As part of today’s schedule launch, TIFF is announcing this year’s iconic In Conversation With… series, expanding the Festival experience beyond the screen through in-depth onstage interviews with Festival artists in front of a live audience. A Festival favourite, this year welcomes Lee Min-ho, Rachel Morrison, Chris Rock, Andrew Scott, and Hudson Williams to the stage for intimate conversations about their creative journeys, craft, and careers.

“This year’s In Conversation With… series brings together trailblazers and extraordinary storytellers for conversations that will offer audiences a deeper look at their craft and careers,” said Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF. “From Lee Min-ho, who became an icon of Korean drama long before K-dramas captured global audiences, and Rachel Morrison, the first woman nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, to multi-hyphenate Chris Rock, who has fearlessly redefined comedy, to Andrew Scott and Hudson Williams, whose groundbreaking performances have captivated audiences around the world.”

In Conversation With… Lee Min-ho

Paging all devoted Minoz (미노즈): Join us at TIFF ’26 for an exclusive event celebrating the extraordinary career of global Hallyu icon Lee Min-ho. Here in Toronto for the World Premiere of his new film, The Assassin(s), co-starring Yoo Hai-jin (Exhuma) and Park Hae-il (Decision to Leave, TIFF ’22), and directed by Hur Jin-ho (A Normal Family, TIFF ’23). For nearly two decades, Lee Min-ho has been one of the defining figures of Korean popular culture, introducing generations of global audiences to the world of K-content. His iconic portrayals of Gu Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers (2009) and Kim Tan in The Heirs (2013) helped shape the global K-drama phenomenon, while City Hunter (2011) and the historical fantasy Faith (2012) showcased his remarkable versatility, moving effortlessly between stylish action and period drama. He made a successful transition to the big screen with his first leading film role in Gangnam Blues (2015), before further cementing his global popularity as “the king of fantasy romance” through The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016) and The King: Eternal Monarch (2020), captivating audiences worldwide. Pushing the boundaries of his craft, Lee joined the acclaimed Apple TV+ series Pachinko (2022–present), earning an Independent Spirit Award alongside the ensemble cast and widespread critical recognition. Named the most popular Korean actor in the Overseas Hallyu Survey for 13 consecutive years and recipient of 13 SBS Drama Awards, the undisputed “Hallyu King” regularly sells out arenas across Asia. Now, Lee joins us for his first North American onstage appearance in over a decade to discuss his defining career journey and his highly anticipated new film, The Assassin(s).

In Conversation With… Rachel Morrison

Following the acclaimed premiere of her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside, at TIFF ’24, Academy Award–nominated cinematographer and filmmaker Rachel Morrison returns to the Festival for the World Premiere of her highly anticipated sophomore feature, Love of Your Life, a romantic drama from Amazon MGM Studios starring Margaret Qualley, Aaron Pierre, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Basso, and Catherine Keener, and produced by Ryan Gosling and Jessie Henderson. Grounded in photography and backed by formidable technical craft, Morrison has spent two decades moving seamlessly across film, television, fiction, and documentary, establishing herself as a premier visual storyteller. After gaining recognition for her haunting, arresting cinematography on indie highlights like Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station and Dee Rees’ Mudbound (TIFF ’17) — where she made history as the first woman nominated for an Oscar in cinematography — she re-teamed with Coogler to shape the visual identity of Black Panther. Morrison further honed her directorial voice on hit series like The Morning Show and The Mandalorian before bringing the story of boxing legend Claressa Shields to the screen in The Fire Inside, a film celebrated for transcending sports tropes by foregrounding the human weight of victory. Morrison joins us to discuss her remarkable journey from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts to shooting and directing award-winning indies and major studio blockbusters.

In Conversation With… Chris Rock

As he presents the TIFF ’26 World Premiere of his latest film Misty Green, Emmy and Grammy Award–winning director, writer, actor, producer, and comedian Chris Rock joins us for a conversation about his multi-faceted career in front of and behind the camera. After his breakthrough on Saturday Night Live in the early 1990s as part of an iconic cast that included Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, and David Spade, Rock re-defined the landscape of stand-up comedy with his sharp, incisive special Bring the Pain (1996). The groundbreaking set catapulted him to superstardom and earned him two Emmys. Tackling socio-political issues like race relations, class division, and the justice system with piercing fervor, Rock has crafted an indelible onstage persona over the past three decades. Beyond stand-up, his career spans Hollywood blockbusters, hit television series, and acclaimed independent filmmaking. He produced and starred in the lauded documentary Good Hair (TIFF ’09), which won the Special Jury Prize Documentary at Sundance, and later moved into the director’s chair for the deeply personal Top Five (TIFF ’14). He returns to the Festival with Misty Green, a film destined to further cement his status as one of Hollywood’s most original creative voices.

