For a second consecutive year, Paramount’s THE LODGE returns to Fan Expo Canada where every room is another universe, offering the ultimate fan experience. Enter THE LODGE and cozy up by the Paramount fireplace rustic ambiance and get ready to experience a mountain of entertainment! Pick up your Lodge pass at THE LODGE welcome desk and become immersed in themed activations featuring iconic franchises.

For the first time, the STAR TREK Menagerie makes its debut at THE LODGE at Fan Expo displaying creatures across renowned STAR TREK properties. Come one and all to get an up-close look at exciting specimens from STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, and more! Attendees can become part of the Menagerie as they enter the display for an immersive STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS, photo opportunity.

Other fan-favourite Paramount worlds to explore at THE LODGE:

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: Enter the streets of New York City, pose for a photo with the four turtle brothers and fight crime by checking out the new Mutants Unleashed exclusive gaming preview before the official launch on October 18! Guests will be immersed in the turtles’ den beneath the streets where these heroes trained in ninjitsu to fight evil. 

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS 25th ANNIVERSARY: Head to front porch queue of THE LODGE to step into SpongeBob’s Pluto TV world! Join SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, and Plankton in a mini golf experience for a chance to win branded swag! A new prize every day!

The Paramount experience doesn’t end there! Don’t forget to check out the HALO Artifact at booth #1651, just around the corner from THE LODGE. Direct from the set of the series, ”the artifact” was left behind by the ancient race known as the forerunners which, reveals a star map that leads to the sacred ring known as the “Halo.”

THE LODGE, located at booth #PM01, is open and available for you to experience or to use as a backdrop for news hits on Thursday, August 22, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, August 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ComediHa!, the new proud owners of the iconic international comedy brand Just For Laughs / Juste pour rire, are thrilled to announce several upcoming festival dates as the organization moves forward under new leadership. ComediHa! officially acquired Just For Laughs this past June, marking the beginning of a new era for the beloved comedy brand.

JUST FOR LAUGHS SYDNEY

Looking ahead, ComediHa! is pleased to announce the highly anticipated return of the 12th edition of the Just For Laughs SYDNEY festival taking place November 18 – 23, 2024. The festival, which has been a staple in the global comedy calendar, promises to deliver a stellar lineup of talent. This year’s lineup, announced this past Monday, features world-renowned comedians including Trevor Noah, Eric Idle, Brad Williams and the All-Star Gala hosted by Melanie Bracewell, and many more, ensuring an unforgettable experience for comedy fans.

JUST FOR LAUGHS BERMUDA

In addition to the return of the Sydney festival, ComediHa! is excited to confirm that Just For Laughs BERMUDA will be returning for its 17th edition from January 22 – 24, 2025, bringing world-class comedy to the beautiful island.

JUST FOR LAUGHS VANCOUVER

Following closely on its heels, the 9th edition of JFL VANCOUVER will make its much-awaited comeback February 13 – 22, 2025. These festivals will once again bring the best in comedy further solidifying Just For Laughs’ presence on the global stage.

JUST FOR LAUGHS MONTREAL

As the team gears up for these international festivals, one of ComediHa!’s top priorities remains making the next summer’s JFL MONTREAL festival, running July 16 – 27, 2025, one of the most memorable in the brand’s storied history. Returning to the city where this international brand was born, ComediHa! is committed to honouring the legacy of the festival and its profound impact on the world of comedy. With an eye towards the future, the new leadership promises to blend the festival’s rich traditions with the evolving landscape of comedy, ensuring a prosperous and exciting future for Just For Laughs.

Sylvain Parent-Bédard, president of ComediHa!, Just For Laughs’ new owner, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming festivals: “We couldn’t be more excited to present these incredible festivals under the new leadership of ComediHa!. Each of these festivals holds a long and significant history that we deeply respect and cherish. Working with our festival partners, we are bringing a new breath and vision into these events, which we believe will resonate with both long-time fans and new audiences alike. I’d also like to acknowledge our exceptional programming team, some returning and some new programmers, who are working swiftly and diligently to put together some truly remarkable lineups. Their dedication and creativity are at the heart of what will make these festivals a resounding success.”

