Canada’s Walk of Fame is set to release five short vignettes by emerging Canadian filmmakers of the 2024 Future Storytellers program, each telling the story of one of Canada’s greatest achievers and leading changemakers. Presented by founding partner NBCUniversal, Seeing Red and new partner Cineplex, the 3-minute vignettes will premiere on Friday, January 31 at canadaswalkoffame.com, with Future Storytellers highlight reels running in Cineplex theatres nationwide as part of the pre-show entertainment.

(L-R: Yagnam and Linda Schuyler, Arshia Prajapati and Andy Kim, Anne Hoang and Autumn Peltier, Lorraine Segato and Poppi Fella Pellegrino, Nick Tablac and Kurt Browning)

Shot on location in Toronto in July 2024, the Canada’s Walk of Fame Future Storytellers vignettes each showcase the vision of the chosen up and coming Canadian filmmakers from Humber Polytechnic and Sheridan College telling the stories of Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees and Honourees. Pairings include world champion figure skater Kurt Browning (2001 Inductee) with Nick Tablac (Humber Polytechnic graduate); iconic pop rock singer-songwriter Andy Kim (2018 Inductee) and Arshia Prajapati (Sheridan College graduate); International Indigenous Rights and Water Activist Autumn Peltier (2023 Community Hero; program presented by MLSE and Seeing Red) with Anne Hoang (Humber Polytechnic graduate); co-creator of the iconic Canadian youth culture phenomenon, Degrassi (2023 Inductee), Linda Schuyler with Yagnam (Humber Polytechnic graduate); and lead vocalist/guitarist of Toronto-based music collective,The Parachute Club (2023 Inductee), Lorraine Segato and Poppi Fella Pellegrino (Sheridan College graduate).

“The Future Storytellers initiative provides an incredible platform to uplift emerging filmmakers, delivering invaluable mentorship from esteemed industry leaders, forging crucial industry connections, and representing diverse voices from underrepresented communities,” says Jeffrey Latimer, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame. “We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on creative young talents as they share the remarkable journeys of five inspiring Canadians through their own lens.”

THE 2024 CANADA’S WALK OF FAME FUTURE STORYTELLERS

FILMMAKER: ANNE HOANG, Graduate of Humber Polytechnic

Subject: 2023 Canada’s Walk of Fame Community Hero, Indigenous Rights and Water Activist Autumn Peltier

Hoang’s Canadian dream began in 2019 when her family moved to P.E.I. from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She hopes her work will inspire other Asian creatives to showcase their unique stories and talents in the Canadian media. “The visual inspiration behind my vignette was drawn from the beauty of nature, specifically the reflection of water. Water is a big part of Autumn’s work and the island where my family used to live,” says Hoang.

FILMMAKER: POPPI FELLA PELLEGRINO, Graduate of Sheridan College

Subject: 2023 Inductee, lead vocalist/guitarist of the music collective,The Parachute Club, Lorraine Segato

A member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Pellegrino was excited to highlight Segato’s contribution to Canadian queer culture as well as her activism and politically driven musical style. “From the music to the vibrant colors, every element of the segment was designed to reflect her incredible spirit,” says Pellegrino.

FILMMAKER: ARSHIA PRAJAPATI, Graduate of Sheridan College

Subject: 2018 Inductee, celebrated Canadian pop rock singer-songwriter, Andy Kim

Prajapati is an Indian-born director and cinematographer who immigrated to Canada in 2019. Through filmmaking, she finds her voice as a woman of colour. “While the vignette takes aesthetic inspiration from the 70s, I was also inspired by Andy Kim’s journey not only as a Canadian singer, but as a child of immigrants, something that I, and so many Canadians can connect to,” says Prajapati.  

FILMMAKER: NICK TABLAC, Graduate of Humber Polytechnic

Subject: 2001 Inductee, world champion figure skater Kurt Browning

Tablac is a queer emerging filmmaker from Manila, Philippines. His interest in filmmaking blossomed after immigrating to Canada with his family and observing a film set at work in front of his Toronto home. “Creating this vignette has taught me about the beauty behind vulnerability, and how experiences specific to each individual can help shape a person’s success,” says Tablac.

FILMMAKER: YAGNAM DHROOV, Graduate of Humber Polytechnic

Subject: co-creator of the iconic youth culture phenomenon, Degrassi and 2023 Inductee, Linda Schuyler

Yagnam moved to Canada from India in 2022. He grew up learning about the world through his collection of Western films. In preparation for filming his vignette about Schuyler, Yagnam watched every season of Degrassi. “It was Linda’s personal connection with the world of adolescence that I wanted to explore in the vignette – to shed some light on the personal truths and memories that are at the core of Linda’s grand legacy as the creator of Degrassi,” says Yagnam.

