#FIRSTLOOK: “NARNIA: THE MAGICIAN’S NEPHEW”

Releasing in IMAX and in theaters worldwide

on February 12, 2027

LOGLINE: Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig brings C. S. Lewis’ beloved story The Magician’s Nephew to the screen for the first time in a sweeping adventure that invites dreamers of all ages to experience the creation of Narnia.

WRITTEN FOR THE SCREEN AND DIRECTED BY: Greta Gerwig

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY: C. S. Lewis

CAST: David McKenna, Beatrice Campbell, Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Ciarán Hinds, with Daniel Craig and Meryl Streep, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Denise Gough, Susan Wokoma

PRODUCED BY: Mark Gordon, Amy Pascal, Vincent Sieber-Smith, Greta Gerwig

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Patricia Whitcher, Racheline Benveniste, Christine Crais, and Douglas Gresham and Melvin Adams for the C. S. Lewis Estate

ORIGINAL SCORE BY: Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt

MUSIC SUPERVISOR: George Drakoulias

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC

PRODUCTION DESIGNER: James Chinlund

SET DECORATOR: Lee Sandales

COSTUME DESIGNER: Jacqueline Durran

HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGNER: Ivana Primorac

VISUAL EFFECTS SUPERVISOR: Paul Franklin

VISUAL EFFECTS PRODUCER: Barry St. John

EDITED BY: Andrew Weisblum, ACE, Nick Houy, ACE, and Wyatt Smith, ACE

CASTING BY: Nina Gold

CREATURE EFFECTS CREATIVE SUPERVISOR: Neal Scanlan

ANIMATION SUPERVISOR: Michael Eames

#FOOD: MOTT 32 LAUNCH GOLDEN HOUR MENU INCLUDING SABRAGE CEREMONY

Mott 32 Toronto is introducing a daily sabrage ritual to open Golden Hour.

Mott 32’s Golden Hour runs daily from 4 to 7 p.m. Each evening, Head Sommelier Justin Manzoni will saber a bottle of Champagne in the dining room, bringing a little ceremony to the start of the evening. Guests in the restaurant at that moment will receive a complimentary glass while the bottle lasts.

You can view the Golden Hour menu here:

More here.

#TIFF: TIFF CINEMATHEQUE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026 PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

TIFF Lightbox is wrapping up the year with a newly announced marquee series celebrating animation, three major retrospectives, milestone anniversary restorations, free community events, annual Sing Alongs, and a slate of holiday favourites presented in large formats. Plus, special guest appearances throughout the season.

TIFF Cinematheque presents Secret Beyond the Door: The Women Who Wrote Noir guest-curated by Bernardo Rondeau, an eight-film thematic survey presented exclusively on 35mm, which shines a spotlight on women screenwriters who shaped classic film noir, and a retrospective honouring the legendary Polish director Andrzej Wajda on the centenary of his birth with Andrzej Wajda: Against Oblivion.

As part of Viola Desmond Day, TIFF presents a free screening of Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng’s Invisible Beauty (2023) on November 8. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Hardison (who joins us virtually) and Dr. Julie Crooks, Curator, Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora, at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

TIFF will celebrate the holiday season in December with the return of family-friendly Sing Along screenings of The Sound of Music and The Greatest Showman; 70mm screenings of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey and James Cameron’s Aliens, marking its 40th anniversary; and 35mm screenings of Frank Capra’s classic It’s a Wonderful Life for its 80th anniversary. Film lovers ringing in the New Year at the Lightbox can take part in a double bill of Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (70mm) and Eyes Wide Shut.

TIFF CINEMATHEQUE PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

Secret Beyond the Door: The Women Who Wrote Noir

November 5–15

Step into the shadows this November and discover the secret beyond the door: eight film noirs, all screening on 35mm, every one written or co-written by women. Postwar Hollywood cinema turned to the darkened corners of the human psyche. In the midst of this renaissance of cinematic nihilism, many women found an opportunity to write stories outside of the lighter fare they would usually be assigned by studios at the time. This body of work has largely gone undocumented… until now. From gothic chamber pieces to twisty whodunnits, these films explore the dangerous border between reality and illusion, where obsession and vice reign and the currencies of the realm are secrets and lies. All eight films in the series, each one clad in inky black and white, will unspool in glorious 35mm. Enter, if you dare. The series opens with The Hitch-Hiker (1953) written and directed by Ida Lupino; My Name is Julia Ross (1945), screenplay by Muriel Roy Bolton; The Big Sleep (1946), screenplay by Leigh Brackett, William Faulkner, and Jules Furthman; The Unsuspected (1947), screenplay by Ranald MacDougall and Bess Meredyth; Sorry, Wrong Number (1948), screenplay by Lucille Fletcher; The File on Thelma Jordon (1949), screenplay by Ketti Frings; and Sudden Fear (1952), screenplay by Lenore J. Coffee and Robert Smith.

