#FIRSTLOOK: JUST FOR LAUGHS’ “SURROUNDED” BACK FOR SECOND SEASON

Just For Laughs announces today that season two of the immersive VR stand-up comedy series, Surrounded (60×6) will return for six new episodes starting December 29, 2023, with a very festive Holiday Special, exclusively on Meta Horizon Worlds. Filmed at the prestigious 2023 Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL comedy festival, Surrounded is a hilarious unscripted comedy show where the audience inspires the jokes, and everyone is fair game!

With their Meta Quest VR headset, viewers are transported into the comedy show through Meta’s Comedy Night Market, where they get to watch comedians performing improvised sets in the round, using the audience as inspiration. Viewers will be Surrounded with laughter!

Surrounded promises to deliver big laughs with this year’s host, Lil Rel Howery. Episodes will feature today’s top comedians including

Marlon Wayans, Jack Whitehall, Mae Martin, Fortune Feimster, Mark Normand, Chris Redd, Dan Soder, Jay Pharoah, Meg Stalter, Felipe Esparza, Rosebud Baker, Sam Morril, Joel Kim Booster, Hannah Berner, Nate Jackson, Brad Williams, Preacher Lawson, Sasheer Zamata, Brian Simpson, Steph Tolev, Annie Lederman, and Che Durena.

“Really excited about hosting season 2. I had so, so, so much fun. This is crowd work and freestyling at its best.” – Lil Rel Howery

Premiering with a Holiday Special on December 29, 2023 at 10:00 AM PT, additional episodes will drop every Wednesday in January 2024. Each week, be part of the audience and witness an unscripted barrage of crowd work like you’ve never seen before!

Marina Di Pancrazio, Chief Content Revenue Officer for Just For Laughs, shares, “Season two of Surrounded finds us once again at the intersection of entertainment and innovation with our exceptional partners, Meta. We’re always keen to outdo ourselves. This second season builds off the success of the first, delivering an elevated experience and incredible lineup of comedians to audiences.”

Spencer Griffin, the Head of TV Development at Just For Laughs adds, “Comedy shows in the metaverse are another way that Just for Laughs provides platforms for artists to showcase their hilarious talents. Surrounded not only offers an unparalleled experience for the artists but also for the audience who get to have the best seat in the house.”

Adapted exclusively for Meta Horizon Worlds, and filmed in VR, Surrounded originated as a stand-up comedy show created by Mike Falzone. The Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL festival is renowned as the world’s largest comedy festival, with a rich history and reputation for launching the careers of comedy legends. The iconic festival provides the ideal setting for this unscripted humor that defines this one-of-a-kind virtual comedy experience.

Filmed at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montréal in July 2023, Surrounded is executive produced by Marina Di Pancrazio, Bruce Hills, and Spencer Griffin of Just For Laughs; and Thomas Stockwell as Executive Producer for Meta, and Mike Falzone, who created the concept for the show.

#FIRSTLOOK: NETFLIX ORDERS SEASON TWO OF HIT COMPETITION SERIES “SQUID GAME: THE CHALLENGE”

Netflix today announced a second season order for the biggest reality competition series ever, Squid Game: The Challenge. The season finale streams on December 6, 2023 at 9pm ET / 6pm PT (December 7, 2am GMT), when the winner will receive a $4.56 million reward.

Squid Game: The Challenge has ranked at #1 on Netflix’s Top 10 English TV list for the weeks of November 20 and 27, 2023 both weeks it was eligible. It also hit the Top 10 in 93 countries.

“There was no red light in our decision to greenlight season two of Squid Game: The Challenge, the most ambitious unscripted show we’ve premiered at Netflix,” said Brandon Riegg, Netflix VP of Nonfiction Series. “We’re so excited to continue the franchise of Squid Game with our team in Korea, and producers at Studio Lambert and The Garden for this epic competition series.”

Recruitment for season two is open now at SquidGameCasting.com.

Squid Game: The Challenge logline: 456 real players will enter the competition show in pursuit of a life-changing reward of USD $4.56 million. As they compete through a series of games inspired by the original show – plus surprising new additions – their strategies, alliances, and character will be put to the test while competitors are eliminated around them.

Squid Game: The Challenge season one credits: The 10-episode competition series is a co-production between Studio Lambert (The Circle) and The Garden (24 Hours in A&E), part of ITV Studios. Executive Producers: Nicola Brown (The Garden), Tim Harcourt (Studio Lambert), John Hay (The Garden), Toni Ireland (Studio Lambert), Anna Kidd, Stephen Lambert (Studio Lambert), Louise Peet, Nia Yemoh (Studio Lambert), Stephen Yemoh (Studio Lambert).

The scripted drama Squid Game holds the record as Netflix’s most popular series of all time, with over 1.65 billion view hours in the first 28 days after its September 2021 premiere. It was renewed for season 2 as Netflix and Director Hwang confirmed they will once again team up for a whole new round of the scripted show.