In Conversation With… Andrew Scott, presented by Redbreast

Here at TIFF ’26 with one of the standout performances of the year in Elsinore, Andrew Scott proves once and for all that he’s one of the most versatile and captivating performers of our time. While his role as the charismatic priest in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag introduced Scott to a wider audience, devoted fans had been following his work for years, including his electrifying turn as Moriarty in Sherlock, where he transformed the iconic villain into a captivating force of chaos. Scott first came to the Festival in 2014 with Matthew Warchus’ Pride, as part of an ensemble cast celebrating the history of LGBTQ+ activism in the UK, and returned most recently in 2025 as part of the acclaimed Knives Out franchise with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and Richard Linklater’s celebrated Blue Moon. Scott has emerged as one of the leading actors bringing complex queer experiences to the screen — from Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers, an intimate meditation on longing, grief, family, and memory, to his chilling transformation in Netflix’s Ripley, a dark reimagining of The Talented Mr. Ripley. In Elsinore, a film he also produced, Scott delivers a deeply personal and powerful performance as actor Ian Charleson, who in his final years summons exceptional courage to overcome immense physical challenges and deliver a defining performance of Hamlet at London’s National Theatre while living with AIDS. The conversation will explore the remarkable range of Scott’s career and celebrate this extraordinary new performance.

Making Waves With… Hudson Williams

This ICW is part of TIFF Next Wave initiatives that centre under-25 creators and audiences

Join us for an intimate conversation with Hudson Williams, one of the stars of the Primetime series YAGA from Kat Sandler. Born and raised in British Columbia, Williams spent his youth balancing the arts and sports, training in theatre, music, and dance while simultaneously playing competitive basketball and practicing mixed martial arts. After graduating from Vancouver’s Langara College Film Arts program in 2020, he continued to dive deep into his craft with professional theatre classes. Williams began navigating the Canadian film and television industry while at the same time being a disruptor by writing, directing, producing, and starring in independent short films with a close-knit circle of creative collaborators. His massive breakthrough came when he was cast as Shane Hollander in Jacob Tierney’s award-winning series Heated Rivalry, adapted from the bestselling novels by Rachel Reid. Since its debut in fall 2025, the series has become a global phenomenon, catapulting Williams to international stardom. Williams joins us to discuss his roles in the Crave Original series YAGA and Heated Rivalry, as well as the upcoming independent feature Apparatus. The conversation will explore his cinematic and cultural inspirations and reflect on the early short films, community, and collaborations that helped shape his unique artistic voice.

In Conversation With… programming is led by TIFF Public Programming.Tickets go on sale to TIFF Members by level beginning Friday, August 21, and single tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, August 31. For more details or to become a TIFF Member, visit tiff.net/join. Visit tiff.net/schedule to view the full schedule and tiff.net/films to see the full list of films. The Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 10–20, 2026.

On March 4, 2023 Netflix is turning Chris Rock’s newest, live stand-up special, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, into an entire evening of live entertainment from some of the world’s funniest comedians, with a pre-show and post-show bookending Chris Rock’s comedy event. The Show Before the Show pre-show on Saturday, March 4 at 6:30pm PT/9:30pm ET will stream live from The World Famous Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip, hosted by Ronny Chieng with Arsenio Hall, Leslie Jones, Deon Cole and more.

The show’s comedians will count down to the historic live Netflix comedy event Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, produced and directed by Joel Gallen. The half hour will include live commentary from fellow comedians and special messages from some of Rock’s friends including Amy Schumer, Cedric the Entertainer, Ice-T, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, Matthew McConaughey, Sir Paul McCartney, Sarah Silverman, Wanda Sykes, and more.

At 7pm PT/10pm ET, legendary comedian, writer, director and actor Chris Rock will be the first artist to perform a live streaming Netflix special. Immediately following, don’t move! David Spade and Dana Carvey will be hosting The Show After The Show with special guests 6x NBA Champion and 6x MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, JB Smoove, Arsenio Hall and more live from the Comedy Store wrapping up the epic night.

