#TIFF26: “KICK ON” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Kick On is a wild ride drenched in gruesome gore.

Eden (Markella Kavenagh) has a terminally ill sister in the hospital who wants her to live her life for the both of them. So when the opportunity arises for her and her friends to embark on an all-night rager, she succumbs to the peer pressure. She quickly regret her decision when she ends up trapped inside drug-dealer Ray’s (Nikolai Nikolaeff), son of a volatile mobster, apartment.

Kick On is a high-octane siege thriller that feels made to play TIFF’s Midnight Madness. It’s wacky, gory and action packed the whole way through. Screenwriter Phillip Klimek has constructed a blood-soaked ultra-violent nightmare for Eden that Director Nick Kozakis sets ablaze. There are many gun shots, head explosions and spluttering blood to please any horror audience.

By the midway point, you’ll think that you’ve seen it all. But the filmmakers continue to build to a crescendo that’s continuously gnarlier than the last. With so much to offer, Kick On lacks in message. This feels like a straightforward survival thriller with nothing to say. However, we did have the time of our lives watching it!

Kick On screens at TIFF ’26:

Mon. Sept 14 @ 11:59 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre

Wed. Sept 16 @ 6:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Fri. Sept 18 @ 8:50 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

#TIFF26: “BUNKER” REVIEW

By Nicholas Porteous

A high-profile architect (Javier Bardem) is recruited to build an underground bunker for a famous billionaire, just in case of the apocalypse–all while his marriage (to Bardem’s real-life wife Penélope Cruz) is sputtering towards its potential end.

Florian Zeller‘s Bunker isn’t a conventional narrative–one beat leading directly to the next. It feels more like a series of provocative scenarios that gradually compound on top of each other to make a broad statement about modern existence. Its tone is difficult to pin down. Structurally, it reminds me of an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and it isn’t without a sense of humour, but it’s also very earnest–by no means a comedy. It is occasionally successful at threading this seriocomic needle. A meeting with the unnamed billionaire–played with a fantastic, understated mischievousness by Paul Dano–is a perfect oddity. But most of the time, Bunker falls short of profundity–playing its more obvious ideas as though they’re revelations. When a friend asks how Bardem and Cruz can stay married for over a decade even though we grow into different people over time, there’s no lingering feeling in the room that this is the sort of baseline question you’d get on yahoo answers.

There’s a fun, meta quality to seeing Bardem and Cruz play a married couple. While I think it’s unlikely this highly strained relationship is a reflection of their real lives, watching a pair of top-tier, Oscar-winning spouses work together is undeniably entertaining. It’s unfortunate that the script they’re working from doesn’t feel as deep as their performances. Zeller slowly builds a tapestry of tension, but he collapses any fun ambiguity between these conflicting ideas by Bunker‘s far too clear-cut ending.

Bunker releases in early 2027

#NEWMUSIC: TEDDY SWIMS NEW ALBUM “UGLY” RELEASE DATE SET

Today, GRAMMY®-nominated, Diamond-certified superstar Teddy Swims announces his highly anticipated second album, UGLY, out January 22 on Warner Records. Swims wrote UGLY over the last 15 months since his son was born and it serves as an outlet for self reflection and growth as both a man and father. Pre-order HERE. Setting the stage for what’s ahead, Swims releases his new single, “Perfect Man,” a soul-baring anthem about the impossible standards we set for ourselves and learning to find strength in our imperfections. Relatable and refreshingly honest, the song builds musically while exploring the pressure to be everything to everyone, while learning to extend himself the same grace he gives to others. Listen HERE and watch a stunning performance video HERE.

“Perfect Man” manages to be both playful and poignant, sincere and self-aware, as Swims navigates a complex series of emotions and moments. The music begins with the depth of an orchestral piano-ballad before growing into a warm full-band sound with soulful backing vocals. The meaning of the hook evolves too — “There’s no such thing as a perfect man” — as Swims reckons with self-loathing, all-or-nothing thinking, and the excuses we make for falling short. He arrives at a sobering conclusion: She never wanted perfection, just for someone to try harder.

“‘Perfect Man’ is a song about self forgiveness. In my life, I’ve held myself to a standard that is completely unrealistic, I’ve been too hard on myself as a partner, as a father, and in feeling the responsibility that comes with knowing there are people who rely and look up to me. I truly believe our insecurities and our quirks are signs of strength rather than weakness. My hope with this song, and with the work and conversations around it, is that people can find some relief and try to lean into our shortcomings and have an open dialogue about them rather than trying to hide them.”