Netflix is further expanding the world of the show with “Squid Game: The Trials,” a live fan experience, starting December 6 in Los Angeles. Guests will be transported into the iconic Squid Game universe by participating in six fun, immersive and competitive engagements, as seen in and inspired by the original series. There will also be a Night Market with themed food and beverages.

Netflix is also producing a video game in the Squid Game universe where players will be able to compete with friends in games they’ll recognise from the series.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “GOOD GRIEF”

Toronto’s own Dan Levy tries his hand at writing and directing a Feature in GOOD GRIEF, opening in select theatres December 29, 2023 and on Netflix January 5, 2024.

SYNOPSIS:

Marc (Daniel Levy) was content living in the shadow of his larger-than-life husband, Oliver (Luke Evans). But when Oliver unexpectedly dies, Marc’s world shatters, sending him and his two best friends, Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel), on a soul-searching trip to Paris that reveals some hard truths they each needed to face. Good Grief marks Levy’s debut as a feature-film writer and director. He also produced as part of Not a Real Production Company, alongside Sister Pictures.

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Daniel Levy
PRODUCERS: Daniel Levy, Megan Zehmer, Debra Hayward, Kate Fenske
EXEC PRODUCERS: Stacey Snider, Caroline Levy
CAST: Daniel Levy, Ruth Negga, Himesh Patel, Celia Imrie, David Bradley, Arnaud Valois, Emma Corrin, Kaitlyn Dever, and Luke Evans

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: INTERNATIONAL TRAILER FOR “ALL OF US STRANGERS”

Hot off its 7 BIFA wins and 3 Independent Spirit Award nominations, ALL OF US STRANGERS is here with a new international Trailer! Opens in theatres beginning December 22, 2023.

Synopsis:

From director Andrew Haigh. One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam (Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal), which punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. As a relationship develops between them, Adam is preoccupied with memories of the past and finds himself drawn back to the suburban town where he grew up, and the childhood home where his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell), appear to be living, just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before.

Cast: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, and Claire Foy.

#TIFF: TIFF UNVEIL 2023 CANADA’S TOP TEN

TIFF is proud to reveal the 23rd edition of Canada’s Top Ten, presented by new partner MUBI — an exciting selection curated by TIFF’s programmers in collaboration with their counterparts from across Canada. From January 25 to 28, 2024 film enthusiasts can immerse themselves in this year’s outstanding lineup at TIFF Bell Lightbox. The 2023 feature film roster showcases cinematic gems hailing from British Columbia, Alberta, Nunavut, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. Noteworthy this year is that seven of the films are debut features from filmmakers in the early stages of their promising careers. The shorts lineup, equally compelling, showcases the works of seven Quebecois filmmakers. TIFF Members have early access to tickets starting December 20, 2023 at 10am, and public tickets go on sale on December 22, 2023 at 10am — don’t miss your chance to be part of this cinematic celebration.

“As we announce TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten for 2023, we applaud the visionary filmmakers who have enriched the Canadian cinematic landscape with their creativity and the power of their stories. These films not only showcase the depth of our homegrown talent, but also underscore the cultural richness of our nation and the many stories we have to tell,” stated Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF. “Each year, we are proud to celebrate and showcase the best of Canadian cinema, and more importantly, provide a platform and opportunity for audiences in the city and across the country to experience these films together.”

Following their theatrical runs, several of Canada’s Top Ten films and filmmakers will travel across Canada with TIFF’s popular Film Circuit programme. Film Circuit provides access to 100+ Circuit locations in rural, remote, and underserved communities that otherwise would not have an opportunity to see these films, extending their theatrical life beyond their initial release.

In Meredith Hama-Brown’s (TIFF Filmmaker Lab participant – 2000) shattering Seagrass and TIFF Rising Star’s Cody Lightning’s hilarious Hey, Viktor!; in Ariane Louis-Seize’s charming Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person and TIFF Studio alum Fawzia Mirza’s rapturous The Queen of My Dreams; in Henri Pardo’s beautiful Kanaval and Carol Kunnuk and Lucy Tulugarjuk’s spare, bracing Tautuktavuk (What We See); and in Zack Russell’s urgent documentary Someone Lives Here, these first-time filmmakers share the discovery of new visions, new voices, new passions. With their third features, Solo and BlackBerry, Sophie Dupuis and Matt Johnson both demonstrate a masterful sense of environment and character shaped by their previous work. In addition, Johnson’s BlackBerry has been selected as the Sloan Science on Film Showcase, spotlighting two compelling scientific feature films annually, supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Rounding out the list is Atom Egoyan’s Seven Veils. The veteran filmmaker draws on his own history, integrating elements of the operas he’s directed over the decades.

