The Regent Park Film Festival (RPFF) officially announces its full festival line-up with 45 highly acclaimed films and multiple industry panels and events continuing its mission to bridge communities through films that are always FREE and accessible. Toronto’s longest running FREE community film festival will make its return this December 7^th -10^th in-person and online with screenings and events taking place at Regent Park’s staple community cultural hub Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St E).

View the full schedule at: rpff.ca/2022

This year, RPFF is proud to be celebrating 20 years of storytelling, bringing together the diverse communities that exist in the vibrant Regent Park neighbourhood and all across Canada to enjoy and engage with film as a means of artistic expression and a catalyst for change. Since its inception, RPFF has believed in the power of art and film to bring people together, to create empathy and understanding amongst neighbours, and to open one’s eyes to new perspectives and possibilities.

“RPFF had humble beginnings, with our first festival taking place in the gym at Nelson Mandela Park Public School. However, this year we’re coming back in-person with more FREE programming than we’ve ever had before, putting together an ambitious, captivating program over four days with a bit of something for everyone.”said Executive Director Kalpana Srinarayanadas.“We’re excited to celebrate not only our 20th anniversary, but also the resilience and fortitude we’ve all experienced these past few years, and our chance to finally come together in-person as a community again. The mission has always been and will continue to be providing access to art no matter anyone’s financial or social status.

“While we want to reminisce, we also hope our programming inspires conversations about the future; the future of communities like Regent Park that continue to be in flux yet thrive despite it, and an industry that should be in flux to meet the needs of the diverse creatives within it, by way of tough but necessary conversations.” said RPFF programmer Aashna Thakkar. “This year’s program features a wide range of stellar Canadian films, from the most seasoned directors, like Clement Virgo, to the many short film directors who are freshly entering the festival sphere. When combined, each filmmaker has helped us to curate a program that reflects and brings validity to the past, present and future of BIPOC narratives.”

RPFF places emphasis on works that represent culturally diverse experiences and offer Regent Park residents positive images from their countries of origin. They also showcase films of all genres (documentary, fiction, animation, experimental) with topics pertinent to the Regent Park community. 

This year’s feature films include:

BROTHER by Clement Virgo (Opening Night Film)

Sons of Caribbean immigrants, Francis and Michael face questions of masculinity, identity and family amid the pulsing beat of Toronto’s early hip-hop scene.

TIKTOK BOOM by Shalini Kantayya

Dissecting one of the most influential platforms of the contemporary social media landscape, TikTok Boom examines the algorithmic, socio-political, economic, and cultural influences and impact of the history-making app.

PORTRAITS FROM A FIRE by Trevor Mack

Portraits From A fire is a coming-of-age film following Tyler, a teen who spends his days vlogging his Indigenous community. He meets an older teenager who pushes him to show his latest work about his family to the community, leading to a reckoning between the past and the future.

SUMMER OF SOUL by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park.

RICEBOY SLEEPS by Anthony Shim

Set in the 90s, a Korean single mother raises her young son in the suburbs of Canada determined to provide a better life for him than the one she left behind.

This year’s short films have been curated into four different programs:

NUANCED CONNECTIONS

The relationships we form can be comforting, complicated and, at times, painful. This collection of shorts showcases the intricacies of our connections with loved ones through pivotal moments of self-discovery, to the fleeting moments that make up our lived experiences. How do these relationships stand the test of time and how do they inform who we are as individuals? Films included: Nanitic by Carol Nguyen, The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night by Fawzia Mizra, Perfect Restaurant by Aiken Chau, N’xaxaitkw by Asia Youngman, Cupids by Zoey Martinson and Ahu’s Journal by Weeda Azim

PHYSICAL PERCEPTIONS

Whether due to our perceived gender, race or physical attributes, there comes a time when our self perception is not always in line with how others see us. What intersections of our identity and experiences are not apparent to the eye? This program explores how these misaligned views about our bodies inform how we move through the world. Films included: It’s a girl! by Andy Nguyen, Guardians by Minerva Navasca, We Went Out by Ian Kamau, Nectar by Nakita Sunar, For Love by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, and Diaspora by Tyler Mckenzie Evans.