“The beauty of chasing perfection is knowing we will never reach it” says Swims.

“Perfect Man” unites Swims with frequent collaborators Julian Bunetta, Afterhrs, Matt Zara, Mikky Ekko, Kendrick Nicholls, and Alex Izquierdo, plus Edgar Barrera. The orchestration is unmissable in the song’s accompanying performance video, where Swims is backed by his own band and backup singers, plus a four-piece string section and four-piece horns section. He appears in an artfully tattered classic pinstriped white suit, underscoring the song’s theme of accepting imperfection.

The new track follows Swims’ most vulnerable single yet, “Break Up in Reverse,” the song came with a music video that brought its devastating concept to life: Swims sings while a bulldozer moving in reverse puts back together the vision of domestic bliss that had fallen to pieces around him. Watch HERE.

Last year was especially monumental for Swims, who wrapped a sold-out global tour, earned his second career GRAMMY® nod, and made history with his Diamond-certified smash “Lose Control,” which set the record for the longest-running Billboard Hot 100 song after spending 112 weeks on the chart (and it only left due to a rule meant to make room for others). In addition to topping the Hot 100 and five radio formats, the hit has surpassed 5 billion global streams.

Swims heads into The UGLY Tour having spent much of 2026 delighting fans on the road. He was also the only artist to play both Stagecoach and Coachella this year, and made news by bringing David Lee Roth, Joe Jonas, and Vanessa Carlton onstage at the latter. He ran a U.S. summer tour that culminated in triumphant returns to BottleRock and Bonnaroo. Most recently, he played a series of overseas festivals to massive crowds, including at Lollapalooza Berlin.

Catch him at a date below and stay tuned for much more from Teddy Swims as he continues to unveil what’s shaping up to be his biggest, boldest, and most autobiographical era yet.

Teddy Swims Tour Dates

September 22 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center

September 23 – Saint Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center

September 25 – Chicago, IL @ United Center

September 26 – Saint Paul, MN @ Grand Casino Arena

September 29 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena

September 30 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena

October 2 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center

October 5 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena

October 7 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre

October 9 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden

October 10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Xfinity Mobile Arena

October 13 – Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena

October 16 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena

October 18 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center

October 20 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena

October 22 – Orlando, FL @ Kia Center

October 23 – Sunrise, FL @ Amerant Bank Arena

October 25 – Tampa, FL @ Benchmark International Arena

October 27 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center

October 28 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center

October 30 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena

November 1 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena

November 3 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Center

November 5 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena

November 6 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena

November 8 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center

November 10 – San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center

November 11 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center

November 13 – San Diego, CA @ Pechanga Arena San Diego

November 14 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena

November 16 – Phoenix, AZ @ Mortgage Matchup Center

November 18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

Mar 02 – Unity Arena @ Fornebu, Norway

Mar 04 – Avicci Arena @ Stockholm, Sweden

Mar 05 – Avicci Arena @ Stockholm, Sweden

Mar 07 – Royal Arena @ Copenhagen, Denmark

Mar 08 – Royal Arena @ Copenhagen, Denmark

Mar 10 – Barclays Arena @ Hamburg, Germany

Mar 11 – Uber Arena @ Berlin, Germany

Mar 13 – Lanxess Arena @ Köln, Germany

Mar 14 – Lanxess Arena @ Köln, Germany

Mar 16 – Ziggo Dome @ Amsterdam, Netherlands

Mar 17 – Ziggo Dome @ Amsterdam, Netherlands

Mar 18 – Ziggo Dome @ Amsterdam, Netherlands

Mar 20 – O2 arena @ Praha 9, Czech Republic

Mar 21 – Wiener Stadhalle @ Vienna, Austria

Mar 24 – Halenstadion @ Zürich, Switzerland

Mar 26 – AFAS Dome @ Antwerpen, Belgium

Mar 27 – AFAS Dome @ Antwerpen, Belgium

Mar 30 – Accor Arena @ Paris, France

Apr 04 – Utilia @ Birmingham, United Kingdom

Apr 05 – Utilia @ Birmingham, United Kingdom

Apr 08 – 3Arena @ Dublin, Ireland

Apr 13 – OVO Hydro @ Glasgow, United Kingdom

Apr 16 – Co-op Live @ Manchester, United Kingdom

Apr 17 – Co-op Live @ Manchester, United Kingdom

Apr 18 – Co-op Live @ Manchester, United Kingdom

Apr 21 – The O2 @ London, United Kingdom

Apr 22 – The O2 @ London, United Kingdom

Apr 24 – The O2 @ London, United Kingdom

#NEWMUSIC: MILEY – “BASS PERSUADES” NOW OUT

Grammy® Award-winning, multi-platinum global superstar Miley has released her highly anticipated tenth studio album, Bass Persuades, via Atlantic Records – available now on all streaming platforms HERE.

