In celebration of Columbia Pictures’ 100th anniversary, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) will be presenting a wide variety of unique catalogue offerings throughout 2024, across the entire Sony Pictures Entertainment library of movies and TV shows. This celebration will highlight the studio’s blockbuster franchises, fan-favourites and cult classics, quotable perennials and little-known gems, award-winners, iconic star-making performances, filmmaker-driven showcases, and everything in between.

January kicks off with two great ways to revisit the studio’s library and supercharge movie collections, with both a physical disc sale at Amazon and a one-of-a-kind “100 movies for $100” digital bundle. The Amazon sale—across 4K Ultra HDs, Blu-rays and DVDs—has begun and includes deals on major library titles such as GHOSTBUSTERS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, TAXI DRIVER and more.

Then on January 16th, in addition to an overall digital movie sale, there will be a “100 movies for $100” digital bundle available at participating digital retailers, featuring such acclaimed and iconic titles as THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI, TOOTSIE, 2012, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON and many more.

The 100th anniversary celebration will continue throughout 2024 with more details to come.

Engage with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and share your favourite moments, memorable quotes and milestone movies from the studio’s library.

Hashtag: #ColumbiaPictures100

Instagram: @SonyHomeEntCa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonyHomeEnt/

YouTube: youtube.com/SonyPicturesHomeEntertainmentCanada

Cast your sights on North America’s largest indoor boat show coming to Toronto’s Enercare Centre next week! The 66th edition of the Toronto International Boat Show officially launches January 19th to 28th, 2024, to connect consumers and the boating community with the industry’s top boat dealers, manufacturers, retailers, services, and experts over a million sq.ft. of space at Exhibition Place.

NEW this year – Glow in the Dark Boating! The world’s largest indoor lake for boating (and wakeboarding) is back, and cooler than ever. Transforming the ice rink in Coca-Cola Coliseum with over a million gallons of water, boaters will enjoy an all-new glow in the dark immersive boating experience with colourful LED lights. The Lake will also offer free boat rides and demonstrations, stand up paddleboard races, seaflea races, and exhilarating wakeboarding and waterskiing shows.

The annual 10-day show kicks off on First Look Friday (Jan. 19) when organizers anticipate dozens of product unveilings across the show floor among 500 exhibitors; and welcomes the boating public to rendez-vous, re-connect, and rev up for the upcoming season.

No other show in Canada can boast the most product launches from the marine industry, the most comprehensive offering of educational resources for new boaters, and the most-ever seminars and hands-on demonstrations for a wide array of boating interests and lifestyles. The 2024 show just announced more than 440 free seminars, 8 seminar locations throughout the show, and new engaging speakers including record-breaking solo kayaker Mark Ervin Fuhrmann who just completed his 11,000km adventure at 65 years young.

Returning highlights include the Great Canadian Fish Tank, Antique & Classic Boats, Boating Resource Centre, Cottage Country for accessories, and the Ontario Sailing Booth where visitors can try virtual sailing, and learn about sailing programs for women, sustainable initiatives, and the newest in sail technology and sports including kiteboarding and windsurfing.

The Indoor Wakeboard Canadian Championship takes over on Opening Weekend (Jan. 19 – 21) when the best riders from across the country converge to compete, including reigning Canadian champions Riley Dillon (Men) and Kelsey Chiappa (Women).

Visitors can whet their appetites après-boating at the NEW Traeger Grills Flavour Stage featuring cooking demonstrations, bbq recipes, and sampling!

Canada’s Official Boating Event of the Year
Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place
Jan. 19 – 28

66th Annual Toronto International Boat Show Gets Ready to Debut Glow-in-the-Dark Boating!

Demand for electric boats, wind and surf sports, and inflatables are among top trends for 2024

Connecting consumers, industry and the boating community for more than 65 years

Toronto, ON (January 11, 2024) – Cast your sights on North America’s largest indoor boat show coming to Toronto’s Enercare Centre next week! The 66th edition of the Toronto International Boat Show officially launches January 19th to 28th, 2024, to connect consumers and the boating community with the industry’s top boat dealers, manufacturers, retailers, services, and experts over a million sq.ft. of space at Exhibition Place.

