Eddie Murphy stars in this holiday comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest. After Chris (Eddie Murphy) inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) to better his chances of winning, she casts a magic spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life, and wreaks havoc on the whole town. At the risk of ruining the holidays for his family, Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their three children must race against the clock to break Pepper’s spell, battle deviously magical characters, and save Christmas for everyone. Streams December 1, 2023 on Prime Video Canada!

Directed by Reginald Hudlin
Written by Kelly Younger
Produced by Brian Grazer, p.g.a., Eddie Murphy, Karen Lunder, p.g.a., Charisse Hewitt-Webster, p.g.a.,
Executive produced by Doug Merrifield
Starring Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, Chris Redd, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Lombardo Boyar, D.C. Young Fly, Danielle Pinnock, Timothy Simons, Riki Lindhome, Stephen Tobolowsky

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video)

The Canada Council for the Arts is pleased to announce the 2023 winners of the Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks). These prestigious awards celebrate remarkable literary works published in Canada, in both official languages, across seven categories, and include books for readers of all ages.

“Each of the winning books in this year’s Governor General’s Literary Awards gives us, as readers, something new and unique to explore. The winners of the 2023 GGBooks are memorable and distinct in how they connect us to the current moment. They are being celebrated and are worth discovering for what has been captured on the page, and because they will go on to influence literature and generations of readers to come.”

— Michelle Chawla, Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts

The 14 winning books were chosen by the same 14 peer assessment committees that were convened to select the 35 English and 35 French finalists announced several weeks ago. Respectively, this year’s peer assessment committees followed a rigorous process in their deliberation and selection of the winners from among the range of nominated books published in Canada in 2022–23.

About the GGBooks

Founded in 1936, the Governor General’s Literary Awards are some of the oldest and most prestigious prizes in Canada, with a total annual prize value of $450,000.

The Canada Council for the Arts has funded, administered and promoted these awards since 1959.
Finalists are selected by category-specific, language-based peer assessment committees (seven in English and seven in French), who consider eligible books published between August 1 and July 31.

Each writer, translator or illustrator whose book is selected as the winner in its category receives a $25,000 prize. Publishers receive $3,000 to promote the winning book; finalists receive $1,000 each.
English-language winners for 2023 (seven categories)

Fiction
Chrysalis – Anuja Varghese (Hamilton, Ontario) House of Anansi Press
Poetry
Xanax Cowboy – Hannah Green (Winnipeg, Manitoba) House of Anansi Press
Drama
William Shakespeareʼs As You Like It: A Radical Retelling – Cliff Cardinal (Toronto, Ontario) Playwrights Canada Press

Non-fiction
Unearthing – Kyo Maclear (Toronto, Ontario) Knopf, Penguin Random House Canada
Young People’s Literature – Text
The Probability of Everything – Sarah Everett (Edmonton, Alberta) Clarion Books, HarperCollins
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
When You Can Swim – Jack Wong (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Scholastic Canada
Translation (from French to English)
Rosaʼs Very Own Personal Revolution – Peter McCambridge (Québec City, Quebec) QC Fiction, Baraka Books. A translation of La logeuse, by Éric Dupont.

French-language winners for 2023 (seven categories)

Fiction
Galumpf – Marie Hélène Poitras (Montréal, Quebec) Éditions Alto
Poetry
Atikᵁ utei. Le cœur du caribou – Rita Mestokosho (Ekuanitshit, Quebec) Mémoire dʼencrier
Drama
Gros gars – Mathieu Gosselin (Montréal, Quebec) Éditions Somme toute
Non-fiction
Faux rebelles : Les dérives du politiquement incorrect – Philippe Bernier Arcand (Ottawa, Ontario) Éditions Poètes de brousse
Young People’s Literature – Text
Linoubliable – Lou Beauchesne (Montréal, Quebec) la courte échelle
Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
Le plus petit sauveur du monde – Samuel Larochelle and Eve Patenaude (Montréal, Quebec – les deux) Éditions XYZ
Translation (from English to French)
Dans lʼombre du soleil: Réflexions sur la race et les récits – Catherine Ego (Montréal, Quebec) Les Éditions du Boréal. A translation of Out of the Sun: On Race and Storytelling, by Esi Edugyan.

