#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER SEASON 2 of “THE DIPLOMAT”

Netflix releases the official trailer for season two of The Diplomat, premiering October 31, 2024. Only on Netflix.

The hit political drama returns for its second season with Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell at the helm – with higher stakes, wider scope and one very impressive Vice President (Allison Janney).

About The Diplomat Season 2
The call is coming from inside the house.

A deadly explosion in the heart of London shatters US Ambassador Kate Wyler’s world (Keri Russell). Struggling to rebuild the lives that broke and the team that split apart, Kate’s worst fears unfold: The attack that brought her to the UK didn’t come from a rival nation, it came from inside the British government. As Kate chases the truth, her only real ally is her almost-ex-husband Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), very much alive, and very much involved. She faces a fraught marriage, a complex dynamic with British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), and a threatening visit from Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney).

Stately homes. State secrets. High treason. High tea. From Creator, Showrunner, and Executive Producer Debora Cahn, the Emmy-nominated series THE DIPLOMAT returns for a second season. Janice Williams, Alex Graves, and Keri Russell serve as Executive Producers. Also starring Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, and Ato Essandoh.

Series Launch Date: Thursday, October 31 at 12:00 AM PT
Creator / Showrunner / Executive Producer: Debora Cahn
Executive Producers: Janice Williams, Keri Russell, Peter Noah, Alex Graves
Starring: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, and Ato Essandoh
Additional Cast: Celia Imrie, Michael McKean, Nana Mensah, Miguel Sandoval
Guest Starring: Allison Janney

#FIRSTLOOK: 2024 GOVERNOR GENERAL’S LITERARY AWARDS (GGBOOKS) FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The Canada Council for the Arts is pleased to announce the 2024 finalists in the Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks). These prestigious awards celebrate works published in Canada, in both official languages, across seven categories, and include books for readers of all ages.

“At the Canada Council for the Arts, we are delighted to celebrate the announcement of the 2024 Governor General’s Literary Awards finalists. These extraordinary books are not just stories—they are works of art that offer readers immersive and enriching experiences. Each of the creators has crafted something truly special, inviting us to see the world from a new perspective. We hope readers will embrace these works with the appreciation they deserve as enduring contributions to our literary and cultural heritage.”

— Michelle Chawla, Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts

Following a rigorous process, the peer assessment committees convened by the Canada Council have selected 70 books published in Canada over the last year as the 2024 finalists.

Mark your calendars
The 14 winners will be announced on ggbooks.ca on November 13, 2024.

About the GGBooks
Founded in 1936, the Governor General’s Literary Awards are some of the oldest and most prestigious literary prizes in Canada, with a total annual prize value of $450,000.

The Canada Council for the Arts has funded, administered and promoted these awards since 1959.
Finalists are selected by category-specific, language-based peer assessment committees (seven in English and seven in French). This year, the committees considered eligible books published between August 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024.

The writers, translators and illustrators whose books are selected as the winner in a given category receive a $25,000 prize. Publishers receive $3,000 to promote the winning book; finalists receive $1,000 each.

English-language finalists for 2024 (seven categories)
Fiction
Code Noir – Canisia Lubrin (Whitby, Ontario), Knopf Canada (Penguin Random House)
Empty Spaces – Jordan Abel (Edmonton, Alberta), McClelland & Stewart (Penguin Random House Canada)
The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: Vol. 1: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island – Kent Monkman, Gisèle Gordon (Toronto, Ontario (both)), McClelland & Stewart (Penguin Random House Canada)
Her Body Among Animals – Paola Ferrante (Toronto, Ontario), Book*hug Press
Naniki – Oonya Kempadoo (Montréal, Quebec), Dundurn Press