Two of the directors making their feature debuts have seen their short films honoured in previous Top Tens: Louis-Seize’s Les petites vagues in 2018, and Mirza’s The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night in 2021. Writer-director Jasmin Mozzaffari (TIFF Writer’s Studio participant – 2020), whose own first feature Firecrackers was a Top Ten honouree in 2018, is also switching sections: her short film, Motherland, is one of this year’s Top Ten shorts alongside Alisi Telengut’s Baigal Nuur – Lake Baikal, Zoé Pelchat’s (TIFF Filmmaker Lab participant – 2021) Gaby’s Hills, Ryan McKenna’s I Used to Live There, Julien G. Marcotte and Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush’s Katshinau, Raquel Sancinetti’s Madeleine, Eric K. Boulianne’s Making Babies, Edith Jorisch’s Mothers and Monsters, Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto’s Sawo Matang and Nicole Bazuin’s Thriving: A Dissociated Reverie.

Representing a diverse range of new voices in fiction and documentary, the annual showcase of Canadian films celebrates some of our most storied and award-winning filmmakers offering audiences a variety of perspectives, insights, and experiences from coast to coast to coast.

Canada’s Top Ten Official Selections of 2023

Feature Films

BlackBerry | dir. Matt Johnson | Ontario
Hey, Viktor! | dir. Cody Lightning | Alberta
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person | dir. Ariane Louis-Seize | Quebec
Kanaval | dir. Henri Pardo | Quebec
The Queen of My Dreams | dir. Fawzia Mirza | Nova Scotia/Ontario
Seagrass | dir. Meredith Hama-Brown | British Columbia
Seven Veils | dir. Atom Egoyan | Ontario
Solo | dir. Sophie Dupuis | Quebec
Someone Lives Here | dir. Zack Russell | Ontario
Tautuktavuk (What We See) | dir. Carol Kunnuk, Lucy Tulugarjuk | Nunavut

Short Films

Baigal Nuur – Lake Baikal | dir. Alisi Telengut | Quebec
Gaby’s Hills | dir. Zoé Pelchat | Quebec
I Used to Live There | dir. Ryan McKenna | Quebec
Katshinau | dir. Julien G. Marcotte, Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush | Quebec
Madeleine | dir. Raquel Sancinetti | Quebec
Making Babies | dir. Eric K. Boulianne | Quebec
Motherland | dir. Jasmin Mozaffari | Ontario
Mothers and Monsters | dir. Edith Jorisch | Quebec
Sawo Matang | dir. Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto | Ontario
Thriving: A Dissociated Reverie | dir. Nicole Bazuin | Ontario

Canada’s Top Ten champions 10 feature films and 10 short films that reflect a richness of voices and perspectives from some of Canada’s finest established and emerging filmmakers. The final selections for Canada’s Top Ten were determined by TIFF’s Canadian Programmers and the Senior Programming team, taking into consideration the recommendations of consultant programmers from film festivals across the country.

Committee Members – 2023 Canada’s Top Ten: Feature Films & Shorts

Feature Film Committee
Pahull Bains, Safia Abdigir (Reelworld Film Festival)
Vincent Georgie (Windsor International Film Festival)
Lisa Haller (Atlantic International Film Festival)
Brenda Lieberman (Calgary International Film Festival)
Émilie Poirier (Festival du Nouveau Cinéma)
Alex Rogalski (Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival)
Curtis Woloschuk (Vancouver International Film Festival)

Short Film Committee
Mélissa Bouchard (REGARD: Le Festival international du court métrage au Saguenay)
Lisa Haller, Sandi Rankaduwa, Seán Maheux Galway (Atlantic International Film Festival)
Adam Keresztes (Calgary International Film Festival)
Patrick O’Hearn, Michael Scherzinger, Brandon Patry, Christa Corbiere (Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival)
Émilie Poirier (Festival du Nouveau Cinéma)
Casey Wei (Vancouver International Film Festival)
Miriam Zaidi (Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival)

#TRAVEL: GIVE THE GIFT OF TRAVEL WITH BOOKING.COM

Holiday shopping season is well underway, with many of us racking our brains to pick the perfect something. Jewelry is always welcomed, and a wine-of-the-month subscription is of course delightful. But they say the best gifts aren’t wrapped. 

Recent research from global travel leader Booking.com, where you can book nearly your whole trip, from accommodations, to flights, car rentals, taxis, and attractions, found that three quarters (74%)* of Canadian travellers feel more alive than ever on vacation. Here are a few great ideas for trips to surprise your favourite person or people this holiday season. 

Much-Needed Winter Beach Escape

The classics, like Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica, will always be there for us. But what if this was the year that you and yours went on a serious global adventure to somewhere off the beaten path?

Panglao, Philippines, a top trending destination for 2024 according to recent research from Booking.com**, is a tiny tropical island in the Bohol Sea, with sandy, white beaches, world-class diving, and an abundance of marine life. Known as the Philippines’ greenest destination, coconut palm-lined Panglao has an eco-friendly airport, plentiful organic produce, and a laid-back, ecological sensibility that makes complete relaxation inevitable. 

