Michael Peña stars in A MILLION MILES AWAY, coming soon to Prime Video Canada on September 15, 2023. Here’s the new Trailer.

Synopsis:

Inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández, A Million Miles Away follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm worker on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station. With the unwavering support of his hard-working parents, relatives, and teachers, José’s unrelenting drive & determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal. Acclaimed writer and director Alejandra Márquez Abella has created a dazzling tribute to the loyalty and tenacity of the entire Hernández family, as well as anyone who dares to dream.

Directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella

Screenplay by Bettina Gilois, Hernán Jiménez, Alejandra Márquez Abella

Produced by Mark Ciardi, Campbell McInnes

Starring Michael Peña, Rosa Salazar, Bobby Soto, Sarayu Blue, Veronica Falcón, Julio César Cedillo, Garret Dillahunt and Eric Johnson

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video Canada)

Celebrating 25 years of Canada’s Walk of Fame, five new esteemed Inductees will be added to the famous “walk” for the biggest celebration of Canadian excellence in the organization’s history, each a trailblazer in their respective fields, making a lasting imprint on Canada’s cultural fabric. Today’s announcement includes the co-founders of the iconic ROOTS CANADA celebrating 50 incredible years as a marquee Canadian brand, MICHAEL BUDMAN and DON GREEN (Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy), the multi-award-winning actress who broke barriers for Indigenous actors, TANTOO CARDINAL (Arts & Entertainment), global superstar AVRIL LAVIGNE (Arts & Entertainment), and philanthropic champion of Canadian culture, arts and music, GARY SLAIGHT (Arts & Entertainment).

“For 25 years, Canada’s Walk of Fame has celebrated more than 200 inductions, recognizing some of the most accomplished, influential, and inspiring trailblazers, record-breakers, change-makers, and superstars of the world – whom we are so fortunate and proud to call as Canadians,” said Jeffrey Latimer, CEO of Canada’s Walk of Fame.

These exceptional Canadians join previously announced 2023 Inductees, including a defender of human rights and social justice, Supreme Court Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella (Humanitarianism); the Canadian youth culture phenomenon Degrassi (Arts and Entertainment); Canada’s record-breaking NHL sensation Connor McDavid (Sports and Athletics); beloved television superstar and influential commentator Rick Mercer (Arts and Entertainment); and Canada’s pioneering neuroscientist and oldest living Inductee at 105, Dr. Brenda Milner (Science, Technology and Innovation).

In addition, Canada’s Walk of Fame will also welcome 13 of the country’s most influential rock music legends from the ‘70s and ‘80s to its ranks in a special additional induction event, Canada’s Rock of Fame, taking place on September 28th at Massey Hall. The Inductees are April Wine, Chilliwack, Glass Tiger, Lee Aaron, Lighthouse, Loverboy, Max Webster, Michel Pagliaro, Platinum Blonde, PRISM, Rough Trade, The Parachute Club, and Trooper. Presented alongside official partners Anthem Entertainment and Live Nation, Canada’s Rock of Fame is a once-in-a-lifetime event that will feature a night of tributes, live performances, special guests and a reunion of Canadian DJ legends.

Canada’s Rock of Fame is the first of two induction ceremonies in 2023 as part of the organization’s milestone year events. The annual star-studded Canada’s Walk of Fame 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will take place on December 2, 2023, honouring this year’s Inductees. A special broadcast will air at a later date on CTV.

The final Inductees for 2023 will be announced in the coming months, along with this year’s Allan Slaight Music Impact and the Community and National Hero Honourees.

About the five newly announced Canada’s Walk of Fame 2023 Inductees:

Michael Budman & Don Green (Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy): From Canadian “Roots” to A Global Lifestyle Brand
Michael Budman and Don Green, co-founders of the globally successful premium outdoor lifestyle brand Roots Canada, shared summers attending camp in Algonquin Park. It was there that they developed their appreciation for nature and Canada, and where the idea of an outdoor footwear and apparel concept was born, uniting the best of the city and the cabin. With Michael and Don at the helm, Roots started its journey to become one of Canada’s most respected and loved brands. Roots is known for its high-quality products, world-class leather factory and retail shops, cultural relevance, and commitment to social responsibility. As the company celebrates its 50th anniversary on August 15, 2023, Roots is a Canadian success story that has grown to more than 120 stores across North America, 118 stores in Asia and an eCommerce platform that ships to more than 18 countries worldwide.

