The cat, or should we say chicken, is finally out of the bag. Sure to ruffle feathers once more is the return of Melisha Tweedy, better known as Mrs. Tweedy and Ginger’s arch nemesis in the stop-motion animated sequel, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Catch a first glimpse of Mrs. Tweedy, voiced by accomplished stage, film and television actress Miranda Richardson, who has refashioned herself for a new era of fowl-play in the teaser trailer out today. Also joining the cast is British actor, comedian, director and screenwriter, Peter Serafinowicz who voices Reginald Smith. Serafinowicz voices a humourless businessman and along with Tweedy poses a new and bigger threat to chicken-kind.

Synopsis: From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman (Creature Comforts, Wallace & Gromit, and Shaun the Sheep), and Academy Award® and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell (ParaNorman and Flushed Away, respectively), comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Chicken Run. Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream – a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world. When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk – this time, they’re breaking in!

https://youtu.be/icfv_T5pkdI?si=Q6jyyw-Omik5_rGb

Premiere Date: December 15, 2023
Directed by: Sam Fell
Produced by: Steve Pegram, p.g.a. and Leyla Hobart, p.g.a.
Screenplay by: Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell and Rachel Tunnard
Story by: Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell
Edited by: Stephen Perkins BFE
Music by: Harry Gregson-Williams
Executive Producers: Peter Lord, Nick Park, Carla Shelley, Sam Fell, Paul Kewley, Karey Kirkpatrick
Cast: Thandiwe Newton (Ginger), Zachary Levi (Rocky), Bella Ramsey (Molly), Imelda Staunton (Bunty), Lynn Ferguson (Mac), David Bradley (Fowler), Jane Horrocks (Babs), Romesh Ranganathan (Nick), Daniel Mays (Fetcher), Josie Sedgwick-Davies (Frizzle), Peter Serafinowicz (Reginald Smith), Nick Mohammed (Dr. Fry), Miranda Richardson (Mrs. Tweedy)

Director, Sam Fell: “They say a movie is only as good as its villain and Ginger’s nemesis, Mrs. Tweedy is one of the all-time greats. Now she’s out to take industrial-scale revenge on all chicken-kind with the Dawn of the Nugget. We’ve had so much fun working with Miranda Richardson to transform Melisha Tweedy into the ultimate 1960’s super-villain. Miranda has a unique understanding of drama and comedy, making you laugh while scaring the pants off you in the exact same moment. Also rounding out our fantastic cast is Peter Serafinowicz playing Reginald Smith, a slightly bemused businessman visiting Mrs Tweedy’s giant nugget factory. It takes a particular kind of comic genius to play the foil to Miranda Richardson’s hilariously frightening archvillain. Peter pulls it off with effortless finesse.”

An invasion is imminent, according to Brian Duffield, who wrote and directed 20th Century Studios’ “No One Will Save You,” a sci-fi psychological thriller told through the eyes of a lonely young woman with a painful backstory. “I wanted the movie to take the lead of a small intimate character study and drop an alien invasion on top of them,” says Duffield. “The end of the world won’t only be for those that are ready for it, and the idea of an alien movie rudely bursting the bubble our character has spent years building and cultivating felt like a unique way to tell a favourite story.”

Duffield set out to create a character so compelling, viewers would want to learn more about her with or without aliens. Unfortunately for her, he says, they show up about eight minutes into the movie. “I think there’s a deeply buried feeling that every alien invasion movie could turn out to be true because they remain such an unknown in our daily lives. As our world careens more and more out of control, maybe there’s even a desire that there’s something out there smarter than us that can help put us on a more sane path. The aliens in ‘No One Will Save You’ are superior to humans in every way, which makes Brynn and her surprising resistance somewhat puzzling to them.” 

Kaitlyn Dever stars as Brynn, who’s a formidable fighter when it comes to her unwelcome and unearthly intruders. Duffield believes the actor is one of the best of her generation. “We were so excited to have Kaitlyn join us because—like Brynn being thrust into a whole new world—Kaitlyn had never done a movie so aggressively physical and sci-fi before,” he says. “I think audiences will be blown away by how commanding Kaitlyn is on screen as she uses her solitude and silence to create a truly unique and complex character.”

