TIFF today unveiled the 10 World Premiere features that comprise the Platform programme for 2023, along with the 2023 Platform jury members: Academy Award–winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins, joined by Cannes Jury Prize–winning director, writer, and actor Nadine Labaki, and 2022 Platform Prize–winning filmmaker Anthony Shim.

Since its introduction in 2015, Platform has celebrated and showcased films with unique directorial perspectives. The 10 films in the 2023 programme are eligible for the Platform Prize, an award of $20,000 CAD given to the best film in the programme, selected by an in-person international jury.

“I am delighted to announce that we have an international dream jury with acclaimed filmmakers Barry Jenkins, Nadine Labaki, and Anthony Shim as jury members for the Platform programme at TIFF,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “Together, they represent the bold and independent spirit of the Platform Prize.”

Platform is TIFF’s competitive programme that champions bold directorial visions. The films selected for this year’s programme hail from 12 countries across three continents, all of which will be making their World Premiere at TIFF.

“We are thrilled to present this year’s extraordinary films in the Platform programme, and especially delighted to present Kristoffer Borgli’s latest film Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage, as Platform’s opening film. This surrealist satire-comedy has sharp, timely observations about social media culture — especially ‘going viral’ — and its impact on the way that we interact with others in our day-to-day life. Cage delivers some of his finest work,” said Robyn Citizen, Director, Programming & Platform Lead. “This year’s diverse selection is distinguished by bold character studies and classic stories told through dynamic narrative and genre approaches. Audiences will witness the emergence of thematic threads like social exile and reconnection, woven in unexpectedly thrilling ways by an array of captivating local and international voices.”

Notable previous Platform selections include 2022 winner Riceboy Sleeps from Canadian director Anthony Shim, Hany Abu-Assad’s Huda’s Salon (2021), Kamila Andini’s Yuni (2021), Darius Marder’s Sound of Metal (2019), Alice Winocour’s Proxima (2019), Kazik Radwanski’s Anne at 13,000 Ft. (2019), Sarah Gavron’s Rocks (2019), Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin (2017), Pablo Larraín’s Jackie (2016), Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight (2016), William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth (2016), and Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise (2015).

2023 Platform Programme

Dear Jassi Tarsem Singh Dhandwar | India

World Premiere

Platform Programme – Opening Night Film

Dream Scenario Kristoffer Borgli | USA

World Premiere

Great Absence Kei Chika-ura | Japan
World Premiere

I Told You So (Te l’avevo detto) Ginevra Elkann | Italy
World Premiere

The King Tide Christian Sparkes | Canada

World Premiere

Not A Word (Kein Wort) Hanna Slak | Germany/Slovenia/France
World Premiere

The Rye Horn (O Corno) Jaione Camborda | Spain/Belgium/Portugal
World Premiere

Sisterhood (HLM Pussy) Nora El Hourch | France

World Premiere

Shame on Dry Land (Syndabocken) Axel Petersén | Sweden
World Premiere

Spirit of Ecstasy (La Vénus d’argent) Héléna Klotz | France
World Premiere

Platform Jury Biographies

Barry Jenkins
Academy Award–winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins has directed three highly acclaimed features that screened at TIFF — Medicine for Melancholy, Moonlight, and If Beale Street Could Talk — as well as his award-winning television series The Underground Railroad. Most recently, Jenkins produced Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun and Raven Jackson’s All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt. His upcoming directorial work includes the 2024 theatrical release of The Lion King.

Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki is a writer, director, and actor. Caramel, her 2007 debut film, opened at the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes and was Lebanon’s official submission to the 80th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. Her next film, Where Do We Go Now?, premiered at Un Certain Regard in 2011 and won the People’s Choice Award at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. Labaki wrote, directed, and starred in both. Most recently, she directed Campernaum, which won the Jury Prize at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

Anthony Shim
Anthony Shim began his career as an actor, theatre director, and producer. In 2019, Shim wrote, directed, and produced his first feature film, Daughter. His second film, Riceboy Sleeps, had its World Premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the Platform Prize.