Drawn Universes: Visions in Animation

November 19 — December 29

Celebrated Japanese filmmaker Masaaki Yuasa guest-curates this anime and animation series, highlighting 17 features and four shorts that have influenced his work. Yuasa will join TIFF in person on November 28 for an In Conversation With… event at the Lightbox, presented with Programming Partner, OCAD University. Yuasa will also be in attendance to introduce the screenings of Richard Williams’ The Thief and the Cobbler: A Moment in Time (November 27) and Isao Takahata’s Anne of Green Gables: Road to Green Gables (November 28), presented with Programming Partner Japan Foundation Toronto, who will also support the 35mm presentation of Gisaburō Sugii’s Night on the Galactic Railroad (November 22).

Other highlights include René Laloux’s Fantastic Planet (November 26), presented by Community Partner Sheridan College Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design, with an introduction by Dean Mark Jones, and a family-friendly artmaking event before Yôko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita’s Ghost Cat Anzu (December 6), presented with Programming Partner The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. Further family-friendly screenings in the series include Disney’s Pinocchio (November 21), Paul Grimault’s The King and the Mockingbird (December 12), Lee Unkrich’s Toy Story 3 (December 19), and a special holiday relaxed screening of Henry Selick’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (December 20).

Andrzej Wajda: Against Oblivion

November 28 – December 15

Marking the 100th anniversary of his birth, Poland officially declared 2026 the “Year of Andrzej Wajda.” As Poland’s most important, influential, and emblematic filmmaker, Wajda (1926–2016) fearlessly chronicled the nation’s turbulent history, dismantling Soviet-era myths to expose the harrowing horrors of WWII, as well as the realities of postwar development. Andrzej Wajda: Against Oblivion proposes a filmic body of work as an act of resistance, searching for truth despite state censorship. This select retrospective features Wajda’s defining masterworks, including his legendary wartime trilogy: A Generation, Kanal, and Ashes and Diamonds (all shown in new 4K restorations); his searing critiques of industrialization and communist bureaucracy, Man of Marble and the Cannes Palme d’Or winner Man of Iron; and his fitting final film, Afterimage.

Screenings of Andrzej Wajda’s films in North America in 2026 are part of the ‘Wajda 100 Tour – North America’ project, organized by DI Factory with the financial support of the Polish Film Institute.

From the Collection with Cameron Bailey

November 3, 6:30pm: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) dir. Cristian Mungiu, 35mm print!

December 1, 6:30pm: Will It Snow for Christmas? (1996) dir. Sandrine Veysset, 30th anniversary, 35mm print!

See the North

November 10, 6:30pm: Smash & Grab: The Rebel Lens of Mike Jones (2026) dir. Justin Simms, Toronto Premiere! Preceded by TIFF Preludes short film: Congratulations (2000) dir. Michael Jones

December 8, 6:30pm: Elsewhere at Night (2025) dir. Marianne Métivier, Toronto Premiere!

TIFF Wavelengths Presents

November 11, 6:30pm: THEATER and its doubles

Curated by Jacob Korczynski and presented in partnership with Bonny Poon, and coincides with the exhibition Yesterday’s Paper, on view at Bonny Poon November 13, 2026 through January 16, 2027.

December 9, 6:30pm: Crossings: Kaleh Ziyarat (2026) d. Rouzbeh Akhbari, in-person Q&A with the filmmaker, Toronto Premiere!

Presented in partnership with Mercer Union alongside the exhibition Rouzbeh Akhbari: Of Wool and Diesel, on view at Mercer Union from September 26, 2026 to January 23, 2027.

MDFF Selects

November 12, 6:30pm: Memory (2025) dir. Vladlena Sandu, Canadian Premiere!

TIFF Cinematheque Special Screenings

November 17, 6:30pm: Small, Slow but Steady (2022) dir. Sho Miyake, in-person Q&A with the filmmaker.

Presented in partnership with The Japan Foundation.

TIFF Next Wave Presents

November 18, 6:30pm: Messy Legends (2025) dirs. Kelly Kay Hurcomb and James Watts, in-person Q&A with the filmmakers

TIFF Next Wave is presented by Takis.

