#INTERVIEW: DISNEY’S “THE LITTLE MERMAID”

By Mr. Will Wong

After its debut in 1989, Disney animated feature THE LITTLE MERMAID would go on to become a global phenomenon, winning Golden Globes and Oscars, in addition to winning the hearts of a generation of fans. Some 34 years later, we get Rob Marshall‘s live-action adaptation of this tale of a mermaid who seeks to carve her own path, finding love with a human prince is about to enchant a new generation once again.

We were delighted to join a global press conference with the Director, Composer and Producer of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID. In-attendance were:

Halle Bailey (Ariel)
Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric)
Daveed Diggs (Sebastian)
Awkwafina (Scuttle)
Jacob Tremblay (Flounder)
Melissa McCarthy (Ursula)
Javier Bardem (King Triton)
Noma Dumezweni (Queen Selina)
Alan Menken (Composer)
John DeLuca (Producer)
Rob Marshall (Director/Producer)

Two-time Oscar nominee Melissa McCarthy plays Sea Witch Ursula. She talks about the excitement of people finally seeing this labour of love, which began production five years ago. She and her castmates attended last night’s Hollywood Premiere, which was a grand street-shutting affair.

McCarthy: “It’s really exciting. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve done it, you’re like ‘Do they really shut it down? Is the whole street blue?’. This is why I love movies, making them and everything got kind of exciting. It’s been such a long labour of love. It’s taken a while to make this beautiful thing. It’s like sending the kids off on a bus.”.

“This is the first time my kids have wanted to come to a premiere. I was nervous, but also excited they were there. They loved the Movie so much. It was fun seeing them be excited about seeing people and meeting them. They were like, ‘Oh my God, Halle is sitting behind us!’”.

Halle Bailey who stars in the plum role of Ariel, talks about her sister Chloe, who happens to be other half of their duo Chloe x Halle, finally seeing her breakthrough performance on-screen last night.

Bailey: “My sister is my best friend, she’s my rock and so yesterday was her first time seeing the Film! She cried. She was squeezing my hand so tight the whole time. I’m just so happy she loved it. And I can pat myself on the back that my big sister loved it.”.

Bailey also recalls the moment she learned she got the call from Director Rob Marshall.

Bailey: “My first reaction was sobbing.  I think we had just celebrated my sister’s birthday, before renting an Airbnb and I got this call from Rob. I don’t answer unknown numbers. And my baby brother said. ‘Answer your phone!’ and I was like okay. It was Rob and he said, “Hello, I’m looking for Ariel!’. I was just crying the whole day.”.

Jonah Hauer-King is a real revelation as Prince Eric in this live-action adaptation and he talks about the warm reception the Film has gotten already.

Hauer-King: “It’s horrendous having to sing on-screen with a Grammy-nominated Artist in a film. That’s not fun for anyone. It was an amazing night and I think the reaction from the audience to the music was incredible. It felt like such a warm reaction, so much great energy in the room. It was quite special.”.

Hamilton star Daveed Diggs plays lovable crab Sebastian and though his castmates had seen the Film prior, it was his first time seeing it.  He compares the experience working on The Little Mermaid to that of his theatre roots.

Diggs: “It was my first time seeing it and this song came on that I hadn’t heard before, and the audible ‘SING!’ in the audience. I was unaware you could do that!”

“It’s big, but the way we worked on it wasn’t big. We worked on it like it was a small thing. It felt like Community Theatre, pushing boxes around. We got in this groove and this is how you make Art. We understand something everyone could wrap their arms around and knew it inside and out.  When you watch it on this massive screen, we never saw any of that. It’s really cool to see something you only thought existed in your imagination.  I thought we were just building a world inside of our heads.”.

Academy Award-winner Javier Bardem stars as King Triton, Ariel’s father and describes taking-in the Film for the first time and also working with on-screen daughter, Bailey.

Bardem: “I’m sorry about my voice. That’s why I don’t have a song in the Movie! I loved the energy, it was amazing. People were honestly truly, deeply moved by it.  Everybody was cheering and supporting the hard work a lot of people have done with this Movie.”.

“Right in the moment I met her (Bailey), I fell for her. She has this thing where you can’t help but love her unconditionally. That was the first day. The rest of the Movie we just had fun and enjoyed the process. It was easy for us to connect. I was mesmerized by the quality of her performance – as an Actress and how much courage she had going to places she had to go.”.

Canada’s Jacob Tremblay continues to make us proud and he voices Flounder, one of Ariel’s three confidantes on her journey. He talks about the experience voicing his role in-person. And despite being born long after the timeless 1989 predecessor of this new version, it still was a part of his growing-up.

Tremblay: “We were all together for quite some time in-studio in England and got to know each other so well. That helped with the voicework. I preferred it more than being in a booth or on Zoom like during Covid. It was a privilege to be together and to do our scenes together.”.

 “I think just because it came out quite some time before I was born, I don’t remember not knowing the characters. It was still a big part of my childhood. I watched it quite a few times before going-in to film. I had to embody Flounter’s anxiety, but at the same time make sure I made it my own. It was great with everyone there, being able to riff off each other.”.

Awkwafina is a real scene-stealer as Scuttle, the seagull who joins forces with Sebastian and Flounder.  Like Tremblay, she describes the unique experience of collaborating in-person here. She also talks about the importance of diversity on-screen – which feels seamless here – and also how she relates to her character.

Awkwafina: “This is the first time I’ve ever read a scene with other Actors.  Usually we’re in a booth, while other Actors or the Director reads with you. It all just happened there and there were other people there too. That one day was where most of our performances came from.”.

“It really reflects the world we live in and everyone deserves to see themselves on-screen. This Movie also just celebrates really amazing performances. I did enjoy Scuttle and enjoyed watching it. I am Scuttle after like two Margaritas on a Tuesday. I’m very neurotic. I am Scuttle for sure.”.

Bailey tells us about the kinship between her and her character Ariel.

Bailey: “I tell people all the time that Ariel has helped me find myself and this young woman version of me. This was five years of my life, 18 to 23, those were intense transformative years developing as a young woman. The Film’s themes of what she had to go through – her passion, drive and speaking up for herself. What might be scary, she went for it. I try to adopt and give to Halle now.”.

Hauer-King talks about how while The Little Mermaid is fantastical, it actually is quite grounded in reality. He also reveals how this Film approaches the love story between Ariel and Prince Eric from a new lens.

Hauer-King: “It was a great privilege and a huge honour. The whole Film feels grounded in reality. Watching it last night made me realize for all of us even though we were living in a fantasy space, it feels really connected to the real world.  Being a Disney Prince is weird, isn’t it?”.

“Disney romances are always filled with instinctive attraction to one another. What was fun about this was that it came from our off-screen selves. Looking at Ariel and Eric as two people who were kindred spirits, restless and behind four walls of their respective castles looking outward and not in. Their relationship feels earned, teaching each other things, excited and fascinated by each other’s worlds and didn’t know it till the end. That’s what makes it last and special – the friendship tied to it.”.

Laurence Olivier Award-winning Thespian Noma Dumezweni stars as Prince Eric’s mother Queen Selina in the Film. She attributes the Film’s perfection to Director Rob Marshall.

Dumezweni: “It’s the spectacle and herding cats of it. It’s about making extraordinary people feel comfortable with what they’re doing. Rob and Jon (DeLuca, Producer) are theatre babies. Having a rehearsal on-set is such a rare thing in the TV and Film world. This is what we’re aiming for and we can be free when we’re doing it.”.

McCarthy also talks about the supportive space that Marshall created for her and her castmates.

McCarthy: “I remember the crazy 60-foot clamshell and trying not to cry every time I sang a melody. Rob sets-up this world like it is and this is why I fell in love with plays. It feels so small and you know it’s this enormous thing. If we all do our best, maybe we can make a show and it becomes so personal and everyone’s doing their best. And he’s swaddled in cashmere, quietly cheering everyone on from Actors to gorgeous camera moves and the Sound Department’s killing it. I have an appreciation of all the moving parts it takes to make a movie work. Having a cheerleader like that – we’re just so fortunate. The world wouldn’t be so mad if it had such a soft, gentle cheerleader.”.

Legendary Composer Alan Menken gets to see his compositions for The Little Mermaid take on a second life here in this new adaptation.  He sings high praise for Bailey.

Menken: “She’s adorable, so talented and you can’t take your eyes off her. The emotion is on her face and in her voice, she’s Halle Bailey, a delicious person and amazing Ariel.  You see it in levels.”.

Rob Marshall recalls Bailey being the first person he had seen for the role of Ariel and she set the benchmark with her audition off the bat.

Marshall: “The first Actor we saw for role was Halle.  The first thing she did was sing for us and sang that song. She shut her eyes and sang that song. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. She’s so deeply connected to what she’s singing about, so emotional and beautiful. How is it that we’ve been doing it for five minutes and already have found Ariel?  We saw hundreds of Actors, every ethnicity, but she claimed the role for her.”.

Walt Disney Studios Canada release THE LITTLE MERMAID May 26, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

#FIRSTLOOK: “QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE” SEASON TWO TRAILER

Paramount+ recently revealed the new premiere date for the second season of QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE. Hosted by five-time BAFTA TV Award winner Graham Norton, the new season will premiere exclusively on the service Friday, June 2, 2023 in the U.S. and Canada. The series will additionally premiere on Saturday, June 3 in the U.K., Latin America, Italy, France and Germany.

QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE follows the world’s most talented drag queens as they battle it out for global domination, and countries go head-to-head spotlighting their top talent.

See the new Trailer!

Each episode will feature the world’s fiercest queens as they debut a new musical performance in front of a live audience and the Pop Diva Panel of judges in the hopes of being crowned the “Queen of the Universe.” This season, global superstar Mel B joins the returning judges including platinum-selling recording artist, three-time Emmy-winning producer and judge of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Michelle Visage; multi-Emmy and GRAMMY® nominee Vanessa Williams; and American drag superstar Trixie Mattel.

The QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE season two cast includes Aura Eternal (Palermo, Italy), Chloe V (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Jazell Royale (Orlando, Fla., U.S.), Love Masisi (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Maxie (Manila, Philippines), Militia Scunt (San Francisco, Calif., U.S.), Miss Sistrata (Tel Aviv, Israel), Taiga Brava (Cancun, Mexico), Trevor Ashley (Sydney, Australia) and Viola (Coventry, England, U.K.).

Global drag icon and multi-Emmy Award winner RuPaul serves as an executive producer on the series, alongside MTV Entertainment Studios and World of Wonder, the producers of the Emmy Award-winning franchise “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANADA TO FUND RESTORATION OF 23 CLASSIC CANADIAN FILMS

Telefilm Canada’s Canadian Cinema – Reignited digitization initiative is announcing 23 Canadian titles that will receive funding for digitization and/or restoration this year, for a total of $659,640.

“Digitization and restoration help preserve our film history as well as create new opportunities to celebrate Canada’s filmmaking legacy, while paving the way for continued creativity, innovation, and international success,” said Francesca Accinelli, Vice President of Promotion, Communications and International Relations. “Since 2021, the Canadian Cinema – Reignited initiative restored nine seminal Canadian films with the support of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, the Festival du Nouveau Cinema, Hot Docs and the Toronto International Film Festival.”

Following a call for projects, the selection process is conducted by Telefilm with recommendations made by an advisory committee composed of internal and external experts. Decision-making was based on the cultural relevance of the film and its importance in Canadian film history, as well as its potential for commercial exploitation.

Winter Kept Us Warm (1965)

Director, screenwriter and producer: David Secter

Digitization partner: Canadian International Pictures

Tiki Tiki (1971)

Director: Gerald Potterton

Screenwriter: Jerome Chodorov, Donald Brittain and John Morgan

Producers: Gerald Potterton and Murray Shostak

Digitization partner: Canadian International Pictures

In Praise of Older Women (1978)

Director: George Kaczender

Screenwriter: Paul Gottlieb

Producers: Robert Lantos, Claude Heroux, Harold Greenberg and Stephen J. Roth

Digitization partner: Serendipity Point Films

La maladie, c’est les compagnies (1979)

Director and producer: Richard Boutet

Screenwriter: Danyèle Patenaude

Digitization partner: Cinema Politica

Au clair de la lune (1983)

Director: André Forcier

Screenwriters: André Forcier, Jacques Marcotte, Guy L’Écuyer, Michel Côté, Michel Pratt and Bernard Lalonde

Producers: Bernard Lalonde and Louis Laverdière

Digitization partner: Québecor Média inc./Éléphant : mémoire du cinéma québécois

Les six saisons Attikameks (1983)

Directors and screenwriters: Pierre Dinel and Pierre Hivon

Producer: Pierre Dinel

Digitization partner: Cinémathèque québécoise

Artie Shaw: Time is All You’ve Got (1985)

Director, writer and producer: Brigitte Berman

Digitization partner: Toronto International Film Festival

Joshua Then and Now (1985)

Director: Ted Kotcheff

Screenwriter: Mordecai Richler

Producers: Robert Lantos and Stephen J. Roth

Digitization partner: Serendipity Point Films

Determinations (1988)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Oliver Hockenhull

Digitization partner: Moksha Media Incorporated

Archangel (1990)

Director: Guy Maddin

Screenwriters: Guy Maddin and George Toles

Producer: Greg Klymkiw

Digitization partner: Sphinx Productions

White Room (1990)
Director and screenwriter: Patricia Rozema

Producer: Alexandra Raffé

Digitization partner: Vos Productions and Film Associates International

Masala (1991)

Director and screenwriter: Srinivas Krishna

Producers: Camelia Frieberg and Srinivas Krishna

Digitization partner: Toronto International Film Festival

Deux actrices (1993)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Micheline Lanctôt

Digitization partner: Québecor Média inc./Éléphant : mémoire du cinéma québécois

Eldorado (1995)

Director and screenwriter: Charles Binamé

Producer: Lorraine Richard

Digitization partner: Québecor Média inc./Éléphant : mémoire du cinéma québécois

Cube (1997)

Director: Vincenzo Natali

Screenwriters: Vincenzo Natali, André Bijelic and Graeme Manson

Producers: Mehra Meh and Betty Orr

Digitization partner: Canadian Film Centre

The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

Director and screenwriter: Atom Egoyan

Producers: Atom Egoyan and Camilia Frieberg

Digitization partner: Sphinx Productions

Hey, Happy! (2001)

Director and screenwriter: Noam Gonick

Producer: Laura Michalchyshyn

Digitization partner: Big Daddy Beer Guts, Inc.

Honour Before Glory (2001)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Anthony Sherwood

Digitization partner: Anthony Sherwood Films Inc.

Khaled (2001)

Director and screenwriter: Asghar Massombagi

Producer: Paul Scherzer

Digitization partner: Canadian Film Centre

Saved by the Belles (2003)

Director and producer: Ziad Touma

Screenwriters: Ziad Touma and Brian C. Warren

Digitization partner: Couzin Films

Poor Boy’s Game (2007)

Director: Clement Virgo

Screenwriters: Clement Virgo and Chaz Thorne

Producers: Damon D’Oliveira, Chaz Thorne and Clement Virgo

Digitization partner: Conquering Lion Pictures

Incendies (2010)

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Screenwriter and Dialogue: Denis Villeneuve in collaboration with Valérie Beaugrand-Champagne

Producers: Luc Déry and Kim McCraw

Digitization partner: Microscope Inc.

Monsieur Lazhar (2011)

Director and screenwriter: Philippe Falardeau

Producers: Luc Déry and Kim McCraw

Digitization partner: Microscope Inc.

#FASHION: H&M X MUGLER COLLECTION IN STORES MAY 11, 2023

The H&M and Mugler collection was recently unveiled in NYC. The bash celebrated the forthcoming launch of their much-anticipated collection with an immersive experience encompassing entertainment, music, performance, and fashion. The event was attended by numerous friends of the Mugler and H&M community – including Pamela Anderson, Charli XCX, Chloë Sevigny, Lourdes Leon and Dominique Jackson – who all wore pieces from the Mugler H&M collection.

The event featured group performances by musicians Shygirl, Amaarae, and Eartheater, all of whom star in the Mugler H&M music video and were dressed in exclusive looks from the new collection. Each artist performed a series of their own hits, before uniting to perform a new version of the 90s club classic “Music Sounds Better With You”, a track specially commissioned in celebration of the Mugler H&M collection.

The performances were punctuated by a runway show, alongside dance performances and DJ sets by Bobby Beethoven, Goth Jafar and Asmara and a subsequent after-party. The event was curated as a special hybrid, bringing together sound, style, live performance, club culture and dance, all while nodding to the theatricality and flamboyance that has been a signature of the house from its inception under Thierry Mugler through to its current incarnation under the direction of Casey Cadwallader. With over 800 guests in attendance, the event encapsulated the sense of diversity and inclusivity that is central to Mugler and that underpins the democratic ethos of the H&M designer collaborations.

“Mugler has always been a house with a lot of cultural soul, and this event was a celebration of our long association with music, dance and performance. It was the ideal celebration of the Mugler H&M collection, and the perfect way to welcome people into our world – an unforgettable night built around freedom, personal expression and liberating, bold fashion.” – Casey Cadwallader, Creative Director at Mugler

“This event was a true cultural moment – a tribute to Mugler’s long history of welcoming people into a world of transformation and self-expression. When you think of Mugler you think of show-stopping fashion and catwalk theatrics, and this was just that. – Ann-Sofie Johansson, Creative advisor at H&M
“It felt amazing to be performing in the Mugler H&M collection. When you think of the history of Mugler you think of so many iconic musical moments and incredible performances, so it’s an honour to be included in Casey’s vision for this special celebration.” – Shygirl

The Mugler H&M collection will be available at hm.com and in selected stores on May 11, 2023.

#FIRSTLOOK: SEE PARTYNEXTDOOR FREE AT SIRIUSXM CANADA “MIXTAPE: NORTH” LAUNCH

Today, SiriusXM Canada announced the long-awaited return of Canadian R&B singer, songwriter and producer, PARTYNEXTDOOR, performing his first live show in Toronto in seven years on Thursday, May 25 in celebration of the launch of Mixtape: North, the first 24/7 Canadian Hip-Hop and R&B channel.

Fans can register to get free tickets to PARTYNEXTDOOR and Friends happening at Live Nation Canada’s newest entertainment venue HISTORY, starting today at 9:00am ET. Curated by PARTYNEXTDOOR and SiriusXM’s Mixtape: North, the show will also feature a lineup of soon-to-be-announced artists representing some of the best emerging and established Canadian artists on the scene. While the channel debuted in late 2022, the event will mark the official launch of Mixtape: North (ch. 164), available to subscribers across North America. The concert will be recorded and will broadcast on Mixtape: North as part of SiriusXM’s comprehensive lineup of Black Music Month programming in June. Mixtape: North will also feature an exclusive in-studio takeover with PARTYNEXTDOOR who will be playing his favourite selects from across the channel’s catalogue.

“There is no better way to celebrate the launch of Mixtape: North than with local talent turned global superstar, PARTYNEXTDOOR,” says Michelle Mearns, Vice President of Programming and Operations, SiriusXM Canada. “This channel showcases our incredible homegrown Hip-Hop and R&B artists, giving listeners the opportunity to discover new and emerging music, and enjoy current and classic hits from artists across Canada. Mixtape: North is the home for Canadian Hip-Hop and R&B.”

To ensure all tickets get into the hands of fans, SiriusXM and Live Nation Canada are using Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan technology for this event. Verified Fan uses a registration system to help filter out buyers looking to resell tickets. Registration opens on Monday, May 8 at 9:00am ET and closes on Tuesday, May 9 at 11:59pm ET. Fans can register HERE. The Verified Fan redemption is set to begin on Friday, May 12 at 10:00am ET. Tickets are completely free for all Verified Fans. No taxes. No fees. This is a 19+ event.

Mixtape: North is available to subscribers across North America in their car and on the SXM App. The SXM App is available to subscribers on mobile devices and a wide variety of connected platforms in the home including smart speakers, smart TVs and streaming media players. Streaming access is included with all of SiriusXM’s audio trials and most popular plans.

#FASHION: UNIQLO CANADA LAUNCH UV WEAR COLLECTION

April showers really do bring May flowers and we are ready to enjoy the sunshine after lots of rain…as we step into brighter days, UNIQLO Canada wants to make sure that you are protected against the hot and sunny weather with its wearable UV protection collection.

We all know how harmful the sun is to our skin and now, more than ever, people are eager to protect and prevent against sun damage. UNIQLO Canada’s UV wear is an easy sun solution to add to your protection repertoire, that blocks up to 90% of UV rays! Crafted using raw materials with reflective and UV-blocking properties, the fabric is designed with double sun protection technology to promote UV ray reflection and absorption. Available in a range of light colours and absorbent fabrics, the wearable sun protection line has a range of pieces that will have you feeling confident and protected as you step out into the sunshine.

Check out some favourite styles from the Collection that are keeping us safe and stylish this summer, below!

• Pocketable UV Protection Parka – $59.90
• UV Protection Crew Neck Cropped Cardigan – $49.90
• AIRism Soft UV Protection Pocket Leggings – $49.90
• UV Protection Braided Hat – $39.90
• Boston Square Sunglasses – $29.90

Browse Uniqlo Canada’s UV Collection here.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “MEG 2: THE TRENCH”

Get ready for the ultimate adrenaline rush this summer in “Meg 2: The Trench,” a literally larger-than-life thrill ride that supersizes the 2018 blockbuster and takes the action to higher heights and even greater depths with multiple massive Megs and so much more! Dive into uncharted waters with Jason Statham and global action icon Wu Jing as they lead a daring research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal Megs and relentless environmental plunderers, our heroes must outrun, outsmart, and outswim their merciless predators in a pulse-pounding race against time. Immerse yourself in the most electrifying cinematic experience of the year with “Meg 2: The Trench” – where the depths of the ocean are matched only by the heights of sheer, unstoppable excitement!

Warner Bros. Pictures and CMC Pictures present “Meg 2: The Trench,” with Statham and Jing headlining an ensemble cast that also includes Sophia Cai (“The Meg”), Page Kennedy (“The Meg”), Sergio Peris-Mencheta (“Rambo: Last Blood”), Skyler Samuels (“The Gifted”), and Cliff Curtis (“Avatar” franchise).

“Meg 2: The Trench” is directed by Ben Wheatley (“In the Earth,” “Free Fire”), from a screenplay by Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber (“The Meg,” “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts”) and Dean Georgaris (“The Meg,” “Lara Croft: Toom Raider – The Cradle of Life”), and a screen story by Dean Georgaris and Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber, based on the novel The Trench by Steve Alten. The film is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura (“The Meg,” “Bumblebee”) and Belle Avery (“The Meg,” “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”), and executive produced by Jason Statham, Cate Adams, Ruigang Li, Catherine Xujun Ying, Wu Jing, E. Bennett Walsh, Erik Howsam, Gerald R. Molen and Randy Greenberg.

Joining director Wheatley behind the camera are director of photography Haris Zambarloukous (“Belfast,” “Murder on the Orient Express”), production designer Chris Lowe (“The Gray Man,” “No Time to Die”) and editor Jonathan Amos (“Baby Driver,” “Paddington 2”). The visual effects supervisor is Pete Bebb (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “Inception”), and costume designer is Lindsay Pugh (“The Matrix Resurrections,” “Krypton”). The music is by Harry Gregson-Williams (“The Meg,” “The Martian”).

Warner Bros. Pictures and CMC Pictures present, in association with DF Pictures, a di Bonaventura/Apelles Entertainment, Inc. production, a Ben Wheatley film, “Meg 2: The Trench.” It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is set to open in theatres in North America on August 4, 2023 and internationally beginning 02 August 2023.

#HOTDOCS: 2023 HOT DOCS ROGERS AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Hot Docs Festival 2023 came to its close last night, bringing 214 films from 72 countries to audiences in Toronto cinemas. The 11-day festival featured 308 live screenings on nine screens at four venues across the city, with 235 live filmmaker Q&As, and five special extended discussions with filmmakers and special guests as part of the Big Ideas Series, presented by Scotia Wealth Management. In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Hot Docs presented the Podcast Festival Showcase, featuring a slate of today’s hottest podcasts live on stage, A Wall Is a Screen site-specific outdoor screening at Ontario Place, and a series of special activations for attendees throughout the Festival. Further building on national audiences cultivated by past online and hybrid editions, 123 official selections started streaming across Canada on Friday, May 5 and will continue through to Tuesday, May 9.

“As the curtain closes on a highly successful 30th-anniversary edition of Hot Docs Festival, we are reminded once again of the power and impact of documentary—not only in reflecting our world, but also in building community, creating connection and challenging us to play our part in making this world a better place,” shared Shane Smith, Hot Docs Artistic Director. “We are humbled by the emphatic reception we received from our famously curious Toronto audiences, whose energy, engagement and enthusiasm are always a Festival highlight for filmmakers, and who continue to inspire our mission to showcase outstanding, outspoken documentaries. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the volunteers, filmmakers, industry delegates, sponsors and partners who helped us bring Hot Docs 2023 to life.”

The Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary, which recognizes the top Canadian feature as determined by audience poll with a cash prize of CAD 50,000, was announced last night at a free encore screening at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. Someone Lives Here (D: Zack Russell | P: Matt King, Andrew Ferguson | Canada)—the story of a young Toronto carpenter building life-saving shelters for unhoused people facing the winter outside during the pandemic, while also facing staunch opposition from the city government—received the prize, courtesy of Rogers Group of Funds.

With CAD 80,000 in cash and prizes announced at the Hot Docs Awards Presentation on Saturday, May 6, and CAD 78,000 in pitch prizes awarded at the close of Hot Docs Forum on Wednesday, May 3, this year the Festival awarded a total of CAD 208,000 in cash and prizes to filmmakers.

Hot Docs Audience Awards are determined by votes submitted by Festival audiences after in-person screenings. At the close of the Festival, it was determined that Lac-Mégantic – This is Not an Accident (D: Philippe Falardeau | P: Annie Sirois | Canada)—a captivating four-part series from Oscar-nominated director Philippe Falardeau that exposes the scandalous causes of one of Canada’s worst rail disasters and the urgent changes needed to prevent the next one—placed first in the overall audience poll and won the Hot Docs Audience Award.

The top mid-length film in the audience poll, winning the Audience Award for Mid-Length Documentary, was When Spring Came to Bucha (D: Mila Teshaieva, Marcus Lenz | P: Marcus Lenz | Ukraine, Germany), in which cameras quietly capture the resilience of a people who will not be broken. The top short film, winning the Audience Award for Short Documentary, was Eco-Hack! (D: Josh Izenberg, Brett Marty | P: Josh Izenberg, Brett Marty | USA), capturing conservation biologist Tim Shield’s fight to protect desert tortoise populations from ravens.

The 20 documentaries in the audience poll are:

1. Lac-Mégantic – This is Not an Accident (D: Philippe Falardeau | P: Annie Sirois | Canada)
2. Someone Lives Here (D: Zack Russell | P: Matt King, Andrew Ferguson | Canada)
3. 20 Days in Mariupol (D: Mstyslav Chernov | P: Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, Raney Aronson-Rath, Derl McCrudden | USA)
4. The American Gladiators Documentary (D: Ben Berman, Kirk Johnson (co-director) | P: Russell Wayne Groves, Danny Gabai, Andrew Freston | USA)
5. Silent House (D: Farnaz Jurabchian, Mohammadreza Jurabchian | P: Elaheh Nobakht, Farnaz Jurabchian, Mohammadreza Jurabchian | Iran, France, Qatar, Canada, Philippines)
6. Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story (D: Kordo Doski | P: Kordo Doski, Lina Hanson, Jose Moreno Brooks, Paul Canterna | Canada, Iraq, USA, Sweden)
7. Non-Aligned: Scenes from the Labudović Reels (D: Mila Turajlić | P: Carine Chichkowsky, Mila Turajlić | Serbia, France, Croatia, Montenegro, Qatar)
8. The Stroll (D: Kristen Lovell, Zackary Drucker | P: Matt Wolf | USA)
9. Angel Applicant (D: Ken A. Meyer | P: Ken A. Meyer, Jason Roark | USA)
10. Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law? (D: Joe Piscatella | P: Matthew Torne, Mark Rinehart, Joe Piscatella | USA, Hong Kong, UK)
11. Against the Tide (D: Sarvnik Kaur | P: Koval Bhatia, Sarvnik Kaur | India, France)
12. Seven Winters in Tehran (D: Steffi Niederzoll | P: Melanie Andernach, Knut Lodsen | Germany, France)
13. Eco-Hack! (D: Josh Izenberg, Brett Marty | P: Josh Izenberg, Brett Marty | USA)
14. Name Me Lawand (D: Edward Lovelace | P: Fleur Nieddu, Sam Arnold, Beyan Taher, Neil Andrews, Marisa Clifford | UK)
15. We Will Not Fade Away (D: Alisa Kovalenko | P: Valery Kalmykov, Stephane Siohan, Katarzyna Kuczynska, Tomasz Morawski, Oleksiy Kobelev | Ukraine, France, Poland)
16. The Deepest Breath (D: Laura McGann | P: John Battsek, Sarah Thomson, Jamie D’Alton, Anne McLoughlin | UK, Ireland)
17. Hong Kong Mixtape (D: San San F Young | P: Nikki Parrott, San San F Young | UK)
18. El Equipo (D: Bernardo Ruiz | P: Bernardo Ruiz, Gabriela Alcalde, Fabian Caballero | USA)
19. When Spring Came to Bucha (D: Mila Teshaieva, Marcus Lenz | P: Marcus Lenz | Ukraine, Germany)
20. Invisible Beauty (D: Bethann Hardison, Frédéric Tcheng | P: Lisa Cortés, Paul Dallas | USA)

Hot Docs’ incredibly popular Docs For School program also ran during the Festival, offering teachers across Canada free access to 16 films, including eight official selections from this year’s Festival, and accompanying teaching resources linked to curriculum. Hot Docs also presented its annual market and conference, welcoming 1,800 delegates from more than 40 countries. The Hot Docs Industry program featured four days of knowledge sessions and networking events including Hot Docs Forum and Hot Docs Deal Maker, along with additional industry content.

#NEWMUSIC: MARY STEENBURGEN – “ANYWHERE WITH YOU” FROM “BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER”

Mary Steenburgen, star of BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER will have a song on the Soundtrack for the upcoming Sequel! How cool is that? She even co-penned the song “Anywhere With You” which you can pre-save now on Apple Music and Spotify here.

Director: Bill Holderman
Writers: Bill Holderman & Erin Simms
Based on Characters Created By: Bill Holderman & Erin Simms
Producers: Bill Holderman, Erin Simms
Executive Producers: Brad Weston, Trish Hofmann, Enzo Sisti, Andrew Duncan
Cast: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Giancarlo Giannini with Andy Garcia, and Don Johnson
Story: The highly anticipated sequel follows our four best friends as they take their book club to Italy for the fun girls trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada will release BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER Nationwide In-Theatres on Friday, May 12, 2023.

#FIRSTLOOK: ALICIA KEYS FT. QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S GLOBAL ORCHESTRA FROM “QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY”

Have you had a chance to check-out QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY yet? The Prequel series to beloved Shondaland creatiom BRIDGERTON is now streaming on Netflix. Today we get a look at a performance from the Series of “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys ft. Queen Charlotte’s Global Orchestra.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)