“No One Will Save You” is Duffield’s sophomore film—he wrote, produced, and directed 2020’s “Spontaneous,” an adaptation of Aaron Starmer’s young adult novel starring Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer that’s Certified Fresh (96%) on Rotten Tomatoes. Duffield most recently produced “Cocaine Bear,” directed by Elizabeth Banks for Universal, as well as the upcoming “Borderline,” directed by Jimmy Warden.

From 20th Century Studios, “No One Will Save You” is an action-packed face-off between Brynn and a host of extraterrestrial beings who threaten her future while forcing her to deal with her past. Written and directed by Brian Duffield, the film features music by composer Joseph Trapanese. Tim White, Trevor White, Allan Mandelbaum and Duffield produce; Dever and Joshua Throne executive produce. “No One Will Save You” begins streaming on Sept. 22, 2023, exclusively on Disney+ in Canada

Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, is delighted to announce that award-winning actor Vicky Krieps will receive the TIFF Tribute Performer Award at the fifth annual Awards gala on Sunday, September 10, at Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Presented by Bulgari, the TIFF Tribute Awards honour the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, recognizing leading industry members, acting talent, directorial expertise, new talent, and a below-the-line artist and creator.

Krieps is being recognized for her outstanding body of work and returns to the Festival this year for the World Premiere of Viggo Mortensen’s The Dead Don’t Hurt. The Luxembourgish, Berlin-based actor joins recently announced fellow Tribute Performer Award recipient Colman Domingo in this prestigious acting category. Past recipients of this Award include Brendan Fraser and the ensemble cast of My Policeman in 2022; Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch in 2021; Kate Winslet and Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2020; and Meryl Streep and Joaquin Phoenix in 2019.

“Vicky’s transformative performances illuminate the screen, weaving emotions into a tapestry of storytelling,” said Bailey. “Her dedication to her craft and her ability to embody diverse roles with profound authenticity make her a true luminary in the realm of cinema.”

Krieps, who has established a career of playing a wide range of roles, is best known for her breakthrough role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread starring opposite Daniel Day-Lewis, and standout performances in past Festival selections, including Bergman Island, Corsage, and The Survivor. In The Dead Don’t Hurt, Krieps plays Vivienne Le Coudy, a fiercely independent French-Canadian flower seller, starring alongside Mortensen, who plays a Danish carpenter, in his 1860s-set feminist western about immigrants attempting to forge a life in a corrupt Nevada town.

In addition to Krieps and Domingo, the 2023 TIFF Tribute Award honourees to date are: Andy Lau, recipient of the Special Tribute Award; Carolina Markowicz, recipient of the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM Studios; Łukasz Żal, recipient of the TIFF Variety Artisan Award; Shawn Levy, recipient of the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award presented by The Budman Family; Pedro Almodóvar, recipient of the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media presented by Participant; and Spike Lee, recipient of the TIFF Ebert Director Award.

The Tribute Awards gala is TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser, having raised $1.3 million in 2022, and is presented by Bulgari, sharing their commitment to arts and culture along with TIFF. This year, the Tribute Awards gala will support the Viola Desmond Cinema campaign, which was launched through the Every Story Fund in 2022. For more information, visit tiff.net/tribute.

Though it was supposed to take place this past spring at Rebel Nightclub, Chlöe Bailey finally was able to bring her IN PIECES Tour to The Phoenix in Toronto. Known as one-half of sister duo Chloe x Halle, Bailey is a force in her own right, but also a proud sister to Halle Bailey, who has shined on an international stage this year, starring in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid“.

Her debut solo disc “In Pieces” was released earlier this year to positive reviews on Beyoncé’s Parkwood label, distributed by Columbia Records (Sony). The deeply-personal Album explores themes of toxicity and truly showcases her ability as not only a Singer, but a Songwriter and Producer.

She currently is touring in support of this, and also has a slate of films on the way, also being an Actress. She stars next in Thriller THE GEORGETOWN PROJECT, MIDAS TOUCH, GIRL FROM NORTH COUNTRY and SNEAKS as well. She was just seen in acclaimed Prime Video series SWARM alongside Dominique Fishback.