Tantoo Cardinal (Arts & Entertainment): An Icon of Canadian Film and Television
Tantoo Cardinal is a multi-award-winning actress of Indigenous descent who has appeared in more than 130 film, television and animation projects throughout her 50-year career and is still going. She recently made her 2023 Cannes premiere in Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese, and is considered one of the most recognizable Indigenous actresses in the world thanks to supporting roles in the Oscar-winning, Dances With Wolves, and Legends of the Fall with Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt. Her first starring role was in 2018’s Falls Around Her. She was a series regular on the ABC television series Stumptown and in her soon-to-air Marvel series, Echo. Tantoo received a Lifetime Achievement recognition from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and the Governor General’s Award. She was named a member of the Order of Canada for her significant contribution to the growth and development of Indigenous performing arts and her advocacy for Indigenous people and the environment. Click HERE for Tantoo’s full bio.

Avril Lavigne (Arts & Entertainment): Global Superstar
Avril Lavigne has made history, smashed records, and consistently blazed a trail of her own as an uncompromising force in music and culture. Beyond selling 50 million albums worldwide with 12.5 million units sold in the U.S. alone, she has notched eight GRAMMY® Award nominations in categories such as “Best New Artist” and “Song of the Year” twice for “Complicated” and “I’m with You.” In addition, she has received eight JUNO Awards, including “Artist of the Year,” and multiple JUNO Fan Choice Award wins. Her catalogue comprises the septuple platinum Let Go [2002], triple-platinum Under My Skin [2004], double-platinum The Best Damn Thing [2007], gold-selling Goodbye Lullaby [2011], gold-selling Avril Lavigne [2013], and Head Above Water [2019] highlighted by definitive smashes such as “Complicated,” “Sk8er Boi,” “Girlfriend,” “Here’s To Never Growing Up,” and “Head Above Water.” As such, she remains “one of the Soundscan-era’s top-selling artists releasing albums in the U.S.,” and “the third bestselling Canadian female artist of all time.”

Gary Slaight (Arts & Entertainment): Visionary Philanthropist and Broadcast Industry Leader
Gary Slaight, the President and CEO of Slaight Communications Inc., Slaight Music, and The Slaight Family Foundation, has dedicated his career to promoting and nurturing Canadian culture. He started working in the music industry in promotion roles and eventually became the CEO of Standard Broadcasting, founded by his late father and 2020 Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductee, Allan Slaight. Gary transformed the company into a leading force in Canadian broadcast radio. Committed to making a difference, Gary continues the family’s philanthropic legacy through his leadership of The Slaight Family Foundation, established in 2008, which supports various causes, including healthcare, social services, arts and culture and at-risk children and youth. Through the Foundation’s innovative approach to philanthropy, $195M has supported nine unique initiatives including health care, Canadian children and youth, Indigenous youth, seniors, human rights of women and girls, international NGOs, mental health, food security and support to help Toronto’s theatre industry recover from the pandemic. Gary’s passion for music and philanthropy is further evident through Slaight Music which was established to develop programs supporting emerging Canadian Music artists.

For more information on Canada’s Walk of Fame, visit www.canadaswalkoffame.com.

Prime Video Original documentary based on the life and career of legendary Canadian children’s entertainer Ernie Coombs—or, as he is more commonly known by millions of fans, Mr. Dressup. The documentary celebrates the origins and history of one of Canada’s most beloved CBC children shows, Mr. Dressup, which enriched the lives of five generations.

The feature-length documentary celebrates the origins and history of Canada’s favourite children’s show, Mr. Dressup, which built a legacy of kindness, patience, inclusiveness, and creativity in 4,000 episodes across 29 years on CBC in Canada.

The documentary will combine never-before-seen archival footage, interviews with series puppeteers, the Coombs family, and other notable Canadians, all sharing the impact the series had on them. The project also includes fascinating insights into Coombs and how he worked with other key creators and partners, including his friendship with Fred Rogers.

The feature length documentary will launch exclusively on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide following its festival run. Dates will be announced shortly.