TRUTHS UNRAVELING

This shorts program challenges perceptions of BIPOC narratives we’ve come to know. What knowledge of our past has been buried and what is left to learn? From stories of racism, culture and health, these films seek to unveil just that. Films included: Reel Black: Our Film Stories by Tristen Sutherland, Emeraude Domingos Mbuku and Ayan Tan, Fresh Meat by Lu Asfaha, Where Are You From by Fatima Gardaad, Hindsight by Shubhi Sahni, and Patty vs. Patty by Chris Strikes.

REGENT PARK MADE VISIBLE

In celebration of their 20^th anniversary, Regent Park Film Festival launched Regent Park Made Visible, a new project for which they commissioned five local filmmakers to produce films that celebrate the history and resilience of Regent Park. This project will give viewers an opportunity to experience the neighbourhood’s transformation through decades-old archival footage, news clips, and interviews with residents. These films, along with a talkback with the filmmakers, will explore the trials and triumphs of Regent Park and the impact it has had on those who call it home. Films included: A Tale of Two Regents by Akasha Jones, remnanthood by Calla Moya, terrestrial by Shanele Soares, A Pile of Dirt by Rhoma Spencer, and A Tribute to Paintbox by Focus Media Arts Centre. This program was made possible with funding from Canada Council for the Arts.

In addition to the films, the festival will be featuring exciting panels, workshops and events including Commercial Filmmaking: From Production to Post guided by an industry-leading group of storytellers including Oscar nominated director Hubert Davis, the annual pitch competition Emerging Directors’ Pitch Competition and Retrospective where the winner will receive a development deal with CBC and $1000 courtesy of RBC, Discovering Delight: Creative Writing Workshop for BIPOC Creatives, Mental Health and Self Care for Filmmaker, Designing Sound: Sourcing Music for your Next Film, and In Conversation with Carlos Bustamante. In celebration of its 20^th anniversary, RPFF will be hosting 20 Years of Film and Community in Regent Park which will bring together the Festival’s Executive Directors of the past decade, along with RPFF‘s Founder, for a discussion on leadership, community and the power of film.

A new offering is the Industry Lounge for aspiring and established filmmakers to relax, speak with industry insiders, learn about available resources, and meet potential new collaborators. The space will also feature an exclusive exhibit of Walter Klassen FX’s props and costumes from popular Toronto productions. This space is made possible with the generous support of MBS Equipment Co. Canada.

Back this year is RPFF’s School Program where the Festival puts together a selection of curated films for classrooms which address social issues affecting Toronto’s diverse population. These lesson plans are created by their Education Committee, composed of teachers, teacher candidates, and those with strong interest in film education. Students are invited to Daniels Spectrum for a unique and thought-provoking field trip and a fun film festival experience. The program will also be made available online to schools across the GTA who wish to take advantage of the films and learning resources available.

This year’s School Program has been curated into four different themes:

YOU, ME AND THE ENVIRONMENT

This program encourages you to reflect on your inner voice, your place in your community and consider your role in shaping our world. While caring for our planet and figuring out where you belong within it are valuable, these films also serve as a helpful reminder to maintain your self-worth and unique identity. Films included are The Lost Seahorse by Benjamin Fieschi-Rose, Bémol by Oana Lacroix, Cool For You by Sherene Strausberg, Blue Curry by Magali Dunyach, Blewish by Ezra Edmond, Jump by Stanley Hector and Aki by Wanci Hua.

YOU, ME AND THE COMMUNITY

There are many different ways to engage with community, whether through friendship, family traditions, knowledge sharing, or mentorship. This program explores the many facets of what it means to be a part of a larger group of people with shared interests, experiences, or goals. How does the community help in shaping you as a person and embracing the cards you’ve been dealt. Films included are Out There by Sebastian Hill-Esbrand, Evan’s Drum by Ossie Michelin, The Gift by Rachel Garrick, Generation Impact: The Scientist by Stephanie Wang-Breal, and Cupids by Zoey Martinson.