Nick Brazao, Head of Programming at Just For Laughs, added, “Programming these festivals is an exciting opportunity to innovate while staying true to the core of what has made Just For Laughs so special for over four decades. We’re focused on curating a diverse mix of established names and emerging talent to platform and celebrate comedy’s best. We’re embracing the industry’s dynamic future, and we can’t wait for audiences around the world to experience what we’re putting together.”

Stay tuned for more festival news in the coming months as Just For Laughs will also unveil plans for live tours along with some exciting TV projects in the works.

Exciting news! Starbucks Canada are launching their Fall menu sooner than you think! Starting August 22, 2024 these sre the exciting items you can expect, in addition to the return of the iconic PSL!

-Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice: The beverage that started the pumpkin spice craze more than 20 years ago and that can resist is back at Starbucks and continues to be its most popular seasonal beverage.

– The apple of your eye: Originating as a popular customer customization, the NEW Iced Apple Crisp Nondairy Chai features warming spice flavours of chai combined with creamy oat beverage and topped with silky, nondairy apple crisp cold foam.

– New seasonal in-app exclusives: Customers can also find two NEW fall beverages, exclusively in the Starbucks app: The Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte i and nondairy Iced Honey Apple Almond Flat White.

– Bake your day with Autumn goodies: Joining the fall menu for a limited time while supplies last, the NEW Baked Apple Croissant and as a nod to one of the most ubiquitous animals in Canada, customers can enjoy the NEW Raccoon Cake Pop.

– Canada’s first Starbucks x Stanley: Along with new seasonal drinkware, the viral Starbucks x Stanley Quencher is making its way North of border for the first time. Google Trends indicate that Canadian searches for Starbucks Stanley Cups skyrocketed when they launched in the US so now we get our very own!

More fall favourites will be returning to the menu this year including the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, the Apple Crisp Oat Macchiato along with seasonal sweet and savoury food items in the bakery case!

Super Channel has unveiled a selection of new series and movies to premiere on the network’s schedule this September, including:

SERIES

Troppo *Super Channel Fuse | New Episodes

Sundays at 9 p.m. ET
Episodes available on Demand the following day

Trailer

An eccentric private investigator with a criminal past recruits a disgraced ex-cop to help solve the disappearance of a Korean tech pioneer in the wilds of Far North Queensland. Adapted for television by Yolanda Ramke, Troppo is inspired by Candice Fox’s bestselling novel Crimson Lake. Starring Thomas Jane and Nicole Chamoun.

MOVIES

Someone Like You *Super Channel Heart & Home | Premiere
Saturday, Sept 7 at 8 p.m. ET
Available On Demand on September 8
Trailer

Shocking news hits after young architect, Dawson Gage, loses his best friend, London Quinn. Now in his heartbreak, Dawson is compelled to launch an impossible search for London’s secret twin sister, twins separated as embryos. But along the way, Dawson never planned to fall in love. Based on the popular novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury.

Devil’s Peak *Super Channel Fuse | Premiere
Saturday, Sept 7 at 9 p.m. ET
Available On Demand on September 1
Trailer

Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, Jacob desperately tries to escape his meth-dealing kingpin father and long-suffering mother to run off with the girl of his dreams. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Robin Wright, Hopper Penn and Katelyn Nacon.

Love in Tahiti *Super Channel Heart & Home | Premiere
Saturday Sept 14 at 8 p.m. ET
Available On Demand on September 15
Trailer

Scuba diver Brielle Wilson has always believed the ocean floor is full of treasures just waiting to be found. Over the years she has found rings, coins, lost jewelry and more. Instead of profiting from them, she loves reuniting people with their lost valuables. When she finds an engagement ring and returns it to Marcus, a handsome US Navy serviceman, Brielle soon discovers what has been missing in her life, treasures of the heart.