Such a joy getting to meet and chat with Bailey before her show. She’s a delight! The Vegan Foodie tells us about her experience at The Ex over the weekend and what she ate!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Columbia Records)

I think many of you will share in the sentiment that we are thankful just to have a Film Festival amidst what have been very trying times as the world navigates the SAG-AFTRA strike. While things look quieter this year, Team Mr. Will as every year, is ready to bring their A-Game and you can expect some amazing coverage, whether it be reviews, talent sightings and red carpets.

David Baldwin (missing sadly in the banner photo), Amanda Gilmore, George Kozera, Nicholas Porteous, Justin Waldman and myself share our top five films (sometimes in no specific order) we are most excited about at the Festival this year!

Be sure to bookmark this page for all our TIFF ’23 updates daily!

DAVID BALDWIN (@DaveMABaldwin)

1. Dream Scenario
2. The Holdovers
3. Hit Man
4. Knox Goes Away
5. The Boy and the Heron

I have been attending TIFF physically/virtually since 2010, and I will not mince words – it is my favourite time of the year. Sure, TIFF ’23 is going to be way different without many of the Actors and Writers in town to promote, but their fighting for their rights and the very future of their professions is much, much, MUCH more important than seeing them here in Toronto (I just hope the strikes are resolved before TIFF ’24!). That said, the focus of the Festival has rightly shifted to the movies and there are plenty of surefire bangers that are going to be unmissable over these 11 days. There is a little bit of something for everyone and getting to be amongst the first audiences in the world to see the films together at Roy Thomson Hall, the Princess of Wales, the Royal Alexandra Theatre (or the RAT as the Midnight Madness crew calls it), the TIFF Bell Lightbox and the Scotiabank is a genuinely thrilling prospect. So get hyped fam, and come say hi if you see me. I’ll be the guy with glasses and bleary eyes who has not seen proper daylight for a week.

AMANDA GILMORE (@GilmoreAmanda)

Although TIFF ’23 is missing some of my most anticipated films of the year (Maestro, The Killer, Poor Things), there are still plenty of titles I’m eagerly awaiting. Everyone I know who’s seen Fair Play has told me it’s a must-see. I love a Thriller about gender and power dynamics so I’m all in! The plot of Fingernails has piqued my interest more than any other title in the line-up this year. Plus I’m a huge fan of Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed and Jeremy Allen White. Out of all the films I missed at Cannes, The Delinquents is the one I’m most upset about. Everyone I know has raved about it, and this is my second chance! Out of all the films with actors working as Directors and stars, Woman of the Hour is the one that stands out for me. A Crime-Mystery-Thriller coming from Anna Kendrick just feels right. As a huge fan of ’21s Drive My Car, I cannot wait to see Evil Does Not Exist. I know Ryusuke Hamaguchi won’t disappoint. Happy TIFF everyone!

1. Fair Play
2. Fingernails
3. The Delinquents
4. Woman of the Hour
5. Evil Does Not Exist

NICHOLAS PORTEOUS (@NoveltyHat)

1. The Zone of Interest
2. The Boy and the Heron
3. Fingernails
4. Dream Scenario
5. Anatomy of a Fall 

This year’s TIFF is decidedly low-key and the lineup is somewhat lacking in obvious heavy-hitters or *guaranteed* masterpieces, so a couple of unexpected gambles have found their way to the top of my most anticipated list! The first couple are generally safe bets–Jonathan Glazer doesn’t make movies often, but when he does they always leave an impact. The Zone of Interest is his vision of the holocaust and I’ve heard it’s on another level. The Boy and the Heron is reportedly Hayao Miyazaki‘s final film–the culmination of an unparalleled animated oeuvre. I’m not alone in my excitement–despite an abundance of screenings, I’m still searching for tickets! Fingernails is a compelling question mark. The first English-language film from Christos Nikou, a close disciple of Yorgos Lanthimos, with Riz Ahmed, Jessie Buckley, Jeremy Allen White, and a tantalizingly bizarre premise about an institute that investigates the authenticity of romantic relationships. I’m a sucker for this kind of weird, wild stuff. Speaking of weird, wild stuff–Dream Scenario, the A24 Nicolas Cage movie about a university professor who unwittingly appears in everyone’s–literally everyone’s–dreams. Sold. Anatomy of a Fall won the Palme d’Or and features Sandra Huller, who I last saw in Toni Erdmann. Here, she’s on trial for allegedly murdering her husband. Am I excited by that description? Of course! Case CLOSED!

JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DubsReviews)

There is never an order to top five or ten lists I make. I don’t like putting things in an order it’s too much pressure and life needs less pressure and a little more chaos. So let the chaos begin!

1. The Promised Land
2. Dicks: The Musical
3. Boy Kills World
4. Wicked Little Lies
5. Smugglers

Special mentions: The Holdovers, Dream Scenario, Wildcat, Knox Goes Away, Woman of the Hour

There’s a lot at TIFF this year that is exciting and deserving of the spotlight. While some of the more high profile titles may be missing due to the ongoing SAG-AGTRA/WGA strike (which I FULLY support) there are still plenty of exciting and buzzy titles to be had at this years festival. Directorial debuts, new features from some great Directors, Nicolas Cage doing Nicolas Cage things, Fathers directing daughters, and so much more so strap yourself in for a King Street that may actually be walkable and the 2023 edition of TIFF! 

GEORGE KOZERA (@PARTYG)

Many of this year’s selections whetted my appetite, but these five had me salivating with anticipation!

NEXT GOAL WINS

Starring Michael Fassbender, in a rare comedic role, I’m sure this movie will be funny and heartfelt, and you’ll find me in the line-up!

THE ZONE OF INTEREST

After its rapturous reception at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Director Jonathan Glazer‘s THE ZONE OF INTEREST addresses subject matter that while harrowing and numbing, is important to me. The horrors of Auschwitz should never be forgotten.

SING SING/RUSTIN

Colman Domingo is the reason these two movies are my perfect double bill this year at TIFF. I cannot wait especially to see what Director George C. Wolfe brings to the screen as I have been mesmerized by his work on Broadway and his coup de grace as Director of the screen version of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

MONSTER

Director Kore-eda Hirokazu wowed us a TIFF ’18 with “Shoplifters“. It was the benchmark of excellence I wanted throughout that year. All I know is that it won the Queer Palme Award at Cannes and it’s Hirokazu. I need nothing more!

MR. WILL (@mrwillw)

I love a good messy story and FAIR PLAY has the looks of everything I love. This Erotic Thriller by Writer/Director Chloe Domont garnered raves at Sundance, exploring what happens when a couple who work together (Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich) are up for a promotion and the aftermath of that when one gets the job. DADDIO from Writer/Director Christy Hall, explores an unlikely connection struck between cab driver (Sean Penn) and a woman (Dakota Johnson) boarding a taxi from JFK Airport. SING SING features a showstopping performance from amazing Primetime Emmy and 2023 TIFF Tribute Award winner Colman Domingo as a prisoner who escapes his grim reality in a theatre troupe. And if all the buzz we’ve heard about it in advance of the Fest is true, we’re ready for a huge treat! Shot right here in Toronto, we were so intrigued by Cate Blanchett-produced FINGERNAILS, which explores whether a couple really has true love after a test tells them so. Kate Winslet can do no wrong in my books and we’re excited to see her as Lee Miller, who went from fashion model to American Photojournalist, capturing iconic photographs during World War II, changing our perception of the world.

Happy TIFF!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Award-winning production company Vérité Films, in association with Jeremy Fisher Music and Hidden Pony Records, are excited to announce the return of Jeremy and Jazzy! The JUNO-nominated, original IP children’s multi-platform brand, about how feelings become songs and songs become stories, today debuts 26 new 2-minute episodes and one 11-minute special in English on CBC Gem and in French on ICI TOU.TV. Starting Monday, September 11, 2023 episodes will air daily Monday through Saturday as part of the CBC Kids morning schedule and will begin airing on Radio-Canada on September 18.

The episodes are also released today in the UK on Tiny Pop and will launch this Friday, September 8^th on Kartoon Channel! in the US. At the same time, the Jeremy and Jazzy YouTube channel crosses a major milestone with 3 million views from audiences around the world.

The series, based on the music of four-time JUNO nominee Jeremy Fisher, stars Fisher (as Jeremy) and award-winning artist Aiza Ntibarikure (as Jazzy). Ntibarikure also plays Jazzy in French, where she’s joined by Québec singer-songwriter Antoine Gratton (as Jeremy).

