By Amanda Gilmore

The Unknown is a hypnotizing body-swap film soaked in existential dread.

After taking a mysterious pill at a party, photographer David (Niels Schneider) locks eyes and hooks up with a woman he vaguely recognizes, an Actor named Eva (Léa Seydoux). The next morning, he awakens in the woman’s body. When David finds his original body, he learns that this isn’t a traditional body-swap. Instead, a young, terrified woman named Malia (Lilith Grasmug) is now housed in David’s body. The two team up in search of answers and solutions to find their way back to their original flesh.

The body-swap premise has been done and dusted…but not the way The Unknown has. Filmmaker Arthur Harari (co-writer of Anatomy of a Fall) pulls audiences into this mystifying story of souls learning to navigate new bodies. The cinematography and absorbing score create a claustrophobic feeling that mirrors David and Malia’s entrapment in their foreign bodies. 

It’s really the performances that navigate this labyrinthine tale. Seydoux is extraordinary as a man discovering life in a female body. He begins to fear when a man creepily advances on him. In a midway plot twist, the full ability of the female body is explored. It’s something that will grip some but may lose others. Then there’s the unrecognizable Schneider who stuns as a 20-year-old girl stuck inside a grown man’s body.

Even though we never fully get the answer as to how this all happened (was it the pill or a supernatural entity?), this is a worthy existential journey of discovering how attached our souls are to our bodies.

The Unknown screens at TIFF ’26:

Tues. Sept 15 @ 3:15 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Thur. Sept 17 @ 7 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

By Nicholas Porteous

Mihai and Lisbet (Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve) uproot their family of seven from Romania and move to Norway. At first, the community welcomes them with open arms–but it’s not long before a quiet tension gives way to a life-altering ordeal. And much like those semi-regular avalanches just outside the town, the family is expected to stay cool in the face of almost-certain disaster. Fjord is this year’s Palme d’Or winner, and its many strengths are obvious. It’s a gripping Drama featuring a delicate-yet-powerful ensemble. The conceit is ambiguous in the best and worst way. It will force most viewers—myself included—to question their boundaries and sit in the discomfort of where and how to draw the line.

Which boundaries? Which lines?? Fjord is a tough film to truly discuss without spoiling its slowly unspooling yarn of twists and turns. Broadly speaking, it’s a cousin of Anatomy of a Fall and The Hunt. There’s a trial, our perspective is deliberately incomplete, but it’s clear that the system cannot reckon with the minutiae of whatever’s going on inside this family. Nothing is black and white, and forcing them into a box feels very far from justice. Also, much like its fellow recent Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall, Fjord‘s tone is deeply restrained. No violin-laden montages, no slow-mo muted revelations. Just raw, naturalistic drama. It’s a necessary restraint, mirroring the detached spectre of the trial itself, and the thoughtful, tense performances from Stan and Reinsve.

Fjord presents a human conundrum that defies easy judgement, and it casts a long shadow that has kept me pondering its profound predicament, days after the credits rolled.

Fjord screens at TIFF ’26:

Thurs. Sept 10 at 9:30 PM at The Princess of Wales

Fri. Sept 11 at 4:15 PM at Scotiabank Theatre

By Amanda Gilmore

Rémi St-Michel’s latest proves how easy it is for a teen to get swept away in a life of crime.

We follow 15-year-old Félix (Félix Munger) who, like everyone else, just wants to belong. On the night of his birthday, he walks into a store in the suburbs of Quebec City pretending to rob the place. This prank leads to him meeting Dave (David Beaudoin), an aspiring gangster. Dave makes Félix feel like he belongs and quickly convinces the young man to join him on his bank robbery heist. However, this one heist takes Félix on an unexpected direction into the criminal underbelly of the city.

Toy Gun Bandit opens with a “This is almost a true story” title card. And we can easily understand why. All we need to do is turn on the news,  and we’ll hear about a teenage criminal. St-Michel has crafted a film that takes us beyond the headlines. This isn’t the darkest story of a young criminal, if it was none of us would watch. St-Michel and Munger allow us to watch as Félix’s youthful innocence gets manipulated. Therefore, allowing us to still see him as the hero we want saved.

Everything about Toy Gun Bandit feels authentic: from the cinematography to the fact that the primary characters share the same names as their performers. At the forefront are the performances. Munger is outstanding as this young man trying to find his way in and out of the criminal world. Beaudoin is impactful as this self-centred and often sloppy gangster. Then there’s the unrecognizable Sara Montpetit, who gives an indelible performance as Sara, a drug addict being forced into these robberies.

