The 22nd Reelworld Film Festival officially unveils its full festival line-up with 34 films and free industry panels, continuing its mission to feature Canadian filmmakers who are Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian and People of Colour. Running from October 12th – 18, 2022, the festival makes its return in-person and online with screenings and industry events taking place at various iconic Toronto locations The Royal Theatre (608 College St),The Paradise (1006c Bloor St W) , and The ROM (100 Queens Park).

Passes are now available for purchase at www.reelworld.ca/festival.

The Reelworld Film Festival showcases a wide variety of genres in narrative and documentary features and shorts. As a filmgoer, whether in person or online, you will enjoy the dramatic storytelling, hard-hitting documentaries, witty comedies and thoughtful abstractions that the 22nd Reelworld Film Festival selections will offer. Online screenings are geo-blocked to Ontario.

Reelworld is excited to announce this year’s stellar lineup of feature films programed by Aisha Evelyna, Marina Hanna, Reza Sameni, Safia Abdigir, and Pahull Bains, which includes:

GOLDEN DELICIOUS by Jason Karman (Opening night film)

When basketball-obsessed Aleks moves in across the street, Asian-Canadian teen Jake finds himself trying out for the basketball team to get his attention in this classic coming-of-age drama set in the digital age.

THE MYTH OF THE BLACK WOMAN by Ayana O’Shun

The Myth of the Black Woman is a feature-length documentary that investigates the images of Black women in Western societies, from the hypersexual Jezebel to the lovable Nurse to the sassy “Bitch.” The film works to break down The Myth by featuring a diverse group of women and a wealth of realities rarely seen on screen and supported by engrossing archival footage from the 1800s to the present day.

BITE OF A MANGO by Ron Dias

After a casual hook up between Jayne and Tray in the early stages of lockdown, Jayne, a strikingly independent half-Nigerian half-Jamaican woman, is left feeling alone in dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. In Jayne’s absence, Tray seeks the friendship of an old flame only to realize how he truly feels about Jayne.

DEAR JACKIE by Henri Pardo

Dear Jackie is a cinematic letter to Jackie Robinson, the first Black man to play in Major League Baseball, after a stint with the minor-league Montreal Royals, and a key contributor to the civil rights movement in the United States. The film addresses Robinson directly and recounts the current situation of the Black community in Little Burgundy, once known as the “Harlem of the North,” drawing interesting parallels between the two eras. Through eloquent interviews, testimonies, and powerful verité moments in black and white, Dear Jackie paints a portrait of racism and racial inequality in Montreal and Quebec as a whole.

KITE ZO A by Kaveh Nabatian

Kite Zo A (Leave the Bones) is a sensorial film about rituals in Haiti, from ancient to modern, made in collaboration with poets, dancers, musicians, fishermen, daredevil rollerbladers, and Vodou priests, set to poetry by Haitian author Wood-Jerry Gabriel.

EXEGESIS: LOVECRAFT by Qais Pasha

A cathartic journey that Qais Pasha, a Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker embarks on as he traces the life of cult author H.P. Lovecraft, from woodland cemeteries in Rhode Island, to the docks of New York and on to the cobbled stone streets of Quebec City. A head first dive into the division at the heart of weird fiction, wherein Qais encounters everything from Lovecraft’s ghost to the various writers, artists and researchers battling over the soul of Lovecraft’s legacy.

TZOUHALEM by Harold C. Joe and Leslie D. Bland

This documentary examines the near-mythic figure of Cowichan Chief Tzouhalem, the account of his life from both historians and First Nations Elders, the folkloric tales concerning him, his impact on the modern relationship between the Crown and First Nations, and how his legend remains alive to this day, examining critically how his story has been told and passed down to us.

PATTERN by Ivan Madeira

It is five months after the death of Curtis’ partner Mia due to post-birth complications. As the initial fog of grief starts to lift, he is at a crossroads of how he wants to raise their daughter Salom.

RESET by Min Bae

South Korea’s worst maritime disaster traumatized a nation while simultaneously sinking the country’s emotional spirit, resulting in the death of 304 passengers.