Fan fave Laura Marano returns in CHOOSE LOVE and today we get a new Trailer for this Rom-Com coming to Netflix August 31, 2023!

SYNOPSIS

Cami Conway (Laura Marano) has it all. She’s got the job she wants (recording engineer) and is headed towards engagement, marriage and kids with her wonderful boyfriend, Paul (Scott Michael Foster). And yet. She feels something is missing. Is it just FOMO and the fear of commitment that goes with it? Or is she actually missing out on an even better career, perhaps the long abandoned singing career she once dreamed of? And is Paul the love of her life? What if it’s Rex Galier (Avan Jogia), the sexy British rock star, who walks into her studio and becomes irrepressibly smitten? Or could it be Jack Menna (Jordi Webber), her first love, “the one that got away”, the idealistic world traveler, who returns home and is ready to rekindle their youthful passion? Cami faces a kaleidoscope of tempting but tough choices: from serious ethical dilemmas to the frivolous “Truth or Dare.” What she chooses depends wholly on you, the viewer. But be careful! Things don’t always play out like you think!

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Today we get a new Featurette, “It’s Called Mutant Mayhem!” from TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM! The Film already is winning big raves from Critics and Audiences alike. Also, MRBEAST also joins the Cast as the voice of Times Square Guy! Arrives in theatres August 2, 2023.

SYNOPSIS

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies Present

A Point Grey Production

Directed by

Jeff Rowe

Co-Directed by

Kyler Spears

Screenplay by

Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Jeff Rowe

and

Dan Hernandez & Benji Samit

Story by

Brendan O’Brien

and

Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Jeff Rowe

Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Characters Created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman

Produced by

Seth Rogen, p.g.a., Evan Goldberg, p.g.a., James Weaver, p.g.a.

Executive Producers

Ramsay McBean, Josh Fagen

Starring:

Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cantu, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Brady Noon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

OYA Black Arts Coalition (OBAC) and the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), in partnership with Dark Slope, are calling on founders of Black-owned content creation companies to apply for Cohort 3 of OBAC Scale Up Immersive, an immersive accelerator for aspiring Black creatives and production companies interested in developing spatial content, including virtual and augmented reality story experiences. Applications for Cohort 3 open on Tuesday, August 1st and the deadline to apply is Thursday, August 31st.

Participants will benefit from intensive programming led by global industry experts, hands-on mentorship, networking opportunities, and a group rapid prototyping component that will allow cohort teams to build a working prototype with resources valued at up to $50,000. Dark Slope’s state-of-the-art production facilities and virtual production team will also support team prototype development.

“The third year of OBAC Scale Up Immersive Program is poised to have a profound impact on the Canadian VR/AR/XR landscape,” shared Ngardy Conteh George, Co-Founder of OYA Black Arts Coalition. “By nurturing the capacity for more Black Canadian creatives to join the larger Immersive Media production pipeline, we are actively amplifying diverse voices and reshaping the industry. Building upon the talent and experiences of the alumni from our first and second cohorts, we eagerly embrace the opportunity to empower a third cohort, fostering innovation and driving the future of immersive media forward.”

“With each new cohort, OYA Scale Up Immersive continues to empower Black creators and producers and fuel our industry with much-needed diverse voices, stories and new immersive narrative forms,” shared maxine bailey, Executive Director, Canadian Film Centre. “We’re grateful to be part of a partnership that is building up community and capacity for Black content creators and producers in immersive media – and we can’t wait to see the successful outcomes of cohort 3.”

OBAC Scale Up Immersive is funded by the Government of Canada through the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem Fund delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

“OYA Black Arts Coalition (OBAC) and Canadian Film Centre (CFC) are pushing boundaries to advance the participation of Black creators and artists in the digital media industry. Our government is committed and is pleased to support OBAC, CFC and other organizations as they work to support Black entrepreneurs to reach their full potential. We look forward to seeing the next cohort of participants for this program,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

For more information and to apply, visit https://www.oyablackarts.org/scale-up/immersive.