Poetry
The Work – Bren Simmers (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island), Gaspereau Press
Precendented Parroting – Barbara Tran (Toronto, Ontario), Palimpsest Press
The All + Flesh – Brandi Bird (Burnaby, British Columbia), House of Anansi Press
Sonnets from a Cell – Bradley Peters (Chilliwack, British Columbia), Brick Books
Scientific Marvel – Chimwemwe Undi (Winnipeg, Manitoba), House of Anansi Press

Drama
I Forgive You – Scott Jones, Robert Chafe (Scotsburn, Nova-Scotia / St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador), Playwrights Canada Press
New – Pamela Mala Sinha (Toronto, Ontario), Playwrights Canada Press
The Green Line – Makram Ayache (Toronto, Ontario), Playwrights Canada Press
Shorelines – Mishka Lavigne (Gatineau, Quebec), Playwrights Canada Press
There Is Violence and There Is Righteous Violence and There Is Death, or the Born-Again Crow – Caleigh Crow (Calgary, Alberta), Playwrights Canada Press

Non-fiction
Crooked Teeth: A Queer Syrian Refugee Memoir – Danny Ramadan (Vancouver, British Columbia), Viking Canada (Penguin Random House)
Becoming a Matriarch – Helen Knott (Fort St. John, British Columbia), Knopf Canada (Penguin Random House)
The Walls Have Eyes – Petra Molnar (New York City, United States), The New Press
The Age of Insecurity – Astra Taylor (Saugerties, United States), House of Anansi Press
Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre – Niigaan Sinclair (Winnipeg, Manitoba), McClelland & Stewart (Penguin Random House Canada)

Young People’s Literature – Text
Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams – Shari Green (Campbell River, British Columbia), Andrews McMeel Publishing
A Crane Among Wolves – June Hur (Scarborough, Ontario), Feiwel and Friends (MacMillan Publishers)
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix – Cherie Dimaline (Midland, Ontario), Feiwel and Friends (MacMillan Publishers)
Crash Landing – Li Charmaine Anne (New Westminster, British Columbia), Annick Press
Mortified – Kristy Jackson (Corman Park, Saskatchewan), Harper Collins Canada

Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
I’m Afraid, Said the Leaf – Danielle Daniel, Matt James (Little Current, Ontario / Toronto, Ontario), Tundra Books (Penguin Random House Canada)
The Gulf – Adam de Souza (Vancouver, British Columbia), Tundra Books (Penguin Random House Canada)
Do You Remember? – Sydney Smith (Halifax, Nova Scotia), Groundwood Books
Skating Wild on an Inland Sea – Jean E. Pendziwol, Todd Stewart (Thunder Bay, Ontario / Montréal, Quebec), Groundwood Books
One Giant Leap – Thao Lam (Toronto, Ontario), Owlkids Books

Translation (from French to English)
So Long Sad Love – Aleshia Jensen (Montréal, Quebec), Drawn and Quarterly; translation of Adieu triste amour, by Mirion Malle
The Hollow Beast – Lazer Lederhendler (Montréal, Quebec), Biblioasis; translation of La bête creuse, by Christophe Bernard
Sadie X – Aimee Wall (Montréal, Quebec), Book*hug Press; translation of Sadie X, by Clara Dupuis-Morency
Morel – Melissa Bull (Montréal, Quebec), Baraka Books; translation of Morel, by Maxime Raymond Bock
Nights Too Short to Dance – Katia Grubisic (Montréal, Quebec), Second Story Press; translation of Un cœur habité de mille voix, by Marie-Claire Blais

French-language finalists for 2024 (seven categories)
Fiction
Lait cru – Steve Poutré (Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu, Quebec), Éditions Alto
De grandes personnes – Mathieu Rolland (Montréal, Quebec), Les Éditions du Boréal
La version qui n’intéresse personne – Emmanuelle Pierrot (Montréal, Quebec), Le Quartanier
Le compte est bon – Louis-Daniel Godin (Montréal, Quebec), La Peuplade
Muette – Pascale Beauregard (Montréal, Quebec), Les Éditions du Boréal

