowe and Rami Malek, with $3.8 million for Mongrel Media/Sony Pictures Classics. This gets 68% on the Tomatometer.

Marking a bold and self-assured return to pop, multiplatinum global superstar Hilary Duff releases her highly anticipated new single “Mature” via Atlantic Records – her first new music in a decade. Co-written by Duff, her husband, and GRAMMY®-winning songwriter/producer Matthew Koma (Britney Spears, Pink), and hitmaker Madison Love (Halsey, Ava Max), the sardonic, shimmering track arrives as a piece of autofiction inspired by romantic misadventures in her formative years.

“‘Mature’ is a little conversation that my present self is having with my younger self,” says Hilary. “The two of us are reflecting on a past experience and sending love to each other. It’s a chuckle, a wink, and a sense of being grateful that we are sure footed in where we landed.”

Set against bright pop production and layered with Duff’s signature wit and vulnerability, “Mature” is accompanied by an evocative music video directed by Lauren Dunn (Olivia Rodrigo, Dove Cameron, Saweetie), premiering today on Hilary’s YouTube channel [watch HERE].

“Mature” follows the recent announcement of Duff’s upcoming docuseries, which will chronicle her long-awaited musical return and personal journey, offering an unfiltered vignette into Hilary’s world. Embracing the ups, downs, and everything in between, fans will ride shotgun as she balances raising a family, recording new music, live show rehearsals, and preparing to perform on stage for the first time in over a decade.

Directed and executive produced by GRAMMY®-nominated and Emmy Award-winning director Sam Wrench [Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter] through Next of Kin Content, an EverWonder Studio company, the series will feature a fascinating fusion of vérité footage, stylized interviews, performances, and videos from her personal archive.

ABOUT HILARY DUFF

One of the defining stars of her generation, multiplatinum global icon Hilary Duff is returning to the pop world with her boldest and most self-assured project yet. After rising to fame as the titular star of the Disney Channel blockbuster, “Lizzie McGuire,” Duff first kicked off her music career with 2003’s 4X platinum Metamorphosis (featuring the Top 40-charting “So Yesterday” and “Come Clean”), then released her platinum-selling 2004 self-titled LP and 2007 autobiographical dance-pop collection Dignity. With those three albums alone selling a collective 15 million copies worldwide, she also established herself as a producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and New York Times-bestselling author, all while continuing to deliver standout performances in TV and film, including her award-nominated turn on Darren Star’s “Younger.”

Recently signed to Atlantic Records, Duff is now launching a thrilling new chapter and sharing her first new music since 2015’s Breathe In. Breathe Out. (a No. 5 debut on the Billboard 200, made with an extensive lineup of producers/co-writers, including Tove Lo and Ed Sheeran).

Canada’s next generation of filmmakers is stepping into the spotlight, and they’re bringing the stories of iconic Canadian trailblazers to life.

The Canada’s Walk of Fame’s 2025 Future Storytellers program, presented by founding partner NBCUniversal, alongside Seeing Red Media and Cineplex, features four short films, each focusing on a Canadian icon and Inductee: Tantoo Cardinal, Dr. Samantha Nutt, Alan Frew, and Rick Mercer. Created by emerging filmmakers from Humber Polytechnic and Sheridan College, these three-minute films blend creativity, heart and originality, showing that the future of Canadian film is as bold and brilliant as the legends it honours.

The shorts drop online Friday, November 7, 2025 on the newly designed canadaswalkoffame.com, with a special Future Storytellers Screening Event planned for March 2026. Highlight reels will also appear on Cineplex screens nationwide in early 2026 as part of pre-show entertainment.

The 2025 Canada’s Walk of Fame Future Storytellers Filmmakers and Inductees:

ARUSHI SABHARWAL (Humber Polytechnic)

Subject: Tantoo Cardinal, 2023 Inductee, Actor and Advocate

Coming to Canada as an international student in 2023, Sabharwal is an aspiring filmmaker and storyteller currently working as a freelance creative professional and developing an independent animated short film. Born in a North Indian household, her journey with storytelling began as an act of creative self-expression and survival.

“The Future Storytellers program is an incredible opportunity for student filmmakers aspiring to step into the industry and gain hands-on professional experience,” says Sabharwal. “This opportunity not only helped me gain exposure to what the film industry looks like in Canada but also gave me the confidence to share and work on my story and ideas. Working with Tantoo Cardinal – an amazing actor and activist – was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. She expressed all her answers, thoughts, and experiences with so much passion, emotion, and truth. To see her in person being as authentic as that was necessary and inspiring for me, especially as a woman with stories to tell herself. As she said, ‘honour yourself. Because how you think and feel and what you want to do is valuable.’”

LAILA VAGA (Sheridan College)

Subject: Dr. Samantha Nutt, 2025 Inductee, Humanitarian and War Child Canada/War Child USA Founder

Laila Vaga is a 22-year-old Director, Producer, and 1st Assistant Director based in the Greater Toronto Area, and a graduate of Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Film and Television program. As a filmmaker and storyteller, her mission is to create work that gives a voice to those who do not have one.

“Being part of the Future Storytellers Program was an incredible and rewarding experience,” says Vaga. “I’m appreciative of the opportunity to tell Samantha Nutt’s story through this vignette while strengthening my creative skills as a Director. Interviewing Samantha Nutt was an incredibly insightful, emotional, and deeply moving experience for me. She is someone who has made a profound difference in the world and brings hope for the future. Her lessons on idealism and resilience strongly align with the values I hope to reflect in my own creative work as I continue my journey as a Director.”

