ABURI TORA at Yorkdale is welcoming spring early in North York with a Cherry Blossom-themed menu created in collaboration with MICHELIN-starred Chef Ryusuke Nakagawa and TORA’s Head Chef Young Son. Available for a limited time from March 4 to May 31, 2025 the menu highlights five new dishes crafted with fresh, premium ingredients like Hokkaido scallop, Sakura shrimp, and cherry sea bream. Inspired by the beauty of Cherry Blossom season, this special offering blends seasonal flavors with Japanese culinary traditions, showcasing TORA’s signature Aburi-style sushi alongside elevated spring-inspired ingredients. Guests are invited to indulge in this exclusive dining experience, available for dine-in only. Visitors are encouraged to check ABURI TORA’s website for the latest restaurant hours before planning their visit.

In Japan, Cherry Blossom season marks the arrival of spring, when cherry blossoms bloom across the country, symbolizing renewal and the fleeting beauty of life. This cherished tradition is celebrated with hanami, the practice of gathering under the blossoms to appreciate their beauty, often accompanied by seasonal foods. Similarly, Toronto welcomes its own Cherry Blossom season in late April to early May, drawing visitors to scenic spots like High Park for their own hanami celebrations. Inspired by this tradition, TORA is showcasing its signature Aburi-style sushi with limited-time creations that capture the essence of spring, offering guests a taste of Japan’s most celebrated season.

The TORA Sakura Menu includes:
–Sakura Dai Carpaccio ($18) – Cherry Sea Bream, Strawberry Radish, Yellow Beet, Green Onion, Benitate, Amazu Sauce
–Sakura Dai Kobujime ($4.50) – Konbu-cured Cherry Sea Bream, Japanese Plum Sauce, Seaweed Chip
–Aburi Hokkaido Scallop Nigiri ($9) – Aburi-style Flame-seared Hokkaido Scallop, Sakura Shrimp, Avocado Saikyo-miso Sauce
–Sakura Mochi ($6.50) – Red Bean Paste, Cherry Rice Mochi, Pickled Cherry Blossom Leaf
–Sakura Cola ($4)

Don’t miss the chance to experience this limited-time Cherry Blossom menu at ABURI TORA, where tradition meets innovation in every bite. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Aburi-style sushi or discovering it for the first time, this seasonal offering promises an unforgettable dining experience. Visit ABURI TORA at Yorkdale to celebrate the beauty of spring through this special menu.

After much acclaim in its run on CBC and CBC GEM, NORTH OF NORTH gets an official Netflix release April 10, 2025 on Netflix! The Series had a Red Carpet Premiere here in Toronto recently. More on that here.

ABOUT NORTH OF NORTH
Logline: A young Inuk woman wants to build a new future for herself after a spontaneous — and extremely public — exit from her marriage. But it won’t be easy in a small Arctic town where everybody knows your business.

Episodes: 8 episodes x 30min
Creators / Executive Producers: Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril
Executive Producers: Miranda de Pencier, Anya Adams, Susan Coyne, Garry Campbell
Directors: Anya Adams (101, 102) Aleysa Young (103, 104) Renuka Jeyapalan (105), Zoe Leigh Hopkins (106), Danis Goulet (107, 108)
Writers: Stacey Aglok MacDonald (101), Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (101, 104), Kathryn Borel, Jr. (102), Susan Coyne (102, 107), Garry Campbell (103, 105, 108), Linsey Stewart (104, 106), Moriah Sallaffie (105), Aviaq Johnston (108), JP Larocque (108)

Cast: Anna Lambe (Siaja), Maika Harper (Neevee), Braeden Clarke (Kuuk), Jay Ryan (Alistair), Mary Lynn Rajskub (Helen), Kelly William (Ting), Zorga Qaunaq (Millie), Bailey Poching (Colin), Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds (Elisapee), Keira Belle Cooper (Bun), Tanya Tagaq (Nuliajuk)

Filming Locations: Iqaluit, Nunavut and Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Quote from Stacey Aglok MacDonald (Creator, Executive Producer):
“While these stories are all fictional, a lot of them come from grains of truth in our lives. It feels like we’re opening up our diary to the world, which is scary but also incredibly cathartic.”

