#NEWMUSIC: JONATHAN BAILEY LEADS AUDIBLE’S “DRACULA”

Audible, a leading provider of spoken-word entertainment, today
announced its forthcoming adaptation of Dracula – an Audible Original that reimagines Bram
Stoker’s chilling psychological thriller as an immersive, full-cast audio experience. Releasing
across the globe, Dracula will be adapted for English, Castilian Spanish, French, German, Italian,
LATAM Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese, with each version featuring all-star local casts.

The English-language production stars Jonathan Bailey (Wicked) as Dracula, Ella Purnell
(Fallout) as Mina, Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus) as Lucy, Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes)
as Jonathan, David Jonsson (Industry) as Dr Seward, Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) as Mrs
Westenra, Johnny Flynn (Ripley) as Renfield, Francis Lovehall (A Thousand Blows) as Arthur and
Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight) as Professor Van Helsing.

Leading the international language casts as Dracula and Mina respectively are Omar Sy and
Deva Cassel (French); Riccardo Scamarcio and Benedetta Porcaroli (Italian); Matthias
Schweighöfer and Jeanne Goursaud (German); Asier Etxeandía and Claudia Salas (Castilian
Spanish); and José María de Tavira and Esmeralda Pimentel (LATAM Spanish). Each production
features a full ensemble cast.

When her fiancé vanishes in Transylvania, Mina Murray pieces together fragments of letters, diary
entries and chilling testimony to hunt the predator stalking those she loves, only to discover he’s
already hunting her. When Mina’s closest friend Lucy succumbs to his thrall, the enigmatic
Professor Van Helsing is summoned to wage war on this unfathomable threat. But it is Mina, with
her intellect, her resolve, her gift for drawing unseen lines between clues, who may hold the key
to stopping this ancient predator—if he hasn’t already found his way inside her mind.

Aurelie de Troyer, Head of Audible Content, International, said: “This is what Audible does
best,crafting immersive audio experiences that transport listeners into the heart of the story. When
Dracula whispers in your ear, when you hear his footsteps in the dark but see no reflection, that’s
when you understand why we’re the home for this story. Our production elevates the
psychological thriller at Dracula’s core, with the battle between Mina and Dracula as the heart of
it all.”

She continued, “We’ve assembled world-class casts across seven languages, from Jonathan
Bailey and Ella Purnell to Omar Sy, Riccardo Scamarcio and Matthias Schweighöfer, exceptional
international talent delivering a truly global Dracula. With director Mary Lambert at the helm and
a haunting score by Ilan Eshkeri, we’re bringing this ambitious production to life just in time for
Halloween.”

Award-winning director Mary Lambert, known for the cult horror classic Pet Sematary, makes her
audiobook directing debut with this production. Adapted by up-and-coming writer Robyn Ahern,
recipient of the Bisha K. Ali Screenwriters Fellowship, for her first lead credit and underpinned by
an original score by Ilan Eshkeri (Audible’s 1984, House of Guinness) alongside a fully immersive
soundscape, Audible’s Dracula invites you to welcome literature’s most shadowy figure into your
home. Feel the terror of being hunted. And experience the thrill of the hunt.
Audible’s Dracula launches only on Audible on:

• October 1, 2026: English, French, Italian, Castilian Spanish, LATAM Spanish
• February 9, 2027: German
• 2027 (date and cast to be announced): Brazilian Portuguese
  Dracula joins a host of critically acclaimed Audible Original adaptations including Jane Austen’s
  Pride and Prejudice and George Orwell’s 1984.

Available now to pre-order on Audible at www.audible.co.uk

Audible membership may be required.

About Audible
Audible, an Amazon company, is a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, offering
customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible.co.uk content includes more
than 900,000 audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals. Audible serves millions of members in over
180 countries with content in more than 50 languages; members download nearly 4 billion hours of
content annually and listen across a wide range of supported devices.

#NEWMUSIC: SIMPLE PLAN X SCOOBY DOO COLLAB

For decades, Scooby-Doo and Simple Plan have shared a special connection through music, television, and a loyal fan following now, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP) and internationally acclaimed pop-punk band Simple Plan are teaming up to launch a new global partnership celebrating the band’s longstanding connection with Scooby-Doo.

The collaboration will bring exclusive Scooby-Doo fan activations, exclusive merchandise, and more to select Simple Plan live shows, kicking off at the Vans Warped Tour Long Beach on July 25.

Simple Plan’s relationship with Scooby-Doo has been built over two decades through animated guest appearances alongside Mystery Inc., performing the instantly recognizable What’s New, Scooby-Doo? theme song, music featured throughout the live-action Scooby-Doo films, and the now-iconic Scooby-Doo costume moment that has become a fan-favorite tradition at the band’s live shows.