Anchored by the lead single and title track,“Bass Persuades,” which quickly became the #1 Most Added Overall Song at US Radio and dominated global debuts at #1 on the US Spotify Top Songs chart and #2 globally, the album’s release is accompanied by the official music video for “Let’s Get Married.” Directed by Mert Alas and filmed at the iconic Chateau Marmont, the visual features Miley’s fiancé, Maxx Morando – watch HERE:

To celebrate the launch, Miley will take the stage for a sold-out, two-night engagement at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, on October 16 and 18. Ticket pre-sales generated unprecedented, record-breaking demand, with nearly 1.5 million fans joining the queue for the headline show.

Bass Persuades

Bass Persuades

Different Religion (feat. Model/Actriz)

Let’s Get Married

Orbit

Aftermath

REDLIGHTS

Neon Signs (feat. Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow)

Innocent Ways

Snow

Bass Persuades Remixx

ABOUT MILEY

Miley stands as a rare generational artist, defined by fearless reinvention, cultural influence, and enduring relevance. Moving fluidly across pop, rock, country, soul, and alternative, she has continually reshaped modern pop while establishing herself as a true musical chameleon.

A three-time Golden Globe nominee for Best Original Song, Miley is a celebrated songwriter behind numerous platinum- and diamond-certified releases. She earned Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards for “Flowers,” followed by the 2025 GRAMMY for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Beyoncé.

Miley has fronted major campaigns for Maybelline, Maison Margiela, Gucci’s Flora fragrance, and Dolce & Gabbana. She is the founder of the Happy Hippie Foundation, supporting LGBTQ+ youth, and the Miley Cyrus Foundation, supporting women in all their diversity

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “BAD LIEUTENANT: TOKYO”

Hot off its tiff ’26 premiere, the new Trailer for Takashi Miike‘s BAD LIEUTENANT: TOKYO.

Directed by: Takashi Miike
Starring: Shun Oguri, Lily James, Shotaro Mamiya, Liv Morgan, Jun Kunimura, Hiroshi Tach

A disgraced Tokyo detective spirals into a world of corruption, addiction, and violence as he becomes entangled in a twisted investigation involving a vengeful ex-yakuza, an enigmatic FBI agent, and a missing daughter of a powerful American family

#FIRSTLOOK: BILL MURRAY IN “A COURSE CALLED IRELAND”

This isn’t just a show about golf — it’s a celebration of life going gloriously off course. In the six-part documentary series, A Course Called Ireland, Bill Murray and author Tom Coyne play their way across some of Ireland’s most legendary golf courses. But somewhere between the first tee and the final pint, the journey veers into an unexpected portrait of Ireland, the people who give it its soul, and of Bill Murray himself. A Course Called Ireland will premiere Sunday, October 25 on Paramount+.

Each thirty-minute episode follows Murray and friends across some of the island’s most breathtaking fairways. Joined by the extended Murray family, including Joel and John Murray, celebrity friends Chris O’Dowd, Joanne McNally, and Jason Kelce, and long-time golfing companion Tom Coyne, A Course Called Ireland is a hilarious and unpredictable love letter to the game of golf. The series captures candid, unscripted moments woven with the wit, warmth, and wonder of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The six-part series will premiere globally on Paramount+ on October 25 excluding LatAm, and the UK, where it will air on BBC Two, BBC One Northern Ireland, and BBC iPlayer.