For the Love of Lily *Super Channel Heart & Home | Premiere
Saturday Sept 21 at 8 p.m. ET
Available On Demand on September 22
Trailer

When a no-nonsense consultant is blindsided by her boss’ switch to a greener, more natural office space, she’ll partner with the rooftop florist to make her building come alive with the beauty of nature.

The Love Gala *Super Channel Heart & Home | Premiere
Saturday Sept 28 at 8 p.m. ET
Available On Demand on September 29

When Kate is given the job of planning her mom’s Garden Gala, the biggest fashion event of the year, she has to compromise with the unhelpful head of the Botanical Garden. Juggling this combative relationship as well as trying to please her mom, the last thing she needs is to be challenged by not one, not two, but three love interests as well!

Stars Fell Again *Super Channel Fuse | Premiere

Saturday Sept 28 at 9 p.m. ET

Available On Demand on September 1
Trailer

Hollywood agent Bryce Dixon is ready to propose to Madison during their Christmas time visit to her family in rural Oregon. However, the spontaneous engagement and wedding of Madison’s sister throws Bryce’s perfect plan into a tailspin.

About Super Channel Entertainment Network:

Super Channel offers viewers exceptional entertainment value, uncut and commercial-free, with four diverse channels – Super Channel Fuse, Heart & Home, Vault and GINX TV Canada – plus, access to Super Channel On Demand where available by service provider. Super Channel is available via most cable providers across the country as well as streaming live and On Demand with Amazon Prime Video Channels, Apple TV+ and Fubo. In addition, Super Channel offers two FAST channels, Super Channel Uncovered and Super Channel Hearties, available on streaming platforms including Tubi, Plex, Xumo Play, LG and Roku. Super Channel is owned by Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc., an Edmonton based media company. For a list of service providers, please visit: superchannel.ca/subscribe

Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of TRANSFORMERS ONE.

  One winner will get a Special Prize Pack which includes: four tickets to the advance screening, a mini poster, t-shirt, back-to-school kit (pencil case, pencil, eraser), lunch-box and thermos set, magnet set, sunglasses, plus a Habro Transformers One toy as below:

All screenings will be taking place on Sunday, September 15, 2024:

TORONTO – Sunday, September 15th at 10:30 AM, Cineplex Cinemas Yonge & Eglinton – IMAX
MONTREAL (ENG) – Sunday, September 15th at 10:30 AM, Cineplex Cinemas Forum & VIP – IMAX
MONTREAL (FRE) – Sunday, September 15th at 10:30 AM, Cineplex Cinemas Quartier Latin
VANCOUVER – Sunday, September 15th at 10:30 AM, Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver – AVX
EDMONTON – Sunday, September 15th at 10:30 AM, Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton – IMAX

Synopsis: TRANSFORMERS ONE is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. In the first-ever fully CG-animated Transformers movie, TRANSFORMERS ONE features a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, with Laurence Fishburne, and Jon Hamm.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Click “like” on this Post on our X or IG accounts for an extra chance. Tag a friend you’d bring with you!

Rules and regulations here.

TRANSFORMERS ONE IS ONLY IN THEATRES SEPTEMBER 20, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Academy Award-nominated Actress Naomi Watts is in Toronto today for her latest venture, STRIPES BEAUTY. The pro-aging product line geared to wellness and beauty for women approaching menopause, is thoughtful and innovative, including creams, masks, oils and serums. It was just announced earlier this month the collection will be sold at The Bay in Canada, coincidentally or not, keeping in-line with the giant’s stripe motif in their branding. Lines of best fit!

We love Watts for her outstanding work in films and television like 21 Grams, Mulholland Drive, FEUD Capote vs. The Swans and The Impossible. And if she’s that’s believable on-screen, women should believe that Stripes Beauty are the real deal as well!