TIFF ’23 screening times:

1st Public *World Premiere* – Saturday, September 9, 2023 – 9:00 PM ET – TIFF Bell Lightbox Cinema 1

2nd Public – September 10, 2023 – 8:45 PM ET – Scotiabank 3

3rd Public –  September 15, 2023 – 11:40 AM ET – Scotiabank 14

By Mr. Will Wong

We’re unsure how it’s possible, but the second season of THE BEAR manages to outshine its previous season. We pick-up here with the closure of Carmy’s (Jeremy Allen White) family eatery THE BEEF, closing a chapter in his life, moving-on to open a new restaraunt a little closer to his Michelin-star past, THE BEAR. Relying on a skeptical Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) for a loan, Carmy and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) promise an incredibly-ambitious turnaround time to get this restaurant off the ground. A lot is at stake and this is all or nothing.

While we were just getting to know many of the Series’ central characters in its first season, this follow-up gives us a chance to really get to know them as their storylines are given the room to grow, and along their journeys, we meet several interesting new characters.

Carmy reunites with and old friend Claire (Molly Gordon) and their chemistry is off the charts without saying much at all. Much of the focus of their conversation is the subtext beneath their playful banter. We meet Carmy and sister Natalie‘s (Abby Elliott) mom, played by the incomparable Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene-stealing performance as the erratic Donna. Just wait till you see that Christmas episode. Adding further to the Series’ starpower is Bob Odenkirk as Uncle Lee, appearing in a flashback. Sydney is on a mission with Carmy to help perfect this new restaurant’s menu, driven for it to be a success and to prove herself. And one of the biggest surprises of all is celebrity chef Matty Matheson as Neil, hired to help construct this new restaurant, proving he is a man of many talents. Marcus (Lionel Boyce) also heads off to Copenhagen, working with his mentor, a pasty chef named Luca (Will Poulter). And this experience will prove to be an important part of this new restaurant’s story as we end the season with its launch.

Though THE BEAR is set in the world of food, at its very core is the aftermath of grief and the unspoken. We are drawn to this world and its characters who thrive off the rush and anxiety of making it happen, and we are addicted to that thrill. That and some sublime work once again by White, who has cemented his place among the very top of his generation of Actors.

All ten episodes of THE BEAR Season Two are available on Disney+ Canada.

SCOUTS HONOR is a Documentary shedding some light on an important investigation against the Boy Scouts of America. It arrives September 6, 2023 on Netflix.

Logline:

Through exclusive interviews with whistleblowers, survivors, and former employees, this investigative documentary exposes how the Boy Scouts of America attempted to cover up one of history’s most horrific child sexual abuse scandals.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

The Toronto International Film Festival® Primetime programme has been revealed for 2023, with nine compelling and thought-provoking series from around the world, including eight World Premieres.

“This year’s Primetime programme is bigger than ever and gives audiences the exclusive and unmatched opportunity to celebrate the best new international series together, in cinema, on the big screen,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “TIFF audiences will be the first to see the Prime Video series Expats — Lulu Wang’s highly anticipated follow-up to The Farewell, starring Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, and Ji-young Yoo, a Pulitzer Prize–winning adaptation from Shawn Levy and Steven Knight, a high-octane Korean thriller, a brand new vision from the creator of Euphoria, an atypical love story between Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough, a contemporary Scandinavian tragedy, and three powerful Canadian series, all spotlighting underrepresented voices from an exciting new wave of storytellers.”

PRIMETIME PROGRAMME

TIFF’s 2023 Primetime programme features compelling series from Canada and around the world.

Alice & Jack Victor Levin, Juho Kuosmanen, Hong Khaou | United Kingdom
World Premiere
North American Sales Title

All the Light We Cannot See Shawn Levy, Steven Knight | USA
World Premiere

Bad Boy Hagar Ben-Asher, Ron Leshem, Daniel Chen, Roee Florentin, Moshe Malka, Amit Cohen, Daniel Amsel | Israel
World Premiere
North American Sales Title

Bargain Byun Seung-min, Jeon Woo-sung | South Korea
North American Premiere

Black Life: Untold Stories Leslie Norville | Canada
World Premiere

Bria Mack Gets A Life Sasha Leigh Henry | Canada
World Premiere

Estonia Miikko Oikkonen | Finland/Sweden/Belgium/Estonia
World Premiere
North American Sales Title

Expats Lulu Wang | USA
World Premiere

Telling Our Story Kim O’Bomsawin | Canada
World Premiere – English Language Version

The monster that is BARBIE continues to dominate in its fourth week, taking $30 million from 4,178 theatres for Warner Bros. To date it has grossed $522 million domestically and $1.13 billion globally, proudly displaying its accomplishment as the highest ever grossing film by a female Filmmaker. Way to go, Greta Gerwig!