Quote from Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Creator, Executive Producer):
“The best part about this job is trying to paint a true picture of humanity through comedy – because sometimes the most beautiful and powerful illustrations of that come when we are at our most ridiculous and raw. It’s really exciting to be able to take the deep work that we have been doing in our Indigenous community for many years, and bring our life experiences as modern Inuit to the global stage.”

Quote from Anna Lambe (Star):
“With this character, I saw a story that I was familiar with, about so many people that I grew up with. That drove me to want to be a part of telling this story, to go through all of Siaja’s layers and unpack why she is how she is.”

Rachel Zegler, the star of “Disney’s Snow White,” delighted audiences earlier today with a special performance of Waiting on a Wish, the first single from the film’s original soundtrack, at a European event at the Alcázar of Segovia Castle in Spain. Joining Zegler at the event was the film’s director Marc Webb, press, content creators, children and their families from Spanish CSR Organizations (Fundación Aladdina, Fundación sin daño, Juegaterapia, Pequeño Deseo and CEMU), and families from Segovia. 

The Alcázar of Segovia, a medieval castle located in the city of Segovia, in Castile and León, Spain, was the inspiration for the castle that appears in the 1937 animated film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

“Disney’s Snow White” is directed by Marc Webb, written by Erin Cressida Wilson, and produced by Marc Platt, p.g.a., and Jared LeBoff, p.g.a., with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer, and features all-new original songs from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, including Waiting on a Wish, the recently released first single from the film’s original soundtrack. Waiting on a Wish is available now digitally on Amazon, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify.

Nobu Hotel Toronto will be opening its doors early this summer. Following the headline-hitting success of its Toronto restaurant opening in August 2024 – and its luxury residences selling out in record time – the hotel is now available for online reservations from June 1, 2025. An urban sanctuary in the sky, the highly anticipated 36 room and suite hotel is set to elevate Toronto’s luxury hospitality landscape as it unveils the city’s most private retreat for guests seeking respite from the public eye. Founded by internationally renowned Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Academy Award winner Robert De Niro and Hollywood producer Meir Teper, Nobu Hospitality blends modern luxury and minimal Japanese tradition with the energy of a lifestyle hotel.

Rising 45 stories in the heart of downtown Toronto’s vibrant Entertainment District, just one block from the Toronto International Film Festival, Nobu Hotel Toronto is the first luxury hotel in the city to be situated at the very top of a mixed-use property, located on floors 41 to 45. The hotel’s remarkably central location is a short walk from the city’s preeminent shopping, live theatre, sports and entertainment venues and moments from the city’s most distinguished landmarks including the CN Tower, Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre, Union Station and Toronto Harbourfront. Offering dazzling, panoramic views of Lake Ontario and the city skyline, the hotel’s exclusive 36 rooms and suites will unveil a captivating blend of Japanese-inspired design and Canadian craftsmanship.

“Nobu Hotel Toronto will be a monumental addition to the luxury hotel landscape in the city”, says General Manager of Nobu Hotel Toronto, Benoit Pretet. “Situated in a prime location in the heart of the entertainment district and just steps from cultural landmarks like TIFF, Nobu Hotel Toronto will quickly become the city’s urban oasis.”

Additional standout hotel features include:

-Complimentary mini-bar: indulge in an assortment of locally curated treats and non-alcoholic refreshments.
-Priority restaurant access to Nobu Toronto: priority access to Nobu Toronto restaurant reservations at the time of hotel booking.
-Sakura Lounge: a private escape exclusively for hotel guests, who enjoy complimentary full breakfast daily, as well as all-day dining and curated weekly programming.
-Wellness experiences: a state-of-the-art fitness centre featuring TechnoGym equipment, Peloton bikes and Frame Pilates reformer, as well as an in-room Zen Wellness program including Alo yoga equipment, on-demand fitness classes on TV, stretching rituals, nutrition guides and local spa and fitness recommendations.
-Guestroom amenities: Includes a Japanese Deep Soaking Wood Tub, Japanese Toto, Bathorium and Byredo products, and Dyson appliances.
I-n-room dining: Guests can order signature Nobu-style dishes right to their room at any time throughout the day.
-Visitors are now able to book hotel reservations for stays. Starting today, guests can make reservations online through the Nobu Hotel Toronto website, for dates starting from June 1, 2025. To celebrate the hotel’s official debut, travellers are invited to book a limited-time-only offer:

Grand Opening Offer – Click Here for Opening Offer Page

Be one of the first to experience Nobu Hotel Toronto with a Hotel Credit up to $200 including the following benefits:

-Daily Full Breakfast in Sakura Lounge
-Complimentary In-Room Mini Bar*
-$100 or $200 Hotel Credit**
-Valet Parking
-Room upgrade, based on availability at time of arrival
-Guaranteed dinner reservations at Nobu Toronto at time of hotel booking
-Welcome Amenity
*Does not include alcohol.

Starting today, guests can make reservations online through the Nobu Hotel Toronto website, for dates starting from June 1, 2025.

**Credit is per stay. Value contingent on room category: $100 Hotel Credit for Deluxe, Zen and Hikari room types. $200 Hotel Credit for Mizu and Miyabi one-bedroom suites. Based on availability at time of booking. Blackout dates apply. Prices in Canadian dollars and do not include taxes or service fees. Full terms and conditions apply and can be found at time of online booking.

Nobu Toronto Restaurant, Bar & Lounge is located below the hotel at 25 Mercer St. For more details and to make restaurant reservations up to 30 days in advance or hotel reservations from June 1, 2025, onwards, please visit the official Nobu Toronto website. Stay updated by following Nobu Toronto on social media via @nobutoronto #NobuToronto.

About Nobu Hotel Toronto

Dine with us. Stay with us. Rising 45 storeys in the heart of Toronto’s vibrant Entertainment District, Nobu announces its Canadian debut with the brand’s first-ever announced Nobu Hotel, Restaurant & Residences in the world. Founded by internationally renowned Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Academy Award winner Robert De Niro and Hollywood producer Meir Teper, Nobu Hospitality blends modern luxury and minimal Japanese tradition with the energy of a lifestyle hotel. Now accepting reservations from June 1, 2025, Nobu Hotel Toronto is situated above the historic Pilkington Glass Factory with two dramatic residential towers housing 660 units with the hotel located atop the west tower on floors 41 to 45, offering dazzling, panoramic views of Lake Ontario and the city skyline.

An urban sanctuary in the sky, the 36 room and suite hotel is Toronto’s most private retreat for guests seeking respite from the public eye, offering 24/7 personalized service. The largest in the city, our spacious suites welcome you to a haven of tranquility with warm neutral tones and breathtaking floor-to-ceiling window views. Japanese spa-inspired bathrooms offer heated floors, double stone vanities, a Japanese Toto and luxurious rainfall shower while Nobu’s iconic deep-soaking wood tub situated beside the window invites guests to indulge in serene relaxation overlooking downtown Toronto. Savour the flavours of our renowned Nobu-Style Japanese cuisine with South American influences at the 10,000 sq ft, two-level Nobu restaurant with separate bar & lounge, two private dining rooms, sushi bar and outdoor terrace. Guests will find their zen at the hotel’s wellness centre with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, Peloton bikes, and Frame Pilates reformer or can explore the city on our stylish cruiser bikes. Refuel with access to Sakura Lounge – a private escape exclusively for hotel guests to enjoy daily complimentary full breakfast and signature Nobu experiences or indulge in privacy with in-room dining and complimentary mini-bar.

Your first look at “Lilo & Stitch” is here! The eagerly anticipated film, a live-action reimagining of Disney’s 2002 animated classic, will open exclusively in theatres May 23, 2025. Be sure to check it out and share with your readers.

“Lilo & Stitch” is the wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family. The film is directed by award-winning filmmaker Dean Fleischer Camp, with a screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, and stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, with Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis, and introducing Maia Kealoha. “Lilo & Stitch” is produced by Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a. and Dan Lin, with Tom Peitzman, Ryan Halprin, Louie Provost, Thomas Schumacher serving as executive producers.

“Lilo & Stitch” opens exclusively in theatres nationwide May 23, 2025

All episodes of Pixar Animation Studios’ original series “Win or Lose” are now streaming on Disney+. The final trailer is now out:

Also streaming today is the behind-the-scenes documentary film “Meet the Pickles: The Making of Win or Lose,” which tracks the development and creation of the original series from Pixar.