September 8th will also see the release of the next Jeremy and Jazzy album “You Can Be Anything” via Hidden Pony Records and Universal Music Canada on all streaming services. The album will be released in English (featuring Fisher and Ntibarikure) and French (featuring Ntibarikure and Gratton). Pre-save the album here in English and here in French.

And Jeremy and Jazzy is proud to be back in the CBC Canadian Music Class Challenge, where music classes across the country can submit their own version of the song “Good Morning” for a chance to win musical instruments for their school or a chance to win a virtual classroom concert with Jeremy Fisher. Details are available at cbc.ca/musicclass.

On Saturday September 23rd, Jeremy and Jazzy will also be appearing at the Toronto International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront in Toronto, Ontario for a live concert and book signing with Jeremy Fisher. This celebrates the hardcover launch of the first Jeremy and Jazzy book, Turtle and Guy, published by Mango Publishing and available now on Amazon (CA, US, UK) and Indigo (CA).

September brings more of Jeremy and Jazzy Learn, a free and fun series of educational resources for Junior Kindergarten-Grade 2, developed in collaboration with Sheridan College.

“Jeremy and Jazzy brings joy to kids, families, and teachers through the power of music,” said Virginia Thompson, series co-creator and President of Vérité Films. “It’s been wonderful to see the brand grow over this year, and we’re so excited to share new songs and stories with kids everywhere.”

More Jeremy and Jazzy albums are coming soon from Hidden Pony and Universal Music Canada, and more Jeremy and Jazzy shorts and songs are in production and set to launch with CBC Kids in 2024, alongside touring shows, books, and educational content.

About Jeremy and Jazzy:

A CBC Kids original series, Jeremy and Jazzy is produced by Vérité Films, the award-winning production company behind several iconic Canadian brands (Corner Gas, Incredible Story Studio, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards), in association with Jeremy Fisher Music and Hidden Pony Records. The series is created by Jeremy Fisher, Robert de Lint, Mike “Parkside” Renaud, and Virginia Thompson. Animation is provided by Vérité Films and Smiley Guy Studios, with digital production by Vérité Films and Stitch Media. Jeremy and Jazzy Learn is produced by Vérité Films, in association with Jeremy Fisher Music and Sheridan College. The series is produced with support from the CBC, the Canada Media Fund-Shaw Rocket Fund, Kids Digital Animated Series Program, Ontario Creates, FACTOR, and The Canadian Film or Television Tax Credit. Bejuba! Entertainment and Vérité Films International distribute the series worldwide. Series music is released worldwide by Hidden Pony Records / Universal Music Canada. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports; Marie McCann is Senior Director, Children’s Content, CBC Kids; and Swin Chang is Executive in Charge of Production, Children’s Content.

With it being a very unusual year navigating the SAG-AFTRA strike, we chat with some seasoned Public Relations and Communications experts on how they will navigate TIFF ’23. Today we profile our esteemed colleagues Angie Burns and Ally LaMere–Shedden at ROUTE 504 PR.

With this being a unique year, how do the SAG-AFTRA strike-related changes impact your strategy in publicizing and promoting films at the Festival?

Route 504 PR: We are so excited for this year’s fest because Canadian talent is front and center. We stand with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA and their right to demand better contracts but without American talent, our Canadian films are truly shining.

Can you highlight a few films in your slate you particularly are excited about?

Ally: I have two really great films I’m excited about this year: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person from dir. Ariane Louis-Seize (which might have the coolest title at TIFF this year) and Motherland from dir. Jasmin Mozaffari.

Angie: I’m excited about all of our films at TIFF this year! Cheeseballs, but it’s true.

What you’re looking forward to most about TIFF ’23?

Ally: As always, I’m looking forward to the hustle and bustle of TIFF with all my friends and colleagues within a four-block radius, it feels like summer camp every year and i’ll never get over that.

Angie: Working with Canadian creatives is the highlight of every TIFF for me. It’s often these filmmakers’ first time on a world stage and it’s exciting and wonderful watching them shine.