Paramount+ announced today that the service is now Canada’s streaming home of the iconic STAR TREK catalogue featuring over 800 episodes of binge-worthy episodes and 12 feature films. Kicking off today, season 1 and the current season to date of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS is available to stream on Paramount+, and the library will continue to build throughout the month with STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION available on August 8, 2023. STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE on August 15, 2023 and more. These iconic series join STAR TREK: DISCOVERY and STAR TREK: PICARD, already streaming on the service.

The full content rollout schedule is below.

As announced earlier this month at San Diego Comic-Con, the highly anticipated STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS crossover episode is available to stream today. Additionally, the current season of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS will feature the first-ever STAR TREK musical episode “Subspace Rhapsody.” The episode features 10 original songs, plus a “Subspace Rhapsody” version of the series’ main title, with music and lyrics by Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo) and Tom Polce (Letters to Cleo, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend). This special episode will be available to stream on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

Fans can view the trailer:

With today’s announcement, Paramount+ is now the home to STAR TREK series and episodes, including but not limited to Canada’s most streamed series* STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and all seasons of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: PICARD, the animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS. In addition, the service is currently home to all the STAR TREK feature films, with STAR: TREK: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT returning to the platform on September 5, 2023.

In Canada, Paramount+ will also be the proud streaming home of the all-new original series STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY and the movie event STAR TREK: SECTION 31, starring Michelle Yeoh. Both will be produced by CBS Studios.

“STAR TREK is one of the most iconic TV brands in the world,” said Katrina Kowalski, Vice President, Content, Paramount+ and Pluto TV Canada. “In the decades since the first series premiered in 1966, the franchise has evolved, growing and inspiring its audience with expansive storytelling and a diverse cast of characters. We are so thrilled Paramount+ is now the Canadian streaming destination for the catalogue.”

STAR TREK Series catalogue rollout on Paramount+ in Canada:

Currently on P+ Canada: STAR TREK: DISCOVERY and STAR TREK: PICARD
August 1, 2023 – STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS (Seasons 1 & 2)
August 8, 2023 – STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION (Seasons 1 – 7)
August 15, 2023 – STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE (Seasons 1 – 7)
August 22, 2023 – STAR TREK VOYAGER (Seasons 1 – 7)
August 29, 2023 – STAR TREK ENTERPRISE (Seasons 1 – 4)
September 5, 2023 – STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES (Seasons 1 & 2) and STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES (Seasons 1 – 3)

To help celebrate Paramount+ in Canada as the streaming home of STAR TREK, fans can engage with the STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS activation at Toronto’s FAN EXPO Aug. 24 to 27 and Vancouver and Calgary fans should stay tuned for details on exclusive screenings on STAR TREK Day, Sept. 8, 2023.

For nearly seven decades, the fan-favourite STAR TREK brand has been pushing boundaries with its ever-evolving and sought-after catalogue. The series’ cultural influence has been acknowledged for including one of the first multiracial casts on US television; was awarded its own internationally recognized day, STAR TREK Day, celebrated annually on September 8; has garnered hundreds of award nominations for cast and crew; and expanded the imagination of TV viewers around the world. The STAR TREK catalogue includes over 20 series and films. The STAR TREK series are distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

The STAR TREK universe joins the already enormous library of P+ exclusive originals, hit series, marquee franchises and popular movies from the Paramount family of world-renowned brands, including series from the Taylor Sheridan universe (1883, 1923, YELLOWSTONE, TULSA KING and SPECIAL OPS: LIONESS), RABBIT HOLE, FATAL ATTRACTION, MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, THE OFFER, HALO, SEAL TEAM and EVIL, as well as films including TOP GUN, ON THE COME UP, A QUIET PLACE, SCREAM VI, AWAY FROM HER and PAW: PATROL: THE MOVIE.

SPY KIDS: ARMAGEDDON arrives September 22, 2023 only on Netflix! This latest installment stars Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi.

ABOUT SPY KIDS: ARMAGEDDON
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Writers: Robert Rodriguez, Racer Max
Producers: Robert Rodriguez, Racer Max, Elizabeth Avellan, and David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger (Skydance)
Executive Producers: Gary Barber and Peter Oillataguerre (Spyglass)
Cast: Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Everly Carganilla, Connor Esterson, Billy Magnussen, D.J. Cotrona
Logline: When the children of the world’s greatest secret agents unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology, they must become spies themselves to save their parents and the world.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Today, Disney+ released a brand-new trailer and poster to celebrate the upcoming second season of Marvel Studios’ “Loki.” The first season of “Loki” is the most watched Marvel Studios series on Disney+, and the second season promises new excitement as it thrusts the infamous God of Mischief into a new set of adventures with the TVA.

The series stars Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku, Eugene Cordero, Rafael Casal, Tara Strong, Kate Dickie, Liz Carr, Neil Ellice, with Jonathan Majors, Ke Huy Quan and Owen Wilson. Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Dan Deleeuw and Kasra Farahani direct episodes. The head writer is Eric Martin. Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Kevin R. Wright, Tom Hiddleston, Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Eric Martin and Michael Waldron are the executive producers, with Trevor Waterson serving as co-executive producer.

Marvel Studios’ “Loki” Season 2 begins streaming on October 6, 2023 exclusively on Disney+.

Brought to us by The Beer Store, Toronto’s Festival of Beer is back this weekend and headlining is Hip-Hop icon ICE CUBE at CNE‘s Bandshell Park. The Festival celebrating Toronto’s love of lager (and more!) reunites the City again against a backdrop of food and great live entertainment. In addition to Ice Cube, other acts like Big Boi (Outkast), Third Eye Blind, Ruby Waters and T-Pain will grace the stage at the outdoor affair.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer not only reached legendary status as a member of iconic Rap Outfit N.W.A., but achieved incredible success as a Solo Artist throughout the ’90s. He also has achieved much success as an Actor starring in popular titles like Boyz n the Hood, Anaconda, the xXx and Barbershop franchises and more. He even was portrayed even by his own son Oshea Jackson Jr. in heavily-acclaimed 2015 feature Straight Outta Compton. He next will be featured in the Voice Cast of already critically-acclaimed TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM, out August 2, 2023.

We had the amazing honour of meeting Ice Cube and he was incredibly gracious to fans despite a long wait getting through to the City for his gig. He stopped to sign vinyls and I was so lucky to get a Selfie and he even gave me a couple cracks at it! A legend.

See our Snap:

More on the Toronto Festival of Beer here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

BARBIE continues to post staggering numbers in its second weekend out, with $94 million from 4,337 theatres, already reaching $350 million for Warner Bros.

OPPENHEIMER is set to close its second weekend with $46 million, a tally of $173 million for Universal Pictures.

Third is 20th Century Studios‘ HAUNTED MANSION landing in third with a solid $25 million from 3,740 theatres. It gets 42% on the Tomatometer.

In fourth is SOUND OF FREEDOM with $13.3 million for Angel Studios, and a run of $149.7 million to date domestically.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONE takes fifth with $11.1 million for Paramount Pictures, a total of $139.6 million grossed, just edging out a debuting TALK ME ME in sixth, earning $10 million from 2,340 theatres for A24/VVS Films, garnering a whopping 95% on the Tomatometer in this debut for Australian twin brother Directors Danny & Michael Philippou.

Telefilm Canada is announcing its funding commitment to 20 feature-length documentaries in the English market under the Theatrical Documentary Program, for a total of $5 million.

Under the same program, Telefilm announced the selection of eight feature-length documentaries in the French market last week. More on that here.

The Art of Adventure
Director and screenwriter: Alison Reid
Production: Free Spirit Films Inc.
Distributor: Game Theory Films
Province: Ontario
Language: English

Black Zombie
Director and screenwriter: Maya Després-Bedward
Production: Black Zombie Productions Inc.
Distributor: Raven Banner
Province: Ontario
Languages: English and French

The Death Tour
Directors: Stephan Peterson and Sonya Ballantyne
Screenwriter: Stephan Peterson
Production: H2LShiners Inc.
Distributor: Raven Banner
Province: Quebec
Languages: English, French, and Cree

Disco’s Revenge
Directors and screenwriters: Omar Majeed and Peter Mishara
Production: Disco Movie Canada Inc., 86 Media House Inc., and Elevation Pictures Corp.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures Corp.
Province: Ontario
Language: English

Dress for Excess
Director and screenwriter: Trish Dolman
Production: SILO Entertainment Inc. and Screen Siren Pictures Inc.
Distributor: Photon Films and Media Inc.
Province: British Columbia
Language: English

Ending it All
Director and screenwriter: Alan Zweig
Production: 52 Media Inc.
Distributor: National Film Board
Province: Ontario
Language: English

I Will Not Forget You (working title)
Director and screenwriter: Deanne Foley
Production: Odd Sock Films Inc. and Pearl Productions Inc.
Distributor: National Film Board
Province: Newfoundland/Labrador
Language: English

King Arthur’s Night
Director: John Bolton
Production: Let’s Get the Grail Productions Inc.
Distributor: levelFILM
Province: British Columbia
Language: English

The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman
Director and screenwriter: Bart Simpson
Production: Intuitive Pictures Productions Inc.
Distributor: levelFILM
Province: Quebec
Language: English

Monkey on a Stick
Director and screenwriter: Jason Lapeyre
Production: Sphere Media Toronto Inc.
Distributor: Sphere Films
Province: Ontario
Language: English

The Passion of Kurelek
Directors: Halya Kuchmij, Cordell Barker and John Paizs
Screenwriter: Halya Kuchmij
Production: Merit Motion Pictures Inc.
Distributor: Northern Banner
Province: Manitoba
Language: English

Plastic People
Directors: Ben Addelman and Ziya Tang
Screenwriter: Ben Addelman
Production: Plastic People Documentary Productions Inc.
Distributor: White Pine Pictures
Province: Ontario
Language: English

PostNatural
Directors: Brett Story and Ben Travers
Screenwriter: Ben Travers
Production: 90th Parallel Productions Ltd.
Distributor: Photon Films and Media Inc.
Province: Ontario
Language: English

Saigon Story
Director: Kim Nguyen
Screenwriter: Dimitri Katadotis
Production: Noble Television Inc.
Distributor: National Film Board
Province: Quebec
Languages: English, French, and Vietnamese

Saints and Warriors
Director and screenwriter: Patrick Shannon
Production: Ball Is Life Entertainment Inc., First Take Entertainment Ltd., and Grand Old Time Productions Inc.
Distributor: Game Theory Films
Province: British Columbia
Languages: English and Haida

Say it Loud
Director and screenwriter: Graeme Mathieson
Production: 1000374247 Ontario Inc.
Distributor: levelFILM
Province: Ontario
Language: English

Shifting Baselines
Director and screenwriter: Julien Elie
Production: Greenground Productions Inc.
Distributor: Acéphale
Province: Quebec
Languages: English, French, and Spanish

Taste of Longing
Director and screenwriter: Noura Kevorkian
Production: Saaren Films Inc.
Distributor: Game Theory Films
Province: Ontario
Language: English

The Visitors
Director and screenwriter: Carol Nguyen
Production: Metafilms Inc. and Portage Films inc.
Distributor: National Film Board
Province: Quebec
Languages: English and Vietnamese

Under Duress: Max Stern and the Nazi Art War
Director and screenwriter: Jamie Kastner
Production: C7 Galerie Productions Inc.
Distributor: Vortex Media
Province: Ontario
Languages: English and German

More funding decisions from the Production Program will be announced in the coming weeks. Statistics on all films funded in this fiscal year will be released once all funding decisions have been made.

An advisory committee of external and internal representatives assessed the projects and made recommendations to Telefilm. The decision-making process considered Telefilm’s goal of fostering a diversity of voices in the industry, ensuring that Telefilm funds a balanced portfolio of productions that reflect a variety of genres, budgets and company sizes, regions of the country and points of view. Names of selection committee members will be published on the Project Financing Advisory Committees webpage once all funding decisions have been made.