“March 4 will be a hilarious evening, with an incredible set from Chris Rock – one of the greatest stand-ups of all-time – and contributions from an amazing lineup of special guests,” said Robbie Praw, Netflix Vice President of Stand-up and Comedy Formats. “Our goal is to deliver the best stand-up comedy to our members and this live streaming event further reinforces all the ways we continue to invest in the genre.”

The pre and post show will be produced by Den of Thieves and directed by Joe DeMaio and executive produced by Jill Leiderman and Den of Thieves’ Jared Morell.

Selective Outrage is Rock’s second Netflix stand-up special. His first, Chris Rock: Tamborine, debuted in February 2018.

The live event builds on Netflix’s legacy of leadership in live comedy. Netflix is a Joke: The Festival was the biggest live, in-person event in Netflix history, taking place in Spring 2022. The unprecedented event sold more than 260,000 tickets, featuring more than 330 comedians performing 295 shows across more than 35 venues in Los Angeles. The festival also featured the first-ever stand-up show at Dodger Stadium.

How to watch Chris Rock: Selective Outrage on March 4

6:20pm PT/9:20pm ET: A “Watch Live” red play button will be available for members. If members click on the “Watch Live” button prior to the official start, they will be taken to a waiting room until the pre-show starts.

6:30pm PT/9:30pm ET: The Show Before the Show begins, hosted by Ronny Chieng.

7pm PT/10pm ET: Chris Rock: Selective Outrage begins.

Members will be able to rewind, pause and jump to Live.

If members join late, they can opt to “Play from the Beginning” or start watching from where the Live currently is.

If members pop out of the Live event, the title will remain under the “Continue Watching” row.

Chris Rock: Selective Outrage will also be available for streaming on Netflix following the live event.

The Show Before the Show and The Show After The Show will only be available live on March 4.

We cannot wait to see this! David O. Russell is back with AMSTERDAMN this Fall boasting a star-studded Cast. Here’s a first look at the Trailer. Really curious to see if this will launch on the Festival circuit!

Synopsis:

A fascinating and richly intricate tale that brilliantly weaves historical fact with fiction for a timely, cinematic experience, 20th Century Studios’ and New Regency’s original crime epic about three close friends who find themselves at the center of one of the most shocking secret plots in American history, will open exclusively in theatres November 4, 2022.

“Amsterdam” stars Academy Award® winner Christian Bale, two-time Oscar® nominee Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Taylor Swift, Zoe Saldaña, with Oscar-winner Rami Malek and two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro. Written and directed by five-time Oscar nominee David O. Russell, “Amsterdam” is produced by Arnon Milchan, Matthew Budman, Anthony Katagas, David O. Russell, and Christian Bale, with Yariv Milchan, Michael Schaefer, and Sam Hanson serving as executive producers.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Studios)

Lionsgate x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Premium Video-on-Demand rental of SPIRAL, the latest in the SAW franchise.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:

A criminal mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice in Spiral, the terrifying new chapter from the book of Saw. Working in the shadow of his father, an esteemed police veteran (Samuel L. Jackson), brash Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks (Chris Rock) and his rookie partner (Max Minghella) take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.

Spiral stars Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, and Samuel L. Jackson, and is produced by the original Saw team of Mark Burg and Oren Koules. The film is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Josh Stolberg & Pete Goldfinger.

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

Rules and regulations here.

SPIRAL is out on Premium Video-On-Demand June 1, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Lionsgate)

It certainly wasn’t Funnyman Chris Rock‘s first time in the City but how amazing still was it seeing him today? We were starting to get sad that we didn’t spot him with there being so many random sightings of him around town!

Rock currently is in Toronto working on the latest installment of massively-successful Horror Franchise, SAW tentatively-titled The Organ Donor. In addition to starring in this chapter, he also had a hand in developing its story! Also spotted was Co-Star Max Minghella (just here filming The Handmaid’s Tale) in action and Director Darren Bousman.

Samuel L. Jackson also is back in town and also stars, with various sightings of him around at several hotspots like Mengrai Thai, Josue’s and Byblos.

Filming wraps late August.

See some Snaps:

Chris Rock

Darren Bousman

Max Minghella

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Let’s be real. We can never have enough Celeb Selfies!  2014 was a year I’ll never forget and will forever go down as one of our most star-studded yet!  Our travels brought us to L.A. and New York, but our most exciting adventures took place here in our Hometown of Toronto!  Let’s take a walk down our star-studded memory lane to some of our fave Celeb moments of 2014!