YOU, MYSELF AND MY IDENTITY

Figuring out who you are is no easy feat. This program highlights the journey and the joys of trying to be your authentic self, while on a road to self-discovery. Whether you’re navigating your sexuality, gender, racial identity, or life circumstance, how do you hold space for growth when dealing with external forces such as family, society, or cultural norms. Films include are Generation Impact: The Coder by Samantha Knowles , It’s a girl! by Andy Nguyen, Out There by Sebastian Hill-Esbrand, The Talk by Ella Saini, Silence by TJ O’Grady Peyton, and We Are Not Speaking the Same Language by Danika St-Laurent.

Regent Park Film Festival would like to thank all the sponsors, partners and funders who share their vision and values: RBC, The Daniels Corporation, Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Telefilm Canada, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council.

Regent Park Film Festival started in 2003 through the efforts of a determined group of community residents and volunteers. Their goal was to bring Regent Park residents access to high quality films that resonated with their experiences. From the very beginning, it has been vital to RPFF’s mission as an organization to offer programming that is free and accessible to anyone who wishes to participate and attend. This includes community screenings, school programs, internships and learning opportunities, industry panels and workshops, film submissions, and childcare. The key communities that RPFF serves are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities, people with low-income, people who live in public housing, and Regent Park residents. About 70% of their annual audience members identify as BIPOC and they prioritize such artists, audiences, and narratives. They program the most aesthetically interesting, educational, thought-provoking, and entertaining films as well as industry and networking events.

Today, as Regent Park has undergone a seventeen-year revitalization project, RPFF works to bring together the diverse communities that exist in the neighbourhood to enjoy and engage with film as a means of artistic expression and a catalyst for change. Their mandate supports films made by culturally diverse people on topics congruous with the Regent Park community such as urbanization, racial justice, community activism, immigrant experiences, truth and reconciliation, and experiences of working class and youth of colour.

For one day only on Friday, November 18, 2022, Prime Video Channels, in collaboration with Lyft, RAM and Paramount+, are offering premium Lyft rides across Toronto to celebrate the new season of Yellowstone, now available to stream on Paramount+, part of Prime Video channels. Three Dutton Ranch RAM pickup trucks will be released across Toronto surprising Lyft users who use the rideshare service on Friday, November 18^th, picking up lucky passengers at random all morning long.  Fans and rideshare customers alike will get to experience riding in an exact replica of the Dutton Ranch RAM pickup truck that transports them to Montana’s western landscape and receive a free 7-day trial of Paramount+.

Prime Video Channels is a Prime benefit that lets members subscribe to their favourite TV and movie channels through Prime Video – including Paramount+, STARZ, hayu, and STACKTV. Yellowstone S5 (along with all previous seasons)are now available to stream Paramount+. Via Prime Video Channels.

Willem Dafoe stars in INSIDE. Here is a new Poster, with a new Trailer coming tomorrow!

Synopsis:

INSIDE tells the story of Nemo, an art thief trapped in a New York penthouse after his heist doesn’t go as planned. Locked inside with nothing but priceless works of art, he must use all his cunning and invention to survive.

Focus Features release INSIDE March 10, 2023.

(Photo credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Filmed in and around Montreal, THE RECRUIT stars Noah Centineo and here’s your first look at the Trailer for the upcoming Series!

Synopsis:

The Recruit centers around Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo), a young CIA lawyer whose first week on the job turns upside down when he discovers a threatening letter by former asset Max Meladze (Laura Haddock), who plans to expose the agency unless they exonerate her of a serious crime. Owen quickly becomes entangled in a dangerous and often absurd world of power politics and mischievous players, as he travels the world in hopes of completing his assignment and making a mark at the CIA.

THE RECRUIT arrives December 16, 2022 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Disney and Pixar have released a Teaser for their upcoming 27th Feature Film, ELEMENTAL!

Synopsis:

Directed by Peter Sohn (“The Good Dinosaur,” “Partly Cloudy” short) and produced by Denise Ream (“The Good Dinosaur,” “Cars 2”), the film journeys alongside an unlikely pair, Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. The fiery young woman and the go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.