“Win or Lose” follows the intertwined stories of eight different characters as they each prepare for their big championship softball game. The series reveals what it actually feels like to be in the shoes of each character—the insecure kids, their helicopter parents, even a lovesick umpire—with incredibly funny, very emotional and uniquely animated perspectives. Directed and written by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates, and produced by David Lally, “Win or Lose” features music by composer Ramin Djawadi and original songs by CAMPFIRE and Djawadi.

WE THE NORTH: From Prehistoric to Historic explores the legacy of the Toronto Raptors and the cultural significance of their unforgettable 2019 NBA Championship. Told through archival footage and iconic Raptors alumni, plus those most closely attached to their story, this is a riveting Documentary told in a concise 75 minute runtime.

Surprising at a special Toronto Screening of the Vinay Virmani-produced film directed by Sami Khan, were Executive Producer Simu Liu and NBA Champion Kyle Lowry.

Some highlights from the evening:

WE THE NORTH: From Prehistoric to Historic streams in Canada on Crave March 13, 2025.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

To celebrate the Canadian hockey spirit, LEGO Canada and Prime Monday Night Hockey are unveiling an interactive hockey mural dubbed the “Hockey Wall” at Toronto’s Union Station ahead of the March 17, 2025 match-up between the visiting Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The mural will be at the forefront of the activation space along with several multi-platform experiences which will be FREE to the public.

On game day, from 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. ET fans will be invited to engage with several elements of the activation, including building parts of the LEGO® mural, photo opportunities with one-of-a-kind LEGO models, discovering LEGO products, as well as scannable QR codes that connect to a custom LEGO brand store experience. Be a part of a collaborative masterpiece and build a share of the 41,472 LEGO bricks that will make up the mural!

Date: Monday, March 17, 2025

Time: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET

Location: Union Station, Go Bay Concourse, Next to Scotiabank Arena

Admission: FREE

About The LEGO Group

The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine. The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, which mean “Play Well”. Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. Its products are now sold in more than 120 countries worldwide.

For more information: www.LEGO.com

About Prime Video

Prime Video is a one-stop entertainment destination offering customers a vast collection of premium programming in one application available across thousands of devices. On Prime Video, customers can find their favourite movies, series, documentaries, and live sports, including Prime Monday Night Hockey – also Amazon MGM Studios-produced series and movies Fallout, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Reacher, The Boys, and Roadhouse; licensed fan favourites Vampire Diaries and Degrassi; exclusive entertainment such as Prime Monday Night Hockey, ONE Championship; and programming from channels such as Sportsnet, Paramount+, Crave, Citytv+, STARZ, AMC+, Super Channel, BritBox, Hayu, STACKTV, a multi-channel service featuring 16 top-tier networks (Global, Food Network Canada, HGTV Canada, W Network, The HISTORY® Channel, Adult Swim, Lifetime, Slice, Showcase, National Geographic, Cartoon Network, Treehouse, YTV, Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD), via Prime Video Channels add-on subscriptions. Prime Video is one benefit among many that provides savings, convenience, and entertainment as part of the Prime membership. All customers, regardless of whether they have a Prime membership or not, can rent or buy titles, including blockbusters such as Barbie and Oppenheimer, via the Prime Video Store. Customers can also go behind the scenes of their favourite movies and series with exclusive X-Ray access. For more info visit www.primevideo.com

Hot Docs announced today the first slate of films to screen as part of its highly anticipated Special Presentations program at the 2025 Festival, running April 24 to May 4, 2025 in Toronto. The Special Presentations program, which features high-profile subjects, award-winning films and filmmakers, and masterful perspectives on current events and pressing issues, will screen in cinemas across downtown Toronto during the Festival.

Making its world premiere at Hot Docs Festival 2025 is The Nest, a deeply personal exploration of memory, identity, and intergenerational storytelling by co-directors Chase Joynt and Julietta Singh. International premieres include Deaf President Now!, a powerful chronicle of the landmark student protest that transformed accessibility rights in the US; and Life After, in which celebrated filmmaker Reid Davenport investigates the troubling implications of assisted suicide laws for disabled people.