SUMMER WITH HOPE by Sadaf Foroughi

Young swimmer, Omid (whose name means “hope” in Persian), along with his mother, Leili, and uncle, Saadi, have each placed their individual fates on one vital upcoming swimming competition. In the days and hours before the meet, however, the consequences of failure become clear for each – all of which falls heavily on Omid’s shoulders as a responsibility he refuses to bear. As their community’s jealousy steadily erodes the family’s façade, layer by layer, to find whatever weakness they can, the family itself also begins to crumble like sand under the weight of the encroaching tide.

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

IDENTITY – programmed by Safia Abdigir

Identity formation is always in struggle when the validity of that formation is denied by those around you. From queer exploration in youth to defying the odds of being an older athlete, the filmmakers in this program focus on the internal rumination of understanding rejection in relation to environments, families and careers and what that means for an individual navigating even the mundatity of life. Films included: Better at Texting directed by Mary Galloway, More Than Hair directed by Fitch Jean, Glass Doll directed by Omorose Osagie, Blue Honey directed by Valeriya Khan, Imran & Alykhan directed by Shakil Jessa, Blue Garden directed by Natalie Murao, and The Last Shot directed by Roble Issa.

HOME – programmed by Reza Sameni

Each year filmmakers from across Canada bring fresh perspectives to the festival’s long-running “Home” Program and add a new layer of nuance to the definition of “home.” Pushing it beyond the familiar portrayal of a four-wall construction to a thought-provoking artwork stemming from each filmmaker’s unique life experience in search of a comfort zone. Films included: I Live Here directed by Tyler Evans, Saturday Night Fuego directed by Anita Abbasi, The Interview directed by Magdi Omar, I Remember the Footprints directed by Cazhhmere Downey, Viper directed by Raine Stephen LeMay, and Ahu directed by Mahsa Razavi.

CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES – programmed by Marina Hanna

As in life, a choice made in a story can seal a character’s fate—whether they realize it or not. Minds may change and choices do face challenges, but choices set wheels in motion. For writers and directors plotting the course of a story, choices are also used to reveal character. The films in this category maximize tension by placing their protagonists in high-stake scenarios. Their choices are informed not only by their character but by their culture. Films included: There Are No Children Here directed by Shehrezade Mian, Unspoken Agreements directed by Marianna Phung, Split Ends directed by Alireza Kazemipour, Call me AWOL directed by Georgie Trifa, Everything WIll Be Alright directed by Farhad Pakdel.

ALTERNATE WORLDS – programmed by Aisha Evelyna

With a pandemic still not entirely in the rearview, it’s sometimes easy to wonder if we ourselves are living in an alternate world. Thankfully, these filmmakers dare to take us to new places on screen. This program of films is grounded in the present but are also fiercely optimistic, innovative, and imaginative. Films included: PB & J directed by Richard Lee, Mom vs Machine directed by Tesh Guttikonda, Vitamin directed by Natalia Aranguren & Yeimy Daza, Out of this World directed by Jerry Wolf, Peace Pipeline directed by Gitz Crazyboy & Tito Ybarra, and Omi directed by Kelly Fyffe-Marshall.

Reelworld prioritizes its programming to support and amplify underrepresented Canadian voices. The Festival’s Industry Panels, Workshops and Networking events are consciously designed to enhance opportunities for racialized Canadian talent in the entertainment industry. This year, the festival will be featuring free in-person panels on October 14th at Rogers Communications Inc. (333 Bloor St E) including Producing Live Unscripted Shows by Canada Media Fund and Responsible Storytelling by Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) National. Additionally, virtual panels will also be held on October 17th including Talent to Watch: Creating a Strong Application by Telefilm Canada, There’s a Song for Every Scene: Tips for Finding the Right Music for Every Production by Music Publishers Canada and Creating a Successful Team by the Independent Producer Fund.