Makeup of the 2023 English-language peer assessment committees
Fiction: Carleigh Baker, Neil Bissoondath and Jessica Westhead

Poetry: Mary Dalton, Moez Surani and Gillian Sze

Drama: Aaron Bushkowsky, Tai Amy Grauman and Julie Tamiko Manning

Non-fiction: KatłĮà Lafferty, Lorri Neilsen Glenn and Rinaldo Walcott

Young People’s Literature – Text: Cheryl Foggo, June Hur and Tom Ryan

Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books: Marianne Ferrer, Lee Edward Födi and Mahak Jain

Translation (from French to English): Bilal Hashmi, Melissa Bull and Pablo Strauss

Makeup of the 2023 French-language peer assessment committees
Fiction: Edem Awumey, Danielle Dussault and Tassia Trifiatis-Tezgel

Poetry: Mimi Haddam, Gabriel Osson and Judy Quinn

Drama: Katrine Deniset, Isabelle Hubert and Gabriel Léger-Savard

Non-fiction: Karim Akouche, Martine Jacquot and Julie Kurtness

Young People’s Literature – Text: Cheyda Haramein, Jean-François Sénéchal and Danièle Simpson

Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books: Julien Chung and Andrée Lévesque-Sioui

Translation (from English to French): Rose Després, Benoit Laflamme and Marie-Thé Morin

About the Canada Council for the Arts

The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.” The Council’s grants, services, initiatives, prizes and payments contribute to the vibrancy of a creative and diverse arts and literary scene and support its presence across Canada and abroad. The Council’s investments foster greater engagement in the arts among audiences in Canada and internationally.

We’ve waited for this so long! Finally a Trailer for MEAN GIRLS! Same beloved story, new twists! Paramount Pictures Canada release January 12, 2024.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

From the comedic mind of Tina Fey comes a new twist on the modern classic, MEAN GIRLS. New student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika). However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY

Jeff Richmond, Nell Benjamin, Eric Gurian, Erin David, Pamela Thur

PRODUCED BY

Lorne Michaels, Tina Fey

BOOK BY

Tina Fey

MUSIC BY

Jeff Richmond

LYRICS BY

Nell Benjamin

BASED ON THE STAGE MUSICAL “MEAN GIRLS”

SCREENPLAY BY

Tina Fey

DIRECTED BY

Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.

STARRING

Angourie Rice, Auli’i Cravalho, Reneé Rapp, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika, Bebe Wood, Christopher Briney, Jenna Fischer, Busy Philipps, Tina Fey, with Tim Meadows

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

The massive hit is back and bigger than ever! Today, Prime Video released the official trailer for Reacher Season Two and announced the adrenaline-fueled series will return on December 15, 2023. After the overwhelming response to the debut season, the new instalment ups the ante with even higher stakes and action. The eight-episode season will roll out weekly, with the first three episodes premiering on December 15, and subsequent episodes dropping every Friday through January 19, 2024, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Reacher has commanded a Jack Reacher-sized global audience, quickly becoming one of the top five most watched original seasons ever globally on Prime Video during its inaugural run. Fans can catch up on the first season, alongside a wide range of other action crime thrillers available on Prime Video including Jack Ryan, Citadel, Shelter and The Terminal List.

Reacher Season Two begins when veteran military police investigator Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) receives a coded message that the members of his former U.S. Army unit, the 110th MP Special Investigations, are being mysteriously and brutally murdered one by one. Pulled from his drifter lifestyle, Reacher reunites with three of his former teammates turned chosen family to investigate, including Frances Neagley (Maria Sten); Karla Dixon (Serinda Swan), a forensic accountant for whom Reacher has long had a soft spot; and fast-talking, switchblade-wielding family man David O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos). Together, they begin to connect the dots in a mystery where the stakes get higher at every turn, and that brings about questions of who has betrayed them—and who will die next. Using his inimitable blend of smarts and size, Reacher will stop at nothing to uncover the truth and protect the members of his unit. If there’s one thing Reacher and his team know for certain, it’s that you do not mess with the Special Investigators. This season, get ready for Reacher and the 110th to hit back hard.

Based on Bad Luck and Trouble, the 11th book in Lee Child’s global best-selling series, Reacher Season Two stars Alan Ritchson in the title role of Jack Reacher, with Maria Sten, Serinda Swan, and Shaun Sipos as key members of the 110th MP Special Investigations Unit. Rounding out the cast are Ferdinand Kingsley as A.M., a mercenary that homeland security refers to as a “ghost;” Robert Patrick as Shane Langston, head of security for a private defence contractor with a questionable track record; and Domenick Lombardozzi as tough NYPD detective Guy Russo.

Scarborough-born Singer-Songwriter CHXRRY22 returned home to celebrate the release of her new EP SIREN. In addition to a busy day of Press including stops at MuchMusic and eTalk, she did a Q&A with fans at Universal Music Canada’s The Academy, reflecting on her process and inspiration.

The Pop-R&B Artist went viral in 2017 while in university, posting covers. This then led her to be based out of Atlanta and soon after that, she was signed to The Weeknd-founded XO Records. Very fitting of him to help launch her to the world, since she’s from the same hometown, also of Ethiopian-Canadian descent like Chxrry22. She will be supportng The Weeknd on his upcoming New Zealand and Australia “After Hours Til Dawn” tour dates.