PUBLIC PROGRAMMING SPOTLIGHT

November 8, 2pm: Free event! Viola Desmond Day: Invisible Beauty with Bethann Hardison and Julie Crooks

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Viola Desmond’s historic stand against racial segregation on November 8, 1946, TIFF proudly presents a free screening of Invisible Beauty (2023), a documentary self-portrait exploring the life and career of trailblazing model, modeling agent, and activist Bethann Hardison, co-directed by Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng. Hardison (virtually) and Julie Crooks, Curator of Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora at the Art Gallery of Ontario, join us after the screening for a conversation about the film and Black self-fashioning from the 1880s to the present.

This event is presented in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario, co-organizers of the exhibition Sunday Best: The Power & The Glory of Black Style, on view through February 28, 2027.

November 25, 6pm: Free event! Boxcutter with Vibe Arts

Actor Ashton James, producer Soko Negash, and Vibe Arts facilitator and TIFF Next Wave alum Paul Daniel Torres join us for a conversation moderated by Vibe Arts Executive Director Golshan Abdmoulaie following this free screening of Reza Dahya’s “love letter to Toronto” about an aspiring rapper (James) on a quest to find his music in time for the event that could change his life. Boxcutter is preceded by Torres’ short Fried Fish and Plantain (TIFF Next Wave Film Festival ’26) about two former lovers reuniting to unpack shifts in their relationship, lives, and city. Arrive early to create a collaged button or journal with Vibe Arts.

This event is presented in partnership with Vibe Arts, a charity dedicated to providing arts education and artistic mentorship to the next generation of creatives.

December 3, 6:15pm: TIFF Next Wave Presents: Open Screen

Calling all creators! Open Screen is back for another edition inviting emerging filmmakers to share a recently completed or work-in-progress short and receive helpful feedback on their projects.

This event is presented in partnership with Future of Film Showcase and POV.

December 4, 6:30pm: Free event! Baghdad/Toronto Film Exchange 2026: Short Films

The Baghdad/Toronto Film Exchange is a project of Sensorium (York University) that showcases the vibrancy of two extraordinary film co-ops: Iraq Independent Film Centre (IIFC) and Liaison of Independent Filmmakers Toronto (LIFT). This free screening of short films by emerging and mid-career filmmakers in Baghdad and Toronto capture the dynamism and inventiveness of two cities in conversation. Themes of war, migration, resilience, and resistance place them in urgent north-south dialogue, despite tundras and deserts of difference. Following the screening, BTFX participants join us for a live conversation about the dynamics and challenges of this filmmaker-to-filmmaker exchange.

This event is presented in partnership with Sensorium (York University), Iraq Independent Film Centre (IIFC), Liaison of Independent Filmmakers Toronto (LIFT), and Toronto Arab Film (TAF).

The Sound of Music (1965)

HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

TIFF CINEMATHEQUE

TIFF Cinematheque Special Screenings

December 23 & 26, 6:30pm and December 31, 3:30pm: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) dir. Stanley Kubrick, 70mm print!

December 25, 6:30pm & December 26, 3:30pm: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) dir. Frank Capra, 80th anniversary, 35mm print!

December 27, 7pm & December 30, 6:30pm: Aliens (1986) dir. James Cameron, 40th anniversary, 70mm print!

December 31, 7pm: Eyes Wide Shut (1999) dir. Stanley Kubrick

Midnight Madness Presents

December 19, 6:30pm: Inside (2007) dirs. Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury

PUBLIC PROGRAMMING

December 12, 17, 19: Sing Along events

The Lightbox is alive with the sound of music! Award-winning comedian Martha Chaves returns to host interactive screenings of the beloved holiday staple The Sound of Music (December 12 & 17) and the chart-topping spectacle The Greatest Showman (December 19). All screenings feature onscreen lyrics, props, and callouts so audiences can join the fun.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for November programming will be available on tiff.net to TIFF Members on Wednesday, October 14 at 12pm, and to the public on Friday, October 16 at 12pm. Tickets for screenings from November 27 to December 31 will be available to TIFF Members on Wednesday, November 11 at 12pm, and to the public on Friday, November 13.

Tickets for Drawn Universes: Visions in Animation (for screenings until November 27) will be available on tiff.net to TIFF Members on Thursday, October 15 at 12pm, and to the public on Friday, October 16 at 12pm. Tickets for screenings from November 27 to December 29 will be available to TIFF Members on Thursday, November 12 at 12pm, and to the public on Friday, November 13 at 12pm. Learn more at tiff.net/membership.