Poetry
Soleil sans heures – Olyvier Leroux-Picard (Cookshire-Eaton, Quebec), Poètes de brousse
poème dégénéré – névé dumas (La Pêche, Quebec), L’Oie de Cravan
Les couteaux dans ma gorge ne sont pas des fruits de mer – Annie Landreville (Rimouski, Quebec), Poètes de brousse
L’air fou – Jonas Fortier (Montréal, Quebec), L’Oie de Cravan
Lettres au ciel blanc – Emmanuel Simard (Lac-Mégantic, Quebec), Poètes de brousse

Drama
Ciseaux – Geneviève Labelle, Mélodie Noël Rousseau (Montréal, Quebec (both)), Éditions du remue-ménage
La dernière cassette: Un portrait d’André Brassard – Olivier Choinière (Montréal, Quebec), Atelier 10
Wollstonecraft – Sarah Berthiaume (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions de Ta Mère
Ornithorynques – Johanne Parent (Bathhurst, New Brunswick), Éditions Perce-Neige
Rose – Isabelle Hubert (Québec City, Quebec), L’instant même

Non-fiction
Hors jeu: Chronique culturelle et féministe sur l’industrie du sport professionnel – Florence-Agathe Dubé-Moreau (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions du remue-ménage
Noir satin – Stanley Péan (Montréal, Quebec), Les Éditions du Boréal
Oser l’humour éthique: De Socrate à Virginie Fortin – Jérôme Cotte (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions Somme toute
Porter plainte – Léa Clermont-Dion (Saint-Lambert, Quebec), Le Cheval d’août
Une abeille suffit: Carnet d’observation d’un jardin urbain – Geneviève Boudreau (Québec City, Quebec), Éditions du Noroît

Young People’s Literature – Text
Carreauté Kid – Marc-André Dufour-Labbé (Montréal, Quebec), Leméac Éditeur
Déménager au ciel – Jean-Guy Forget, Mélodie Bujold-Henri (Montréal, Quebec (both)), la courte échelle
Une bulle en dehors du temps – Stéfani Meunier (Montréal, Quebec), Leméac Éditeur
Envole-toi, Mikun – Moira-Uashteskun Bacon (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions Hannenorak
Les quatre vérités – Dominique Chicoine (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec), Les Éditions du Boréal

Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books
Histoires fantastiques (et peut-être vraies) – Caroline Merola (Montréal, Quebec), la courte échelle
Jour d’orage – Marianne Ferrer (Montréal, Quebec), Monsieur Ed
Le fil d’Alphée – Marie-Andrée Arsenault, Dominique Leroux (Montréal, Quebec / Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec), Les éditions la Morue verte
Le premier arbre de Noël – Ovila Fontaine, Charlotte Parent (Maliotenam, Quebec / Bécancour, Quebec), Éditions de la Pastèque
Margot veut une moustache – Iris Boudreau, Richard Écrapou (Montréal, Quebec (both)), Les Éditions de la Bagnole

Translation (from English to French)
Ristigouche: Le long cours de la rivière sauvage – Éric Fontaine (Montréal, Quebec), Les Éditions du Boréal; translation of Restigouche: The Long Run of the Wild River, by Philip Lee
Charlie Muskrat – Daniel Grenier (Québec City, Quebec), Éditions Hannenorak; translation of Charlie Muskrat, by Harold Johnson
Cours vers le danger – Madeleine Stratford (Ottawa, Ontario), Les Éditions du Boréal; translation of Run Towards the Danger: Confrontations with a Body of Memory, by Sarah Polley
La messagère – Sophie Voillot (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions Alto; translation of The Book of Rain, by Thomas Wharton
Mourir pour la cause : révolution dans le Québec des années 1960 – Alexandre Fontaine Rousseau (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions Pow Pow; translation of Are You Willing to Die for the Cause? Revolution in 1960s Quebec, by Chris Oliveros

