Minami Toronto celebrates the arrival of spring with a limited-time selection of cherry blossom-themed menu items, available from April 1 to 30, 2025 during dinner service. These seasonal offerings showcase delicate flavours and ingredients that evoke the essence of cherry blossom season—think cured sakura flower, strawberry, ume, and floral notes like elderflower and rose. From the Sakura Hokkaido Scallop Crudo to the refreshing Sakura Spritz, each dish and cocktail is thoughtfully crafted to highlight Minami’s signature Aburi-style cuisine with springtime elegance. Reservations to try these menu items can be made HERE.

Cherry Blossom menu items:
Sakura Hokkaido Scallop Crudo – $17.50
Cured sakura flower, strawberry, ume, orange, wasabi & clam broth.

Sakura Roll (4pc) – $11
Sakuradai (madai cured in sakura leaf), spicy shrimp, sockeye salmon, sakura tempura bits & hanaho.

Cherry blossom Cocktails:
Sakura Spritz – $18
Rosé wine, St-Germain, cranberry & elderflower tonic.

Ichigo Margarita – $18
Olmeca Altos Reposado tequila, strawberry, raspberry, grapefruit & lime.

Soho Sour – $16
Soho lychee liqueur, butterfly pea tea–infused gin, cranberry, lemon & egg white.

Pretty In Pink – $17
Olmeca Altos Blanco, cranberry, dragonfruit & lime.

Whether you’re savouring a delicate scallop crudo topped with sakura flowers or toasting the season with a vibrant cherry blossom cocktail, Minami’s offerings provide a beautiful way to enjoy spring in the heart of the city. Reservations for Minami can be made HERE.

The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada today announced that iconic fashion and lifestyle journalist Jeanne Beker will receive the IMPACT Award at this year’s second annual event on Thursday, May 29 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto. Beker will also be featured in a special keynote interview as part of the 2025 event, followed by an exclusive book signing of her recent memoir, Heart on My Sleeve: Stories from a Life Well Worn.

The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada’s IMPACT Award was created to recognize the positive impact of Canada’s very own trailblazers who have changed the narrative for women in media by pushing for more opportunities for better representation, voices and bold storytelling reflecting the authentic lived experiences of women.

Jeanne Beker

2025 IMPACT Award Honouree

For almost five decades, Jeanne Beker has been at the forefront of arts and culture. She earned her position as one of Canada’s most recognizable celebrities as a founding member of MuchMusic and the iconic host of Fashion Television. A media trailblazer and successful entrepreneur, Beker is also the daughter of Holocaust survivors and a breast cancer survivor. In her inspirational talks, she shares how she cultivated the drive, resiliency, and tenacity needed to fuel her incredible career, as well as the courage to face life’s challenges while empowering audiences to do the same.

Beker’s incredible broadcasting career began with CBC Radio when she became an arts reporter in St. John’s, Newfoundland. After three years, she returned to Toronto to work at CHUM radio and was soon co-hosting Citytv’s ground-breaking music magazine series, The New Music. In 1983, she helped launch “the nation’s music station,”MuchMusic, before becoming the host of the legendary Fashion Television, which ran for 27 years and aired in 130 countries, establishing her as Canada’s face of fashion.

A seasoned newspaper and magazine columnist and features writer, Beker was editor-in-chief of FQ and SIR magazine from 2003 to 2008. She has also been a frequent guest on myriad lifestyle shows and at the creative helm of numerous fashion lines under her own eponymous label. Since 2015, Beker’s been the style editor at The Shopping Channel (TSC) where she hosts the popular series, Style Matters. She also previously hosted the podcast Beyond Style Matters. In addition, she is the co-producer of Kingdom of Dreams, a four-part documentary series examining fashion’s golden age, and the bestselling author of six books.

A breast cancer survivor, Beker’s journey has provided her with a rich, eye-opening experience. Her candour in discussing the peaks and valley of her journey has inspired people around the world. She’s now on a mission to help normalize the conversation surrounding cancer and help eradicate the fear associated with the disease.