Now, WBDGCP and Simple Plan are bringing that relationship full circle, inviting fans to celebrate two beloved pop culture brands whose shared history spans music, nostalgia, humor, and unforgettable moments through exclusive merchandise, celebratory activations, and memorable live experiences.

“Simple Plan’s connection to Scooby-Doo is one of the most authentic and enduring relationships in pop culture fandom,” said Sara Berba, VP, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. “We’re excited to officially bring the two together and create new moments that celebrate the music, memories, and fun that fans have shared for more than 20 years.”

“We can still remember recording the What’s New Scooby-Doo? theme song back in Montreal in 2002. It was an honor to be part of such an iconic franchise, and we were so stoked to appear as characters in one of the episodes.

At the time, we never imagined the song would still be a staple of our setlist nearly 25 years later. Thanks to social media, it found a whole new audience, with fans sharing thousands of videos and introducing it to a new generation.

Before long, fans started showing up to our shows dressed as Scooby and the gang, and we knew we had to play it live. It’s become one of our favorite moments every night, and we’re incredibly grateful for the passion fans bring to it.

We couldn’t be more excited to take our longtime friendship with WB and the Scooby-Doo franchise to the next level and give fans even more ways to celebrate one of the greatest cartoon theme songs of all time,” said Simple Plan

Beginning at the Vans Warped Tour Long Beach, fans can take photos with Scooby-Doo and the iconic Mystery Machine in a special activation exclusive to the event. Attendees can also keep an eye out for additional surprises throughout the show. Beyond Long Beach, fans can expect even more Scooby-Doo integrations and activations at future Simple Plan live shows, along with brand-new co-branded merchandise.

What began more than 20 years ago with a theme song has grown into a one-of-a-kind partnership, bringing together generations of fans through music, nostalgia, and the enduring appeal of Scooby-Doo and Simple Plan.

#FIRSTLOOK: “DISCLOSURE DAY” DIGITAL, 4K UHD, BLU-RAY AND DVD RELEASE DATES

GET A FIRST LOOK AT AN EXCLUSIVE IN-DEPTH 50+ MINUTE LOOK AT THE MAKING OF THE FILM AND A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO SPIELBERG’S 30^TH COLLABORATION WITH COMPOSER JOHN WILLIAMS
ONLY WHEN YOU WATCH AT HOME

SYNOPSIS: If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? Now the truth belongs to seven billion people in an original event film created and directed by Steven Spielberg, from a screenplay by David Koepp, starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo.

Inspiring intrigue across global audiences, DISCLOSURE DAY can be experienced in theatres and will now debut exclusively on digital platforms starting July 21, 2026, and on 4K UHD, Blu-ray™ and DVD on August 25, 2026, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES AT PARTICIPATING RETAILERS:

ENCOUNTERING THE UNKNOWN: INSIDE DISCLOSURE DAY
Join Steven Spielberg, Emily Blunt, and the rest of the cast in this over 50-minute look at the filmmaking secrets and real-life inspirations behind the movie.
SPIELBERG & WILLIAMS: A LEGENDARY COLLABORATION
Steven Spielberg celebrates composer John Williams in a touching tribute commemorating their shared cinematic legacy.

FILMMAKERS:
Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo
Directed By: Steven Spielberg
Screenplay By: David Koepp
Produced By: Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg
Executive Producer: Adam Somner, Chris Brigham
Composer: John Williams
Directory of Photography: Janusz Kaminski
Editor: Sarah Broshar
Casting By: Cindy Tolan
Production Designer: Adam Stockhausen
Art Director: Deborah Jensen
Set Decorators: Rena DeAngelo
Costume Designer: Paul Tazewell
Story By: Steven Spielberg

TECHNICAL INFORMATION 4K ULTRA UHD:
Street Date: August 25, 2026
UPC Number: 191329289587 US / 191329289907 CDN
Disc Size: BD 66
Aspect Ratio: 16×9 1.50:1 Side Matted
Rating: PG-13 Action/violence, some bloody images and strong language
Languages/Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos for Feature, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus), French Canadian (Dolby Digital 5.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Run Time: 02:25:27

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY™:
Street Date: August 25, 2026
UPC Number: 191329289761 US / 191329289839 CDN
Layers: BD 50
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Widescreen
Rating: PG-13 Action/violence, some bloody images and strong language
Languages/Subtitles: English (SDH), French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1)
Run Time: 02:25:27

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:
Street Date: August 25, 2026
UPC Number: 191329289594 US / 191329289822 CDN
Layers: DVD 9
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.39:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: PG-13 Action/violence, some bloody images and strong language
Languages/Subtitles: English (SDH), French Canadian, Latin American Spanish
Sound: English (Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 for Bonus Content), French Canadian (Dolby Digital 5.1), Latin American Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Run Time: 02:25:27

ABOUT UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE – www.uphe.com) is a unit of Universal Film. Universal Film brings together NBCUniversal’s world-class film and television studios, unifying Universal Film (Universal Pictures, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation) and Universal Television Entertainment (Bravo, NBC Peacock, Universal Studio Group). Led by Chairman Donna Langley, the combined enterprise includes some of the industry’s most celebrated storytellers and provides seamless access to one of the world’s deepest libraries of iconic intellectual property. Together, the studios produce and distribute more than 100 films, scripted and unscripted television series, and live events annually for theatrical, broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms worldwide.