Amarela Resort, a destination in itself, is a short drive to both Alona and Danao Beach. Guests can lounge on one of the private beach’s hammocks, or relax poolside with a book from the resort’s library and a stunning mountain view. The restaurant at this Booking.com Travel Sustainable getaway serves local delicacies using fresh ingredients from its own herb garden, while traditional woodwork and Philippine art lets guests absorb the local culture.

Invigorating Ski Vacation Away

On the other side of the spectrum, there is no shortage of Canadians looking forward to ski season. 36% of Canadian travellers even said that they will use their vacation to enjoy cooler climates in 2024*. From the Rockies to the Laurentian Mountains, we are spoiled with skiing and snowboarding spots. Spots that most dedicated skiers have been to, some many times over. Make this holiday season absolutely unforgettable with a ski vacation far and away in Valkenburg, Netherlands. 

This adorable city, known for its marlstone caves, enchanting annual Christmas market, and historic castles, is just a half hour’s drive to SnowWorld Landgraaf, the largest indoor ski resort in Europe. Don’t worry – SnowWorld is just as cold as needed, maintaining an average indoor temperature of -5 celsius. 

 Château St. Gerlach, nestled in the Geul Valley and just a short drive or train ride outside of Valkenburg, offers a grand country-chic stay in a former 15th-century monastery. Cozy up by the fireplace in the bar, or head to the heated pool and Turkish steam bath after a long day on the slopes. The hotel’s restaurant, focusing on French cuisine, uses golden honey from its beehives and vegetables from its gardens and the adjacent Cannerbos (a Dutch nature reserve). A Walking Tour with a Self-guided City Trail lets visitors discover Valkenburg through solving riddles to reveal quaint castles and local city culture.

Surprise! Start the New Year in a New Place

While many of us are happy to spend New Year’s Eve locally, we would no doubt be utterly delighted to discover that we are going on a surprise New Year’s getaway! 

2024 is set to be the year of chasing waterfalls. Kind of. Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2024 research found that three quarters (76%)* of Canadian travellers agreed that being close to water instantly makes them feel more relaxed, and over a third (43%)* are interested in water-centric vacations in 2024. Beppu, Japan is home to the most natural springs in the country at more than 2,800 springs and nine types of water. Head to the ‘Hells of Beppu,’ a collection of eight spectacular geothermal springs with natural indulgences, like hot bubbling mud, and a geyser shooting off every 30 minutes. 

A more relaxing and memorable New Year’s getaway may be near impossible to find. Once you get there, the family-run Terrace Midoubaru is a locally authentic, luxury stay with its own secluded onsen. Each room in this adults-only, design-led inn comes with an open-air hot spring bath and private terrace, enveloped by breathtaking views. Beppu’s attractions are spread all across the city and are best explored by rental car or bus. A half hour drive from Beppu is Yufuin Station where you can book a private rickshaw experience  to explore the sights of neighbouring Yufuin.

Booking.com is on a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world and in doing so, connects you with Travel Deals of 15% off or more all year round, an easily accessible Genius loyalty program, a responsive, itinerary-planning app, the widest selection of incredible places to stay with 28 million reported accommodation listings across more than 200 countries, and so much more. 

Make this year’s holiday gift giving easier and more exciting than ever with Booking.com. Embrace new experiences in 2024!

#FIRSTLOOK: 2024 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Film Independent, the nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering independence and inclusivity in visual storytelling, announced this morning the nominations for the film and television categories at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Film Independent President Josh Welsh introduced the prerecorded video announcement, which featured guest presenters Joel Kim Booster (2023 Spirit Award nominee for Fire Island) and Natalie Morales (No Hard Feelings). American Fiction, May December and Past Lives led the film nominations with five each, while I’m a Virgo and The Last of Us garnered the most nominations in the television categories. Watch the announcement here.

The 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards, hosted by Saturday Night Live alum Aidy Bryant, will take place on Sunday, February 25, 2024. The in-person show, held at the beach in Santa Monica, will be streamed live on the IMDb and Film Independent YouTube channels, and across other social platforms. The Spirit Awards are the primary fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round slate of programs, which cultivate the careers of emerging filmmakers and celebrate creative independence, diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision in independent film and television.

This year will also pay special tribute to the 30th anniversary of Film Independent’s innovative and influential Artist Development program, which supports creative voices and diverse perspectives in film and television by giving filmmakers the resources they need to advance their projects and build sustainable careers. Artists who have received support from the Artist Development program include Elegance Bratton (The Inspector), Siân Heder (CODA), Justin Simien (Dear White People), Lulu Wang (The Farewell) and Chloé Zhao (Nomadland).

“This year’s exciting group of Spirit Award nominees reflect the undeniable strength and vitality of independent storytelling – this is the beating heart of film culture today,” said Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent. “It’s especially thrilling to see so many nominees who have benefited from the support of the Artist Development program. We can’t wait to celebrate the incredible work these artists have created and look forward to everything they have in store for us for years to come.”

