#NEWMUSIC: KENZIE CATES – “i don’t need u”

Canadian pop artist Kenzie Cates today premieres the music video for her latest release “i don’t need u,” chronicling her unnerving experience surviving and departing a cult she didn’t realize she was in. The song is a celebration of her strength, liberation, and hard-won self-trust.

“Being in a cult and then subsequently leaving has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through. The person I had to become to belong was not somebody I recognize today,” says Cates. “Songwriting and music weren’t really allowed in the cult, so after leaving, a big part of coming back to myself was pursuing a career in pop music.”

The music video for “i don’t need u” sees Kenzie confronting her former cult leader, declaring her independence from him with levity and humour while at the same time earnestly embracing her newfound (and hard-won) self-trust. It was shot and directed by Shiraz Higgins (credits: most of BBNO$’s music videos), and subverts Kenzie’s experience of being in a cult by casting her as the cult leader with dozens of disciples who resemble her former cult leader. Reversing the former power dynamic that defines her life, Kenzie exercises her complete control over her disciples’ minds, subjecting them to her every whim and shaping them into unexpected new versions of themselves.

“I wanted to intentionally speak to my sense of independence that I had worked really, really, hard for, and most importantly, I wanted a chance to say to the cult leader, ‘fuck you and fuck off.’ I sincerely hope this song can empower anybody who is in an abusive relationship make contact with their strength.”

Kenzie Cates has quickly gained international attention for her stunning artistry and powerful songwriting. This year, the BC-native cracked the top 10 in Nashville Songwriter’s Association International Annual Song Contest; and placed as a semi-finalist in American Songwriter’s annual song contest, landing in the 99th percentile of submissions. In 2021, she was a semi-finalist in the CBC/Toyota Searchlight Competition, which followed similar results in Yangaroo’s “New Indie Artist” search at Canadian Music Week in 2019.

She directed, shot, and edited her own music video for her first single release, “ruin it” (WATCH HERE). Encouraged by the song’s success, she applied and was selected to participate in Judy Stakee’s songwriting retreat in Nashville in March 2020, as well as Andrew Allen’s masterclass through the Songwriter’s Association of Canada that May. She has received considerable airplay across Canada for multiple singles, reaching the #3 position on Bellevue Radio’s Indie Chart. After exiting a cult in the fall of 2022, Kenzie has been writing about her experience of abuse, releasing her first single on the topic this March, “right about me,” described as a “masterful” expression of the confusion that results from chronic abuse. She hopes by telling her story, she can raise awareness about the ubiquity of cults.

#CANNES: “ANATOMY OF A FALL” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

No one does a courtroom drama better than the French. Last year Director Alice Diop brought us the engrossing Saint Omer and this year Director Justine Triet brings us the riveting Anatomy of a Fall.

It follows Sandra (Sandra Hüller), a well-esteemed writer, who lives in a secluded cabin in the French Alps with her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) and their partially blind son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner). One day, Daniel returns from walking the family dog and finds his father face down in the snow dead at the foot of the cabin. The investigation can’t determine if this was suicide or homicide leading to Sandra being arrested and tried for his murder.

The opening of Anatomy of a Fall has Sandra being interviewed by a student about her work. Abruptly, rap music blares and shakes through the cabin. Sandra informs the student that her husband enjoys listening to music loudly while he works on some repairs. At first glance, this scene seems unimportant. Yet, nothing about this Film should be taken at first glance.

Triet and co-writer Arthur Harari have crafted a complex story that’ll leave you second-guessing everything. This initial scene becomes evidence later in court. As does many moments from the mundane to the damaging. The most damaging is an audio recording of a heated argument between the couple that ended with glasses breaking and punches thrown. But by whom? Sandra or Samuel?

At the start of the trial, the prosecutor informs the court that Sandra’s bisexual and has had affairs. It’s clear this is just as important in the determination of her innocence as anything shown as evidence. Just as in many high-profile cases that are considered difficult to determine, the defendant’s private matters are dissected.

Triet doesn’t want to give you answers. She wants to show you the evidence presented and have you decide for yourself. Was it suicide? Was it homicide? What makes things more challenging to make a concrete decision is Hüller who gives a tour-de-force performance. She’s mysterious, intriguing, cruel, funny and nurturing. It’s an incredible portrayal and one of the year’s finest.

No matter what conclusion you’ve come to, Anatomy of a Fall’s superpower is the ability to leave room for the audience to debate. Because some will believe she did and some will believe she didn’t. Even more impressive, regardless of which side of the coin you fall on, every viewer will pinpoint a different part of the ‘evidence’ to prove their reasoning. Much like the reality we face in publicized high-profile court cases.

Anatomy of a Fall screens at Cannes ’23:

Sun May 21 at 4PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Mon May 22 at 8:30AM at AGNÈS VARDA THEATRE

Mon May 22 at 9AM at CINEUM IMAX

Mon May 22 at 12PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Mon May 22 at 9:30PM at LICORNE

Tue May 23 at 9AM at CINEUM AURORE

Wed May 24 at 9AM at CINEUM SCREEN X

#CANNES: QUENTIN TARANTINO CANNES 2023 Q&A

Quentin Tarantino returned to Cannes, site of where he won the 1994 Palme d’Or with Pulp Fiction. He appeared as a guest of the Directors’ Fortnight competition, presenting a secret screening of the John Flynn classic ROLLING THUNDER. On why he chose this Film specifically, he tells the audience that he saw it opening night back in 1977 with his mom, the Film screening as part of a double-billing to ENTER THE DRAGON. He wound-up loving ROLLING THUNDER so much that he almost forgot about ENTER THE DRAGON!

Tarantino comments on political messages in his films. He spoke about how he can watch a buddy cop movie and not think about the political messages behind it, because he doesn’t know if there is one. But when I comes to the films he writes and directs, he says “If there are political messages in the film they are there because I put them there.”.

While Tarantino is known for graphic violence in his films, he does draw the line, stating, “I don’t agree with killing animals”. He adds, “I know I have seen some gruesome Horror films that didn’t have to be that way but almost always it’s not just the violence that I have a problem, with it’s usually badly done. There is an incompetent factor in there.”.

To this day, he cites Brian De Palma as his biggest influence. “I’m not gonna sign up for the most popular dude. That’s not my thing. Part of loving De Palma was getting into fights about him”. “The satire and comedy inside his thrillers even some of his action films are hysterical.”.

He also comments on re-writing history with revenge in his films. “In the case of Inglorious Basterds I didn’t think that I was going to kill Hitler at the end. That wasn’t the plan.”. “Then they’re in the theatre and I’m like ‘Hey, this is kinda working out. They actually might be successful at this. But I wrote myself in a corner…then all of a sudden a thought came to me ‘Just fucking kill him!’ and I’m like ‘Can I do that?’, then I’m like ‘Yea, it’s my story, I can do whatever the fuck I want!'”. “With Once Upon A Time in Hollywood… the reason I wrote the whole story was the save Sharon and kill those motherfuckers and have them go to the wrong house and REALLY THE WRONG HOUSE!“.