“We are very excited to extend our partnership with Canada’s Walk of Fame on such a meaningful initiative for up-and-coming filmmakers,” said Sara Moore, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Cineplex. “Storytelling is the heartbeat of our industry and one we delight in bringing to Canadians across our country. We look forward to showcasing emerging talent at our locations and continuing to recognize, support and celebrate Canadian arts and culture.”

“The emerging directors in this year’s program have really showcased their impressive technical abilities and storytelling talents. Each of their films demonstrates a deep and thoughtful understanding of their subjects and a unique creative vision. These projects prove these young artists are ready to make a meaningful impact in the film industry,” said Bryan Porter, Founder & Shakohén:te’s, Seeing Red.

The Future Storytellers program thrives through strategic partnerships with NBCUniversal, Seeing Red, Cineplex, and educational pillars such as Humber Polytechnic and Sheridan College. These collaborations enhance Canada’s Walk of Fame’s mission, providing emerging filmmakers with mentorship from cinematic and cultural pioneers, and showcasing their final works in high-profile venues, including the annual Canada’s Walk of Fame celebration and on Cineplex screens across the country.

Since its inception in 2022, this initiative has championed the unique visions of 13 student filmmakers, each selected for their capability to infuse new life into the Canadian cinematic narrative. The program has captured over a quarter million impressions across digital platforms, and growing. Past profiles include Director X (2022 Inductee), Wendy Crewson (2015 Inductee), Jully Black (2021 Inductee), Graham Greene (2021 Inductee), Donovan Bailey (2017 Inductee), Jeanne Beker (2016 Inductee), Veronica Tennant (2001 Inductee), and Kardinal Offishall (2023 Allan Slaight Music Impact Honouree).

Click here to watch vignettes from past participants.

About Canada’s Walk of Fame

Canada’s Walk of Fame gratefully acknowledges the support of its 2025 Partners: Seeing Red, Cineplex Entertainment, The Slaight Family Foundation, RBC, Air Canada, MLSE, Scotiabank, NBCUniversal, VIA Rail Canada, Next Magazine, The Printing House, and Wildeboer Dellelce LLP.

Canada’s Walk of Fame is an award-winning national not-for-profit charitable organization that inspires Canadians by proudly shining a light on the journeys of Canada’s most extraordinary achievers. Canada’s Walk of Fame recognizes the significant impact of Canadian accomplishments and provides the foremost national platform to celebrate achievement in the fields of Arts & Entertainment, Sports & Athletics, Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy, Humanitarianism, and Science, Technology & Innovation. Current honours and programs include the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour, RBC Emerging Musician Program, Future Storytellers, the Community Hero and National Hero Programs, the Hometown Stars initiative, including charitable donations to our Inductees’ causes, and the nationally televised broadcast designated by the CRTC as a program of national interest. Canada’s Walk of Fame has over 230 inductions to date, with stars having a permanent place of tribute on the streets of Toronto’s Entertainment District. For a complete list of Inductees and Honourees along with more information on Canada’s Walk of Fame, visit: www.canadaswalkoffame.com

Canada’s Walk of Fame was established in 1998 by founders Bill Ballard, Dusty Cohl and Peter Soumalias, with Dianne Schwalm and in partnership with Gary Slaight.

LOOK AT ME is a fictional autobiography about Taylor Olson, a deeply insecure, socially performative, bisexual actor struggling with bulimia. Taylor searches endlessly for validation on his journey to find someone who truly loves and sees him, only to embark on an unwitting journey of self-love in the midst of his eating disorder relapse.

See the Trailer:

Taylor Olson is a pioneer of the new wave of East-Coast filmmaking, with his films BONE CAGE (which won 37 awards during its run) and the upcoming UNSEEN and his numerous TV works. LOOK AT ME is Olson’s sophomore feature which premiered to rave reviews out of Slamdance and Canadian Film Fest last year. ArtsBeatLA’s Kurt Gardner said “It doesn’t matter what your sexuality is or how you see yourself when you look in the mirror. LOOK AT ME contains universal truths that speak to everyone, and that’s what makes the film so effective.”

 Northern Banner release LOOK AT ME February 7, 2025 (with additional cities to be added in the subsequent weeks).

RIP arrives on Netflix Fall 2025, just announced at NEXT ON NETFLIX! Filming just wrapped earlier this week on this exciting new Feature starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Steven Yeun and Kyle Chandler.

“RIP came out of a deeply personal experience that my friend went through, both as a father and as head of tactical narcotics for the Miami Dade police department. It’s inspired in part by his life and then, by my enduring love for those classic 70’s cop thrillers that really valued the character and interpersonal relationships and became touchstones of that era — films like Serpico and Prince Of The City and more recently, Michael Mann’s Heat.”