Watts will appear at The Bay Queen Street at 4 PM today, chatting with Tracy Moore about STRIPES BEAUTY, her life and career and the conversation is open to the public on the main floor. Always so lovely and gracious, the British-Australian star did the rounds earlier today, stopping to meet fans after an appearance at BT!

She stars next in EMMANUELLE and reunites with her St. Vincent Co-Star Bill Murray in THE FRIEND.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios today announced that Canadian Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Beau Garrett and Amiah Miller will join Michelle Pfeiffer in The Madison, the next installment of the Yellowstone universe from Academy Award® nominee Taylor Sheridan.

Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios and Bosque Ranch Productions, The Madison is a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana.

Adams will play Russell McIntosh, a young investment banker who has followed the life path set before him from the start.

Chapman will play Paige McIntosh, a somewhat self-centered woman who indulges in a luxurious New York lifestyle provided by her parents and investment banker husband.

Garrett will play Abigail Reese, a resilient and sardonic New Yorker, who is a recently divorced mother of two.

Miller will play Bridgette, Abigail’s eldest daughter.

Adams is prominently known to audiences worldwide as Mike Ross in the hit drama Suits, which garnered him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Most recently, Adams led the limited series Plan B and made his Broadway debut in Richard Greenberg’s Tony Award-winning revival of Take Me Out. He’s also a part of the upcoming series Lockerbie for BBC and Netflix. Additional credits include the critically acclaimed drama series Sneaky Pete, The Right Stuff, Luck, Orphan Black, Clara, Old School, and Rage. Adams is repped by CAA, The Rosenzweig Group and attorney Lev Ginsburg.

Chapman makes her television debut in Taylor Sheridan’s The Madison. She made her feature film debut in a scene opposite Tom Hanks in Marc Forster’s “A Man Called Otto” and just wrapped the indie “Florida Wild” alongside Lee Majors and Mira Sorvino. She is an alum of The Groundlings and Chapman University. She is repped by Alchemy Entertainment, Sovereign Talent Group and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher

Garrett is currently a series-regular on the hit Netflix series Firefly Lane. She previously appeared in The Good Doctor and now can be seen on Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce. She has also played recurring roles on Longmire and Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. Additional credits include Tron: Legacy, Made of Honor and Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Garrett is repped by LINK Entertainment, SDB Partners, and attorney Jason Hendler.

Miller most recently starred as co-lead in My Best Friend’s Exorcism and can next be seen in the horror thriller Hold Your Breath. She is best known for her lead role in the last installment of the Planet of the Apes franchise, War for the Planet of the Apes. Additional credits include The Water Man, Anastasia, Trafficked, Macgyver, Richie Rich and Henry Danger. Miller is repped by Entertainment 360 and CAA.

The Madison is executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, John Linson, Art Linson, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Christina Voros, Michael Friedman, Michelle Pfeiffer and Keith Cox.

The CBC Gem Original comedy series, THE NEW WAVE OF STANDUP (12×10-min), returns for season 5 with all-new episodes launching Friday, September 6, 2024 on the free CBC Gem streaming service. The new season showcases emerging comics performing standup sets that explore topics including dating, workplace politics, family dynamics and overall observations about life and finding the humour in it. These rising stars each headline their own 10-minute episodes exclusively for CBC Gem, filmed last February for a live audience at JUST FOR LAUGHS VANCOUVER.

Season 5 features the following 12 Canadian comedians:

Alistair Ogden from Toronto, ON – One of Canada’s rising comedic talents, Alistair first appeared in the national spotlight when he won CBC’s Next Up Competition in 2019. Since then, he’s taped a televised stand-up set at the Halifax Comedy Festival, been featured on a Just For Laughs Originals comedy album, and garnered over 8 million views across Instagram and TikTok. He and his show Comedy Pants have been repeatedly featured as part of the Just For Laughs VANCOUVER festival and he made his debut at Just For Laughs Toronto in 2023. You can now catch him regularly at Don’t Tell Comedy shows in Toronto and comedy clubs across the country.