Lastly, on his tenth and final upcoming film, he is cryptic about it. “You’ll just have to wait and see…to be continued.”.

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#FIRSTLOOK: CABANA POOL BAR 2023 SEASON LINEUP

It’s officially patio season in the city, and Toronto’s largest waterfront patio and day club, Cabana Pool Bar, from INK Entertainment Group, is gearing up for another epic summer, with stellar talent and experiences lined up for the 2023 season, starting with a grand opening party on Sunday, June 4th. 

Music fans can expect 13 weeks of incredible events, appearances and performances from some of the world’s biggest artists including acclaimed, Grammy-nominated American electronic producer and DJ Kaskade; Jersey Shore favourite and powerhouse DJ Pauly D; Swedish DJ, producer and co-founder of Swedish House Mafia, Steve Angello; renowned dance music and future house DJ and producer, Tchami; the platinum-selling Torontonian production and DJ duo, DVBBS; captivating American rapper Tyga; London-based house DJ, producer and remixer, Sigala; and the popular English producer and DJ, Duke Dumont, with more to be announced.  

“Cabana is Toronto’s ultimate summer playground, and we can’t wait to welcome guests back for another incredible season,” says Charles Khabouth, CEO and Founder, INK Entertainment Group. “Whether you’re looking to soak up the sun on our daybeds with friends, or catch your favourite artists in action, Cabana is the only place to be this summer.”

The 2023 season will be kicking off with an opening party on June 4th featuring Manzone & Strong, Christina Cruise and Kevin Faria. To celebrate, all guests will be able to redeem free entry with a Cabana wristband before 3 pm, which will be handed out at various events at other INK venues Toybox and Rebel. Daylife fans can also keep their eyes peeled for Cabana pop-ups throughout the city between May 26 and June 3, to secure their wristbands and experience additional giveaways. 

Cabana fans can also look forward to the return of popular themed parties from previous years including, the RED Party on Canada Day weekend, The Rosé Party featuring Brooke Evers on June 10th, as well as special events during PRIDE, Caribana weekend and more.  

Located at Polson Pier with unparalleled views of Lake Ontario, Cabana transforms Toronto’s waterfront into a ‘day-to-night’ party spot with a seasonal poolside menu from Oliver and Bonacini, private cabanas, daybeds, and room for up to 2,500 sun seekers, accessible by land or by boat, with a docking service available. 

For more information visit www.cabanapoolbar.com or follow Cabana on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.  

Tickets: 

www.cabanapoolbar.com 

#FIRSTLOOK: “FUBAR”

FUBAR has an extra special place in our hearts. After having filmed in and around Toronto last Summer, we’ve been waiting anxiously for its debut and finally its release is now before us on Netflix.

Legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his Scripted Television debut in this Series about a father and daughter duo, who have been keeping secrets from one another all along. We meet Luke (Schwarzenegger), a CIA operative who on the surface is a sweet, caring father to his daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro). His marriage to her mother had failed but his work may have been responsible for that. Emma also is a CIA operative and keeps this from her father and FUBAR explores their relationship on two levels – one where everthing is seemingly happy-go-lucky, but on a deeper level them discovering eachother’s secrets enables them to face their own family issues head-on. They need to be able to tackle this to be able to be a successful team on a work and personal level.

FUBAR feels true to brand for Schwarzenegger. Think, True Lies, but his biggest opponent here is his own daughter. And above that, she possesses his headstrong manner. Schwarzenegger and Barbaro play off well together in a battle of egos, which makes for fun. Supporting Players like Scott Thompson, Fortune Feimster, Gabriel Luna and Jay Baruchel keep things light and engaging, ensuring the Series stays true to its energetic feel. The Series is comedic and packed with action, style and thrills, giving fans exactly what they’d expect.

All eight episodes of FUBAR arrive on Netflix May 25, 2023.

#FOOD: ULTRA SET TO OPEN JUNE 6, 2023

INK Entertainment Group and Harlo Entertainment are proud to announce their new collaboration, Ultra, a luxurious and elevated supper club experience, opening in Midtown on June 6th. Ultra marks an exciting new venture and partnership between Charles Khabouth and Danny Soberano of INK, and Michael Kimel and Brandon Marek of Harlo Entertainment, as they introduce the first concept of its kind to Toronto’s Midtown. 

Nestled between Toronto’s prestigious neighbourhoods of Rosedale, Summerhill and Forest Hill, at 12 St. Clair Ave E, Ultra invites guests to indulge in a feast for the senses, from exceptional Pan-Asian cuisine and exquisite cocktails to elevated entertainment and jaw-dropping decor curated by internationally acclaimed design collective, Studio Munge.

“From the moment guests step into Ultra, they will be immersed into an elegant and seductive world, inspired by the creative and unique mind of Alexander McQueen,” said Charles Khabouth, CEO and Founder of INK Entertainment Group. “Whether guests choose to stop by for a cocktail in our Onyx Bar, or spend an evening with us for a decadent meal followed by dancing and entertainment in our opulent golden parlour, Ultra will offer an experience unlike any other in the city.”  

Ultra is centered around an innovative Pan-Asian menu, developed by Executive Chef Kihyun Kim (previously Akira Back Toronto, Millennium Hilton Seoul and Yellowtail at The Bellagio), incorporating international flavours, fusing beloved Asian dishes and ingredients with an Occident twist. Ultra’s menu embraces the joy of sharing and premium ingredients, with menu features including cold and hot shares, such as Giant Ezo Hokkaido Scallop and Seared Japanese Yellowtail; rice and noodles, including Black Garlic Somen and Bay Scallop Chili Udon; fresh sushi and sashimi; and robata grill mains, like Hangar Steak, Picanha, Miso Black Cod and Charred Lamb Chop. 

Complementing the culinary experience is an innovative cocktail menu from Ultra’s Mixologist, Vitus Wight (previously Gladstone House, George and Playa Cabana), drawing inspiration from the many different cultures and flavours of East Asia, infusing select herbs, traditions and techniques for innovative cocktails to suit a modern palette. Standouts include Ultra’s signature Onyx Martini, utilizing cold infusion to draw the aromatic flavours from Pandan leaf, combined with Grey Goose Vodka and a Tok Junmai Sanzen Omachi Sake to showcase the umami flavours of Japan; and the Kuro Mame, a bold take on Vietnamese Coffee, with Woodford Reserve, Tia Maria, Cold Brew, Condensed Milk and Black Sesame. 

An extensive wine list rounds out Ultra’s beverage program, with a diverse selection of both classic and more innovative varietals, to ensure a perfect pairing with each dish on the menu. In addition, a carefully curated sake collection showcases an exquisite range of traditional and premium sake varieties, sourced from renowned breweries in Japan and beyond, available by the glass and by the bottle, as well as additional bottle service options for those dancing until the early hours of the morning.  