The festival wraps up with the 22nd annual Film Festival Awards Show on October 18th which will be streamed on YouTube. This year, Reelworld Film Festival is proud to present two cash awards: $25,000 for Outstanding Feature Film and $10,000 for Outstanding Short Film. This year’s award sponsors include DGC National, WIFT-Toronto, Entertainment Partners Canada, Chargefield, AstroLab Studios, Lenz Rental and Asian Television Network. Feature and Short award categories this year include Outstanding Actress, Outstanding Actor, Outstanding Director, Outstanding Writer, Outstanding Cinematographer, Outstanding Producer, and Outstanding Film. Audience members are also encouraged to participate and rate the films they watch and contribute to the selection of the Reelworld Audience Choice Award.

In addition to the film awards, the Festival recognizes Industry leaders at all levels through the Trailblazer Award, Visionary Award, and Award of Excellence. This year’s winners are: Trailblazer Award: Barbara Ka Yee Lee, Joel Oulette, Jorge Ousmane, Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, Shant Joshi, and Sonya Carey; Visionary Award: Nicholas Davis, and the Award of Excellence recipient Jennifer Podemski. The Reelspeak Festival Edition will stream on the Reelworld Screen Institute Youtube channel On October 18th following the 22nd annual Film Festival Awards Show.

With a focus on diverse works by diverse people, the Reelworld Film Festival showcases and supports Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour producers, directors, screenwriters, actors and all on and off-screen talent. They connect with agents, casting directors, broadcasters and distributors, invite them to the festival, and help them find new Canadian talent. The Reelworld Film Festival programming reflects the strong and authentic voices from across Canada and features 100% Canadian Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour talent. As the country’s largest socially impactful film festival, Reelworld has reached a diverse audience of over 350,000 engaged individuals to date.

About Reelworld

Reelworld was founded in 2000 by award-winning actress and producer Tonya Williams to advance opportunities for

Canadians who are Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour in the screen industries by providing

professional development and advocating for racial equity in Canadian content and production.

Reelworld Screen Institute, a non-profit, provides training programs and presents the acclaimed Reelworld Film Festival, which celebrates stories by racialized Canadians. Providing access to opportunities is core to Reelworld, and Access Reelworld is Canada’s leading hiring platform for racialized crews and talent. Reelworld Foundation, a registered charity,is transforming the industry by creating mechanisms that hold systems accountable for greater equity.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary after a two-year pandemic hiatus. JUST FOR LAUGHS TORONTO is back and on till October 1, 2022. The Comedy Festival has stepped it up this year, reaching a wider audience than ever with the addition of ComedyCon, a Street Festival with food and drink vendors, plus live musical and Comedy performances. plus so much more. But above this, the names in town for the Festival this year are bigger than ever with the likes of John Mulaney, Amy Schumer, Craig Robinson, Craig Ferguson, Marc Maron, Issa Rae, Trixie & Katya and several others, gracing the City at multiple venues around the City. Adapting to shifts in how we see and consume our Comedy, JUST FOR LAUGHS more than ever is placing its focus on an even more inclusie lineup of talent, expanding now to include TikTok personalities, Podcasters, Drag Queens, among others. There truly is something for everyone at the Festival this year.

We were so thrilled to get to see a number of shows at the Festival, back bigger than ever!

ATSUKO

If you’ve never before witnessed the magic that is Atsuko, you are in for a treat. Her Comedy is smart, giving us a unique lens, as an Asian female immigrant in an interracial relationship. Her observations are sharp, with the ability to be expressive also physically. A definite rising star who played multiple shows at the Festival this year, and has an HBO Special on the way.

TRIXIE & KATYA

These RuPaul’s Drag Race Alumni truly have built an empire of their own with their hilarious, playful banter and they treated fans to a full-on production at Meridian Hall lasting 2.5 hours with an intermission even! Fans got a couple chances to see them, including a taping of their Podcast THE BALD & THE BEAUTIFUL, where they got candid about everything from massages, to their thoughts on leaving Drag which you can hear on their upcoming Podcast. Fans even got a chance to buy autographs and photo ops after the taping! Drag stars Priyanka, Olivia Lux and Tynomi Banks even were in attendance!