“Elemental” is an original film inspired by Sohn’s childhood in New York. “My parents emigrated from Korea in the early 1970s and built a bustling grocery store in the Bronx,” said the director. “We were among many families who ventured to a new land with hopes and dreams—all of us mixing into one big salad bowl of cultures, languages and beautiful little neighborhoods. That’s what led me to ‘Elemental.’

Walt Disney Studios Canada release ELEMENTAL JUNE 16, 2023.

(Photo credit: Disney)

DARBY AND THE DEAD arrives next month on Disney+. Here’s a first look at the Trailer for this Supernatural Teen Comedy.

Synopsis:

After suffering a near-death experience as a young girl, Darby Harper (Riele Downs) gains the ability to see dead people. As a result, she becomes introverted and shut off from her high school peers and prefers to spend time counseling lonely spirits who have unfinished business on earth. But all that changes when Capri (Auli’i Cravalho), the Queen Bee of the school’s most exclusive clique, unexpectedly dies in a freak hair straightening accident, resulting in the obvious cancellation of her upcoming “Sweet 17.” Capri, however, pleads with Darby from the other side to intervene and convince Capri’s friends to proceed with the party as planned. In order to appease the wrath of the undead diva, Darby must emerge from her self-imposed exile and reinvent herself — which along the way allows her to find new joy back in the land of the living.“Darby and the Dead” stars Riele Downs, Auli’i Cravalho, Chosen Jacobs, Asher Angel, Wayne Knight, with Derek Luke and Tony Danza, and is directed by Silas Howard. The screenplay is by Becca Greene, based on a story by Wenonah Wilms, and the producers are Adam Saunders and Eddie Rubin, with Michele Weisler and Mac Hendrickson serving as executive producers. 

DARBY AND THE DEAD arrives December 2, 2022 on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

MISSING stars Euphoria‘s Storm Reid. See the Trailer for the twisty thrill ride where a daughter learns a thing or two about her mom!

Synopsis:
From the minds behind Searching comes Missing, a thrilling roller-coaster mystery that makes you wonder how well you know those closest to you. When her mother (Nia Long) disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s (Storm Reid) search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers…and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.

Sony Pictures Canada release MISSING January 20, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Canada)

The Immersive Nutcracker, A Winter Miracle will premiere this holiday season in 12 cities across North America including Calgary at the BMO Centre from December 1 to 28. Produced by Lighthouse Immersive in partnership with Storywall Entertainment and presented by Paquin Entertainment Group and Stampede Park District, Immersive Nutcracker is an experiential retelling of a young girl’s magical Christmas Eve journey, all surrounding the audience in 360-degree, three-dimensional splendor. Tickets go on-sale today at 9:00 a.m. local times and can be purchased at https://www.immersive-nutcracker.com/calgary/

Immersive Nutcracker is an ideal family outing, featuring whimsical animated characters alongside footage of professional ballet dancers. This joyful 30-minute immersive experience is an ideal outlet to introduce young children to the art of ballet and the captivating storytelling that  often accompanies it. Set to the sweeping music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Immersive Nutcracker encompasses visitors in over 500,000 cubic feet of projections composed of over 1 million frames of video, curating a grand immersive display that relays the tale of The Nutcracker from opening to finale. The projection features beloved scenes set to their classical scores like  “The March of the Toys,” “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and more.

Based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s 1816 fairy tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, The Nutcracker has become a holiday classic, taking the form of ballets, films and more. The Immersive Nutcracker, A Winter Miracle is the newest rendition of this timeless classic, using the latest  projection mapping technology to chronicle Marie and her beloved toy nutcracker who comes to  life to battle the Mouse King and then takes her on an enchanting adventure across a holiday themed dreamscape.

“Like so many others, I have grown up with the tradition of enjoying the Nutcracker story,” says Svetlana Dvoretsky, Producer at Lighthouse Immersive. “This production does not replace any of those classics, but it provides a family-friendly experience that pays homage to the story’s ballet roots.”