Many Torontonians may remember Ultra as a popular supper club concept located on Queen West during the 2000s, and one of the first collaborations between INK and Studio Munge. Now, over 10 years later, the two powerhouses have joined forces once again, alongside Harlo Entertainment, to bring an entirely new Ultra experience to Toronto’s Midtown. 

Embodying a provocative and dramatic elegance, Ultra features three beautiful spaces masterfully curated by Studio Munge, inspired by legendary designer Alexander McQueen. 

• The Ochre Room – A grand octagonal room and the heart of the Ultra supper club experience. Adorned with opulent gold decor, a dramatic, bespoke chandelier extending from the center to the outer edges of the room, and an array of elegant sofas, chairs, and ottomans artfully arranged below to offer a seamless transition from dining to dancing. 
• Onyx Bar – Celebrating the richness and sex appeal of fashion’s most revered colour, black, this dimly lit cocktail cove, cloaked with sensual drapery, black velvet banquettes and plush pillows is the perfect space for getting cozy with cocktails in hand. 
• Mineral Lounge – Through an immersive stairwell painted in a seafoam blue, guests will arrive at an ethereal, octagonal terrace, with soft teal velvet sofas, pillowy dining chairs, and a lively bar with views of the city – the ideal setting for an aperitivo or dining al fresco during the summer. 

As the evening unfolds, guests are encouraged to sit back and revel in Ultra’s seamless transition from an elevated dining experience to an enthralling late-night atmosphere. With DJs and entertainment until the early hours, Thursday to Saturday, Ultra will ensure an unforgettable evening of delectable cuisine, enchanting ambiance, and thrilling entertainment all under one roof.

Ultra will be open for dinner Monday to Saturday, between 5 pm and 11 pm, starting June 6th, with the Supper Club experience available Thursday through Saturday until 2 am. Advance reservations can now be made via OpenTable. 

#CANNES: “ASTEROID CITY” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Visionary Director Wes Anderson delivers a witty Sci-Fi about loneliness.

Asteroid City is about a TV show broadcast about a play that’s about people visiting a place called Asteroid City. Yes, you read the correctly. In typical quirky Anderson fashion, he brings us into this story through a character telling a story. In so doing, he delivers layers of themes that merge into one universal look at humanity.

Anderson first introduces us to a black-and-white TV Show with a story being told by a Broadcast Host played brilliantly by Bryan Cranston. He tells us about a playwright (Edward Norton) who was in search of a cast to perform in his new play that had yet to have a name — ahem…it becomes titled Asteroid City. Anderson then pulls back the curtain and brings us into the play, broken down with title card Acts and Scenes, and the familiar world of vibrant colour we’ve come to expect from the visionary arrives.

The play is about Augie (a fantastic Jason Schwartzman) who’s driving to Asteroid City with his son Woodrow (Jake Ryan) and three daughters. Woodrow is going to be awarded a medal at the Junior Stargazer convention in the town. When they arrive, Augie informs his children that their mother passed away three-weeks prior. This is the first indication of a slightly darker tone for Anderson even while being in this enchanting colourful world. He examines themes such as grief, loneliness and slight apathy.

While in a diner in-town, Augie and Woodrow meet actress Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson) and her daughter (Grace Edwards). Johansson excels in this quirky role that we rarely get to see her play. Her character is quite meta as she’s an actress who’s playing an actress in the play Asteroid City.

Augie and Midge slowly build a kinship as they often meet in the windows of their adjoining rentals. Angie runs lines with Midge as she rehearses for her next big role. Frustrated that he isn’t giving much emotion, Augie finally confesses. He hasn’t been feeling much of anything since his wife’s death. This leads Midge to tell him to use that grief and put it into the character.

For all of the spectacular visuals in Asteroid City, this is the most beautiful thing Anderson has delivered. This is a small but powerful message of how art can help channel emotional pain. He cements this theme when we return to black and white. As the actor playing Augie steps backstage and out on a balcony. He runs into the actress (Margot Robbie) who was going to play his wife before they decided to kill off her character. With only this scene, Robbie captivates as she delivers a monologue about the grief of losing the role but the fact that she’s now at a different production just next door. Things end but you need to feel and work through the emotions to move forward.

Anderson’s packed in quite an Ensemble that whom knock it out of the park. He also delivers on the Sci-Fi front. With a few scenes that are such fun that you’ll be craving more.

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Asteroid City screens at Cannes ’23:

Tue May 23 at 7PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Wed May 24 at 8:30AM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Wed May 24 at 8:30AM at AGNÈS VARDA THEATRE

Wed May 24 at 2:30PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Wed May 24 at 4PM at CINEUM IMAX

Thu May 25 at 2PM at CINEUM AURORE

Sat May 27 at 3:15PM at AGNÈS VARDA THEATRE

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE WHEEL OF TIME” SEASON TWO COMING TO PRIME VIDEO SEPTEMBER 2023

Today, Prime Video released first-look images from the second season of The Wheel of Time. Season Two of the Amazon Original series will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world on September 1, 2023. Viewers can catch up on the first season of Wheel of Time streaming now on Prime Video. Prime members in Canada enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership for just $9.99/month or best value $99/year.

About The Wheel of Time

Based on the best-selling Robert Jordan fantasy series, a humble farm boy, Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski, Gran Turismo), learns he is The Dragon Reborn—a dangerous figure from history destined to save the world … or break it. Desperate to protect him from the Dark One, an army of powerful sorceresses must reckon with his burgeoning power and encroaching madness. The Wheel of Time turns, and the Last Battle approaches. Though Rand thought he destroyed the Dark One, evil is not gone from the world. In Season Two, threats new and very old seek out the young friends from the Two Rivers, now scattered over the world. The woman who found and guided them is now powerless to help, and so they must find other sources of strength. In each other, or themselves. In the Light … or the Dark.

The Wheel of Time also stars Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, I Care a Lot) as Moiraine Damodred, Daniel Henney (Criminal Minds) as Lan Mandragoran, Zoë Robins (Power Rangers Ninja Steel) as Nynaeve al’Meara, Madeleine Madden (Dora and the Lost City of Gold) as Egwene al’Vere, Marcus Rutherford (Obey) as Perrin Aybara, Dónal Finn (Rogue Heroes) as Mat Cauthon, and Ceara Coveney (Young Wallander) as Elayne Trakand.

The Wheel of Time was adapted for television by executive producer and showrunner Rafe Judkins (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Hemlock Grove). Larry Mondragon and Rick Selvage of iwot productions (Winter Dragon), Ted Field or Radar Pictures (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Winter Dragon), Mike Weber (Jumanji: The Next Level, Beirut), Darren Lemke (Shazam!, Goosebumps, Winter Dragon), Marigo Kehoe (Outlander, The Crown), Justine Juel Gillmer (The Survivor, Halo), Sanaa Hamri (Empire, Lovestruck) and Amanda Kate Shuman (The Blacklist) also serve as executive producers. Rosamund Pike also serves as co-executive producer, and Harriet McDougal, Brandon Sanderson, and Lauren Selig are consulting producers. The Wheel of Time is co-produced by Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures Television.