— Writer / Director Joe Carnahan for TUDUM

DIRECTOR: Joe Carnahan
SCREENPLAY BY: Joe Carnahan
PRODUCERS: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Luciana Damon and Dani Bernfeld for Artists Equity
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Michael Joe and Kevin Halloran for Artists Equity
CAST: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle, Nestor Carbonell, Lina Esco, with Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler
LOGLINE: Upon discovering millions in cash in a derelict stash house, trust among a team of Miami cops begins to fray. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on.

“The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl” celebrates the enduring legacy of “The Lion King” in a concert special coming to Disney+ on Friday, February 7, 2025. This live-to-film concert experience includes epic performances with a 70-person orchestra, a troupe of skillful dancers, state-of-the-art projection mapping images, and the Broadway show’s award-winning costumes and puppetry giving viewers across the globe a front row seat to the unprecedented musical extravaganza celebrating the world of “The Lion King.”

In honour of “The Lion King’s” 30th Anniversary, the Hollywood Bowl transformed into the Pride Lands for an immersive concert event featuring a reunion of the original voice cast alongside performances by cast members of the iconic Broadway show. Starring Lebo M, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Jason Weaver, Ernie Sabella, Billy Eichner, and stage musical alumni Heather Headley and Bradley Gibson, with special guests North West and EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, this music event celebrates 30 years of this Oscar and Tony Award-winning global phenomenon that has been brought to life through animation, the Broadway stage, live action and beyond.

“The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl”is produced by Disney Concerts, Fulwell 73 Productions, AMP Worldwide and Live Nation-Hewitt Silva, the incredible team that produced the four-time Emmy-nominated “Disney’s Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl” with Fulwell 73 Productions also having produced the Emmy Award-winning “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.” Gabe Turner and Sally Wood are creative showrunners, Paul Dugdale serves as director and Misty Buckley is production designer.

Kate Hudson stars in RUNNING POINT, a new comedy series from executive producer Mindy Kaling, premiering February 27, 2025 on Netflix.

About RUNNING POINT
When a scandal forces her brother to resign, Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson) is appointed president of the Los Angeles Waves, one of the most storied professional basketball franchises, and her family business. Ambitious and often overlooked, Isla will have to prove to her skeptical brothers, the board, and the larger sports community that she was the right choice for the job. From the hitmaking team of Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, Running Point puts a bold twist on the underdog comedy. The 10-episode series also stars Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Jay Ellis and Max Greenfield.

Series Credits
Cast: Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Jay Ellis, Max Greenfield, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Roberto Sanchez, Uche Agada, Dane DiLiegro
Writers / Executive Producers: Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen
Showrunner: David Stassen
Executive Producers: Kate Hudson, Howard Klein (3 Arts Entertainment), Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis
Producer: Jordan Rambis
Studio: The series is produced by Mindy Kaling’s Kaling International in association with Warner Bros. Television, where Kaling is under an overall deal.
Episodes: 10

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada will release BLACK BAG In Theatres Nationwide on Friday, March 14, 2025.

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Written by: David Koepp
Producers: Casey Silver, Greg Jacobs
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan
Synopsis: From Director Steven Soderbergh, BLACK BAG is a gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife Kathryn. When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.

New Poster below:

Today, out of Next on Netflix the official teaser for FOREVER was released – FOREVER is Mara Brock Akil’s reimagining of Judy Blume’s groundbreaking 1975 novel, as an epic Black romance story set in the heart of Los Angeles. Coming to Netflix in 2025.

Judy Blume’s groundbreaking 1975 novel, Forever, is being reimagined for a new generation by Mara Brock Akil. It’s an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through theawkward journey of being each other’s firsts, set in Los Angeles, 2018. Premiering on Netflix this year.

SHOWRUNNER/CREATOR/EP: Mara Brock Akil
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Mara Brock Akil, Judy Blume, Susie Fitzgerald, Erika Harrison, Sara White, Regina King, Reina King, Shana C. Waterman and Anthony Hemingway
KEY CAST: Lovie Simone, Michael Cooper Jr., Karen Pittman, Wood Harris, Xosha Roquemore, Marvin Winans III, Niles Fitch, Barry Shabaka Henley, Ali Gallo, Adriyan Rae, Paigion Walker, Xavier Mills, E’myri Crutchfield

MUBI, the global film distributor, streaming service and production company brings critically-acclaimed festival hit and award-winning documentary GRAND THEFT HAMLET exclusively to MUBI worldwide on 21 February 2025, following UK and US theatrical releases.

Winner of two BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS, for BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR – DOCUMENTARY (awarded to directors Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane) and THE RAINDANCE MAVERICK AWARD, which celebrates the most bold, creative, and risk-taking filmmakers, the film is also nominated for DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR at the 2025 LONDON CRITICS’ CIRCLE FILM AWARDS (winners to be announced on 2 February).