Active with several charitable organizations, Beker has received honorary doctorates from St. Mary’s University and OCAD University. She’s also the recipient of numerous awards, including a Special Achievement Award from the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television and a Crystal Award from Toronto Women in Film and Television. She’s also been named to the Order of Canada, inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Hall of Legends, and honoured with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.

The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada is a first-of-its-kind summit bringing the industry together across television, film, and music to celebrate and recognize the achievements of Canadian women who are driving the industry forward in their respective fields. As previously announced, Tantoo Cardinal will receive the Equity in Entertainment Award at this year’s event. Additional award recipients and programming for Women in Entertainment Canada 2025 details will be announced later this spring.

For more information visit www.womeninentertainment.ca.

Capital Motion, a Canadian distributor of world-class independent cinema, is thrilled to announce the release date for writer/director Ivona Juka’s unapologetic and thought-provoking film BEAUTIFUL EVENING, BEAUTIFUL DAY, in cinemas starting May 23, 2025.

Synopsis:

Four close friends are renowned filmmakers in Yugoslavia in the 1950s, but their sexual orientation raises suspicion. A communist party loyalist is sent to sabotage their lives, turning their pursuit of freedom into a battle for survival.

Screenwriter and Director: Ivona Juka
Cast: Emir Hadžihafizbegović, Elmir Krivalić, Dado Ćosić, Slaven Došlo and Đorđe Galić. Nikolina Žuženić
Director of photography: Dragan Ruljančić
Editors: Nenad Pirnat, Nina Velnić
Music: Michael Brook

Director’s Statement

Growing up with a family member who was never allowed to “come out” and lived in the shadows of his true self, I was inspired to shed light on a dark time in history. Through my extensive research, which included PhD theses on homosexual persecution in communist Yugoslavia, I discovered the remarkable resilience and unwavering strength of those who fought for their right to be different and authentic. Despite the persecution and imprisonment, they never gave up. This film pays tribute to their courage, but it is also about our power of love to conquer hate and a call for acceptance and understanding in our polarized world.

Watch the new trailer for The Accountant 2 and book your tickets now – see the movie exclusively in theatres April 25, 2025 via Warner Bros. Pictures Canada.

Directed by: Gavin O’Connor
Written by: Bill Dubuque

Produced by: Ben Affleck, Lynette Howell Taylor p.g.a., Mark Williams

Executive Produced by: Gavin O’Connor, Scott Lastaiti, Jamie Patricof, Matt Damon, Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, Dani Bernfeld, Alison Winter

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniella Pineda, Allison Robertson and J.K. Simmons

Synopsis:

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. In partnership with U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

Today Nikon Canada Inc. announced the new full-frame / FX format Z5II, an entirely new generation of intermediate-level camera that miraculously manages to fit the latest high-end features into a lightweight camera body that will help kickstart any creative spark. The Nikon Z5II is the easiest way to level up a user’s captures with full-frame image quality, incredibly fast and intelligent autofocus (AF), excellent low-light performance, one-touch film-inspired colour presets and the brightest viewfinder of any competing camera1 .

The new Nikon Z5II uses the same high-power EXPEED 7 image processing engine as Nikon’s highest calibre professional models, the Z8 and Z9. The benefits of this processor are immediately apparent, affording incredible levels of performance and extremely fast AF with subject detection powered by deep learning (AI) technology.

This highly accurate, high-speed focus is a massive leap from its predecessor, locking in at approximately one-third2 the time. In addition, the new camera now utilizes a highly sensitive back-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor for beautiful rendering of textures and details, even in dimly lit situations such as indoors or nighttime landscapes, with minimal noise. The Z5II further fuels your creative drive with a dedicated Picture Control button and innovative tools like Imaging Recipes and Flexible Colour Picture Controls, all of which help users create a truly distinctive look with unparalleled creative control of colours.