Ahren Belisle from Toronto, ON – Ahren Belisle is a nonverbal comedian who has been taking the world by storm. A year into his career, he became an America’s got talent finalist and golden ticket holder on KILL TONY, the world’s largest live podcast. He started online making mental health and engineering content, and since taking on comedy, he has earned over 750,000 followers.

Cassidy Anhorn from Vancouver, BC – Cassidy Anhorn (she/her) is a dynamic queer comedic performer and writer from so-called “Vancouver”. She is featured on JFL’s Best of BC album (2023) and season 2 of YVR Funny (2023). In 2022 she began producing her own comedy variety show, Big Queer Party Mix. Additionally, she moonlights as an improviser on QueerProv.

Eva Alexopoulos from Montréal, QC – Eva Alexopoulos is your new best friend. High-energy, honest, vivacious and vulnerable, she has captured audiences across North America with the stories of her life such as being diagnosed at 29 with ADHD, exploring her sexuality, navigating the world post-extreme weight loss, and showing us all that the human experience is funny and incredibly complex. The producer of The Kickback MTL, voted #1 Comedy show in Montreal by CULT MTL. Her show, The Kickback is the first local Anglo show to get a main stage at Montreal’s ZOOFEST/OFF JFL Festival. This Greek-Latina fireball is here to hype you up, give questionable dating advice and leave you feeling a little more understood.

Faris Hytiaa from Calgary, AB – Born in Toronto to Sudanese parents and then raised in Alberta, Faris brings a unique mix of storytelling and observational humour to the stage. Known for his relaxed delivery and quick wit, his unpredictable style makes for big laughs and unforgettable crowd work moments. After releasing hos special on YouTube in 2023, Faris was named as a New Face of Comedy at Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival. He’s toured all over Canada and has worked with major acts including Dulcé Sloan, and Neal Brennan.

Jordanne Brown from Saskatchewan – Jordanne Brown is a standup comedian, writer and performer from Saskatchewan based in Toronto. She is the recipient of the Eugene Levy Writing Award, and the Tim Sims Encouragement Award. She has been featured on CBC’s TallBoyz, Toronto Sketch Fest, Sled Island and Just For Laughs Originals. Her debut album “I CAN EXPLAIN” is now available for streaming or purchase.

Myles Anderson from Vancouver, BC: To watch Myles Anderson’s comedy is to see a man unravel and then re-ravel himself onstage. Combining traditional jokes with birdlike movements, Myles always creates a unique and hilarious performance. Myles is a regular performer on Laugh Out Loud and The Debaters on CBC Radio. In 2023, Myles performed at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. This year, Myles released his new comedy special, Myles Per Hour, with 800 Pound Gorilla Media.

Rachel Manson from Toronto, ON: Rachel has headlined Just For Laughs TORONTO, and has performed at the Detroit Comedy Fest, Burbank Comedy Fest, San Diego Comedy Fest, Dallas Comedy Fest, Seattle Comedy Fest, Milwaukee Comedy fest, and much more. She has opened for headliners like Jared Freid and Judah Friedlander. She is an award-winning writer, working with producers like Sam Raimi, Debbie Liebling and others. She writes features for TUBI and you can catch her in “What We Do in the Shadow”, “WAYNE” on Amazon Prime, and commercials for Nerdwallet, and Visionworks.

Rebecca Reeds from Toronto, ON: Rebecca Reeds is a Toronto-based standup comedian, writer and podcaster. She can be heard on Sirius XM, CBC’s The Debaters, and CBC’s LOL. Past festival appearances include Just For Laughs MONTREAL, JFL TORONTO, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and Hubcap Comedy Festival. You can listen to her debut album, “Buddy” on all major streaming platforms. She also co-hosts the award-winning podcast The Villain Was Right.

