Toronto Humane Society, in collaboration with Sony Pictures Canada, is thrilled to announce an exciting 3-day activation event in promotion of The Garfield Movie, popping up at Dufferin Mall – Centre Court in Toronto, from May 17th to May 19th, 2024!

This unique event aims to celebrate the upcoming release of The Garfield Movie, exclusively in theatres across Canada on May 24th, while also promoting the noble cause of animal adoption. Attendees can expect a weekend filled with fun activities, including meeting cats available for adoption from Toronto Humane Society, engaging face painting sessions, and much more.

“We are excited to partner with Sony Pictures Canada for this special event,” said Lucas Solowey, Manager of Public Relations at Toronto Humane Society. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase a few of the wonderful cats available for adoption while also celebrating the iconic Garfield character.”

On some topics raised in the film, Solowey had some thoughts to share: “While Garfield may have a passionate love of lasagna, here at Toronto Humane Society, we advocate for a healthier diet for our feline friends. Trust us, your cat will thank you for sticking to the cat food aisle!”

When it comes to Garfield’s obsession with shipping Nermal off to Abu Dhabi, Solowey continues, “unlike Garfield’s misadventures of shipping Nermal off to Abu Dhabi, we believe in finding loving forever homes for our furry friends right here in Toronto. Adopting a cat is the perfect way to add joy and companionship to your life, without any international shipping fees!”

You are invited to drop by the pop-up event, get your face painted, learn more about the movie, and meet some of the cats available for adoption. The event is taking place:

Friday, May 17th: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.,
Saturday, May 18th: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.,
Sunday, May 19th:11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Note: Those interested in adopting will be able to view the cats, but the adoption process would take place at Toronto Humane Society (11 River St, Toronto, ON).

Fans attending the inaugural CCXP México were surprised on Friday with the mind-blowing official trailer for the fourth season of the Emmy-winning hit drama series The Boys, coming to Prime Video June 13, 2024. Cast members Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Chace Crawford, Karen Fukuhara, and Claudia Doumit participated in a diabolical panel revealing the explosive official trailer to a packed room of fans.

The Boys will premiere its fourth season on June 13, 2024, with three episodes, followed by a new episode each week, ending with the epic season finale on Thursday, July 18. The eight-episode season will stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

In Season Four, the world is on the brink. Victoria Neuman is closer than ever to the Oval Office and under the muscly thumb of Homelander, who is consolidating his power. Butcher, with only months to live, has lost Becca’s son and his job as The Boys’ leader. The rest of the team are fed up with his lies. With the stakes higher than ever, they have to find a way to work together and save the world before it’s too late.

The Boys stars Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Colby Minifie, Claudia Doumit, and Cameron Crovetti. Season Four will welcome Susan Heyward, Valorie Curry, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

The Boys is based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, who also serve as executive producers, and developed by executive producer and showrunner Eric Kripke. Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Phil Sgriccia, Michaela Starr, Paul Grellong, David Reed, Meredith Glynn, Judalina Neira, Ken F. Levin, and Jason Netter also serve as executive producers. The Boys is produced by Sony Pictures Television, Amazon MGM Studios with Kripke Enterprises, Original Film, and Point Grey Pictures.

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, to see BABES!

Screenings take place as follows:

Toronto: Location: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto Date: Wednesday May 22nd, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM

Vancouver: Location: Fifth Avenue Cinemas Date: Wednesday May 22nd, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM

Calgary: Location: Scotiabank Theatre Chinook Date: Wednesday May 22nd, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM

Synopsis: 

BABES follows inseparable childhood best friends Eden (Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (Michelle Buteau), having grown up together in NYC, now firmly in different phases of adulthood. When carefree and single Eden decides to have a baby on her own after a one-night stand, their friendship faces its greatest challenge. BABES delves into the complexities of female friendship with a blend of laughter, tears, and labor pains.

Starring: Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, Shola Adewusi, Sandra Bernhard and Hasan Minhaj. 

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK, IG or X. In the comments tell us your city and tag a friend!