The Showrunners and Executive Producers are Casey Scharf and Morgan Roberts, with Scharf having originally developed and packaged the series for television, and Chris Cottam serves as Series Director. The series was commissioned for the BBC by Catherine Catton, in her capacity as Head of Factual Entertainment and Events Commissioning, and Eddie Doyle, Head of Content Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland. The BBC Factual Entertainment Commissioning Editor is Cal Turner and BBC Northern Ireland’s Commissioning Editor is Jason Butler. Paramount+ have commissioned A Course Called Ireland, inspired by Tom Coyne’s New York Times bestseller, A Course Called Ireland: A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint, and the Next Tee. The series is produced by Stellify and Skydance Sports, with Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Greg Groggel and Jason T. Reed serving as Executive Producers, and Stellify Media, with Kieran Doherty and Matthew Worthy serving as Executive Producers.

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About Paramount+:
Paramount+ is the global flagship streaming home of premium original series and entertainment from some of the most enduring brands in television to subscribers around the world. Drawing on decades of beloved IP, Paramount+ also features a diverse offering of live sports, feature films, news and series from across the Paramount portfolio including CBS hits like Marshals and Tracker, all BET Original Series, the Avatar animated universe from Nickelodeon and more. It is a key pillar of the Direct-to-Consumer division at Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), whose portfolio spans Paramount Pictures, Pluto TV, and Skydance Animation, Games and Sports divisions. For more information, visit www.paramount.com.

About Skydance Sports
Skydance Sports is the industry-leading sports content studio behind critically acclaimed films and series including the Golden Globe-nominated Air (Amazon), America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys (Netflix), Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants (HBO), and Emmy-nominated Rafa (Netflix). Upcoming projects include docuseries The Dynasty: UConn Huskies (Apple TV), Hulu drama series The Land from Dan Fogelman, and Mr. Irrelevant, a theatrical film with Paramount Pictures

#TIFF26: NEW OPENING CLIP AND FEATURETTE FROM “YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER”

Watch the Opening Scene Clip Now and a Featurette with Mahershala Ali & John Cho and writer-director Bassam Tariq

Opening in Toronto on October 9th

Expanding October 16th

written and directed by Bassam Tariq

starring Academy Award® winner Mahershala Ali

with John Cho, Abubakr Ali, Laith Nakli, Tramell Tillman,

Tiffany Boone, and Giancarlo Esposito

also starring Adia & Jahleel Kamara

Orion Pictures presents

A Two & Two Pictures Production

A film by Bassam Tariq

In Select Theaters October 9

Expanding October 16

From writer-director Bassam Tariq, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother stars Mahershala Ali as Latif, a devoutly religious hitman who struggles to balance work, faith and fatherhood. When his wife dies, he embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children, confronting the forces closing in around him – and the beliefs threatening to unravel within.

Written and Directed by: Bassam Tariq

Produced by: Lucan Toh, p.g.a., Babak Anvari, Bassam Tariq, p.g.a.

Executive Producer: Brian O’Neill

Cast: Mahershala Ali, John Cho, Abubakr Ali, Laith Nakli, Tramell Tillman, Tiffany Boone, and Giancarlo Esposito

also starring Adia, Jahleel Kamara

Genre(s): Drama, Action

#FIRSTLOOK: “FAR CRY” CASTING ADDITIONS

Today, Disney+ announced FX’s “Far Cry” is expanding its ranks with five new cast members joining the anthology series from Rob Mac and Noah Hawley, which will be available on Hulu on Disney+ in Canada.

Emmy Award-winner and Oscar nominee Brendan Gleeson, Oscar nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh, Emmy Award nominee Hamish Linklater, Sam Spruell and BAFTA Award winner Jamie Demetriou have joined Rob Mac, Lizzy Caplan and Steve Buscemi in the cast of the series based on Ubisoft’s global hit video game franchise.

The anthology series from Noah Hawley and Rob Mac will retain Far Cry®’s signature standalone storytelling format with each season set in a new setting following a new cast of characters. Since 2004, Far Cry has more than 100 million unique players and is one of Ubisoft’s most popular franchises. The award-winning Far Cry franchise is known for the exhilaration of the first-person shootouts, organic open world playgrounds, unique stories and memorable antagonists.

“Far Cry” is executive produced by Noah Hawley, who created FX’s Emmy-winning anthology series “Fargo” and FX’s “Alien: Earth” for television through his 26 Keys production banner, and Rob Mac, creator of FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and executive producer of the Emmy-winning FX’s “Welcome to Wrexham” through his production banner More Better Productions.

In addition to Mac and Hawley, the series is executive produced by Simon Emanuel, Emilia Serrano for 26 Keys, Nicholas Frenkel for 3 Arts, Monica Macer, Peter Calloway, John Campisi, and Gerard Guillemot, Margaret Boykin and Austin Dill for Ubisoft Film & Television. The series will be produced by FX Productions.

