You know you love this show! Here is a new Trailer for the upcoming third season of this steamy Toronto production!

Synopsis:

SEX/LIFE is the story of a love triangle between a woman, her husband, and her past that takes a provocative new look at female identity and desire.

Created by Stacy Rukeyser
Executive Producers: Stacy Rukeyser, J. Miles Dale, Jordan Hawley
Starring: Sarah Shahi (Billie Connelly), Mike Vogel (Cooper Connelly), Adam Demos (Brad Simon), Margaret Odette (Sasha Snow)
Recurring Cast: Cleo Anthony (Kam), Craig Bierko (Mick), Darius Homayoun (Majid), Dylan Bruce (Spencer), Jonathan Sadowski (Devon), Li Jun Li (Francesca), and Wallis Day (Gigi).
Inspired by the book 44 Chapters About 4 Men by BB Easton

SEX/LIFE Season Two arrives March 2, 2023 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a free digital download of TIFF ’22 selection ALICE, DARLING for which Anna Kendrick has won many accolades with her lead performance.

Synopsis:

In the taut thriller ALICE, DARLING, Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick  stars as a woman pushed to the breaking point by her psychologically abusive boyfriend, Simon. While on vacation with two close girlfriends, Alice rediscovers the essence of herself and gains some much-needed perspective. Slowly, she starts to fray the cords of codependency that bind her. But Simon’s vengeance is as inevitable as it is shattering – and, once unleashed, it tests Alice’s strength, her courage, and the bonds of her deep-rooted friendships.

Starring Anna Kendrick, Kaniehtiio Horn, Charlie Carrick, and Wunmi Mosaku. Directed by Mary Nighy. Written by Alanna Francis.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release ALICE, DARLING February 3, 2023 on-demand and in theatres.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

A third season of fan favourite OUTER BANKS arrives on Netflix February 23, 2023. Ten new episodes, an hour each. Here’s a first look at the new Trailer!

Synopsis:
After losing the gold and fleeing the Outer Banks, Season 3 finds the Pogues washed ashore on a desert island that, for a brief moment, seems like an idyllic home. Officially deemed “Poguelandia,” the island’s newest residents spend their days fishing, swimming, and reveling in the carefree lifestyle of their temporary dwelling. But things quickly go south for John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, JJ, and Cleo when they find themselves once again caught up in a race for the treasure, quite literally running for their lives. They’re broke and far from home, they can’t trust anyone, Ward and Rafe are hungry for revenge, and there’s a ruthless Caribbean Don who will stop at nothing to find the bounty. Was the treasure ever within their reach? Or was it all a trap to stop them once and for all? Either way, it’s the Pogues against the world – and the only way out is together.

Cast: Chase Stokes (John B.), Madelyn Cline (Sarah Cameron), Madison Bailey (Kiara), Jonathan Daviss (Pope), Rudy Pankow (JJ), Austin North (Topper), Drew Starkey (Rafe), Carlacia Grant (Cleo) and Charles Esten (Ward Cameron) with Cullen Moss (Shoupe), Julia Antonelli (Wheezie Cameron), Caroline Arapoglou (Rose Cameron), E. Roger Mitchell (Heyward), Charles Halford (Big John), Elizabeth Mitchell (Limbrey), Andy McQueen (Carlos Singh).

(Photo credit: Netflix)

We get a new Trailer for Cineplex Pictures release JESUS REVOLUTION!

Cineplex Pictures release JESUS REVOLUTION FEBRUARY 24, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Cineplex Pictures)

Disney+ and Lucasfilm have announced that the second volume of the animated anthology series “Star Wars: Visions” will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on May 4, 2023. Following on the Emmy Award®-nominated success of “Star Wars: Visions,” the newest volume will continue to push the boundaries of “Star Wars” storytelling, with nine new shorts from 9 studios from around the globe. Employing the most captivating animation styles from a variety of countries and cultures, the second volume offers a dynamic new perspective on the storied mythos of Star Wars.