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release BABES May 24, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Today, in celebration of the annual Star Wars fan holiday, Disney+ debuted an exciting, brand-new trailer and poster for Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars series “The Acolyte.” The thrilling, suspenseful live-action series launches on Tuesday, June 4, with the first two episodes, exclusively on Disney+.

In “The Acolyte,” an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master (Lee Jung-jae) against a dangerous warrior from his past (Amandla Stenberg). As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems….

The series stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss.

Leslye Headland created the series, based on Star Wars by George Lucas, and serves as an executive producer along with Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King and Jason Micallef. Charmaine DeGraté and Kor Adana are the co-executive producers. Rayne Roberts, Damian Anderson, Eileen Shim and Rob Bredow are the producers.

Headland also directed the premiere episodes (Eps. 101 & 102). Directors Kogonada (Eps. 103 & 107), Alex Garcia Lopez (Eps. 104 & 105) and Hanelle Culpepper (Eps. 106 & 108) round out the directing duties on the series.

Award-winning composer Michael Abels, known for his work on “Get Out” and “Us,” scored “The Acolyte.”

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is just one step closer now to realizing its own destiny as an epicenter of entertainment in the City. The $1 billion property which is projected to give Ontario over $500 million in economic benefit, just celebrated the grand opening of its 5,000-person capacity entertainment venue space. And they swung big, landing three-time Grammy winner Gwen Stefani last night and her partner, five-time Grammy winner Blake Shelton tonight for two back-to-back respective shows. Both shows sold-out completely.

Stefani delivered a phenomenal show, delivering massive hits over the span over her career as No Doubt frontwoman and solo artist, bringing the crowd to their feet. Her fantastic energy and vocal work were accentuated by the venue’s great acoustics.

The theatre is the latest to launch, adding to the resort’s Las Vegas-style casino with over 4,800 slot machines and 145 table games, 500 hotel rooms (over 200 of them facing world-famous Woodbine Racetrack) and a diverse variety of dining options ranging from casual to elegant, plus a Food Hall too for those looking for something quick.

Severable notables attended today’s official opening including Premier Doug Ford; Matthew Anfinson, CEO, Great Canadian Entertainment; Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance; Duncan Hannay, President & CEO, OLG and more. The affair was hosted by Cheryl Hickey. Wushu Project performed a Lion Dance ceremony to ring in the festivities.

The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto team also made a generous donation of $50,000 to Haven on the Queensway, and a cheque was presented at the ceremony.

An exciting slate of performers will be gracing the theatre ahead. Click here for Great Canadian Entertainment listings.

Highlights:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

THE FALL GUY flies in its debut, taking $28 million from 4,002 theatres for Universal Pictures. Reviews have been strong for the Blockbuster starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, garnering 83% on the Tomatometer.

In second is CHALLENGERS with $8.7 million from 3,477 theatres, taking its two week tally to $30.5 million for Warner Bros.

STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 – THE PHANTOM MENACE gets a special May 4th (Star Wars Day) re-release, good enough for third with $8.5 million for Disney.

Horror TAROT debuts in fourth with $6 million from 3,104 theatres for Sony Pictures. It gets 8% on the Tomatometer.

GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE rounds out the Top Five with $3.8 million for Warner Bros., a total of $187 million to date in North America.

The debut of Paramount+’s original event series KNUCKLES smashed numerous records over its premiere weekend, including setting a new global record as the most-watched Paramount+ original series of all time with more than 4M hours streamed over premiere weekend. In addition to its overall record, the series marks Paramount+’s most-watched kids-and-family title ever.

The series launch also had a halo effect on other Sonic the Hedgehog titles on the service, with viewership up more than 278 percent globally over the daily average.

“The Sonic the Hedgehog fans came out in full-force,” said Jeff Grossman, Executive Vice President, Programming, Paramount+. “We’re so thrilled with the record-breaking performance of KNUCKLES and the incredible lift the whole Sonic universe has experienced following KNUCKLES’ premiere.”