Reliably Fast Focus and Performance
The AF on the Nikon Z5II is remarkably precise and super-fast, effortlessly locking-on and tracking a wide range of moving subjects. From fast-paced portraits to action shots, the system helps you to never miss a crucial moment, even when a subject is backlit. The cutting-edge AF system can detect up to nine types of subjects for stills and video, including people (faces, eyes, heads, and upper bodies), dogs, cats, birds, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, airplanes, and trains. But it’s not just the focus that’s fast—thanks to the next-generation processing power, the Z5II also offers high performance features from pro level Z models, to excel in any shoot.

•3D-tracking AF mode keeps the target subject in focus even if it moves rapidly or erratically. This allows for subject tracking, even at high burst speeds, for sharp images again and again when photographing sports, animals or other fast-moving subjects.

•The first full-frame mirrorless Nikon camera with AF-A focus mode. In this mode, the camera automatically switches between AF-S and AF-C focus modes in response to subject movement or changes in composition with still shooting. This allows the camera to automatically focus on the subject, with no setting adjustments when photographing. This new feature makes it simple to photograph pets, kids or other subjects whose movements are difficult to predict.

•Fast continuous shooting speeds3 with a maximum frame rate of 14 frames per second in mechanical shutter mode and up to 15 or 30 frames per second (electronic shutter) with full autofocus.

•Pre-Release Capture4 function when shooting in C15 and C30 modes is capable of recording images buffered up to one second before the shutter-release button is fully pressed, capturing the action before a user can react.

Embrace Low Light Like Never Before
There’s no need to be afraid of the dark with the Nikon Z5II. Featuring a powerful combination of the full-frame back-illuminated CMOS sensor and the EXPEED 7 image-processing engine, the Z5II delivers the best low light ability in its class. Images and video are rendered with minimal noise, and incredible AF detection abilities in low light. Whether shooting indoors, twilight cityscapes or the night sky, the Z5II is built to help you capture confidently in nearly any light, preserving details and textures throughout the broad ISO range.

•Class-leading autofocus detection down to -10EV5 delivers accurate, reliable focus in dim and dark conditions—great for concerts, live performances, festivities, available light portraiture, astrophotography and more.

•A broad standard ISO sensitivity range of 100-64,000, expandable to Hi 1.7 (ISO 204,800 equivalent), delivers exceptional low-light capabilities and outstanding image quality with minimal noise. The max ISO is 51,200 for video recording.

•The 5-axis in-camera vibration reduction (VR) system provides superior image stabilization equivalent to a 7.5-stop6 increase in shutter speed at the center and a 6.0-stop increase at the peripheral areas of the frame. This allows users to create with confidence in lower light and get sharper results, even when handheld or at lower shutter speeds.

•Focus-point VR7 tailors stabilization to the area covered by the active AF point, for sharp rendering of the subject, even when it is positioned near the edge of the frame.

•Starlight View Mode makes focus and composition simple in extremely low light, while the Warm Colour Display Mode helps preserve night vision when working in complete darkness.

•Extended shutter speeds up to 900 seconds (15 minutes) in manual exposure mode are perfect for extreme long-exposure nightscapes and star trails.

Engineered to be Used, Made to be Loved
Shooting with the compact and lightweight Z5II is a satisfying and comfortable experience. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is simply stunning and is 6x brighter than any competing model. At up to 3000 nits brightness, users can easily shoot even in the brightest direct sun with a perfect view of the frame, with real-time exposure information. Additionally, the rear 3.2” Vari-angle LCD touchscreen rotates freely to nearly any angle, giving full freedom of composition. Get down in the street or hold it high above everyone’s heads and still be able to accurately frame the perfect shot. The grip is deep and comfortable to minimize fatigue. Additionally, the Nikon Z5II’s front, back, and top covers are made from magnesium alloy, which delivers exceptional durability and outstanding dust-and drip-resistance.

