We know a few of your kids might be excited about this! Here’s your first look at PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE.

Synopsis:
The PAW Patrol is on a roll!  When their biggest rival, Humdinger, becomes Mayor of nearby Adventure City and starts wreaking havoc, Ryder and everyone’s favourite heroic pups kick into high gear to face the challenge head-on.  While one pup must face his past in Adventure City, the team finds help from a new ally, the savvy dachshund Liberty.  Together, armed with exciting new gadgets and gear, the PAW Patrol fights to save the citizens of Adventure City! Joining the PAW Patrol in their thrilling first big-screen adventure are members from the original series’ cast along with Iain Armitage, Marsai Martin, Yara Shahidi, Kim Kardashian West, Randall Park, Dax Shepard, with Tyler Perry and Jimmy Kimmel and introducing Will Brisbin.

See some new Stills.

Trailer coming soon.

Elevation Pictures release PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE in theatres August 20, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Today would’ve been fashion icon Roy Halston Frowick’s 89th birthday! Here’s a first look at upcoming limited series HALSTON from Ryan Murphy.

Synopsis:

The limited series Halston follows the legendary fashion designer (Ewan McGregor), as he leverages his single, invented name into a worldwide fashion empire that’s synonymous with luxury, sex, status and fame, literally defining the era he lives in, 1970’s and ‘80’s New York — until a hostile takeover forces him to battle for control of his most precious asset… the name Halston itself. The series is Executive Produced by Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, Alexis Martin Woodall, Daniel Minahan, Ewan McGregor, Eric Kovtun, Sharr White, and Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler of Killer Films. Minahan also serves as the series director.

Cast / Characters:
Ewan McGregor – “Halston”
Krysta Rodriguez -”Liza Minnelli”
Rebecca Dayan – “Elsa Peretti”
Bill Pullman – “David Mahoney”
Gian Franco Rodriguez – “Victor Hugo”
David Pittu – “Joe Eula”
Sullivan Jones – “Ed Austin”
Rory Culkin – “Joel Schumacher”
Kelly Bishop – “Eleanor Lambert”
Vera Farmiga – “Adele”

See the Trailer:

HALSTON arrives on Netflix Friday, May 14, 2021.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

The full programming line-up for the 2021 INSIDE OUT 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival has been unveiled and it includes some hits that came out of SXSW even like Potato Dreams of America, Alone Together (Charli XCX Documentary), Ma Belle, My Beauty and Opening Night Selection. Language Lessons starring Natalie Morales (who directs also) and Mark Duplass. Hot Docs hit FANNY: RIGHT TO ROCK also surfaces here giving us a chance to see it again! The Festival runs Ontario-wide online May 27-June 6, 2021.

Check-out the line-up below:

OPENING NIGHT

LANGUAGE LESSONS, directed by Natalie Morales. (USA / Narrative)
Natalie Morales explores platonic love masterfully in Language Lessons, demonstrating that no matter how hopeless, isolated or distant we are, finding love and friendship is always possible. 

CLOSING NIGHT

ALONE TOGETHER, directed by Bradley Bell, Pablo Jones-Soler. (USA / Documentary)
Alone Together goes in depth with Charli XCX as she faces mental health issues, rekindles her relationship, and connects with vulnerable LGBTQ+ fans in need.

PREMIERES

A DISTANT PLACE, directed by Park Kun-Young. (South Korea  / Narrative). 
A Distant Place is a wistful drama about love and family, set in the dazzling countryside of Hwacheon County in South Korea.

KNOCKING, directed by Frida Kempff. (Sweden / Narrative). 
When Molly moves into a new apartment after a tragic accident, a strange noise from upstairs begins to unnerve her.

MA BELLE, MY BEAUTY, directed by Marion Hill. (USA, France / Narrative). 
The buzz about this Sundance Audience Award winner suggests that Ma Belle, My Beauty primarily explores a polyamorous relationship. In fact, what the film more poignantly explores are the yearnings and complexities of characters who happen to be, among other things, polyamorous.

POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA, directed by Wes Hurley. (USA / Narrative). 
Potato Dreams of America is an unlikely autobiographical fantasia that uses magical realism and plenty of humor to honour mothers, immigrants and dreamers everywhere.

SEE YOU THEN, directed by Mari Walker. (USA / Narrative). 
A decade after abruptly breaking up with Naomi, Kris invites her to dinner to catch up on their complicated lives, relationships, and Kris’s transition.