Makeup of the 2024 English-language peer assessment committees
Fiction: Chris Eaton, Francesca Ekwuyasi and Jen Ferguson

Poetry: Kathryn Mockler, Heather Nolan and Tolu Oloruntoba

Drama: Kevin Kerr, Marcia Johnson and Kamila Sediego

Non-fiction: Jordan Abel, Robyn Maynard and Mary Soderstrom

Young People’s Literature – Text: Sarah Everett, Louisa Onomé and Ken Setterington

Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books: Kyrsten Brooker, Shauntay Grant and Kevin Sylvester

Translation (from French to English): Peter Feldstein, Jessica Moore and Anne-Marie Wheeler

Makeup of the 2024 French-language peer assessment committees
Fiction: Michael Delisle, Andrée Michaud and Maya Ombasic

Poetry: Bathélemy Bolivar, Virginie Chaloux-Gendron and Daria Colonna

Drama: Madeleine Blais-Dahlem, Antoine Côté Legault and Anne-Marie Olivier

Non-fiction: Marie-Andrée Lamontagne, Pierrot Ross-Tremblay and Anne-Marie Saint-Cerny

Young People’s Literature – Text: Mario Brassard, Christine Sioui Wawanoloath and Élise Turcotte

Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books: Clément de Gaulejac, Diane Obomsawin and Isabelle Picard

Translation (from English to French): Jeannot Clair, Danielle LeBlanc and Nésida Loyer

About the Canada Council for the Arts

The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.”

The Council’s grants, services, initiatives, prizes and payments contribute to the vibrancy of a creative and diverse arts and literary scene and support its presence across Canada and abroad. The Council’s investments foster greater engagement in the arts among audiences in Canada and internationally.

#FIRSTLOOK: “CINEMA A TO Z: COSTUMES” COMING TO HOLLYWOOD SUITE

Film fans can turn to Hollywood Suite for fashion inspo this November with the exclusive broadcast premiere of Cinema A to Z: Costumes. The popular Hollywood Suite original series continues November 7, 2024 at 9pm ET with a new hour-long episode featuring an expertly curated selection of iconic apparel in film. Viewers can also catch the show on Hollywood Suite On Demand starting November 1, 2024.

The history of costumes in Hollywood is a vibrant one that reflects the evolution of film and societal trends. Cinema A to Z: Costumes seeks to celebrate these sartorial achievements, singling out 26 memorable moments from films such as Marie Antoinette (2006), Black Panther (2018), The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Velvet Goldmine (1998).

“From Dorothy’s ruby-red slippers to vampires cloaked in Yves Saint Laurent, from the far reaches of Wakanda to the surreal unreality of The Matrix, costume design in film is pivotal to cinematic worldbuilding,” says the always fashionable Hollywood Suite Producer of Originals and co-writer of Cinema A to Z, Alicia Fletcher. “Cinema A to Z: Costumes highlights iconic looks throughout cinematic history and celebrates the designers behind some of our most cherished fashion on film moments.”

Many titles explored in Cinema A to Z: Costumes can be enjoyed on Hollywood Suite, including Marilyn Monroe showcases Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and The Seven Year Itch (1955), latex-clad dramedy Irma Vep (1996), and the sportswear-forward Kill Bill films.

About Hollywood Suite

Hollywood Suite owns and operates four exclusive HD channels featuring the iconic movies that defined the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, plus essential Hollywood classics from the Golden Age, always uncut and commercial-free. With hundreds of movies every month on four HD channels and Hollywood Suite On Demand, Hollywood Suite provides unparalleled value to consumers. Hollywood Suite is available to over 10 million households across Canada, exclusively through Canadian television service providers, Amazon Prime Video Channels, and Freedom Mobile. Visit hollywoodsuite.ca for more information.