Feel the Colour with Picture Controls
The Nikon Z5II is the latest camera to support one-button access to Picture Controls, plus compatibility with the Nikon Imaging Cloud. The dedicated Picture Control button opens new possibilities for expressive colour, with imaginative film-inspired looks that instantly change the colour tone and colour of a scene. In a single press, the user can see in real-time the effects of up to 31 built-in colour presets plus Imaging Recipes downloaded by the user.

Nikon Imaging Cloud connectivity allows users to download a wide variety of free Imaging Recipes by Nikon and created by popular creators, and to apply these recipes when shooting. In addition, the Z5II supports Flexible Colour Picture Control, which allows users to create their own unique colour styles using Nikon’s free NX Studio software. Flexible Colour allows for a wider variety of colour and tone adjustments, including hue, brightness and contrast. What’s more, these settings can also be saved as Custom Picture Controls that can be imported to the Z5II for use while shooting.

Powerful Video Features for Hybrid Users

The Z5II offers an impressive array of video features for content creators:

•Capture immensely vivid and detailed 4K/30 UHD video, with no crop. This gives creatives the ability to shoot in 4K at full-frame, with more wide-angle freedom. For higher frame rates, the camera can also capture up to 4K/60 with a 1.5x crop.

•Flexible in-camera video recording options with 12-bit N-RAW8, 10-bit H.265, and 8-bit H.264. This is the first camera to be able to record N-RAW to an SD card.

•N-Log9 tone modes offer greater flexibility for colour grading. This means Z5II users also have access to the free RED LUTs, which were developed in collaboration with RED for users to enjoy cinematic looks.

•Full HD/120p for flexibility to create 5x slow motion videos in 8-bit H.264.

•Hi-Res Zoom10 uses 4K resolution to zoom up to 2X in-camera during Full HD shooting, without any loss of quality. This is useful when using prime lenses to get closer to a subject and add a dynamic look to footage.

•Product Review Mode will seamlessly switch focus between the user and any objects that they hold up to the camera. Users can even customize the size of the active AF area.

•Upgrade streaming while connected via UVC/UAC-compliant USB port, transforming the camera into a high-quality webcam for live streaming.

•The Z5II also includes ports for headphones and microphones.

Additional Features of the Nikon Z5II

•Dual SD card slots

•Bird detection mode makes it easier to detect birds in motion and in flight.

•Equipped with Nikon’s exclusive portrait functions, including Rich Tone Portrait that realizes radiant and beautiful rendering of skin textures, and Skin Softening that smooths the skin while leaving hair, eyes, and other details sharp.

•Capture high-resolution images with Pixel Shift shooting11 to portray stunning depth and rich textures, from architectural details to rocky landscapes and vibrant artwork, creating images at a staggeringly high resolution of up to approx. 96-megapixels (must be processed with free Studio NX software)

Price and Availability
The new Nikon Z5II full-frame mirrorless camera will be available in April 2025 for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $2,299.95* for the body only, or with the NIKKOR Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens for an MSRP of $2,699.95*.

For more information about the latest Nikon products, including the vast collection of NIKKOR Z lenses and the entire line of Z series cameras, please visit www.nikon.ca.

About Nikon
Nikon is a world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and technologies for photo and video capture; globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for an award-winning array of equipment that enables visual storytelling and content creation. Nikon Canada Inc. distributes consumer and professional Z Series mirrorless camera, digital SLR cameras, a vast array of NIKKOR and NIKKOR Z lenses, Speedlights and system accessories, Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras and Nikon software products. For more information visit www.nikon.ca, which links all levels of photographers and visual storytellers to the Web’s most comprehensive learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon Canada on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

Right in time for the Kentucky Derby, Netflix release Limited Series RACE FOR THE CROWN! Today we get a new Trailer. This arrives April 22, 2025.