NEW this year – Glow in the Dark Boating! The world’s largest indoor lake for boating (and wakeboarding) is back, and cooler than ever. Transforming the ice rink in Coca-Cola Coliseum with over a million gallons of water, boaters will enjoy an all-new glow in the dark immersive boating experience with colourful LED lights. The Lake will also offer free boat rides and demonstrations, stand up paddleboard races, seaflea races, and exhilarating wakeboarding and waterskiing shows.

The annual 10-day show kicks off on First Look Friday (Jan. 19) when organizers anticipate dozens of product unveilings across the show floor among 500 exhibitors; and welcomes the boating public to rendez-vous, re-connect, and rev up for the upcoming season.

No other show in Canada can boast the most product launches from the marine industry, the most comprehensive offering of educational resources for new boaters, and the most-ever seminars and hands-on demonstrations for a wide array of boating interests and lifestyles. The 2024 show just announced more than 440 free seminars, 8 seminar locations throughout the show, and new engaging speakers including record-breaking solo kayaker Mark Ervin Fuhrmann who just completed his 11,000km adventure at 65 years young.

Returning highlights include the Great Canadian Fish Tank, Antique & Classic Boats, Boating Resource Centre, Cottage Country for accessories, and the Ontario Sailing Booth where visitors can try virtual sailing, and learn about sailing programs for women, sustainable initiatives, and the newest in sail technology and sports including kiteboarding and windsurfing.

The Indoor Wakeboard Canadian Championship takes over on Opening Weekend (Jan. 19 – 21) when the best riders from across the country converge to compete, including reigning Canadian champions Riley Dillon (Men) and Kelsey Chiappa (Women).

Visitors can whet their appetites après-boating at the NEW Traeger Grills Flavour Stage featuring cooking demonstrations, bbq recipes, and sampling!

DATES:
January 19 – 28, 2024

LOCATION:
Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place

TICKETS:
Ticket prices range from $5 to multi-day passes; General Admission tickets are $25. Kids 16 and under attend for FREE.

WEBSITE: www.TorontoBoatShow.com

PLAYERS arrives February 14, 2024 on Netflix with an all-star Cast, right in time for Valentine’s Day!

DIRECTOR: Trish Sie
WRITER: Whit Anderson
PRODUCERS: Ross M. Dinerstein, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, Ryan Christians
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Ross Girard, Sophia Lin, Gina Rodriguez, Molly Breeskin
CAST: Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Joel Courtney, Augustus Prew, Liza Koshy, Ego Nwodim, Marin Hinkle and Tom Ellis

About

New York sportswriter Mack (Gina Rodriguez) has spent years devising successful hook-up “plays” with best friend Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.) and their crew. While it has led to countless one-night stands over the years, following their playbook comes with a strict set of ground rules — chief among them: you can’t build a relationship from a play. When Mack unexpectedly falls for her latest target, charming war correspondent Nick (Tom Ellis), she begins to rethink the game entirely. As the lines between work, fun, friendship, and romance begin to blur, Mack must learn what it takes to go from simply scoring to playing for keeps.

Also starring Joel Courtney, Augustus Prew, Liza Koshy, Ego Nwodim, and Marin Hinkle, PLAYERS is directed by Trish Sie from a screenplay by Whit Anderson and produced by Ross M. Dinerstein, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, and Ryan Christians.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Today, Prime Video released the trailer and key art for its new series Mr. & Mrs. Smith. All eight episodes will be available on February 2, 2024, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. From co-creators and executive producers Donald Glover (Swarm, Atlanta) and Francesca Sloane (Atlanta, Fargo), the series, a reimagining of the 2005 film, stars Glover as John Smith and Maya Erskine (PEN15) as Jane Smith.