Making their Canadian premieres are Antidote, a gripping real-life thriller following investigative journalist Christo Grozev and activist Vladimir Kara-Murza as they challenge Russia’s political machine; Apocalypse in the Tropics, Petra Costa’s timely and incisive look at the rise of religious fundamentalism in Brazil; Coexistence, My Ass!, where comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi boldly navigates the Israel-Palestine conflict with razor-sharp wit; Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, an intimate portrait of the trailblazing Deaf actor; and Saints and Warriors, which captures the fierce competition and deep community spirit of the All Native Basketball Tournament in British Columbia. These films, and many more, will be presented as part of Hot Docs Festival 2025.

The full selection of films to screen at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival 2025 will be announced at a press conference on March 25. Ticket packages are now on sale online. Ticket package redemption and single ticket sales for Hot Docs members are available starting March 25. Single ticket sales open to the public on April 1.  

Descriptions for films in the Special Presentations program appear below. In many cases, filmmakers will be in attendance for post-screening discussions. For more information on the program visit http://go.pardot.com/e/463832/ot-docs-festival-announcements/lcd6y/773667820/h/bcPFH0Dzg_lRW-Nv-XhjxMMqYl_dAHxxXsu_im1L5U8.

Film stills of Special Presentation titles are available at http://go.pardot.com/e/463832/y3p8zknz/lcd72/773667820/h/bcPFH0Dzg_lRW-Nv-XhjxMMqYl_dAHxxXsu_im1L5U8.

ANTIDOTE
D: James Jones | P: James Jones | United Kingdom | 2024 | 90 min | Canadian Premiere
How does it feel to be on Putin’s most-wanted list? Christo Grozev, an investigative journalist and co-founder of Bellingcat, is on the run, while Vladimir Kara-Murza, a political activist, stands trial for treason. A riveting doc-thriller about those resisting and confronting the blood-chilling Russian regime.

APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS
D: Petra Costa | P: Petra Costa, Alessandra Orofino | Brazil, USA, Denmark | 2024 | 110 min | Canadian Premiere
In Oscar-nominated filmmaker Petra Costa’s latest excursion into the state of democracy she turns her attention to Brazil’s most prominent televangelist, Silas Malafaia, delving into the rise of religious fundamentalism in politics and its close ties to the far-right nationalist movement.

COEXISTENCE, MY ASS!
D: Amber Fares | P: Rachel Leah Jones, Amber Fares, Valérie Montmartin | USA, France | 2025 | 95 min | Canadian Premiere
Mixing the personal with the political, comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi boldly confronts the Israel-Palestine conflict in her one-woman show. Skillfully navigating massive social and political divides with wit and humour, she challenges audiences with hard truths that are no laughing matter.

DEAF PRESIDENT NOW!
D: Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim | P: Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim, Amanda Rohlke, Jonathan King, Michael Harte | USA | 2024 | 100 min | International Premiere
When Gallaudet University’s board selected a hearing president over two deaf candidates in 1988, the almost entirely Deaf and hard-of-hearing student body pushed back, sparking a revolution that influenced the future of disability rights.

LIFE AFTER
D: Reid Davenport | P: Colleen Cassingham | USA | 2025 | 99 min | International Premiere
Disability cinema auteur Reid Davenport takes on assisted suicide, exploring how a practice intended to empower end-of-life decision-making has exposed the long-standing devaluation of disabled life.

MARLEE MATLIN: NOT ALONE ANYMORE
D: Shoshannah Stern | P: Robyn Kopp, Justine Nagan, Bonni Cohen, Shoshannah Stern | USA | 2025 | 97 min | Canadian Premiere
Pioneering Deaf performer Marlee Matlin candidly opens up about her life and career. Her meteoric and tumultuous rise to fame with her Oscar-winning performance in Children of a Lesser God is just one chapter of an iconic legacy that continues to resonate.

THE NEST
D: Chase Joynt, Julietta Singh | P: Alicia Smith, Justine Pimlott | Canada, | 2025 | 89 min | World Premiere
At the end of her mother’s life, director Julietta Singh returns to her childhood home, where centuries of forgotten matriarchs emerge to reveal stories of resistance and resilience. Indigenous, Deaf, Japanese and South Asian histories intertwine, buried in a house full of secrets.