Brendan Gleeson

Brendan Gleeson recently appeared in “H is for Hawk” opposite Claire Foy for Plan B and Amazon’s “Spider-Noir” series starring Nicolas Cage. He’ll next be seen in “The Good Daughter” on Peacock and Conor McPherson’s film adaptation of “The Weir.” Gleeson earned Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations opposite Colin Farrell in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” and won an Emmy for portraying Winston Churchill in “Into the Storm.” Other credits include “Joker: Folie à Deux,” “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” “Paddington 2,” three Harry Potter films, “In Bruges,” and his breakout role in “Braveheart.” He won Best Actor honours for “The Guard” and “Calvary.”

Gleeson is represented by CAA and Principal Entertainment.

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Oscar Nominated for Quentin Tarantino’s “Hateful Eight,” Jennifer Jason Leigh most recently wrapped production on “Bishop,” a series from Amazon and Little Marvin in which she stars opposite John Malkovich and Joel Kinnaman. She recently starred in season five of FX’s “Fargo,” Noah Hawley’s award-winning series; in Amazon’s “Hunters;” in the Netflix dramedy “Atypical” for four seasons and in Netflix’s “Woman in The Window” opposite Julianne Moore and Amy Adams as well as Apple TV+’s “Lisey’s Story,” a limited series based on the Steven King novel, alongside Julianne Moore.

Leigh is represented by CAA and Untitled Entertainment.

Hamish Linklater

Hamish Linklater is an acclaimed American actor, writer, and director known for his dynamic range across film, television, and theatre. He can currently be seen in the hit Netflix feature “The Whisper Man,” starring opposite Robert De Niro and Michelle Monaghan. Linklater recurred in the Apple TV series “Widow’s Bay,” where his performance earned him his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He recently wrapped production on the Elizabeth Banks-Led Apple series “She’s Fine” from creators Liz Heldens and Matt Ward. Last year, he starred in Season 2 of Amazon’s “Gen V,” where he received critical acclaim, while also lending his voice to the iconic role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in Prime Video’s animated series “Batman: Caped Crusader” which just had its second season premiere.

Linklater is represented by Untitled Entertainment, Gersh and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

Sam Spruell

British actor Sam Spruell has established himself as one of the most dynamic actors through his tremendous breadth of work across film, television, and stage. Most recently on television, Spruell starred in HBO’s Emmy-nominated drama series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” which premiered as the highest-rated first season in the Game of Thrones universe on Rotten Tomatoes. He was also seen in the BBC series “Dear England.”

On film, Spruell recently starred in the sixth installment of Blumhouse and Sony’s “Insidious” franchise and wrapped production on Marius D’Gasco’s “Tidepools.” He is set to reteam with Noah Hawley for the second season of FX’s “Alien: Earth” and will star in Jordan Canning’s “Oddly Flowers.” His credits include “Fargo,” “The Gold,” “Small Axe,” “Luther,” “The Martian,” “Legend,” “Outlaw King,” “The Lady in the Van,” “Taken 3,” “Snow White & The Huntsman,” “Defiance,” “The Hurt Locker” and “K-19: The Widowmaker.”

Spruell is represented by Lou Coulson Associates and Luber Roklin Entertainment.

Jamie Demetriou

Jamie is due to host “SNL UK” this weekend. He will next be seen taking on the iconic role of Mr. Collins in Netflix’s hugely anticipated adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” and starring in Hulu’s much loved “Only Murders in the Building.” Having won four BAFTAs for his smash-hit comedy “Stath Lets Flats” and receiving a further two BAFTA nominations for his Netflix Comedy Special, “A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou,” Jamie has cemented his reputation as one of the most exciting comedy actors and writers working today. Other recent roles include starring in Charli XCX’s mockumentary “The Moment,” the global phenomenon that was the “Barbie” movie and “The Roses” opposite Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Demetriou is represented by United Agents, CAA and Multitude Media.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

ABOUT DISNEY+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and outside the U.S., general entertainment brand Hulu. As the flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ serves as a connection point for audiences around the world with an unmatched collection of award-winning general entertainment and gold-standard family programming. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, it is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Subscriptions also include access to the Disney+ Perks loyalty program including special discounts, everyday savings, and early access to exclusive experiences that only Disney can offer. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

ABOUT UBISOFT FILM & TELEVISION

Ubisoft Film & Television’s mission is to bring Ubisoft’s award-winning games into new areas of entertainment and to create original stories set in the world, culture, and community of gaming. The division recently completed production on a feature film set in the Watch Dogs universe with New Regency, and is in production on a live action Assassin’s Creed series with Netflix.