She already has done some collaborations with high-profile types including Offset on her track “Favorite Girl” and Vory on “Never Had This“.

Her Music is dark and cinematic, with a bright smooth vocal that glides effortlessly as she does runs. We got to hear the entire EP and already my favourite was “Do It” which drew loud cheers from the intimate audience. This track, written while she was in Italy, veers more to House Music roots and is infectious.

Chxrry22 reflects on her inspirations in songwriting and talks about some of her high-profile collaborations on this project:

SIREN is out now. Steam here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Universal Music)

Digital travel leader Booking.com has teamed up with none other than the “Queen of Thanksgiving” herself, America’s foremost lifestyle entrepreneur, television personality, and the ultimate host, Martha Stewart, to offer one pair of lucky fans a chance to book Martha Stewart’s Thanksgiving-Inspired Farm Stay, exclusively on Booking.com. The once-in-a-lifetime experience will take place at her iconic farm in Bedford, New York, from November 18 – 19, 2023 and will feature an itinerary fully curated by Martha to include some of her favorite fall activities, such as:

-A welcome tour of the Tenant House at Martha’s Bedford farm where guests will be treated to their overnight stay
-A guided tour of the property by Martha’s Head Gardener Ryan McCallister, during which guests will experience her Insta-famous chicken coop, gardens and stables
-A table setting and wreath-making demo with Executive Director of Design Kevin Sharkey, with his tips for how to make your Thanksgiving extra special
-Brunch with Martha herself, prepared by James Beard Award-Winning Chef Thomas Joseph
-Signed copies of Martha’s prized cookbooks and other goodies to ensure guests are Thanksgiving ready

Spanning over 150 acres of perfectly manicured grounds in Westchester County’s charming town of Bedford, Martha’s beautiful farm is the idyllic retreat for rest, relaxation and design inspiration at every turn. The entrepreneur restored the centuries-old property, which features her classic style throughout the buildings’ pristine décor. Martha’s guests will enjoy tips and tricks from the hosting maven for holiday entertaining and setting the perfect table just like she does in the property’s stunning kitchen and dining areas. With three quarters (74%*) of Canadian travellers revealing that they feel more alive than ever when they are on vacation, this is the perfect getaway to experience a true never-even-dreamed-of core life memory.

“Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays to celebrate, which is why I’m excited to be Booking.com’s newest host and welcome guests to my Bedform farm for a Thanksgiving-inspired stay ahead of the big day,” says Martha Stewart. “I’m all about making it easier for everyone to celebrate life’s big moments, so I really appreciate how easy Booking.com made it to list my Tenant House on the site. Every year, my Thanksgiving holiday prep begins weeks before hosting my family in Bedford, so I can’t wait to welcome the guests that book this experience to my fall-ready Tenant House on the farm and look forward to sharing my favorite Thanksgiving-inspired traditions during their stay.”

Martha Stewart’s Thanksgiving-Inspired Farm Stay will become bookable on a first-come, first served basis on November 16 at noon ET, for a stay taking place November 18 – 19, priced at only $11.23, in honor of U.S. Thanksgiving. In addition to the overnight stay and full itinerary curated by Martha, the experience will include airport transfer through Booking.com.

This amazing stay is just one of the vast vacation rental options Booking.com offers – from dreamy beach bungalows, treehouses and houseboats, to woodsy havens, lakeside cabins and high-end homes. Featuring approximately seven million vacation rental listings, and with 45% of new vacation rental listings receiving a booking within just a week of being live on the world’s leading travel platform, Booking.com is well-versed in the art of happy “hosts,” and Martha Stewart is about to be one of them!

For more information on Booking.com and Martha Stewart’s Thanksgiving-Inspired Farm Stay, visit https://www.booking.com/hotel/us/martha-stewarts-thanksgiving-inspired-farm-stay.

CBC and Lark Productions today announced casting and production details for Anar Ali’s (Transplant) character-driven police procedural ALLEGIANCE (10×60), now in production in Vancouver and BC’s lower mainland. A CBC Original series from the award-winning team at Lark Productions in association with Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, the series features an ensemble cast led by Supinder Wraich (Sort Of), Enrico Colantoni (Station Eleven), Stephen Lobo (Continuum), Adolyn H. Dar (Superman & Lois), Brian Markinson (A Million Little Things) and David Cubitt (Virgin River); with showrunners Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern (Flashpoint, X Company) at the helm. Greenlit by CBC in early 2023, ALLEGIANCE will premiere on the free CBC Gem streaming service and CBC TV in winter 2024.