#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANADA AND THE TALENT FUND WELCOME 17 NEW TEAMS TO TALENT TO WATCH PROGRAM

Telefilm Canada and the Talent Fund are pleased to welcome 17 new film teams through the Talent to Watch Program with an investment of $3.45 million. The new selection of first-feature films from across the country highlights the dynamic and distinctive storytellers from different regions, markets and communities.

“The Talent to Watch Program continues to be a driving force for discovering the remarkable talent that thrives within our country,” Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada. “This year’s teams represent the voices of both the present and future of Canada, and we are excited to see their bold imagination brought to life in every frame. We are proud to champion the next generation of storytellers as they enrich our creative economy.”

“Through the Talent Fund, we get to empower the next generation of storytellers that shape the stories we see on screen,” Sandi Treliving, Chair of the Talent Fund Advisory Committee. “We’re so thankful to our generous donors – from Vancouver to Regina, Toronto to Halifax – whose steadfast contributions ensure that the Talent Fund can continue its vital mission: investing in the future of Canadian and Indigenous filmmakers.”

Here are the projects selected under the streams of the Talent to Watch Program:

Indigenous Stream

Under this stream, all key members of the creative team must be Indigenous.

Houseboat (science fiction / fantasy)

Director and screenwriter: Jerry Wolf

Producer: Adeline Bird

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Industry Partner Stream

For projects that are recommended by a designated industry partner. 

Danse Laurence! (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Laura Marroquin-Éthier

Producer: Francesca Rubartelli Barcenas

Province: Quebec

Language: French

Partner organization: National Institute of Image and Sound (INIS)

EXP (drama)

Director: Ted Sakowsky

Screenwriter: Ed Sakowsky

Producers:  Momo Daud and Katarzyna Anielak

Executive Producer: Joseph Sindaha

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Partner organization: York University

Meat (science fiction/fantasy)

Director: Ryan Steel

Screenwriters: Ryan Steel and Sean Henderson

Producer: Sean Maheux Galway

Province: Manitoba

Language: English

Partner organization: Winnipeg Film Group

Festival Selection Stream

For emerging filmmakers who have directed a short film that was selected at a recognized film festival. 

Hair Or No Hair (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Janessa St. Pierre

Producer: Mariam Barry

Province: British Columbia

Language: English

Hue & Cry (drama-comedy)

Director and screenwriter: Maziyar Khatam

Producers: Tyler Mason and Anya Chirkova

Executive Producer: Guy Maddin

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Under this stream, all key members of the creative team must be Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, women, gender-diverse individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, persons with disabilities; and/or members of an Official Language Minority Community.

Alice (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Mélissa Savoie-Soulières

Producer: Sophie Gagnon-Bergeron

Province: Quebec

Language: French

Cette Terre m’appellera Maître (documentary)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Katia Café-Fébrissy

Executive Producer: Alexandrine Torres de Figueiredo

Province: Ontario

Language: French and Creole

Civilian (documentary)

Director and producer: Raya Hamdan

Screenwriters: Mazin Almusharaf and Raya Hamdan

Province: Ontario

Language: English and Sudanese Arabic

External Neighbours (science fiction/fantasy)

Director and screenwriter: Anna Maguire

Producers: Erin Carter and Anna Maguire

Executive Producers: Anaëlle Béglet, Jeanne-Marie Poulain – Art et essai

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Fios da Terra (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Kayla Fragman

Producer: Amélie Tremblay

Executive Producer: Dominique Dussault

Province: Quebec

Language: Portuguese (Azorean dialect), French and English

Homewrecker (drama)

Director: Simon Paluck

Screenwriter: Caleb Harwood

Producer: Graeme D. Blyth

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Les Priants (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Martine Gignac

Producer: Evelyne Lafleur Guy

Province: Quebec

Language: French

MARCHEUSES (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Carlos Cortés

Producers: Hippolyte de Chanlaire and Nathalie Guérard

Province: Quebec

Language: French, English and Algonquin

Puddy Tat (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Kaytlyn Turner

Producers: Kyla Ferrier and Kevin Dong

Province: Alberta

Language: English

Requiem For A Sad Girl (thriller)

Director and screenwriter: Maude Michaud

Producers: Jen Viens and Maude Michaud

Executive Producer: Philip Kalin-Hadju

Province: Quebec

Language: English

Uninvited (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Rose Katché

Producer: Mérédith Gonzalez-Bayard

Province: Quebec

Language: French and English

Telefilm received a high volume of applications under the Talent to Watch Program for the fiscal year 2024-2025, with 150 projects assessed representing nearly $35 million in funding requests.