The shorts included in “Star Wars:Visions” Volume 2 were created by the following international animation studios: El Guiri (Spain), Cartoon Saloon (Ireland), Punkrobot (Chile), Aardman (United Kingdom), Studio Mir (South Korea) Studio La Cachette (France), 88 Pictures (India), D’art Shtajio (Japan), and Triggerfish (South Africa). D’Art Shtajio’s short was created in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd. (United States). 

“The reaction to the first volume of ‘Star Wars: Visions’ blew us away. We were delighted that this project inspired and resonated with so many people,” says James Waugh, “Star Wars: Visions” executive producer and Senior Vice President Franchise Content & Strategy at Lucasfilm. “We always saw ‘Star Wars: Visions’ as a framework for celebratory expressions of the franchise from some of the best creators working today. Animation is in a global renaissance, and we’re constantly staggered by the amount of creativity pushing the medium forward. With Volume 1, the imaginative minds of Japan’s anime industry were on full display. With Volume 2, we expanded our canvas to take audiences on a global tour of some of the most talented creators from around the world. We’re so proud to be able to reveal the line-up of studios we’ve assembled. Every short is incredible, full of heart, scope, imagination, and the values that make stories distinctly‘Star Wars’— all while opening up bold new ways of seeing what a ‘Star Wars’ story can be.”

Waugh executive produces “Star Wars: Visions” Volume 2 along with Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes. 

Details on each short and filmmaker below:

Title: “Sith” 

Studio: El Guiri

Writer-director: Rodrigo Blaas

Rodrigo Blaas is an Emmy Award®-winning director who has spent more than 20 years in animation. After co-founding Stromboli Animation in 1997, Blaas joined Blue Sky Studios in 2000, working on the feature film “Ice Age,” before transitioning to Pixar Animation Studios. There, he worked on such projects as “Finding Nemo” (2003), “The Incredibles” (2004), “Ratatouille” (2007) and “Wall-E” (2008) and on the Oscar®-nominated short film “La Luna” (2011). More recently, Blaas partnered with Guillermo del Toro to develop the award-winning series “Trollhunters,” served as creative director for Mikros Animation Paris and, in 2021, created El Guiri Studios in Madrid with his partner, Cecile Hokes. He also wrote and directed 2009’s award-winning short film “Alma.”   

Title: “Screecher’s Reach”

Studio: Cartoon Saloon

Director: Paul Young

Paul Young is a co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, an IFTA winner and Oscar®, Emmy® and BAFTA nominee. He produced the animated features “My Father’s Dragon,” “WolfWalkers,” “The Secret of Kells,” “Song of the Sea” and “The Breadwinner”as well as award-winning TV series including “Puffin Rock,” “Dorg Van Dango” and “Viking Skool.”

Title: “In the Stars”

Studio: Punkrobot

Writer-director: Gabriel Osorio

Gabriel Osorio majored in Fine Arts at Universidad de Chile, later specializing in 3D animation. After working in commercials, movies and television series, he founded Punkrobot Studio. Since 2008, he has directed projects for children’s television including “Flipos,” “Muelin y Perlita,” “Soccer Girls” and television spots. In 2016, his short film “Bear Story” became the first Latin American project to win an Oscar® in the animated short category. 

Title: “I Am Your Mother”

Studio: Aardman

Director: Magdalena Osinska

Magdalena Osinska is an award-winning director who has been with Aardman for eight years. She has directed stop-motion, CGI, 2D and live-action commercials including Wallace & Gromit’s “The Great Sofa Caper” and “Share the Orange.” Osinska directed development of the children’s series “Joyets” and has also directed films including “Spirits of the Piano” and “Zbigniev’s Cupboard.” A graduate of the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, UK, as well as the Polish Film School in Lodz and Art College in Warsaw, Osinska is currently developing the feature film “Jasia,” based on her grandmother’s memories of WWII Poland. 