About TIFF:

TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. A global leader in film and entertainment, TIFF initiatives include the annual Toronto International Film Festival® in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, plus learning and entertainment facilities; the Donald Shebib TIFF Film Circuit, an innovative national distribution programme; and TIFF: The Market. The organization generates an estimated annual economic impact of $240 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel, and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation, and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

TIFF is generously supported by Major Sponsors RBC and Visa, and Major Supporters: the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, and City of Toronto.

TIFF Cinematheque is supported by Ontario Creates and Canada Council for the Arts.

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE ODYSSEY” HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE

Christopher Nolan’s unrivaled blockbuster event is making its journey home. A mythic action epic of mammoth proportions, THE ODYSSEY has cemented itself as the highest-grossing film in both Nolan’s filmography and Universal Pictures’ storied 114-year history by earning more than $1.7 billion at the global box office. As it continues its dominant global box-office run, the film will be available to own just in time for the holidays. THE ODYSSEY debuts on digital platforms, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-rayTM on November 17th from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment with exclusive content never-before-seen by audiences.

THE ODYSSEY brings Homer’s foundational saga of heroes, gods and monsters to the screen and stars an extraordinary cast led by Oscar® winner Matt Damon1 , Tom Holland, Oscar® winner Anne Hathaway2, Robert Pattinson, Oscar® winner Lupita Nyong’o3 , and Oscar® nominee Samantha Morton4 , with Zendaya, and Oscar® winner Charlize Theron5.

Now audiences can venture deeper into THE ODYSSEY with an essential collection of Special Features personally overseen by Christopher Nolan. Through exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and intimate interviews with the cast and crew, each piece extensively details an aspect of the film’s production, including constructing enormous sets, casting the actors, choreographing intense fight sequences, creating the effects, composing the score and much more, all while shining revealing lights on how Homer’s classic literary work transformed into a powerful cinematic epic.

The film was produced by Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan. Nolan’s films, including THE ODYSSEY, Oppenheimer, Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar, Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy, have earned more than $7 billion at the global box office and have been awarded 11 Oscars® from 49 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director wins for Oppenheimer.

Nolan’s creative production team includes several returning Oscar® winning collaborators including Director of Photography Hoyte van Hoytema6 , Editor Jennifer Lame7 as well as Oscar® nominees Production Designer Ruth De Jong8 , and Costume Designer Ellen Mirojnick9 . The score is composed by three-time Oscar® winner Ludwig Göransson10.

4K Ultra HD is the ultimate way to test the limits of your home theater system like never before, featuring stunningly vibrant visuals, four times the resolution of HD and enhanced color and contrast of High Dynamic Range (HDR) that puts you at the center of the action for the ultimate home theater experience. Experience THE ODYSSEY in 4K Ultra HD.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
BEHIND THE SCENES – Personally overseen by Christopher Nolan, this collection of 12 in-depth special features takes audiences inside every aspect of THE ODYSSEY’s ambitious production through exclusive behind- the-scenes footage and interviews with Nolan alongside key cast and crew who brought the epic to life. Together, these pieces showcase the artistry, innovation, and craftsmanship behind the landmark adaptation of Homer’s legendary tale.
PLOTTING A COURSE – Hear how Christopher Nolan approached the daunting challenge of adapting a classic literary work into a cinematic epic.
ICONS – Casting, costuming, hair, and makeup combine with layered performances to create THE ODYSSEY’s iconic characters.
THE WIDEST WINDOW – Discover how Christopher Nolan turned a long-held filmmaking dream into reality, pushing the boundaries of cinema to achieve an unprecedented milestone.
ON LOCATION – Journey with the cast and crew across the globe as they brave extreme conditions to capture the world’s most extraordinary locations on film.
THE HORSE – Since the Trojan Horse may be the most well-known trick in history, a new design refashions its features to look like a completely convincing ruse.
THE FALL OF TROY – Become immersed in the expansive Moroccan set where special lamps simulate fire, entire armies take up swords, and the sense of scale is enormous.
ITHACA – Blending a 15th-century castle on Italy’s Favignana island with soundstage interiors, filmmakers create the home Odysseus was determined to return to.
BATTLE READY – Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and the stunt team work together to bring realism and intensity to the film’s remarkable action sequences.
APPARENT MAGIC – Discover how the special effects and visual effects teams worked in lockstep to bring fantastical elements to life with stunning realism.
THE SEA PEOPLE – Retrofitted Viking ships, challenging open-sea conditions, and immersive storm effects combine to bring Odysseus’ perilous voyage to life.
THE SCORE – Composer Ludwig Göransson opens his studio to reveal how ancient instruments, vocals, and experimentation shaped THE ODYSSEY’s intimate and emotional soundtrack.
BRINGING IT HOME – Explore the post-production process, where meticulous editing and immersive sound design complete the film’s cinematic journey.
THE JOURNEY OF FILM ON THE ODYSSEY* – Content creator Reece Feldman asks Christopher Nolan for a precise walkthrough of what happens to the film once it leaves the set.
IMAX® EXCLUSIVE PROLOGUE*
JAMES BLAKE, TRAVIS SCOTT & LUDWIG GÖRANSSON* – “WHEN I’M HOME” MUSIC VIDEO*
TRAILERS*
*only available on physical formats