Statistics on all films funded in the year will be released once all funding decisions have been made.

An advisory committee of external and internal representatives assessed the projects and made recommendations to Telefilm. The decision-making process considered Telefilm’s goal of fostering a diversity of voices in the industry, ensuring that Telefilm funds a balanced portfolio of productions that reflect a variety of genres, budgets and company sizes, regions of the country and points of view. Names of selection committee members will be published on the Project Financing Advisory Committees webpage once all funding decisions have been made.     

Quotes from past Talent to Watch recipients:

Receiving anchor financing from the Talent Fund for my debut feature film, In Flames – was absolutely transformational. The fund recognizes the challenges faced by early-stage creators, and empowers them to take risks on projects that might otherwise never see the light of day. In Flames went on to be the first film from the Talent Fund to be selected at Cannes, and later won the Canadian Screen Award for Best First Feature. This journey began with the Talent Fund believing in the film, and I hope will continue to be the place for generations to come – where the first spark for Canadian filmmakers is ignited! – Zarrar Kahn

Being a Talent to Watch recipient has easily been the most significant leap forward in my filmmaking journey. The Talent Fund funding my first feature film DO I KNOW YOU FROM SOMEWHERE? allowed me to make a film I’m incredibly proud of, but also allowed me to create something that has opened doors for me in this industry. I’m so excited for what the future holds and Talent to Watch has been a crucial first step in what I hope to be a long and accomplished career. – Arianna Martinez

The Talent Fund has helped me considerably in moving to the next level of my career; it has also strengthened my voice and shown my abilities as a director. – Jason Karman

About Telefilm Canada   

As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Telefilm_Canada and on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.   

About the Talent Fund  

The Talent Fund is a national donation initiative dedicated to the impact and longevity of first-time filmmakers’ careers from across Canada. Igniting career paths in cinema, the Talent Fund invests in emerging talent and provides support to build their professional portfolios, fosters community and knowledge-sharing through professional mentorship, and prioritizes emerging creators from historically underrepresented communities. Funds raised are invested in Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch program – a career accelerator and launchpad – which helps the next generation of storytellers contribute to a thriving Canadian film industry. Since 2012, the Fund has supported over 199 film projects, brought to life by more than 400 emerging artists (writers, producers, and directors) and has financed films that have earned over 200 awards worldwide. Individual donors, family foundations, corporations and sponsors invest in the Talent Fund as they believe in the power of storytelling through film, and the impact this program has on the careers of emerging artists. To learn more about the Talent Fund or to make a donation, visit thetalentfund.ca   

#BOXOFFICE: “JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX” REPEATS FRANCHISE SUCCESS

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX debuts atop the Box Office this weekend with $37 million for Warner Bros. Critics weren’t pleased with this latest effort re-teaming Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix for a 33% score on the Tomatometer. By contrast 2019’s JOKER debuted in top spot with $96 million.

Second goes to last week’s #1 film THE WILD ROBOT with $19.5 million from 3,997 theatres, a two week total of $64 million for Universal Pictures.

Third is BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE with $11.4 million for Warner Bros., a tally of $266 million domestically since it opened early September.

In fourth is TRANSFORMERS ONE with $5.5 million, a run of $47.4 million for Paramount Pictures over three weeks.

Rounding out the Top Five is SPEAK NO EVIL, a total $32 million over four weekends for Universal Pictures.