The 2024 Best Feature nominees include All of Us Strangers, American Fiction, May December, Passages, Past Lives and We Grown Now. Showing Up, from director Kelly Reichardt, has been selected to receive the Robert Altman Award, which is bestowed upon a single film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast. The Altman Award was created in 2008 in honor of legendary director Robert Altman, known for populating his films with extraordinary ensemble casts.

On the television side, the 2024 Best New Scripted Series nominees include Beef, Dreaming Whilst Black, I’m a Virgo, Jury Duty and Slip. In the Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series category, the nominees are Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court, Dear Mama, Murder in Big Horn, Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence and Wrestlers.

New to the television categories is Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series, honoring actors making themselves known to wider audiences through noteworthy character portrayals. The nominees include Clark Backo for The Changeling, Aria Mia Loberti for All the Light We Cannot See, Adjani Salmon for Dreaming Whilst Black, Keivonn Montreal Woodard for The Last of Us and Kara Young for I’m a Virgo.

Among this year’s nominees, ten have been previously supported by Film Independent’s Artist Development programs. They include Maria Altamirano (Best First Feature for All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt), Tze Chun (Best New Scripted Series for I’m a Virgo), Ruben Fleischer (Best New Scripted Series for Jury Duty), Jomo Fray (Best Cinematography for All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt), Raven Jackson (Best First Feature for All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt), Pamela Koffler (Best Feature for May December and Past Lives), Krista Parris (Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series for Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence), Kelly Reichardt (Robert Altman Award for Showing Up), Laura Wagner (John Cassavetes Award for Fremont) and Monique Walton (Producers Award).

This year the Spirit Awards Film Nominating Committees selected nominees from over 27 different countries with budget ranges between $10,000 and $28 million, applying the following guidelines in determining nominees: uniqueness of vision, original and provocative subject matter and economy of means. Of all nominated writers, directors, producers and technical artists, 40% are women and 32% are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color). Among the nominated performers, 49% are women and 40% are BIPOC. And of all 2024 nominees, 42% are women and 34% are BIPOC.

The Spirit Awards Nominating Committees are comprised of writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, actors, critics, casting directors, film festival programmers and other working film professionals. This year, the Spirit Awards nominating committees are 56% female, 3% Nonbinary, 3% Transgender, and 49% BIPOC; 29% identify as LGBTQ+ and 3% identify as people with disabilities (PWD).

Film Independent Spirit Awards are supported by Principal Sponsor IMDb and Official Sponsors Bulleit Frontier Whiskey and FIJI Water. Easterseals Disability Services is the accessibility partner. Hotel Casa del Mar is an Official Hotel. Getty Images is the Official Photographer. Vision Media is the exclusive screening partner.
 

2024 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONS

BEST FEATURE (Award given to the producer.)

All of Us Strangers
Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

American Fiction
Producers: Cord Jefferson, Jermaine Johnson, Nikos Karamigios, Ben LeClair

May December
Producers: Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Grant S. Johnson, Pamela Koffler, Tyler W. Konney, Sophie Mas, Natalie Portman, Christine Vachon

Passages
Producers: Michel Merkt, Saïd Ben Saïd

Past Lives
Producers: David Hinojosa, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon

We Grown Now
Producers: Minhal Baig, Joe Pirro
 
 
BEST FIRST FEATURE (Award given to director and producer)

All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
Director: Raven Jackson
Producers: Maria Altamirano, Mark Ceryak, Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski

Chronicles of a Wandering Saint
Director: Tomás Gómez Bustillo
Producers: Gewan Brown, Amanda Freedman

Earth Mama
Director/Producer: Savanah Leaf
Producers: Sam Bisbee, Shirley O’Connor, Medb Riordan, Cody Ryder

A Thousand and One
Director: A.V. Rockwell
Producers: Julia Lebedev, Rishi Rajani, Eddie Vaisman, Lena Waithe, Brad Weston

Upon Entry
Directors: Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastián Vásquez
Producers: Sergio Adrià, Carlos Juárez, Alba Sotorra, Carles Torras, Xosé Zapata
 
 
JOHN CASSAVETES AWARD – Given to the best feature made for under $1,000,000 (Award given to the writer, director and producer)

The Artifice Girl
Director/Writer: Franklin Ritch
Producers: Aaron B. Koontz, Ashleigh Snead

Cadejo Blanco
Director/Writer/Producer: Justin Lerner
Producers: Mauricio Escobar, Ryan Friedkin, Jack Patrick Hurley

Fremont
Director/Writer: Babak Jalali
Writer: Carolina Cavalli
Producers: Rachael Fung, Chris Martin, Marjaneh Moghimi, George Rush, Sudnya Shroff, Laura Wagner

Rotting in the Sun
Director/Writer: Sebastián Silva
Writer: Pedro Peirano
Producer: Jacob Wasserman

The Unknown Country
Director/Writer/Producer: Morrisa Maltz
Writer: Lily Gladstone
Writers/Producers: Lainey Bearkiller Shangreaux, Vanara Taing
Producers: Katherine Harper, Laura Heberton, Tommy Heitkamp
 