KNUCKLES, a six-episode event series and the latest in the “Cinematic World of Sonic the Hedgehog” from Paramount Pictures and SEGA of America, follows Knuckles (Idris Elba) on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade (Adam Pally) as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior. The series takes place between the films SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3.

In addition to Elba starring as the titular character, Adam Pally reprises as Wade Whipple his role from the film franchise. The ensemble cast includes guest stars Stockard Channing (The West Wing), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), Scott Mescudi (Don’t Look Up), Ellie Taylor (Ted Lasso), Julian Barratt (Mindhorn), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Cary Elwes (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Paul Scheer (Black Monday), and Rob Huebel (Childrens Hospital). Special guest star Ben Schwartz reprises his role as Sonic, as well as special guest star Tika Sumpter, reprises her role as Maddie. Colleen O’Shaughnessey also returned as a special guest star in her role as Tails.

All of the key creative team from the previous films have returned for the series, including the films’ director Jeff Fowler, who directed the pilot episode and helped transition the film’s signature cinematic animation style to television, as well as Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, John Whittington, Idris Elba, Haruki Satomi, Shuji Utsumi and Toru Nakahara, who also served as executive producers. Additional directors for the series include Ged Wright, Brandon Trost, Jorma Taccone and Carol Banker.

The series was created for television by John Whittington and Toby Ascher, who ran the show during production. Whittington, who co-wrote SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2, served as head writer and wrote the pilot for the series. Additional series writers include Brian Schacter and James Madejski.

The combined global box office for SONIC THE HEDGEHOG and SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 stands at $725.2 million. On Paramount+, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 is the top-performing kids-and-family film on the service in reach and is also one of the service’s most re-watched films. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3 will be released in theaters on Dec 20th, 2024.

In addition to streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in Canada, the U.S., the UK, Latin America, Australia, South Korea, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan, KNUCKLES will stream on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain and Central and Eastern Europe. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival has revealed the full program lineup for its 34th edition today. The festival, which proudly champions innovative 2SLGBTQ+ filmmakers from across the globe, will showcase 106 films from 25 countries, including 30 feature films and 5 world premieres. The festival will take place May 24th to June 1st in Toronto at TIFF Lightbox as well as online Ontario-wide. Inside Out’s Co-Head & Executive Director, Elie Chivi, and Co-Head & Artistic Director, Andrew Murphy, made today’s announcement. ​​

The festival’s opening night film will be Amazon MGM Studio’s My Old Ass – Megan Park’s sophomore feature, which premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival to standing ovations. Starring Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella and Maddie Ziegler, the queer comedy is about a woman who is visited by her future self and is told not to fall in love.

Fresh from its World Premiere at BFI Flare London Film Festival, the Canadian premiere of Karen Knox’s sophomore feature We Forgot To Break Up will screen as the festival’s closing gala film. Adapted from the novel “Heidegger Stairwell” by Canadian author Kayt Burgess, the film was written by Pat Mills, Noel S. Baker and Zoe Whittall, and has an original soundtrack by Torquil Campbell of the rock band Stars. The cast includes Lane Webber, Daniel Gravell, June Laporte, Hallea Jones and Jordan Dawson, as a band of misfits who ditch their small town to chase their dreams as indie rock gods in the big city.

The World Premiere of Sisters, from Canadian writer-director Susie Yankou, is this year’s 2024 RE:Focus Gala selection. Starring Kausar Mohammed, Sarah Khasrovi, Anna Garcia, and Yankou, the film is about two best friends who want to be sisters until one of them discovers she has a long-lost half-sister. The film was a 2022 Re:Focus grant recipient.

The Centerpiece Gala selection this year will be the Canadian premiere of Anthony Schatteman’s Teddy award-nominated debut feature Young Hearts. This feel-good coming-of-age story is about two gay teenagers discovering their identities and falling in love. It had its World Premiere earlier this year at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.