Sam Sferrezza from Toronto, ON: With eight years of experience commanding laughter on and off stage, Sam Sferrazza is a dynamic stand-up comedian, writer, online personality and producer known for his razor-sharp wit and unique comedic perspective. As an online sensation @samislaughing an audience of over 72k followers on TikTok. His trademark wit, political satire, and relatable rants regularly go viral, earning recognition from Time Magazine, Narcity, and Thrillist. As a finalist in the Austin Film Festival Pitch Contest in 2023 and a performer at JFL TORONTO, as well as JFL VANCOUVER. Sam continues to elevate his craft across Canada. His achievements include his sold-out solo show 45 Minutes In Heaven and being a semi-finalist in Toronto Comedy Brawl 2023. He has also appeared on CBC radio and written for publications like CBC Arts and Xtra.

Spencer Adamus from Winnipeg, Manitoba: Spencer Adamus is a talented comedian, budding writer, and an award-winning actor. In the last year alone, Spencer has performed his quirky and endearing stand up at Just For Laughs MONTREAL, Just For Laughs TORONTO, and CBC’s Laugh Out Loud. He has starred in numerous award-winning films and has played several comedic roles in CBC and Bell TV and web series. He co-created the well-known and locally beloved sketch comedy group “Family Dinner”, receiving top reviews consecutively for three years at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. Spencer’s special, “Easy To Kill”, is jam-packed with hysterical anecdotes, eccentric accents, and zany real-life events.

Tamara Shevon from Toronto, ON: Tamara Shevon is a Toronto-based comic who started her comedic story-telling through wine-coloured glasses in Beijing, China. Since then, she has been blazing through the Toronto scene with her characteristic wit and her lovable ability to flirt with the boundaries of socially acceptable. She has performed stand-up all over China, Canada, and the United States and was second runner-up in the Beijing Comedy Festival. She has performed at Just for Laughs MONTREAL, Just for Laughs TORONTO, CBC Accent on Toronto, the Comedy is Art Festival, and was recently featured on Out for Laughs on OutTV. She is the creator and co-host of the Sunday Best Comedy Podcast, and the creator and host of ‘Chaotic Good’ a monthly pro comedy show at Comedy Bar.

“We’re proud of the diversity and comedic talent we bring to our shows to Just For Laughs VANCOUVER and it was exciting to record this series live from this year’s festival,” adds Heather Wallace, JFL VANCOUVER Festival Director / Executive Producer, The New Wave of Standup. “We’re certain audiences will be seeing a lot more from these comics in the future.”

The New Wave of Standup is executive produced by Bruce Hills and Heather Wallace. Produced by Heather Wallace with consulting producer, Neil Bansil and directed by Trish Neufeld. Supervising Producer is Blake Gregory. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Sandra Picheca is Director of Current Production, Comedy; and Greig Dymond is Executive in Charge of Current Production and Head of Festivals.

TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey is delighted to announce additional honourees who will be receiving TIFF Tribute Awards at this year’s Festival: American award-winning actor and rapper Jharrel Jerome will receive the TIFF Tribute Performer Award; and award-winning actor Zhao Tao will be presented with the TIFF Special Tribute Award. Honouring the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, the TIFF Tribute Awards gala will take place on Sunday, September 8, at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

“From Moonlight to Unstoppable, Jharrel Jerome’s depth, strength, and vulnerability on screen have made him one of his generation’s finest actors. It’s an honour to recognize his outstanding body of work with the TIFF Tribute Performer Award,” said Bailey. “In her collaborations with director Jia Zhang-Ke, the TIFF Special Tribute honouree Zhao Tao has captured the complexity and significance of China’s galvanizing change. Hers is a signature face of our 21st century, and her work in Caught by the Tides stands with her very best.”

Following his unforgettable performances in When They See Us and Moonlight (TIFF ’16), Jerome returns to the Festival for the World Premiere presentation of William Goldenberg’s Unstoppable: The Anthony Robles Story, delivering yet another outstanding, heartfelt performance portraying wrestler Anthony Robles. Past recipients of the TIFF Tribute Performer Award are Colman Domingo and Vicky Krieps in 2023; Brendan Fraser and the ensemble cast of My Policeman in 2022; Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch in 2021; Kate Winslet and Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2020; and Meryl Streep and Joaquin Phoenix in 2019.