 
BEST DIRECTOR

Andrew Haigh
All of Us Strangers

Todd Haynes
May December

William Oldroyd
Eileen

Ira Sachs
Passages

Celine Song
Past Lives
 
 
BEST SCREENPLAY

David Hemingson
The Holdovers

Cord Jefferson
American Fiction

Laura Moss, Brendan J. O’Brien
Birth/Rebirth

Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott
Bottoms

Celine Song
Past Lives
 
 
BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY

Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch, Alex Mechanik
May December

Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, Ben Platt
Theater Camp

Tomás Gómez Bustillo
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint

Laurel Parmet
The Starling Girl

Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastián Vásquez
Upon Entry
 
 
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE

Jessica Chastain
Memory

Greta Lee
Past Lives

Trace Lysette
Monica

Natalie Portman
May December

Judy Reyes
Birth/Rebirth

Franz Rogowski
Passages

Andrew Scott
All of Us Strangers

Teyana Taylor
A Thousand and One

Jeffrey Wright
American Fiction

Teo Yoo
Past Lives
 
 
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE

Erika Alexander
American Fiction

Sterling K. Brown
American Fiction

Noah Galvin
Theater Camp

Anne Hathaway
Eileen

Glenn Howerton
BlackBerry

Marin Ireland
Eileen

Charles Melton
May December

Da’Vine Joy Randolph
The Holdovers

Catalina Saavedra
Rotting in the Sun

Ben Whishaw
Passages
 
 
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE

Marshawn Lynch
Bottoms

Atibon Nazaire
Mountains

Tia Nomore
Earth Mama

Dominic Sessa
The Holdovers

Anaita Wali Zada
Fremont
 
 
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Katelin Arizmendi
Monica

Eigil Bryld
The Holdovers

Jomo Fray
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt

Pablo Lozano
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint

Pat Scola
We Grown Now
 
 
BEST EDITING

Santiago Cendejas, Gabriel Díaz, Sofía Subercaseaux
Rotting in the Sun

Stephanie Filo
We Grown Now

Daniel Garber
How to Blow Up a Pipeline

Jon Philpot
Theater Camp

Emanuele Tiziani
Upon Entry
 
 
ROBERT ALTMAN AWARD – Given to one film’s director, casting director and ensemble cast

Showing Up
Director: Kelly Reichardt
Casting Director: Gayle Keller
Ensemble Cast: André Benjamin, Hong Chau, Judd Hirsch, Heather Lawless, James Le Gros, John Magaro, Matt Malloy, Amanda Plummer, Maryann Plunkett, Denzel Rodriguez, Michelle Williams
 
 
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Award given to the director and producer)

Bye Bye Tiberias
Director: Lina Soualem
Producer: Jean-Marie Nizan

Four Daughters
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Producer: Nadim Cheikhrouha

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
Directors/Producers: Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson
Producer: Tommy Oliver

Kokomo City
Director: D. Smith
Producers: Bill Butler, Harris Doran

The Mother of All Lies
Director/Producer: Asmae El Moudir
 
 
BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM (Award given to the director)

Anatomy of a Fall
France
Director: Justine Triet

Godland
Denmark/Iceland
Director: Hlynur Pálmason

Mami Wata
Nigeria
Director: C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi

Tótem
Mexico
Director: Lila Avilés

The Zone of Interest
United Kingdom, Poland, USA
Director: Jonathan Glazer
 
 
PRODUCERS AWARD presented by Bulleit Frontier Whiskey – The Producers Award, now in its 27th year, honors emerging producers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity and vision required to produce quality independent films.

Rachael Fung

Graham Swon

Monique Walton
 
 
SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The Someone to Watch Award, now in its 30th year, recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition.

Joanna Arnow
The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed

Laura Moss
Birth/Rebirth

Monica Sorelle
Mountains
 
 
TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The Truer Than Fiction Award, now in its 29th year, is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition.

Set Hernandez
unseen

Jesse Short Bull, Laura Tomaselli
Lakota Nation vs. United States

Sierra Urich
Joonam
 
 
BEST NEW NON-SCRIPTED OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)

Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court
Executive Producers: Vinnie Malhotra, Aaron Saidman, Eli Holzman, Dawn Porter

Dear Mama
Executive Producers: Lasse Järvi, Quincy ‘QD3’ Jones III, Staci Robinson, Nelson George, Charles D. King, Peter Nelson, Adel ‘Future’ Nur, Jamal Joseph, Ted Skillman, Allen Hughes, Steve Berman, Marc Cimino, Jody Gerson, John Janick, Nicholas Ferrall, Nigel Sinclair

Murder in Big Horn
Executive Producers: Matthew Galkin, Vinnie Malhotra
Co-Executive Producers: Lisa Kalikow, Joshua Levine

Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence
Executive Producers: Mindy Goldberg, Dan Cogan, Liz Garbus, Jon Bardin, Zach Heinzerling, Krista Parris, Daniel Barban Levin, Felicia Rosario
Co-Executive Producer: Julie Gaither