The acclaimed animation series, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, is available worldwide on Netflix, and all four seasons of the division’s first original series, Mythic Quest and spin-off anthology series Side Quest are available to stream globally on Apple TV.

ABOUT 26 KEYS PRODUCTIONS

Founded by visionary storyteller Noah Hawley and artist Kyle Hawley in 2014, 26 Keys Productions is an Austin-based film and television production company. Known for championing cinematic, character-driven stories for all audiences across a variety of mediums, the company’s work includes the hit television shows Alien: Earth, Fargo, Legion and the upcoming Far Cry series; and films including Lucy in the Sky and the upcoming Terrified and Nowhere Fast. 26 Keys aims to champion both local and global filmmaking communities and institutions through a variety of engagement programs and events in an effort to uplift innovative and unique storytelling voices.

ABOUT MORE BETTER PRODUCTIONS

More Better Productions, founded by Emmy-winner Rob Mac, is a leading film, television, and multimedia company that builds on Rob’s distinctive approach to world‑building through bold, human storytelling.

More Better has quickly established itself as a creative hub with more than thirty projects in development across film, television, and documentary for top networks, studios, and streamers. Most recently, the company announced that More Better will be producing the TV adaptation of FAR CRY with Noah Hawley’s 26Keys for FX, based on the globally-renowned Ubisoft game.

More Better also champions emerging talent, premiering the television pilot ME/WE at Sundance as an official selection in the Episodic Pilot Showcase and partnering with Just for Laughs’ New Faces: Writers program to support up-and-coming comedic voices.

#FIRSTLOOK: YOUTUBE FEATURES TORONTO SHOWCASE

Today at its annual YouTube Features showcase in Toronto, YouTube Canada unveiled a slate of 9 Canadian Creator Shows and new platform innovations, marking a defining shift toward the future of media and entertainment

YouTube Features was hosted by Primetime Emmy-nominated comedian and host Kareem Rahma, whose hit show SubwayTakes has more than 1.1 million subscribers and 800 million views. Rahma brought his signature interview style and irreverent charm to the stage as he walked attendees through the unique opportunity on YouTube for creators, brands, and partners. Rahma surprised the crowd by bringing on stage special guest and Canadian Idol Mike Myers, as Rahma announced that SubwayTakes is coming to Canada this October.

Canadians turn to YouTube for everything from education and entertainment to product discovery and purchasing decisions, and today’s event underscored the platform’s unique ability to connect brands with the audiences they most want to reach. According to the newest research from Numeris, YouTube has been the #1 most-watched streaming platform in Canada for the last three quarters.^[1]

The biggest reveal at YouTube Features was an early look at new programming coming exclusively to the platform. The platform’s unique, creator-first model gives creators the freedom to greenlight their own concepts and retain ownership of their intellectual property, while making it easier for brands to harness the power of creators. This follows a Creator Show announcement made earlier this year, at YouTube Brandcast.

YouTube’s slate of programming showcases the breadth of talent and storytelling emerging from Canada’s creator economy, spanning entertainment, sports, food, comedy, lifestyle and culture. The roster includes a new video podcast from three-time Olympic gold medallist Tessa Virtue; a trends-focused food show from chef and restaurateur Susur Lee and his son Jet Bent-Lee; a reality series from beloved Canadian comedy creator Jeenie Weenie; and many more.

“YouTube creators are making the must-see programming that is shaping culture and redefining entertainment,” said Nicole Bell, Head of YouTube Canada. “With this new slate, we’re proud to invest in homegrown creative entrepreneurs, giving Canada’s most compelling storytellers the opportunity to bring their biggest ideas to life and connect directly with the audiences who love them.”

New Creator Shows coming exclusively to YouTube

Alexandra Gater  I “Dream Apartment Makeover, Season 3”

Now in its third season, the wildly popular Dream Apartment Makeover sees Alexandra Gater and her team once again gift a deserving subscriber a complete, multi-room apartment transformation. Building on the emotional connection audiences formed with the series’ first two seasons, each makeover goes beyond a new look to explore how an intentionally designed home can support someone through a major life change. The series began with Kate, who was nominated by friends following her MS diagnosis, and whose story resonated deeply with viewers as they followed her transformation room by room. With nearly one million subscribers and more than 160 million views across her channel, Gater has built a loyal audience around transformative, accessible home makeovers, making Dream Apartment Makeover a natural extension of the human stories at the heart of her work.