Five fantasy-filled worlds await audiences in The Immersive Nutcracker, A Winter Miracle, lovingly designed by Storywall Entertainment’s creative and technical teams. World-renowned ballet  dancers Denis Rodkin (principal dancer) and Eleonora Sevenard (leading soloist) perform expert choreography amid the brilliant animations; with young Canadian talents Elizabeth Pivovar and  Alexander Marinosyan playing young Marie and her brother Fritz.

The Immersive Nutcracker, A Winter Miracle is a Storywall Entertainment production presented by Paquin Entertainment and Stampede Park.

Tickets for The Immersive Nutcracker, A Winter Miracle start at $29.99 (plus ticketing fees) for General Admission and will go on sale to the public on November 16, 2022. Family packs are $26.99 (plus ticketing fees) per person for two adults accompanying two children. For more information, visit https://www.immersive-nutcracker.com/calgary/. Follow the exhibit on Facebook and Instagram @nutcrackerimmersive.yyc

Jeanick Fournier won the hearts of Canadians and Season Two Canada’s Got Talent judges alike with her powerful vocals. But above this, she comes with a heartfelt story. The Pallative Care Worker is a mother to two children with Down Syndrome. Her story has compelled a nation, propelling her to stardom. The Saguenay Songstress for years had been performing in a Celine Dion tribute show, before finally landing her big break.

We were so lucky to get to hear those magnificent vocals in-person at Universal Music Canada’s offices as she performed an abbreviated set for tastemakers and fans. In October she had released her debut self-titled LP for the label, a mix of covers and originals.

See some higlights from the evening:

Fournier asked me to speak a bit slower as English is her second language, but walked me through her journey, singing since she was only seven years of age. I wondered how long it takes for her to get her vocals warmed-up and in prime form to belt a rangey ballad like “I Surrender” and her routine usually is about 20 minutes. You need to hear her to believe it!

Hear more on her official YouTube channel here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Just in time for some Holiday cheer, PIB is here!

Synopsis:

This holiday season, everyone’s favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline returns.

For the first time in more than a decade, DreamWorks Animation presents a new adventure in the Shrek universe as daring outlaw Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots on his grandest quest yet.

Academy Award® nominee Antonio Banderas returns as the voice of the notorious PiB as he embarks on an epic journey into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star and restore his lost lives. But with only one life left, Puss will have to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis: the captivating Kitty Softpaws (Oscar® nominee Salma Hayek Pinault).

In their quest, Puss and Kitty will be aided—against their better judgment—by a ratty, chatty, relentlessly cheerful mutt, Perrito (Harvey Guillén, What We Do in the Shadows). Together, our trio of heroes will have to stay one step ahead of Goldi (Oscar® nominee Florence Pugh, Black Widow) and the Three Bears Crime Family, Jack Horner (Emmy winner John Mulaney, Big Mouth) and terrifying bounty hunter, the big, bad Wolf (Wagner Moura, Narcos).

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish features an all-star comedic cast that includes Oscar® winner Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone (Black Widow), Samson Kayo (Sliced), Emmy nominee Anthony Mendez (Jane the Virgin) and Tony nominee Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Trolls World Tour).

The long-awaited follow-up to the 2011 Academy Award®-nominated blockbuster, The Last Wish is directed by Joel Crawford and produced by Mark Swift, the creative team behind DreamWorks Animation’s smash, The Croods: A New Age. The film’s executive producer is Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri.

The character of Puss in Boots first appeared in 2004’s Oscar®-nominated Shrek 2 and instantly became a global, scene-stealing sensation. Puss then co-starred in two other Shrek sequels and his solo film, as well as in multiple DreamWorks Animation videos and TV series. The Shrek and Puss in Boots films have collectively earned more than $3.5 billion worldwide.

Genre: Animated Comedy Adventure

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Olivia Colman, Harvey Guillén, Samson Kayo, Wagner Moura, Anthony Mendez, John Mulaney, Florence Pugh, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Ray Winstone

Director: Joel Crawford

Producer: Mark Swift

Executive Producer: Chris Meledandri

Universal Pictures Canada release PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH on December 21, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)