ICONS

CAN YOU BRING IT, directed by Tom Hurwitz, Rosalynde LeBlanc. (USA / Documentary). 
Can You Bring It resurrects one of the most essential works of art to come out of the AIDS era and celebrates the people who brought the masterpiece to life.

FANNY: THE RIGHT TO ROCK, directed by Bobbi Jo Hart. (Canada / Documentary). 
Fanny: The Right to Rock tells the story of one of the best bands—Filipina-American and LBGTQ+ bandmates included—that you have likely never heard.

MAMA GLORIA, directed by Luchina Fisher. (USA / Documentary). 
Mama Gloria invites you into the world of role model, charm school founder and powerful trans activist, Gloria Allen.

YES I AM – THE RIC WEILAND STORY, directed by Aaron Bear. (USA / Documentary). 
Ric Weiland is a name you’re probably not familiar with, especially in association with a tech giant like Microsoft. This captivating documentary explores Weiland’s life and work as an out and proud computer genius.

INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE

A SEXPLANATION, directed by Alexander Liu. (USA / Documentary).
From neuroscience labs to church pews, A Sexplanation features provocative conversations in the pursuit of sexual truth and knowledge.   

BEING THUNDER, directed by Stephanie Lamorre. (France / Documentary). 
Sherente Harris, a two-spirit genderqueer teenager from the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island, boldly challenges the status quo of what it means to be a queer Indigenous person in a world bound by binary gender roles.

BEYTO, directed by Gitta Gsell. (Switzerland / Narrative). 
Adapted from a novel by Swiss-Kurdish writer Yusuf Yesilöz, Beyto, which won the Prix du Public audience award at Switzerland’s Solothurn Film Festival, wrestles with the tension between cultures, and between a family’s sense of honour and a person’s need to be true to themselves.

BOY MEETS BOY, directed by Daniel Sánchez López. (Germany / Narrative). 
Taking inspiration from the mumblecore genre, Boy Meets Boy is a brief but romantic encounter between two young men who fall for each other over the course of a single day.

DRAG INVASION, directed by Alberto Castro. (Peru / Documentary). 
Drag Invasion tells the story of a surprising phenomenon that mobilized, energized and empowered LGBTQ Peruvians.

EVERYTHING AT ONCE, directed by Alberto Fuguet. (Chile , Spain / Documentary). 
Blurring the lines between traditional documentary and film essay, Everything at Once observes the work of two Catalan photographers and their vision of emphasizing the sex appeal of the working class.

GENDERATION, directed by Monika Treut. (Germany / Documentary). 
In 1999, Monika Treut made one of the first documentaries—Gendernauts—about trans people living in San Francisco. Twenty years later, Monika reunites with some of the film’s subjects to see how their lives have evolved in the intervening years. Screens with a newly restored version of Gendernauts. 

I CARRY YOU WITH ME, directed by Heidi Ewing. (USA, Mexico / Narrative). 
Acclaimed filmmaker Heidi Ewing makes her narrative feature debut with I Carry You with Me, a bittersweet true story of an aspiring chef’s dreams and romantic encounters.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SURVIVAL, directed by Yana Ugrekhelidze. (Germany / Documentary). 
Instructions for Survival, one of the most striking documentaries to come out of this year’s Berlinale, elegantly navigates the story of a couple fighting for freedom against terrifying threats in their homeland.

KAPANA, directed by Philippe Talavera. (Namibia / Narrative). 
Kapana takes a familiar narrative and gives it new life in the first Namibian film featuring a gay love story, supported by breakout performances and a promising message for queer African rights.

LEADING LADIES, directed by Ruth Caudeli. (Colombia / Narrative). 
Ruth Caudeli (Second Star on the Right) returns to Inside Out with Leading Ladies, a reflection on how different perspectives and memories affect one group of queer women.

LOVE, SPELLS AND ALL THAT, directed by Ümit Ünal. (Turkey / Narrative). 
United by a twenty-year-old spell, two women journey through the neglected corners of their memories as they explore the island of Büyükada, Istanbul, in Love, Spells and All That.

MOFFIE, directed by Oliver Hermanus. (South Africa, UK / Narrative).
South African auteur Oliver Hermanus delivers a brutal but radiant story of young gay desire on the Angolan war front.

MY FIRST SUMMER, directed by Katie Found. (Australia / Narrative). 
Nestled in the delicate interactions of two teenage girls, My First Summer offers viewers the distant, pastel colours of a first childhood romance.