Highlights from the festival’s International Showcase program include the Canadian premiere of Julia Jackman’s directorial debut, Bonus Track, written by Mike Gilbert and story by Josh O’Connor, about a boy who dreams of being a rockstar. This coming-of-age romantic comedy stars O’Connor, Joe Anders, Josh Cowdery, Samuel Paul Small and Jack Davenport. Other notable titles are the international premiere of Extreme Unique Dynamic, the (likely) first-ever and (possibly) award-winning meta-Asian-stoner-coming-of-age-bromantic-dramedy by Harrison Xu, Ivan Leung, and Katherine Dudas; the Canadian premiere of Hannah Pearl Utt’s festival darling Cora Bora starring Megan Salter and Jojo T. Gibbs, about a budding musician trying to make it in Los Angeles; and the SXSW hit documentary, A House is Not a Disco, a film by Brian J. Smith, which follows a year in the life of residents of Fire Island Pines, the world’s most iconic homonormative community, as it finds itself in the midst of a renaissance.

Highlights from the Spotlight on Canada program this year include the World Premiere of Stories From My Gay Grandparents, an episodic series directed by J Stevens about a grandma and grandpa who reveal to the world their deepest secret; Caden Douglas’s genre comedy Mother Father Sister Brother Frank starring Mindy Cohn, Enrico Colanti, Iain Stewart and Melanie Leishman, about a normal suburban Sunday family dinner that is interrupted by the arrival of an unwanted guest; and nanekawâsis, a documentary about the acclaimed nêhiyaw artist George Littlechild.

Additional narrative premiere highlights include the World Premiere of Nicholas Giuricich’s Spark about a hopeless romantic reliving the same day over and over again after an awkward encounter; 2024 Berlin Official selection All Shall Be Well from Ray Yeung, which explores family dynamics after a sudden death; and the Canadian premiere of the transgender holiday film Carnage for Christmas from prolific teenage filmmaker, Alice Maio Mackay. The festival will also include Dominic Savage’s Close To You, a homecoming drama about a strained family reunion that features a powerhouse performance from Elliot Page.

Documentary highlights in the program include two World Premieres: Colette Johnson-Vosberg’s Unusually Normal, screening in the Icons program, which follows a viral TikTok family that has three generations of gay women, and Regan Latimer’s Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot, which is an insightful and personal look at current queer representation in entertainment and media. Additional films in the program include Adriana Yañez’s The First Women, also playing in the Icons program, which profiles a group of women who were part of the first-ever national women’s soccer team in Brazil, and Eduardo Aquino’s A Big Gay Hairy Hit! Where The Bears Are: The Documentary, which follows three older gay “bears” living in Hollywood who go about producing their own web series.

“We are thrilled to welcome audiences back for the 34th annual Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival,” says Elie Chivi, Co-Head and Executive Director. “As the film festival landscape continues to evolve, we are incredibly grateful to our members, donors, and partners as well as our queer filmmaking family, for their continued loyalty and support, and without whom, this festival would not be possible. On the eve of Inside Out’s 35th anniversary in 2025, it’s a privilege to continue to bring the community together to share in the magic of queer cinema.”

“We are honoured and humbled that Inside Out continues to provide a space for celebration of 2SLGBTQ+ stories, a space for professional development opportunities for queer creators, and a space to share experiences and network so that we can help foster future creative collaborations with our alumni and future alumni,” says Co-Head and Artistic Director, Andrew Murphy. “Through our ever evolving creative pipeline from the inception of an idea, to development, to financing to exhibition of a dream realized on screen, we are ecstatic to host a fantastic lineup of films and key industry programming including our 3rd FREE Industry Day as well as our 8th edition of the B2B Finance Forum where, since 2017, we have seen a success rate of over 40% of participating projects including this year’s Sundance hit Sebastian.”

“Gathering to watch a film, whether at home with friends or immersed in the vibrant energy of a cinema filled with strangers, can be a profound communal experience. Queer cinema can affirm us and create a space for us to learn, reflect, grow, and connect. As we eagerly announce the festival slate, we are honoured to present the work of over one hundred incredible filmmakers, giving the Inside Out audience across Ontario the opportunity to carve out their own curated space – a space built on the love of great film,” added Director of Festival Programming, Jenna Dufton.