MEGAN STALTER

This Funnywoman continues to bring the laughs, catching our attention with her hilarious improvised videos which gave gone viral. Remember her “Hi Gay!” Pride month celebration video? We still laugh about it to this day! Stalter also stars in Emmy-winning HACKS on HBO Max, and continues to be a huge star on the rise. Case in point, she was brunching with the likes of Amy Schumer, Trixie and Katya even! Her very interactive show was absolutely bonkers, and even without a clear structure, she still brought the laughs, playing three shows at The Royal.

MONÉT X CHANGE & BOB THE DRAG QUEEN

These RuPaul’s Drag Race fan favourites who have a Podcast together, SIBLING RIVALRY, teamed together again on the Beneva Stage for a free show along with up-and-coming Comedian PINK FOXX on the first Friday of the Festival. A huge turnout!

“BUSY PHILIPPS IS DOING HER BEST” PODCAST

This was a real joy! I’ve always loved Busy Philipps but getting to just hear her talk about her life and adventures in parenting was amazing. Joined by Podcast partner Caissie St. Onge, they brought Atusko out also for a quick chat. We learned all about Philipps’ struggles getting her daughter Harry Styles tickets and does she get to meet Harry? You need to listen to this upcoming Podcast episode and find out. So good!

CRAIG ROBINSON & THE NASTY DELICIOUS

When you think of this Funnyman, star of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Killing It, Music probably doesn’t come first. But he’s here to deliver laughter, soul and funk with Band, The Nasty Delicious on the Beneva Stage. A free show for all! You must scroll along in the carousel above to see his amazing entrance.

CRAIG FERGUSON

We’ve missed Craig Ferguson and his amazing run on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He is taking his show on the road and Toronto was so lucky to have him at the Festival, which he actually drove to in his pick-up truck! Ferguson played two shows at Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

A Recap Reel:

There is still so much to see at JUST FOR LAUGHS TORONTO. Check here for tickets and schedules.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

*All captured on the Samsung S22*

Presented by el Mocambo, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala took place tonight at Massey Hall, honouring the best in Canadian Music and on an international stage. Hosted by Marie-Mai, among those honoured tonight in are legends like Alanis Morissette, Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, David Foster and Daniel Lavoie. The event concluded the inaugural Song & Score Week presented by RBC Emerging Artists which included a Songwriting Masterclass with Foster, in addition to a Songwriters’ Circle with the likes of Fefe Dobson, Tyler Shaw, Tim Hicks, TOBi and Ruby Waters. 

In addition to tonight’s Honourees, the list of talent performing in tributes and presenting, was an A-List including Corey Hart, Alessia Cara, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake, Deborah Cox, Jessie Reyez, Charlotte Cardin, Serena Ryder, plus a special appearance by Olivia Rodrigo. So honoured to be there for this monumental moment in Canadian Music History.

A Highlight Reel of the evening’s most memorable moments:

See some Snaps from the evening:

Visit the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame website for more here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

DON’T WORRY DARLING overcomes controversy to take top spot at the Box Office in its opening weekend with $19.2 million from 4,113 theatres for Warner Bros. Despite a score of 36% from Critics on the Tomatometer, Moviegoers could not resisit the allure of Harry Styles and Florence Pugh.

In second is last week’s topper, THE WOMAN KING with $11.6 million for Sony Pictures from 3,765 theatres, a total $36.2 million over two weeks in North America.

The re-release of AVATAR is third and takes $10 million for 20th Century Studios, playing at 1,800 theatres. It’s total theatrical run comes to $770.5 million.

Fourth is BARBARIAN with $4.8 million from 2,340 theatres for 20th Century Studios, a three week gross of $28.4 million.

PEARL rounds-out our Top Five with $1.9 million for A24/VVS Films, a two week total of $6.6 million.

A first look has been offered for QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY. This story centers on the rise of one of Bridgerton‘s most beloved characters.

Synopsis:

Centered on Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power, this Bridgerton-verse prequel tells the story of how the young Queen’s marriage to King George sparked both a great love story and a societal shift, creating the world of the Ton inherited by the characters in Bridgerton.