Universal Film is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies and a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. For more information, visit www.nbcuniversal.com.

#TIFF: 2026 DISCOVERY PROGRAMME

TIFF announced today the 2026 Discovery programme presented by Air France, showcasing a selection of emerging global filmmakers. Offering audiences a front-row seat to the future of cinema, this year’s lineup highlights films that pair bold creative risks with fresh perspectives. Continuing the tradition of opening the programme with an audacious genre-bender, following the breakout success of John Early’s TIFF ’25 comedy Maddie’s Secret, is the World Premiere of Stuffed. Directed and co-written by the UK’s Theo Rhys (and expanded from his 2021 short of the same name), this gloriously twisted musical stars Jodie Comer and Harry Melling in the year’s most original, hilarious, and unexpectedly heartfelt romance, where love, death, and taxidermy collide.

Additional highlights from the 2026 Discovery Official Selections are the World Premieres of David Turpin’s Ancestors, a dreamlike 1980s London-set seance exploring the legacy of the AIDS crisis; Drifter, an underdog story marking the directorial debut of Fast & Furious star Sung Kang; Ghasideh Golmakani’s Head to Head, an absurd Iranian satire on state control; Krux, writer-director Ulrike Tony Vahl’s feature length debut, a powerful and stark portrait of moral collapse, societal panic, and the consequences of being on the wrong side of history; Alexandra Pechman’s Magazine, where a young intern gets thrown into the intoxicating power dynamics of a prestigious literary magazine in New York 2011; and Tom Nicoll’s Salvation, a razor-sharp commentary on the seductive promise of online self-improvement culture. Plus, the International Premiere of Voices, a striking Motown-infused 1960s period musical from first-time filmmaker and former NFL player Deantè Gray.

Recognized for identifying the early works of generation-defining visionaries, Discovery has showcased foundational titles including Ildikó Enyedi’s My 20th Century (TIFF ’89), Alfonso Cuarón’s Love in the Time of Hysteria (TIFF ’91), Christopher Nolan’s Following (TIFF ’98), and Lav Diaz’s The Criminal of Barrio Concepcion (TIFF ’98). Recent editions have continued to champion next-gen voices, hosting the World Premieres of Dea Kulumbegashvili’s Beginning (TIFF ’20), Elegance Bratton’s The Inspection (TIFF ’22), and Durga Chew-Bose’s Bonjour Tristesse (TIFF ’24).

The 2026 Discovery Official Selection has been programmed by Jason Anderson, Kelly Boutsalis, Diana Cadavid, Robyn Citizen, Claire Diao, Giovanna Fulvi, June Kim, Peter Kuplowsky, Dorota Lech, and Jason Ryle.

2026 Discovery programme (in alphabetical order)

A Common Story | Anna Foglietta | Italy

International Premiere

Ancestors | David Turpin | Ireland, United Kingdom

World Premiere

Arne Goes to Space | Lars Vega | Sweden

World Premiere

Bedford Park | Stephanie Ahn | USA

International Premiere

Drifter | Sung Kang | USA

World Premiere

Head to Head | Ghasideh Golmakani | Iran, Germany

World Premiere

I Am Mario | Sharon Kleinberg | Mexico

International Premiere

In Waves | Phuong Mai Nguyen | France, Belgium

International Premiere

Krux | Tony Vahl | Germany, Poland

World Premiere

Magazine | Alexandra Pechman | USA

World Premiere

Memories of a Forest | Katharina Rabl | Germany, Austria

International Premiere

Nosotros | Joaquín Ruano | Guatemala, Mexico

World Premiere

Purgatory | Lindsay Lanzillotta | Canada, USA

World Premiere

Salvation | Tom Nicoll | United Kingdom

World Premiere

Seventeen | Justin Ducharme | Canada

World Premiere

Sisters | Ione Hernández | Spain

World Premiere

Strong Son | Ian Bawa | Canada

World Premiere

Stuffed | Theo Rhys | United Kingdom

World Premiere

Discovery opening film

The Daughters of Abraham | Hanaël El Yousfi | France

International Premiere

The Fortunate Isles | Helena Girón, Samuel Delgado | Spain, Greece

World Premiere

Voices | Deantè Gray | USA

International Premiere

We Are Born Good | Leung Chuen Yeung | Hong Kong

World Premiere

What Lies Between Us | Amalie Næsby Fick | Denmark

World Premiere

Zjili: A Story of Sisterhood and The Burdens of Excess | Christine Boateng, Hajara Musah Chambas | Ghana

World Premiere

The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 10–20, 2026.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “OTHER MOMMY”

Let Her Into Your Heart.