Who were you most excited to see?  The red-hot Benedict Cumberbatch? The private Usher? The iconic Tom Cruise?  The adorable Anna Kendrick? “It Boy” Ansel Elgort?  How about “It Girl” Shailene Woodley? The incredibly-tough Reese Witherspoon? The irresistible Tom Hardy?! 

Also, we want to share with you some of our fave of the several thousand Celeb Snaps we took in 2014!  Chances are if there was a major Star in-town this year, we at some point snapped them!

2014 will go down as one of the strongest years for Cinema in recent memory, but which Movies rocked our World?  And which Singles ruled our iPod?  You’re about to find out!

Re-live some of our Fave Celeb Selfies of 2014 (click HD for better quality):

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 6:56pm PDT

TOP PHOTOS:

Tinashe, Tattoo Rock Parlour

 

R&B Sensation #Tinashe hits the stage at a packed Tattoo Rock Parlour tonight. cc: @tinashenow

 

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 12, 2014 at 10:08pm PST

Rachel McAdams at Canada’s Walk of Fame

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:00pm PDT

Ryan Reynolds + Peter Fonda at Canada’s Walk of Fame

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:00pm PDT

Tove Lo, The Phoenix

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Oct 10, 2014 at 7:55pm PDT

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 7:52pm PDT

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 6:21pm PDT

Robert Pattinson at the NKPR IT Lounge, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:55pm PDT

Channing Tatum, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 10:20am PDT

Steve Carell, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 10:19am PDT

Denzel Washington, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:45pm PDT

Felicity Jones, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:22am PDT

Kevin Costner, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 1:19am PDT

Adam Sandler, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 11:08am PDT

Robert Downey Jr., TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 8:18am PDT

Tom Hardy, TIFF ’14

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 9, 2014 at 9:28pm PDT

Ian Somerhalder, Fan Expo 2014

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 11:33am PDT

Elijah Wood, Fan Expo 2014

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 12:53pm PDT

Norman Reedus, Fan Expo 2014

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 10:29am PDT

Shawn Mendes, Universal Music Canada

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 9:31am PDT

One Direction, Where We Are Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 7:09pm PDT

5 Seconds of Summer, Summer 2014

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 8, 2014 at 6:45am PDT

Daniel Radcliffe + Zoe Kazan, The F Word Toronto Premiere

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 7, 2014 at 5:16pm PDT

Katy Perry, Prismatic World Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 7, 2014 at 8:32pm PDT

Lady Gaga, Artrave Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jul 7, 2014 at 1:13pm PDT

Charlie Sheen, Joe Carter Classic Afterparty

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 7:44pm PDT

Gordon Lightfoot, SOCAN Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 5:05pm PDT

    Missy Peregrym + Charlotte Sullivan, Shaw Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 12:24pm PDT

Charlie Barnett + Jesse Lee Soffer, Shaw Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 11:35am PDT

Stephen Amell, Bell Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 3:52pm PDT

Kirsten Vangsness, Bell Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 1:48pm PDT

    Elizabeth Henstridge, Bell Media Upfronts

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Jun 6, 2014 at 12:56pm PDT

Katie Holmes, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 11:56pm PDT

Blake + Ryan, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 11:56pm PDT

Hugh Jackman, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 11:55pm PDT

Lily Aldridge + Kate Upton, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 11:55pm PDT

Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey), Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 4:41pm PDT

Marion Cotillard, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 4:41pm PDT

Joshua Jackson + Diane Kruger, Met Gala, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 4:39pm PDT

Zac Efron, NYC

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 5, 2014 at 7:11am PDT

Iggy Azalea, The New Classic Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Apr 4, 2014 at 11:54pm PDT

Cher, D2K Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Apr 4, 2014 at 7:34pm PDT

Miley Cyrus, Bangerz Tour

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Apr 4, 2014 at 1:16am PDT

    Katheryn Winnick, Canadian Screen Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Mar 3, 2014 at 4:08pm PDT

Martin Short, Canadian Screen Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Mar 3, 2014 at 6:28pm PDT

Shay Mitchell, Canadian Screen Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Mar 3, 2014 at 3:21pm PDT

Maria Bello, David Cronenberg + Viggo Mortensen, Canadian Screen Awards

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Mar 3, 2014 at 2:43pm PDT

    Laura Vandervoort + Olivier Trevena, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Feb 2, 2014 at 6:59pm PST

Ellen Wong, Canada’s Stars of the Awards Season Gala, L.A.

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Feb 2, 2014 at 5:35pm PST

TOP FILMS:

1. WHIPLASH
2. GONE GIRL
3. NIGHTCRAWLER
4. WILD
5. BIRDMAN
6. THE IMITATION GAME
7. FOXCATCHER
8. THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
9. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
10. THE LEGO MOVIE

Perhaps under-seen, WHIPLASH is the one Film you absolutely must see this year. J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller will shatter your World with their performances! You’ll leave shaken and sobered.

TOP SINGLES

1. ALL ABOUT THAT BASS – Meghan Trainor
2. BLANK SPACE – Taylor Swift
3.  WEST COAST – Lana Del Rey
4. BOOM CLAP – Charli XCX
5. POMPEII – Bastille
6. STAY WITH ME – Sam Smith
7. SHE LOOKS SO PERFECT – 5 Seconds of Summer
8. COUNTING STARS – OneRepublic
9. SHAKE IT OFF – Taylor Swift
10. SAY SOMETHING – A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera

2014 was all about that bass for us. Meghan Trainor blew our mind with her positive message about body image. We’re sold and extremely excited for her 2015 full-length Debut.

Won’t  you join us as we embark on more exciting adventures in Entertainment 2015?  Also stay tuned for an upcoming Post where our Contributors Jonathan Godfrey, Justin Waldman, David Baldwin and George Kozera share their fave Films of 2014 too!

Happy Holidays, Willionaire$!

Photos Post-TIFF ’14 taken on Nikon D3300. Photos pre-TIFF ’14 taken on Olympus E-PL5/Samsung S4.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Everybody at TIFF ’14 was talking about TOP FIVE, seen by many as Chris Rock’s big comeback.  Paramount Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want to take Readers in Montreal and Toronto to see the Comedy directed, produced by and starring the Funnyman, before it hits theatres!  Screenings take place in Toronto on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 7:00 PM and Montreal on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 7:30 PM.

 Synopsis:

Pulsing with the rhythm of his greatest stand-up, Chris Rock’s TOP FIVE takes things to the next level, reveling in the high and the low, and blending a star-studded comedic romp with an irresistible romance. TOP FIVE digs under the surface of show business, politics, rap, and the exigencies of being black and famous today—holding it all up to the light in the way only Chris Rock can. Mingling echoes of Woody Allen and Dick Gregory with the energy of Kanye West and Jay Z, TOP FIVE is an original and radically new kind of American movie.

TOP FIVE stars Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union, J.B. Smoove, Sherri Shepherd,  Cedric the Entertainer, Kevin Hart, Jay Pharoah and several other surprise turns!

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook.Indicate for me which City you’re from. For an extra chance, share this Post from Facebook with your Friends or Re-Tweet the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/topfive @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #TOPFIVE in #Toronto + #Montreal.  Out 12/12!

Good luck, Willionaire$!

See the Trailer below:

Official Artwork:

Mr. Will + The Cast of TOP FIVE in Toronto:

Paramount Pictures Canada release TOP FIVE on Friday, December 12, 2014!

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada/Mr. Will Wong)

We’ve missed Chris Rock and it’s about time we got a proper dose! A brand new Trailer has just been released for the hilarious Comedy which sparked a bidding war at TIFF ’14 which you must see.

Synopsis:
New York City comedian-turned-film star Andre Allen (Chris Rock) has an unexpected encounter with a journalist (Rosario Dawson), forcing him to confront the comedy career—and the past—that he’s left behind.

TOP FIVE stars Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Cedric the Entertainer, Jay Pharaoh, Kevin Hart, Sherri Shepard and Tracy Morgan.

See the Trailer:

Paramount Pictures release TOP FIVE on Friday, December 5, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Celebrating the completion of an ambitious $60 million capital campaign towards the $360 million redevelopment of Toronto East General Hospital, the Laughter is the Best Medicine II Gala took place this evening at Allstream Centre. With soon-to-be-completed Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre being a primary point of focus, Stars came out to show their support for the fantastic Cause. Spotted were the likes of Comedian Gerry Dee and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Jonas Siegel, Joffrey Lupul and more.