#FOOD: BRUCE X BEAST: THE THREE WITCHES FEAST

A memorable dining experience awaits in Stratford, Ontario for those of you looking for something delicious and fun this Halloween!

Bruce x Beast: The Three Witches Feast is hosted by Nick Benninger in collaboration with Chef Nate Middleton and Scott Vivian—the duo behind Toronto’s beloved Beast Pizza. The evening promises culinary indulgence, starting with canapés and a complimentary beverage in the Haunted Garden. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the talented chefs and hear the whimsical stories behind each dish, guided by their hosts and the evening’s Maitre d’, Scott Vivian.

Attendees will enjoy a multi-course meal featuring rich, seasonal flavours infused with a hint of Halloween magic. Whether it’s rain or moonlight, The Bruce Hotel looks forward to welcoming everyone to an unforgettable night!

When: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Where: The Restaurant at The Bruce Hotel – 89 Parkview Drive Stratford, ON N5A 4R5

Tickets: $180 per ticket, available here.

Attire: Halloween attire

#FIRSTLOOK: MUBI ACQUIRES TIFF ’24 SELECTION “QUEER”

MUBI, the global distributor, streaming service and production company, has acquired Queer (based on the novel by William S. Burroughs) directed by Luca Guadagnino (Challengers, Call Me By Your Name), following its World Premiere in Competition at this year’s Venice International Film Festival and North American premiere at TIFF. MUBI has taken all rights in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Latin America, Germany, Austria, Benelux, Spain, Turkey and India and additionally all rights excluding theatrical in Italy.

This month Queer will have its US Premiere in the Spotlight Gala slot at the New York Film Festival and its UK Premiere as a Special Presentation at the BFI London Film Festival.

MUBI will announce their release plans shortly.

The film stars Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Academy-Award® nominee Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, Henrique Zaga, Omar Apollo, Andra Ursuta, Andres Duprat, Ariel Shulman, Drew Droege, Michael Borremans, David Lowery, Lisandro Alonso and Colin Bates.

Queer is written by Justin Kuritzkes (Challengers), with music from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Challengers, The Killer, Bones and All, Mank), cinematography from Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (Challengers, Call Me By Your Name, Suspiria), edited by Marco Costa (Challengers, Bones and All) and costume design from J.W. Anderson (Challengers).

1950. William Lee, an American expat in Mexico City, spends his days almost entirely alone, except for a few contacts with other members of the small American community. His encounter with Eugene Allerton, an expat former soldier, new to the city, shows him, for the first time, that it might be finally possible to establish an intimate connection with somebody.

Queer was produced by Fremantle, Fremantle North America, Lorenzo Mieli for The Apartment, a Fremantle Group Company, and Luca Guadagnino for his Frenesy Film Company, in collaboration with Cinecittà and Frame by Frame. Fremantle Group financed the film.

The Veterans brokered the deal with MUBI.

Recent and upcoming MUBI Releases include Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, Andrea Arnold’s Bird, Magnus von Horn’s The Girl with the Needle, Levan Akin’s Crossing, Chris Andrews’ Bring Them Down, Mati Diop’s Dahomey, Kevin Macdonald’s High & Low – John Galliano, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves, Molly Manning Walker’s How to Have Sex, Ira Sachs’ Passages, Pedro Almodovar’s Strange Way of Life, Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave, Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun, Lukas Dhont’s Close, Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World and Céline Sciamma’s Petite Maman.

#NEWMUSIC: COLDPLAY’S NEW ALBUM “MOON MUSIC” NOW OUT

Coldplay’s highly-anticipated tenth album, Moon Music has landed in stores and on streaming services today. The album can be purchased / downloaded / streamed here.

