Hot off its premiere at Hot Docs ’26 and the Inside Out Film Festival, ANTIDIVA: THE CAROLE POPE CONFESSIONS now will have its theatrical run.

Canadian Release & Screening dates:

Hamilton, ON: Sunday, July 5 at Playhouse Cinema
Carole Pope and Michelle Mama in attendance

Toronto, ON: Monday, July 6 & Tuesday, July 7 at Paradise Theatre
Carole Pope and Michelle Mama in attendance

St. John’s, NL: Thursday, July 9 at LSPU Hall
Carole Pope and Michelle Mama in attendance

Vancouver, BC: Wednesday, July 22 & Thursday, July 23 at the Rio Theatre
Carole Pope and Michelle Mama in attendance

Vancouver, BC: Friday, July 24 at VIFF
Carole Pope and Michelle Mama in attendance

Premiering on documentary Channel, Sunday, July 19 at 9pm ET, and on CBC Gem Friday, July 24 at 9pm ET

Hot Docs 2026 Opening Night Selection

Inside Out 2026 Best Canadian Feature Winner

Frameline50 Official Selection

DIRECTED & WRITTEN BY: Michelle Mama
PRODUCED BY: Michelle Mama, Bill Taylor, Allison Grace

Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions is a raw, rollicking portrait of Carole Pope—music icon, provocateur, and queer trailblazer whose fearless voice and unapologetic sexuality reshaped rock ‘n’ roll. From the underground grit of 1970s Toronto to opening for David Bowie, Pope’s incendiary lyrics and magnetic presence shattered expectations of what a woman, let alone a lesbian, could be onstage.

More than a music doc, Antidiva is a time capsule of queer resistance and chosen family, charting Pope’s creative symbiosis with Kevan Staples, her complicated relationships, and the bittersweet realities of aging in an industry that sidelines outsiders. Through archival treasure, electrifying performances, and present-day vérité, director Michelle Mama captures Pope’s contradictions: tough yet tender, jaded yet vibrantly alive.

Featuring k.d. lang, Peaches, Jann Arden, and Rufus Wainwright, Antidiva stands as a battle cry for self-expression, queer joy, and the artists who refuse to be tamed.

Commissioned by documentary Channel, Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions is a GAY AGENDA film in association with Here’s The Thing Productions, with distribution by Motion 58. The film was made possible with the support of the Canada Media Fund POV Program, the Ontario Creates Film Fund, the Hot Docs-Slaight Family Fund, Telefilm Canada Theatrical Documentary Program and the Rogers Documentary Fund, in association with CBC and documentary Channel.

About Motion 58 Entertainment
Motion 58 Entertainment, led by Josh Epstein and Kyle Rideout, is Canada’s newest film distributor specializing in bold storytelling and high-concept event cinema. With roots in production, the company’s credits include Eadweard, Adventures in Public School, and the upcoming Firesky. Motion 58’s first theatrical releases include the VIFF Audience Choice winner Angela’s Shadow and the Hot Docs opening night film Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions which is set to hit theatres this summer

Kraft Dinner (KD) is taking its iconic cheesy flavour beyond mac n’ cheese with the launch of KD Ramen. Available in three craveable varieties, Cheesy Ramen, Extra Cheesy and Extra Spicy, the new KD Ramen lineup brings the unmistakable taste of KD to the ramen aisle in an exciting new format.

KD Ramen represents the brand’s own take on the cheesy ramen experience inspired by the fusion flavors and food culture beloved by consumers across the globe. The new ramen lineup comes as ramen continues to grow in popularity among Canadians, specifically cheesy ramen which is emerging as one of Canada’s fastest-growing food obsessions1 and a flavor combination Canadians are increasingly embracing with open arms.2 Made with the same real Canadian cheddar cheese as original KD, the new ramen lineup delivers the classic KD flavour that Canadians have loved for generations in an all-new format – because when it comes to craveable cheese, it’s Gotta be KD.

“For generations, Canadians have turned to KD for comfort, craveability, and unmistakable cheesy flavour,” said Kelly Fleming, Chief Marketing Officer for Kraft Heinz Canada. “With KD Ramen, we’re bringing that iconic KD cheesiness to an entirely new aisle and occasion. It’s a bold new way for Canadians to experience the flavour they know and love.”

The KD Ramen lineup will be available to Canadians starting this July and includes three flavour-packed options inspired by the craveable comfort of KD’s cheesy taste, the growing appetite for bold and spicy flavours, and the many ways Canadians are enjoying ramen today:

-Cheesy Ramen: A perfect blend of the unmistakable cheesiness of KD and savory, bold ramen flavour, packed with umami and a subtle spice.
-Extra Cheesy: For those who love KD, but don’t like spice. The same familiar comforting flavours of mild ramen combined with even more of the KD cheese you know and love.
-Extra Spicy: For fans who want to dial up the heat. KD Ramen Extra Spicy features just enough spice for ramen lovers, then cools it down with the creaminess of KD, so you keep coming back for more.

To celebrate the launch, KD is teaming up with 7-Eleven® Canada, a destination for convenient snacks, indulgent eats and late-night cravings, to give Canadians an exclusive first taste of KD Ramen before it rolls out nationwide. Inspired by the rise of late-night convenience store snack runs, the limited-time offering will be available June 25-27 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. at select locations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Winnipeg. Superfans can try all three varieties for free while supplies last.

Launching exclusively in Canada, KD Ramen can be found in the ramen aisle of grocery, convenience and big-box retailers nationwide this July. For more information, including participating 7-Eleven Canada locations and availability, visit kraftdinner.ca or follow @KraftDinnerCA on social media.

ABOUT KRAFT HEINZ CANADA

Kraft Heinz Canada’s heritage can be traced back over a century to when James Lewis Kraft of Stevensville, Ontario began selling cheese from a horse-drawn wagon in 1903. Heinz Canada was established in 1909 in Leamington, Ontario where its first products were pickles sourced from local growers. Following the 2015 merger between Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Company, Kraft Heinz Canada became a subsidiary of the newly formed Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC). Now the country’s second largest food and beverage company, iconic Kraft Heinz Canada products like Kraft Peanut Butter, Heinz Ketchup, KD, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Renées Dressing, Jell-O, Classico, Kool-Aid and Maxwell House are found in over 97 per cent of Canadian households.

Kraft Heinz Canada is driving transformation inspired by Kraft Heinz’s global purpose, Let’s Make Life Delicious, by creating memorable community moments through local initiatives such as Kraft Hockeyville, while also supporting food banks across Canada through Kraft Heinz Groceries for Good program. Learn more about our journey by visiting kraftheinz.com or following us on LinkedIn.

The MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival wrapped its fifth edition on June 7 after three days of lively and immersive programming featuring more than 50 crime and mystery writers from Canada and around the world. Festival highlights included the Canada Bleeds panel exploring the evolution of Canadian crime fiction and a series of sold-out masterclasses with some of the genre’s most celebrated authors. With international guests, French crime-writing showcases, forensic science workshops, and unforgettable mystery experiences drawing enthusiastic audiences, MOTIVE 2026 marked the festival’s largest and most successful edition to date.

Moments You May Have Missed

TIFA Presents Preview

In addition to its annual Fall Festival, TIFA keeps literary conversations thriving year-round through a dynamic lineup of author events featuring internationally acclaimed writers from Canada and around the world. Through TIFA Presents, audiences can connect with bestselling authors and influential voices across literature, culture, and current affairs throughout the year.

In Conversation with…Maggie O’Farrell, June 28, 2026

In Partnership with TIFF and Penguin Random House Canada

Location: TIFF Lightbox

Maggie O’Farrell, the bestselling author of Hamnet, joins us in person for the exclusive Canadian launch of her latest work of fiction, Land: A Novel, one of 2026’s most anticipated books. O’Farrell will discuss Land, as well as her creative process and her collaboration with Chloé Zhao on adapting Hamnet for the big screen, in an in-depth conversation with bestselling author and journalist Claire Cameron.

TIFA Presents: An Evening with Rebecca F. Kuang, September 22, 2026

Location: Winter Garden Theatre

Join R.F. Kuang at the iconic Winter Garden Theatre as she discusses her latest contemporary fiction novel, Taipei Story.

Tickets and more information available at https://festivalofauthors.ca/whats-on/

TIFA’s flagship Fall Festival returns October 28–November 1, 2026, bringing together celebrated authors, emerging voices, and thought leaders for five days of conversations, readings, and special events. Media are encouraged to mark their calendars now and stay tuned for programming announcements in the coming months.

About TIFA:

The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) has been inspiring readers and celebrating books and storytelling for over 50 years. Since 1974, TIFA has produced Canada’s longest-running book festival, the Toronto International Festival of Authors (formerly known as IFOA). TIFA has grown to offer year-round programming, including the TIFA Presents series of high-profile author talks, the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival, Ever After, TIFA’s Romance Festival, and the International Visitor’s Programme. Since 1974, TIFA has welcomed thousands of authors from more than 100 countries, including many Nobel Laureates and countless award winners. TIFA is a not-for-profit organization, one of the world’s founding book festivals, and a proud member of the Canadian Association of Literary Festivals (CALF) and the Global Alliance of Literary Festivals (GAoLF).

TIFA gratefully acknowledges our Season Supporter, the Weston Foundations; our Global Authors Club, for providing philanthropic support; the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Ontario, Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, the Centre for Creativity at Victoria University, and TIFA’s generous donors and supporters who recognize that great literature is worth investing in.

Follow along on social:

Facebook: facebook.com/FestofAuthors/

Instagram: instagram.com/festofauthors/

YouTube: youtube.com/user/AuthorsatHC

Mongrel Media x Mr. Will want to give readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening in Toronto and Vancouver, of GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS.

Toronto — July 8 at 7:00 PM
Cineplex Yonge & Dundas

Vancouver — July 8 at 7:00 PM
Cineplex Fifth Avenue Cinemas

Synopsis:

Small town hairdresser Gail Daughtry is engaged to her devoted high school sweetheart, Tom. Her life takes a turn when a trip to a book signing leads to Tom meeting – and sleeping – with his “celebrity pass”. Reeling from the betrayal, Gail impulsively joins her friend Otto on a trip to Los Angeles, where a psychic convinces Gail that the only way to save her marriage is to “even the scales” with her own celebrity pass: Jon Hamm. Thus begins an epic journey through Tinseltown as Gail and Otto join forces with a talent agency assistant, a paparazzo, and actor John Slattery, all in the search for Hamm. Along the way, they collide with celebrities and are hunted by a group of Italian assassins as they get ever closer to finding the elusive star.

Starring: Zoey Deutch, Jon Hamm, John Slattery, Ken Marino, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Ben Wang, Joe Lo Truglio, and Sabrina Impacciatore

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK, IG or X, and in the comments indicate your City and tag a friend you’re taking!

Rules and regulations here.

Note: You must be following in the event we need to reach you.

Mongrel Media release GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS July 10, 2026.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

Critically-acclaimed THE SHEEP DETECTIVES is on its way to your living rooms June 24, 2026 when it debuts on Prime Video Canada!

Starring Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine,

Molly Gordon, Tosin Cole

with Hong Chau and Emma Thompson

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, Rhys Darby

Screenplay by Craig Mazin

Screen story by Craig Mazin

Directed by Kyle Balda

Coming to Prime Video Worldwide June 24

Amazon MGM Studios presents

a Working Title Three Strange Angels production

Coming to Prime Video Worldwide June 24

In this witty, new breed of mystery, George (Hugh Jackman) is a shepherd who reads detective novels to

his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can’t possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident

disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues

and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers.

Directed by: Kyle Balda

Screenplay by: Craig Mazin

Screen Story by: Craig Mazin

Based on the novel by: “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann

Produced by: Lindsay Doran, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner

Executive Producers: Tyson Hesse, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Sarah-Jane Wright, Amelia Granger,

Aditya Sood, Tim Wellspring

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon with Hong Chau and Emma

Thompson

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett

Goldstein

Genre: Family, Mystery, Comedy

Rating: PG for thematic material, some violent content and brief language

Watch the official trailer for The Outer Threat, a new sci-fi thriller starring Constance Wu, Mark O’Brien and William Fichtner. In writer-director William Woods’s feature film debut, a family is forced to flee after making a groundbreaking extraterrestrial discovery.

VVS Films release THE OUTER THREAT July 24, 2026.

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

At a destination wedding in Thailand, best friends Emma and Lani join a shark-feeding tour that turns deadly when an aggressive tiger shark cripples their boat. Stranded in a remote bay breeding ground, panic spirals into violence as survival instincts take over. With rescue out of reach and time running out, safety is just in sight—but the bay between them belongs to the sharks.

RELEASE DATE: July 17, 2026
DIRECTOR: Phil Volken

CAST/CREW

PHIL VOLKEN
Inspired by the work of the Coen Brothers, Phil Volken is a writer-director known for crafting elevated genre films with global appeal. Phil made his feature debut with Garbage, a dark exploration of fame and celebrity culture, starring Daryl Hannah (Kill Bill) and William Baldwin (Backdraft). The film won Best Feature at the Hollywood Film Awards and was released worldwide on Netflix.

He followed with Extortion, a high-stakes thriller starring Academy Award nominee Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) and Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon). His next feature was Dead Sea (aka Flycatcher), a drama-thriller centred on human trafficking, starring Isabel Gravitt (The Watcher).

FRANCESCA EASTWOOD
Francesca Eastwood is an accomplished film actress whose career continues to gain momentum across both studio and independent projects. She stars in the mystery thriller Clawfoot (2024), leading a cast that includes Olivia Culpo, Nestor Carbonell, and Milo Gibson. She also appears in Running on Empty alongside Lucy Hale and Jim Gaffigan, and in Queen of the Ring with Walton Goggins and Josh Lucas. Additionally, she features in Juror #2 for Warner Bros., directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Nicholas Hoult, Zoey Deutch, and Toni Collette. Eastwood previously appeared in M. Night Shyamalan’s Old for Universal Pictures and in A Violent Separation opposite Brenton Thwaites. Her lead performance in the SXSW indie M.F.A. was praised by the Los Angeles Times as “absolutely riveting.”

ALEXANDER WRAITH
Alexander Wraith is an American actor who grew up in New Jersey and has built a diverse career across film and television. His credits include roles in Naomi (DC), The Mandalorian (Star Wars), Orange Is the New Black, Westworld, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as the feature film Taken 3.

He trained at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Australia and further studied at Columbia University’s Dramatic Arts program and Carnegie Hall in New York. Most recently, Wraith starred in the high-seas thriller Dead Sea, directed by Phil Volken, which reached #1 on Netflix in 16 countries.

Kane Parsons’ BACKROOMS passed 14.8 million at the Canadian Box office this weekend – making it a record-breaking title for Elevation Pictures as the highest-grossing film in the company’s history. BACKROOMS also hit a major world wide milestone crossing 300 million in its global box office this weekend, making it into the all-time top 25 highest-grossing horror films list.The film was shot in Vancouver, produced by Canadian Chris Ferguson, and opened stateside by A24.

Past Elevation Pictures’ box-office successes include Hustlers, Civil War, Paw Patrol: The Movie, The Upside, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, and Marty Supreme. The Imitation Game grossed 14.7 at the Canadian Box office, and was the title that previously held the the company’s record.

Directed by: Kane Parsons
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass,
Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell

A strange doorway appears in the basement of a furniture showroom.

BACKROOMS is now playing across Canada

CBC is offering a full day of live original programming on Wednesday, July 1, inviting audiences across the country to celebrate Canada Day 2026 together on all platforms. CBC News will provide live coverage from locations across the country beginning at 6 a.m. ET, connecting and reflecting the spirit of the day from coast to coast to coast. The day culminates with a live concert special Celebrating our Canada! at 8 p.m. (9 AT, 9:30 NT), from LeBreton Flats Park in Ottawa with host Isabelle Racicot and featuring performances by Alessia Cara, Barenaked Ladies, Beatrice Deer, Diane Dufresne and Paul Langlois (The Tragically Hip), among others. 

CBC also kicks off It’s a Canada Thing Summer Tour in four cities on July 1. Canadians are invited to join CBC to celebrate in-person at colourful pop-up kiosks at Bower Ponds in Red Deer, Alta., Wascana Park in Regina, Sask., The Forks in Winnipeg, Man., and Chinguacousy Park in Brampton, Ont., where they can participate in a “My Canada Thing is…” photo opp, compete in Canadiana trivia, and win fun CBC prizes.

Full details about Canada Day programming and related content can be found at cbc.ca/canadaday. 

CBC’s Canada Day programming lineup: 

CBC News will provide live coverage from across the country beginning at 6 a.m. ET on CBC News Network, CBC Gem and CBC News streaming platforms (8 a.m. ET on CBC TV), with David Common live from Halifax. Adrienne Arsenault and Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco will be live in Ottawa beginning at 10 a.m. ET, showcasing the July 1 program from LeBreton Flats Park with reporters and special guests. An ASL live stream of the program will be available on CBC Gem beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET. 

On CBC Radio and CBC Listen, live coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET from LeBreton Flats Park with hosts Elamin Abdelmahmoud and Catherine Cullen. 

The day continues at 2 p.m. ET across all CBC broadcast, streaming and audio platforms with Call-In Canada, a live Canada Day call-in show hosted by Saroja Coelho and offering Canadians the opportunity to share their thoughts on what it means to be Canadian in 2026, before Ian Hanomansing and Gloria Macarenko take over from Banff at 4 p.m. ET to connect with Canadians celebrating across the country. 

At 7 p.m. (8 AT, 8:30 NT), the special concert pre-show hosted by Arsenault and Abdelmahmoud will feature interviews with performers and highlight how Canadians from coast to coast to coast are celebrating Canada. 

Beginning at 8 p.m. (9 AT, 9:30 NT) across all CBC broadcast and streaming platforms and live from Ottawa, Isabelle Racicot will host the evening concert special Celebrating our Canada!, featuring memorable performances from across the country. Canadian artists and special guests include: Alessia Cara, Barenaked Ladies, Beatrice Deer, Diane Dufresne, Paul Langlois (The Tragically Hip), Adam Baldwin, Andrina Turenne (Winnipeg), Begonia (Winnipeg), Dominique Fils-Aimé, Gabs Bouchard, Isabelle Boulay, Lisa LeBlanc (Moncton), MICO, Noeline Hofmann, Pierre Lapointe, P’tit Belliveau, and Sylvia Cloutier. A live stream with bilingual ASL-LSQ interpretation will be available on CBC Gem. On CBC Radio, CBC Listen and CBC Music, live coverage of the Celebrating our Canada! concert from 8 p.m. (9 AT, 9:30 NT) will be hosted by Rich Terfry. 

July 1 on CBC Music, Mornings guest-host Grant Lawrence will present a special Trans-Canada Playlist of songs all about our home and native land from coast to coast to coast, while Julie Nesrallah will present the very best in Canadian classical music on Tempo. About Time’s Tim Allen will share music by composers from every province and territory, and Drive with host Rich Terfry celebrates with an all-Canadian road trip show, paying homage to the exhilarating and exhausting life on the road for Canadian musicians. Following the Celebrating our Canada! concert hosted by Terfry, Afterdark with Odario Williams brings an all-Canadian line up of moody grooves and tunes for late-night celebrations.

On CBCMusic.ca, coverage will include 10 Songs with Surprising Canadian Connections as well as live coverage on social media from the Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa. 

The CBC Comedy and Murdoch Mysteries FAST channels will also be marking Canada Day with special programming. On July 1, the Murdoch Mysteries channel will be highlighting episodes of the long-running drama series that feature real-life historic Canadians, while CBC Comedy will be offering a Still Standing marathon, showcasing the beauty of Canada and the hidden comedy found in its small towns.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

If you recall this past winter what a smash the Starbucks Bearista Cup was, well wait till you see this!

Part of the broader Pink Drink merchandise collection, the new Pink Bearista Glass wears an adorable hat and has a strawberry straw topper, making it unbearably cute. Inspired by the customer-favourite Pink Drink and designed to bring a playful, seasonal touch, it’s handblown and styled to feel bright, playful and unmistakably Starbucks. 

The Pink Bearista Glass arrives July 13, 2026!

See our video about the Bearista Cup and the importance of checking for dupes!