#FIRSTLOOK: JUST FOR LAUGHS MONTREAL 2023 LINEUP ADDITIONS ANNOUNCED

Just For Laughs, in association with Loto-Québec, is proud to announce their newest lineup of artists performing at the 41st edition of the Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL festival, taking place from July 14 – July 29, 2023.

With a renowned reputation for creating legendary comedy moments over 40 years, the festival consistently delivers unforgettable experiences, and this year will be no exception!

New acts joining this year’s lineup include:

GALAS

The Leslie Jones Gala – Saturday, July 29, 2023 – Théâtre Maisonneuve, 9:45 p.m.

Three-time Emmy nominee and SNL alum, Leslie Jones can currently be seen starring in Taika Waititi’s pirate comedy series Our Flag Means Death for HBO Max. Jones is currently collaborating with Ruben Fleischer and David Bernad to produce an untitled Christmas comedy for Lionsgate. Additionally, she will be lending her talents to her new podcast, The Fckury, alongside co-host Lenny Marcus on Stitcher. Recently, she completed filming her new role on the second season of the hit series, BMF for Starz which is executive produced by Curtis (50 Cent) Jackson and written/produced by Randy Huggins. Jones also wrapped production on Out of Office, a film featuring Ken Jeong, Jason Alexander, and Cheri Oteri. In 2020, she starred alongside Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in Craig Brewer’s Coming 2 America, which earned her the “Best Comedic Performance” award at the 2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards; as well as a nomination for “Favorite Movie Star” at the 2021 People’s Choice Awards. Jones has an impressive filmography that includes hits The Angry Bird Movie 2, We are Family, Masterminds, Sing, Ghostbusters, Trainwreck, and more.

The Eddie Izzard Gala – Friday, July 28, 2023 – Théâtre Maisonneuve, 9:45 p.m.

One of the most celebrated comics of her generation since the early nineties, Eddie Izzard has an equally stellar reputation as a film, television and stage actor. Izzard’s world-renowned stand-up shows include Unrepeatable, Definite Article, Glorious and Dress to Kill, which earned her a New York Drama Desk Award and two Emmys. Izzard now tours her shows in four languages English, French, German and Spanish in countries all over the world. She completed her most recent global tour, Wunderbar, in 2020, to wide critical acclaim. Highlights from Izzard’s film career include Six Minutes to Midnight, Stephen Frear’s Victoria and Abdul, Ocean’s Thirteen, and Valkerie. TV credits include NBC’s Hannibal, Netflix’s Stay Close, and Showtime’s United States of Tara, amongst many others. This summer, Izzard will transfer her critically acclaimed one-person show, Great Expectations, from Broadway to London’s West End.

The Mae Martin Gala – Saturday, July 29, 2023 – Théâtre Maisonneuve, 7:00 p.m.
Mae Martin is an award-winning Canadian comedian, actor, writer, and producer who can be seen starring in Feel Good; a scripted, semi-autobiographical comedy drama series, which they also created and co-wrote. Co-starring Lisa Kudrow and Charlotte Ritchie, the series launched globally on Netflix and Channel 4 in the UK to widespread praise and a perfect 100% “Certified Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes. Martin’s performance earned them a RTS “Breakthrough Award” and Bafta TV award nomination as well as “Best Comedy Writer” again at RTS. Feel Good also won the Edinburgh TV award for “Best Comedy” as well as the “Best Comedy Drama series” at the C21 award and “Best Scripted Representation of LGBQT+” at the Mipcom Diversify Awards. Their stand-up show, Dope, focused on addiction and was nominated for “Best Comedy Show” at the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Awards while earning four- and five-star national reviews in the UK. The show has since been turned into a stand-up special for Netflix as part of their first global stand-up series, Comedians of the World. Followed by their recently released Netflix special, “SAP” which has been widely applauded by international critics as one of their best specials to date.

In addition, the previously announced must-see Galas this year include:

The RP4 – A Very Special Event – Hosted by Russell Peters – Wednesday, July 26, 2023 & Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Théâtre Maisonneuve, 7:00 p.m. & 9:45 p.m.

Join Russell Peters for a landmark Just For Laughs event as he hosts four special galas, each with a unique star-studded line-up of carefully curated comics. Always uncensored and honest, Russell will be at the helm of shows that will be guaranteed to be provocative, funny and unforgettable.

The Jack Whitehall Gala – Friday, July 28, 2023 – Théâtre Maisonneuve, 7:00 p.m.

Award winning comedian, actor and world traveller, Jack Whitehall, is making his way to Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL this summer to host his very own Gala. Widely celebrated for his hit Netflix show Travels With My Father, his starring role in the BBC’s adaptation of Decline & Fall and Bad Education, he can also be seen in Disney’s The Nutcracker And The Four Realms, Amazon’s Good Omens and Clifford The Big Red Dog.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks when we announce the artists who will be joining these incredible line-ups for an evening full of laughs!

CONCERT SHOWS

Ronny Chieng – Thursday, July 27, 2023 – L’Olympia, 7:00 p.m.

Ronny Chieng is a stand-up comedian, actor and Correspondent on The Daily Show. He starred in the worldwide hit movie Crazy Rich Asians, his Netflix stand-up comedy special Asian Comedian Destroys America! and has appeared on Young Rock, Godzilla vs Kong, Bliss, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and has been featured in The New York Times, GQ amongst others. Most recently, he also starred in the mega Marvel Studio’s hit movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Neal Brennan: BRAND NEW NEAL – Friday, July 28, 2023 – L’Olympia, 9:30 p.m.

Three-time Emmy nominated writer, director, producer, and standup comedian Neal Brennan has become a force in the comedy world. Neal’s newest podcast, The Blocks Podcast – based on his newest comedy special, can be heard on all podcast platforms. That latest Netflix comedy special Neal Brennan: Blocks, was adapted from Neal’s hit one-man show Unacceptable. The stage show had a sold-out NYC residency in the Fall of 2021, with Interview Magazine lauding “together, Brennan and DelGaudio have crafted a genre-bending show focused as much on fun and laughter as it is on intimacy and honesty” and Theatermania gushing “The comedians Neal Brennan has written for is insane… Even more insane (in the best way), is the material Brennan writes for himself.” As in-demand behind the camera as he is in front of it, Neal was recently a writer, creative consultant, and on-air correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. He is a long-time collaborator of iconic comedian Dave Chappelle, with whom he has created multiple comedy fan favourites including the legendary Chappelle’s Show and the Emmy-winning Saturday Night Live episode immediately following the 2016 presidential election. Neal served as Executive Producer on Chris Rock’s recent standup special Chris Rock: Tamborine and as Director on fellow Daily Show Correspondent Michelle Wolf’s HBO special Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady.