Iron Chef Dad  I “Iron Chef Dad vs. The Internet”

Iron Chef Dad vs. The Internet will star famed chef Susur Lee and his son, Jet Bent-Lee, who introduces his dad to the viral recipes, food trends, hacks, restaurant items and snacks dominating online conversation. Each episode takes the father and son duo into a new corner of internet food culture; from fast-food items and grocery-store snacks to food challenges and international dishes as Susur tastes, reacts and offers his candid perspective on what works and what doesn’t. Along the way, he may reimagine a dish, create his own version or explain how he would approach it differently. At its core, the series explores what happens when a celebrated chef and his son take on the ever-evolving world of internet food.

Jeenie Weenie  I “Roots”

Known to their 13-million subscribers for their sketch comedy, Jeenie and Johnny step back from viral hits to reconnect with their Korean heritage as new parents. Together, they navigate what it means to pass on their culture, food, language and traditions to their daughter, Nari. Each episode follows a different part of that journey, from trips and recipes to family rituals and everyday discoveries as they build the world they want her to grow up in.  At its heart, the series is an intimate look at two creators exploring identity, family and heritage in real time as they become the parents they want to be.

Julie Nolke  I “Becky and Miranda”

A razor-sharp dark comedy on the bonds of friendship.  Becky and Miranda are two everyday millennial women navigating dating burnout, career pressure, and modern womanhood—who also happen to share an outrageous penchant for serial killing. As the duo bond over the absurd logistics of their lethal hobby and evade detection, the series uses its heightened premise to deliver a hilarious, deeply relatable exploration of female friendship and unconditional loyalty. Created by Julie Nolke (Run the Burbs) and starring Nolke alongside Nicole Power (Kim’s Convenience).

Kareem Rahma  I “SubwayTakes Toronto”

SubwayTakes Toronto presents the unfiltered, long-form transformation of the celebrated interview series, providing an immersive look at the most divisive celebrity discussions from the TTC. The series highlights the awkward silences, intense detours, and genuine chemistry between Kareem Rahma and his high-profile guests. Each episode features iconic Canadian guests, and puts the viewer directly in the middle of the authentic, unscripted mayhem found inside Canada’s most recognizable subway car.

Sunday Kalogeras, Demitra Kalogeras, Eliana Kalogeras (Kalogeras Sisters) I “Hardly Workin”

Three designer-clad sisters clock in for full shifts at jobs they are spectacularly unqualified for. Inspired by The Simple Life and reimagined for Gen Z, Hardly Workin’ throws the glamorous trio into demanding, unpredictable situations, letting their signature chaos and charm unfold in real time. Backed by a powerhouse audience of 8M+ subscribers and 1.5B+ views, the Kalogeras sisters take their personality-driven comedy to the next level: each episode drops them into an unfamiliar industry with zero prep, no shortcuts, and luxury clutches strictly optional.

Matty Matheson & Super Athletic Film Co. I “Matty’s Farm”

From the minds of Matty Matheson, Ricky Staffieri and Super Athletic Film Co., comes a new heartfelt series set in rural Ontario. This time, chef, restaurateur and hometown hero Matty Matheson is going all in. He’s building, growing, expanding —and turning a farm dream into a reality.

Sarah Nurse I “Sarah’s Side Quests”

In this series, Olympian and pro hockey star Sarah spends her offseason learning new skills from some of Canada’s top athletes, experts and creators, building on her love of trying different sports and taking on new challenges. Each episode pairs her with a guest who teaches her the ins and outs of their craft, while natural conversations reveal their personal journeys, mindsets and experiences. Whether it’s playing basketball with top WNBA players, designing new looks with acclaimed fashion designers, or cooking game-day meals with viral chefs, Sarah gets hands-on with every challenge while discovering what it takes to excel at the highest level. Blending learning and conversation, the series follows Sarah as she steps outside her comfort zone, offering viewers a deeper look at the stories, mindsets and passions of the people teaching her.