Tao has captivated audiences worldwide. She was ranked eighth among the 25 greatest actors of the 21st century by the New York Times in 2020. Her collaborations with director Jia Zhang-Ke have produced iconic films such as Still Life and Mountains May Depart (TIFF ’15). She returns to the Festival for the North American Premiere of Caught by the Tides, where she takes centre stage in a powerful performance as Qiaoqiao. Previous recipients of the Special Tribute Award include Andy Lau in 2023, Dionne Warwick in 2021, and David Foster in 2019.

Jerome and Tao join the previously announced list of TIFF Tribute honourees: Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, David Cronenberg, Mike Leigh, Durga Chew-Bose, Clément Ducol, and Camille. Sandra Oh serves as this year’s inaugural Honorary Chair. The Tribute Awards gala is TIFF’s largest fundraiser, with proceeds from the gala going towards TIFF’s Every Story Fund, which champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film.

Jharrel Jerome Bio
Jharrel Jerome has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most recognized and praised talents following his breakout role in the Academy Award–winning film Moonlight. He starred as the lead in Ava DuVernay’s Netflix series When They See Us, winning the 2019 Emmy for Lead Actor in a Miniseries, the 2020 Critics’ Choice Award, and the 2020 NAACP Image Award, as well as receiving a SAG Award nomination. This year, Jerome starred in the Prime Video series I’m a Virgo, winning a Critics Choice Super Award and earning a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination. He also appeared in MAX’s series Full Circle, garnering another NAACP Image Award nomination.

Jerome will next star in the Amazon MGM Studios biopic Unstoppable, directed by William Goldenberg, portraying wrestler Anthony Robles. The film, featuring Jennifer Lopez and Don Cheadle, will have its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024. Jerome also had roles in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and HBO’s adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me. Jerome starred in all three seasons of Mr. Mercedes and appeared in BET’s Tales and ABC’s holiday special Live in Front of a Studio Audience. As a rapper and hip-hop artist, Jerome released his debut project Someone I’m Not in 2022.

Other film credits include Selah and the Spades, Monster, Concrete Cowboy, and First Match. Raised in the Bronx and a LaGuardia Arts High School graduate, Jerome splits his time between New York City and Los Angeles.

Zhao Tao Bio
After graduating from Beijing Dance Academy, Zhao Tao started her acting career in Platform (2000), directed by Jia Zhang-Ke — the film that inspired TIFF’s Platform programme. Her major collaborations as an actor with Jia Zhang-Ke include Caught by the Tides (2024), Ash Is Purest White (2018), Mountains May Depart (2015), A Touch of Sin (2013), Still Life (2006), The World (2004), and Unknown Pleasures (2002). Still Life was awarded the Golden Lion at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival. In 2012, she won the David di Donatello Award for her performance in Shun Li and the Poet, directed by Andrea Segre. In 2010, she worked with director Isaac Julien for the film Ten Thousand Waves. Her major works as producer include Useless (2007) and Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue (2020).

The 49th Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, takes place September 5–15, 2024.

As political discourse reaches an all-time high this fall, Slice brings audiences the most trusted voices in political satire with The Daily Show. Beginning Monday, September 9, 2024 at 11 p.m. ET/PT, the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning late-night staple will continue to expand and build on its legacy of American election coverage from its new Canadian home on Slice. Jon Stewart hosts every Monday night through the 2024 election cycle, while the show’s News Team will share hosting duties Tuesdays-Thursdays. Jon Stewart will also anchor a special one-hour live episode of The Daily Show on Tuesday, September 10 to discuss the second general election presidential debate.

The Daily Show and all of Slice’s programming is available to stream on STACKTV. Additional details on Slice’s fall schedule will be announced at a later date.