Title: “Journey to the Dark Head”

Studio: Studio Mir

Director: Hyeong Geun Park

Rising star Hyeong Geun Park had already made a name for himself when he entered the Korean animation industry in 2017, thanks to his strong drawing and animation sensibilities. He has directed animation for dozens of cinematic game trailers and has since expanded into animated series, working on projects including “Dota: Dragon’s Blood: Book 3” (2022) and “Lookism” (2022). “Journey to the Dark Head” is the first title he has executive produced from start to finish. 

Title: “The Spy Dancer”

Studio: Studio La Cachette

Writer-Director: Julien Chheng

Julien Chheng is CEO of Studio La Cachette, an Emmy Award®-winning French animation studio he co-founded in 2014 with fellow Gobelins school’s alumni Oussama Bouacheria and Ulysse Malassagne. Chheng was trained in visual development at Disney and has worked as a character animator on acclaimed 2D animated features “The Rabbi’s Cat,” “Mune” and the Academy Award®-nominated “Ernest and Celestine.” In 2021, he won an Emmy Award® as animation executive producer of “Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal,”for which he also served as animation supervisor. In 2022, Chheng directed with Jean-Christophe Roger the Cesar-nominated feature “Ernest and Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia.”

Title: “The Bandits of Golak”

Studio: 88 Pictures

Director: Ishan Shukla

Ishan Shukla started his career as a CG artist in Singapore. For more than a decade, he spearheaded projects ranging from TV commercials to series and music videos. His 2016 animated short, “Schirkoa,” was long listed for the Academy Awards® after receiving dozens of awards and playing at 120 international festivals, including SIGGRAPH Asia where it was named Best in Show. He then set up his own animation studio to work on adult-oriented animated feature films including a feature-length version of “Schirkoa,” set to hit festivals in summer 2023. 

Title: “The Pit”

Studios: D’art Shtajio and Lucasfilm Ltd.

Writer-director-executive producer: LeAndre Thomas

Co-Director: Justin Ridge

LeAndre Thomas is an award-winning writer and director from Oakland, Calif., whose most recent film won Best Director at the Pasadena International Film Festival. In addition to his independent films, Thomas is a part of the franchise studio team at Lucasfilm Ltd. where he has worked for more than 11 years being credited on recent titles such as “Light & Magic,” “The Mandalorian,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi,” and many more. 

Justin Ridge executive produced the Emmy®-nominated series “Star Wars Resistance.” His credits also include “Star Wars Rebels,” “Storks,” “The Cleveland Show,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

Title: “Aau’s Song”

Studio: Triggerfish

Writer-Directors: Nadia Darries and Daniel Clarke 

Nadia Darries is a director, animator and co-founder of Goon Valley Animation, with an avocation for songwriting. Born in the Cape Flats in South Africa, Darries has worked on high-end animated film and motion design as an animator, project manager, creative director and director since 2015. Her experience includes animating at Triggerfish Animation Studios on the award-winning BBC films “Stick Man,” “Revolting Rhymes” and “Highway Rat.” 

Daniel Clarke is a Cape Town-based director and artist working in animation, film and illustration. He started his career in animation in 2008 at Triggerfish Animation Studios, where he has served as production designer, art director and director on projects such as the feature film “Khumba,” BBC’s “Stick Man” and “The Snail and the Whale.” In 2018, along with James Clarke and Daniel Snaddon, he completed the graphic novel “Kariba.”

“Star Wars: Visions—Volume 2” streams exclusively on Disney+ beginning May 4, 2023.   

Netflix Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see PAMELA, A LOVE STORY February 7, 2022 7 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Pamela Anderson and Director Ryan White will be in attendance.