In this version, two lonely strangers land jobs working for a mysterious spy agency that offers them a glorious life of espionage, wealth, world travel, and a dream brownstone in Manhattan. The catch? New identities in an arranged marriage as Mr. and Mrs. John and Jane Smith. Now hitched, John and Jane navigate a high-risk mission every week while also facing a new relationship milestone. Their complex cover story becomes even more complicated when they catch real feelings for each other. What’s riskier: espionage or marriage?

Mr. & Mrs. Smith will be a part of the savings, convenience, and entertainment that Prime members enjoy in a single membership.

Paramount+ today revealed the official trailer for season two of the hit series HALO. The new season will premiere the first two episodes globally on Thursday, February 8, 2024 in all countries where Paramount+ is available.

In season two, Master Chief John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) leads his team of elite Spartans against the alien threat known as the Covenant. In the wake of a shocking event on a desolate planet, John cannot shake the feeling that his war is about to change and risks everything to prove what no one else will believe – that the Covenant is preparing to attack humanity’s greatest stronghold. With the galaxy on the brink, John embarks on a journey to find the key to humankind’s salvation, or its extinction: the Halo.

Led by showrunner and executive producer David Wiener (Brave New World), the series takes place in the universe that first debuted in 2001 with the launch of Xbox®’s first HALO game. Dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, HALO the series weaves deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future.

HALO stars Pablo Schreiber (American Gods) as Master Chief, Spartan-117 and Natascha McElhone (CALIFORNICATION) as Dr. Halsey, who also both serve as producers this season. Additional returning cast members include Jen Taylor (HALO game series, RWBY), Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo), Shabana Azmi (Fire), Natasha Culzac (The Witcher), Olive Gray (Half Moon Investigations), Yerin Ha (Reef Break), Bentley Kalu (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Kate Kennedy (Catastrophe), Charlie Murphy (Peaky Blinders) and Danny Sapani (PENNY DREADFUL).

New additions to the cast this season include Joseph Morgan (Vampire Diaries, The Originals), Cristina Rodlo (No One Gets Out of Here Alive, The Homeless World Cup) and Christina Bennington (Midsomer Murders). Fiona O’Shaughnessy (The Forgiven) and Tylan Bailey will also return as series regulars in season two.

HALO is produced by SHOWTIME® in association with 343 Industries and Amblin Television. The second season of HALO is executive produced by David Wiener alongside Steven Spielberg, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey for Amblin Television. Kiki Wolfkill serves as executive producer for Xbox/343 Industries with Otto Bathurst and Toby Leslie for One Big Picture and Gian Paolo Varani. The series is distributed internationally by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

By Mr. Will Wong

Marvel‘s ECHO is an historic venture in that it is the first time they are telling a story focused on Indigenous and hearing-impaired characters. The five-episode Limited Series debuted earlier this week on Disney+, giving space for Maya Lopez‘s (Alaqua Cox) story to be told as part of Marvel’s SPOTLIGHT series, bringing more grounded, character-driven stories to the screen. The character was introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021’s Hawkeye, as the adopted daughter of Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio). In ECHO, we see her being pursued by his criminal empire.

The red carpet was rolled-out at TIFF Lightbox for a special imagineNATIVE screening of Marvel‘s ECHO. In attendance were Canada’s own Devery Jacobs who stars as Bonnie and Katarina Ziervogel, who plays Taloa.

Ziervogel tells us about her journey getting involved with ECHO via an American Sign Language interpretor.

Ziergvogel: I remember when the casting call went out for ECHO and they were looking for a dead individual in their 20s. I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to audition for this role because I’ve only acted in a few projects before. None had lines like this one would. So I decided to go for it and submitted my audition. Didn’t hear anything for six months, so automatically assumed I didn’t get it. I wound up getting a callback but again there was a three week waiting period, so assumed I didn’t get it. I finally got a call that the Director (Sydney Freeland) wanted to meet with me, and on the day if it wound up being cancelled. Yet again, thought I didn’t get it. It turns out that she didn’t want to meet with me and just wanted to offer me the role. I was so excited and never thought it could happen in my life. So to be in this Marvel production, this has been amazing. This is the best part.