Ramy Youssef – Friday, July 28, 2023 & Saturday July 29, 2023 – Gesù, 7:00 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

Ramy Youssef is an award-winning Egyptian American creator, actor, producer, director, and comedian who brings his unique voice and perspective to his storytelling. Youssef created, produces, directs and stars in the hit Hulu show Ramy, inspired by his own experiences centring around a first-generation Egyptian-American Muslim on a spiritual journey in his politically divided New Jersey neighbourhood. He won a Golden Globe® in 2020 on behalf of Ramy in the category of “Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy.” In 2020, the Television Academy nominated Youssef for two Emmy Awards® in the categories of “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series” and “Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series” on behalf of the second season of Ramy. He also won the Peabody Award on behalf of the series. The third season of Youssef’s widely celebrated Ramy premiered on September 30th, 2022. Youssef was also nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award and a Writers Guild Award for his one-hour HBO comedy special Ramy Youssef: Feelings, produced by A24.

Youssef is a co-creator and executive producer of Netflix’s new series Mo, a semi-autobiographical series inspired by Amer’s life as a Palestinian refugee growing up in Houston. Mo recently debuted to critical acclaim and was produced with A24 and Youssef’s new production company, Cairo Cowboy.

Darcy & Jer – Friday, July 28, 2023 – L’Olympia, 7:00 p.m.

Together for over 20 years, Darcy & Jer are first and foremost proud dads to their daughter Grace and their golden retriever Yuma. And second, they’re idiots on the internet. Known for their hilarious videos around their relationship, ADHD, plants and more, Darcy & Jer have quickly become household names with a global audience. After just 3 years creating content online, they stand today with a combined total of over 4.5 million followers across platforms with an average of 50 million views a month. Darcy Michael and Jeremy Baer have become leaders in comedy content creation. Their comedy has allowed them to build a community that celebrates conversations around mental health, relationships, politics and living a happier life.

With Darcy having ADHD and the pair being members of the LGTBQ+ community, Darcy and Jer aim to create an inclusive, safe environment celebrating life with neurodivergence. Darcy and Jer’s sense of humour, joyful personalities, and unique content continues to build them an adoring fanbase. Aiming to grow beyond their online content, in 2023 Darcy & Jer debuted their live comedy show at the Just for Laughs Vancouver Festival. With plans for a full comedy tour across North America, they will also be following up their hit road-trip series Darcy & Jer Do America with season two Darcy & Jer Do Europe coming later this spring.

Brad Williams – Wednesday, July 26, 2023, MTELUS, 7:00 p.m.

Brad Williams is undeniably one of the funniest comedians in the industry today, earning his spot as one of the most sought-after and in-demand performers. Starting his stand-up comedy journey as a teenager, Williams has since embarked on successful tours that regularly sell out renowned venues across the nation and around the globe. Notably, he has made memorable appearances on esteemed stand-up television shows such as The Tonight Show, Dave Attell’s Comedy Underground, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. With his first one-hour special, Fun Size, becoming the highest-rated special on Showtime, Williams continued to amaze audiences with subsequent specials like Daddy Issues and his uproarious hosting at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival. Garnering massive ratings and rave reviews, his ground-breaking special on Netflix, The Degenerates, solidified his status as a comedic force to be reckoned with. Beyond his comedy prowess, Williams has showcased his acting skills on TV shows like FX’s Legit, and Hulu’s original series Deadbeat and others. In a remarkable achievement, Williams became the first stand-up comedian to headline a Cirque du Soleil show, Mad Apple, receiving tremendous acclaim for his captivating performances. Alongside his career in stand-up and acting, Williams co-created and co-hosted the highly successful podcast About Last Night with fellow comedian Adam Ray. With his witty and inspiring observations on disability, relationships, sex, and race, Williams continues to win over audiences and prove that anyone can overcome their shortcomings. His electrifying stage presence often leads to standing ovations, prompting the late Robin Williams to aptly describe him as “Prozac with a head.”

Please Don’t Destroy Live – Friday, July 28, 2023 – Club Soda, 7:00 p.m.

Please Don’t Destroy is made up of Ben Marshall, John Higgins and Martin Herlihy. They are currently writing and making videos for Saturday Night Live – favorites include “Three Sad Virgins” featuring Taylor Swift and Pete Davidson, “Good Variant,” “Hard Seltzer”, “The Stakeout”, “Hangxiety” and more. They’ve been beloved repeat guests at NBC’s annual Miley Cyrus’s New Year’s Eve Party. Even before their viral videos online, the guys performed live sketch together all over NYC – since then they’ve headlined at the Netflix is a Joke Festival, the New York Comedy Festival, were featured at The Life is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas, and consistently sell out colleges and marquee shows across the country. Ben, John, and Martin wrote and will star in their first movie, produced by Judd Apatow, coming out on November 17th on Peacock.

Foil Arms & Hog: Hogwash – Thursday, July 27, 2023 – MTELUS, 7:00 p.m.

Foil Arms and Hog are an Irish sketch comedy group comprising Sean Finegan (Foil), Conor McKenna (Arms) and Sean Flanagan (Hog). The group performs on TV, radio, the stage and online. The trio write, shoot and edit a new sketch every week in their office, releasing it for YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Foil Arms and Hog do not have a specific genre, and make sketches that are often observational and occasionally topical. Popular sketches released to YouTube include When Irish People Can’t Speak Irish, An Englishman Plays Risk, WTF is Brexit, and How to Speak Dublin. Foil, Arms and Hog also perform live shows, primarily in Ireland and the United Kingdom, but also in the United States, Australia, Europe and a number of runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where they have become the biggest selling act for the last 3 years running. The group’s name evolved from nicknames each of the members had for each other, Foil (Finnegan) being the comedy foil, Arms (McKenna) was ‘All arms and Legs’ and Hog (Flanagan) because he ostensibly hogged the limelight. As of 2023, the group has 1.4 million followers on Facebook and 862 thousand YouTube subscribers. Their videos have amassed over 1 billion views online. They met each other in university, (where they studied engineering, architecture and genetics), formed the group and have been touring our live shows in Ireland, Europe, the US and Australia over the last thirteen years to audience and critical acclaim (no really).

Giggly Squad – Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Club Soda, 9:30 p.m.

Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner bring their top-rated podcast on the road. This live show will make fun of pop culture, fashion, dating, and get the crowd involved like they’ve never been able to before. Giggles are guaranteed. See you in court.

Hannah Berner Live – Friday, July 28, 2023 – Le Studio TD, 9:30 p.m.

One of JFL’s 2022 New Faces, Hannah Berner emerged on the comedy scene by directing, editing, and acting in videos on Instagram and writing viral tweets. She has two podcasts, Giggly Squad and Berning In Hell, with over 20 million combined downloads. She was a co-host on Bravo’s Chat Room, as well as a member of Bravo’s Summer House for three seasons, and has over 3.3 million followers across her social media platforms. She currently performs standup in NYC and at clubs and theatres all around the country.