Acclaimed as “A brilliant idea, brilliantly executed; hilarious, surreal and… genuinely exciting” in a 5-star Guardian review, “The year’s funniest documentary” by Time Out, “An unexpectedly moving, genuinely quite revolutionary tribute to art’s endurance” by Empire, and “A testament to the human drive toward community and connection in even the most unexpected of spaces” by the New York Times, GRAND THEFT HAMLET tells the story of two out-of-work actors who attempt the seemingly impossible task of mounting a full production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet inside the ruthless and unpredictable world of Grand Theft Auto.

Following its World Premiere at SXSW 2024 (Winner, Documentary Feature Jury Award), the film, written and directed by Pinny Grylls (Winner, BFI & Chanel Luminous Gala Filmmaker Award 2024) and Sam Crane, has seen a successful international festival run, including Official Selection screenings at Hot Docs 2024, CPH:DOX 2024, BFI London Film Festival (including IMAX presentation), Visions du Reel 2024, Melbourne International Film Festival 2024, Cambridge Film Festival 2024, Leeds Film Festival 2014, Korea’s DMZ Docs 2024, where it won the Frontier Competition Grand Prize. It has been presented at Spain’s Sitges Film Festival (Winner, Sitges Best Documentary Film), Vancouver International Film Festival (Winner, Spectrum Audience Award), Hamptons International Film Festival, where it has played in Competition and the Philadelphia Film Festival, where it received an Honorable Mention. It was also longlisted for the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards and the Cinema Eye Honors’ Audience Choice Award.

Synopsis:

January 2021. The UK is in its 3rd lockdown and all entertainment venues remain closed. For theatre actors Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen, the future looks bleak. As the pandemic drags on, Mark -single and childless- is increasingly socially isolated, while Sam panics about how he is going to support his young family. They spend their days in the online digital world of Grand Theft Auto and when they stumble across a theatre, they suddenly have an idea to stage a full production of Hamlet within the game. Sam’s wife, documentary filmmaker Pinny, steps into the game too as an avatar filmmaker to record their journey. This film charts their ridiculous, hilarious and moving adventure as they battle violent griefers and discover surprising truths about life, friendship and the enduring power of Shakespeare.

The film is financed by BFI Doc Society Fund, awarding National Lottery funding, as well as Park Pictures, Altitude and Spark Features. Produced by Julia Ton of Project 1961 and Rebecca Wolff of Grasp The Nettle. Executive Producers for the film are Beth Levison (Hazel Pictures), Harlene Freezer (Capstone Entertainment LLC), Sam Bisbee, Cody Ryder and Jackie Kelman Bisbee (Park Pictures), Eric Kuhn (Folk Media Group), Sam Crane, Hannah Bush Bailey and Shanida Scotland (BFI Doc Society), Robina Riccitello, Josh Peters (Spark Features) and Altitude’s Andy Mayson, Will Clarke and Mike Runagall. With the support of the Moving Image Trust and the NY Community Trust -Nola Safro Fund. Altitude also handles international sales rights to the film.

Today, Next on Netflix kicked off highlighting their 2025 slates including films, series, international titles and games paired with a video that puts fans into the worlds of their favorite stories and characters. In 2025 we have our most exciting slate yet, with the return of some of our most popular shows of all time and the release of huge new films and series from some of the biggest names in entertainment. Among those announcements is that WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY is coming this Fall to Netflix, with Daniel Craig reprising the role of Benoit Blanc.

LOGLINE: Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet.
DIRECTOR: Rian Johnson
WRITER: Rian Johnson
PRODUCERS: Ram Bergman, Rian Johnson
CAST: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church
FB: @KnivesOutMovie
IG: @KnivesOut
Twitter: @KnivesOut

Today, Netflix announced the return of its global phenomenon, Squid Game, for a third and final season — premiering June 27, 2025. The news arrives alongside exclusive first-look images offering a tantalizing glimpse into the fate of the surviving players in addition to key art that delivers a chilling visual punch: a pink guard drags a bloodied contestant toward a coffin wrapped in a pink ribbon. Gone is the rainbow-hued track of Season 2’s six-legged pentathlon; in its place, a vivid swirling flower-pattern floor ominously foreshadows the cutthroat finale to come. The sinister silhouettes of Young-hee and her companion Cheol-su — first hinted at in last season’s post-credit scene — suggest that even more brutal games lie ahead.

Picking up where the second season left off, Season 3 explores the choices Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) will make amidst overwhelming despair. As the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) plots his next move, the surviving players find their decisions leading to increasingly dire consequences with each round of the deadly games. This season promises to push the limits of suspense and drama, keeping viewers glued to the action.

Squid Game Season 2 became the third most-watched season on Netflix ever, garnering an impressive 68 million views upon its debut — breaking records for the most views in a premiere week — and ranking #1 in the Top 10 TV Series (Non-English) list across 92 countries. As the ultimate chapter unfolds, Season 3 promises to deliver a grand and unforgettable finale.