In addition to being a major resource for 2SLGBTQ+ filmmakers and showcasing their work through the flagship festival, Inside Out is one the world’s leading 2SLGBTQ+ film organizations, having founded the world’s only 2SLGBTQ+ Feature Finance Forum. The selected participants and participating executives for the 8th edition International Financing Forum will be announced in the coming weeks. One of the films screening in this year’s festival is an alumni of the 2022 finance forum – the Canadian premiere of Mikko Makela’s Sebastian, which world premiered earlier this year at Sundance 2024.

Director of Festival Programming Jenna Dufton heads the programming team with Lu Linares (Programming Coordinator), and programmers Ferdosa Abdi, Rasheed Bailey, Ashley Bodika, Ferrin Evans, Claire Jarvis, Allia McLeod, Emma Pitters-Fisher, Nik Redman, Raphael Sanchez, and Scott Smart.

Inside Out will celebrate the opening night of the 34th edition with a party following the screening of My Old Ass, which will take place at TIFF Lightbox. Following the premiere of We Forgot To Break Up the festival will wrap up with a closing night party at TD Music Hall where Torquil Campbell of Stars will DJ along with live music from Lane Webber.

Individual tickets for screenings, ticket packages, and all-access passes are on sale today at insideout.ca.

The complete 2024 festival selections include:

OPENING GALA

My Old Ass, directed by Megan Park (United States – Narrative)
In this fresh coming-of-age story, an 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella) face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). But when Elliott’s “old ass” starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn’t do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what’s becoming a transformative summer.

CLOSING GALA

We Forgot to Break Up, directed by Karen Knox (Canada – Narrative)
Within Toronto’s vibrant bar scene, a diverse group of musicians come together to form a band with a mission: to ignite a musical revolution. As they channel their individual struggles and experiences into their music, The New Normals create a dynamic rock sound that transcends gender and sexuality. But as they rise to fame, personal and romantic entanglements complicate their journey.
Canadian Premiere

RE:FOCUS GALA

Sisters, directed by Susie Yankou (United States – Narrative)
Lou and Esther are the best of friends. They do absolutely everything together, speak their own language through inside jokes and code words, and share a dreamy curiosity about what their lives would be like had they grown up with a sister. When Lou’s father unexpectedly passes away, she discovers that she has a very real, and very chic, long-lost half-sister, Priya.
World Premiere
Re:Focus grant recipient 2022

CENTREPIECE GALA

Young Hearts, directed by Anthony Schatteman (Belgium/Netherlands – Narrative)
When Alexander moves in next door, Elias is intrigued. Their budding friendship blossoms amidst after-school escapades, exploring abandoned homes and hidden swimming spots, but when Alexander reveals his romantic past a revelation is triggered in Elias.
Canadian Premiere

PREMIERES

All Shall Be Well, directed by Ray Yeung (Hong Kong/China – Narrative)
Angie and Pat have lived together for over three decades in their flat in Hong Kong – a flat that often hosts friends and family for dinners and get-togethers. When Pat unexpectedly passes away without a will, Angie learns that she has no legal right to the home they shared and finds herself at the mercy of a once supportive family displaying dwindling goodwill toward her.
Canadian Premiere

Carnage for Christmas, directed by Alice Maio Mackay (Australia – Narrative)
When true-crime podcaster and sleuth Lola visits her hometown for the first time since running away and transitioning, the local urban legend, The Toymaker, is the least of her worries. A transgender holiday film by prolific teenage filmmaker Alice Maio Mackay and edited by ‘The People’s Joker’ filmmaker, Vera Drew.
Canadian Premiere

Join the Club, directed by Kip Andersen, Chris O’Connell (United States – Documentary)
Dennis Peron is San Francisco’s biggest pot dealer. But when the AIDS epidemic sweeps through his community, he realizes that marijuana is more than a good time – it’s medicine. In the wake of his lover’s death, Peron opens the Cannabis Buyers’ Club, a five-storey dispensary complete with rainbow murals, drag shows, and onsite doctors.
North American Premiere