POPPY FIELD, directed by Eugen Jebeleanu. (Romania / Narrative). 
In Poppy Field, it is not only misguided zealots shouting “Abomination!” that create the problem; it’s the machismo that holds the thin blue line together, and the anger that simmers underneath.

SUMMERTIME, directed by Carlos López Estrada. (USA / Narrative).
Inspired by a showcase featuring diverse high school performers, Carlos López Estrada collaborates with young poets, many of whom are LGBTQ, to develop their work into an inspiring narrative and love letter to the youth of Los Angeles.

SWEETHEART, directed by Marley Morrison. (UK / Narrative). 
As sun-soaked as one can get at a caravan park in Dorset, Sweetheart follows A.J. as she attempts to balance an embarrassing family vacation with the terrifying adventure of first love.

TWO, directed by Astar Elkayam. (Israel / Narrative). 
Two follows a couple as they set out on the long road to conception and realize their dream of having a baby.

WALK WITH ME, directed by Isabel Del Rosal. (USA / Narrative). 
Walk With Me follows a young mother who must take some personal risks to find the happiness she has been seeking.

SPOTLIGHT ON CANADA

BLOODTHIRSTY, directed by Amelia Moses. (Canada / Narrative). 
Bloodthirsty, the latest astonishing film from Canadian director Amelia Moses, is guaranteed to make your skin crawl with its vivid imagery and eerie sound design.

DAWN, HER DAD & THE TRACTOR, directed by Shelley Thompson. (Canada / Narrative). 
When a young woman with a startling resemblance to her mother arrives home for her mother’s funeral, one family begins an odyssey toward understanding.

HOW TO FIX RADIOS, directed by Casper Leonard, Emily Russell. (Canada / Narrative). 
In Casper Leonard and Emily Russell’s stunning first feature, young queers carve out their own destiny in a rural community in Southern Ontario.

EPISODIC

#TMI, directed by Ashlei Shyne. (USA / Series). 
#TMI is a comedy series that follows Aaliyah Jones, a bisexual woman who recently became single when her ex-girlfriend Simone moved to Berlin.

DINETTE SEASON 2, directed by Shaina Feinberg. (USA / Series). 
The staff and regulars at a Brooklyn-based diner scramble to keep their favourite hangout afloat after the sudden death of its owner.

ENBY, directed by Morgan Strug. (Canada / Series). 
Enby, a 20-something human living in East Van has finally found the words that match their identity.

QUERENCIA, directed by Mary Galloway. (Canada / Series). 
Querencia is a love story that follows two Indigenous queer women from divergent backgrounds as they navigate and explore their complex Indigiqueer identities and their differing cultural upbringings.

TRANS IN TRUMPLAND, directed by Tony Zosherafatain. (USA / Series). 
Trans in Trumpland takes an intricate, inspiring road trip from State to State into the lives of four remarkable, resilient trans people.

SHORTS

The shorts lineup can be found here.

More here on the Festival.

In celebration of Star Wars Day, May the Fourth, Disney+ has some exciting stuff lined-up tomorrow for fans! There’s even a Simpsons–Star Wars Short! In addition to the premiere of Series STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH, check-out some of the fun premiering 3:00 AM ET.

“Star Wars: The Bad Batch”

The series follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch (first introduced in “The Clone Wars”) as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of Bad Batch – a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army — each possess a singular exceptional skill which makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew. In the post-Clone War era, they will take on daring mercenary missions as they struggle to stay afloat and find new purpose.

“Maggie Simpson in ‘The Force Awakens From Its Nap’”

In a daycare far, far away… but still in Springfield, Maggie is on an epic quest for her stolen pacifier. Her adventure brings her face-to-face with young Padawans, Sith Lords, familiar droids, Rebel scum, and an ultimate battle against the dark side, in this original short celebrating the Star Wars galaxy.

“Star Wars Biomes”

Take a virtual vacation to some of the Star Wars films’ most iconic and beloved locations like Hoth, Tatooine, and Sorgan as this charming series whisks you off for fly-over tours of a galaxy far, far away.

“Star Wars Vehicle Flythroughs”

Get up-close-and-personal with two of the Star Wars films’ most iconic and beloved ships as this charming content leads viewers on an exploration of the memorable interiors and exteriors of the Millennium Falcon and an Imperial Star Destroyer.

(Photo credit: Disney)

Mongrel Media x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Digital Downloads of RIDERS OF JUSTICE starring Mads Mikkelsen!