OTHER MOMMY – IN THEATRES OCTOBER 9

Can I go inside your heart?

From producer James Wan, one of the most influential architects of modern horror, and Blumhouse Atomic Monster, the studio behind Backrooms and Obsession, comes a terrifying trip from breakout genre director Rob Savage, into the darkening world of a young girl, Bela, who forms a relationship with a sinister entity in her home who looks uncannily like her own mother.

Academy Award^® winner Jessica Chastain (It Chapter Two, The Eyes of Tammy Faye) stars in dual roles as Bela’s mother and as “Other Mommy,” a manifestation of the entity. Jay Duplass (Transparent, Industry) plays Daddo, Bela’s father, and Arabella Olivia Clark (The Housemaid, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle) plays Bela. 

The impressive supporting cast includes Actor Award nominee Dichen Lachman (Severance), Emmy and Tony Award nominee Arian Moayed (Succession) and screen legend Karen Allen (Indiana Jones films).  

Other Mommy is directed by Rob Savage (Host, The Boogeyman) from a screenplay by WGA award winner Nathan Elston, writer for the Emmy-winning sensation Succession, based on the New York Times bestselling novel Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman (Bird Box).

The film is produced by James Wan, p.g.a. (Saw, Insidious and Conjuring franchises) of Blumhouse Atomic Monster, and is executive produced by Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Rob Savage, Josh Malerman and Ryan Lewis. 

Genre: Horror

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Jay Duplass, Arabella Olivia Clark, Dichen Lachman, with Arian Moayed and Karen Allen

Directed by: Rob Savage

Screenplay by: Nathan Elston, based on the novel Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Producer: James Wan, p.g.a.

Executive Producers: Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Rob Savage, Josh Malerman, Ryan Lewis

#FIRSTLOOK: “SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY” FINAL TRAILER

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY gets a new final Trailer today! See it now.

Exclusively in Movie Theatres
July 31, 2026

Genre:
Action/Adventure

Rating:
This film is rated PG-13 by The Motion Picture Association for the following reasons: sequences of action/violence and some language.

Synopsis:
It’s a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves – a powerful villain no one can even see. The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them.

Directed by:
Destin Daniel Cretton

Written by:
Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers and Justin Kuritzkes

Based on the MARVEL Comic Book by:
Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Produced by:
Kevin Feige, p.g.a.
Amy Pascal, p.g.a.
Avi Arad
Rachel O’Connor, p.g.a.

Executive Producers:
Louis D’Esposito
David Cain

Cast:
Tom Holland
Zendaya
Sadie Sink
Jacob Batalon
Jon Bernthal
Tramell Tillman
Michael Mando
and Mark Ruffalo

CREDITS NOT FINAL
MARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2026 MARVEL

#FOOD: LYLA ENTERS NEW ERA UNDER EXDCUTIVE CHEF DANIEL KIM

Lyla has appointed Daniel Kim as Executive Chef and Seungho Jeon as Sous Chef, ushering in the next evolution of the restaurant’s culinary concept. Together, the chefs are building on Lyla’s Mediterranean foundation with a more focused coastal perspective, emphasizing exceptional seafood, handmade pasta, premium ingredients and seasonality.

The new direction is an evolution rather than a reinvention. Since opening at 60 Sudbury Street, Lyla has become known for its design-forward interiors, vibrant cocktail culture and Mediterranean-rooted approach to dining.

Under Kim and Jeon’s leadership, that identity is taking on greater definition through the flavours of the Mediterranean coastline and the culinary traditions of Southern Europe.

Kim joins Lyla following roles in some of Toronto’s most celebrated kitchens, including MICHELIN-starred Osteria Giulia, Opus and MICHELIN Guide-recommended Sammarco. Jeon brings an international perspective shaped by experience at Sydney’s acclaimed Bennelong and Toronto’s The Chase.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to build a restaurant with staying power,” says Daniel van Welie, co-owner of Lyla. “Daniel and Seungho understand what makes Lyla distinctive. Their cooking is thoughtful, ingredient-driven and deeply rooted in hospitality. They are helping us move the restaurant forward in a way that feels fresh while remaining authentic to everything we have built.”

Lyla is led by hospitality veterans van Welie, the longtime owner of Cano, and Amen Habtemariam. The pair first met while working at Terroni and brought more than two decades of shared hospitality experience to the restaurant. Their approach is grounded in the belief that enduring restaurants bring together excellent food, genuine hospitality, thoughtful design and memorable guest experiences.

Reservations are available [HERE].