Jessica Kirson – Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Club Soda, 7:00 p.m.

Jessica Kirson is a powerhouse on stage. She’s a hilariously relatable performer of sheer silliness, vulnerability, and ridiculous characters. Jessica’s one-hour special Talking to Myself was executive produced by Bill Burr and debuted on Comedy Central. She has also been featured on Netflix, is a regular on This Week at the Comedy Cellar, and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The View, HBO’s Crashing, and Kevin Can Wait. Her countless comedic character videos have racked up over 200 million views on social media. Her audience is multigenerational, creating an excuse for large groups of friends and families to spend a night out together. In an era where only 10% of all touring comedians are female, she stands out as one of the strongest comedians regardless of gender.

Joanne McNally – The Prosecco Express – Friday July 28, 2023 – Club Soda, 9:30 p.m.

Described by the Sunday Times as a ‘truly gifted stand-up’, Joanne McNally has been taking Ireland and the UK’s comedy scene by storm, enjoying sell-out Edinburgh runs with her stand-up shows Wine Tamer and The Prosecco Express. Both shows have toured in Ireland, and she has sold out over 50 nights at Vicar Street in Dublin, four nights at the London Palladium, and three nights at London’s Eventim Apollo.

She is the co-host of the hugely popular podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, alongside her best friend Vogue Williams, which has over a million downloads a week. She created, wrote and presented the funny and insightful documentary Baby Hater which was broadcast in Ireland for TV3. Her first one woman show, Bite Me, a show about eating disorders, was nominated for multiple awards at the Dublin Fringe in 2016. Her numerous TV credits include ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show, Comedy Central’s Guessable and Comedians Solve World Problems, BBC’s Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, Richard Osman’s House of Games, Channel 4’s The Big Fat Quiz of Everything, and Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back.

Joe Dombrowski – Saturday, July 29, 2023 – Club Soda, 7:00 p.m.

Joe Dombrowski (aka Mr. D) took the world by storm in 2017 with a viral April Fools’ Day spelling test prank that landed him multiple appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Don’t get it twisted though! It takes at least 20 years to be an overnight sensation! He has been doing stand-up comedy since he was eight years old in his third-grade talent show. He’s never stopped! Since Joe’s rise to fame, he has been travelling the globe with his stand-up comedy which often highlights his crazy life as an elementary teacher. When he’s not getting creative on screens and stages, Joe spends his time in Seattle, Washington producing his podcast, Social Studies where he recaps absolutely insane stories from fans all over the world.

Felipe Esparza – Wednesday, July 26, 2023 – Le Studio TD, 9:30 p.m.

Felipe Esparza is a stand-up comedian and actor who has come a long way since winning NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2010. While that may have opened doors and helped build his fan base around the country, his hard work and focus in more recent years has brought him longevity. With three successful stand-up specials on Netflix and HBO, his What’s Up Fool? Podcast holding steady as one of the top comedy podcasts for the last eight years, and his sold-out tour dates all over the country, he is now at a point where he is moving more into TV and film. He has been a recurring favourite on TV Shows such as Superstore, The Eric Andre Show, Gentefied, and Victor and Valentino, as well as appearing in films including Guest House with Pauly Shore, 7th & Union with Omar Chaparro, Daddy Daughter Trip with Rob Schneider and You People with Eddie Murphy and Jonah Hill.

CLUB SERIES

The Nasty Show – Tuesday, July 18, 2023 to Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Club Soda, daily at 9:30 p.m. **with two special midnight performances added on Friday, July 21, & Saturday, July 22.

NOTE: Mike Ward will not be performing on Saturday, July 22. The host for that evening will be announced shortly.

The Nasty Show is back and will be hands-down the filthiest show of the entire festival. Prepare yourself for a night of comedy’s dirtiest minds, and see for yourself why this is one of the festival’s longest-running shows.

Drum roll, please…. This year’s host for The Nasty Show will be none other than the award winning, Guinness Record breaking, Supreme Court triumphing French Canadian comedy icon, Mike Ward! Ward has performed at every major comedy festival on the planet. The Québec comic set a Guinness World Record for the most tickets sold for a podcast recording, selling more than 20,000 tickets for the recording of his hit franco podcast, Sous écoute at the Montréal Bell Centre in July 2022. His stand-up has aired on TV in 20 countries including Showtime, HBO, France 2, Comedy Central, RTS Deux, and Network 10, just to name a few. With over 100 million downloads, his French podcast Mike Ward Sous Ecoute is the most listened to French-language comedy podcast in the world. It’s not just a podcast, it has become a Quebec cultural phenomenon. He even sold-out the Bell Centre for a taping of an episode. 20,986 tickets sold, beating the previous world record by more than 7,000 thousand. You can listen to his English podcast, 2 Drink Minimum (with Pantelis & Poseidon), wherever you get your podcasts.

Joining this year’s previously announced lineup that includes Donnell Rawlings, Steph Tolev and Adrienne Iapalucci will be Geoffrey Asmus.

Geoffrey Asmus began performing stand-up in 2013 immediately after wasting $143,548 on seven college degrees and becoming a 1st grade teacher. He regularly performs at the World-Famous Comedy Cellar in New York City, and was named one of the 2016 New Faces at Montréal’s Just For Laughs Festival. Amus has also opened for Dave Attell, Mark Normand, Dan Soder, Fortune Feimster, Sam Morrill, and Daniel Sloss among others. He headlines comedy clubs nationwide. In 2021 his debut album “Prodigal Little Bitch” went to #1 on iTunes. He also records the weekly “You’re An Idiot” podcast with Alex Dragicevich. More recently, Asmus has found success growing his social media platforms with his unfiltered stand-up clips, and has recorded an hour special that will air later this year!

That’s not all! Additional acts will be announced soon.

Brit(ish) – Wednesday, July 26, 2023 to Saturday July 29, 2023 – Le Studio TD, 7:00 p.m.

Back by popular demand, Brit(ish) brings together a collection of uproariously hilarious comedians from across the pond. While the complete line-up is still to come, one thing is certain: prepare yourself for a sarcastic, irony-laden, and side-splittingly funny experience that is sure to leave you in stitches!

This year the Brit(ish) series will be hosted by none other than Jen Brister! Brister is a critically acclaimed stand-up comedian and writer who has been seen on BBC’s Live at the Apollo, Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, QI and Mock the Week. She is a regular performer on the UK and international comedy circuits and has written 7 solo shows which she has performed at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and toured extensively around the UK. Her book, a comedy memoir, The Other Mother was published by Square Peg in 2019. Her stand up show Meaningless can be streamed on Soho Comedy Live. Next Up and Amazon Prime while her special, Waves for BBC Radio 4 can be streamed on BBC Sounds.