Synopsis:

An intimate and humanizing portrait of one of the world’s most famous blonde bombshells, Pamela, a love story follows the trajectory of Pamela Anderson’s life and career from small-town girl to international sex symbol, actress, activist and doting mother.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

PAMELA, A LOVE STORY arrives January 31, 2023 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix Canada)

It’s officially Rom-Com Season!  YOUR PLACE OR MINE is the directorial debut of Producer/Writer and now Director Aline Brosh McKenna. The Film coming soon to Netflix, centers on two long-time best friends Debbie (Reese Witherspoon) and Peter (Ashton Kutcher) who live on different coasts, swapping houses for a week, only to realize exactly what’s missing in each of their lives.

So wonderful getting a chance to join a global press conference with the Cast and Creators of YOUR PLACE OR MINE. Joining us were:

• Reese Witherspoon – Debbie
• Ashton Kutcher – Peter
• Zoë Chao – Minka
• Jesse Williams – Theo
• Wesley Kimmel – Jack
• Aline Brosh McKenna (Director / Writer / Producer)

Brosh McKenna who wrote the Screenplay for THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, walks us through the inspiration behind the story and how it’s very personal to her.

Brosh McKenna: “I was taken with the story, as it’s based on personal experience. I wanted to do Romantic-Comedy for people who’ve been through something in their lives and accumulated some life experience. If felt very personal to me through the process and it was an idea I had for a long time and when it came to fruition, it felt very personal. And I like to work with unknowns. I’m looking to discover people as you can see from the Cast. Just kidding.”.

Witherspoon’s character Debbie loves books and dreams of becoming an Editor and comments whether the role was tailored to her since she has attachments to the literary world, namely Reese’s Book Club.

Witherspoon: “I never read a book, it’s not on brand at all. I was like, will people know that I like to read and Aline’s like, ‘I think you can do this. I think you can make them believe!’”.

“Aline also sent me 25 books, which I never read.  I called her and told her I had three children. But they did look very good on the set.”.

Kutcher talks about taking the role of Peter, who though is a bit of a man-child, is a grown-up.

Kutcher: “I’ve played grown-ups before. But it was very much about the hair. Aline felt he had a particular hairstyle he absolutely had to have and she used the word ‘grown-up’ a lot. ‘I want you to have grown-up hair’. And I was like, this hair is old, it’s 45-years-old. It’s the same age as me!   But it was  juxtaposition to the allover the place of Debbie. That was fun to play, this person who had this meticulous everything needed to be in its place. The other great thing, I’m not a big Fiction reader, but this character is a novelist, well read in fiction. So I ended-up diving-in. Aline sent me, I think ten books to read prior to the Film. ‘You need to read all of these, without cards in them specifically, what Peter got from them as a Writer. My fave was “Where Breath Becomes Air” and that was devastatingly-wonderful. High Fidelity was very good. I read every single one of them.”.

“The one about the kids catching on fire all the time – Nothing to see Here – that one was fantastic. I actually fell in love with reading Fiction again from this experience. That was fun and refreshing.”.

Witherspoon tells us that she actually didn’t know Kutcher very well until only a little before filming. Much of their scenes are done via split-screen.

Witherspoon: “It was a month before shooting and I had a bit of a panic attack because we didn’t know each other. I think we had fully met once at a party and I thought he was quirky. I don’t know this guy and we’re supposed to be best friends for 20 years, so we started sending each other videos every day.”.  

Kutcher: “Every day we’d send videos. How’s your day? What’s going on? What are you afraid of? I you had pancakes, would it be syrup? Who’s your best friend and why?”.

Witherspoon: “It was actually kind of fun. Our kids would get in the videos, our dogs, he met my dog on video!”.

Kutcher: “By the time we shooting it, we were used to communicating this way, so it felt really natural to communicate that way.”.

Witherspoon: “We should put together a compilation of all these videos.”.

Kutcher: “When we’re in a scene together, we’re very improvy but given the way this was done, one side of coverage was done before the other person began to shoot their side of coverage. We were acting against a video and choices they had made. You couldn’t’ make a choice that would dictate the choice they  had already made. None of that affecting the other the way the person reacts to the thing you said.”.