ALLEGIANCE focuses on identity and belonging, policing and politics, and finding truth within the heart of a flawed justice system. The drama stars Wraich as Sabrina Sohal, a star rookie police officer who must grapple with the limits of the justice system as she fights to exonerate her politician father Ajeet Sohal (Lobo). Sohal serves her diverse hometown of Surrey alongside Vince Brambilla (Colantoni), a veteran training officer who sees her potential but doesn’t always agree with her forward-thinking methods. ALLEGIANCE is the story of a young woman caught between her allegiance to her flag, to her badge, and to her family.

“CBC greenlit this thoughtful and timely drama because it will offer audiences an emotionally gritty yet hopeful story that hasn’t been told before, reflecting the complexities of policing and justice in contemporary Canada from multiple perspectives,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports, CBC. “We can’t wait to watch as Lark Productions, Anar, Mark, Stephanie and this remarkable cast bring Allegiance to life.”

A CBC Original Series ALLEGIANCE is produced by Lark Productions in association with CBC, with NBCUniversal Global Distribution handling the distribution of the series globally. Showrunners Stephanie Morgenstern and Mark Ellis also serve as Executive Producers with Series Creator Anar Ali, alongside Lark Productions’ Erin Haskett, Nicole Mendes, David Valleau and Tex Antonucci. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Sarah Adams is Director of Current Production, Drama; and Gosia Kamela is Executive in Charge of Production.

Canada’s comedy institution, The Second City, proudly announces its 88th Mainstage Revue, Chaos Menu: Disorder Up! Glimmering with the country’s best comedic performers, including PHATT al, Andy Assaf, Ron Pederson, Coko Galore, Liz Johnston and Devon Henderson. Second City Alum and cast member of the legendary Royal Canadian Air Farce Darryl Hinds directs his first resident stage revue with Shane O’Regan joining as Music Director and Matt Keevins as Stage Manager. Kyle Dooley serves as Assistant Director, and Tricia Black collaborates as Creative Consultant.

Chaos Menu: Disorder Up serves hilarity! Making light of the absurdity of the world around us, the show promises to deliver the music, mischief, and mayhem that The Second City is known for. Audiences can anticipate an unforgettable production that will entertain and leave you laughing for weeks afterward.

The Second City’s signature restaurant The Bentwood, operated by Canadian restaurant legends Oliver and Bonacini, is open for dinner and celebrates Happy Hour from 5pm to 7pm daily, featuring $5 mixed drinks, $6 beers, $7 glasses of wine, and specially priced snacks. A three-course prix fixe is also available for $45 (excluding tax and gratuity). Guests booking a dinner-and-a-show package ahead of time can access the prix fixe for a reduced price of $40.

The Second City producing team includes Ed Wells (CEO), Parisa Jalili (COO), Carly Heffernan (Artistic Consultant), Elizabeth Howard (VP of Production), and Susan Waycik (Producer). Tickets start at $30 and are available by phone at 416-343-0011 or online at secondcity.com. The show schedule begins November 9, 2023: Tuesday – Thursday at 8pm; Friday – Saturday at 7pm & 10pm; and Sundays at 7pm.

The Second City Toronto is a fully accessible facility.

The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2023 LiUNA People’s Choice Award is Irena’s Vow, directed by Louise Archambault. This is Archambault’s second People’s Choice Award — she won in 2013 for her film Gabrielle. Archambault is also the first filmmaker to have two films nominated for the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film in the same year — Irena’s Vow and One Summer.

To celebrate the audience favourite, WIFF hosted a complimentary community screening of Irena’s Vow on Sunday, November 5 at 6 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre.

The runner up and second runner up for the LiUNA People’s Choice Award are American Fiction directed by Cord Jefferson and My Mother’s Men directed by Anik Jean, respectively.

Past winners of the award include: Women Talking directed by Sarah Polley (2022); Prey directed by Matt Gallagher (2019); The Russian Five directed by Joshua Rhiel (2018); Loving Vincent directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman (2017); Maudie directed by Aisling Walsh (2016); Trumbo directed by Jay Roach (2015); and more.

“Louise Archambault’s films have always been loved by WIFF audiences, and we are so pleased to see the LiUNA People’s Choice award going to her this year,” said Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer for WIFF.

WIFF took place from October 26 to November 5. The 2023 festival is proudly presented by the Toldo Foundation.

Stay in touch with WIFF via the festival’s Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, or by signing up to receive WIFF news via email by visiting windsorfilmfestival.com.

WIFF is a cultural, charitable organization that celebrates the art of cinema by showcasing Canadian and international film and filmmakers. Delivering exceptional experiences through film, WIFF strengthens and enriches the community while promoting the creative economy. windsorfilmfestival.com.