FILMMAKERS:
Written for the Screen and Directed By: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton with Zendaya and Charlize Theron
Music By: Ludwig Göransson
Costume Designer: Ellen Mirojnick
Editor: Jennifer LameACE
Production Designer: Ruth De Jong
Director of Photography: Hoyte Van Hoytema ASC, FSF, NSC
Executive Producers: Thomas Hayslip
Produced By: Emma Thomas p.g.a, Christopher Nolan p.g.a
Based on: Homer’s Odyssey

TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K UHD:
Street Date: November 17, 2026
UPC Number: 191329289266 (US) / 191329289341 (CDN)
Layers: BD 100
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Rating: R for violence and some language
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian and Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), French Canadian (DTS Digital Surround 5.1), Latin American Spanish (DTS Digital Surround 5.1)
Film Run Time: 2:53:00

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: November 17, 2026
UPC Number: 191329289259 (US) / 191329289457 (CDN)
Layers: BD 50
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Rating: R for violence and some language
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian and Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), French Canadian (DTS Digital Surround 5.1), Latin American Spanish (DTS Digital Surround 5.1)
Film Run Time: 2:53:00

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: November 17, 2026
UPC Number: 191329289440 (US) / 191329289501 (CDN)
Layers: DVD 9
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Rating: R for violence and some language
Languages/Subtitles: English and Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1 for Feature)
Film Run Time: 2:53:00

ABOUT UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE – www.uphe.com) is a unit of Universal Film. Universal Film brings together NBCUniversal’s world-class film and television studios, unifying Universal Film (Universal Pictures, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation) and Universal Television Entertainment (Bravo, NBC Peacock, Universal Studio Group). Led by Chairman Donna Langley, the combined enterprise includes some of the industry’s most celebrated storytellers and provides seamless access to one of the world’s deepest libraries of iconic intellectual property. Together, the studios produce and distribute more than 100 films, scripted and unscripted television series, and live events annually for theatrical, broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms worldwide.

Universal Film is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies and a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. For more information, visit www.nbcuniversal.com.

#FIRSTLOOK: TORONTO REEL ASIAN 2026 PITCH! LIVE FINALE FINALISTS

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian), Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival, today announces the five finalists for its 2026 Pitch! Live Finale competition. Celebrating 20 years of championing emerging filmmakers, Pitch! returns as the closing event of the festival’s milestone 30th edition, bringing audiences together to cheer on the next generation of Asian Canadian and Asian diasporic storytellers.

The five festival filmmakers will pitch their short film projects to a live jury and audience, with one winner receiving a prize package designed to help bring their film to life. The package includes a $5000 cash award, in-kind studio services and the opportunity to screen the completed film at the 31st edition of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival in 2027.

This year’s event will be hosted by Award-winning comedian and actor Andrew Phung (Run the Burbs, Kim’s Convenience), also a frequent guest artist, collaborator and supporter of Reel Asian. Andrew will again contribute to the Andrew Phung Jury Prize for Second Chances, a $1000 award to support a new filmmaker and fresh perspectives.

“It’s an honour to be back at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival to support the festival’s 30th anniversary and 20 years of Pitch!. Pitch! is such a meaningful platform to find new voices, and I can’t wait to see what this year’s finalists bring to the stage,” says Andrew Phung.

The Pitch! shortlist was selected by a jury composed of Reel Asian Board Member and Producer Michael Fukushima, filmmaker Prajj Rajj (Butter Chicken To Go) and Reel Asian Industry Coordinator, Chantal Leong.