Langue Étrangère, directed by Claire Burger (France/Belgium/Germany – Narrative)
Fanny, a 17-year-old student from France, goes on a language exchange trip to Germany where she will stay with her pen pal, Lena. Willing to do anything to impress Lena, Fanny sees her time in Germany as an opportunity to invent a different life for herself, but as she and Lena grow closer, she runs the risk of becoming caught up in her own web of lies.
North American Premiere

Spark, directed by Nicholas Giuricich (United States – Narrative)
Aaron, a hopeless romantic, finds himself reliving the same day after an awkward but intense encounter with the mysterious Trevor. His excitement at the opportunity for a do-over soon turns sour as Aaron suspects Trevor may be the cause of his time loop.
World Premiere

ICONS

A Mother Apart, directed by Laurie Townshend (Canada – Documentary)
How do you raise a child when your own mother abandoned you? In a remarkable story of healing and forgiveness, Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin, renowned for performances in Def Poetry Slam and hit solo shows like MotherStruck!, radically re-imagines the essential art of mothering.

Dalton’s Dream, directed by Kim Longinotto, Franky Murray Brown (United Kingdom – Documentary)
Singer Dalton Harris’s dreams came true when he won The X Factor in the UK in 2018. But the joy of winning was mixed with pain when people back home in Jamaica threatened boycotts and violence against him, perceiving Dalton to be gay after seeing a photo of him sitting on a man’s lap.
Canadian Premiere

Teaches of Peaches, directed by Philipp Fussenegger, Judy Landkammer (Germany – Documentary)
Filmed during The Teaches of Peaches anniversary tour in 2022, this documentary seamlessly weaves together exclusive archival gems with dynamic tour footage, capturing the transformative journey of local superstar Merrill Nisker into the internationally acclaimed cultural powerhouse Peaches.

The First Women, directed by Adriana Yañez (Brazil – Narrative)
The First Women follows a group of women nearing their 60s who live in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro and share a common past: they were a part of the first ever women’s soccer team in Brazil.
North American Premiere
Re:Focus grant recipient

Unusually Normal, directed by Colette Johnson-Vosberg (Canada – Documentary)
Have you had the pleasure of meeting Canada’s gayest family? Unusually Normal (Our Gay Family) follows three generations of women in one family who, get this, are all gay. Set against the backdrop of their loving and wholly authentic household, this family, with over 165,000 devoted TikTok followers, invites you into their world – a world where normal takes on a whole new meaning.
World Premiere

SPOTLIGHT ON CANADA

Bulletproof: A Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot, directed by Regan Latimer (Canada – Documentary)
Filmmaker Regan Latimer takes an insightful, immersive, and deeply personal look at Queer representation in television, and the power of the media to shape how we see ourselves.
World Premiere

Close to You, directed by Dominic Savage (Canada/UK – Narrative)
Elliot Page delivers an emotionally resonant performance in this honest and moving drama that follows Sam as he decides to visit his childhood home in Coburg for the first time since his transition.

Mother Father Sister Brother Frank, directed by Caden Douglas (Canada – Narrative)
The Jennings family are having a regular suburban Sunday dinner. Mother wants everything to be perfect. Father wants everyone to drink, which Sister refuses to do. And Brother keeps texting his husband, even though no phones are allowed at the table. Just as tensions reach a boiling point, an unwanted guest arrives: Frank, Father’s wayward brother.
Ontario Premiere

nanekawâsis, directed by Conor McNally (Canada – Documentary)
nanekawâsis follows the acclaimed nêhiyaw artist George Littlechild as he invites audiences into his storied career spanning over four decades. Using archival footage and newly filmed 16mm interviews, the film provides previously unheard insights about his life and work.
Ontario Premiere