Moon Music, which was produced by Max Martin, contains August’s iTunes chart-topping single WE PRAY – with Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna & TINI – and June’s double MTV VMAs-nominated single feelslikeimfallinginlove, which reached Number 1 on both the UK’s airplay chart and the Official Big Top 40. A third single, All My Love, is released alongside the album, with a video filmed at a Las Vegas karaoke bar premiering later today.

Chris Martin recently posted a video offering some insight into the album, saying: “I think what this album is about is a response to struggling with all the conflict within oneself, within myself, and also all the conflict outside, and working out what the best response is. And I think what Moon Music is trying to say is maybe love is the best response.”

Moon Music was given its worldwide premiere on Monday at the Moon Saloon in Moon, Wisconsin, followed by a worldwide listening event in cinemas on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The band will celebrate the release of the album with a performance on tomorrow night’s Saturday Night Live, followed by a special concert on Monday for Sirius XM at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. They will then perform live on the TODAY Plaza for NBC’s TODAY Show on Monday.

NEW FORMATS AND NEW SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS

In tandem with Coldplay’s ground-breaking sustainability measures on their current world tour – which has so far produced 59% less CO2e emissions than their previous stadium tour – the band have gone to great lengths to make the physical release of Moon Music as sustainable as possible.

This is the world’s first album released as a 140g EcoRecord rPET LP, with each copy made from 9 recycled PET-plastic bottles recovered from post-consumer waste.

Additionally, the band have collaborated with long-time partners The Ocean Cleanup to create an additional format: the Notebook Edition LP. The rPET for this edition comprises 70% river plastic, intercepted by The Ocean Cleanup from the Rio Las Vacas, Guatemala, and prevented from reaching the Gulf of Honduras and the Atlantic Ocean.

The standard CD editions of Moon Music will be the world’s first to be released on EcoCD, created from 90% recycled polycarbonate, sourced from post-consumer waste streams.

In an effort to reduce waste, the first edition run of Moon Music (both EcoRecord LP and EcoCD) will be strictly limited and produced at a higher specification than any future editions. All First Edition EcoRecord LP products will be individually numbered.

Moon Music is Coldplay’s first album since 2021’s Music Of The Spheres, which spawned the US Number One single with BTS, My Universe, and was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards. Music Of The Spheres has accumulated more than four billion streams.

#FIRSTLOOK: “OUT OF MY MIND” ARRIVES NOVEMBER 22, 2024 on DISNEY+

Today, Disney+ revealed the trailer and key art for “Out of My Mind” in partnership with World Cerebral Palsy Day, a global movement celebrated on Oct. 6. “Out of My Mind,” a Disney Original movie based on the bestselling novel by Sharon M. Draper, premiered earlier this year at Sundance Film Festival and arrives Nov. 22, 2024 on Disney+.

Melody Brooks, a sixth grader with cerebral palsy, has a quick wit and a sharp mind, but because she is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair, she is not given the same opportunities as her classmates. When a young educator notices her student’s untapped potential and Melody starts to participate in mainstream education, Melody shows that what she has to say is more important than how she says it.

The film stars newcomer Phoebe-Rae Taylor as Melody, alongside acclaimed actors Rosemarie DeWitt, Luke Kirby, Michael Chernus, Courtney Taylor and Judith Light. Jennifer Aniston portrays Melody’s inner voice.

“Out of My Mind,” from Disney Branded Television, is produced by Big Beach LLC, Participant Films, LLC and EveryWhere Studios LLC. The film is produced by Academy Award® nominee Peter Saraf, Robert Kessel, Dan Angel and Michael B. Clark; Amber Sealey (“No Man of God”) directs from an adapted screenplay written by Daniel Stiepleman (Humanitas Prize winner for “On the Basis of Sex”); executive producers are Jeff Skoll, Eddie Rubin, Leah Holzer, Tom Mazza, David Calvert Jones, Brian Gott and Alex Turtletaub. Film consultants include Richard Ellenson, Thomas Ellenson, Lawrence Carter-Long and the disability-led nonprofit organization RespectAbility.

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