Ziervogel also sheds some light how her character Taloa fits into Maya Lopez‘s world.

Ziervogel: Taloa is a deaf Indigenous woman. She fits into Maya‘s world because she’s both deaf and Indigenous. They decided to make Maya‘s mother deaf so that you can see the generational pass-down between them. You wanna see that she had a deaf family so that she wasn’t the only one in the family. Because we really wanted her to tie into that familial connection. So we wanted Maya to be able to live in both worlds, so that she has that deaf mother to look-up to and also her Indigenous family as well.

Canadian treasure Devery Jacobs has the distinction of having two separate roles in the MCU as Kahhori in What If…? and Bonnie in Echo. She tells us about what drew her to the role of Bonnie.

Jacobs: I actually had no idea what the character was going to entail. When the casting breakdown was originally listed, they had a fake name for her. Her name was Julie. They had some fabricated sides. My role was under lock and key. There was no Script. I didn’t know what I was auditioning for. I knew it was for ECHO and I saw that Sydney Freeland was at the helm and I had the chance to work with Sydney on Rutherford Falls, as well as Reservation Dogs before. So I knew it was going to be something special. And Sydney comes with such a distinct directorial voice. I sent in an audition and was able to connect with Sydney before the callback. She gave me a little bit of insight into the world. When auditioning I had to learn some ASL which I didn’t previously know before the project. The original reason I wanted to get onboard was because of Sydney.

Jacobs also tells us about reuniting with many of her Reservation Dogs castmates in ECHO and how that was different this go.

Jacobs: I come from Indie film. I am used to projects like BACKSPOT (Director D.W. Waterson came out to show support) which shot over 17 days as a low budget Indie-Canadian feature. But getting to go from Reservation Dogs where we shoot every episode over four or five days to working in the MCU – where we have all the resources at our disposal, incredible sets, beautiful cranes, unbelievable choreographed fight sequences – was really cool because it centered on Indigenous communities, specifically the Choctaw Nation.

I’m being spoiled right now and it’s never gonna happen again!

Watch our Chats here:

All five episodes of ECHO stream now on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Disney+/Mr. Will Wong)

By Mr. Will Wong

This is the cinematic event we’ve been waiting for! Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. co-direct the musical adaptation of the iconic 2004 film, penned by Tina Fey. The musical numbers are dazzling, the burns are scalding and this new generation is even more clever than ever. At the center of it all is Cady Heron (Angourie Rice), trying to navigate life in America as a teenager, which turns out to be a lot wilder and animalistic than her time spent in Kenya, being homeschooled by her mom!

We had the great pleasure of chatting with the star of MEAN GIRLS, Angourie Rice. The Australian Actor has built a fantastic resume of work including Mare of Easttown, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Toronto-filmed Every Day. She tells us all about her journey joining the Film, to standing beside Lindsay Lohan at the New York City Premiere of the Film earlier this week.

Rice tells us about the process of being cast in MEAN GIRLS.

Rice: Yeah, so it began with an email from Tina Fey which was so exciting and amazing. So she sent me the Script and note alongside it introducing herself, which she didn’t need to do that. And also talking about the Film and why they were making it, what the vision for it was. And she thought I’d be a good fit for Cady and I was just so flattered she thought that. I read the Script and thought it was so funny. I’ve always loved her humour and her writing is so clever. I immediately knew it was going to be something special.

We ask Rice what the legacy of MEAN GIRLS means to her.

Rice: It means so much, it also spans across generations like beyond the 20 years it’s been around. People either side of those 20 years are still watching it and loving it. It doesn’t really matter what age you are, it’s just so iconic and timeless. But for me in particular, all throughout high school, any sleepover it was just like ‘Let’s watch MEAN GIRLS! It’s so fun! It’s our favourite movie!’.