Synopsis:

RIDERS OF JUSTICE follows recently-deployed Markus, who is forced to return home to care for his teenage daughter after his wife is killed in a tragic train accident. But when a survivor of the wrecked train surfaces claiming foul play, Markus begins to suspect his wife was murdered and embarks on a mission to find those responsible.

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

Rules and regulations here.

Mongrel Media release RIDERS OF JUSTICE Friday, May 21, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

By David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

As a child of the ’90s, I was a big fan of The Mighty Ducks film series. I saw all three films in theatres and they inspired me to start playing hockey. Though that dream was short lived, the films and the memories they created stayed with me. So imagine my surprise and excitement all these years later when I was given the opportunity to speak to Elden Henson (Fulton), Matt Doherty (Averman), Marguerite Moreau (Connie), Vincent LaRusso (Adam Banks), Garette Henson (Guy) and Justin Wong (Kenny Wu) about their time on the set of the Disney+ sequel series, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. The family-friendly show has done a wonderful job carving its own path while maintaining a nostalgic lifeline to the original films. The group appear in Episode 6 of the first season, “Spirit of the Ducks”, and had nothing but great things to say about their time together and their experiences filming in Vancouver last year.

Here are a few of the things we learned in our online roundtable discussion with the group.

How difficult was it to get back on the ice?

WONG: “I’ve been playing hockey for the last 15 years, so getting back on the ice was easy for me.”

MOREAU: “Hard [Laughs].”

GARETTE: “It felt like riding a bike. It was like I had never stopped skating. It had probably been about ten years since I skated, but it is such a fun game and as soon as you get out there, you just feel like a kid again. You feel that wind in your face and it’s pretty thrilling.”

MOREAU: “Well I’m glad you did, young’un. Because I had the wind in my face but I felt like my knees were going to buckle under me. It was not like riding any bike I know. I was a mess!”

ELDEN: “It was definitely harder cause I got a lot fatter [Everyone laughs].”

DOHERTY: “I grew up wanting to be good at a sport, and I was never really good at one. But somehow, hockey was my thing. So it’s always been a big part of my life.”

LARUSSO: “The fact that we got to step on the ice after that long and do it…and [the show’s producers] were like ‘Oh, we built this arena, so you guys can skate. The whole arena is yours for a couple hours.’ It was pretty incredible.”

What was it like to reunite with each other nearly 25 years after D3: The Mighty Ducks?

DOHERTY: “We were all watching the World Series at Elden’s spot and we were all laughing at the fact that it was as if no time had passed. It’s like we’re the smallest little high school and it was a reunion. To me, my favourite time being up there was just hanging with the crew and we did so much of that. It’s like [we are] family.”

LARUSSO: “We don’t really need ice breakers after all the time we spent together at those ages. You know, we get around each other and it’s like, nothing. Everyone just sits down and relaxes and it’s like…”

MOREAU: “Exactly the same. But we had to quarantine for two weeks [before filming]. And I think that [Vincent], you pointed it out to me that if we hadn’t had that mandatory two weeks, you would have come in, shot your three days and gone home. The fact that we had to quarantine and then there was this magical week where we didn’t have to shoot, but we had all quarantined and we couldn’t go anywhere so thank God there was the World Series going on. Then after we went to shoot, I was like ‘Are we going out?’ And everyone was like ‘Marg, we just had like a 16 hour day. Are you insane?’”

ELDEN: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Steve Brill [the series’ Writer/Producer], Disney+ and everyone for the free vacation in Vancouver [Everyone laughs]. Seriously, it was amazing! We had a whole week off and we all just hung out!”

How do you feel about bringing the legacy of The Mighty Ducks film franchise to a new audience?

ELDEN: “I felt very lucky and humbled that they asked me to come back and it feels great to be a part of [the show]. You know, you kind of feel a little pressure – it’s the new generation now and all the new kids are fantastic. They are such great actors and such great kids. So it was nice to just have a front row seat and see it.”

LARUSSO: “This is sprouting up now and that I think there’s so much recognition for how good the show is and how great the kids are. But there’s simultaneous recognition with what it’s being rebooted from. Which makes me feel a lot of pride.”

MOREAU: “It’s a real treat for us to be invited. [There’s] a lot of childhood memories that we get to revisit, which is not normal. So it feels really special.”

DOHERTY: “And just how needed and timely it all is, to have a story like this be in our world right now. We got to play a tiny part in it. It brings a lot of joy, and it talks about overcoming being discarded and underrepresented. To me, it’s the underdog story that will always live and to be a part of that is pretty humbling.”