Toy Gun Bandit screens at TIFF ’26:

Thur. Sept 10 @ 2:45 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Tues. Sept 15 @ 9 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

By Nicholas Porteous

Marie-Lou (Virginie Efira), a French nursing home director struggling to implement a new system of care for her patients, serendipitously finds her way into an experimental theatre performance written and directed by Mari (Tao Okamoto), a Japanese playwright with stage four cancer. They forge a one-of-a-kind connection built on their unique backgrounds and personal struggles. This is Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden, a cinematic experience that defies easy classification–building its thesis slowly and steadily over 196 minutes to a stirring and full-hearted crescendo of humanity.

All of a Sudden is at its best when Marie-Lou and Mari are finding their soulful connection in real time, before our eyes. Efira and Okamoto are magnetic screen presences because of their transcendent affinity for one another–to the point that I lost track of All of a Sudden‘s immense runtime. The film is equal parts concerned with the intellectual and unspoken ways we can better care for each other, individually and as a collective–blurring the line between our interior and exterior worlds. When the movie intermittently widens its scope beyond our two leads and becomes more about the ensemble of the nursing home and the organizational processes that must be shifted to better serve its residents, its slow pace becomes more apparent. Sometimes All of a Sudden feels less like a drama and more like an empathic manifesto. It makes for a beautiful statement, but not always a conventionally satisfying production. If you’re not familiar with Hamaguchi’s languid style, you should know going in: he’s leaving you a lot of room to contemplate the movie’s meaning on your own, as he fades from one movement to the next.

If you like your narratives slow and your catharsis earned, All of a Sudden offers a deeply rewarding look into the lives of two unlikely kindred spirits, and a glance at the kind of society we might foster with real understanding and passion for the needs of those around us. It’s a much needed, healing vision here in 2026.

All of a Sudden screens at TIFF ’26:

Mon. Sept 14 at 12:30 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Sat. Sept 19 at 2:15 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Today the trailer and official key art was released ahead of the series’ highly anticipated World Premiere, where it will serve as the Primetime Opening Night selection at the Toronto International Film Festival.
READ MORE ON TUDUM
BELOW, the suspenseful new thriller, launches October 8, only on Netflix.

ABOUT BELOW

Calvin Penney (Josh Hartnett) is a big‑hearted but stubborn fisherman living in a small Newfoundland town, who’s still haunted by his father’s mysterious death from decades ago. When an unidentified sea creature begins terrorizing his hometown, Calvin must fight to hold his close-knit community together. Determined to keep his son Wade (Charlie Heaton) and the rest of his family safe, he teams up with a visiting marine researcher (Mackenzie Davis) to confront the creature and reveal the island’s buried secrets before it’s too late. Blending local myth, thrilling suspense, and heartfelt humor, this twisty six-part limited series dives into themes of family, community, and change – both terrifying and inevitable.

CREATOR/SHOWRUNNER/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Jesse McKeown

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jessica Rhoades, Chris Hatcher, Josh Hartnett, Jamie Childs, Louise Sutton, Sharon Hall

CAST: Josh Hartnett (“Calvin Penney”), Mackenzie Davis (“Fonda Howander”), Charlie Heaton (“Wade Penney”), Ruby Stokes (“Mary Penney”), Kaleb Horn (“Noah”), Rohan Campbell (“Jay Penney”), Willow Kean (“Ruth Penney”)

FORMAT: 6 Episode Limited Series

FILMED ON LOCATION: St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada

By Mr. Will Wong

If you love quirky female-led character studies, HA-CHAN, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY! from Director Josef Kubota Wladyka, just might be your thing!

Haru (Rinko Kikuchi) and her husband Fedir (Alberto Guerra) are prominent in the Tokyo Ballroom scene, until tragedy occurs, leaving the former to question her direction in life. She meets handsome dance instructor Luis (Alejandro Edda) which re-ignites passion again in her life, but at once she still is grieving her beloved late husband.

HA-CHAN, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY is bright and joyous, with Kikuchi delivering a singular performance in a role that feels crafted uniquely for her. It is an exploration of loss through Comedy and fantasy that engages its audience in a fun manner, which has us really rooting for our trying, but cool heroine.