Synopsis:

This rousing documentary series tails jockeys, trainers and owners as they chase titles and triumph in the Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Today, Disney+ released the trailer for Lucasfilm Animation’s “Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld,” an all-new anthology series of animated shorts from creator Dave Filoni, premiering exclusively on Disney+ just in time for the ultimate Star Wars holiday, May the 4th. The popular series, which began in 2022 with “Tales of the Jedi” and continued in 2024 with “Tales of the Empire,” this time focuses on the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars galaxy through the experiences of two iconic villains. Former assassin and bounty hunter Asajj Ventress is given a new chance at life and must go on the run with an unexpected new ally, while outlaw Cad Bane faces his past when he confronts an old friend, now a Marshal on the opposite side of the law.

Dave Filoni created the series and is the supervising director. He is also an executive producer along with Athena Yvette Portillo and Carrie Beck. Josh Rimes serves as co-executive producer, Alex Spotswood is the senior producer, and Matt Michnovetz is the writer.

The talented voice cast includes Nika Futterman, Corey Burton, Artt Butler, Lane Factor, AJ LoCascio, Clare Grant, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Eric Lopez.

“Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld” joins an expansive collection of Star Wars films and series on Disney+, just in time for May the 4th.

Paramount+ today released the teaser trailer for the upcoming third season of its hit original series STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, coming this summer to the platform. Paramount+ previously announced the series has also been renewed for a fourth season, which is currently in production in Toronto.

In season three when we reconnect with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, still under the command of Captain Pike, they face the conclusion of season two’s harrowing encounter with the Gorn. But new life and civilizations await, including a villain that will test our characters’ grit and resolve. An exciting twist on classic Star Trek, season three takes characters both new and beloved, to new heights and dives into thrilling adventures of faith, duty, romance, comedy and mystery with varying genres never before seen on any other Star Trek.

The series stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun and Martin Quinn, along with guest stars Rhys Darby, Patton Oswalt, Cillian O’Sullivan, Canadian Melanie Scrofano and Carol Kane, with special guest star Paul Wesley. The series is produced by CBS Studios, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, Aaron Baiers, Dana Horgan, Davy Perez, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Chris Fisher, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers. Akiva Goldsman (Weed Road Pictures) and Henry Alonso Myers (HMRX) serve as co-showrunners.

STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS is available on Paramount+ in Canada and streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the U.K., Latin America, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan. It streams on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

The STAR TREK franchise on Paramount+ also includes STAR TREK: SECTION 31, the original movie with Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh, and the upcoming original series STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY. All seasons of the animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS; the award-winning original series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, starring Sonequa Martin-Green; and the critically acclaimed original series STAR TREK: PICARD, starring Patrick Stewart reprising the iconic role of Jean-Luc Picard, are also available to stream.

Today we get a new Trailer for Sundance and Berlin selection, MAGIC FARM. A shape-shifting new gem from Amalia Ulman. Led by a stellar ensemble including Chloë Sevigny, Alex Wolff and Simon Rex.

Synopsis:

When a misguided American documentary crew in search of their next viral segment ends up in the wrong town in rural Argentina, chaos ensues. As they collaborate with locals to fake a new music trend, unexpected relationships form and an unfolding health crisis becomes apparent.

In theaters in the US on April 25, 2025, Canada on May 2, 2025 and the UK & Ireland on May 16, 2025. A MUBI Release.

Luminato Festival returns June 4-22, 2025 to ignite Toronto with bold, playful, and of the moment art experiences that transform the people, places and possibilities of the city. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Celia Smith and Artistic Director Olivia Ansell, Luminato enters a new era with a bigger and more ambitious 19th edition of the festival that invites the public to encounter the city like never before.

“Luminato presents once-in-a-lifetime, inclusive art experiences that showcase the best of Toronto, our country, and the world,” says Celia Smith, CEO of Luminato Festival and expert in urban transformation. “We create moments that inspire and connect us and lead to positive change in our everyday lives.”

