The Writers Lab CANADA is thrilled to announce the talented screenwriters selected for its 2026 Lab, taking place this January 2026. Run by The Writers Lab (TWL)—founded in New York by Nitza Wilon and Elizabeth Kaiden and supported by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman—the Canadian edition is presented in proud partnership with Firecracker Department (Naomi Snieckus, Liesl Lafferty, Virginia Abramovich) and the Female Eye Film Festival (Leslie Ann Coles).

The Writers Lab champions women and non-binary screenwriters over 40, supporting their creative voices and helping bring their stories to the screen. This is our second year running this program. Last year’s writers have gone on to many exciting partnerships with production companies. This year’s selected writers and projects represent a powerful range of perspectives, genres, and voices from across Canada:

Selected Projects for The Writers Lab CANADA 2026:

BOOB JOB – Kim Izzo (Dundas, ON)
CANADA RESISTS – Lisa Gold (Long Beach, CA)
– Nadine Pequeneza (Toronto, ON)
GOOD BONES – Rebecca Brewer (Vancouver, BC)
LOOKING FOR DEZ CART – Paris Jefferson (Ottawa, ON)
OPUS THIRTEEN – Carleen Nimrod (Pickering, ON)
PANG & SUFFERING – Susan Hung (Toronto, ON)
ROLLER DERBY SAVED MY SOUL – Nancy Kenny (Halifax, NS)
In addition, The Bold Voice Award, which recognizes exceptional originality and courage in storytelling, is awarded to:
GRIP OF THE KELPIE MOTHER – Claire Apps
– Anita Reilly McGee
QUEEN OF TRASH – Helene Taylor
WILD WOMAN OF THE WOODS – Tobi Iverson

“The Writers Lab Canada continues to spotlight the brilliance, resilience, and imagination of Canadian women and non-binary writers over 40,” says Naomi Snieckus, co-director of Firecracker Department. “Their scripts are sharp, funny, and deeply human, exactly the kind of work that deserves to be made. We are so excited to see where these amazing scripts go!.”

“We’re delighted to see how TWL has built a community that uplifts and connects writers globally,” adds Nitza Wilon of The Writers Lab. “Canada’s storytellers weave such truth and depth into their scripts . This cohort is truly extraordinary.”

The Writers Lab CANADA offers mentorship, development sessions, and industry engagement with established screenwriters, directors, and producers, providing participants with tools and networks to move their projects toward production.

About The Writers Lab
The Writers Lab (TWL) develops narrative features and pilot scripts by women and non-binary writers over 40. Founded in partnership with Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, TWL operates lab intensives in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and global programming, nurturing underrepresented voices in film and television.

About Firecracker Department
Founded by Naomi Snieckus, Firecracker Department amplifies the work of women and non-binary artists through their popular podcast, community, mentorship, and creative opportunities in the arts and entertainment industries.

About Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF)
Founded by Leslie Ann Coles, FeFF is Canada’s premier showcase for films directed by women. The festival celebrates and advances the art of female filmmaking and gender equity in screen-based media.

On September 29th, 2004, the Montreal Expos played their final home game before a grieving crowd at Olympic Stadium. For 35 years, the Expos had been more than a ballclub—they were the first Major League Baseball team to call Canada home and became part of Montreal’s heartbeat, a symbol of pride and identity for Québécois.

Generations grew up with the Expos, celebrating triumphs and enduring struggles. That final game marked the end of an era, and for many, the loss of a piece of themselves. Two decades later, the heartbreak remains, and the same question haunts the city that once dreamed in Expos blue: who’s to blame for the loss of our team?

Featuring rare archival footage and flashbacks of the Expos’ greatest moments, the documentary is equal parts sports drama, cultural love story, and gripping whodunit, unraveling the enduring mystery of how it all came to an end.

Arrives October 21, 2025 on Netflix,

Fresh off the success of his ninth UK No. 1 album Play, Ed Sheeran further broadens his sonic horizons with the release of Play – The Remixes EP (listen here). Leading the charge is “Symmetry”, a hypnotic, beat-driven track featuring acclaimed Punjabi artist Karan Aujla. The accompanying official video, directed by Liam Pethick, showcases a high-energy performance by Ed, Karan, and globally renowned dance crew The Quick Style.