Second goes to OPPENHEIMER with $16.8 million from 3,761 theatres for Universal Pictures, taking it to $262.2 million.

Third is TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM, with $14.1 million from 3,950 theatres for Paramount Pictures, a total $71.2 million grossed in North America.

THE MEG 2 is fourth with $12 million from 3,604 theatres, a total $53.5 million for Warner Bros. over two weekends.

THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER debuts in fifth with $6.5 million from 2,715 theatres for Universal Pictures, getting 45% on the Tomatometer.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of BLUE BEETLE!

Screenings take place as follows:

SYNOPSIS:

From Warner Bros. Pictures comes the feature film “Blue Beetle,” marking the DC Super Hero’s first time on the big screen. The film, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, stars Xolo Maridueña in the title role as well as his alter ego, Jaime Reyes.

Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero BLUE BEETLE.

Starring alongside Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) are Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”).

Soto (“Charm City Kings,” “The Farm”) directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (“Miss Bala”), based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.

The director’s creative team behind the scenes includes director of photography Pawel Pogorzelski (“Midsommar,” “Hereditary”), production designer John Billington (“Bad Boys for Life”), editor Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2,” “The Lost City”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo (“Jojo Rabbit,” the “Thor” films), visual effects supervisor Kelvin McIlwain (“The Suicide Squad,” “Aquaman”) and composer Bobby Krlic (“Midsommar,” the “Snowpiercer” series).

A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, a Safran Company Production, “Blue Beetle” soars into theatres only internationally beginning August 2023 and in North America August 18, 2023. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. In the comments there, indicate for us your City. Re-Tweet the below for an extra chance. And guess what? We’re now on Threads! You can enter there too! Be sure to follow!

BLUE BEETLE is in theatres August 18, 2023.

Rules and regulations here.

Director Ángel Manuel Soto was just here. More on that here!

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

Gal Gadot stars in Tom Harper‘s upcoming Netflix feature, HEART OF STONE, out now on Netflix.

SYNOPSIS:

Rachel Stone (Gal Gadot) appears to be an inexperienced tech, on an elite MI6 unit headed up by lead agent Parker (Jamie Dornan). What her MI6 team doesn’t know is that Stone actually works for the Charter — a covert peacekeeping organization, secret even from other spies, which uses cutting-edge technology to neutralize global threats. Rachel has been trained to be the consummate professional: a phenomenal field agent who sticks to the mission, follows the numbers, and trusts no one. When a routine mission is derailed by mysterious hacker Keya Dhawan (Alia Bhatt), Rachel’s two lives collide. As she races to protect the Charter and strives to beat the odds, her humanity might just be her biggest asset.

DIRECTOR: Tom Harper
WRITERS: Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder
PRODUCERS: Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger, along with Mockingbird’s Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn, and Pilot Wave’s Gal Gadot and Jaron Varsano
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Patty Whitcher, Tom Harper, Greg Rucka
CAST: Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighöfer, Jing Lusi, Paul Ready

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

TIFF proudly announces the In Conversation With… (ICW) series at this year’s Festival, featuring talented and acclaimed artists in the world of cinema including Pedro Almodóvar, Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun, and Andy Lau. An integral part of our year-round programming, this series connects audiences and film enthusiasts with artists through intimate, moderated discussions about their creative process and experiences. TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… is presented by Visa.

“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel transformation,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse lineup of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”

The 2023 lineup is a global and diverse gathering, weaving together unique perspectives that contribute to shaping the worldwide entertainment landscape. The myriad voices represented in these discussions not only celebrate the richness of human experience but also illuminate compelling emotional narratives and ideas that resonate deeply with audiences from all walks of life.