This screens at TIFF ’26:

Tuesday, September 15

Royal Alexandra Theatre

Closed captions (CC),Audio description (AD)

8:30 pm

Wednesday, September 16

Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Closed captions (CC),Audio description (AD)

12:00 pm

The daggers are out as the Canadian Screen Award-winning original competition series, THE TRAITORS CANADA, returns for its fourth season, Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, beginning September 21, with extended cuts streaming next day on Crave. The cunning and charismatic Karine Vanasse is back with more twists up her fashionable sleeves, convening 22 Canadian players willing to do whatever is necessary for the chance to claim a cash prize of up to $100,000.

Set in the hallowed halls of a historic manor on the outskirts of Montréal, THE TRAITORS CANADA – crowned Best Reality/Competition Program or Series at the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards – sees 22 Canadians take part in a series of thrilling missions that challenges their minds and bodies. While the group has one goal in common – building the prize pot one day at a time – suspicion and deceit keep them at odds with one another as a handful of Traitors hide amid the otherwise Faithful players. With the threat of murder and banishment looming, the Faithful must race to uncloak every Traitor before the Traitors manage to eliminate the Faithfuls one by one under the cover of darkness – because if even one Traitor survives until the end of the game, they walk away with the entire prize pot for themselves.

About Entourage
Entourage is a Montreal-based company that was founded in 2007 by its current CEO, Eric Young. The company specializes in creating, producing and selling television content and live entertainment, as well as managing well-known artists. Over the past several years, Entourage’s Television, Feature Film and Digital division has become famous for producing various TV shows, including The Traitors Canada, Big Brother Célébrités, Fear Factor Célébrités, Livre ouvert, Big Brother : Le piège and many more. Next year, the company will also produce the new iteration of Big Brother Canada. Recently, the production company won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Reality/Competition Program or Series for the second season of The Traitors Canada. Moreover, Entourage Spectacle produces over 1000 performances and events annually. Their diverse projects aim to entertain, captivate, move and/or educate audiences from all backgrounds.

About CTV
CTV is Canada’s most-watched broadcaster, delivering the country’s most popular entertainment, news, and sports programming across two broadcast networks, a powerful suite of specialty channels with CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, CTV Sci-Fi Channel, CTV Nature Channel, CTV Speed Channel, and CTV Wild Channel. CTV is also available on Crave, the largest Canadian-owned streamer. Home to Canada’s highest-rated national newscast and most-trusted local news, CTV is part of Bell Media, Canada’s leading media and entertainment company, with a portfolio spanning premium video, audio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media.

Ring the bell. Finish treatment. Go home. But then what?

For thousands of women, the breast cancer journey does not end when treatment does. The physical, emotional and financial realities of recovery can continue long after hospital visits stop.

On Sunday, September 27, 2026, after BREAST CANCER (ABC) will shine a spotlight on that often-overlooked chapter at its 14th Annual Pink Diamond Gala, presented by Deloitte, at Bellvue Manor in Vaughan.

The Pink Diamond Gala brings survivors, business and community leaders, sponsors and supporters together for one powerful afternoon, raising funds to help women rebuild their confidence and thrive after breast cancer.

One of this year’s highlights will be a special fireside conversation with Canadian fashion icon Jeanne Beker, bringing her unmistakable voice and perspective to the Pink Diamond Gala stage.

“We talk so much about beating breast cancer, but not nearly enough about what happens to a woman afterward,” says Alicia Vianga, Founder and Executive Director of after BREAST CANCER. “For 14 years, our mission has been to stand beside women during that next chapter, helping them regain their confidence, dignity and sense of self. The Pink Diamond Gala makes that work possible.”

ABC supports women facing financial barriers with essential aftercare products, education and resources, including mastectomy bras, camisoles and breast prostheses — at no out-of-pocket cost.

This year, ABC’s Gala goal is to raise the funds needed to support at least 250 more women through its programs and services.

AN AFTERNOON WITH PURPOSE AND YES… PLENTY OF PINK!
Guests will walk the Pink Carpet and enjoy a cocktail reception, luncheon, entertainment, special guests, Jeanne Beker’s fireside conversation, live auction and luxury gift bags.

Every ticket, table and sponsorship has one purpose: helping another woman thrive after breast cancer.