Play – The Remixes EP finds Ed Sheeran reimagining four tracks from his original Play album through dynamic collaborations with some of South Asia’s most celebrated talents, including Hanumankind, Dhee, Santhosh Narayanan, Karan Aujla, Jonita, and Arijit Singh. The EP’s vibrant soundscape is further shaped by producers ILYA, Johnny McDaid, Savan Kotecha, FRED, and Elvira Anderfjärd. 

The project was born out of Sheeran’s transformative, month-long stay in India, where he immersed himself in the country’s rich musical landscape while recording Play. During this time, he discovered and connected with many of the EP’s collaborators through the artists he was working with – among them Arijit Singh, with whom Sheeran teamed up with on the half-a-billion-streaming global hit “Sapphire”.

Sheeran previously hinted at the EP during an interview with Nikita Kanda on BBC Asian Network. The resulting release is a vibrant fusion of global sounds and artistic exchange; a borderless celebration of global creativity that sees Ed Sheeran sharing spaces and voices in the spirit of collaboration.

Ed Sheeran says – “Making and finishing Play in India was such a fun experience. Being there over the last decade through touring, I’ve met lots of local artists along the way, and I’ve been introduced to all types of music and cultures. I’ve loved this collaboration process so much and I wanted to represent as much as I could on this EP, so here’s a little track-by-track rundown:

“Symmetry” featuring Karan Aujla

“Karan is culture, and I love the movement he’s making with Ikky at the moment. It’s been so cool watching the thing he’s built and becoming a part of that world and journey. He taught me the Punjabi parts on this song in the studio, and we got to shoot an amazing video for it. I feel like this is the beginning of our collaborative journey, and I’m so excited to create more.”

“Dont Look Down” featuring Hanumankind, Dhee & Santhosh Narayanan

“I loooove Hanumankind and got the opportunity to meet him at Coachella and catch his show. I was obsessed with the energy and feel of it all. We connected then and we have since been speaking about working together, then this idea came up. Santhosh is one of the greatest film composers and introduced me to Dhee who is such an amazing talent and voice. I wanted to represent South India on this EP and the beautiful Tamil language, and they have done such an amazing job in fusing it together.”

“Sapphire” featuring Arijit Singh

“Everyone already knows the story to this but going to Jiaganj Azimganj with my dad to create this with Arijit is one of my favourite memories in my musical career.”

“Heaven” featuring Jonita

“I met Jonita 2024 when I played in Mumbai and then got to do some shows with her the following year when I came back for tour. In short, I’m a fan. I love her voice, the tone, the softness. This was the perfect tune for us to do together and it’s also the first Hindi song I have released. It’s an honour to do it with her – what a talent.”

Upon its release, Play stormed to No.1 across the world, topping charts in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, and the UK.

Tracklist:

1. Symmetry (feat. Karan Aujla)

Written by: Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Ikwinder Sahota and Jaskaran Singh Aujla

2. Don’t Look Down (feat. Hanumankind, Dhee & Santhosh Narayanan) 

Written by; Ed Sheeran, Fred Gibson, Elvira Anderfjärd, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Sooraj Cherukat, Dheekshitha Venkadeshan, Santhosh Narayanan and Adiya Ravindra.

3. Sapphire (feat. Arijit Singh)

Written by: Ed Sheeran, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Johnny McDaid, Savan Kotecha, Mayur Puri, Arijit Singh and Avinash Chouhan

4. Heaven (feat. Jonita)

Written by: Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid, Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Harjot Kaur, Shayra Apoorva, Rutvik Talashilkar and Jonita Gandhi

Netflix today announced a new 8 episode scripted series, The Granville Girls.

The show is based on The Gilbert Girls books by Cat Cahill.

Logline: As the great railway sweeps across the Canadian Rockies, Emma Daniels becomes a “Granville Girl,” one of a select few women hired to work at the Granville Hotel. The job offers adventure, friendship, and a chance to support her family—if she can resist the hotel’s strictest rule: never fraternize with the men. But when Emma’s heart is captured by the hotel’s mysterious builder, she faces a choice that could cost her everything.

Showrunner/Writer: Adriana Maggs (above right – Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Frontier)

Executive Producer: Christina Jennings (above left – Murdoch Mysteries, Departure)

Production Company: Shaftesbury

Quotes:
Danielle Woodrow and Tara Woodbury, Directors, Content – Canada: “The Granville Girls is a big, blue sky series that offers the comfort of female friendship and the allure of period romance. Between Adriana’s distinctive voice and Christina’s powerhouse producing, we’re confident that audiences are going to be hooked from the first episode.”

Christina Jennings, Chairman and President, Shaftesbury: “Shaftesbury is delighted to partner with Netflix and showrunner Adriana Maggs to bring The Granville Girls to the screen. Global audiences will discover the splendour of the Rocky Mountains — a perfect setting for our young women to explore adventure, friendship and romance.

Charlie Puth has announced details on his forthcoming fourth studio album, Whatever’s Clever!, set for release on March 6, 2026 via Atlantic Records.

Offering the first taste of what’s to come, the multi-award-winning, Diamond-certified artist and multi-instrumentalist releases “Changes,” a timeless and uplifting single showcasing exactly what Puth does best; offering infectious hooks, sing-out-loud choruses and signature piano solos enough to lift even the heaviest of hearts and feet.

Described as a “potential hit single” by Rolling Stone Magazine, “that lands somewhere between Eighties Steve Winwood and Jackson’s “Human Nature,” “Changes” signifies a career-defining chapter is upon us, and Charlie Puth is back and better than ever. Stepping into his own with co-producer BloodPop, the internationally acclaimed GRAMMY® and Golden Globe nominated artist shines in an entirely new light, offering his bravest, boldest and most honest body of work to date.

Pre-order/add/save Whatever’s Clever! HERE.

Accompanying the new single is an official music video directed by Charlotte Rutherford, playfully incorporating nods to a long-gone pre-digital era, Charlie reflects on “Changes” both personal and professional with a sweet cameo from his real life wife Brooke Sansone.

Last month, Puth kicked off a series of sold-out underplay residencies starting at Blue Note New York, where The New Yorker observed the chart-topping popstar seemed most “at home” at the legendary jazz club. Performing to a sold-out crowd twice a night, Puth welcomed special guests including his idols Babyface and Jimmy Jam onto the stage, as well as Emmy-nominated Broadway star Anthony Ramos. Tonight, his sold-out Blue Note Los Angeles residency begins with more surprise guests in store. Fans can livestream his first performance tonight at 7PM on TikTok. RSVP HERE

More exciting news to come.

BLUE NOTE LOS ANGELES UNDERPLAYS
October 16 – Blue Note Los Angeles – 7pm & 9:30pm – SOLD OUT
October 17 – Blue Note Los Angeles – 7pm & 9:30pm – SOLD OUT
October 18 – Blue Note Los Angeles – 7pm & 9:30pm – SOLD OUT
October 19 – Blue Note Los Angeles – 7pm & 9:30pm – SOLD OUT

Whatever’s Clever! is out March 6, 2026 via Atlantic Records. Pre-order/add/save Whatever’s Clever! HERE

About Charlie Puth
GRAMMY-nominated and multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer Charlie Puth has proven to be one of the industry’s most consistent hitmakers and sought-after collaborators across multiple genres. To date he has amassed over 35 billion career streams, nine multi-platinum singles (including “Attention,” “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” “See You Again” & more), four GRAMMY nominations, three Billboard Music Awards, a Critic’s Choice Award, and a Golden Globe nomination. Puth is currently working on his highly anticipated fourth studio album, the follow-up to 2022’s CHARLIE which featured platinum-certified hit single “Light Switch” and “Left and Right” featuring Jung Kook of BTS. Meanwhile, his 2021 co-penned/produced single “Stay” for The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber reigned #1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart for eleven weeks, and his collaboration with Gabby Barrett on their “I Hope (Remix)” earned him his fourth top 10 charting track on the Billboard Hot 100.

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair—Quentin Tarantino’s presentation of the revenge epic that was originally presented in two volumes—will be released by Cineplex Pictures in Canada as one complete film in theatres nationwide for the first time on December 5, 2025.

The highly anticipated release marks one of the rare times that the entire epic has been presented as a single, combined film. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair removes the cliffhanger ending from Vol. 1 and the recap that began Vol. 2. New to this theatrical release will be a never-before-seen, 7½-minute animated sequence. Select presentations of the release will be in 70mm and 35mm, and it is anticipated that the film will play in all major markets.

Tarantino said, “I wrote and directed it as one movie—and I’m so glad to give the fans the chance to see it as one movie. The best way to see Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair is at a movie theatre in Glorious 70mm or 35mm. Blood and guts on a big screen in all its glory!”

Tarantino’s Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair unites Volume 1 and Volume 2 into a single, unrated epic—presented exactly as he intended, complete with a new, never-before-seen anime sequence. Uma Thurman stars as The Bride, left for dead after her former boss and lover Bill ambushes her wedding rehearsal, shooting her in the head and stealing her unborn child. To exact her vengeance, she must first hunt down the four remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad before confronting Bill himself. With its operatic scope, relentless action, and iconic style, The Whole Bloody Affair stands as one of cinema’s definitive revenge sagas—rarely shown in its complete form and now presented with a classic intermission.

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair stars Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, and David Carradine as “Bill.” The film is produced by Lawrence Bender, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, based on the character of “The Bride” created by Q&U.

ABOUT CINEPLEX PICTURES
Cineplex Pictures, a division of Cineplex, is a Canadian film distributor specializing in theatrical releases across various genres. Past releases include The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, The Queen of My Dreams, John Wick: Chapter 4, and The Boy and the Heron, with upcoming titles such as Now You See Me: Now You Don’t and The Housemaid, among others.

SQUID GAME: THE CHALLENGE SEASON TWO is set to premiere on Netflix November 4, 2025. Here’s a peek at its Trailer.

Premiere Date: November 4, 2025

Logline: The Emmy® nominated and BAFTA winning global sensation Squid Game: The Challenge returns for a gripping second season. This time, 456 brand-new contestants will enter the ultimate test of strategy, alliances, and endurance as they compete for a life-changing $4.56 million prize. Inspired by the iconic original series – with shocking new twists and never-before-seen games – season two raises the stakes higher than ever. As players face elimination at every turn, only one can emerge victorious. New players. New games. New rules.

Format: Beginning November 4, new episodes will premiere weekly

● Week 1 (11/4/2025): Episodes 1-4

● Week 2 (11/11/2025): Episodes 5-8

● Week 3 (11/18/2025): Episode 9

Executive Producers: Nicola Brown (The Garden), Tim Harcourt (Studio Lambert), John Hay (The Garden), Anna Kidd, Stephen Lambert (Studio Lambert), Nick Walker, Nia Yemoh (Studio Lambert), and Stephen Yemoh (Studio Lambert)

Production Companies: Studio Lambert & The Garden (part of ITV Studios)

JINGLE BELL HEIST arrives on Netflix November 26, 2025! Today we get a new Trailer!

LOGLINE: Sophia (Olivia Holt), a sharp-witted retail worker, and Nick (Connor Swindells), a down-on-his-luck repairman, are small-time thieves with their eyes on the same Christmas Eve score: robbing London’s most notorious department store. Forced into an uneasy alliance, as secrets surface and feelings for each other deepen, Sophia and Nick put their relationship and the heist in jeopardy.

DIRECTOR: Michael Fimognari

STORY BY: Abby McDonald

TELEPLAY BY: Abby McDonald and Amy Reed

PRODUCER: Matt Kaplan

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Christopher Foss, Michael Fimognari, Mark Lane, James Harris, Matthew Janzen, Aubrey Bendix

CO-PRODUCER: Shannon Gibson

CAST: Olivia Holt, Connor Swindells, Lucy Punch, Peter Serafinowicz, Poppy Drayton

Claire Danes is back in THE BEAST IN ME, coming November 13, 2025 to Netflix.

Since the tragic death of her young son, acclaimed author Aggie Wiggs (Claire Danes) has receded from public life, unable to write, a ghost of her former self. But she finds an unlikely subject for a new book when the house next door is bought by Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys), a famed and formidable real estate mogul who was once the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance. At once horrified and fascinated by this man, Aggie finds herself compulsively hunting for the truth – chasing his demons while fleeing her own – in a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly.

Premiere Date: All 8 episodes of The Beast in Me release on November 13, 2025
Showrunner/ Writer /Executive Producer: Howard Gordon (Homeland, 24, The X-Files)
Creator / Writer / Executive Producer: Gabe Rotter (The X-Files)
Star / Executive Producer: Claire Danes
Executive Producer / Director: Antonio Campos (The Staircase)
Executive Producers: Daniel Pearle (American Crime Story); Conan O’Brien, Jeff Ross and David Kissinger for Conaco; Caroline Baron (Severance); Jodie Foster
Cast: Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Brittany Snow, Natalie Morales
Guest stars: Jonathan Banks, David Lyons, Tim Guinee, Hettienne Park, Deidre O’Connell, Aleyse Shannon, Will Brill, Kate Burton, Bill Irwin, Amir Arison, Julie Ann Emery
Studio: 20th Television

CosmoGO, a bold new Canadian streaming platform for premium entertainment, announced today the Canadian theatrical release of the animated comedy adventure Stitch Head, arriving in theatres nationwide on October 31, 2025. Based on the beloved children’s book by award-winning author Guy Bass, Stitch Head brings a heartwarming twist to the Frankenstein legend, crafted for families to enjoy together just in time for Halloween. This film release is a first for the new CosmoGO service, with plans for more theatrical distribution in the future.

High above the little town of Grubbers Nubbin, the maddest of all Mad Professors is forever creating monstrous Creations, and forgetting all about them. Left behind is Stitch Head, the Professor’s very first experiment, who quietly keeps the castle in order and the monsters in check so the townsfolk below don’t storm the gates with pitchforks. When a failing freak show owner discovers Stitch Head, the humble little monster suddenly finds himself thrust into the spotlight as the star attraction, forcing him to confront what it really means to be seen, loved, and accepted.

A must-see for families, the film features a stellar voice cast led by Asa Butterfield (Sex Education) as Stitch Head, alongside Joel Fry (Cruella), Tia Bannon (Midnight Sky), Rob Brydon (The Amazing Maurice), Alison Steadman (Life Is Sweet), and comedians Fern Brady and Jamali Maddix. Based on Guy Bass’s book, Stitch Head is Directed and adapted by Steve Hudson.The score is composed by Nick Urata (Little Miss Sunshine, Paddington).

“Stich Head is is a funny, unexpected and heartwarming story that we cannot wait to share with Canadian audiences,” said Tanuka Roy, General Manager of CosmoBlue Media in Canada. “This feature release is more than a launch for CosmoGO, it also marks the company’s entrance into theatrical distribution, an area we intend to scale and grow.”

Steve Hudson says: “Guy Bass’ original book – featuring a castle full of monsters all terrified of the humans in the village below – is a wonderful comic inversion of the Frankenstein genre that’s been so much fun to bring to life – even now, it makes us laugh every time. At the same time, Guy’s characters are so emotional and engaging. As a monster, Stitch Head assumes he can never be loved – but in the end discovers that love is all around him. In a fearful world, I really hope that’s something that sticks with our audience long after they’ve seen the film.”

Canadian audiences will have the chance to experience Stitch Head in theatres first, with the film also set to stream at a later date on CosmoGO.

The film is repped worldwide by GFM Animation and produced by Sonja Ewers and Mark Mertens. Executive producers include Adam Nagle, Mark Rau, Collins, Tom Ortenberg, Ronnie Exley, Jeremy Ross, and Oli Strong. Briarcliff will release Stitch Head in association with Rabbits Black in the U.S. A strong lineup of co-production companies includes Marc Gabizon and Michael Luda with Fabrique d’Images, Traumhaus Studios, Senator Film, and Aniventure. CosmoGO acquired the Canadian distribution rights from GFM Animation.