WONG: “For me, I’ve spent so many years away from it that I had no idea how much of an impact all three of the movies had on kids [at] any age. And now, a bunch of new kids get to experience the same thing and all the new kids in the show get to experience [what] we all did when we were young doing the movies. Now they’re going to grow up being a part of this great thing Steve has created…Steve’s done a great job rebuilding the world and trying to include us all in it.”

What was it like working and reconnecting with Emilio Estevez (Coach Gordon Bombay) again?

ELDEN: “Emilio very much in real life was like Gordon was to Fulton. He had such a positive impact on my life and I still strive to be like him on set. It was great to revisit that and be able to tell him that.”

GARETTE: “He was such a positive influence on us as kids and to get to reconnect with him as an adult, to confirm all those feelings that we had and see someone living up to that image…it was really satisfying. We’ve gotten to see each other [in this group] over the years but I’ve not seen him since the premiere of D3. So to get to see him again and get on the ice and skate around was really satisfying.”

MOREAU: “I think I was more nervous around him than you guys were. To meet him as an adult was so much easier. Also I think Ducks was my first movie and now having worked for many more years, it’s like set was so much more fun. Not just in the social time I was having with all the guys on set, but whenever they turned the camera on, I was always like ‘I’ll cheer!’ when I was in the first films. Now, I felt like I could have a lot more fun actually connecting with the other characters in a more complex way, and that included having real conversations with Emilio. I asked him ‘Do we seem different now that we’re adults? Is that tripping you out?’ And he’s like ‘No, not at all. You’re exactly the same’.”

WONG: “I think I remember him saying the thing that amazed him the most was just thinking that we are actually older than he was doing the first movies now. And that really got to him.”

DOHERTY: “He is a lot like Gordon. He changed my life. He stands for something always. He treats everybody the same. That’s a rare thing. He is what he pretends to be on the screen and that just taught me in terms of character and how to conduct myself. To be able to share that with him as an adult…was a powerful moment.”

THE MIGHTY DUCKS: GAME CHANGERS streams now on Disney+.
“Spirit of the Ducks” premieres on Friday, April 30, 2021.

Justin Theroux and his Uncle, Paul Theroux team-up to tell a story, personal to their family in THE MOSQUITO COAST! See this brand-new Featurette.

Synopsis:

From award-winning novelist Neil Cross, and based on the best-selling book by Paul Theroux which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, “The Mosquito Coast” is a gripping adventure and layered character drama following the dangerous journey of a radical idealist and brilliant inventor, Allie Fox (played by Justin Theroux), who uproots his family for Mexico when they suddenly find themselves on the run from the US government.

The seven-episode first season is created for television and executive produced by Neil Cross. Also executive producing are Rupert Wyatt, who directs the first two episodes, author Paul Theroux, star Justin Theroux and Edward L. McDonnell. Alan Gasmer, Peter Jaysen and Bob Bookman also serve as executive producers for Veritas Entertainment Group. Developed by Neil Cross and Tom Bissell, “The Mosquito Coast” is a Fremantle Production for Apple TV+.

THE MOSQUITO COAST debuts on Apple TV+ Friday, April 30, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)

Michael Douglas is back in Season 3 of THE KOMINSKY METHOD. See this new Trailer for the season which arrives in May.

Netflix release THE KOMINSKY METHOD Season 3 Friday, May 28, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

By George Kozera

Infrequently, I’ve watched a Documentary then wonder why in the world was it even made. MOLECULES is one of those. Marketed as a son investigating his failed relationship with his father while in lockdown in Venice, it includes numerous scenes that lead nowhere and spews platitudes like “is there anything you can see in the invisible” on the soundtrack that had me scratching my head so intensely that I will never develop dandruff. Other than the remarkable scenes of Venice emptied of people on the streets and boats on the canals, I can think of no reason to see this.

By George Kozera

ALL-IN follows Hakim and Ismail, both from small villages, as they work the summer months at a luxury, all-inclusive resort on the Turkish Riviera. Ismael is younger, always smiling, willing to learn new skills and highly productive. Hakim is more introspective, somewhat surly and lax with rules, regulations and management. The two develop a lovely friendship and it was interesting to watch how two distinctly people react to different scenarios, especially when it comes to customer service. Yes, there are “Karens” worldwide!

There are perhaps too many scenes with Hakim spewing philosophical and too few scenes where we really get know more about what makes Ismail tick and one winds up ultimately feeling uninvolved and not totally invested in this movie.