A New Culinary Direction

At Lyla, Kim leads a culinary program designed to make refined dining feel generous, expressive and approachable. His philosophy centres on precise technique and premium seasonal ingredients, presented with a sense of ease rather than unnecessary complexity.

“The most memorable dishes often feel effortless,” says Kim. “Our goal is to begin with exceptional ingredients, treat them with care and create food that guests genuinely want to return for. Lyla gives us the opportunity to explore the Mediterranean through a contemporary coastal lens while preserving the warmth and hospitality at the heart of the restaurant.”

Working alongside Kim, Jeon brings a similarly disciplined approach. His philosophy is that complexity belongs in the kitchen—not on the plate. Through refined technique and thoughtful execution, he creates dishes that feel balanced, elegant and immediately inviting.

Together, Kim and Jeon are shaping a menu defined by seafood, handmade pasta, seasonal produce and premium cuts from the land. Their shared approach combines technical precision with an emphasis on collaboration, consistency and warm hospitality.

The Menu
Lyla’s evolved menu moves from an expanded raw bar and shareable opening plates to handmade pasta, seafood and premium meats.

The raw bar includes rotating oysters, caviar service and cocktail shrimp, alongside more expressive preparations such as Chef’s Ceviche with cucumber and daikon ribbons, gochujang vinaigrette and crispy nori; Scallop Crudo with green apple, chili purée, almonds and dill oil; and Bluefin Tuna à Cru with citrus kosho aioli, red chili, crispy shallots and tomato gel.

Dishes designed for the table include Burrata with ossetra caviar, tomatoes, tomato water and sourdough; Scallop Ravioli with black garlic jus, cherry gel and brown-butter croutons; Octopus with Brussels sprouts, cherry gastrique and smoked tomato and kelp butter; and Steak Tartare with anchovy oil, pear gel, sous-vide egg yolk and a gochujang-Gouda crisp.

The pasta selection includes Paccheri with pork cheek, peperoncino, San Marzano rosé and pecorino; Risotto ai Funghi with shiitake mushrooms, black garlic and puffed buckwheat; Spaghettoni with uni, Hokkaido uni butter and nori pangrattato; and Tagliolini all’Aragosta with butter-poached Atlantic lobster, VSOP lobster bisque and lobster glaze.

From the sea, highlights include Japanese Striped Jack and Sea Bream with ossetra caviar beurre blanc, blood orange and ramp oil. Dishes from the land include Australian Rack of Lamb, dry-aged USDA Prime New York Striploin and a 26-ounce dry-aged USDA Prime Ribeye.

The Beverage Program
Complementing the kitchen is Lyla’s beverage program, led by Head Bartender and Bar Manager Walter Reis. Originally from Brazil, Reis brings a cocktail philosophy informed by tropical flavours, seasonal ingredients and contemporary technique.

Drawing inspiration from aperitivo culture and the flavours of the Mediterranean, the cocktail and wine program is designed to transition naturally from afternoon drinks through dinner and to pair with Kim and Jeon’s evolving menu.
Signature cocktails include Jardin di Fragola, made with Valley of Mother of God Gin, pineapple, strawberry, kiwi bitters and yuzu foam.

The beverage program is supported by a curated group of partners, including Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers, Valley of Mother of God Gin, Le Zinc Independent Cellar, Tre Amici Wines, Vertical Wines and Gibson Family Group.

The Space
Designed by internationally recognized firm HOK, Lyla’s interiors pair Mediterranean warmth with contemporary elegance. Natural textures, layered materials and intimate lighting create an atmosphere that feels elevated yet inviting.

The restaurant transitions from weekday lunch and aperitivo to dinner and weekend brunch. Guests can also dine on the refreshed seasonal patio, host private gatherings in The Gold Room or enjoy a more intimate, chef-led experience in

The Grotto.
Each setting reflects Lyla’s approach to hospitality: refined without feeling formal, vibrant without sacrificing comfort and designed to encourage guests to linger.

About Lyla
Located at 60 Sudbury Street in Toronto, Lyla is a contemporary coastal Mediterranean restaurant inspired by the culinary traditions of Southern Europe. Led by hospitality veterans Daniel van Welie and Amen Habtemariam, Lyla brings together ingredient-driven cuisine, a design-forward setting, an elevated beverage program and warm, attentive hospitality.

Under the culinary leadership of Executive Chef Daniel Kim and Sous Chef Seungho Jeon, Lyla’s evolving menu places seafood, handmade pasta, premium ingredients and seasonality at the centre of the experience. Together with Head Bartender and Bar Manager Walter Reis, the team delivers a distinctive dining experience that moves effortlessly from day to night.
Lyla offers weekday lunch and aperitivo, nightly dinner, weekend brunch and private dining, as well as a seasonal patio.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by William Wong (@mrwillwong)

Website: www.lylatoronto.com
Instagram: @lylatoronto @danielkimchef (Chef Daniel Kim) @chefseunghojeon (Chef Seungho Jeon)

Hours of Operation
Lunch: Monday–Friday | 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
Dinner: Daily | 5:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.
Brunch: Monday to Sunday | 10:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Reservations can be made [HERE].

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#SPOTTED: CONSTANCE WU, MARK O’BRIEN AND WILLIAM FICHTNER IN TORONTO FOR “THE OUTER THREAT”

Toronto got a special treat last night as first time feature Director William Woods’ THE OUTER THREAT got a red carpet advance screening at Scotiabank Theatre! In for the occasion were its three stars Constance Wu, Mark O’Brien and William Fichtner. The Sci-Fi Thriller, also written by Woods, centers on Daniel, an Astrophysicist who along with his family, are on the run after he discovers some extra-terrestrial activity, This was filmed in North Bay.

VVS Films release the film July 24, 2026 in theatres.

See the Trailer:

Highlights from the night:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by William Wong (@mrwillwong)

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films/Mr. Will Wong)

#TIFF: 2026 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PLATFORM PROGRAMME AND JURY

The Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, is announcing its 2026 Platform programme, the Festival’s only competitive section, that champions exceptional directorial vision and auteur voices. Serving as a launchpad for the awards circuit and international spotlight, Platform has launched global auteurs like Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, TIFF ’16), Darius Marder (Sound of Metal, TIFF ’19), William Oldroyd (Lady Macbeth, TIFF ’16), Sarah Gavron (Rocks, TIFF ’19), Anthony Shim (Riceboy Sleeps, TIFF ’22), and Yoon Ga-eun (The World of Love, TIFF ’25).

Now in its eleventh year, named after Jia Zhang-ke’s groundbreaking second feature, the Platform lineup has expanded to 12 films, including Theja Rio’s Angh, Amanda Kernell’s Brace Your Heart,Ferit Karahan’s Djinn Wedding, Irene Dionisio’s Idda, Nyla Innuksuk’s In the Heart of the South, Bertil Nilsson’s Masc, Gabriel Martins’ On Behalf of My Son, Lawrence Fajardo’s Silenced Nights, John Trengove’s The Smell of Apples, Yoon Dan-bi’s The World Before, andJan Holoubek’s Wild Wild East. Children Untold, from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Miwa Nishikawa (Dreams for Sale, TIFF ’12, Under the Open Sky,TIFF ’20), will open the programme at TIFF Lightbox’s state-of the-art Cinema 1, where all Platform titles will make their World Premieres.

“Platform was created to spotlight directorial voices and this year’s 12-film selection is an imaginative reflection of new auteur cinema now,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “We are honoured to welcome a jury of distinguished artists and industry leaders to inspire and support with their expertise and commitment to global cinema.”

In a major milestone for the programme, a non-English-language* winning film in TIFF’s Platform lineup will now have a direct pathway for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards, making TIFF one of only six international film festivals to qualify worldwide.

Platform selection is led by Robyn Citizen, Director of Programming. The 12 Platform titles are eligible for the Platform Award, which will be decided this year by an expanded five-member international jury. Argentinian producer, director, and writer Pablo Trapero will serve as Jury President, joining British writer and director Amma Asante, Taiwanese actor and filmmaker Sylvia Chang,French Canadian producer Luc Déry, and Hong Kong film industry executive Albert Lee. The winning filmmaker will receive a $20,000 CAD cash prize. The Platform Award will be presented on the last day of the Festival on Sunday, September 20.

2026 Platform programme (in alphabetical order) 

Angh| Theja Rio | India

World Premiere

Set in the remote jungles of Nagaland near the Indo–Burma border in the early 1960s and shot in richly textured 16mm, Angh follows Anghba, the last surviving chief of an abandoned Indigenous Naga village, who lives in isolation with his ailing wife and mute young son after being deserted by his people. 

Riois a London-based writer and director from Nagaland, India. He wrote and directed the short films Checkpost (2018), Angh (2021), Remains (2024), and Ade (On a Sunday) (2024). Angh is his feature directorial debut and an expansion of his short by the same name.

Brace Your Heart | Amanda Kernell | Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Bulgaria

World Premiere 

Kernell’s luminous third drama is a quietly devastating portrait of love, resilience, and the enduring strength of Sámi women. 

Kernellwas born in Umeå, Sweden, to a Sámi father and Swedish mother. She holds a degree from the National Film School of Denmark. Her directorial credits include the short film Stoerre Vaerie (Northern Great Mountain) (2015) and the features Sami Blood (2016), which played the Festival, and Charter (2020).

Children Untold | Miwa Nishikawa | Japan

World Premiere 

Opening film

A longtime collaborator of Hirokazu Kore-eda, Nishikawa adapted Children Untold from her own unpublished novel. It follows a 12-year-old girl who disguises herself as a boy to survive in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War in Tokyo. Featuring Ami Koyae, Fumi Nikaido, and Koji Yakusho.

Nishikawa was born in Hiroshima, Japan. Her writing and directing credits include the feature films Wild Berries (2003), Dear Doctor (2009), and the Festival Official Selections Dreams for Sale (2012) and Under the Open Sky (2020). 

Djinn Wedding | Ferit Karahan | Turkey

World Premiere

Set in a remote Anatolian village, Karahan’s Djinn Wedding is an impressive family drama that unravels family secrets and conflicts across three periods of time. Carried by a supreme cast including Demet Özdemir, Kaan Yildirim, İlhan Şen, and Sarp Bozkurt, the film swings between belief, hope, and dissolution.

Karahan was born in Muş, Turkey. His writing and directing credits include The Fall from Heaven (2013), Brother’s Keeper (2021), which won the FIPRESCI Prize at Berlinale, and The Death of Black Horses (2025).

Idda | Irene Dionisio | Italy

World Premiere 

This is Dionisio’s sophomore feature, which she co-penned alongside Marco Borromei. Idda takes an epic approach to unearthing the packed layers of a stewing friendship. When childhood friends Adele and Sofia reunite to fulfill the broken promise of climbing Mount Etna, they realize that like the mountain, old wounds loom over everything.

Dionisio was born in Torino, Italy. She is a filmmaker and visual artist whose credits include the short films Le storie che saremo (2020) and Murmur (2025). Her feature-length films include the documentaries The factory is full (2012) and Shores (2015), and the fictional feature Pawn Street (2017).

In the Heart of the South | Nyla Innuksuk | Canada

World Premiere

A surprising and exciting swerve away from Innuksuk’s 2022 debut feature Slash/Back. In the Heart of the South is what Single White Female would be if it were set in Toronto, with an Inuk protagonist and a dash of supernatural elements, starring North of North’s Anna Lambe as Yura Ivalu, the latest darling of the Toronto art world, whose virtual reality piece promises to blow your mind.

Innuksukwas born in Igloolik, Nunavut, and studied film at Toronto Metropolitan University. She co-wrote and co-produced the short film Kajutaijuq (2015), which screened at the Festival and was named to Canada’s Top Ten. Her other directorial credits include the short film Breaths (2016) and debut feature Slash/Back (2022).

Masc | Bertil Nilsson | United Kingdom

World Premiere

Nilsson’s debut feature is a tender, unflinching portrait of self-performance, identity, and learning to exist as oneself in an often prescriptive world. The film draws on the filmmaker’s experiences as a neurodivergent gay man navigating the contradictory demands of masculinity.

Nilsson is an award-winning Swedish artist and filmmaker based in London. He has directed numerous short films, including Repair (2023) and Alfie’s Island (2023), and has exhibited internationally with solo shows in the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, and the USA.

On Behalf of My Son | Gabriel Martins | Brazil

World Premiere 

Anchored by a deeply affecting performance from Rejane Faria, Martins’ moving drama follows a grieving mother seeking forgiveness from the families of a tragic bus accident, unfolding as a profoundly humane meditation on guilt and whether forgiveness is even possible.

Martins is a Brazilian writer-director and co-founder of Filmes de Plástico. His debut feature Mars One (2022) was Brazil’s selection for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards. He also directed the shorts Nada (2017), In the Heart of the World (2019), and Pelas Mãos (2021).

Silenced Nights | Lawrence Fajardo | Philippines

World Premiere

For some, staying silent is the only way to survive. Fajardo’s bleak sociopolitical drama Silenced Nights follows a witness to an extrajudicial killing in a Philippines slum as he seeks to make the truth known. The film takes a raw cinema verité approach and echoes the director’s previous works, including The Hearing. 

Fajardo is a Filipino director from Bacolod City in the Philippines. His writing and directing credits include Amok (2011), Posas (2012), and Invisible (2015), which screened at the Festival.

The Smell of Apples | John Trengove | South Africa, Netherlands, Chile

World Premiere 

In Trengove’s relentless third feature, a sheltered 11-year-old white South African boy gradually comes to realise the horrors of the apartheid system. Adapted from South African writer Mark Behr’s 1993 bestselling novel of the same name.

Trengove is an award-winning South African writer and director who holds an MFA from New York University. His features include The Wound (2017), which was South Africa’s selection for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, and Manodrome (2023).

The World Before | Yoon Dan-bi | South Korea

World Premiere 

In her second narrative feature, Dan-bi (Moving On) turns her attention from childhood to adolescence with a tender, sharply observed portrait of first love and growing up. This coming-of-age story follows two teenagers, childhood best friends, who reunite for a summer on a small rural island in Korea.

Dan-bi is a South Korean filmmaker who holds a BFA in Theatre and Film from Kookmin University. Her film credits include the short film Fireworks (2015) and the feature film Moving On (2019), which debuted in Busan and won the NETPAC and DGK Awards.

