Toronto’s Little Italy is back with its annual Taste of Little Italy festival, running June 13 to 15, 2025 along College Street between Bathurst and Shaw, which will be closed to vehicle traffic all weekend to make way for pedestrians, patios, and live entertainment.

This year’s lineup features four distinct voices of the district: Ficoa, serving bold contemporary Latin bites like crispy potato tacos and PEI oysters; Radici Project, blending Italian and Japanese flavours with a focused four-course tasting menu and festival-exclusive snacks; Tondou Ramen, dishing out classic Japanese fried chicken and refreshments under pop-up tents; and Suite 115, the renowned cocktail bar, offering sharp cocktails and small plates without reservations.

Reservations are recommended for Ficoa and Radici Project and Tondou Ramen. Suite 115 operates on a walk-in basis only.

FICOA
585 College St, Toronto, ON
@ficoa.to

This year for Taste of Little Italy, Ficoa brings bold Neo-Latin flavours to the street with a vibrant takeout menu that captures the restaurant’s signature warmth and creativity. Highlights include a refreshing haddock ceviche, crispy potato flautas with cotija cheese, and half a dozen PEI Malpeque oysters served with your choice of piri piri, cocktail sauce, or mignonette. Pair it with the Cantarito — a bright, citrusy mix of watermelon, pineapple, lemon, chamoy, and grapefruit soda. Ficoa will also be serving brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Take-out menu

Ceviche
Haddock, pico de gallo, mixed chips

Guacamole
Pico de gallo, cucumber, mixed chips

Tacos
4 pc crispy potato flautas, salsa verde, cotija cheese, crema

Oysters
Half dozen PEI Malpeque oysters, piri piri sauce, cocktail sauce or mignonette

Cantarito
Watermelon, pineapple, lemon, chamoy, and grapefruit soda

Brunch Menu

Eggs benny – $20
Poached eggs, chipotle hollandaise, sourdough

Avocado toast – $16
Creamy avocado on toast, topped with sweet corn, radish, crumbled queso cotija, and served with salad

Ficoa breakfast – $20
Two eggs cooked your choice, served with chorizo, fried plantain and refried beans, served with toast or tortillas

Omelette – $18
Egg whites filled with sautéed mushrooms, spinach, and Oaxaca cheese, served with toast or tortillas

Huevos divorciados – $18
Refried beans, fried tortillas, salsa roja, salsa verde, fried eggs

Chilaquiles – $20
Crispy corn chips, queso cotija, crema, onion, cilantro, fried egg

Molletes – $16
Toast topped with chorizo + refried beans, Oaxaca cheese, and pico de gallo

Churro french toast – $16
Brioche French toast, cinnamon, dulce de leche

3LECHES pancake – $18
Fluffy pancakes soaked in a blend of three milks, strawberry compote

Empanadas – $16
Corn masa, braised short rib, queso cotija, crema

Molotes – $8
Cheese stuffed plantain, salsa tatemada, crema

Ficoa x Taste of Little Italy Weekend Schedule:

Friday: Indoor dining and takeout from 5–10 pm
Saturday:
Brunch | 10 AM–2 PM
Takeout | 12 PM–10 PM
Dinner | 5 PM–10 PM
Sunday:
Brunch | 10 AM–2 PM
Takeout | 12 PM–6:30 PM

Whether you’re dropping in for brunch, picking up takeout, or dining in for dinner, Ficoa’s vibrant flavours are sure to impress at Taste of Little Italy.

Reservations for Ficoa can be made HERE.

RADICI PROJECT
588 College St, Toronto, ON
@radici_project
Taste of Radici – $80

Radici Project offers two ways to experience its signature Italian-Japanese fusion this festival weekend. At their outdoor booth: pizza pockets filled with creative, cross-cultural flavours, Kakigori (Japanese shaved ice), and beer. Inside, guests can enjoy “Taste of Radici” — a $80 four-course tasting menu available exclusively from June 13–15.

On Sunday, Radici teams up with Izumi Sake for complimentary sake tastings and bottle sales.

Radici Project x Taste of Little Italy Weekend Schedule:

Friday:
Indoor Dining (Taste of Radici Tasting Menu) | Regular hours (5 PM–11 PM)
Outdoor | 7 PM–1 AM
Saturday:
Indoor Dining (Taste of Radici Tasting Menu) | Regular hours (5 PM-11 PM)
Outdoor | 11 AM–1 AM
Sunday:
Indoor Dining (Taste of Radici Tasting Menu) | Regular hours (5 PM–10 PM)
Outdoor | 11 AM–10 PM

Note: Indoor service is limited to the $80 four-course “Taste of Radici” menu from June 13–15. No à la carte or full tasting menu will be available.

Reservations for Radici Project can be made HERE.

TONDOU RAMEN
596 College St, Toronto, ON
@tondoutoronto

Tondou Ramen brings its signature comfort and bold flavours outdoors for Taste of Little Italy. Festival highlights include crispy Chicken Karaage alongside refreshing drinks. Known for its casual warmth and late-night energy, Tondou offers a laid-back stop for Japanese street food classics throughout the weekend.

Reservations for Tondou Ramen can be made HERE.

SUITE 115
532 College St, Toronto, ON
@suite115.to

Suite 115 is a cocktail bar with roots in one of Toronto’s favourite speakeasies, Suite 114. Opened by two of its former bartenders, the space brings the spirit of craft and inclusivity to Little Italy. For Taste of Little Italy, Suite 115 will offer $14 ready-to-drink cocktails — including the Milagro Lychee Paloma and Brugal Añejo Mojito — alongside local beer, cider, house shots, and slushies. Small plates like chicken skewers, chimichurri bites, and fried rice round out the menu.

Cocktails – $14
Milagro Lychee Paloma – 20%
Hibiscus rose–infused Milagro Tequila, fino sherry, umeshu, lychee cordial. Tropical, zesty, lightly sparkling.

Brugal Añejo Mojito – 13%
Brugal Añejo rum, Amaro Montenegro, fino sherry, mint syrup, eucalyptus tea, citrus. Cool, bright, and herbal.

Beer & Cider
Wellington Helles Lager – 4.5% | $5
German-style lager. Crisp, light, with balanced malt and noble hops.

Wellington Special Pale Ale – 4.5% | $8
English-style pale ale. Copper colour, biscuit and caramel malt, citrus hop finish.

Pommies Farmhouse Dry Cider – 6% | $8
Dry, medium-bodied cider. Ontario apples, effervescent, notes of tart apple, dried fruit, and spice.
Hard Seltzer & Non-Alc

Bangarang Tropical Bellini – 5% | $8
Peach, pineapple, mango. 100 cal, 1g sugar. Clean, fruity, easy-drinking.

Cascade Sparkling Hop Water – 0% | $4
No alcohol, no calories. Ontario Cascade hops with citrus and grapefruit character.

Extras
Jäger & House Shooter – $4
House Shots – $7
Red Bull Slushie – $5
Snacks
Chicken Skewers – $13
Chimichurri Bites – $16
Fried Rice
Small – $10 | Large – $16

Suite 115 is first come, first served and does not take reservations.
— —
About Ficoa
Founded by Patricia Toro, Ficoa is inspired by the comfort of family meals and a deep love for nourishing, flavourful food. Named after her childhood neighborhood in Ambato, Ecuador, Ficoa offers Neo-Latin cuisine made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Rooted in sustainability and heartfelt hospitality, Ficoa is a place where wellness, tradition, and warmth come together.

Regular Hours
Wednesday to Saturday
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

About Radici Project
Radici is a contemporary Italian-Japanese restaurant located in Toronto’s Little Italy. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Chef Emiliano Del Frate and Kayo Ito, Radici offers Italian-Japanese cuisine through a seasonally evolving menu rooted in sustainable practices and the use of Canadian ingredients. The restaurant features a dual-concept layout, with a casual à la carte natural wine bar at the front and an intimate chef’s table experience at the back. With thoughtful sake and wine pairings and a serene, locally inspired space, Radici brings a new kind of storytelling to Toronto’s dining scene.

Regular Hours
Wednesday – Thursday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Sunday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Monday – Tuesday: Closed

About Tondou Ramen
Named after one of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s busiest trading ports—now part of Okinawa—Tondou Ramen draws from the region’s history of cultural exchange. The restaurant brings a taste of Okinawa to Toronto and Hamilton with comforting bowls of ramen served in a casual, welcoming space.

Tondou focuses on good food, community, and connection—just like the port it’s named after. It’s a place to gather, eat well, and enjoy honest flavours rooted in tradition.

Regular Dine-In Hours
Monday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Kitchen last call: 30 minutes before close
Regular Takeout Hours
Sunday – Friday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Saturday: 12:00 PM – 1:30 AM

About Suite 115
Tucked away in downtown Toronto, Suite 115 is a cocktail bar with a story. Rooted in a passion for craft and curiosity, it’s a space where both cocktail newcomers and seasoned drinkers are welcomed with equal enthusiasm.

At Suite 115, the guest’s palate leads the way. Every cocktail is an opportunity to explore, guided by a commitment to creativity, humility, and genuine hospitality.

Regular Hours
Open nightly: 5:30 PM – 2:00 AM
No Reservations

Toronto got a huge a surprise following a special Advance Screening of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, the live-action version of the beloved animated film that became a Franchise. Director Dean DeBlois made an appearance following the screening participating in a Q&A for the eagerly-awaited film. The Sheridan College alumni also is know for having written LILO & STITCH, which also is seeing a huge resurgence in popularity too with its live-action adaptation.

Though unpublicized, Jay Baruchel, who starred in the animated films, also came out to show support in the audience!

DeBlois told the audience a few interesting tidbits:

•A sequel to this first live-action film already is in the works
•Cate Blanchett is actively being sought; she voiced Valka Haddock in the animated films
•DeBlois got to keep Gerard Butler‘s sword as a keepsake after filming wrapped

Universal Pictures Canada release HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON in theatres June 13, 2025.

(Photo credit: Justin Waldman/Mr. Will Wong/Universal Pictures Canada)

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC), with support from Presenting Program Partner Bell Media and Program Partner Blink49 Studios, is pleased to announce the new Comedy Series Lab, a full time professional comedy writing and series development initiative dedicated to fostering the next wave of Canadian talent. This ​high impact program​ balances the collaborative comedy story room work with the nurturing of individual creative voices and development of original new ​content that is ready ​for the marketplace. Applications can be made here.

Building off the CFC’s previously acclaimed Prime Time TV model, the Comedy Series Lab will offer four emerging to mid-level Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized writers in Canada with the opportunity to be immersed in a professional comedy writing room while developing a new series under the mentorship of a top Comedy Showrunner, establish strong collaborative relationships, and build confidence in their story room skills. This Lab will also see each writer develop their own original comedy series pilot, deliver on a produced TV teaser to promote their voice and series, and gain a greater understanding of the new creative tools and business considerations in this fast changing content landscape. The Comedy Series Lab will run from October 2025 to March 2026 and applications are now open here.

“We’re proud to offer this incredible opportunity for exciting, authentic comedy writers/creators to deepen their skills and expand their career opportunities through the Comedy Series Lab,” said maxine bailey, Executive Director, Canadian Film Centre. “We’re delighted to have Bell Media and Blink49 Studios on board as partners; together we’ll help usher a new wave of talent into the pantheon of legendary Canadian comedy creators.”

“We’re excited to team up with Bell Media and the CFC for the launch of this year’s Comedy Series Lab and support the next wave of comedic talent in Canada,” said John Morayniss, CEO, Blink49 Studios. “This partnership is a key part of our strategy to build a robust comedy pipeline across North America, following our recent acquisition of Pier 21 Films and our strategic investment in the digital comedy production studio, Stapleview. It reflects our shared commitment to bold, original storytelling that connects with audiences both at home and globally.”

“Supporting emerging comedic talent is at the heart of Bell Media’s mission to deliver innovative and engaging content,” said Justin Stockman, VP, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. “Building on our existing partnerships with Blink49 Studios and the CFC, this new collaboration on the Comedy Series Lab allows us to invest directly in the next generation of creators who will shape the future of Canadian comedy. We’re proud to be part of this exciting journey and look forward to the bold, original stories that will come to life through this program.”

For more information, visit cfccreates.com.

About The CFC:
The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) is a charitable cultural organization that drives the future of Canadian storytelling. Our intensive, hands-on programs in film, television, and entertainment technologies empower, shape and advance opportunities for Canadian creators and entrepreneurs working in screen-based industries. Learn more at cfccreates.com.

About Blink49 Studios:
Blink49 Studios is a full-service independent studio developing, producing, and monetizing premium scripted and unscripted content for global audiences. Headquartered in Toronto with offices in Los Angeles and Vancouver, the company was launched in partnership with anchor investor and strategic partner FIFTH SEASON. With strategic investments in Front Street Pictures, as well as the recent acquisition of Pier21 Films, Blink49 has expanded its vertically integrated operations across Canada and the U.S. The studio’s content-first approach is driven by strong creative partnerships and a commitment to championing new and diverse voices.

Named Playback’s Producer of the Year (2024) and Dealmaker of the Year (2022), Blink49’s slate includes scripted hits like Wild Cards (CBC/The CW), Sight Unseen (CTV/The CW), The Trades (Crave), Late Bloomer (Crave) and Don’t Even (Crave/APTN), alongside unscripted titles such as Queen of the Castle (CTV Life), Beast Games (Prime Video), The Braxtons, and Toya & Reginae (We TV). Library series include Ride (The CW), Run the Burbs (CBC, The CW, Hulu) and The Beaverton (CTV).

THE HOBBY: TALES FROM THE TABLETOP is about to hit theatres across Canada. The Film follows the fandom and love of board gaming. To celebrate the release – in select theatres June 20, 2025 – the Film is going on tour with the following stops:

June 17 – Board Game Night at Snakes and Lattes College in Toronto

June 18 – Press & Q&A Screening at the TIFF Lightbox in Toronto

June 19 – Board Game Night at The Hexagon Board Game Cafe in Edmonton

June 20 – Press & Q&A Screening at the Metro Cinema in Edmonton

June 21 – Board Game Night at Pizzeria Ludica in Vancouver

June 22 – Press & Q&A Screening at The Rio Theatre in Vancouver

Synopsis: Are games the meaning of life? The Hobby: Tales From The Tabletop is a funny, affectionate, character-driven portrait of the surprisingly massive subculture of modern board games, featuring a fascinating and diverse group of subjects who find deep meaning in “meaningless” pursuits.

Trailer:

In addition to premiering in Toronto, Edmonton & Vancouver, it is opening across the country in independent theatres in a staggered release. Theatrical bookings are available here: https://www.route504pr.com/the-hobby

Prime Video has officially confirmed the production of a third season of the hit series Maxton Hall – The World Between Us. Season 3 will continue the story of Ruby and James, based on Save Us — the third book in Mona Kasten’s bestselling trilogy, published by LYX. Damian Hardung and Harriet Herbig-Matten will once again play the leading roles. As with the previous seasons, UFA Fiction is responsible for production.

Fans can already look forward to the second season, which will be available exclusively on Prime Video from November 7th. The recently launched teaser trailer promises great emotions and dramatic twists and turns, and offering hints about the developments surrounding Ruby and James.

Maxton Hall – The World Between Us Season 2:

Those who fly high can also fall low… After their passionate night together in Oxford and her greatest life goal within reach, everything seems to be going perfectly for Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten). But a stroke of fate in James’ (Damian Hardung) family changes everything and James himself, of all people, brings her back from cloud nine to a harsh reality. Ruby is devastated. She has never had such strong feelings for anyone as she does for James – and never before has anyone hurt her so deeply. She wants her old life back, where no one at Maxton Hall knew her yet and she wasn’t part of the elitist world of her classmates. But she can’t forget James – especially since he’s doing everything, he can to win her back.

In addition to Damian Hardung and Harriet Herbig-Matten, Sonja Weißer as Lydia, Ben Felipe as Cyril, Fedja van Huêt as Mortimer, Runa Greiner as Ember, Justus Riesner as Alistair, Andrea Guo as Lin, Frederic Balonier as Kieran, and Eli Riccardi as Elaine return to the cast of the second season.

Martin Schreier (Traumfabrik) once again directs the second season of Maxton Hall – The World Between Us. Producers of the upcoming season include Markus Brunnemann and Ceylan Yildirim, who also acts as head writer of the series. In addition to Yildirim, Juliana Lima Dehne and Marlene Melchior are also involved as screenwriters on the series. Valentin Debler is once again the producer for UFA Fiction. The series is supported by the German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF).

Future of Film Showcase (FOFS), Canada’s premiere festival celebrating emerging Canadian Filmmakers, proudly celebrates its 12th year by honouring two of Canada’s brightest stars: Devery Jacobs and Humberly González. Jacobs, an award-winning actress, writer, director, and producer, will receive the festival’s inaugural Trailblazer Award for her groundbreaking work and advocacy in the industry. González, a dynamic Canadian-Venezuelan actress, is the recipient of the Rising Star Award, which recognizes artists who inspire and empower the next generation of filmmakers.

Taking place June 19-22, 2025, at the Paradise Theatre and other venues across Toronto, FOFS continues to spotlight Canada’s emerging talent with an exciting slate of feature and short film screenings, industry workshops, keynote and panel discussions, a director development incubator, after-parties, and more. Tickets to select programming are on-sale now at fofs.ca.

New in 2025, the Trailblazer Award honours inspirational figures who are making waves in the film industry while creating space for emerging filmmakers to follow. Recipients are selected based on artistic impact, innovation and meaningful contributions to equity and representation. Jacobs is best known for her starring role as “Elora Danan” in the Emmy-nominated series Reservation Dogs, for which she earned two Critics’ Choice Award nominations for Best Actress in a Comedy Series and a Gotham Award nomination for Outstanding Performance in a New Series. Other notable credits include Marvel’s Echo and What If…?, American Gods and Backspot. A proud voice from Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory, she uses her platform to advocate for Indigenous and LGBTQ2S+ communities.

The Rising Star Award celebrates filmmakers in the early stages of their careers who innovate, champion inclusive storytelling, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers. González stars in the upcoming Netflix series The Waterfront (premiering June 19) and reprises her role as “Sophie Sanchez” in Season 3 of Ginny & Georgia, launching June 5. She was nominated for 2025 BAFTA Game Award for Performer in a Leading Role for Star Wars Outlaws.

The Rising Star Award was introduced in 2024 and previously awarded to Sara Waisglass and Avan
Jogia. Jacobs and González will be honoured live on stage during the festival’s Closing Keynote
Conversation on Sunday, June 22 at 5:30pm at Paradise Theatre, with a livestream available on
FOFS’ Instagram @futurefilmshow.

PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

Now in its 12th year, FOFS returns June 19-22, 2025 at the Paradise Theatre and other venues around
Toronto. Tickets are now available at fofs.ca.

2025 Feature Film Program

SPECIAL FEATURE PRESENTATION

Friday, June 20 at 8pm
Rien De Mal, Samuel Plante | Toronto | Drama | Toronto Premiere
After a shocking revelation turns Andrea’s life upside down and tests the bond with her younger
sister Claire, they embark together on a strange scavenger hunt – searching for hidden truths, and a
way back to each other. Based on true events. Trailer.

Short films preceding the feature presentation:

HAIR!, Sara Jade Alfaro | Oshawa | Comedy
A casual afternoon of ritualistic body hair removal between three witchy Iranian matriarchs unleashes a
classic Middle Eastern emotional purge, while marking the chaotic coming-of-age for twelve year old
Nora.

How To Bury Your Father, Ammar Keshodia | Toronto | Drama | World Premiere
A young man returns home and spends the night trying to fulfill his father’s dying wish for a proper Islamic burial.

CENTREPIECE FEATURE

Sunday, June 22 at 3pm
Cherub, Devin Shears | St. John’s | Drama | Toronto Premiere
A gentle character study of Harvey – a straight, fat man who decides to submit a photograph of himself to
a gay magazine for ‘big men and their admirers’.

Short film preceding the feature presentation:

Hello Stranger, Amélie Hardy | Montreal | Documentary
Between loads of laundry at the corner laundromat, Cooper shares the tumultuous story of her gender
reassignment journey.

CLOSING NIGHT FEATURE

Sunday, June 22 at 7:30pm
Fortescue, Rebecca Love | Toronto | Drama | Toronto Premiere
A quiet reflection on womanhood, psychosis and friendship, Fortescue begins capturing the whimsical
and platonic love that exists between two old friends, as they eat, tan and play on the sunny shores of an
old worldly summer cottage. When a boyfriend arrives on the scene, for them all to perform an age old
fairy tale for the neighbouring cottagers, one of the friends descends into a frightening trance, sharing the pains of living shackled to a dated ideal of womanhood.

Short film preceding the feature presentation:
Roots that Reach Toward the Sky, Jess X. Snow | Philadelphia | Drama
After her mother’s traditional Chinese medicine shop is vandalized, a young botanist draws on the
resilience of her local community and the healing remedies of her ancestors to contend with her deepest
anxieties. Snow was recently named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film.

SHORTS PROGRAMMING

OPENING NIGHT SHORTS PROGRAMME

Thursday, June 19 at 7:30 pm
MISSING, MJ Tremblay | Montreal | Experimental | World Premiere
Missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.
MJ Tremblay’s experimental short film Missing, about missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, will have its world premiere at Future of Film Showcase on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

Eid, Rame Ibrahim | Vancouver | Drama | Canadian Premiere
Two women are not able to visit their sons’ graves due to them being buried in different countries.
Inspired by the true story of Abdelaziz Ibrahim, an artist for the Palestinian Liberation Organization, who
was killed by an Israeli airstrike.

Avancer masque, Laurence Olivier | Vancouver | Documentary, Experimental | Ontario Premiere
On a freezing night, in an isolated village, masked figures prowl. The monsters lurk by the houses, knock
on doors. You let these strangers into your home. They remain silent. They observe you.

Aski, la mère de tous (Aski, The Mother of All), Amélie Courtois | Mashteuiatsh | Documentary |
Ontario Premiere
A poetic film inspired by nature and what it ofers us: colours and softness. A tribute to Mother Earth, this
film takes the time to look at the little details of the forest.

Things Behind the Sun, Giran Findlay | Toronto | Drama | Toronto Premiere
A week in the life of a teenage tennis player, struggling to balance practice with his home life as an
important tournament approaches.

Abgad Hawaz, Robin Riad | Toronto | Experimental
Robin Riad’s short hand-drawn analogue film ostensibly teaches the pronunciation of the Arabic alphabet
in 28 easy steps. In actuality, the hand-drawn letters were printed using a laser jet printer onto the optical
soundtrack of 16mm film, and what you hear in the film is the projector reading the letters, and
interpreting them into sound. Riad uses humour to play with and sit with her mother tongue, offering a
‘false’ lesson in pronunciation.

Greenhorn, Sabrina Way | Toronto | Drama
While at a dinner party with friends, 20-something masculine presenting Logan receives a phone call that
her estranged Father has been in a car accident. With encouragement from her Mother, Logan decides to
travel back to her rural hometown to care for him.

welima’q, Shalan Joudry | L’sitkuk – Bear River First Nation | Documentary
Witness a sweetgrass landscape on the shores of Mi’kma’ki. Between the salt water and forest line, a
family weaves themselves within these grasses. It is the sweet scent that draws them in, and ultimately
goes home with them. Still, this earth breathes and bends, continuing on after us.

One Day This Kid, Alexander Farah | Vancouver | Drama
One day this kid will feel something stir in his heart and throat and mouth. One day this kid will reach a
point where he senses a division that isn’t mathematical. One day this kid will talk.

Después del silencio, Matilde-Luna Perotti | Montreal | Documentary
A filmmaker returns to her grandmother after six years of silence to confront the family taboo: the sexual
assault she suffered.

The opening shorts program joins the previously announced short films HAIR! (Sara Jade Alfaro,
Oshawa, Comedy); How to Bury Your Father (Ammar Keshodia, Toronto, Drama, World Premiere);
Hello Stranger (Amélie Hardy, Montreal, Documentary) and Roots that Reach Toward the Sky (Jess X.
Snow, Philadelphia, Drama), which will screen as part of the feature film presentations.

ADDITIONAL 2025 FOFS PROGRAMMING

INDUSTRY PROGRAMMING
FOFS also presents an extensive lineup of industry programming that offers valuable development
opportunities through workshops, panel discussions and one-on-one mentorship, directed towards
fostering the future of emerging Canadian filmmakers. For industry programming and more information,
visit fofs.ca.

FOFS AWARDS
FOFS also presents seven awards to featured filmmakers in the Opening Night Shorts Programme: Best
Film, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Picture Editing, Best Director, Best Screenplay and
People’s Choice. Award winners are selected by the FOFS 2025 Jury, with the People’s Choice Award
determined by audience vote. The award-winning films will be announced on June 22 and will stream for
free across Canada on CBC Gem beginning June 24, 2025.

This year’s jury consists of: Jason Anderson (Lead Programmer for Canada, Toronto International Film
Festival), Carolyn Mauricette (Director of Canadian Programming, Fantasia International Film Festival),
Maxwell Paparella (Assistant Editor, Notebook, MUBI), Angelica Stirpe (Producer, BOLDLY), Jake
Burling (Production Executive, Elevation Pictures) and Antoine Bourges (Director, Fail to Appear).

DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT INCUBATOR

FOFS is pleased to present the second annual Director Development Incubator – a six-week
mentorship program for emerging filmmakers that culminates with a live pitch competition, co-presented by POV Film, on Saturday, June 21 at Archipelago Productions, 213 Sterling Rd.

This year’s six finalists – A.C. Birch (Bear Night), JoAnne Fishburn (Fish Boy), Gulzar (Skin to
Skin), Noor Gaith (One Way to Kurdistan), Michael Petruzzelli (It Comes in Waves), and Marlee
Sansom (Tell Me About My Mother) – will participate in weekly mentorship sessions with industry
professionals. They include workshops on how to direct actors, pitching, budgeting and financing,
framing, blocking + visual storytelling, and more.

At the end of the program, each filmmaker will pitch their short film production idea to a panel of
judges, followed by five minutes of constructive feedback. Judges will evaluate pitches based on
creativity and originality, strength of the proposed team, budget, timeline, potential impact, and
overall viability.

One filmmaker will be awarded a grand prize valued at $55,000 – including $5,000 in cash and
$50,000 in-kind services – to support the development of their short film. The winning project will also
be screened at a future FOFS Festival.

Future of Film Showcase can be found on Instagram, X and Facebook at @FutureFilmShow and FOFS2025.

Future of Film Showcase is supported by the Government of Canada, City of Toronto, Ontario Arts
Council, DGC Ontario, Shotdeck and the Indigenous Screen Office.

ABOUT FUTURE OF FILM SHOWCASE
The Future of Film Showcase (FOFS) is a Canadian not-for-profit media arts organization presenting
works from emerging Canadian Filmmakers, while at a crucial stage in their emergence as an artist
and storyteller, as well as elevating work by women, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and other emerging
creatives from traditionally marginalized communities. FOFS fosters the future of Canadian film by
providing burgeoning artists and filmmakers with professional development opportunities, as well as
a national platform through an annual film festival.

Paramount+ released the official trailer for season three of its hit original series STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS. The new season will premiere with two episodes on Thursday, July 17 on Paramount+ in Canada. The series will also stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and in international markets where the service is available. Following the premiere, new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale on Thursday, September 11. Paramount+ previously announced the series has also been renewed for a fourth season, which is currently in production.

In season three, when we reconnect with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, still under the command of Captain Pike, they face the conclusion of season two’s harrowing encounter with the Gorn. But new life and civilizations await, including a villain that will test our characters’ grit and resolve. An exciting twist on classic Star Trek, season three takes characters both new and beloved to new heights, and dives into thrilling adventures of faith, duty, romance, comedy, and mystery, with varying genres never before seen on any other Star Trek.

The series is produced by CBS Studios, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment and stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun and Martin Quinn, along with guest stars Rhys Darby, Patton Oswalt, Cillian O’Sullivan, Canadian Melanie Scrofano and Carol Kane, plus special guest star Paul Wesley.

Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers serve as co-showrunners. Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers, Aaron Baiers, Dana Horgan, Alan McElroy, Robbie Thompson, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Chris Fisher, Anson Mount, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers.

STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS is available to stream on Paramount + in Canada and is available to stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the U.K., Latin America, Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Japan. It streams on SkyShowtime in the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Central and Eastern Europe. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

The STAR TREK franchise on Paramount+ also includes STAR TREK: SECTION 31, the original movie with Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh, and the new original series STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY. All seasons of the animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS; the award-winning original series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, starring Sonequa Martin-Green; and the critically acclaimed original series STAR TREK: PICARD, starring Patrick Stewart reprising the iconic role of Jean-Luc Picard, are also available to stream.

About Paramount+

Paramount+ is a global digital subscription video streaming service from Paramount that features a mountain of premium entertainment for audiences of all ages. Internationally, the streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME®, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel™, in addition to a robust offering of premier local content. The service is currently live in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Caribbean, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latin America, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.

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

About CBS Studios

CBS Studios is one of the world’s leading producers of entertainment programming, with dozens of globally popular series for broadcast and streaming. The Studio’s expansive portfolio includes a diverse slate of commercially successful and critically acclaimed programming which includes genre-defining franchises such as NCIS and the STAR TREK universe, fan-favorite comedies such as THE NEIGHBORHOOD and GHOSTS, the newly reimagined MATLOCK, and buzzy international co-productions such as COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS and upcoming KING & CONQUEROR.

Check out an exciting new trailer and image for Marvel Television’s “Ironheart,” launching exclusively on Disney+ on June 24, 2025. Says Dominique Thorne, who stars as young, genius inventor Riri Williams, “What was interesting for me was how different Riri’s story and entrance into the MCU was in comparison to other characters. After bringing Riri to life in the world of Wakanda, we had an amazing opportunity to follow that up with a deep dive into the character that allows for the exploration of her origin story. We’re not necessarily going back in time; it’s more of catching up and seeing the effects of how those first pivotal moments of her life have shaped her, and seeing the person that she’s trying to become.”

Set after the events of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Marvel Television’s “Ironheart” pits technology against magic when Riri Williams (Thorne), determined to make her mark on the world, returns to her hometown of Chicago. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins aka “The Hood” (Anthony Ramos).The series also stars Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam and Anji White. Chinaka Hodge is head writer; episodes are directed by Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes. Executive producers include Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Zoie Nagelhout, Chinaka Hodge, Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler. Produced in association with Proximity Media.

SINGING BACK THE BUFFALO, from Award-Winning Documentarian Tasha Hubbard (seen above with Jason Ryle), wins the Documentary Feature Award, in honour of Alanis Obomsawin, at imagineNATIVE25.

Awards:
GEMFest 25: Winner Best Documentary
GEMFest 25: Winner Best Direction
Ely Film Festival 25: Audience Choice and Independent Spirit Award
Invermere Film Festival 25: Audience Award
DOXA 2024 Winner Nigel Moore Award – Special Jury Mention
Hot Docs 24: Nominee Audience Award
Hot Docs 24: Nominee Land Sky Sea Award
CIFF 2024 Winner Audience Choice Award
CIFF: 2024 Winner Honourable Mention
AMPIA 24: 2024 Winner Rosie
Indies 24: Nominee Outstanding Cinematography

Singing Back the Buffalo, the documentary from award-winning Cree filmmaker Tasha Hubbard (nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, Birth of a Family), has won the Documentary Feature Award, in honour of Alanis Obomsawin at imagineNATIVE25. With support from TVO, this award recognizes an outstanding documentary feature-length film with a $5,000 cash prize.

Richly visualised and deeply uplifting, Singing Back the Buffalo, an epic reimagining of North America through the lens of buffalo consciousness and a potent dream of what is within our grasp, follows Indigenous visionaries and communities who are rematriating the buffalo to the lands they once defined.

“I want to acknowledge the incredible documentary filmmakers at imagineNATIVE, and also all the brilliant documentaries that have moved audiences at this festival for the past 25 years. I started coming in 2000 and I have been deeply inspired by everyone’s films, including those of Alanis. Thank you to the festival and the jury for this honour. I want to acknowledge also the two mentors who are the reason I am here, Doug Cuthand and the late Gil Cardinal. I didn’t know this could be my career, and I am grateful for their belief in me from the start.

Indigenous documentaries can be unflinching, heart-breaking, and incandescently brave in the face of colonial injustice and environmental degradation. And as my teachers tell me, we also need to find hope and joy, the incredible beauty that we all carry within us and the love we have for our lands and more than human relatives.

Thank you to the Buffalo People, both in human and animal form. Thank you to my producers, Jason Ryle, Bonnie Thompson and George Hupka, our trusting funders, our dedicated crew. And thank you to the young people in my life who remind me why we all do this work,” said Hubbard.

Singing Back the Buffalo is written and directed by Hubbard and produced by Hubbard, Jason Ryle (Amplify), George Hupka (nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, Obmin, On the Edge), associate produced by Marie-Eve Marchand (Iniskim), and executive produced by Bonnie Thompson (The Secret Society, nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up). Available on CBC Gem as part of the Nature of Things and the feature version will be on APTN later in 2025. Canadian distribution is handled by Cinema Politica.

Hubbard (Cree) is an award-winning filmmaker, a buffalo academic and buffalo activist. Together with Blackfoot Elder Leroy Little Bear, Hubbard weaves an intimate story of humanity’s connections to buffalo and meticulously reveals how their return to the Great Plains can indeed usher in a new era of sustainability and balance. On her journey spanning eight years, Hubbard explores the challenges faced by buffalo allies and shares the positive steps already taken towards the ultimate – but uncertain – goal of buffalo rematriation. After their dark recent history of almost extinction, and in this time of immense environmental degradation and global uncertainty, the buffalo can lead us to a better tomorrow.

Singing Back the Buffalo is produced in association with CBC and APTN and produced with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Indigenous Screen Office and Telefilm Canada, with the assistance of the Government of Alberta, the participation of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and Rogers Documentary Fund, as well as fiscal sponsorship provided by Redford Center.

ABOUT THE TEAM
Dr. Tasha Hubbard, Writer/Director/Producer: Dr. Tasha Hubbard is a filmmaker and an associate professor in the Faculty of Native Studies/Department of English and Film at the University of Alberta. She is from Peepeekisis First Nation in Treaty Four Territory and has ties to several First Nations in Treaty Six Territory through her father. She is also the mother of a seventeen-year-old son. Her academic research supports Indigenous efforts to return the buffalo to the lands, as well as Indigenous narrative sovereignty in North America. She has been working to support the Buffalo Treaty since 2015 and is one of the founding directors of the International Buffalo Relations Institute. Her first solo writing/directing project Two Worlds Colliding, about Saskatoon’s infamous Starlight Tours, premiered at ImagineNATIVE in 2004 and won the Canada Award at the Gemini Awards in 2005. In 2017, she directed an NFB-produced feature documentary called Birth of a Family about a 60s Scoop family coming together for the first time during a holiday in Banff. Her last film was nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, an exploration of the impact of the death of Colten Boushie that premiered in the spring of 2019. It was the first Indigenous-directed film to open the Hot Docs International Film Festival while winning Best Canadian Feature. It also won the Colin Low Award for the top Canadian film at the DOXA International Film Festival and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Feature Documentary in 2020. Hubbard was awarded the DGC Discovery award in 2019.

Jason Ryle, Producer: Jason Ryle is a producer, programmer, curator, story editor, and arts consultant based in Toronto. Through his mother, he is Anishinaabe and a member of Lake St. Martin First Nation, Manitoba. Jason was the Executive Director of imagineNATIVE from July 2010 to June 2020. In addition to Singing Back the Buffalo, Jason has produced the docuseries Amplify for APTN and several award-winning shorts. In February 2021, Jason received the Clyde Gilmour Award from the Toronto Film Critics Association. The award is bestowed to Canadians whose work has in some way enriched the understanding and appreciation of film in their native country. Jason is also the International Programmer, Indigenous Cinema for TIFF.

George Hupka, DOP, Producer: George is a freelance Director and DP, who has worked with Tasha for over 25 years. They formed Downstream Documentary Productions to make nîpawistamâsowin and continue to bring Indigenous stories to the screen. As a cinematographer, Hupka has shot projects around the world for the UK’s Windfall Films, documentary features and shorts for the National Film Board, and many award-winning projects for CBC, CTV, and TSN. He directed and produced Obmin, a documentary about the Soviet Union before the fall of the Berlin Wall as seen through the eyes of Canadian exchange students and was the producer and DP of the Rogers series On the Edge. His short film about photographer and artist Lesia Maruschak, The Diggers, was recently screened at Landskrona Foto Festival in Sweden.

Bonnie Thompson, Executive Producer: Bonnie is a veteran and independent Canadian media producer of documentary, animation, and interactive projects. She worked as a producer with the National Film Board of Canada for many years, and now works independently. Her numerous feature and short documentary, animation, and interactive productions have been screened by national and international broadcasters and streamers (CBC, The Doc Channel, SuperChannel, APTN, PBS, NHK, Netflix, Apple), in festivals around the world (TIFF, Hot Docs, IDFA, Berlin, Sundance, Annecy) and on the web, with numerous awards and nominations, including Canadian Screen nominations and awards, an Oscar and Emmy nomination, and Webby awards. She was awarded the prestigious Don Haig Award at Hot Docs 2023.

Pluto TV in Canada announced today it will air Culture’s Biggest Night, “BET Awards” 2025 Hosted by Kevin Hart, LIVE tonight on Monday, June 9, at 8 PM ET/PT on Pluto TV’s MTV Biggest Pop Channel. The program features entertainment legends Mariah Carey, the best-selling female artist of all time, Jamie Foxx, the Oscar, Grammy, Golden Globe, and BAFTA-winning entertainer, Kirk Franklin, gospel superstar and 20-time Grammy Award winner, and Snoop Dogg, the iconic rapper, producer, and entrepreneur will all be honoured with the BET Ultimate Icon Award, celebrating their decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact.

Mariah Carey is an author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, producer, and multiple award- winning artist and songwriter. She is the best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles (18 of which are self-penned) – more than any solo artist in history. With her distinct five-octave vocal range, prolific songwriting, and producing talent, Carey is truly the template of the modern pop performance. The GRAMMY® Award winner recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her iconic, multi-platinum 10th album, The Emancipation of Mimi. The 7x platinum #1 album includes her hits like “Don’t Forget About Us,” “Circles,” “Say Somethin’,” “Your Girl,” and “We Belong Together.”

Jamie Foxx is an award-winning actor, singer, and comedian. Foxx most recently starred in Back in Action opposite Cameron Diaz. The film has reached top 10 most popular of all time for Netflix. Additionally, his highly anticipated Netflix special, What Had Happened Was… debuted at #1 on the platform last December. Foxx has turned his magnetic personality and unparalleled comedic instinct into a multimedia empire under his Foxxhole Productions banner with projects including Number One on the Call Sheet, a two-part documentary film event celebrating the groundbreaking Black artists of Hollywood, ALERT: Missing Persons Unit for Fox, plus unscripted projects Beat Shazam, with his daughter, Corinne Foxx, and We Are Family, with hosts Anthony Anderson and his mother, Doris.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Kirk Franklin is a 20-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, songwriter, producer, and music icon. For over three decades, he has been a transformative force in contemporary Gospel Music, masterfully blending Gospel, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop to create a unique, enduring sound that resonates across generations. Known as one of the most impactful and innovative figures in modern music, Franklin continues to expand the reach of Gospel Music, redefining its place in mainstream culture.

An entertainment industry mogul, Snoop Dogg has reigned for nearly three decades as an unparalleled force, consistently raising the bar as a globally recognized innovator. Snoop is a multi-platinum rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, DJ, media personality, businessman, and icon. Over the course of his storied music career, Snoop has released 21 studio albums, sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, reached #1 countless times on Billboard charts internationally, and received 20 Grammy Award nominations. In 2025, Snoop Dogg was recognized among the 100 Most Influential People by TIME Magazine.

Previous Ultimate Icon Award recipients include Janet Jackson (2015), Deborah L. Lee (2018), and Tyler Perry (2019).

As previously announced, Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti, and Leon Thomas will perform at “BET Awards” 2025.

Kendrick Lamar leads “BET Awards” 2025 nominations with ten, Doechii, Drake, Future and GloRilla are tied with six nominations, Metro Boomin earned five nominations, and SZA and The Weeknd are tied with four nominations each.

BET also previously announced that it will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the legendary music video countdown show 106 & Park with a must-see tribute. Beloved former hosts AJ Calloway, Free Marie Wright, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Rocsi Diaz, and Terrence J will reunite on stage for a nostalgic celebration. The tribute will feature timeline-shattering performances from previous host and Mr. 106 & Park, Bow Wow, Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya, T.I., and more, bringing back the culture-defining energy, music, and moments of the history-making franchise.

Expect more exciting announcements, including more iconic performers in our star-studded lineup. Culture’s Biggest Week returns with BET Experience 2025 (BETX), two days of immersive fan-focused events on Thursday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, ahead of “BET Awards” 2025.

About Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, producer, and multiple award-winning artist and songwriter. She is the best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles (18 of which are self-penned) – more than any solo artist in history. With her distinct five-octave vocal range, prolific songwriting, and producing talent, Carey is truly the template of the modern pop performance. Mariah is also an inductee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has been recognized with multiple Grammy Awards, numerous American Music Awards, three Guinness World Record titles, both Billboard’s “Artist of the Decade” and “Icon” awards, the World Music Award for “World’s Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium,” the Ivor Novello Award for “PRS for Music Special International Award,” and BMI’s “Icon Award” for her outstanding achievements in songwriting, to name a few.

Carey’s cultural impact has transcended the music industry to leave an indelible imprint upon the world at large. In 2009, Carey was recognized with the Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival for her critically acclaimed role in Lee Daniels’ “Precious.” A Congressional Award recipient, Carey has selflessly donated her time and energy to a range of philanthropic causes near to her heart, including Save the Music, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, World Hunger Relief, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, among many others. A tremendous supporter of children’s charities, both domestic and international, Carey founded Camp Mariah in partnership with the Fresh Air Fund, a retreat for inner city children to explore career development. In 2020, Mariah’s riveting memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey was recognized as a New York Times #1 bestseller upon release.

About Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx is an award-winning actor, singer, and comedian.

Foxx most recently starred in Back in Action opposite Cameron Diaz and the film has reached top 10 most popular of all time for Netflix. Additionally, his highly anticipated Netflix special, What Had Happened Was… debuted on the platform on December 10, 2024, to #1.

Foxx currently executive produces and hosts Beat Shazam on Fox alongside his daughter, Corinne Foxx who serves as co-host and deejay. Expanding his relationship with Fox – he recently announced an overall partnership with Fox Entertainment Studios to produce scripted and unscripted TV projects through his production company, Foxxhole Productions with his producing partner, Datari Turner. He executive produces Alert: Missing Persons Unit, and We Are Family with hosts, Anthony Anderson & his mother, Doris.

Foxx and Datari produced an unprecedented two-part documentary film event celebrating the groundbreaking Black artists of Hollywood called Number One on the Call Sheet which debuted on Apple TV+ on March 28, 2025. They additionally recently produced a riveting documentary about the life of music legend, Luther Vandross, that just premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival called Luther: Never Too Much for Sony Music Entertainment.

He also appeared in The Burial (nominated for a NAACP Image Award) opposite Tommy Lee Jones which premiered at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival and is now streaming globally on Prime Video. He recently lent his voice to the raucous comedy, Strays for Universal opposite Will Ferrell which played in theaters August 2023. In 2021, he voiced the lead role of the Oscar-winning animated film, Soul for Disney/ Pixar.

Jamie executive produced and starred in several Netflix projects, including They Cloned Tyrone, for which he was nominated for both a Gotham Award and NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance, and Day Shift, opposite Dave Franco.

In December 2021, Foxx reprised his fan favorite role of ‘Electro’ in Spider-Man: No Way Home which made $1.9B at the global box office. In 2020, Foxx won “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture” at the NAACP Image Awards and received a SAG Award nomination for “Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role” for his riveting performance in Just Mercy for Warner Bros.

Additionally, Foxx’s memoir, Act Like You Got Some Sense, is currently available everywhere books are sold.

About Kirk Franklin
Music Icon, Innovator, and 20-Time GRAMMY® Award Winner Kirk Franklin is a 20-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, songwriter, producer, and music icon. For over three decades, he has been a transformative force in contemporary Gospel Music, masterfully blending Gospel, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop to create a unique and enduring sound that resonates across generations. Known as one of the most impactful and innovative figures in modern music, Franklin continues to expand the reach of Gospel Music, redefining its place in mainstream culture.

In October 2023, Franklin released his latest solo album, Father’s Day (Fo Yo Soul/RCA), which has received widespread critical and commercial acclaim. The album’s #1 hit single, “All Things,” earned Franklin his 20th GRAMMY Award at the 2024 GRAMMYs, where it won Best Gospel Performance/Song. This milestone cements Franklin’s status as the most decorated artist in Gospel Music history. Franklin’s influence extends far beyond the recording studio. He recently headlined The Reunion Tour 2.0, following its highly successful debut in 2023. This year’s tour featured a star-studded lineup of Gospel icons, including Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, The Clark Sisters, and Marvin Sapp, with special guest Kierra Sheard-Kelly.

Beyond the accolades and chart-topping success, Franklin is passionate about making Gospel Music accessible to new audiences. He works tirelessly to ensure the genre reaches greater heights through collaborations with renowned artists such as Mariah Carey, Khalid, Lil Baby, Chance the Rapper, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Michael Jackson, and Wyclef Jean. These ground-breaking partnerships have expanded Gospel’s influence, bringing its message of hope and redemption to diverse listeners worldwide. Franklin is equally committed to uplifting communities and nurturing the next generation of artists. Through his Camp Lotus, he provides aspiring musicians and singers with mentorship and resources to pursue their dreams. He also supports charitable organizations like Compassion International and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, using his platform to advocate for causes close to his heart.

In March 2023, Franklin made history by becoming the first artist to achieve 100 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Gospel Songwriters chart—a groundbreaking milestone on any Billboard songwriters’ chart. His SiriusXM channel, Kirk Franklin’s Praise, continues to bring Gospel Music to millions of listeners, while his ventures into film and television further amplify his creative vision. Franklin has executive-produced acclaimed projects like BET’s “Kingdom Business” and Lifetime’s “Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas” and “The Night Before Christmas.” In 2023, Franklin co-hosted TVOne’s dating show “The One” alongside his wife, Tammy Franklin, offering a fresh take on love and relationships.

Through his artistry, innovation, and dedication to community, Kirk Franklin remains a trailblazer whose impact transcends music. He continues to inspire millions around the world, using his platform to share a message of faith, love, and perseverance.

About Snoop Dogg
An entertainment industry mogul, Snoop Dogg has reigned for nearly three decades as an unparalleled force, consistently raising the bar as a globally recognized innovator. Snoop is a multi-platinum rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, DJ, media personality, businessman, and icon.

Over the course of his storied music career, Snoop has released 21 studio albums, sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, reached #1 countless times on Billboard charts internationally, and received 20 Grammy Award nominations.

In 2025, he was recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. That same year, Snoop and his Death Row Pictures production company entered a multi-year deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios.

Snoop will return to NBC’s four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series “The Voice” this Fall, reclaiming his red chair for Season 28.

With an incredible life story tailor made for a film treatment, Universal is currently in development on Snoop’s biopic directed by award winner Allen Hughes (“Menace II Society,” “Dead Presidents,” “The Book of Eli”). The untitled film will be written by Joe Robert Cole (“Black Panther”) and produced by Snoop, Hughes, Brian Grazer and Sara Ramaker. The film will be the first release from Death Row Pictures, the film and TV offshoot of legendary Death Row Records, which Snoop acquired in 2022 and was the home to many of his most iconic albums, including 1994’s “Doggystyle.”

Snoop was a breakout star on NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He served as one of NBC’s hosts and was seen throughout the Games attending various competitions, visiting with athletes and their friends and families, and exploring city landmarks.

His newest album “Iz it a Crime?” dropped May 2025 and is Snoop’s latest release from Death Row Records, boasting tracks by Pharrell, Battlecat and Sexyy Red, among others.

In February 2024, Snoop and Dr. Dre launched their premium spirits company with the award-winning canned cocktail, Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop and released their premium smooth, modern gin, Still G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop. They collaborated on Snoop’s 2024 album, “Missionary,” which marked the first time Dre had produced a Snoop album since his 1993 debut, Doggystyle.

In addition, Snoop teamed with Happi Co. to create his own dessert, Dr. Bombay Ice Cream. The ice cream comes in seven flavors, including Syrupy Waffle Sundaze and Rollin’ in the Dough, and is available at Walmart and all grocery retail stores around the country.

As a philanthropist, Snoop launched the Snoop Youth Football League 17 years ago that has since seen more than 40 kids make it to the NFL. As part of the SYFL, Snoop Special Stars ensures that kids with any physical, mental or developmental disabilities also participate.

Snoop has long been an entrepreneur with endeavors in tech, entertainment, lifestyle, global consumer brands and cannabis industries.

About Pluto TV

Pluto TV, a Paramount Company, is the leading free streaming television service delivering hundreds of live linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience. The Emmy ® award-winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels, in partnership with over 400 international media companies, offering a wide array of genres, languages and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids and much more. Pluto TV can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web and connected TV devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Pluto TV’s growing international footprint extends across three continents and over 35 markets.

About Paramount+

Paramount+ is a global digital subscription video streaming service from Paramount that features a mountain of premium entertainment for audiences of all ages. Internationally, the streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME®, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel™, in addition to a robust offering of premier local content. The service is currently live in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Caribbean, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latin America, South Korea, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.

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

About Bet Media Group

The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARAA; PARA), is the world’s largest media company dedicated to entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Black audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is a thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events and international. For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements, visit betpressroom.com.

About Bet Awards

“BET Awards” is one of the most-watched award shows on cable television, according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains the #1 program in cable TV history among African Americans, and it is the #1 telecast for BET every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.