Also the lines – there’s so much in the vocabulary that when I was on set, I would say a line from the Movie and not even be thinking about it and I’d just say it and go ‘Oh my God, that’s so embarrassing!’. I didn’t even mean to say that on purpose, I actually say that all the time.

The role of Cady Heron in this Film is quite demanding, including vocally. Rice walks us through her process getting ready for the challenge.

Rice: There is a lot of singing and I love singing so much and I’ve grown-up singing. But this type of singing is different. I was really focusing on vocal agility and sustainability, making sure that when I was in the studio for four hours, I wouldn’t lose my voice at the end. So I did a lot of singing lessons and training in order to be able to maintain that. I mean, not to the extent that Jaquel did. He was on Broadway for a year, singing every single night for two and a half hours. I did my best, it was intimidating but I led with vulnerability, led with the fact that ‘Hey! I’m new! Please tell me everything, please give me feedback. I’m not precious about it, I genuinely want to learn.’.

You’ve probably seen the pictures above from the New York City Premiere earlier this week with the original Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) making a surprise appearance at the event. We ask Rice what that was like.

Rice: It was mindblowing. I felt like crying, I was so emotional. To be connected with someone in a way you’ve both played the same character, I also had the opportunity to meet Erika Hennigsen, who originated Cady on Broadway. To meet her, ‘I can’t believe I’m in the same room as you’. We both have this shared experience, even though we’ve never met before. It’s such a beautiful thing.

See our Chat below:

Paramount Pictures Canada release MEAN GIRLS in theatres January 12, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

TIFF’s 23rd edition of Canada’s Top Ten, presented by new partner MUBI, will kick off on Thursday, January 25, 2024 with Canada’s Top Ten Industry Forum, bringing the most prominent discussions to the TIFF Lightbox stage, including an in-depth discussion on accessibility in the industry, a follow-up to last year’s discussion on Bill C-11 in which industry members will hear directly from the broadcasters, and a panel with key industry leaders in the streaming space.

In conjunction with the Industry Forum event on January 25, TIFF is unveiling a groundbreaking new Membership level tailored specifically for industry professionals — marking the first of its kind among Canadian film festivals. This innovative Industry Membership comes with a host of benefits, including complimentary access to the Canada’s Top Ten Industry Forum, an enhanced experience of year-round industry programming, and exclusive access to elevated networking events. Additionally, Members will enjoy discounts on Festival accreditation and submission fees, along with exclusive rates on cinema rentals and other perks.

The recently announced 2023 Canada’s Top Ten list, championing 10 feature films and 10 short films, reflect a richness of voices and perspectives from some of Canada’s finest established and emerging filmmakers.

Filmmakers confirmed to attend Canada’s Top Ten showcase (January 25–28) include: Atom Egoyan, Matt Johnson, Fawzia Mirza, Zack Russell, Jasmin Mozaffari, Nicole Bazuin, Julien G. Marcotte, Raquel Sancinetti, Edith Jorisch, Zoé Pelchat and Eric K. Boulianne. The final selections were determined by TIFF’s Canadian Programmers and the Senior Programming team, taking into consideration the recommendations of consultant programmers from film festivals across the country. To see the full programme, visit tiff.net.

Tickets to the Industry Forum are on sale now. One single ticket gives attendees access to all three sessions and an invitation to the Opening Night Cocktail reception taking place on January 25. Industry Membership holders will have the ability to access the forum for free as the inaugural benefit of their Membership. Additional tickets have also been released for Canada’s Top Ten showcase.

Canada’s Top Ten Industry Forum – January 25, 2024

Dialogues: How to Work with Streamers in Canada
Time: 1:30pm–2:30pm

Canada has emerged as one of the leading global consumers of subscription video content. Whether you’re looking to launch your film in the digital space, or on the hunt for a development partner, join us for an exclusive session on navigating the streaming landscape with key industry leaders. From producing to pitching, discover the trade secrets of collaboration and distribution straight from the industry’s power players.