Brit(ish) will proudly welcome to the stage special guest, Alan Davies. Davies is a highly successful stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and TV personality, known as a staple of British television, for his performance as the titular character in Jonathan Creek; and as a permanent panellist on QI. He is also one of the UK’s best-loved comedians, with his stand-up shows Urban Trauma running in London’s West End and Life is Pain selling out in many cities. More recently, Davies published his second memoir, Just Ignore Him. His talk show, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, is now on its seventh season.

Rounding out the lineup, artists include:

Josie Long is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, podcaster, and film-maker. She is a trailblazer of the UK comedy industry, as the first woman to be nominated 3 times for Edinburgh Comedy Award (2010 – 2012). Her 9 critically acclaimed tours showcase her unique and powerfully original voice and have been performed globally to sell-out shows. Her various podcasts and original radio shows have garnered her a world-wide audience of dedicated listeners and multiple awards.

Gina Yashere is an internationally acclaimed comedian who is currently starring in Chuck Lorre’s series, Bob Hearts Abishola on CBS. Not only does Yashere star in the series, but she is one of the co-creators, co-showrunner, executive producer, and writer. She can also be seen on Netflix with her own specials, Skinny B@tch, Laughing to America and part of The StandUps season 2. Her TV credits include, The Neighborhood, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Def Comedy Jam, Live at the Apollo, TruTV’s Comedy Knockout, Comedy Central’s @midnight, NBC’s The Tonight Show, HBO’s Crashing, ITV’s Married Single Other, The Lenny Henry Show and the animated series, Bromwell High and The Barbarian and the Troll. She came to the U.S. as a finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and never left! Yashere is also a published author. Her memoir, Cack-Handed was released last year to rave reviews.

Reuben Kaye is an internationally renowned cabaret host, with previous residencies in London, Berlin and Stockholm, in addition to an award-winning comedian, singer, and writer. Kaye made his TV debut in Australia, performing twice on ABC Australia’s Melbourne Comedy Fest, as a guest on SBS Australia’s Celebrity Letters & Numbers, and on ABC Australia’s Spicks and Specks. Reuben has also appeared on UK television shows including BBC’s The Apprentice: You’re Fired, Channel 4’s Kids React to Drag, and given a lauded keynote at TEDxCurrumbin titled, When Your Child Comes Out. In 2022, his comedy cabaret show, The Butch Is Back won three Green Room Awards: for Best Cabaret Artist, Best Production and Best Musical Direction. In 2021, both Perth Fringeworld and the Adelaide Fringe awarded Reuben their Best Cabaret Award, and Melbourne Comedy Festival nominated him for the Most Outstanding Show award.

Jamali Maddix is a critically acclaimed comedian and host of Vice’s Hate Thy Neighbour and Channel 4’s Adventures in Futureland. His unique voice and style make him one of the most sought-after comedians working today. With an assured stage presence and considered material that comes from a sharp perspective, he already has the aura of a comic well beyond his years. His last tour sold-out shows across the globe, playing the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.

Jamali is currently a series regular on Never Mind The Buzzcocks and has been seen on Channel 4’s Taskmaster, BBC2’s Frankie Boyle’s New World Order, BBC2’s Live at the Apollo, More4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats, BBC1’s This is My House, Dara O’Briain’s Go 8-Bit, as well as many others.

That’s not all! Additional acts will be announced soon.

OFF JFL

Urzila Carlson: It’s Personal – Thursday July 20, 2023 to Sunday July 23, 2023 & Tuesday, July 25, 2023 to Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Théâtre St. Catherine, 10:00 p.m.

Urzila Carlson has garnered a legion of fans worldwide in recent years, not least of all thanks to her hit NETFLIX hour-long comedy special Overqualified Loser which was released in 190 countries, and its stable partner, Comedians of the World. She won the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s People’s Choice Award for most tickets sold in both 2019 and 2022, and is a much-loved staple on Ten’s smash-hit panel show, Have You Been Paying Attention? both here and in NZ. Not content with owning the stage and the small screen, Carlson is now in the fourth season of her chart-topping premiere podcast That’s Enough Already! She also makes her feature animation debut in 2023 as the voice of Honkus in Ozi, alongside Donald Sutherland, Laura Dern, Ru Paul and Amandla Stenberg. Carlson has become one of the biggest names in comedy in Australia and New Zealand.

The Lucas Brothers – Thursday, July 20, 2023 to Sunday, July 23, 2023 & Tuesday, July 25, 2023 to Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Théâtre St. Catherine, 8:30 p.m.

The Lucas Bros, Keith and Kenny Lucas, are two of the freshest, most dynamic talents in entertainment. The Bros are two of the writers (story by) on the highly revered film Judas and the Black Messiah, which earned them Oscar and WGA Award Nominations for “Best Original Screenplay.” Adding to the massive success of JUDAS, The Bros have recently announced several high-profile upcoming projects, including a reboot of Revenge of the Nerds, with 20th Century Studios and Seth Macfarlane, a semi-autobiographical dramedy with Judd Apatow, and a new comedy feature with Universal and Lord Miller. The guys made their late-night debut when they performed standup on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in 2012 and have been a favourite on Fallon’s Tonight Show ever since, with multiple appearances. They were named one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch of 2014, featured in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Hot List,” appeared on the cult hit TV show Arrested Development (Netflix) and HBO’s Funny As Hell, and were standouts at the prestigious Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival with Paste Magazine selecting The Bros as one of the top acts of 2017. They are the first black identical twins to be nominated for an Oscar.

BriTANick – Thursday, July 20, 2023 to Sunday, July 23, 2023 & Tuesday, July 25, 2023 to Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Théâtre St. Catherine, 7:00 p.m.

BriTANicK is the sketch comedy duo of Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher. Together, they have written for Saturday Night Live, and Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia; and are currently writing for Dan Levy’s new animated show Standing By (or at least they were until the writers’ strike happened) (if the writers’ strike has been resolved please disregard but we friggin bet it hasn’t been by now). They’ve made a bunch of sketch comedy videos on the internet that were seen by a lot of people but they didn’t monetize the videos because they didn’t understand how to and they’re still upset about that. They’ve also performed live all over the world including a sold out run at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They love doing this show so much and would like you to please come and see it please.

Gina Yashere: The Woman King of Comedy – Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Le Balcon, 10:00 p.m.

In addition to joining the esteemed lineup of artists on this year’s The Nasty Show, Gina Yashere will also do her solo set, Gina Yashere: The Woman King of Comedy. She brings her fierce and funny comedic style back to the stage this summer with this unique chance to hear her personal story of how she made it in Hollywood from the streets of London.

Kyle Kinane – Wednesday, July 26, 2023 & Friday, July 28, 2023 – Café Cléopatra, 9:00 p.m.