SAINTS AND WARRIORS
D: Patrick Shannon | P: Michael Grand | Canada | 2024 | 97 min | Canadian Premiere
For over sixty years, teams have gathered on the Pacific west coast for the All Native Basketball Tournament. As the defending champions, the Skidegate Saints, battle to keep their title, it’s clear the event has become a symbol of resilience, community and culture.

Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca), North America’s leading documentary festival, conference and market, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing and celebrating the art of documentary and to creating production opportunities for documentary filmmakers. Hot Docs will present its 32nd annual edition from April 24 to May 4, 2025, in cinemas across Toronto. Hot Docs will also mount a dynamic series of knowledge sessions, networking opportunities and market programs for documentary practitioners and industry delegates, including the renowned Hot Docs Deal Maker and Works-in-Progress screenings. Year-round, Hot Docs supports the Canadian and international industry with professional development programs and a multi-million-dollar film fund portfolio, and fosters education through documentaries with its popular free program Docs For Schools. Hot Docs owns and programs the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, a century-old landmark located in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood and the world’s first and largest documentary cinema.

Starting Tuesday, March 25, Festival ticket package holders, including Doc Soup subscribers, can redeem their ticket packages, and Hot Docs Members can purchase single tickets. Starting Tuesday, April 1, single tickets will be available to the public. Tickets and ticket packages can be purchased and/or redeemed online at www.hotdocs.ca or in person at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema Box Office, located at 506 Bloor Street West (hours vary daily in accordance with cinema screenings). Single tickets are $20 to regular Festival screenings and $23 to Special Presentations screenings ($18-$20 members). Special events vary in price. A Festival 12-Pack is $209 and a Festival 20-Pack is $299. Hot Docs offers free tickets for all screenings before 4:00 p.m. to seniors and students with valid photo I.D., available online the day of the screening, subject to availability.

Hot Docs is proud to include Rogers as its Founding Partner; Netflix as its Presenting Partner; and Telefilm Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the Canada Media Fund as its Major Supporters. Full list of sponsors and partners: http://go.pardot.com/e/463832/about-partners/lcd65/773667820/h/bcPFH0Dzg_lRW-Nv-XhjxMMqYl_dAHxxXsu_im1L5U8

Today, Disney+ revealed the trailer and key art for the upcoming documentary “Pets,” premiering April 11, 2025 on National Pet Day. From Disney Branded Television, Imagine Documentaries, and directed by Bryce Dallas Howard (“The Mandalorian”), “Pets” explores the extraordinary relationship that exists between animals and their people, all around the world. The documentary invites viewers on an uplifting journey that showcases the universal love transcending species, filled with moments of laughter, tenderness, and genuine emotion.

Following her documentary “Dads” in 2019, Howard explores another topic that is very close to her heart. Marking this as her second documentary feature, she perfectly curates her own love and interest in animals to relate to any viewer, no matter what their own relationship with the pets in their life is like.

“Directing a documentary about the relationship between pets and their people has been a dream for years. There’s something about these wordless intuitive bonds, full of mischief and love, that feel like magic. And pet videos? They tap into such pure innocence and happiness, the kind of laughter that catches you off guard and reminds you why we love them so much,” said Bryce Dallas Howard. “Working with the incredible teams at Imagine Documentaries and Disney Branded Television was an absolute gift, and my hope is that audiences feel the same joy watching this film that we did while making it.”

Humorous and heartfelt, the film profiles a diverse cast of characters from every-day pet guardians to dedicated animal rescuers and beyond, highlighting the uniquely vital connections they share with their dogs, cats, pigs, goats and even birds of prey. With a mix of inspirational stories, archival footage, viral videos, and engaging interviews, “Pets” takes us on a hilarious and poignant journey that celebrates love, loss, and licks along the way.

The original film from Disney Branded Television is produced by Imagine Documentaries who recently produced the EMMY® Award-winning documentary “Jim Henson Idea Man” and the inspirational Disney+ docuseries “Harlem Ice.” The film is produced by Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Meredith Kaulfers, Bryce Dallas Howard and Elisabeth Jamison. Executive Producers are Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.