The theme of Luminato 2025, DAY:NIGHT explores how we inhabit the city in a 24-hour cycle. From dusk to dawn and dawn to dusk, any given day can be ordinary or extraordinary. Artistic Director Olivia Ansell says “First breath, dawn light through to last dance and final word – the 2025 program asks us to reflect on the cycle of our collective lives and how we engage, disrupt and exist in time and space as a community. Be it the first or the last of things, we invite locals and visitors to encounter Toronto differently.”

This year’s festival ignites both day and night culture engaging audiences around the clock with a dynamic mix of music, dance, and theatre, along with immersive, family-friendly, and free public art. With the city as its canvas, Luminato brings art encounters to outdoor spaces, transit stations, theatres, galleries, and neighbourhoods across the Toronto area. Over 1000 artists from Canada and afar reimagine this city with compelling public art over three blockbuster weeks with 12 world premieres, 8 commissions and 14 exclusives from 10 countries.

Day one opens with opera visionary Krystian Lada’s Dawn Chorus (Poland) as it transforms Union Station into a living symphony. Award-winning photographer Nadya Kwandibens’ (Anishinaabe/Ojibwe) Night/Shifts captures the lives of Toronto’s night workers and displays them across the TTC and beyond. At Luminato at Harbourfront, the vibrant festival hub, First Breath by UK’s Luke Jerram celebrates new life born in Toronto each day with a breathtaking light installation. Terceradix Luminarium is an immersive, otherworldly structure of colour and light at Harbourfront Centre by UK artists Architects of Air.

Also at Luminato at Harbourfront is Teatro La Plaza’s (Peru) Hamlet which reimagines Shakespeare’s most famous work with eight incredible actors with Down syndrome, giving it new relevance. A Glimpse of Quincy: Celebrating the Legendary Quincy Jones is arranged and produced by Grammy Award-winning artist Larnell Lewis.

Theatre and dance highlights include Tim Crouch’s hypnotic story of loss, An Oak Tree (UK) presented in partnership with TO Live, where each performance features a different guest artist, revealed only at curtain time, at the Jane Mallett Theatre. Artists include Amanda Cordner, Amrit Kaur, Qasim Khan, Daniel MacIvor, Karen Robinson, and Jean Yoon, with more to be announced. Red Like Fruit by Hannah Moscovitch, co-presented with Soulpepper and produced by 2B Theatre, explores themes of power and complicity in the post-#MeToo era. Queen of the Night Communion, co-produced with Tapestry Opera, is an immersive opera experience that transforms baroque tradition at Metropolitan United Church. What the Day Owes to the Night by Compagnie Hervé KOUBI (France/Algeria) and in partnership with TO Live and Fall For Dance North, blends capoeira, martial arts, and Sufi traditions in a captivating dance performance. The world premiere of HANS: My Life in Fairytales by Craig Francis and Rick Miller, uses puppetry, video, and clowning to bring Hans Christian Andersen’s extraordinary stories to life. Canadian/Columbian collaboration Nigamon/Tunai by Émilie Monnet and Waira Nina is a poetic manifesto against extractivism, land destruction, and displacement. Theo x Travis: Jazz is Dead is a high-energy fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and R&B, featuring trumpeter Theo Croker and tap dancer Travis Knights, co-presented by dance Immersion.

Luminato will showcase a number of remarkable free public art installations and performances that connect art directly to the people. THAW by Australia’s Legs on the Wall is an epic eight-hour performance which makes climate change impossible to ignore with a 2.7-tonne block of ice suspended over Sankofa Square. Rainbow Dreams by Japanese born, Australian based, Hiromi Tango creates three unique rainbow-filled environments at Brookfield Properties that invite the public to explore pathways toward well-being. Flamboyant and defiantly joyous, Dandyism by Rwandan born, UK based Ziza Patrick celebrates the timeless swagger of African style through powerful street and contemporary dance.

Luminato at Harbourfront will also feature free experiences for all ages throughout the day. Notable hub highlights include Sangam, curated by The Tawoos Initiative, creates a confluence of rhythms from South Asia. Featuring the highly anticipated North American debut by the uncensored voice of Pakistan – legendary rap pioneer, Faris Shafi, and a return of the popularly demanded electronic music producer and composer Talal Qureshi. Miigwech Collective curates an exciting line-up of Indigenous music artists including blues and country artist Crystal Shawanda, pop and R&B singer Alicia Kayley, and electronic world beats artist Tica. Lulaworld celebrates Latin and Indigenous music, including Colombia’s revolutionary La Pambelé orchestra, the electrifying Afro-Colombian Kombilesa Mí, and the dynamism of Sonic Sancocho’s vinyl sets. SANTÉ by Cirque Kikasse (Quebec) brings high-flying acrobatics atop a food truck for gravity-defying feats of fun.

Luminato’s sound experiences include:

Immersed by Justin Gray, an innovative audio experience blending Indian classical music, jazz, and electronic soundscapes, co-presented with TD Music Hall

Dusk Soundscapes by Maria Chávez, a live DJ set co-presented with the Art Gallery of Ontario

2025 Luminato Conversation Series and community events include:

Beach Clean Up, hosted by Swim Drink Fish and artist Merle Harley, combines environmental action with creative expression.

For the 2nd year, The Wedge Lecture, co-presented by Wedge Curatorial Projects and part of Luminato’s Conversation Series, explores Black Diasporic narratives, identity and issues around representation.
Last Words: Talking in Cemeteries with Canadian Christa Couture & Guests is an intimate exploration of life, death, and legacy in a historic cemetery in Toronto, part of the Conversation Series.
You’re All in the Band, presented by Community Music Schools Toronto in association with Luminato Festival, is an immersive musical journey with hundreds of students celebrating joy and inclusion.

Luminato 2025 will also feature the following experiences presented by a number of partners:

•Sleep Temple, presented by Jumblies Theatre in association with Luminato Festival.
•The 52 Live: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto presented by Museum of Toronto in association with Luminato Festival
•Gimeno Conducts The Best of Brahms by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in association with Luminato Festival.
•To Dream of Other Places by Emmanuel Osahor, presented by The Power Plant Gallery.
Runway Rivers Public Art Installation by John Notten, programmed and presented by YZD.

Luminato’s Industry Series returns for its 8th year, offering opportunities for Canadian artists to learn, share their work and network with global peers.

Under the leadership of Celia Smith and Olivia Ansell, Luminato’s transformative vision solidifies its role as a global cultural leader. By redefining how people experience Toronto – both those who live and visit here – the festival positions the city as a premier destination for art, culture, and community. Through Luminato’s unwavering commitment to creative transformation and a 2025 festival which highlights environmental sustainability, mental wellbeing, and the wide-ranging experiences inhabiting a 24-hour cycle, the festival contributes to a thriving, connected and inspired city. This June, Luminato again invites the world to explore Toronto’s streets, stages, and stories like never before. For full event details, including dates and times, please visit luminatofestival.com.

Festival Ticketing & Access

Tickets for most Luminato events are available as of April 2 on luminatofestival.com. Take advantage of our 20% early bird discount while quantities last and bundle savings. For some free events, advanced registration may be required. Visit luminatofestival.com today for full details and to secure your spot. Luminato aims to create inclusive experiences where everyone feels welcome to participate. Please contact our Access Concierge for assistance: email: access@luminato.com and phone: 437-776-1569.

About Luminato Festival
Luminato Festival transforms the people, places, and possibilities of Toronto with extraordinary art experiences. Every June we present bold, playful, and of the moment art for all to enjoy. Distinctly Toronto, proudly Canadian and totally Global, we welcome the world to explore our streets, stages and stories. Encounter the city like never before.

Luminato Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of our founding government partner, the Province of Ontario; our major partners, the City of Toronto and the Government of Canada. Major media partners for 2025 include the Toronto Star and St. Joseph Communications.