EDDY YANG (Humber Polytechnic)

Subject: Alan Frew, 2023 Inductee, Glass Tiger Frontman

Eddy Yang is a 26-year-old filmmaker based in Toronto, originally from Shenyang, China. After immigrating to Vancouver at age 12, he went on to study Film Theory at McGill University, where his passion for filmmaking began.

“The Future Storytellers program gave me the opportunity to direct my first film after graduation,” says Yang. “I was generously provided with the resources I needed to let my creative juices flow. Being able to collaborate with peers and compensate them for their work — after we had all grown in our respective fields — was a truly cherished experience. For the first time, I felt capable of commanding a set toward a unified vision without nervousness. That confidence came from the trust we built as professionals. Working with Mr. Frew was incredibly inspiring. I resonated deeply with the hopeful, forward-looking tone of his songs, and while reading his memoir The Action Sandwich, I came to understand that this hope comes from his resilience in facing hardship. It’s a powerful story — one I identify with both as an immigrant and as a creative — and one that I believe will give others strength. He trusted me to carry out my directorial vision, unimpeded by my age or experience. I am grateful for his trust and for being an inspirational artist.”

MELISSA CASTILLO (Humber Polytechnic / Toronto Metropolitan University)

Subject: Rick Mercer, 2023 Inductee, Comedian, Television Personality, and Author

Melissa Castillo is a Master of Digital Media candidate at Toronto Metropolitan University and a graduate of Humber College’s Film and Multiplatform Storytelling program. Originally from the Philippines, she has worked as a video editor on projects focused on climate change, women’s empowerment, and equity in sports.

“Future Storytellers was one of those experiences that really made everything click for me,” says Castillo. “It pushed me to step out of just ‘editing the footage’ and actually own the creative direction of a piece. Working with Rick Mercer was honestly one of the highlights of this whole experience. He wasn’t just there to be interviewed; he helped us make the piece. He showed us how they used to do it back when he was filming, and it really helped us get the vibe we were going for. He’s quick, sharp, and grounded — it felt like we were all building something together.”

Shot at Toronto’s Astrolab Studios in July 2025, each film tells the story of its Inductee through the unique lens of a filmmaker from an underrepresented community – delivering a fresh take on Canadian excellence.

“Every year, Future Storytellers shows us just how transformative art can be,” says Griffin Sokal, Director of Marketing at Canada’s Walk of Fame. “This program gives young filmmakers a chance to tell deeply human stories — and this year’s subjects, Tantoo Cardinal, Dr. Samantha Nutt, Alan Frew, and Rick Mercer, each represent different ways of moving the world forward. Watching these filmmakers interpret those legacies through their own creative voices has been incredible.”

“Film is all about bringing stories to life and experiencing them together,” says Sara Moore, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Cineplex. “It is an honour to showcase these new voices in film and their compelling storytelling with audiences across the country.”

About the Future Storytellers Program

Future Storytellers amplifies diverse and emerging voices in Canadian film by pairing student filmmakers with Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees and Honourees. With presenting partnership from NBCUniversal, Seeing Red Media and Cineplex, participants receive mentorship, professional production support, and national exposure through Canada’s Walk of Fame’s digital platforms, annual celebration events, and in pre-show at Cineplex theatres across the country.

Since its launch in 2022, the Future Storytellers program has produced 17 short films, connecting student filmmakers with Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees and Honourees to tell stories that inspire audiences nationwide. In 2024 alone, the program generated 249 pieces of media coverage with a total reach of over 68 million across national and regional outlets. This growing visibility reflects how Future Storytellers continues to engage audiences while fostering creative mentorship and showcasing the next generation of filmmaking talent.

Canada’s Walk of Fame Socials
Instagram: @CWOFame | Twitter: @CWOFame | YouTube: @canadaswalkoffame | Facebook: @CWOFame
Emerging Musician Program Instagram: @emerging.musician
Hashtags: #CanadaThrives

About Canada’s Walk of Fame
Canada’s Walk of Fame is an award-winning national not-for-profit charitable organization that inspires Canadians by proudly shining a light on the journeys of Canada’s most extraordinary achievers. Canada’s Walk of Fame recognizes the significant impact of Canadian accomplishments and provides the foremost national platform to celebrate achievement in the fields of Arts & Entertainment, Sports & Athletics, Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy, Humanitarianism, and Science, Technology & Innovation. Current honours and programs include the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour, RBC Emerging Musician Program in partnership with Stingray, Future Storytellers, the Community Hero and National Hero Programs, the Hometown Stars initiative, including charitable donations to our Inductees’ causes, and the nationally televised broadcast designated by the CRTC as a program of national interest. Canada’s Walk of Fame has over 230 inductions to date, with stars having a permanent place of tribute on the streets of Toronto’s Entertainment District. For a complete list of Inductees and Honourees along with more information on Canada’s Walk of Fame, visit: www.canadaswalkoffame.com.

Canada’s Walk of Fame was established in 1998 by founders Bill Ballard, Dusty Cohl and Peter Soumalias, with Dianne Schwalm and in partnership with Gary Slaight.

Canada’s Walk of Fame gratefully acknowledges the support of its 2025 Partners: Seeing Red, Cineplex Entertainment, The Slaight Family Foundation, RBC, Air Canada, MLSE, NBCUniversal, Stingray, VIA Rail Canada, The Printing House, and Roots.