The 2023 Toronto International Film Festival runs September 7 through 17, 2023. We appreciate ROUTE 504 PR for sharing their time with us amidst these busy times and also their year-round support!

TIFF CEO, Cameron Bailey, is excited to announce that filmmaker Ava DuVernay will return to TIFF with her latest offering, Origin. DuVernay’s film will have a Gala screening at Roy Thomson Hall on Monday, September 11th. DuVernay will be in attendance.

Written, produced, and directed by Academy Award nominee Ava DuVernay, Origin chronicles the remarkable life and work of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson (played by Academy Award nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) as she investigates the genesis of injustice and uncovers a hidden truth that affects us all.

Origin stands as a unique account of the intimacy within a writer’s quest for truth. DuVernay creates powerful cinematic images from the stories that Wilkerson brought to light in her non-fiction work Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, as well as the tragic moments of her personal life which framed her writing. It results in a deeply moving portrait of grief and healing — both personally and in the world.

“Ava DuVernay’s Origin is a brilliantly crafted showcase of her talent as a writer, producer, and director. This is audacious filmmaking on a grand, global scale,” said Bailey, “DuVernay deftly weaves Isabel Wilkerson’s big idea about how we live into a beautiful narrative of passion and discovery. I can’t wait for Toronto audiences to feel its power.”

Paul Garnes and DuVernay produced Origin under her ARRAY Filmworks banner, and Thane Watkins serves as co-executive producer.

Along with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Jon Bernthal, Origin stars Niecy Nash-Betts, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood, Connie Nielsen, Emily Yancy, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Finn Wittrock, Victoria Pedretti, Isha Blaaker, and Myles Frost. The team of artists behind Origin was led by cinematographer Matthew J. Lloyd, ASC, production designer Ina Mayhew, editor Spencer Averick A.C.E, composer Kris Bowers, costume designer Dominique Dawson, and casting director Aisha Coley.

Tickets for Origin go on sale Monday, September 4 at 10 AM ET. Check tiff.net for more information.

DJ, Influencer and Social Media personality Sommer Ray returned to Toronto to ring-in Labour Day weekend. Known for her health and fitness content, Colorado’s Ray has amassed a staggering 25 million followers on Instagram alone, plus 5 million Snapchat followers and 12 million TikTok followers.

While scheduled to appear at Cabana Pool Bar Saturday, the afternoon got rained-out. The nightclub made right and provided guests free passss to see her spin at Rebel Nightclub in the evening!

Ray was so lovely to stop for a quick snap and she adored our beanie. Despite claiming she looked rough, she actually looked amazing still, in her plane wear!

See our snap:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

With it being a very unusual year navigating the SAG-AFTRA strike, we chat with some seasoned Public Relations and Communications experts on how they will navigate TIFF ’23. Today we profile our esteemed colleagues at THE TARO GROUP.

Headquartered in Toronto, they are a leading entertainment full-service Communications and Digital agency, servicing studio and independent film companies, immersive art exhibits, experiential events and pop-ups.

With this being a unique year, tell us how the SAG-AFTRA strike-related changes impact your strategy in publicizing and promoting films at the Festival.

The Taro Group: This year we’re evolving the strategy & communications for the film campaigns that we are handling at TIFF around the Filmmakers, with everything being on a smaller scale and more intimate. All those attending are proud to represent their team members who wish they could be here (but can’t be due to the ongoing strike).

Please highlight for us a few films in your slate you particularly are excited for TIFF-goers to discover.

The Taro Group: Our film slate is big this year and many include remarkable real-life stories including Elevation Pictures‘ Lee, Sing Sing and Dumb Money and films by Canadian directors with Seven Veils, Irena’s Vow, Fitting In and many more.

What you’re looking forward to most about TIFF ’23?

The Taro Group: There is so much to look forward to; all of our premieres and photo calls, the reactions from moviegoers, working with all of our incredible media partners on a daily basis, seeing our US and international colleagues and coming together as an arts community to celebrate the film industry and everyone being a special part of it.

The 2023 Toronto International Film Festival runs September 7 through 17, 2023. We are thankful to The Taro Group for their support year-round and also for giving us their time so generously.

Stay tuned as we profile another top agency tomorrow and they share their insights how they plan to navigate this very unique Festival.