Wrestlers
Executive Producers: Greg Whiteley, Ryan O’Dowd
Co-Executive Producers: Alejandro Melendez, Adam Leibowitz
 
 
BEST NEW SCRIPTED SERIES (Award given to the Creator, Executive Producer, Co-Executive Producer)

Beef
Creator/Executive Producer: Lee Sung Jin
Executive Producers: Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Jake Schreier, Ravi Nandan, Alli Reich
Co-Executive Producers: Alice Ju, Carrie Kemper

Dreaming Whilst Black
Creator/Executive Producer: Adjani Salmon
Creators: Maximilian Evans, Natasha Jatania, Laura Seixas
Executive Producers: Tanya Qureshi, Dhanny Joshi, Bal Samra, Thomas Stogdon

I’m a Virgo
Creator/Executive Producer: Boots Riley
Executive Producers: Tze Chun, Michael Ellenberg, Lindsey Springer, Jharrel Jerome, Rebecca Rivo
Co-Executive Producers: Marcus Gardley, Carver Karaszewski

Jury Duty
Creators/Executive Producers: Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky
Executive Producers: David Bernad, Ruben Fleischer, Nicholas Hatton, Cody Heller, Todd Schulman, Jake Szymanski, Andrew Weinberg

Slip
Creator/Executive Producer: Zoe Lister-Jones
Executive Producers: Ro Donnelly, Dakota Johnson, Katie O’Connell Marsh, David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg
 
 
BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Emma Corrin
A Murder at the End of the World

Dominique Fishback
Swarm

Betty Gilpin
Mrs. Davis

Jharrel Jerome
I’m a Virgo

Zoe Lister-Jones
Slip

Bel Powley
A Small Light

Bella Ramsey
The Last of Us

Ramón Rodríguez
Will Trent

Ali Wong
Beef

Steven Yeun
Beef
 
 
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Murray Bartlett
The Last of Us

Billie Eilish
Swarm

Jack Farthing
Rain Dogs

Nick Offerman
The Last of Us

Adina Porter
The Changeling

Lewis Pullman
Lessons in Chemistry

Benny Safdie
The Curse

Luke Tennie
Shrinking

Olivia Washington
I’m a Virgo

Jessica Williams
Shrinking
 
 
BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Clark Backo
The Changeling

Aria Mia Loberti
All the Light We Cannot See

Adjani Salmon
Dreaming Whilst Black

Keivonn Montreal Woodard
The Last of Us

Kara Young
I’m a Virgo
 
 
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN A NEW SCRIPTED SERIES

Jury Duty
Ensemble Cast: Alan Barinholtz, Susan Berger, Cassandra Blair, David Brown, Kirk Fox, Ross Kimball, Pramode Kumar, Trisha LaFache, Mekki Leeper, James Marsden, Edy Modica, Kerry O’Neill, Rashida Olayiwola, Whitney Rice, Maria Russell, Ishmel Sahid, Ben Seaward, Ron Song, Evan Williams
 

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

For over 40 years, Film Independent has helped filmmakers get their projects made and seen. The nonprofit organization’s core mission is to champion creative independence in visual storytelling in all its forms, and to foster a culture of inclusion. We support a global community of artists and audiences who embody diversity, innovation, curiosity and uniqueness of vision.

#FIRSTLOOK: CTAM CANADA ANNOUNCE RETURN OF STREAMSAFELY DAY

CTAM Canada announced today the return of StreamSafely Day in Canada. This annual event creates awareness amongst entertainment lovers about safe ways to stream their favourite content in Canada. StreamSafely Day also aims to educate customers about the risk of pirating content.

What are the dangers of content piracy? Free content isn’t actually free; it often comes with a cost. Viewers may, in fact, be putting their personal information at risk. When watching content, they could be unknowingly exposed to malicious software that steals their information, including their personal identity.

“By bringing together creators, programmers and distributors with a unified voice we can share the phenomenal breadth and depth of content available to Canadian consumers,” said Alyssa Love, CTAM Canada Co-President. “Through StreamSafely Day, CTAM Canada hopes to highlight how easy it is to watch the hottest releases and the classics without compromising data safety and quality of the viewing experience.”

“We know from visits to streamsafely.com that seven out of ten consumers are somewhat or deeply opposed to piracy,” added Vicki Lins, president & CEO of CTAM. “It’s essential to inform consumers about the risks of accessing content illegally, and the collaboration with CTAM Canada strengthens industry-wide efforts through events such as StreamSafely Day.”

In support of StreamSafely Day, CTAM is proud to work with industry leaders across Canada. Corus Entertainment Inc. and its premium streaming service STACKTV, continue to support the initiative alongside Channel Zero, Hollywood Suite, Fubo and Super Channel.

CTAM Canada invites the content industry to come together to promote StreamSafely Day. If you or your teams are posting about content and TV/streaming products and messages on December 5, we encourage you to tag #StreamSafelyDay to join in on the event and amplify your voice to connect with consumers.