Industry experts Zarrar Kahn, filmmaker of In Flames and Sara Jade Alfaro-Dehghani, filmmaker of Hair!, mentored the five finalists as they prepared to present their projects.

2026 PITCH FINALISTS

Project: Cerys and Cade Make A Curse

Sal Eigh
Born and raised in downtown Toronto, filmmaker Sal Eigh’s works explore the whimsically mundane moments of growing up. Gritty and pretty are two sides of the same coin in her universe. Her debut narrative short premiered at Korean Film Festival Canada in Montreal in 2022. Set in a skatepark, it showcases Sal’s interest in the lives of East Asian diaspora in urban spaces. A second short film furthers her world-building, centred around a trio of Korean protagonists in a fictional high school circa 1980. In 2023, Sal co-founded Productions Mauvais Oeil with her partner and collaborator Jonathan Degousée.

Jonathan Degousée
Jonathan is a French-born Canadian indie filmmaker. Through bold writing and striking visuals, his films explore modern existential dread and decaying urban landscapes. His debut short, Rats (2013), screened at festivals and markets in Toronto, Montréal, Atlanta, New York City and Clermont-Ferrand. Bad Dreams (2026) is his second short film.

Project: READ 2 FILTH

Nikita Zhang
An alum of the BIPOC TV & Film Writers Lab, Nikita aspires to bring honest queer and immigrant stories to screen. Her scripts have been selected to read at Writing The Scene in Rainbow and TIFF Next Wave. Currently, she’s developing a CBC Short Documentary on the phasing out of TTC tokens.

Roanna DeGuzman
Roanna is a lover, writer, and small faker when it comes to big truths. She is currently trying to find flow in her unravelling, hopefully she’ll gain some common sense!

Project: ABHAVA

Kalpit Patel
Toronto-based South Asian writer-director-producer telling stories most people avoid, where immigrant family silence, mental health stigma, and queer desire collide. His films explore the cost of living truthfully.

Project: Riflery

Ellie Tripp
A queer, Toronto and New York based filmmaker with a focus on documentary. They are currently finishing their BFA at NYU Tisch.

Project: Loving Living Things

Ellen Yuna Ahn
Toronto-based Korean-Canadian filmmaker trained in theatre directing at Central Saint Martins and participated in Reel Asian’s 2024 Unsung Voices Cohort. Her directing explores themes of faith, aging, and human connection.

This year’s Pitch! Live Jury comprises filmmaker and journalist Saman Malik, Impact Producer Chrisann Hessing and Filmmaker Marushka Almeida.

The 30th anniversary of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival runs from November 11 to 21, 2026, with selected feature films and all shorts available online across Canada from November 16 to 29, 2026. Reel Asian’s milestone edition celebrates three decades of contemporary cinema and work from Asian, Asian diasporic, and Asian Canadian filmmakers and artists.

Pitch! Live Finale Prize Packages

About Reel Asian
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival and a year-round cultural organization dedicated to championing Asian, Asian diasporic, and Asian Canadian artists and storytellers. Founded in Toronto in 1997, Reel Asian® presents film screenings, industry programs, educational initiatives, and community events that support emerging and established creators from Canada and around the world. This year, Reel Asian celebrates its 30th anniversary in-person from November 11–21 in downtown Toronto and online November 16–29 across Canada. Reel Asian is generously supported by Telefilm Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, the Province of Ontario, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Creates, the City of Toronto, and the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund.

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE LAND” NEW TRAILER

Today, Disney+ revealed the trailer for “The Land” from creator Dan Fogelman (“Paradise,” “This Is Us”). The brand new drama series will premiere on Monday, February 15, 2026 with two episodes on Hulu on Disney+ in Canada. New episodes will stream weekly on Mondays.

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After several disappointing seasons, Cleveland Browns’ head coach Danny Roarke has one last chance to turn around his football team. His fate rests on a newly drafted Ohio State quarterback — who just happens to be his son. Meanwhile, the owner, Hal Durkin, must decide which of his two daughters is best equipped to take over the team. “The Land” is the story of two families, in which the high-stakes drama plays out not only on the field but also in the front offices of this NFL franchise, as a loyal fanbase wants a winning season now… or face big changes if they don’t.

The series stars Christopher Meloni, Mandy Moore, Chace Crawford, Sam Corlett, Tanner Zagarino, Chloe Bennet, Bridget Moynahan, William H. Macy and Omar Epps.