Cast: Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Agatha Danbury) and Ruth Gemmell (Lady Violet Bridgerton) reprise their roles from Bridgerton in this series. India Amarteifio (Line of Duty) plays Young Queen Charlotte. Michelle Fairley (Gangs of London) plays Princess Augusta. Corey Mylchreest (The Sandman) plays Young King George. Arsema Thomas (television debut) plays Young Agatha Danbury. Rounding out the cast are Sam Clemmett (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – West End and Broadway, The War Below) as Young Brimsley, Freddie Dennis (The Nevers ) as Reynolds , Richard Cunningham (The Witcher) as Lord Bute, Tunji Kasim (Nancy Drew) as Adolphus, Rob Maloney (Casualty) as the Royal Doctor, Cyril Nri (Cucumber) as Lord Danbury, and Hugh Sachs (Bridgerton Seasons 1 & 2) as Brimsley (older).

• Tudum: A Netflix Global Fan Event is an exciting day of exclusive news, never-before-seen footage, trailers, and first looks, as well as interviews with Netflix’s biggest stars and creators. The free virtual event is a celebration of Netflix fandom and is dedicated to sharing the scoop on over 100 fan-favorite shows, films, and specials from across the globe. On September 24, Tudum will span four continents with five events, taking fans on a whirlwind trip around the world:
• At 11:00 am KST (7:00 pm PT September 23), Tudum kicks off with an exciting show out of Korea.
• At 11:00 am IST (10:30 pm PT, September 23), fans will be treated to a fun look at what’s ahead from India.
• At 10 am PT, Tudum kicks off as a two-part show with Part 1 out of the United States and Europe, and Part 2 at 11:30 am PT out of Latin America, including surprises from other countries.
• At 1:00 pm JST September 25 (9:00 pm PT September 24), our stars from Japan will close out Tudum with a celebration of our Japanese entertainment.
  

Tudum: A Netflix Global Fan Event will be available across Netflix YouTube channels in a number of different languages. Visit Netflix’s official fan site, Tudum.com/event, for the latest news from this global fan event, and stay tuned for details about our title and celebrity lineup in early September.

TIFF Bell Lightbox was buzzing with energy all Festival long this year and if you noticed, there was a door marked “BVLGARI Portrait Studio” on the Widmer Street entrance? Ever wondered what these photos actually turned out like? Well here you go! Such gorgeous portraits and you won’t believe the names that went through the studio for this official TIFF partner.

See more of Carlyle Routh’s portraits at The Hollywood Reporter here.

(Photo credit: Carlyle Routh)

Paramount+ Canada today announced that the contemporary sci-fi horror series FROM (shot here in Canada!) will be premiering on the streamer on September 27, 2022. The series features a stellar ensemble cast led by Harold Perrineau (Lost).

Filmed in 2021 in picturesque Nova Scotia, FROM unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town in middle America that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down.

In addition to Perrineau, the cast includes Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace, The Affair), Eion Bailey (Band of Brothers, Once Upon a Time), Canadians Shaun Majumder, Ricky He (The Good Doctor), Hannah Cheramy, Simon Webster, Avery Konrad, Chloe Van Landschoot, David Alpay (Castle Rock), Elizabeth Saunders (Clarice), Elizabeth Moy, Corteon Moore (Utopia Falls), and Pegah Ghafoori.

“We are thrilled that FROM — filmed in beautiful Nova Scotia with a ridiculously talented Canadian crew — will finally be available for a Canadian audience,” said executive producer Jeff Pinkner. “Our series is populated by a variety of complex characters from various backgrounds, all trapped in a terrifying circumstance — good luck to our Canadian friends who try to untangle the mystery.”

FROM was created by John Griffin and is executive produced by Jack Bender, who also directed the first four episodes, Griffin and Jeff Pinkner, as well as Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Scott Rosenberg from Midnight Radio, Anthony and Joe Russo and Mike Larocca for AGBO and Lindsay Dunn. Midnight Radio’s Adrienne Erickson serves as co-executive producer. FROM is a co-production between EPIX Studios and MGM International Television Productions and is produced by Midnight Radio and AGBO. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution and previously premiered in the US on EPIX.

FROM streams on Paramount+ Canada September 27, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount+)

M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN is back with some thrills in KNOCK AT THE CABIN, coming early next year to theatres. See this new Trailer.