To learn more about safe streaming options, please visit www.streamsafely.com and https://ctam.ca/Stream-Safely-Day/ to learn more about StreamSafely Day

About CTAM Canada

CTAM Canada is a volunteer-driven chapter of CTAM, an industry association focusing on the advancement of content distribution across multiple platforms. We provide topical Canadian research, strategic networking events and timely educational and developmental opportunities to our members. CTAM Canada has over 500 members across Canada and abroad, representing content providers, cable and telecommunications distributors as well as technology and service companies.

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN “TITANIC” ON 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY DISC

Revisit James Cameron’s epic masterpiece TITANIC when it arrives for the first time ever remastered on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc™ December 5, 2023 from Paramount Home Entertainment.

The beloved, worldwide phenomenon won 11 Academy Awards®*, including Best Picture, and continues to attract new fans 25 years after it was originally released.  Now, viewers can experience all of the drama and spectacle in stunning 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision® and a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack** for the finest visual and audio presentation at home.

TITANIC will be available nationwide in a two-disc set that includes the film on 4K Ultra HD, plus a Blu-ray Disc™ boasting more than five hours of new and legacy bonus content, including new interviews with James Cameron, star Kate Winslet, and producer Jon Landau.  The set also includes access to a Digital Ultra HD copy of the film.

Bonus content included in the national release is detailed below:

Blu-ray™ Bonus Disc

• TITANIC: Stories From the Heart—NEW!

Director James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, and star Kate Winslet share memories and favorite moments and recount the challenges of making the greatest love story in cinema history. Go back in time with film clips, photos and behind-the-scenes moments.

• TITANIC: 25 Years Later with James Cameron

James Cameron explores the enduring myths and mysteries of the shipwreck, and mounts tests to see whether Jack could have fit on that raft and survived.

• Behind-the Scenes presentation hosted by Jon Landau—NEW!

Jon Landau introduces a series of behind-the-scenes segments showcasing the making of TITANIC.

• Trailer Presentation hosted by Jon Landau—NEW!

Jon Landau shares an inside glimpse into the marketing of TITANIC with a story of how a 4-minute trailer overseen by the filmmakers was delivered to theatres, instead of the original “action” trailer.

• Fan Poster Art—NEW!
• Reflections on TITANIC (4 parts)
• Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by James Cameron
• Additional Behind-the-Scenes
• Deep-Dive Presentation narrated by James Cameron
• $200,000,001: A Ship’s Odyssey (The TITANIC Crew Video)
• Videomatics
• Visual Effects
• Music Video “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
• Still Galleries

4K Ultra HD Disc

• Director Commentary by James Cameron
• Cast and Crew Commentary
• Historical Commentary by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet light up the screen in the timeless and unforgettable story of star-crossed lovers set against the backdrop of the legendary and ill-fated maiden voyage of the “unsinkable” TITANIC.  The film became the first movie to earn over $1 billion and to date it has generated more than $2.2 billion at the global box office.

TITANIC is rated PG-13 for disaster related peril and violence, nudity, sensuality and brief language. 

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

Enter for a chance to win a copy of TITANTIC on 4k Ultra HD.https://t.co/BlPgydjezK pic.twitter.com/xy9XfhbiBo

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) December 5, 2023

Rules and regulations here.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Home Entertainment)

#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE CELEBRATES THE NEW YEAR WITH THE EXCLUSIVE BROADCAST PREMIERES OF THREE NEW CANADIAN FILMS

Hollywood Suite is proud to present a trio of Canadian broadcast premieres to ring in 2024: the coming-of-age story Adult Adoption, Indigenous sci-fi The Beehive, and the road-trip drama A Girl, a Boy, a Penny and a Very, Very, Very Long Road. All three films will air on Hollywood Suite and be available on demand beginning January 1, 2024.

“It’s exciting to kick off the new year with a great lineup of Canadian talent,” said Suzanne Marshall, Hollywood Suite Programming Manager. “Hollywood Suite is proud to continue our commitment to bringing bold and original content to our viewers.”

Adult Adoption tells the story of Rosy, who aged out of foster care and sets out to find the love of a parent figure online. The feature film directorial debut for Toronto’s Karen Knox, the film stars Canadian stage actor Ellie Moon and premieres January 9 at 9pm ET.

Directed by Julia Beney, A Girl, A Boy, A Penny and a Very, Very, Very Long Road will make its broadcast premiere January 16 at 9pm ET. A whimsical road-trip drama about grief, mental health, lost dreams, and the unanswerable question of who we truly are, this heartfelt quirky drama is a gem of a film that inspires trust, self-love, and bravery.

With a fresh cast of newcomer actors, The Beehive follows an inquisitive young girl, her angsty teenage brother, and her self-righteous father who put their family conflicts aside in the face of a pandemic alien invasion. Written and directed by Métis creative Alexander Lasheras, the film explores environmental topics and is set to premiere on January 23 at 9pm ET.