“The Land” is created and executive produced by Dan Fogelman, who also serves as showrunner. Jess Rosenthal, Kevin Falls, and Justin Adler also executive produce, with David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, and Jason T. Reed executive producing for Skydance Sports. The series is a 20th Television and Skydance Sports production.

#FIRSTLOOK: DISNEY’S “HEXED” NEW TRAILER

A new trailer for “Disney’s Hexed,” is available. This is an all-new magical coming-of-age saga from Walt Disney Animation Studios, are now available. The original animated film, which features the voices of Hailee Steinfeld, Rashida Jones, Jodie Foster, Walton Goggins, Tracey Ullman and Stephen Fry, releases exclusively in theatres November 25, 2026.

Joining the voice cast in key roles are Henry Winkler as the skittish, all-knowing potoo bird, Nigel, who holds powerful secrets to the magical world of Hexe, and Dan Stevens as Hieronymous, Queen Celeste’s blustering and self-important Grand Councilor of the Throne.

The cast will also feature the voices of Brett Gelman, Samson Kayo, Jimmy O. Yang, Ron Funches, Drew (McIntyre) Galloway, Cheri Oteri, Kathy Najimy, Wayne Knight, Alan Tudyk, Randall Park, Bill Farmer, Pat McAfee, Chris Parnell, Sarah-Nicole Robles, Rachel Dratch, Ariana Madix, Kellie Gerardi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Abraham Benrubi and Josh Dallas.

In “Disney’s Hexed,” an impulsive and unconventional teenage girl named Billie Doe (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) discovers secret magical abilities which, once unleashed, hurtle her out of suburbia and into a spectacle-filled journey through a vast witch realm called Hexe. Forced to team up with her cautious mother, Alice (voiced by Rashida Jones), they uncover family mysteries that could change the world of witches forever.

Walton Goggins voices Beef Roger Crummchuk, a reclusive, magical three-eyed cat who forges an uneasy alliance with Billie and Alice. Two-time Academy Award® winner Jodie Foster voices Queen Celeste, a sinister figure who will stop at nothing to maintain her power in perpetuity over Hexe.

Directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand; co-directed by Josie Trinidad; produced by Roy Conli and Yvett Merino; and written by Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, “Disney’s Hexed” opens exclusively in theatres November 25, 2026.

#FIRSTLOOK: WORLD PREMIERE OF “STREET FIGHTER” IN HOLLYWOOD

The Cast and Crew of STREET FIGHTER united last night in Hollywood for the film’s World Premiere, at TCL Chinese Theatre.

CAST IN ATTENDANCE:

Noah Centineo, Andrew Koji, Callina Liang, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoai, David Dastmalchian, Cody Rhodes, Andrew Schulz, Eric André, Vidyut Jammwal, Orville Peck, Mel Jarnson, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, Jason Momoa (Producer)

FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE:

Kitao Sakurai (Director/Screenwriter), Mary Parent (Producer), Cale Boyter (Producer), Takayuki Nakayama (Producer), Stefan Makhoul (Producer)

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

STREET FIGHTER IS ONLY IN THEATRES, 4DX, SCREENX, PREMIUM LARGE FORMATS AND IMAX® ON OCTOBER 16, 2026!

FOR MORE EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, FOLLOW STREET FIGHTER ON SOCIALS

#StreetFighterMovie

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SYNOPSIS

Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament: a brutal clash of fists, fate, and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don’t, it’s GAME OVER!

Helmed by director Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter is set to bring the battle from the arcade to the big screen with Hadoukens, roundhouses, and all your favorite characters.

Paramount Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present

In Association with Capcom

A Legendary Pictures Production

“STREET FIGHTER”

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY

JJ Hook, Jay Ashenfelter, Kenzo Tsujimoto, Haruhiro Tsujimoto

PRODUCED BY

Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, p.g.a. Jason Momoa, Takayuki Nakayama, Stefan Makhoul

Based on the CAPCOM Video Game

STORY BY

Dalan Musson and Gary Dauberman

SCREENPLAY BY

Kitao Sakurai and T.J. Fixman

DIRECTED BY

Kitao Sakurai

STARRING

Noah Centineo as “Ken Masters”

Andrew Koji as “Ryu”

Callina Liang as “Chun-Li”

Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoai as “Akuma”

David Dastmalchian as “M. Bison”

Cody Rhodes as “Guile”

Andrew Schulz as “Dan Hibiki”

Eric André as “Don Sauvage”

Vidyut Jammwal as “Dhalsim”

Orville Peck as “Vega”

Olivier Richters as “Zangief”

Hirooki Goto as “E. Honda”

Rayna Vallandingham as “Juli”

Kyle Mooney as “Marvin”

Alexander Volkanovski as “Joe”

Mel Jamson as “Cammy”

With Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson as “Balrog”

And Jason Momoa as “Blanka”

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE PIGEON KING” ARRIVES NOVEMBER 18, 2026 ON CBC

It sounded like an unlikely way to get rich: breed pigeons and get paid for every bird you produce.