Williams talks about his experience having used to be an English Teacher, but playing a Literary Editor here.

Williams: “I am an avid reader and used to read a lot of Fiction, but became obsessed with Non-Fiction for the last 10-15 years, but am returning to that. I love books. Books changed my life, particularly in high school.  During this process, Aline got me a vintage signed copy of one of my favourite books, Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon. Books are a transformative mark in my life at a fork in the road where my life could have gone very differently.”.

He comments whether or not he had to soften his character at all to help make Peter more of a contender to win Debbie’s heart.

Williams: “I don’t think so, because I think early on, I realize it’s not really about Theo, it’s about what’s true for Debbie and that’s one of the lessons – she surrounds herself with people who want what’s best for her to pull her forward.”.

Zhao talks about her character Minka who doesn’t read books, but reads people. Though she’s Debbie’s guide to New York City in the Movie, she confesses in real life she relies on Google Maps.

Zhao: “I fell in love with Minka as soon as I read the Script. Aline had made such a surprising loveable weirdo on page. Sophie De Rakoff (Costume Designer, LEGALLY BLONDE) brought all these amazing clothes and boom, character was there. I love Minka because though you don’t know what she does, there’s a very calculated mystique about her. She’s not a sinister person, she’s actually very positive. And I think the ultimate hypewoman and wingwoman that you need in this life. I love that she’s full of contradictions.”.

Kimmel plays Witherspoon’s son Jack in a breakout role and reveals that his role actually wasn’t a huge stretch, considering how similar his character was to him in real life – especially his love for Hockey. His character spends a lot of time with Kutcher’s Peter who looks after him while Debbie swaps places with Peter.

Kimmel: “It was always a part of the Script. I had started learning how to skate actually on Hockey skates. I never got to play actual games, but I always skated in the summer. I had some lessons leading up to the shoot but it was not super-new.”.

Kutcher: “He’s downplaying it. He goes and looks like he’s been playing full scale Hockey his whole life!”.

Kimmel: “When we were reading sides over in first audition, I looked up to my mom and said ‘This is literally me!’. We had the same issues, qualities and allergies even. And it was easy to be natural in the audition, which is crazy.”.

Netflix Canada release YOUR PLACE OR MINE February 10, 2023.

The nominees for The 52nd Annual JUNO Awards were announced today by The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) at a press conference attended by media and industry notables inside the CBC’s Canadian Broadcasting Centre, in downtown Toronto. This year’s winners will be unveiled in Edmonton, Alberta at The JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada on Saturday, March 11 and The JUNO Awards Broadcast on Monday, March 13, 2023 broadcasting live on CBC and produced by Insight Productions (a Boat Rocker company.
 
CARAS also revealed today that three more of this year’s nominees will join the lineup of performers taking the stage at The JUNO Awards Broadcast – award-winning rock band Alexisonfire (Rock Album of the Year*), multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer songwriter Aysanabee (Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year*) and multi-platinum R&B powerhouse Jessie Reyez (Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year and Music Video of the Year*).
 
“The JUNO Awards will provide an unparalleled platform for our friends in Edmonton to highlight some of our most talented artists and celebrate the richness and diversity of the Canadian music scene,” said Neil Lumsden, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “As a proud supporter and partner of Ontario’s music sector, our government congratulates all nominees for the 2023 awards.”
 
For a complete list and biographies of all nominees and more information on The 2023 JUNO Awards, please visit junoawards.ca. Rewatch the full 2023 JUNO Nominee Announcement Presented by Ontario Creates at CBCMusic.ca/junos.
 
Canada’s biggest night in music, hosted for the second year by global superstar Simu Liu, will broadcast and stream live across the country from Rogers Place in Edmonton at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.
 