Stories from my Gay Grandparents, directed by J Stevens (Canada – Narrative Episodic, episodes 1-6)
After a near-death experience lights a flame within both Grandma and Grandpa, they decide to grab life by the boas and tell the world their deepest secret: they’re gay. Having lived under the guise of a straight relationship for decades, they’re coming out of the closet, ditching their small-town life, and going after their big gay dreams.
World Premiere

INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE

A Big Gay Hairy Hit! Where The Bears Are: The Documentary, directed by Eduardo Aquino (United States – Documentary)
This hilarious and touching documentary tells the story of three older, gay “bears” working in Hollywood, who, tired of having their gay-themed ideas rejected by the mainstream, decide to self-produce their own web series.
Canadian Premiere

A House is Not a Disco, directed by Brian J. Smith (United States – Documentary)
A year in the life within the world’s most iconic homonormative community: Fire Island Pines. Situated 50 miles from New York City, this storied queer beach town finds itself in the midst of a renaissance, as a new generation of millennial homeowners reimagine The Pines for a new, more inclusive era.
Toronto Premiere

Bonus Track, directed by Julia Jackman (United Kingdom – Narrative)
In the screenplay written by Mike Gilbert, the year is 2006 and George, a small-town sixteen-year-old who’s convinced he’s a gifted musician, can’t seem to get anyone’s attention long enough to prove it. When the son of a famous rock star enrolls in his school, George experiences a clarity of passion and a road to success.
Canadian Premiere

Chuck Chuck Baby, directed by Janis Pugh (United Kingdom – Narrative)
As Helen goes back and forth between working at the chicken factory and taking care of everyone at home, her dreary routine begins to take its toll. A bright spot appears in her otherwise mundane life when her high school crush, Joanne, returns to town.

Cora Bora, directed by Hannah Pearl Utt (United States – Narrative)
A few things about Cora: she is a budding musician trying to make it in Los Angeles, she is determined to make her long-distance open relationship work, and she is extremely chaotic. In a moment of desperation, she heads back to her hometown of Portland, Oregon on a mission to fix her shaky relationship.
Canadian Premiere

Desire Lines, directed by Jules Rosskam (United States – Documentary)
Past and present collide as an Iranian American trans man time-travels through an LGBTQ+ archive on a dizzying quest to unravel his own sexual desires.
Toronto Premiere

Extreme Unique Dynamic, directed by Harrison Xu, Ivan Leung, Katherine Dudas (United States – Narrative)
In the (likely) first-ever and (possibly) award-winning meta-Asian-stoner-coming-of -age-bromantic-dramedy, two best friends who will soon be living in different countries decide to make a movie about two best friends making a movie about two best friends making a movie.
International Premiere

León, directed by Andi Nachon, Papu Curotto (Argentina – Narrative)
For Julia, facing life after the loss of her partner seems like an impossible task. But León, their son, is the fuel to keep going. Nothing is easy after Barby’s death, between the return of León’s biological father, Barby’s mother’s distant attitude, and the struggle to keep their restaurant open.
Canadian Premiere

Rookie, directed by Samantha Lee (Philippines – Narrative)
Ace’s first day at her new school starts out on the wrong foot and ends up with her becoming the newest member of the volleyball team against her will. Jana, the team captain, sees Ace as a threat, and a rivalry is born. But love and hate are two sides of the same coin, and little by little, they will discover their feelings for each other.
North American Premiere

Sebastian, directed by Mikko Makela (UK/Finland/Belgium – Narrative)
Young Max is determined to make a name for himself in London’s literary circles, but his work as a freelance writer isn’t quite getting him there fast enough. In order to gain on the job experience to inspire his first novel, he poses as Sebastian, an online sex worker.
Canadian Premiere

Toll (Pedágio), directed by Carolina Markowicz (Brazil/Portugal – Narrative)
Suellen, a Brazilian toll booth attendant and mother, is willing to do almost anything to keep her family afloat. When the opportunity to case drivers passing by her toll booth presents itself, she falls in with a gang of thieves promising a chance at a better life.

OFFICIAL SHORTS PROGRAM

The full shorts lineup can be found here.

