Timothee Chalamet stars as Bob Dylan in Biopic A COMPLETE UNKNOWN from James Mangold. Today we get a new Teaser! In theatres December!

Synopsis:

Set in the influential New York music scene of the early 60s, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician BOB DYLAN’s (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts – his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation – culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. A Film By James Mangold. Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Norbert Leo Butz, Dan Fogler, and Scoot McNairy.

(Photo/vido credit: Searchlight Pictures)

It was a takeover! Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman and Director Shawn Levy descended upon Toronto from New York, for a special fan event at Scotiabank Theatre. The venue was bought-out completely tonight for a special screening and red carpet which will be talked about for many years ahead!

This latest release from Marvel Studios already is drawing raves, where we see Deadpool pulled out of retirement to join forces with Wolverine – begrudgingly – to save the world from an existential threat.

The theatre – walls, concession stand and bathrooms even – were adorned completely in posters and branding from the Film. An exclusive live taping with eTalk at 299 Queen Street West also was held across the road from the theatre. Fans began queueing in the wee hours of the morning to get a spot to see the Film’s two leads.

Some highlights from the Red Carpet, which saw also surprise visits from Captain America himself Anthony Mackie, and Miss Marvel, Toronto’s own Iman Vellani.

Marvel Studios‘ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE is in theatres Friday, July 26, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Marvel Studios Canada)

Focus Features will release Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming spy drama BLACK BAG in theaters on March 14, 2025. Focus will release the film in the US with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution.

From Academy Award® winning director Steven Soderbergh, BLACK BAG is a high-stakes mystery starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender alongside Regé-Jean Page, Marisa Abela, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke and Pierce Brosnan.
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: David Koepp
Producers: Casey Silver and Greg Jacobs

Focus Features upcoming slate includes PIECE BY PIECE, an animated biopic from Morgan Neville about the life of multifaceted global superstar Pharrell Williams told through the lens of LEGO bricks, Robert Eggers’ reimagining of NOSFERATU, Edward Berger’s thriller CONCLAVE, Sundance-Award winner DÌDI (弟弟) from Sean Wang, Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming crime-thriller BLACK BAG starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, Yorgos Lanthimos’s next film BUGONIA starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, and the highly anticipated third installment of the DOWNTON ABBEY franchise, among others.

TIFF today announced its 2024 Platform lineup, TIFF’s competitive programme featuring 10 exceptional World Premieres representing 17 countries. This year’s jury includes the Academy Award–nominated Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer Atom Egoyan, who will serve as the Jury Head. Celebrated South Korean filmmaker Hur Jin-ho, known for his poignant explorations of love and humanity in movies and whose film A Normal Family had its world premiere at TIFF last year, joins the esteemed jury, alongside award-winning American filmmaker and essayist Jane Schoenbrun, who will bring their unique perspectives and expertise to the selection process. Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo, best known for Colossal (TIFF ’16), will open the programme with his latest work, Daniela Forever.

Named after Jia Zhang-Ke’s groundbreaking second feature, Platform, and now in its ninth year, the programme showcases bold and distinct directorial voices and emerging international talent, offering audiences a first look at some of the most innovative and compelling works from around the globe. Platform has showcased films that have gone on to achieve significant success. Notable previous Platform selections include Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Darius Marder’s Sound of Metal, which received multiple Oscar nominations, winning Best Sound and Best Film Editing.

The 10 films in the programme are eligible for the Platform Prize, an award of $20,000 CAD given to the best film in the programme. Previous jury members include: Claire Denis, Béla Tarr, Brian De Palma, Mira Nair, Riz Ahmed, Jia Zhang-Ke, Patricia Rozema, and Barry Jenkins. Platform titles are nominated by TIFF’s programming team, led by Robyn Citizen, Director of Programming, Festival and Cinematheque.

Watch Citizen’s insights into this year’s lineup here:

2024 Platform Programme (in alphabetical order):

Opening Film
Daniela Forever Nacho Vigalondo | Spain/Belgium
World Premiere
Sales Title

Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) soulfully portrays a bereaved man who enrolls in a clinical trial for a drug that allows him to reunite with his lost lover, played by Beatrice Grannò (The White Lotus) through lucid dreams.

Daughter’s Daughter Huang Xi | Taiwan
World Premiere
Sales Title

Taiwanese filmmaker Huang Xi’s (Missing Johnny, Twisted Strings) latest work is Daughter’s Daughter. After a terrible accident takes the life of her youngest, a mother must confront her eldest daughter who she gave up after a teenage pregnancy.

Mr. K Tallulah H. Schwab | Netherlands/Belgium/Norway
World Premiere
Sales Title

This is a second feature by Amsterdam-based director Tallulah H. Schwab (Confetti Harvest). Mr. K star Crispin Glover brings his best to Schwab’s delightfully Kafkaesque tale of a travelling magician who finds himself in a hotel full of unusual guests — with no way out.

Paying For It Sook-Yin Lee | Canada
World Premiere
Sales Title

Canadian filmmaker, musician, and actor Sook-Yin Lee connects the past with the present, bringing together Canadian underground artists and innovative cross-generational musicians in a cultural snapshot of turn-of-the-millennium Toronto in Paying For It. With subtle comic energy and a great cast, this adaptation of Chester Brown’s autobiographical 2011 graphic novel is a movie only Lee could make… because it’s her story, too.

More on the Film here.

Pedro Páramo Rodrigo Prieto | Mexico
World Premiere

Unfolding in a seemingly abandoned Mexican town where past and present beguilingly coexist, the feature directorial debut of legendary cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto (Killers of the Flower Moon) is a mesmerizing story of desire, corruption, and inheritance.

The Wolves Always Come at Night Gabrielle Brady | Australia/Mongolia/Germany
World Premiere
Sales Title

Australian director and screenwriter Gabrielle Brady (Hungry Ghosts) lays bare the emotional ruptures of climate change and urban migration on Mongolian herders, told through the experiences of one family. After a devastating storm wrought by climate change forces them from their home in the Mongolian countryside to the city, a young couple are forced to adapt to a new way of life in this breathtaking and heartbreaking hybrid film.

They Will Be Dust (Polvo serán) Carlos Marqués-Marcet | Spain/Italy/Switzerland
World Premiere
Sales Title

Spanish film director, screenwriter, and film editor Carlos Marqués-Marcet, whose 2014 film 10.000 KM won the Goya for best new director, treats the audience to a unique, daring, and rewarding look at our unavoidable death. Unequal parts contemporary dance-musical and ensemble drama, They Will Be Dust reaches for the raw emotional core of humanity in all its inherent messiness.

Triumph Petar Valchanov, Kristina Grozeva | Bulgaria/Greece
World Premiere
Sales Title

This latest work from co-directors Petar Valchanov and Kristina Grozeva, combined with their previous films The Lesson (TIFF ’14) and Glory (2016), forms a trilogy inspired by sensationalist news stories from their homeland that prove once and for all that truth is stranger than fiction.

Viktor Olivier Sarbil | Ukraine/USA
World Premiere
Sales Title

This bold documentary from filmmaker and veteran war photographer Olivier Sarbil offers a deeply personal perspective on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Crafting an audiovisual experience carefully designed to match that of its subject, Viktor is an intimate portrait of a Deaf person navigating chaos and violence.

Winter in Sokcho Koya Kamura | France
World Premiere
Sales Title

In this debut from filmmaker Koya Kamura, a young woman struggling to claim her identity and independence has her routine disrupted when a French artist checks into the small guesthouse in snowy Sokcho where she works.

Platform Jury Biographies

Atom Egoyan
With 18 feature films and many opera and theatre productions, Atom Egoyan is internationally known for his award-winning films including Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter, and Chloe. His latest film, Seven Veils, had its World Premiere at TIFF last year before its International Premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, and was the Opening Night Gala at the Yerevan International Film Festival in Armenia this summer.

Hur Jin-ho
Since 1998, Hur Jin-ho made a debut Christmas in August, he has attracted the attention of the film industry. He has also directed international works, A Good Rain Knows and Dangerous Liaisons, and spread the boundary of his artistry to TV series Lost. His recent film, A Normal Family was invited to the TIFF 2023 Gala presentation.

Jane Schoenbrun
A non-binary filmmaker and writer dedicated to making and supporting personal, queer cinema, Jane Schoenbrun’s work includes I Saw the TV Glow, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, A Self-Induced Hallucination, and the punk rock variety TV show The Eyeslicer. Their first novel, Public Access Afterworld, will be published by Hogarth in 2025.

TIFF Takeover: This week’s programming alerts
Wednesday, July 24, at 10am ET: Discovery Programme
Thursday, July 25, at 10am ET: Midnight Madness Programme
More Festival details will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for TIFF ’24 go on sale to TIFF Members by level beginning on Friday, August 16. For more details, visit tiff.net/join. The full Festival schedule will be released on Tuesday, August 13.

Note: All rights availability details are subject to change. Accredited industry professionals, including buyers, can download the full TIFF 2024 Rights List in the Delegate Resources section of tiff.net/industry. The complete list will be posted in late August.
Social Media:
X: @TIFF_NET & @TIFF_Industry
Instagram, TikTok & Letterboxd: @tiff_net
Pinterest: @tiffnet
Facebook.com/TIFF

TIFF24

TIFF prefers Visa.
About TIFF:
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival® in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, learning and entertainment facilities; and the innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $200 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel, and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation, and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

TIFF is generously supported by Major Sponsors RBC and Visa and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto.

Press Contacts:
Jennifer Knox, TIFF Communications: jknox@tiff.net
Netta Rondinelli, TIFF Communications: nrondinelli@tiff.net
Meg Campbell, TIFF Communications: mcampbell@tiff.net
Debbie Lawrence, The Lippin Group: dlawrence@lippingroup.com
Katie Fuchs, The Lippin Group: kfuchs@lippingroup.com

SXSW ’24 and TIFF NEXT WAVE selection CUCKOO is in theatres August 9, 2024 via Elevation Pictures!

A Film by Tilman Singer
Starring Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick

Synopsis:

Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Arriving at their future residence, they are greeted by Mr. König, her father’s boss, who takes an inexplicable interest in Gretchen’s mute half-sister Alma. Something doesn’t seem right in this tranquil vacation paradise. Gretchen is plagued by strange noises and bloody visions until she discovers a shocking secret that also concerns her own family.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Exciting news! Netflix and Shondaland announce season 4 will focus on the love story of Benedict Bridgerton (played by Luke Thompson). Full story on Tudum.com

ABOUT BRIDGERTON SEASON 4:
The fourth season of Bridgerton turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict (Luke Thompson). Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down — until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball.

Instagram:@ bridgertonnetflix
Twitter: @ bridgerton

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Au jour d’hui, we get a new Trailer Canadienne pour eagerly-awaited JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX!

Synopsis:

From acclaimed writer/director/producer Todd Phillips comes “Joker: Folie Ą Deux,” the much-anticipated follow-up to 2019’s Academy Award-winning “Joker,” which earned more than $1 billion at the global box office and remains the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.  The new film stars Joaquin Phoenix once again in his Oscar-winning dual role as Arthur Fleck/Joker, opposite Oscar winner Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”).

“Joker: Folie Ą Deux” finds Arthur Fleck institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that’s always been inside him.

The film also stars Oscar nominees Brendan Gleeson (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) and Catherine Keener (“Get Out,” “Capote”), alongside Zazie Beetz, reprising her role from “Joker.”

Phillips, who was nominated for Oscars for directing, writing and producing “Joker,” directed “Joker: Folie Ą Deux” from a screenplay by fellow Oscar nominee Scott Silver & Phillips, based on characters from DC.  The film was produced by Phillips, Oscar nominee Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Joseph Garner.  Lady Gaga served as music consultant.  The film’s executive producers are Michael E. Uslan, Georgia Kacandes, Silver, Mark Friedberg and Jason Ruder.

Working with Phillips behind the camera are his team from “Joker,” including Oscar-nominated director of photography Lawrence Sher, production designer Mark Friedberg, Oscar-nominated editor Jeff Groth, and composer Hildur Gušnadóttir, who won the Oscar for her work on the first film.  New to the team is Oscar-nominated costume designer Arianne Phillips (“Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood,” “Don’t Worry Darling”).  Ruder is the film’s executive music producer and the music supervisors are Randall Poster and George Drakoulias.  Casting is by Francine Maisler (the “Dune” films, “Challengers”).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents A Joint Effort Production, A Film by Todd Phillips, “Joker: Folie Ą Deux.”  The film will be released worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, and will be only in theatres nationwide on October 4, 2024.

Disney/Lucasfilm celebrate the upcoming release of the Ojibwe dub of the original iconic 1977 sci-fi blockbuster “Star Wars: A New Hope” by offering complimentary tickets to see the film. As of today, fans can claim up to four tickets to see the movie when it opens exclusively for a limited run at select Cineplex theatres on August 10. Visit Cineplex.com for more info.

The project brought together a wide range of talent and multigenerational Anishinaabe speakers to bring this version to life. The dubbing was done over a 10-day period in early May in Winnipeg with the final mix completed at Skywalker Sound and is supported in part by the Government of Canada through the Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program from Canadian Heritage. Dougald Lamont helped launch this initiative in 2021 after proposing it to Pablo Hidalgo, a former Winnipegger and Lucasfilm executive as a language revitalization project in support of reconciliation.

The Ojibwe dub was directed by Ellyn Stern Epcar, produced by Michael Kohn and stars Aandeg Jedi Muldrew (Luke Skywalker), Ajuawak Kapashesit (Han Solo), Theresa Eischen (Princess Leia), Dennis Daminos Chartrand (Darth Vader), Dustin Gerald Morrow Aagimewikamig (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Tomantha Sylvester Nimi Anungo Kwe (C-3PO), Jeff Monague Myiingan Minaakwhe (Grand Moff Tarkin), John-Paul Chalykoff (Uncle Owen), and Wanda Barker Giwedinoonz (Aunt Beru).

Partners in the project include Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council (DOTC), the University of Manitoba (UM), Disney/Lucasfilm, and APTN. Maeengan Linklater, Director of Operations (DOTC) and Cary Miller, Associate Professor, Department of Indigenous Studies (UM) served as project leads. Patricia Ningewance, Assistant Professor (UM)/Lead Translator, Dennis Daminos Chartrand, Associate Translator, Brian Cochrane with Albert Owl regional translators led the translation.

“Gi-ga-miinigoowiz Mamaandaawiziwin” (“May the Force be with you”).

Prime Video rolls out an improved streaming experience—here’s what’s new from them!

From Prime Video:

Prime Video is bringing clarity and simplicity back to streaming with improvements to its user experience that will begin to roll out globally today, and will become available to all customers in the coming weeks.

There’s so much to discover on Prime Video, and with these updates, you’ll be able to navigate across our vast entertainment destination with ease. With more personalized recommendations powered by generative AI, you can discover content that is tailored to your individual preferences, allowing you to spend more time watching and less time browsing. Plus, we’re making it easier to quickly identify movies and series that are available at no additional cost to your Prime membership, find new blockbusters to rent or buy, and add and manage add-on subscriptions.

“We’re always listening to customers and reviewing feedback, and it’s clear that many are in search of a more intuitive streaming experience,” said Kam Keshmiri, Vice President of Design at Prime Video. “With the improvements we have made to the user experience, customers will be presented with an easy-to-navigate entertainment destination where they can discover new titles and enjoy favorites, as well as sign-up or switch add-on subscriptions with just a few clicks. Best of all, they can do this while using a single login.”

Prime Video offers a large collection of premium programming in a single application across thousands of device types. You can explore a vast array of titles on Prime Video including Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Road House, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Fallout, Reacher, The Boys, and The Idea of You; licensed fan favorites including American Fiction and The Boys in the Boat; live sports like the upcoming Prime Monday Night Hockey; acclaimed sports documentaries such as Chosen One: Alexandre Daigle and Federer; programming from Prime Video add-on subscriptions like Crave, StackTV, Sportsnet, Paramount+, Crunchyroll and MGM+; and the latest blockbusters fresh from theaters to rent or buy.

Here are the updates coming to the Prime Video user experience.

Content-forward navigation bar & single-click access to titles with the hero rotator

When launching Prime Video, you’ll notice a new navigation bar. Here, you will see purpose-built destinations including “Home,” “Movies,” “TV Shows,” “Sports,” and “Live TV,” as well as active add-on subscriptions, like Crave or Paramount+, allowing you to navigate by content type.

A new “Prime” destination will also be available in the navigation bar, which allows you to browse movies, TV shows, sports and linear broadcasts available at no additional cost with a Prime membership. Here, you can also find information about other Prime benefits available in your country, such as exclusive deals and benefits.

Just below the navigation bar, the hero rotator will showcase content you can watch with a subscription, rent or buy, as well as a range of promotions including Prime member deals and subscription bundles. Plus, you can directly play, purchase or subscribe to watch, making it easier to start watching the titles you love.

2. Explore, sign-up and manage add-on subscriptions

You can now browse, sign-up and manage your active add-on subscriptions directly from the navigation bar. In Canada you can explore add-on subscriptions by selecting “Subscriptions.” Here, in addition to what you’re already signed up for, you can find new options that are uniquely recommended based on your preferences, previous rentals, and viewing history. Plus, the subscriptions destination will display deals and discounted bundles of subscriptions from third-party services, all in one place.

Improved recommendations and clarity around the content that’s included with a Prime membership

Personalized recommendations have always been essential to the Prime Video experience. However, improvements to personalization features, which were created with the assistance of Generative AI, will make it easier to find the content that is the most relevant to you.

To power this experience, Prime Video uses Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed AWS service for building and scaling generative AI applications with foundational models, to generate personalized recommendations for customers.

In addition to recommendations, you can browse content by taste and other categories such as “Top 10 in the Canada” or “Trending Shows.” And now, it will be easier than ever to see what is included with a Prime membership and what you may need to pay extra for. Prime and add-on subscription logos, like MGM+ or Crunchyroll, will appear on the hero and title cards of a movie or TV show to help inform you about which subscription the content is coming from. If a title requires additional payment, a yellow shopping bag will be visible.

Plus, Prime Video is utilizing Large Language Models (LLMs) to simplify the synopses for TV Shows and Movies, so you can quickly glance at a title description, rather than having to scroll to decide if it is something you’d want to watch.

4. Simple and intuitive streaming experience

New animations, smooth page transitions and zoom effects are a few of the enhancements for a frictionless and enjoyable streaming experience you can look forward to.

When using a living room device, video content will play on the hero rotator as you determine what to watch, creating an immersive browsing experience. And on the “Live TV” destination, recommended 24/7 stations will automatically start playing. They will continue to do so as you transition into full screen playback, or exit out to browse other stations.

Prime Video has optimized the experience across all devices, including older models, so everyone can enjoy.

And these updates are just the start. At Prime Video, we always innovate on behalf of our customers and will continue to improve the user experience so customers can seamlessly navigate and discover content they’ll love across our vast entertainment destination.

Grammy-winning Singer-Songwriter Lainey Wilson made a rare visit to Toronto in support of her upcoming fifth album, WHIRLWIND. After nabbing Best Country Album, Wilson has had some very high-profile moments of late including “Out of Oklahoma“, a contribution to the Soundtrack of Box Office smash, TWISTERS! She also had a duet with Jelly Roll, “Save Me“, winning an ACM Award for Event of the Year!

Wilson did the rounds today, meeting with Media in support of the eagerly-awaited album, due late August.

And guess what? She is the loveliest! Such a joy getting a hug from her!! So deserving of all her success! A huge star!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/BBR/Universal Music Canada)