Wild Wild East | Jan Holoubek | Poland

World Premiere 

Set in occupied Poland in the middle of the Second World War, Holoubek’s tour de force is part suspenseful western, part gritty wartime noir. 

Holoubek was born in Warsaw, Poland. His directing credits include the series The Mire (2018–2024) and High Water (2024), as well as the feature 25 Years of Innocence (2020).

2026 Platform Jury:

“It is a true honour to return to Toronto as President of the Platform Jury, having had all of my films screened here over the years. TIFF has always felt like home to me. Every time I’ve come back, I’ve been warmly welcomed, and I’ve always felt that my films have found a special connection with TIFF audiences.

I’m delighted to return in this new role as a way of giving back to TIFF, to its audiences, and to the wonderful films it champions. I’m deeply grateful for everything the Festival has given me over the years, and for all that it continues to give filmmakers from around the world as one of cinema’s most important annual meeting places — a festival where audiences, artists, and extraordinary films come together year after year.” —Pablo Trapero, Platform Jury President 2026 

Pablo Trapero, Jury President 

Pablo Trapero is a producer, director, and writer whose films have premiered at the world’s leading festivals. Every one of his feature films has screened at TIFF since 1999, most recently & Sons (TIFF ’25). His debut feature, Crane World (Mundo grúa), won an International Critics’ Week award at Venice, where he received the Silver Lion for Best Director in 2015 for The Clan. Trapero has directed several high-profile television series, including Gordon, which premieres on Netflix this year. His work has been honoured by Spain’s Goya Awards, Argentina’s Sur Awards, and Mexico’s Ariel Awards, among others. Trapero was named a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France’s Ministry of Culture and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Amma Asante

Amma Asante is an award-winning writer and director. With her debut feature, A Way of Life (TIFF ’04), she became the first Black director to win a BAFTA award for writing and directing a feature film. Her acclaimed films include Belle (TIFF ’13), A United Kingdom (TIFF ’16), and Where Hands Touch (TIFF ’18). Her television credits include Mrs. America, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Smilla’s Sense of Snow. Asante is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Sylvia Chang

Sylvia Chang is a renowned actor, screenwriter, director, and producer whose career spans more than five decades and over 100 films. A multiple Hong Kong Film Award and Taipei Golden Horse Award winner, she received the Asian Film Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. She is devoted to fostering emerging talent through filmmaking and mentorship initiatives.

Luc Déry

Luc Déry founded the production company micro_scope in 2002. He has produced over 30 features, all selected by major international festivals and together earning more than 100 awards. Both Incendies (TIFF ’10) and Monsieur Lazhar (TIFF ’11) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Other notable features include Gabrielle (TIFF ’13), Tu Dors Nicole (TIFF ’14), My Salinger Year, Drunken Birds (TIFF ’21), Viking (TIFF ’22), Shepherds (TIFF ’24), and Lovely Day (TIFF ’25). 

Albert Lee

Albert Lee has served as Executive Director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society since 2018. With more than four decades of experience spanning film production, distribution, exhibition, and corporate management, he has played a significant role in Hong Kong cinema’s Golden Age, having held senior positions at Golden Harvest and Emperor Motion Pictures. Lee is a member of the China Film Association, the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, and the Producers Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 10–20, 2026.

#SPOTTED: ANSON MOUNT IN TORONTO FOR “STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS” SEASON FOUR

Star Trek fans had a reason to celebrate last night as Anson Mount, beloved for his role as Captain Christopher Pike in STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, touched down in Toronto for an exclusive Paramount+ tastemaker event at the Shangri-La Hotel ahead of the highly anticipated fourth season premiere.

Mount visited Toronto to celebrate the upcoming return of the hit original series, with the 10-episode fourth season premiering globally on Thursday, July 23, exclusively on Paramount+, followed by new episodes every Thursday through September 24.

In season four, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise—led by Captain Christopher Pike—embark on a thrilling new chapter filled with action, heart and discovery. As they journey to strange new worlds, they’ll confront inner demons and formidable new threats, encounter unforgettable allies and adversaries, reunite with familiar faces, and face terrifying new alien species—all while holding onto the optimism and hope that define the spirit of Star Trek.

Season four stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun and Martin Quinn, with guest stars Carol Kane and Paul Wesley.

Fans can stream all three previous seasons of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS now on Paramount+ globally.

Highlights:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by William Wong (@mrwillwong)

About Paramount, a Skydance Corporation

Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY) is a leading, next‑generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. The Company’s portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, CBS, CBS News, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, SHOWTIME®, Paramount+, Pluto TV, Skydance Animation, Film, Television, and Interactive/Games, and the newly established Paramount Sports Entertainment. For more information, please visit www.paramount.com.

For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlusCA on social media.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)