2023 JUNO Award Nominations
 
Canada’s Starboy The Weeknd sweeps this year’s nominations with a total of six including: TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, Single of the Year, Album of the Year,* Artist of the Year,* Songwriter of the Year* and Pop Album of The Year. Pop punk legend Avril Lavigne and Albertan singer-songwriter Tate McRae followed with five nominations each, showcasing the enormous talent that reinforces Canada’s global reach. Avril is nominated for TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, Single of the Year, Album of the Year,* Artist of the Year* and Pop Album of The Year; while Tate is up for TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, Single of the Year, Album of the Year,* Songwriter of the Year* and Pop Album of The Year.
 
First-time nominees honoured with three nominations include acclaimed singer/songwriter Preston Pablo for TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, Single of the Year and Breakthrough Artist Of The Year*; and dance-pop icon Rêve for TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, Breakthrough Artist Of The Year* and Dance Recording Of The Year. Canadian rapper NAV also takes home three nominations for Album of the Year,* Rap Album/EP of The Year and Rap Single of the Year; alongside internationally celebrated singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes for TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, Single of the Year and Artist of the Year*; and country music duo The Reklaws for TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, Group of the Year* and Country Album of the Year*.
 
The host province of Alberta is also well represented with first time nominations going to Altameda for Adult Alternative Album of the Year*; Anthony Tan for Classical Composition of the Year; The Bearhead Sisters and Cikwes for Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year; Devon Cole for Breakthrough Artist of the Year;* The Ostara Project for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, Tehillah Worship for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year; Rare Americans for Breakthrough Group of the Year* and WAKE for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year.
 
MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS and The JUNO Awards, will recognize one Canadian music educator’s impact not only on students, but also their community and the music education field, through the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by CST Foundation. The 2023 nominees are Jewel Casselman (Winnipeg, MB, Lakewood School), Susan Evoy (St. John’s, NL, St. Teresa’s Elementary & Waterford Valley High School), Stephen Richardson (Yellowknife, NWT, École St. Joseph School), Kelly Stronach (Guelph, ON, Mitchell Woods Public School) and Heidi Wood (Calgary, AB, Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School).
 
New JUNO Award Performers Announced
 
Lighting up the stage is Alexisonfire, who will stun crowds with their amped up show for the second time since their inaugural JUNO performance in 2007. The band recently released their long-anticipated and first full-length album in over 13 years, Otherness, described as their most cohesive and self-actualized record to date. Otherness debuted at #2 on the Top 20 Music Canada album chart and the band’s single “Sans Soleil” hit #2 on Rock Radio in Canada. The post-hardcore luminaries have sold over one million records and released five hugely successful studio albums, with four achieving Platinum-certification.
 
Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class alumni, Aysanabee, will make his JUNO Awards debut with a performance showcasing his striking sound and powerful voice. Since releasing his deeply moving debut album Watin in 2022, Aysanabee has been named a CBC Music Breakthrough Artist of the Year. His acclaimed single “Nomads” hit #1 on CBC Music’s Top 20 and continues to climb, entering the Top 10 on Mediabase Canada’s Alternative radio chart. His soulful track “We Were Here,” charted on the Indigenous Music Countdown and was featured on the hit ABC series Station 19. 
 
The four-time JUNO Award winning superstar, Jessie Reyez will help celebrate this year’s nominees as she returns to share a soulful live performance with audiences in Edmonton. This past September, Reyez released her sophomore album, YESSIE,  which chronicles the journey and range of emotions from love and loss to healing, closure and happiness. The GRAMMY Award-nominated artist’s recent success includes her debut album reaching Top 5 on Billboard’s R&B Album Chart and amassing over 1.2 billion global streams.  Reyez also earned the title of Top Female Debut Album and Top R&B Album of 2020 for Before Love Came To Kill Us, and made a cameo in Beyonce’s Black is King visual album.
 
These artists join previously announced acts AP Dhillon, Banx & Ranx, Preston Pablo and Rêve together in a collaborative performance, Nickelback, Tate McRae and Tenille Townes.
 