Guests confirmed to date:
Moderator: Kelly Townsend, Editor, Playback
Panelist: Stefania Scarfo, Head of Content & Strategy, Paramount+ Canada
Panelist: Soledad Vega, Senior Marketing Manager, MUBI

Perspectives: Shaping the Future of Accessibility on Screen
Time: 3:15pm–4:15pm

From advocating policy change to influencing production through accessibility and authentic disability representation, the Disability Screen Office (DSO) has been a driving force in breaking down barriers and transforming the Canadian film landscape. Gain insight from both the DSO and creators as they share their experiences navigating the challenges and triumphs of working in the film industry.

Share insights, raise questions, and actively participate in shaping a more accessible, inclusive, and diverse film industry.

Guests confirmed to date:
Moderator: Angelo Muredda, Film Critic and Programmer
Panelist: Winnie Luk, Executive Director, Disability Screen Office
Panelist: Cheryl Meyer, Writer

Perspectives: The Future of Canadian Content Part 2: Broadcasters and TV Execs Discuss Next Steps for Modernizing the Broadcasting Act
Time: 5pm–6pm

What does it take to build a thriving, competitive domestic market in the digital era? Traditional Canadian broadcasters and producers discuss the impact of the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11) and what steps they think the CRTC needs to take next. Industry guests at last year’s Forum advocated for a policy that would protect Canadian creators by prioritizing employment of Canadians and IP ownership. This year, broadcasters and production companies weigh in on their priorities for what comes next. Speakers to be confirmed.

Social media:
Twitter: @TIFF_NET & @TIFF_Industry
Instagram, TikTok & Letterboxd: @tiff_net
Facebook.com/TIFF

FOR REAL LIFE! Ten all-new episodes of Bluey will premiere this Friday, January 12, 2024 on Disney+ in Canada.

A fan favourite amongst kids and families, Bluey has garnered multiple awards including the International Kids Emmy Awards, a Television Critics Association Award, BAFTA Children & Young People Awards, and is nominated for a Critics Choice Award at this weekend’s ceremony.

BLUEY features the loveable and inexhaustible Blue Heeler dog Bluey, who lives with her Mum, Dad and little sister Bingo. In these new episodes, Bluey showcases the joyful simplicity that can be found in families turning everyday events of family life – like making a cubby house (blanket fort) or a trip to the beach – into unique adventures that bring to life how children learn and grow through play.

Following the January Disney+ premiere, the new episodes will air on Disney Channel and Disney Junior in territories around the world later in 2024.

Also later in 2024, Disney+ viewers have even more new Bluey to look forward to, when the previously announced first-ever Bluey special, “The Sign,” premieres on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) in Australia and globally on Disney+.

New and returning customers looking to enjoy Disney+ Canada’s latest content can subscribe to the Standard with Ads plan for $7.99/month by visiting www.disneyplus.com.

VVS Films present their upcoming 2024 release slate including new and upcoming releases starring Kristen Stewart, Jason Statham, Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth and more. Canadian Riceboy Sleeps Director Albert Shin‘s THE KING TIDE also is on the schedule.

THE BEEKEEPER

In Theatres January 12, 2024

Directed by: David Ayer

Starring: Jason Statham, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons

LAND OF BAD

In Theatres February 16, 2024

Directed by: William Eubank

Starring: Russell Crowe, Milo Ventimiglia, Liam Hemsworth

LOVE LIES BLEEDING

In Theatres March 15, 2024

Directed By: Rose Glass

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Dave Franco

ONE LIFE

In Theatres March 15, 2024

Directed By: James Hawes

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Flynn

THE KING TIDE

Coming Soon

Directed By: Christian Sparkes

Written By: Albert Shin & William Woods

Starring: Frances Fisher, Clayne Crawford, Alix West Lefler, Aden Young, Lara Jean Chorostecki, Michael Greyeyes

Trailer: Coming Soon