Pedro Almodóvar

A giant of contemporary cinema and the recipient of this year’s Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media at the TIFF Tribute Awards, Pedro Almodóvar has delighted audiences with films that are vivid, urgent, and human. At this year’s Festival, the iconic Academy Award–winning writer-director of All About My Mother (1999), Talk to Her (2002), and Pain and Glory (2019) presents the North American premiere of his highly anticipated short film Strange Way of Life, a thoughtful meditation on the relationship between a sheriff (Ethan Hawke) and a rancher (Pedro Pascal) and their shared past. Presented by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello and produced by Almodóvar’s production company El Deseo, Strange Way of Life is as stylish and layered as his award-winning feature films, and just as provocative. By interrogating and subverting the western, one of cinema’s foundational genres, Almodóvar has crafted yet another standout entry in the ever-evolving canon of queer cinema. Following a screening of the film, Almodóvar will join us for an extended onstage conversation about his desire to bring this singular project to the big screen, and how it fits within his vibrant oeuvre.

Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun

As we showcase a remarkable selection of Korean films at this year’s Festival, we are proud to present an exclusive conversation with Korean superstars Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun, who star in the disaster epic Concrete Utopia. Both Lee and Park began their careers in Korean television, with Lee appearing in such popular K-drama series as Tomorrow Love (1992–1994) and Beautiful My Lady (1997) before starring in Park Chan-wook’s international art-house hit Joint Security Area (2000) and Kim Jee-woon’s back-to-back megahits A Bittersweet Life (2005) and The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008). An agile performer who is equally at home in dramatic, comedic, and action roles, Lee has firmly established himself as a global sensation, who effortlessly alternates between Hollywood films such as G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) and The Magnificent Seven (2016), Korean blockbusters like I Saw the Devil (2010) and Inside Men (2015), and hit television series including Mr. Sunshine (2018) and Squid Game (2021). Displaying a similarly impressive dramatic and comedic range as a performer, Park Seo-jun starred in several wildly popular K-dramas and sitcoms, including Fight for My Way (2017) and What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018), and ran away with one of the lead roles in the action-comedy hit Midnight Runners (2017). Park has continued to balance his work between television and film, exemplified by his lead role in the Netflix breakout hit Itaewon Class (2020) and his memorable supporting role as Min-hyuk, who triggers the plot in Bong Joon-Ho’s Academy Award–winning class satire Parasite (2019). Before audiences around the world will see him in the highly anticipated The Marvels later this year, Park joins Lee to discuss their respective careers and their collaboration on Concrete Utopia.

Andy Lau

The star of Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor, Andy Lau has been a leading figure in Asian cinema for the past four decades. Like many of his contemporaries, Lau started out in the early 1980s as an actor for Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB), Hong Kong’s premier television network. He landed his first feature film role in Ann Hui’s Boat People (1982), a central work of the Hong Kong New Wave. In the late 1980s, Lau fully transitioned to working in film and enthralled audiences and critics alike in Wong Kar Wai’s As Tears Go By (1988) and Days of Being Wild (1990). Lau launched his own production company in the early 1990s and has starred in over 160 feature films, including Johnnie To’s relentless police thriller Running Out of Time (1999), Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s twisty and unpredictable Infernal Affairs (2002) and Infernal Affairs III (2003), Zhang Yimou’s martial arts extravaganza House of Flying Daggers (2004), Tsui Hark’s delirious fantasy whodunit Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010), Hui’s grounded drama A Simple Life (2011), and Frant Gwo’s mega-action blockbuster The Wandering Earth 2 (2023). A natural entertainer and multi-faceted artist, Lau has won three Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actor, received the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award at the 2006 Busan International Film Festival, and holds the Guinness World Record for “Most Awards Won by a Cantopop Male Artist.” He joins us for an in-depth conversation about his storied career as an actor, producer, and celebrated Cantopop singer-songwriter, as well as his new film The Movie Emperor, which is a Gala Presentation at this year’s Festival.

Once again, TIFF will be offering TIFF Under-25 Members and TIFF Under-25 Free Pass holders the opportunity to take advantage of the Under-25 Festival Rush Pass. Beginning August 25, for just $29.00 (taxes and fees included), Under-25 Festival Rush Pass holders will get unlimited access to Rush tickets for Festival screenings by joining the Rush lines at all TIFF venues for their chance to see this year’s most in-demand screenings, including In Conversation With… events.

The Under-25 Festival Rush Pass is non-transferable and only available to Under-25 Free Pass holders or TIFF Members under 25 years of age. For more information on how to become an Under-25 Free Pass holder and to purchase the Under-25 Festival Rush Pass, please visit tiff.net/under25.

On Monday, August 21, starting at 10am, Visa Infinite cardholders will be given early access to secure tickets to TIFF 2023. For more information visit tiff.net.