Synopsis:

While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

From visionary filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, Knock at the Cabin stars Dave Bautista (Dune, Guardians of the Galaxy franchise), Tony award and Emmy nominee Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Mindhunter), Ben Aldridge (Pennyworth, Fleabag), BAFTA nominee Nikki Amuka-Bird (Persuasion, Old), newcomer Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn (Little Women, Landline) and Rupert Grint (Servant, Harry Potter franchise).

Universal Pictures presents a Blinding Edge Pictures production, in association with FilmNation Features and Wishmore Entertainment, an M. Night Shyamalan film. The screenplay is by M. Night Shyamalan and Steve Desmond & Michael Sherman based on the national bestseller The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. The film is directed by M. Night Shyamalan and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, Marc Bienstock (Split, Glass) and Ashwin Rajan (Servant, Glass). The executive producers are Steven Schneider, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos and Ashley Fox.

Universal Pictures Canada release #KnockAtTheCabin is in theatres February 3, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

HGTV Canada welcomes global icon Pamela Anderson to the network with the highly anticipated debut of Pamela’s Garden of Eden (8×60), premiering on Thursday, November 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The Corus Studios Original series follows Pamela as she takes a break from her Hollywood life and embarks on a massive restoration of her grandmother’s legacy property on Vancouver Island. A project this scale tests Pamela’s patience and her personal life as she tries to remain focused on her dream for the property: to embrace her family’s past and fulfill her vision for the future.

Pamela’s passion for design and gift for renovating spaces has inspired her to redevelop the expansive six-acre waterfront property she purchased from her grandmother 25 years ago. The property encompasses three main areas: The Roadhouse, The Boathouse and The Cabin; and Pamela has major plans for each. Pamela has an ambitious timeline and hopes to finish the “crown jewel” of the property, The Boathouse on the shoreline, before the Christmas holidays and make it into an architectural masterpiece. Pamela enlists a team of contractors, an architect, a designer, and input from her parents and son to execute her romantic and glamorous vision. Over the course of the season, they work alongside Pamela through the stresses, struggles, budget and time constraints of this extraordinary renovation.

In the premiere episode, “I Love Laundry!”, Pamela and her dream team start with a small but essential project, transforming the unfinished Roadhouse basement into a charming laundry area, pantry and mudroom. As they prepare for demolition, Pamela takes a trip down memory lane, going through archival designer clothes and shoes from her Hollywood life that have been stored in her basement for years.

Pamela’s Garden of Eden is produced by Fireworks Media Group with Marni Goldman as Executive in Charge of Production for HGTV Canada. Pamela Anderson is represented by APA. The Corus Studios Original content team driving the slate of Lifestyle series is helmed by industry executives Colin Bohm, Executive Vice President of Content and Corporate Strategy, Lisa Godfrey as Senior Vice President of Original Content and Corus Studios, and Krista Look, Vice President of Lifestyle.

Disney+ today announced that UK Original series, “Save Our Squad with David Beckham,” will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on Wednesday, November 9th. The announcement was accompanied by a first look teaser trailer and image from the series.

Co-produced by BAFTA and RTS Award-winning production company Twenty Twenty, and Studio 99, the global content and production studio co-founded by Beckham, “Save Our Squad with David Beckham” is a heart-warming series that sees David Beckham return to his East London roots to mentor Westward Boys, a young, grassroots team who are at the bottom of their league, facing relegation. However, this isn’t just any league… this is the same league that David played in as a young boy. Working with the head coaches, he’ll try to turn the team’s fortunes around.

In the exclusive teaser trailer, David Beckham goes back to his roots in East London with an ambition to help Westward win. The sneak peek shows him mentoring the young squad and giving advice and encouragement on the perfect free kick, so the team themselves can ‘bend it like Beckham’.

“Save Our Squad with David Beckham” builds on the company’s commitment to source, develop and produce original productions. Across EMEA alone, Disney’s International Content and Operations team plan to create 60 local productions by 2024 as it continues to work with outstanding creators and premium producers.

All four episodes of SAVE OUR SQUAD WITH DAVID BECKHAM arrive November 9, 2022 on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)