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About Inside Out:
Inside Out is Canada’s largest 2SLGBTQ+ film festival and the single largest promoter and distributor of 2SLGBTQ+ content in Canada. Founded in 1991, Inside Out is committed to representing the interests of 2SLGBTQ+ voices within the Canadian film industry. We are dedicated to developing, presenting, and promoting 2SLGBTQ+ content that showcases and supports the broad diversity of voices and identities within our communities, and ensuring that authentic and positive representation of 2SLGBTQ+ people is central in that content. Inside Out presents a 9-day Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival (Toronto’s third largest festival after TIFF and Hot Docs), year-round initiatives in both Toronto and Ottawa, as well as innovative professional development initiatives including the world’s only 2SLGBTQ+ Finance Forum. Inside Out is a Canadian Academy qualifying festival.

Our current high-level partners include RBC Royal Bank (Lead Sponsor), Netflix (Presenting Sponsor), Crave, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Premier Sponsors). The festival received funding support from Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and Telefilm Canada. Festival Industry Partners include Ontario Creates, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCUniversal Launch, DGC Ontario, DGC National, Paramount+, EOne, CMPA, and outACTRAto. Visit insideout.ca for more information

Today, 3x GRAMMY and 7x BRIT Award-winning global pop powerhouse Dua Lipa has released her highly anticipated third album, Radical Optimism. The album features 11 songs including the thumping, rave-up “Illusion,” “Training Season,” and euphoric club-ready “Houdini.” You can listen to Radical Optimism here.

“I wrote this album during my singledom,” Dua says. “I always came into the studio with some funny story, and they all inspired different songs. There’s a looseness and an honesty that I hadn’t had before.”

In making the album, Dua worked with a team of core collaborators including Caroline Ailin, Danny L. Harle, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Kevin Parker.

Dua adds, “Everybody’s backgrounds and ways of working all gelled so well, as friends and musically.” She continues, “We were just so open with each other, and I felt like in that room, I could be vulnerable and talk freely about my experiences. The musicality of it felt so rich and exciting, and I wanted to dive in and be a part of that.”

Dua describes Radical Optimism as “psychedelic pop” noting that “there are musical breaks and a mix of different sounds, and when you listen to it with your eyes closed, it opens up a very visual world.” The album was inspired by Dua’s own self-discovery and speaks to the pure joy and happiness of having clarity in situations that once seemed impossible to face.

Rolling Stone has called the album “pop bliss,” while highlighting it is “uniquely and utterly Dua Lipa: confident dance pop full of witty Instagram-caption-ready one-liners.”

This Saturday, May 4th, Dua will return to Saturday Night Live where she is set for double duty as both host and musical guest for the night. Dua was last on SNL in 2020 when she performed “Don’t Start Now,” “Levitating” and made her sketch debut as Marjorie.

Dua recently announced the first run of tour dates in support of Radical Optimism with shows in Berlin, Pula, and Nimes taking place in June, which sold out immediately. In addition, Dua will make her Pyramid Stage debut as the Friday night headliner at this year’s Glastonbury Festival on June 28th and will play a show at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall on October 17th, the latter of which also sold out immediately.

He’s a force to be reckoned with in Comedy! 25-year-old MATT FRIEND‘s star is rising so fast and we ventured out to Buffalo to finally get a chance to see him! Friend performed at Helium Comedy Club, a rare chance to see him in an intimate setting, before he closes off the Netflix is a a Joke Comedy Festival in L.A. next week!

Friend has gained popularity on Instagram and TikTok over the past couple years, most notably for his impressions which are spot-on. The NYU graduate has transferred that following into a career as a Stand-Up Comedian and this week he performed at the White House Correspondents Dinner, rubbing elbows with President Joe Biden.

Delivering an hour of laughs, Fried zigzagged between personal anecdotes about his love life, the heroes he’s met (and imitated) in his rising fame, plus of course those amazing impressions which brought the house down.

Some highlights:

Follow the Funnyman here: @TheMattFriend.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)