For hundreds of farmers across Canada and the U.S., the promise was hard to resist.

Big Cedar Films’ new documentary The Pigeon King premieres Wednesday, November 18 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem, as part of The Passionate Eye, taking viewers inside the remarkable rise and collapse of Pigeon King International and the man behind it, Ontario farmer Arlan Galbraith.

Galbraith built a booming business by selling farmers breeding pairs of pigeons and promising to buy back their offspring for years. At its height, more than 800 farmers had signed on, bringing in more than $40 million worth of contracts.

Then people started asking a very simple question: Where were all the pigeons going?

“From the outside, this story seems almost unbelievable,” said Geoff Morrison, director and producer at Big Cedar Films. “But what drew us in was how human it is — farmers trying to support their livelihoods, a business built on trust, and a man who still sees the story very differently from many of the people affected by it.”

Speaking out in the documentary for the first time, Galbraith — the self-named “Pigeon King” — tells his side of the story alongside farmers, former employees, whistleblowers and journalists who became caught up in one of the strangest agricultural stories in history.

Their very different accounts take the film from family farms and barns filled with thousands of birds to the courtroom, where Galbraith chose to represent himself in an extraordinary criminal fraud trial.

The trial is brought to life through dramatic reenactments based on court transcripts featuring Mark McKinney (Kids in the Hall) as Galbraith and Kathleen Munroe (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent) as the Crown Prosecutor.

At its centre, The Pigeon King asks a question that isn’t as simple as it first appears: Was Galbraith a con man or a true believer whose big idea spiralled out of control?

Strange and dark, The Pigeon King is a story about ambition, trust and what can happen when an opportunity sounds almost too good to be true.

View Trailer

The Pigeon King

Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 9:00 PM (9:30 NT)

 The Passionate Eye, CBC TV and CBC Gem

Produced by Big Cedar Films

ABOUT BIG CEDAR FILMS

Big Cedar Films is a creative non-fiction film & television company producing premium, character-driven documentaries and unscripted programming. Its work brings compelling people and remarkable true stories to audiences through cinematic, entertaining and thought-provoking storytelling.

Recent projects include: TIFF 2024 People’s Choice Documentary Award runner-up, Your Tomorrow (TVO), three seasons of the Canadian Screen Award-winning and Banff-nominated doc series, Farm Crime (CBC, Fifth Season), and CSA Donald Brittain Award-nominated doc, Above the Law / No Visible Trauma (CBC). The Toronto-based company was founded by producer Geoff Morrison. bigcedarfi

#FIRSTLOOK: “MOANA” LIVE-ACTION FILM ARRIVES ON DISNEY+ OCTOBER 21, 2026

Gather the family and set sail with Moana and Maui as they journey beyond the reef when Disney’s all-new live-action Moana streams exclusively on Disney+ October 21, 2026.

Families can return to the breathtaking world of Moana and experience the iconic story in a whole new way with the live-action epic adventure, packed with unforgettable music, breathtaking imagery, and inspirational characters. Dwayne Johnson reprises his role as the endearing demigod Maui in the new film, while Catherine Lagaʻaia stars as the courageous wayfinder Moana.

Building on the enduring popularity of the original animated film, the most watched movie of all time on Disney+ with over 1.5 billion hours streamed globally, the new live-action reimagining invites families to reconnect with the beloved friendships, music, and spirit they know and love as they set sail on an exciting new journey. From classics like “How Far I’ll Go” and “I Am Moana” to the new song “Along The Way,” enjoy the perfect movie night and sing along to Moana with the entire family.

FILM SYNOPSIS

In Disney’s live-action reimagining of the beloved animated adventure, Moana (Catherine Lagaʻaia) answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island of Motunui with the infamous demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.

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ABOUT DISNEY+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and outside the U.S., general entertainment brand Hulu. As the flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ serves as a connection point for audiences around the world with an unmatched collection of award-winning general entertainment and gold-standard family programming. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, it is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Subscriptions also include access to the Disney+ Perks loyalty program including special discounts, everyday savings, and early access to exclusive experiences that only Disney can offer. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.