NEW CHANNEL Tessa Virtue I “Virtuoso”

Virtuoso is a new podcast series about the pursuit of mastery, hosted by five-time Olympic medalist, Three-time World Champion, and the most decorated female figure skater in Olympic history, Tessa Virtue. Tessa uses her sports background to explore unique interpretations of excellence. She talks to her guests candidly and with relatable personal experience, creating an atmosphere grounded in trust and authenticity. Drawing on the teamwork and discipline that defined her record-breaking career, she invites guests into conversations that feel less like interviews and more like meaningful exchanges between peers. Each episode, Tessa sits down with athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, leaders, and creators to explore the experiences, decisions, and relationships that have shaped them. Tessa’s goal is to strike gold – uncovering the mindset, habits, and practical tools these high-achievers rely on, while helping listeners apply those lessons in their own lives and careers.

“We’re seeing a new generation of Canadian storytellers and established cultural figures choose YouTube because it gives them complete ownership of their vision,” said Bell. “On YouTube, you get to greenlight your show, and we provide the largest creative canvas for you to create and connect directly with fans both at home and around the world. These Creator Shows are just the beginning of what’s possible when creators have the freedom to build on their own terms.”

New ways to connect with viewers from discovery to checkout

YouTube Features also shared several new and revamped features for the Canadian market to connect brands to YouTube’s most impactful cultural moments and trending conversations. Creator Partnerships Boost is now available, and enables brands to promote Creator videos as ads in their AI-powered ad campaigns. Buy with Google Pay allows viewers to complete purchases directly on their connected TVs with just two clicks, turning the living room screen into a frictionless storefront. It will be in Canada by Q4.

Additional show assets and imagery are available in the YouTube Features Press Kit.

About YouTube Canada

YouTube’s mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. Launched in May 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch, and share originally-created videos. The platform provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe. According to Oxford Economics, YouTube’s creative ecosystem contributed over $2 billion CAD to Canada’s GDP in 2025, while supporting more than 35k+ full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in Canada.

[1] According to Numeris, for the last three quarters, YouTube has been the #1 most watched streaming platform in Canada, beating out Netflix, Amazon Prime and all of Disney. (Canada, 3P, Sep. 1 2025 – May 31, 2026)

#NEWMUSIC: ROSÉ -“NEW TRICK”

Global icon Rosé has released “new trick,” her high-octane new single selected as part of Apple’s latest “Shot on iPhone” campaign – WATCH MUSIC VIDEO / STREAM.

In this new track, Rosé pushes through the heartbreaks and heartaches of life with a newfound resilience. “Maybe I’m emotional, I lay my dreams out on the table, love is unconditional, it disappears just like a rainbow,” she sings before twisting her attitude on the hook with a “new trick” that flips her disposition. It’s an uptempo dreamy alt-pop anthem that channels the iconic energy of 90s rom-coms, the punk-rock edge of the early aughts, and an unapologetic fun attitude of the modern era.

In an interview last week with VOGUE, Rosé described “new trick” as “possibly the cutest thing [she and songwriter Amy Allen] have ever made together” while updating fans on the highly anticipated follow-up to her 2024 first full-length album rosie: “I’ve been working on new music for quite some time now, and I’m still in the process of finding the perfect fine line between the world I want to create, how much of that expresses who I am today, and who I, personally and as a musician, am evolving into. I’m excited to see where this journey continues to take me, what sort of sound resonates [with] me, and to introduce a new era of my music next year.”

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dave Meyers (Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande), the “new trick” music video was shot entirely on the new iPhone 18 Pro, which features the most advanced camera Apple has ever made, bringing variable aperture control to iPhone for the first time. Bringing Meyers’ signature visual style to the collaboration, the video captures Rosé in a vibrant, youthful setting, with energetic scenes that bring out the playful, upbeat feel of “new trick.” Previous “Shot on iPhone” campaigns have included The Weeknd’s “Dancing In The Flames” (shot on iPhone 16 Pro), Olivia Rodrigo’s “Get Him Back!” (shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max), and Lady Gaga’s “Stupid Love” (shot on iPhone 11).

Rosé has shattered records, performed on the most heralded stages, and amassed millions of fans around the world both as a soloist and member of one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, BLACKPINK. The Korean-New Zealand superstar has earned over 10 billion solo streams to date with her first studio album rosie and 3x-GRAMMY nominated smash single “APT.” with Bruno Mars, which was crowned the #1 best-selling global single of 2025.