*Award Sponsors for The 2023 JUNO Awards include: Adult Alternative Album of the Year Presented by Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Album of the Year Presented by Music Canada, Artist of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada, Breakthrough Artist of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters, Breakthrough Group of the Year Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters, Comedy Album of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada, Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year Presented by Destination Indigenous, Country Album of the Year Presented by Edmonton’s Best Hotels, Group of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada, Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Presented by Audio-Technica, Music Video of the Year Presented by YouTube, Rock Album of the Year Presented by Amii – Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN and TikTok JUNO Fan Choice.

The Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF), presented by TD Bank Group (TD) in collaboration with Global News, is celebrating its 11th anniversary with a return to IN-PERSON programming, and an online component, from February 15-20, 2023! Created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, the game-changing Toronto Black Film Festival will bringinnovative, powerful, diverse, and bold programming to Toronto audiences, while also maintaining online accessibility.     

Part of the TD 2023 Black History Month Series, the Festival will present 125 films from 20 countries – including 37 World premieres, 18 International premieres, 37 Canadian premieres, 18 Ontario premieres and 7 Toronto premieres. The TBFF All Access Passes and individual tickets are on sale now on the Festival’s website.

TBFF is Canada’s largest celebration of Black History Month, attracting hundreds of thousands of festivalgoers of all ages and ethnic backgrounds both in-person and online. Year after year, through its audacious and diverse programming, the Toronto Black Film Festival has been a catalyst and necessary platform for Black artists who would otherwise remain invisible. The Toronto Black Film Festival is a movement that allows members of the Global Majority and other communities to come together to learn about and better understand one another.

The Festival’s opening night will take place on Wednesday, February 15th at 8PM at the Isabel Bader Theatre with the Ontario Premiere of Matt Waldeck’s LOVELY JACKSON (USA), followed by a Q&A session with the director and subject Rickey Jackson. The film is exonerated prisoner Rickey Jackson’s daring first-hand account of the psychology of survival and spiritual fortitude required to withstand 39 years of wrongful incarceration for a murder he didn’t commit.

WOMAN MEETS GIRL also is a Short Film screening at the Festival. It takes place over a vodka-fueled game of Never Have I Ever, Annabelle (Enuka Okuma), a 42-year-old virgin and Tessie (Chelsea Russell), an 18-year-old homeless sex worker, challenge each other to expose their vulnerabilities, revealing their differences and similarities AND an undeniable chemistry emerges between them. More about it here.

The Toronto Black Film Festival will also pay tribute to award-winning Writer, Producer and Director Jennifer Holness as part of the opening night celebrations.      

Jennifer Holness is the first Black woman in Canada to win a CSA for best writing, she is the 2021 Indiescreen Producer of the Year and a 2022 WIFT Creative Excellence Award winner. Her recent feature doc, Subjects of Desire, has won numerous festival awards and was a 2021 TIFF top 10 film. Her TV series include Shoot The Messenger and Guns, with the latter winning 5 CSA’s and garnering a prestigious Rose d’Or nomination.  Her narrative feature films, Home Again and Love, Sex and Eating the Bones have screened around the globe, with Bones winning a Best First Feature award at TIFF. She is a Founder and the Inaugural Chair of the Black Screen Office and is an Executive Board Member of the CMPA.  

#TBFF23 will close at the Carlton Cinema with the Canadian Premiere of Frank Berry’s AISHA starring Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor (Ireland). Aisha, a young Nigerian woman seeking asylum in Ireland is floundering in a maze of social services and bureaucracy. As her situation becomes increasingly dire, Aisha struggles to maintain hope and dignity against the looming threat of deportation.

“The Toronto Black Film Festival is back in person (and online) for what promises to be an exciting and inspiring 11^th edition. We are thrilled to be spotlight more Black artists and authentic Black stories in Toronto. Thanks to the support of thousands of festivalgoers and the creativity of the artists, the TBFF has made big strides creating awareness about the industry’s severe lack of diversity. With the support of our loyal partners, we will continue to leverage the power of the arts for even more social and economic impact.”- stated Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Black Film Festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver

Additional programming, including the must-see FCF’s Being Black in Canada series, includes:

THE TBFF BLACK MARKET 

Presented by Canadian Heritage, Bell Fund, Telefilm Canada, Canada Council for the Arts

February 16-17 Daniels Spectrum, February 18 Carlton Cinema and February 19 on Facebook

The Black Market series returns In Person and Online with an exciting blend of progressive and innovative thinking FREE panel discussions with renowned industry professionals who will share real-world experience on today’s most critical filmmaking and social issues

 In-Person Panels

●      NETWORKING: The How–To Rules for Approaching People in the Entertainment Industry

●      FEDERAL FUNDING SUPPORT FOR FILM AND TV, PRESENTED BY TELEFILM

●      A CAREER IN ANIMATION VOICE-OVER, CO-PRESENTED BY ACTRA TORONTO

Online Panels

●      SCRIPT SUPERVISOR THE UNSUNG HERO OF THE SET

●      THE ROLE OF UNIONS AND AGENCIES IN THE FIGHT FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 

FABIENNE COLAS FOUNDATION’S BEING BLACK IN CANADA

Presented by NETFLIX, in collaboration with the National Bank, and supported by Telefilm Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts.

February 16 – Carton cinema 7pm – 11pm & ONLINE Tickets on TorontoBlackFilm.com

30 emerging Black filmmakers from Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver of the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Being Black in Canada program will present their WORLD PREMIERE short films In-Person at TBFF on Thursday, February 16th. Thanks to the support of Netflix, National Bank, Telefilm Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Creates and various local partners. 

The TBFF Kids Festival is back this year with new and exciting In Person activities for the whole family on Family Day, February 20, at the Carlton Cinema from 11am to 7pm.

Finally, festivalgoers can cap off their day with the TBFF Live Performance Series – at Pogue Mahone Pub & Kitchen February 15 – 19, 10pm. Showcasing different genres of music and Spoken Word representing the Afrocentric community. This line-up includes Rudy Ray Collective, Mel Dubé Warrior Love Band, Waleed Abdulahmid & Dieufaite Charles, Shakkoi, Fefe, David Delisca, Amoya Reé and Prince Amoak

This year’s line-up consists of remarkable films, highlighting important topics such as women’s issues, politics, social injustice, discrimination, mental health, arts, sports, accomplishment, and mystery among others. 

A few #TBFF23’s must-see feature films are Sheep’s Clothings, Know Your Place, What We Do Next, Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, and Aisha. Furthermore, some of the thought-provoking documentaries – presented by Canada Media Fund – include Kaepernick and America, Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands, Cesaria Evora, Music Pictures New Orleans, “The Melt Goes On Forever:  The Art and Times of David Hammons” the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Being Black in Canada series and many more!

“Global News has been a proud official media partner of the Toronto Black Film Festival for over a decade. A huge congratulations to the Festival for its year-over-year accomplishments. It has been a privilege to see this event continue its important work and inspire so many people in the GTA.” – Mackay Taggart – Ontario Regional Director of News

The #TBFF23 All Access Passes are available on the Festival’s website:

The All Access Pass (for the Online program) $119.00 +Tx + fees, gives access to the festival’s entire Online program.

The All Access Pass (for the In-Person program) $149 +Tx+ fees, gives access to all In-Person programming. 

Individual tickets to the in-person opening film are available for $25, closing film for $20, regular films for $12 and film series are available for $12.

The 11th annual Toronto Black Film Festival, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, is presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Global News – from February 15 to 20, 2023 – IN PERSON & ONLINE.

For full programming and events, visit www.TorontoBlackFilm.com

Live your life a 1/4 mile at a time. The road to the end begins 2/10. #FASTX

A new Legacy Trailer remembering The Fast and the Furious. This will be followed by a brand-new Trailer for FAST X, dropping February 10, 2023.

A brand-new Poster also has arrived for FAST X:

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)