Kyle Kinane is a comedian from Addison, Illinois. According to Wikipedia, he is a notable person from that town. Other notable residents of Addison have been the boxer Leon Spinks and a woman who wrote poetry about Beanie Babies. As a comedian raised in such a cultural fondue pot as this, it was natural for Kyle to find his way from warehouse work into show business. He has been seen on Conan, The Tonight Show, Netflix’s The Standups, and three of his own hour-length specials on Comedy Central. As an actor, he’s been in the Judd Apatow series Love and truTV’s Those Who Can’t. He was also on Drunk History, where he unfortunately wasn’t acting. As a voice over actor, he was the former voice of Comedy Central for 8 years and currently plays Bullet on the Netflix series Paradise PD. He is also co-host of the Boogie Monster podcast along with Dave Stone, and the podcast No Accounting for Taste with Shane Torres. His newest effort Shocks & Struts released in 2023 on YouTube marks his return to live-action stand-up after his 2018 set on Netflix’s The Standups, and When you’re Here, you’re Family.

River Butcher – Thursday, July 27, 2023 – PDA Claude-Léveillée, 9:00 p.m.

River Butcher is a Los Angeles-based standup comic, actor, and writer. His first half-hour special A Different Kind of Dude, debuted on Comedy Central’s YouTube channel and was called “a masterclass in culture war commentary” by Esquire.com. The special also garnered the title of “Some of the Best Jokes of 2022 So Far.” They recently wrote and produced the FX pilot Belated, previously wrote for A League of Their Own, and created/starred in/wrote the critically acclaimed and GLAAD award nominated Take My Wife. You may have also seen them as nonbinary standup comic LB Brady on Good Trouble and Adam Conover’s sibling on Adam Ruins Everything or queer dinner guest Denim in the hit Friendsgiving. They’ve done stand-up all over the country, the globe, and the screen, including Ellen, Conan, Comedy Central, and HBO.

Tom Ballard: It is I – Friday, July 28, 2023 & Saturday, July 29, 2023 – PDA Claude-Léveillée, 7:30 p.m.

Tom Ballard is an award-winning Australian stand-up who’s trying to save the world with comedy lol. Since becoming the youngest ever winner of the Melbourne Comedy Festival’s “Best Newcomer Award” in 2009, Ballards twice been nominated for “Most Outstanding Show” at that festival, as well as scoring nominations for “Best Newcomer” and “Best Show” at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. He’s also hosted a panel show about the dark secrets of reality television and his own (very naughty) late-night show Tonightly with Tom Ballard; and in 2022, he released his debut book I, Millennial: One Snowflake’s Screed Against Boomers, Billionaires & Everything Else. In 2023 Tom will star as the lovable/hopeless Sven in the Amazon Prime series Deadloch, and is stoked to return to Montreal for his fifth JFL with his hot new hour, It Is I.

Nath Valvo: Live – Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Café Cléopatra, 9:00 p.m.

The 2022 & 2023 host of Just For Laughs, Australia TV series – Nath Valvo is one of the fastest rising stars in comedy. After storming the 2019 JFL stage in the Tiffany Haddish Gala, Nath Valvo now returns with his debut solo show. Nath was nominated for “Most Outstanding Show” at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and “Best Newcomer” at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Their razor-sharp wit and high-energy style have clocked over 10 million views on TikTok (and counting). Don’t miss your chance to see one of Australia’s funniest strutting his stuff.

Melanie Bracewell: Forget Me Not – Saturday, July 29, 2023 – Newspeak, 7:00 p.m.

At just 26 years old, she is taking the comedy world by storm. The Kiwi won the prestigious “Best Newcomer” award for her first solo show in the NZ International Comedy Festival. With goofy observations and natural stage charisma, Melanie Bracewell is a master of anecdotes. In 2018, Melanie won the famed “Billy T Award”, in 2019 she performed as part of the invite only Just For Laughs Comedy Festival at the Sydney Opera House, and in 2021 she won the coveted Directors’ Choice Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. And she only got busier in 2021 & 2022, co-hosting The Cheap Seats, which has been renewed for 2023 and making regular appearances on Have you Been Paying Attention? in Australia and New Zealand. When she’s not on stage, Melanie is a social media powerhouse. Whether she’s filming content for her TikTok channel, which has had over ten million likes and writing for the more than 250,000 followers of her meladoodle.tumblr.com blog.

Best of the Fest – Tuesday, July 25, 2023 to Friday, July 28, 2023 – Newspeak, daily at 7:30 p.m. & 9:45 p.m.

The title says it all, as one of the festival’s most exciting series, Best of the Fest promises audiences additional intimate access to the festival’s most hilarious acts. Line-ups are announced closer to the dates.

Tickets at hahaha.com.

#CANNES: “THE IDOL” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Sam Levinson’s latest TV Series is Euphoria meets 50 Shades of Grey, while set in the world of a Pop Superstar.

The first two episodes, which screened Out of Competition at Cannes, sets up the mindset of Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp). She recently lost her mother which led to a nervous breakdown that derailed her last tour. Now she’s releasing anticipated new music with the hope to be the greatest, sexiest pop star in America. However, she’s still grieving over her loss, leaving her vulnerable.

Cue club owner Tedros (Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye), who sees the vulnerability and takes advantage of it. He swoops in and helps her remix her newest single. As Jocelyn is already underwhelmed by the original version, Tedros ignites a passion within her again. But will this new romantic-professional relationship bring new heights or the deepest of lows for the Popstar?

There are lots of provocative sexualized scenes in The Idol. For those familiar with Euphoria, the scenes here are dialed-up a notch further. However, these provocative scenes are being used to highlight bigger themes and messages within the Script. Here, Levinson — and Co-Creators Tesfaye and Reza Fahim — are dissecting the highs and lows of a life of a pop icon.

In the first episode, a compromising photo gets released online of Jocelyn. It shows the singer with ejaculate on her face. Everyone on her team immediately attempts to spin this into a positive light for the star. This brings us to the life of the busy bees that surround and ‘manage’ a popstar. Additionally, it highlights how they keep her protected from these horrible things for fear of another break.

The people surrounding Jocelyn care for her deeply. Some even take on the role of pseudo-parents (Hank Azaria and Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s characters) even if they don’t always know what’s best. The person who will move mountains for her is her best friend and Assistant Leia (Rachel Sennott). Sennot is superb as the caring friend who’s the only one who sees Tedros as the snake he is.

In his acting debut, Tesfaye, dawning a Rattail, gives a chilling performance as the manipulative Tedros. In these first two episodes, the Actors share tantalizing scenes that people will have mixed feelings over. However, once again Levinson is using them to inform the viewer of the mental states of his characters. Tedros is controlling while Jocelyn succumbs to his demands.

Depp gives a groundbreaking performance that will skyrocket her character. And the Supporting Cast is outstanding. To name a few not priorly mentioned: Troye Sivan, Jane Adams and Blackpink’s Jennie Kim. And at the end of the second episode, Red Rocket breakout Suzanna Son delivers a show-stopping performance while sitting at a piano.

We’re excited to see where the Series goes from here.

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The Idol screens at Cannes ’23:

Mon May 22 at 10:30PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE