Just For Laughs is excited to announce the first line-up of artists who will be performing at the 2023 edition of the Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL Festival, presented in in association with Loto-Québec and running from July 14 – July 29, 2023.

The festival, which draws more than 2 million visitors to the city, will bring the most sought-after comedy stars and rising talent together, creating the world’s largest comedy hub for two consecutive weeks of laughter. Featuring shows citywide in a variety of venues from large theatres to more intimate club settings, the fest also features panels with esteemed celebrities and key industry insiders, live recordings of today’s most popular comedy podcasts, TV tapings, and so much more. JFL has earned their reputation as an essential launchpad for comedic talent, with many of today’s most successful comedians, writers, and actors having gotten their start at the festival, and who always like to return every July!

“With this great roster of star power already lined up for this summer, this year promises non-stop laughter and unforgettable experiences”, shares President Bruce Hills. “We have many more announcements to come, as our festival continues to celebrate the power of humour to bring people together, and to provide a platform for new stars to be discovered”.

Over the years, Just For Laughs has transformed the comedy landscape by serving some of the most iconic comedy moments of the last four decades. Quintessential JFL moments include Norm MacDonald’s festival debut, to Jim Carrey’s, to John Candy hosting HBO’s first live comedy special live from the festival. Rowan Atkinson debuts Mr. Bean character at JFL to intentionally prove to network executives its international appeal which then catapulted his famous TV franchise worldwide. Jimmy Fallon notoriously shares how his show-stopping performance at JFL, opening for Penn & Teller, led to his first development deal; to breakout New Faces performances by Hasan Minhaj to Quinta Brunson, which all led to their trajectory of stardom.

The festival also played host to the world premiere of comedy film Sausage Party with Seth Rogen, Kristin Wiig, Nick Kroll in attendance; and let’s not forget the festival’s famous galas that have been hosted by comedy icons like Mary Tyler Moore, Lily Tomlin, George Burns, Jerry Seinfeld, Wanda Sykes, Howie Mandel, Don Rickles, P.K. Subban, Dame Edna and countless others. Some of the most memorable moments still talked about today include the cast panels with HBOs VEEP joined by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Timothy Simons; the cast table reads of The Simpsons to the cast of Brooklyn Nine Nine; and a sold-out live table read of The Big Lebowski where director Jason Reitman gathered some of the biggest Hollywood celebrities for it including Jennifer Lawrence, Olivia Munn, Dennis Quaid, Michael Fassbender, and others.

Rising talents who got their big break at the fest includes 19-year-old Dave Chappelle, who landed his first development deal while at the festival after impressing Bruce Hills with his VHS audition tape; to a young Chris Rock who first performed at JFL 3 years before joining SNL. Many of today’s biggest comedy stars were first discovered as part of the festival’s New Faces showcases. This series serves as a platform for up-and-coming comedians to showcase their talents and catch the attention of audiences and industry professionals. This iconic discoverability series introduced many stars of today including Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Ali Wong, Jo Koy, Tom Segura, Kumail Nanjiani, Iliza Shlesinger, Sam Jay, and countless others. SNL has a long history of casting JFL New Faces alumni, with notable past cast members including Jimmy Fallon, Pete Davidson and Colin Jost, among others. Today, many of SNL’s current cast members, such as Sarah Sherman, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, James Austin Johnson, Marcello Hernandez Andrew Dismukes, and Punkie Johnson can trace their roots back to JFL’s New Faces showcases.

The festival is where iconic moments are made.

Don’t miss out on what we have in store this year.

This first announcement is just the beginning, with many more exciting programming highlights

to come for this summer!

KICKING US OFF THIS YEAR….

CONCERT SHOWS

Ali Wong: Live! – Wednesday, July 26, 2023 – Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, 7:00 PM

Ali Wong is a comedian, writer, actress, and director known for her comedy specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, and Emmy-nominated Don Wong. Ali executive produces and voices Bertie in Tuca and Bertie, co-wrote and starred in Always Be My Maybe and directed Sheng Wang’s Sweet and Juicy. She is also the author of the New York Times Bestseller “Dear Girls.” Beef, her next project in collaboration with A24, will be released April 2023 on Netflix.

Wong will be joined by a special guest, Sheng Wang, for this one-night only performance.

Sheng Wang is a comedian, actor and writer. His first Netflix special, Sweet & Juicy, released in September 2023 and was produced and directed by Ali Wong. He was a featured stand-up on HBO’s 2 Dope Queens special and also wrote for the ABC show Fresh Off the Boat.

Fun & Slutty, A Night with Jonathan Van Ness – Saturday, July 29, 2023 – Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, 9:30 PM

Queer joy and side-splitting comedy. Jonathan Van Ness is an Emmy-nominated television personality, 2x New York Times best-selling author, podcaster, comedian and hairstylist to the stars. He stars on Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning reboot series Queer Eye, where he shines as the hair guru and self-care advocate, and he is the host and executive producer of the Netflix series Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, based on Jonathan’s popular podcast of the same name. The series is nominated for a 34th Annual GLAAD Media Award for ‘Outstanding Reality Series.’ He was a 2022 Primetime Emmy nominee for ‘Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program’ along with his Queer Eye cast mates. Jonathan also starred on the Emmy-nominated web series Gay of Thrones, a witty social commentary series recapping HBO’s Game of Thrones. Launched in 2013, the series wrapped its eighth and final season last year and garnered Emmy nominations in 2016, 2018 and 2019 for ‘Outstanding Short Form Variety Series.’

The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamo – Thursday July 27, 2023 – Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, 9:30 PM

The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamo features a pair of grizzled gay ghouls exploring the cultural boundaries of modern beauty through interviews with gorgeous guests who inhabit various facets of the beauty industry. From models, moguls, influencers, drag queens, RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants to adult performers, actors, and more, Trixie and Katya break down the beauty behind it all.

Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All – Saturday, July 29, 2023 – L’Olympia, 9:30 PM

Anthony Jeselnik is a stand-up comedian from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He can currently be seen on his podcast, The Jeselnik and Rosenthal Vanity Project, alongside co-host Gregg Rosenthal. His most recent stand up special, Fire in the Maternity Ward, premiered on Netflix to critical acclaim. Anthony was also the creator, host and producer of his series, Good Talk and The Jeselnik Offensive on Comedy Central. He also appeared on multiple roasts for the network, most notably The Roast of Donald Trump and The Roast of Charlie Sheen. Additionally, Anthony wrote and performed the stand-up specials Thoughts and Prayers, an hour-long for Netflix and Caligula, an hour-long for Comedy Central which followed his debut comedy album, Shakespeare, for Comedy Central Records. He has performed on CONAN, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and was a writer and the first ever stand-up comic to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Kurtis Conner: Live at JFL – Wednesday, July 26, 2023 – L’Olympia, 9:30 PM

A headlining comedian, podcaster, and global YouTube sensation, Kurtis Conner has sold out shows across North America and the world. After studying comedy writing and performance in Toronto, Conner quickly found an audience on Vine, later migrating to YouTube and growing that audience to over 4.2 million subscribers worldwide. His 2016 stand-up record Cuppla Jokes reached number 6 on the Billboard comedy chart and number 1 on iTunes, while his videos regularly hit the top ten trending page on YouTube. Conner has previously appeared on stage alongside collaborators Danny Gonzalez and Drew Gooden, and also hosts the Very Really Good podcast.

Daniel Sloss: Can’t – Tuesday, July 25, 2023 to Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Gesù, 9:30 PM

Daniel Sloss is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning Scottish comedian who has become one of the biggest global names in stand-up. He has, to date, created 13 solo shows, was the biggest ticket selling comedian in the world for most of 2021, has performed seven New York seasons off-Broadway, and appeared on TV’s CONAN ten times, and had broken box office records at the world’s biggest arts festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His massive global live tours span 54 countries – so far! In February 2020, Daniel Sloss: HUBRiS, premiered in New York, just before the global pandemic shut the world down. As restrictions lifted, he performed as many live shows as was safe and legal – accelerating rapidly into becoming another global smash-hit hit tour. HUBRiS became 2021’s biggest touring solo comedy show as well as the 5th biggest ticket selling event of any genre for most of that year (as reported by Pollstar). In 2021 saw Sloss’s first book “Everyone You Hate is Going to Die ” published by Penguin Random House prestige imprint Knopf.

Carlos Ballarta: TLATOANI – Thursday, July 27, 2023 – MTELUS, 9:30 PM

Carlos Ballarta is a Mexican standup comedian and actor, born in Mexico City, with a 10-year career in the Spanish speaking stand up scene. He has three Netflix specials, El amor es de put*s (2016), Furia ñera (2018) y Falso profeta (2021), and a fourth one, Rebelde Comodino, on YouTube. He has successfully toured all around Mexico, Latin America, the United States, Canada, Spain, France, Germany and England. Ballarta will make his festival debut, performing his entire set in Spanish!

Tom Papa: 2023 Comedy Tour – Tuesday, July 25, 2023 and Thursday, July 27, 2023- Gesù, 7:00PM

With more than 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa is one of the top comedic voices in the country, finding success as an actor, host, and author, in film, TV, radio and podcasts as well as on the live stage. The comedian has had 4 highly rated stand-up specials on Netflix and recently released his 5th Netflix special, What A Day!. His highly rated podcast Breaking Bread with Tom Papa, features Tom and his guest eating, drinking, and celebrating the true meaning of breaking bread with insightful, revealing and always funny conversations. He also hosts the popular daily Netflix radio show, What A Joke with Papa And Fortune on Sirius XM Channel 93 and the monthly show, Come To Papa Live on Channel 94. He has starred in the critically acclaimed films; The Informant, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto and the HBO film Behind the Candelabra. He recently wrapped on Netflix’s Nike which is already garnering much critical acclaim.

GALAS

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

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.

Russell Peters was recently named as one of Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Comics of All Time. He started doing stand-up at the age of nineteen at open mics in his native Toronto, and spent the next fifteen years honing his craft at clubs across Canada and the UK. Peters’ most recent tour, The Deported World Tour was seen by over 400,000 fans in 40 cities across 20 countries and culminated in the stand-up special, Russell Peters Deported on Amazon Prime Video in January 2020. Peters has been awarded Gemini, Peabody, Emmy and Canadian Screen Awards for his hosting, producing and acting talents. His last TV series, The Indian Detective set a Canadian viewership record for Bell Media /CTV in 2017 and was released globally on Netflix. Peters just launched his own Podcast, ‘Culturally Cancelled with Russell Peters’ on iHeart Media.

The Jack Whitehall Gala – Friday, July 28, 2023 – Théâtre Maisonneuve, 7:00 PM

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. Featuring a star-studded line-up from across the globe. 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. In late 2021, Whitehall starred in Disney’s blockbuster adventure, Jungle Cruise, opposite Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. An acclaimed comedian who loves the stage, his 2019 arena tour, Jack Whitehall: Stood Up, was his biggest-ever stand-up show ever — playing to sold-out arenas across the UK. He then took the tour to Australia, New Zealand and Dubai. He played to packed arenas across the UK on two tours: Jack Whitehall Gets Around and Jack Whitehall: At Large. In early 2021, Netflix filmed his final tour date at Wembley Arena. Jack Whitehall: I’m Only Joking, now streaming.

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

CLUB SERIES

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

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.

The one and only Donnell Rawlings will hit the stage this summer. Besides his iconic stand-out role as Ashy Larry on Chappelle’s Show, Rawlings has also won critical acclaim for his role on HBO’s The Wire, and as Dez in Pixar’s hit film SOUL. In turn, he was honoured by The African-American Humor Awards in 2021 with the Redd Foxx Award. This year’s line-up also features performances by Steph Tolev whose comedy and acting career has skyrocketed in recent years with Netflix and Comedy Central appearances, as well as being named a Comedian You Should and Will Know by Vulture; and JFL New Faces alum, Adrienne Iapalucci who has been featured in various Netflix specials, This Week at the Comedy Cellar, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Gotham Comedy Live. She won the first ever People’s Choice award at the New York Comedy Festival and made her debut on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Her Degenerates Netflix special premiered on NYE 2020.

That’s not all! The host and additional acts will be announced soon.

Just For The Culture – Tuesday, July 18, 2023 to Wednesday, July 26, 2023 – Club Soda, daily at 7:00 PM; **with one special 4:30 PM performance added on Sunday, July 23.

Back by popular demand, Just for the Culture features a diverse line-up of comedians from various cultural backgrounds and experiences, each with distinct personalities, experiences and comedy styles.

Returning to reclaim his master of ceremonies title, is crowd favourite Alonzo Bodden. A regular panel member on NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, his first big comedy break came when he was named a New Face at Just for Laughs in 1997. Since then, he has been making audiences around the country laugh for close to 30 years. Amongst numerous TV appearances, Bodden’s fourth stand-up special, Heavy Lightweight, premiered exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

He will lead an incredible line-up with performances by JFL New Faces alum, Gianmarco Soresi, who has performed on The Late Late Show with James Corden, as well as Comedy Central, Netflix, and The Real Housewives of New York (no, really!). His first special Shelf Life, was nominated for three NY Emmy Awards and was selected as an NPR 2002 Comedy Pick. Joyelle Nicole Johnson who made her TV debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and more recently performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon twice in one year. She was nominated for a Critics Choice Award as she’s also written for hit series such as HBO’s Broad City and HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay. JFL New Face alum, Malik Elassal, is a Lebanese Canadian stand up, writer, and actor who won the Yuk Yuks Top Comic competition in his hometown of Calgary, recorded sets for the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and is currently on CBC Gem’s The New Wave of StandUp. Returning to the fest, the incomparable Judy Gold who has numerous stand-up specials on HBO, Comedy Central and LOGO. She was a part of Netflix’s Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration; and is one of the main subjects in the Hulu documentary, Hysterical. She has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show, and has won two Emmy awards for writing and producing The Rosie O’Donnell Show. She was also a writer on the final season of FX’s Better Things; A regular on CBC Radio’s Laugh Out Loud and The Debaters, Arthur Simeon is a Ugandan-born Toronto-based comedian who has been performing for a decade all over the world. A truly gifted storyteller, he has appeared multiple times at the Just For Laughs, Odd Block Comedy Festival as well as on CBC Television, HBO and the Comedy Network; and Zarna Garg who is “One in a Billion”, and that’s not the just name of her first comedy special. She’s also the only Indian mom comedian taking on her mother-in-law. She was recently profiled as one of the gutsiest women in comedy on Apple TV’s new Gutsy Women series, and is featured on This American Life with Ira Glass. That’s not all! Additional acts to be announced soon.

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

Back for another year at Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL, Brit(ish) boasts a line-up of some of the funniest comedians from across the pond. The full line-up will be announced soon, but let’s face it, we all know it’s going to be sarcastic, full of irony and a laughing riot!

Midnight Surprise – Wednesday July 26, 2023 to Saturday July 29, 2023 – Le Studio TD, 9:30 PM

One of the festival’s most highly anticipated series that takes place at midnight… that’s all you get for now as it’s intended to be the best kept secret of the fest! Audiences eagerly race to buy these tickets before they will sell out, curious to discover which all-star comedians will make surprise appearances. Previous surprise guests have included Dave Chappelle, Jerrod Carmichael, Jimmy Carr, Tiffany Haddish, Jeff Ross, Judd Apatow, and many others!

Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL would like to thank its sponsors without whom this edition would not have been possible: Beneva and Chevrolet. We would also like to acknowledge the exceptional help and support of our public partners:

Government of Canada through Canada Economic Development and Canadian Heritage, the Gouvernement du Québec through the ministère du Tourisme, the Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine and the SODEC, as well as the City of Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and Montréal centre-ville.

TICKET DETAILS:

Pre-sale tickets will be available starting today Thursday April 13 at various times

www.hahaha.com

Tickets will be available to the public as of Friday, April 14 at 10:00 AM ET at www.hahaha.com

Looking for the best way to experience Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL? Get a JFLMTL Pass!

Passes available include: the JFL 2-Show Pass for $115.00 + tax, 3-Show Pass for $155.00 + tax and 5-Show Pass for $235.00 + tax. Each pass includes up to 12 free tickets from July 14 to July 29, 2023 (some restrictions apply).

Jada Pinkett Smith producers upcoming Docu-Series CLEOPATRA, telling and debating the story behind the iconic Queen through interviews and re-enactment. It arrives May 10, 2023 on Netflix.

Synopsis:

From Executive Producer Jada Pinkett Smith comes a new documentary series exploring the lives of prominent and iconic African Queens. This season will feature Cleopatra, the world’s most famous, powerful, and misunderstood woman — a daring queen whose beauty and romances came to overshadow her real asset: her intellect. Cleopatra’s heritage has been the subject of much academic debate, which has often been ignored by Hollywood. Now our series re-assesses this fascinating part of her story.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Just a couple weeks ago, we got a proper look at the official Trailer for Disney • Pixar‘s long-awaited upcoming feature, ELEMENTAL, directed by Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur). The brilliant-looking film is set in a city where fire, water, land and air residents live together. A fiery young woman, Ember Lumen (Leah Lewis) and a go-with-the-flow guy Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie), are about the learn exactly what they have in common.

Sohn has voiced characters in marquee films like Lightyear, Ratatouille and Monsters University. He came to Toronto to present footage for what surely will make a big splash this Summer for the world’s greatest animation giants. This Film is over five years in the making and while it is slated for a June release, it still is in its finishing touches, as its lighting meticulously is being tempered in this its final stretch before the world gets to see it.

Sohn recalls his journey making Elemental and i overcome with emotion thinking about his heartfelt journey. He lost both his parents in the span of a couple years and really this Film is all for them. “I was in the Bronx and I was looking into the crowd and there was this huge diverse group of people and my parents were there in the front – these yellow faces up there – they were crying and I just lost it”. “I had a speech I was going to give, but I didn’t give it because I was so overwhelmed by seeing them. I thanked them for giving me and my brother life and there was someone in the crowd going, ‘You better thank them!’. I went back to Pixar in New York and told them the story and they were like, ‘Peter you have to do that as your story!’. That is the thing I came back to when I was getting lost.”.

Sohn tells us about the laser-precision focus in Pixar‘s winning storytelling recipe. “At Pixar, creating emotionally-genuine performances through animation is a top priority. I love that this art form is about connecting emotionally. On Elemental we had a new layer to weave into these performances – to tie the energy of the effect to an emotion, if that makes sense.”. He adds, “Our Animation Team learned that rather than one style fit all, different moments have different needs and elemental energies. They referenced that real elements evoke emotions depending on their energy… and those energies we were trying to tie into those performances.”.

Though this hasn’t taken eight years to make like other studio classics like Up and Coco, Elemental certainly has been challenging for Sohn and the Crew in a good way. “There were so many moments where the Crew was like, ‘We’re not gonna be able to do this’, and there was such a passion of what they had all done. I’ve never done anything this personal before, but it was an emotional experience for me because the Crew connected to this and put all of that love into the Film and I can’t wait for the audience to finally see the Movie.”.

On a parting note. Sohn is asked by Moderator Marriska Fernandes which element he identifies with most, He says, “I wish I was more fire but I am a sap… that emotional side is what I click with, so I’m water for sure.”.

Walt Disney Studios Canada release Disney•Pixar’s ELEMENTAL June 16, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Walt Disney Studios Canada)

My question is why isn’t this out on Valentine’s Day? This would’ve been perfect right now! Better later than never, check-out the new Trailer for LOVE AGAIN, centering around the hits and new music from Celine Dion. Priyanka Chopra and Sam Heughan star in this Mother’s Day release. Dion also appears in the Film as herself!

What if love was only a text away?💕📱

Sony Pictures Canada release LOVE AGAIN May 5, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Canada)

The Disney+ Original Movie “Crater” will debut exclusively on the service on May 12, 2023. Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, the coming-of-age sci-fi adventure stars Isaiah Russell-Bailey, Mckenna Grace, Billy Barratt, Orson Hong, Thomas Boyce and Scott Mescudi. A 21 Laps Production, the film was written by John Griffin and produced by Shawn Levy, Dan Levine and Dan Cohen. The film’s executive producers are Emily Morris, John G. Scotti, Rpin Suwannath, Gordon Gray, Paris Latsis and Terry Douglas. Today we get a new Trailer.

“Crater” is the story of Caleb Channing (Russell-Bailey), who was raised on a lunar mining colony and is about to be permanently relocated to an idyllic faraway planet following the death of his father (Mescudi). But before leaving, to fulfill his dad’s last wish, he and his three best friends, Dylan (Barratt), Borney (Hong) and Marcus (Boyce), and a new arrival from Earth, Addison (Grace), hijack a rover for one final adventure on a journey to explore a mysterious crater.

(Photo credit: Disney+)

TIFF has unveiled its May spring programming lineup featuring the return of See the North, MDFF Selects, Boosie Fade Film Club, TIFF Family Films, notable special guests, and exciting new restorations, as well as the new screening series, TIFF Next Wave Presents, curated by a committee of young film programmers.

In honour of Asian Heritage Month, TIFF Next Wave Presents Justin Lin’s 2002 standout debut film Better Luck Tomorrow, an unofficial prequel to his blockbuster Fast and Furious franchise. Lin skillfully flips the script on “model-minority” stereotypes surrounding Asian-American teens, while thoughtfully exploring issues of race, class, masculinity, and the experience of young people growing up in capitalist America. Twenty years later, Better Luck Tomorrow is an energetic and disturbing film that remains as topical and resonant as ever.

Also screening as part of Asian Heritage Month is TIFF’s recently announced POP Japan series, celebrating the convergence of the cult, pulp, and popular in Japanese film and art, running at TIFF Bell Lightbox from May 10 to June 27. POP Japan features three film series: Seijun Suzuki, World of Anime, and a spotlight on anime auteur Hayao Miyazaki. TIFF is marking Suzuki’s centenary with six newly restored 35mm prints, the second stop in a national tour, and with an in-person introduction of Kagero-za by Dr. William Carroll, author of Suzuki Seijun and Postwar Japanese Cinema, to launch the series on May 10. Seijun Suzuki and the World of Anime series are supported by the Japan Foundation, Toronto. Audiences are invited to attend free public programming events at TIFF Bell Lightbox in connection to POP Japan, including a reception in the atrium on Wednesday, May 10 from 7pm to 9pm, featuring music from DJ Sakiko Nagai to mark the opening of an art exhibition showcasing the works of multidisciplinary artists Mitsuo Kimura and Toko Hosoya.

A live-painted mural by artist Timothy Fukakusa (a.k.a. Ekwal) programmed in partnership with StreetARToronto and supported by the Japan Foundation, Toronto will also be on view throughout the run of the series, and audiences are invited to attend a free Ikebana demonstration with artist Aya Sugino on Saturday, May 13th.

From May 13–23, the TIFF Cinematheque New and Restored series will feature the Toronto premiere of the new 4K restorations of Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull and Bob Fosse’s directorial debut Sweet Charity.

On May 21, the latest installment in See the North ― TIFF’s free monthly series of Canadian cinematic treasures ― presents the viral horror sensation Skinamarink from Edmonton director Kyle Edward Ball. The filmmaker will join TIFF’s Norm Wilner, Acting Lead Programmer, Canada, for a virtual Q&A following the screening. Following its world premiere in competition at Cinéma du Réel, MDFF presents the May 25 Toronto premiere of Anyox, a debut documentary about a former mining town in remote northwest British Columbia. Filmmakers Jessica Johnson and Ryan Ermacora join TIFF for an in-person Q&A with MDFF’s Kazik Radwanski.

TIFF Cinematheque’s full programming listings can be accessed here.

TIFF CINEMATHEQUE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

TIFF Wavelengths Presents – Silent Avant-Garde – May 10

Curator, preservationist, and historian Bruce Posner will be present to comment upon the expressive possibilities of 20th-century avant-garde experimental cinema with an outstanding selection of titles digitally restored in 2K and 5K as part of the landmark touring film retrospective Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant-Garde Films 1894-1941. Music, added afterwards, features original compositions recorded by George Antheil, Marc Blitzstein, Cuarteto Caney, Guy Livingston, and Donald Sosin. Highlights are brand new digital restorations of classic experimental films including Charles Sheeler and Paul Strand’s Manhatta (1920-21); Warren A. Newcombe’s The Enchanted City (1922); Man Ray’s Return to Reason (1923); Fernand Léger and Dudley Murphy’s Ballet mécanique (1924, 1931); Miklós Bándy and Stella Simon’s Hands: The Life and Loves of the Gentler Sex (1927-29); Mary Ellen Bute and Theodore Nemeth’s Synchromy No. 4: Escape (1934), and Joseph Cornell’s The Eclipse (1936-1949).

Courtesy is extended to the multitude of archives, cultural centres, and individuals who made the restorations possible.

Boosie Fade Film Club – Hollywood Shuffle – May 11
Introduction by Boosie Fade Film Club Co-Programmers James Rathbone and Jordan Sowunmi.

Directed by Townsend, Hollywood Shuffle is a biting critique of Hollywood and the rampant typecasting that young Black actors have long faced. While the issues it raises were pervasive in 1987, the year it was released, it remains ever relevant to the realities of the careers of Black artists in the entertainment industry to this day.

TIFF Cinematheque New and Restored – May 13 – 23

A selection of recent restorations that have been painstakingly brought back to life in revived cinematic presentations. Screening in 4K on May 13, Fosse’s Sweet Charity stars Shirley MacLaine stars as Charity Hope Valentine, a hostess in a Times Square dance hall whose recent string of bad luck in love has humbled the hopeful romantic within. Encouraged by fellow dreamers Helene and Nickie (Paula Kelly and Chita Rivera, dancers whose sharp performances stun), Charity seeks to leave the dance hall behind for more upwardly mobile trade and accidentally meets cute with Oscar (John McMartin), a rule-abiding actuary who falls for Charity’s effervescent joie de vivre in a case of opposites attract.

On May 21 and 23, the 4K restoration of Scorsese’s brutal and bruising masterpiece Raging Bull uses the life of 1950s middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta to etch a searing portrait of male fear, violence, and self-torment. In an unforgettable, Academy Award–winning performance, Robert De Niro plays LaMotta as a man helpless before his own uncontrollable anger, his ferocity in the ring bleeding disastrously over into his domestic life with his wife (Cathy Moriarty) and brother (Joe Pesci).

TIFF Next Wave Presents – Better Luck Tomorrow – May 17
Introduction by TIFF Next Wave Committee member Arjun Persaud

Better Luck Tomorrow, while now known as an unofficial precursor to the Fast and Furious series, marked the humble and provocative beginning for blockbuster staple Justin Lin. A grassroots indie funded largely by Lin, the film follows the academic ― and eventually criminal ― exploits of Asian-American teenagers during the 2000s, while aptly capturing the haze of the era through a nostalgia-trodden 35mm lens. By day, the group of suburban high school seniors are straight-A students, but by night, their hunger to break from the mould leads them down a path of escalating criminal activity. At once sleek and subversive, this comedic coming-of-age–meets–crime thriller packs a punch.

See the North – Skinamarink – May 21
Introduction by Norm Wilner. Virtual Q&A with director Kyle Edward Ball following the screening.

Two children wake up alone in their house — and eventually come to realize they might not be — in this viral dream-state creeper from writer-director Kyle Edward Ball. If there exists a Venn diagram of Michael Snow’s Wavelength and Bob Clark’s Black Christmas — and there probably shouldn’t — then Skinamarink would occupy its infernal centre. An amorphous, almost subliminally unsettling work of modern horror, Ball’s first feature is rooted in the illogic of childhood, using lo-fi video in long, deliberate takes to evoke an unspeakable, inexplicable dread.

TIFF Family Films – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory – May 21

Unwrapping the annual birthday chocolate bar his family can barely afford, loveable young Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) discovers a coveted golden ticket for a private tour of the super-secret candy factory run by the eccentric Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder). Joining the four other winners (all of them differently disagreeable), Charlie enters Wonka’s wondrous world of chocolate rivers, levitating soda pop, and industrious Oompa Loompas. Filled with colourful characters and charming musical numbers, the first big-screen version of the classic Roald Dahl tale is not to be missed!

MDFF Selects – Anyox – May 25
Introduction by MDFF’s Kazik Radwanski and Q&A with directors Jessica Johnson and Ryan Ermacora following the screening.

MDFF Selects features a showcase of the world’s best, most challenging, and most provocative new international cinema. This debut feature by Johnson and Ermacora is a portrait of a British Columbia that has been exploited and abandoned. A former mining town, Anyox is now home to mountainous slag piles accumulated as a byproduct of the early 20th-century copper smelting process. The film chronicles the lives of the town’s two surviving residents while also illuminating its complex labour history and tale of severe environmental harm. Using historical archival footage and stunning 65mm cinematography, Anyox ties the past together with the present to create a grim yet utterly evocative landscape.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Reimagining: Narratives of tension and wonder – May 9 – July 4 FREE

An exhibition inspired by the bold aesthetics, narrative experimentation, and interplay between playfulness and danger in the films of POP Japan, Reimagining: Narratives of tension and wonder features works by multidisciplinary artists Mitsuo Kimura and Toko Hosoya. From intricate paintings and illustrations to sequential art and small-format objects, the works in this exhibition transform everyday materials and personal experiences into fantastical, character-driven narratives that occupy a space between real and imaginary, past and present, internal and external. This free public art exhibition will be on display in the TIFF Bell Lightbox atrium from May 9 to July 4. All are welcome; no registration is required.

Deep Focus: Ikebana Demonstration with Aya Sugino – May 13, 2pm to 3:30pm FREE

In this free demonstration by Ikebana artist Aya Sugino, a certified teacher from Sogetsu Ikebana School in Tokyo, learn about the history and practice of Ikebana as a form of self-expression, a method of storytelling, and an exploration of duality. Sugino will create arrangements inspired by different films in the POP Japan series. Light fare will be provided by Minami Toronto, the official hospitality partner of the series. Capacity is limited and registration is required.

Silver Screenings – A Bunch of Amateurs – May 19 FREE
Virtual Q&A with filmmaker Kim Hopkins and special guests following the screening.

A free exclusive screening of the award-winning documentary A Bunch of Amateurs for seniors 65+ from filmmaker Kim Hopkins. The film follows the Bradford Movie Makers, Britain’s oldest amateur filmmaking club, as they embark on one of their most ambitious projects to date. “A profoundly poignant film about coming to terms with mortality while finding great comfort in the permanent life of flickering images” (The Times), A Bunch of Amateurs is a live-affirming and inspiring documentary for passionate cinephiles and general audiences alike! All attendees are welcome; no separate registration is required for the Q&A.

TIFF Members and TIFF Under 25-Free Pass Holders receive access to year-round TIFF benefits including free access to more than 300 Cinematheque screenings. To learn more and join as a TIFF Member, visit tiff.net/membership.

INK Entertainment Group is proud to announce the latest addition to its extensive restaurant portfolio in Toronto, with Margo. Located on the fourth floor of private members’ club Clio, the reimagined, Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and lounge will be open to the public from April 25th, 2023.

A hidden gem in the heart of King West, Margo guests are invited to step off Clio’s elevator into a luxurious space, with vibrant hues and velvet accents, artfully curated lighting, captivating art adorning the walls, and weekly entertainment creating an inviting and electric atmosphere for culinary adventures, enthralling conversations, and intriguing encounters to take place.

Carefully curated by Executive Chef Marc Cheng (previously George, Patria, NAO Steakhouse and Kōst) and Chef de Cuisine Jo Castrinos (previously Splendido, Storeys, and Portland Variety), Margo’s robust menu pulls inspiration from the diverse cultures, fresh ingredients and unique flavours found along the Mediterranean Coast, from the Iberian Peninsula to the shores of Lebanon.

“We’re excited to open the doors of Margo at Clio and inject some Mediterranean flavour and hospitality to King West’s thriving culinary scene,” said Charles Khabouth, CEO and Founder of INK Entertainment Group. “Some of my fondest childhood memories involve sitting in my mother’s kitchen, tasting her incredible food which was heavily influenced by her own culinary experiences and travels along the Mediterranean. As an homage to her, we wanted to create a similar culinary adventure at Margo with a menu that transports guests through the region’s vibrant coastal towns, and a welcoming atmosphere to ensure every visit is a memorable one.”

Celebrating the bountiful Mediterranean ingredients from both the land and sea, Margo’s menu features an extensive seafood offering including dishes such as Whole Lobster Linguine for two, Grilled Octopus, and Mediterranean Sea Bass, as well as seasonal items sourced directly from both local and international suppliers. From the land, guests will also be able to indulge in both traditional and modernized Mediterranean plates including a flaming table side Saganaki, locally sourced Ontario Rack of Lamb, and Mushroom Kosheri, an Egyptian Street food dish with shaved black truffles.

Perfectly paired with Margo’s culinary offering is a Mediterranean-inspired wine program, with a dedicated section on Margo’s wine list featuring unique varietals from different Mediterranean countries, including an Indigenous grape-based white from Mallorca, the famous Château Musar from Lebanon, a selection of Greek whites and reds, as well as a few classics from Bolgheri, Sicily and Provence.

A signature cocktail menu completes Margo’s beverage program, with innovative creations inspired by the vibrant flavours and colours of the Mediterranean region. Standouts include Amara, a bright and refreshing cocktail featuring Tsiporo Greek Moonshine; Oud Fashioned, a twist on the classic presented with a tableside smoke show; and Viola, a modern take on a French 75 with gold flakes, creating a beautiful glimmer upon arrival.

Margo marks the first of many new concepts INK will be launching in Toronto this year, including Mr. Vander, a new, late-night lounge, opening on the 2nd floor of Clio in early May; an American concept Restaurant and Bar in the Financial District, in partnership with Michael Cooper and his team at award-winning real estate company Dream; and a Supper Club in Midtown in partnership with Harlo Entertainment alongside their co-founder and legendary entrepreneur Michael Kimel, both slated to open later this Spring.

Located at 600 King St. West, Margo will be open to the public starting Tuesday, April 25th, with reservations available Tuesday to Sunday, 5.30 PM until 11 PM, as well as from 11 AM to 3 PM for brunch on Sunday. Advance reservations can now be made via OpenTable.

For more information visit margotoronto.com or follow Margo on Instagram @margo.toronto.

Today, Disney+ announced the highly anticipated Original series “The Muppets Mayhem” will premiere with all episodes on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. “The Muppets Mayhem” follows The Electric Mayhem Band — Dr. Teeth on vocals and keyboards, Animal on drums, Floyd Pepper on vocals and bass, Janice on vocals and lead guitar, Zoot on saxophone and Lips on trumpet — on an epic, music-filled journey to record their first-ever studio album. With the help of a driven young music executive, Nora Singh (Singh), the old-school Muppet band comes face-to-face with the current day music scene as they try to finally record their first studio album.

“The Muppets Mayhem” stars Canadians Lilly Singh (“A Little Late with Lilly Singh”) as Nora and Saara Chaudry (“The Mysterious Benedict Society”) as Hannah, Tahj Mowry (“Baby Daddy”) as Moog, Bill Barretta as Dr. Teeth, Dave Goelz as Zoot, Eric Jacobson as Animal, Peter Linz as Lips, David Rudman as Janice, Matt Vogel as Floyd Pepper and recurring guest star Anders Holm (“Workaholics”) as JJ.

Based on characters created by Jim Henson, the series is developed and written by executive producers Adam F. Goldberg (“The Goldbergs”), Bill Barretta (“The Muppets,” “Muppets Haunted Mansion”) and co-executive producer Jeff Yorkes. Michael Bostick, Kris Eber and The Muppets Studio’s David Lightbody and Leigh Slaughter also serve as executive producers. Original music by executive music producer and Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Linda Perry.

The Disney+ Original series from Disney Branded Television is produced by ABC Signature and The Muppets Studio.

We’re so sad to see THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL come to an end. But in the very least, it gets the big emotional conclusion it deserves.

In this fifth and final season of this acclaimed Prime Video Series, we see Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) struggling to get her foot in the door and with the help of Susie (Alex Borstein), she lands a gig as a Writer on The Gordon Ford Show. We witness her contend with the patriarchy in a Writers’ Room full of men, struggling to be seen and heard, and wonder if she ever will get that big break she’s worked so hard for all these years.

Just as Joel (Michael Zegen) is ready to start a new life with Mei Lin (Stephanie Hsu), we see their relationship reach a turning point as she discovers new career opportunities. Susie is beginning to thrive, taking on several new clients and later in the season, she finally gets her own moment of recognition as we flash-forward ahead in time. We see the price of success and things work out for some and not so well for others, but in the end it all makes sense and feels right.

Brosnahan continues to be brilliant, aging Midge gracefully, but even more of that fervour we’ve come to love of her. And it’s so affecting seeing them characters finally take a bow, reflect on their unforgettable journeys together and how we’d never have it any other way.

The first three (of nine) episodes of THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL Season Five arrive Friday, April 14, 2023, with new episodes to come weekly.

(Photo credit: Prime Video)

Jennifer Lopez is back in THE MOTHER, ready to stream in time for Mother’s Day! You know you love her with a vengeance!

Synopsis:

VENGEANCE IS A MOTHER. After years of hiding out in the Alaskan wilderness, a deadly assassin returns to rescue the daughter she loved from afar. This Mother’s Day – watch THE MOTHER starring Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Lucy Paez, Omari Hardwick, Paul Raci, and Gael Garcia Bernal. Only on Netflix May 12, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)