14TH ANNUAL PINK DIAMOND GALA
Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Bellvue Manor | 8083 Jane Street, Vaughan, ON
Presented by: Deloitte
Master of Ceremonies: Sam Ciccolini
Special Guest: Jeanne Beker – Fireside Conversation

Tickets: $200 Gold | $250 VIP
Sponsorships, Tables & Program Advertising Available

SPONSOR. ATTEND. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Tickets & Information: https://www.afterbreastcancer.ca/

About after BREAST CANCER
after BREAST CANCER (ABC) is a Canadian registered charity supporting women after breast cancer through aftercare education, resources, financial assistance and community engagement. ABC helps women facing financial barriers access essential recovery products and support at no out-of-pocket cost.

Together, we are after BREAST CANCER

And here we have it! tiff ’26 eve. We always hit the ground running and are sharind some day zero sightings. We can’t wait to see what the Festival brings us!

•Filmmaker Rebecca Hartt at tiff for Documentary, RAPINOE.

•Filmmaker Amma Asante at tiff for the Platform Jury

•Filmmaker Miwa Nishikawa at tiff for CHILDREN UNTOLD.

•Legendary Gary Oldman at tiff for VISIONARIES, part of tiff: The Market

•Mel C. (Sporty Spice) in town on tour. Her film GIRL GROUP premieres at tiff.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

In celebration of the launch of the highly anticipated second season of MobLand on Friday, September 18, 2026, Paramount+ in Canada is partnering with Toronto’s iconic Elephant & Castle (212 King St. West) to transform the popular downtown venue’s Windsor Bar into the world of the Harrigans.

From September 11 – 19, 2026 the restaurant will undergo a dramatic takeover, inviting fans and curious visitors alike to step inside an immersive experience inspired by the bold, chaotic and unapologetic world of MobLand.

Designed to feel as though the Harrigans themselves have taken over the establishment, the Toronto activation will bring the series to life through authentic thematic elements, atmosphere and interactive experiences. Open daily during Elephant & Castle’s business hours, guests can enjoy thematic experiences and exclusive MobLand-inspired cocktails (complete with take-home glassware with purchase). Scheduled throughout the run of the activation, consumers can capture memorable moments at custom photo stations, test their luck at the “Wheel of Chaos” giveaway booth, and experience entertainment and live music from The Causeway Giants and Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost. See list of all activations, dates, and times below.

“Mugshot” Photobooth – As guests enter into the space, they are invited to take their “mugshot” that will be printed out as a takeaway.

Programming dates: Sept 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 from 12 – 8 p.m. ET

“Wheel of Chaos” – Guests can test their luck on a Harrigan-inspired “Wheel of Chaos”, where every spin is a gamble and only a lucky few walk away with a reward. Giveaways include (depending on the day): branded football kit, branded football scarf, branded flask, branded key chain bottle opener, and branded burner phone mint.

Programming dates: Sept 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 from 12 – 8 p.m. ET

Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost Live Performance

Performance dates: Sept. 13 (3 – 5 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m.), 17, 18 (8 – 10 p.m. ET)

The Causeway Giants Live Performance

Performance dates: Sept. 14 (3 – 4 p.m. and 5 – 6 p.m. ET) and Sept. 19 (8 – 10 p.m. ET)

*Note: Event schedule and performances are subject to change. All giveaway items are available on a first-come, first-served basis, while quantities last.

By transforming a beloved Toronto venue into a destination straight out of MobLand, Paramount+ and Elephant & Castle are delivering an off-screen experience – giving fans a unique and unforgettable opportunity to step into the world of the series in a completely new way.

Available exclusively on Paramount+, the hit original crime drama MobLand stars Tom Hardy, the loyal fixer Harry da Souza, alongside Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren as the unscrupulous heads of the Harrigan family, Conrad and Maeve.

In the upcoming season, the Harrigans struggle to show a unified front as rising rivals threaten their fractured criminal empire – and Harry Da Souza, their street-smart and formidable ‘fixer,’ must walk a dangerous tightrope when tensions within the family intensify. As violence spills into every corner of their lives, loyalties snap, safety proves temporary, and the battle for power leaves no room for mercy. Following its global premiere Friday, September 18 on Paramount+, new episodes of the ten-episode second season will be available to stream weekly on Fridays, culminating in the season finale on Friday, November 20.

MobLand is commissioned by Paramount+ and produced in association with Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios. The series is executive produced by David C. Glasser, Guy Ritchie, Jez Butterworth, Tom Hardy, Ivan Atkinson, Dean Baker, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari and Keith Cox.

#MobLand @paramountplusca @mobland_pplus

(Photos: George Pimentel Photography)