Emceeing the Black Tie Affair a second year, Toronto Funnyman Will Arnett continues to show his commitment to the Cause, while the likes of Comedian Mario Joyner, Cancer-surviving Singer Joseph Neale and Headliner Chris Rock took to the stage.  The Party moved over to Muzik Nightclub after midnight.

Arriving shortly after 9:00 PM, Rock graced an intimate Red Carpet before entertaining the Crowd, certainly not holding back with several of his bold yet daringly-funny political observations.  Any Fan of Chris Rock would certainly have known exactly what to expect and he delivered the laughs.

Tonight’s visit actually was the Emmy and Grammy Award Winner’s second visit to the City this month.  He received tons of acclaim for his latest Film Top Five at TIFF ’14 a couple weeks back, the Comedy sparking a bidding war before ultimately Paramount Pictures secured distribution rights in North America.

Guests tonight  had the opportunity to bid on a multitude of elaborate auction items, one including a Will Arnett-signed Rob Ford Bobblehead fetching $9k. Other auctions included a trip for two to Paris with a cooking course at prestigious Le Cordon Bleu.

To learn more about the Laughter is the Best Medicine II Gala, visit here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It absolutely is our favourite time of the year again and announced this morning is the official list of Talent coming to Toronto for TIFF ’14! We look forward to seeing plenty of returning names – some just here last year like the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Kate Winslet – and also plenty of Stars from years past making their way back here once more!

Among the names attending TIFF ’14 this year include:

Jon Stewart, Martin Scorcese, Richard Gere, Andrew Garfield, Viggo Mortensen, Gael Garcia Bernal, James Franco, Jane Fonda, Chloë Moretz, Brit Marling, Laura Dern, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vanessa Redgrave, Vera Farmiga, Al Pacino, Tina Fey, Haley Joel Osment, Robert Pattinson, Ansel Elgort, Alice Eve, Sam Rockwell, Amanda Seyfried, Michael Shannon, Dax Sheppard, Robert Duvall, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Hailee Steinfield, Justin Chatwin, Method Man, Jennifer Connelly, Bobby Cannavale, Kuoth Wiel, Cassie Williams, Danny Webb, Dominic West, Jung Woo-Sung, John Boylan, Sam Worthington, Tye Sheridan, Andrew Scott, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, Connie Britton, Reese Witherspoon, Evan Bird, Zhao Wei, Han Ye-Ri, Melissa Benoist, Haley Bennett, Sonja Bennett, John Travolta, Julianne Moore, Isaach De Bankolé, Dan Stevens, Jason Bateman, Corey Stoll, Xavier Dolan, Peter Stormare, Ben Schnetzer, Abigail Spencer, Ellen Barkin, Bill Pullman, Charlotte Aubin, Kate Winslet, Ryan Reynolds, Rene Russo, Roger Waters, Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Loreto Aravena, Tobey Maguire, Aubrey Plaza, Tobey Maguire, Gemma Arterton,  Juliette Binoche, Zhang Yimou, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Rose Byrne, Channing Tatum, Chris Evans, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Mark Ruffalo, Bill Murray, Daniel Barber, Liam Aiken, Mike Leigh, Olivier Assayas, Richard LaGravenese, Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Anna Kendrick, Morgan Freeman, Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, Rosario Dawson, Chris Rock, John Cusack, Benedict Cumberbatch, Octavia Spencer, Keira Knightley, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kevin Costner, Anthony Mackie, Patricia Clarkson, J.K. Simmons, Miles Teller, Priyanka Chopra, Daniel Bruhl, Michael Winterbottom, Justin Chon, Steve Carell, Gong Li, Hayden Christensen, Tory Kittles, Jordana Brewster, Holliday Grainger, Max Irons, Lone Scherfig, Sam Claflin, Douglas Booth, Paul Bettany, Daniel Barnz, Noah Baumbach, Barry Avrich, Jennifer Aniston, Akon, Nick Kroll, Holly Hunter, Catherine Keener, Greta Gerwig, Omar Sy Jennifer Garner, Salma Hayek, Kevin Smith, Eddie Redmayne,  Felicity Jones, Faye Marsay, Bill Nighy, Justin Long, Christopher Plummer, Marton Csokas, David Cronenberg, Sarah Gadon, Tom Schilling, Tom Hardy and more!

TIFF also will be hosting a series of In-Conversations-With as part of their Mavericks Programme. Joining-in are the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Denzel Washington, Richard Gere, Juliette Binoche, Jon Stewart, Dan Savage, Julie Taymor and several more!

As is the case always, it’s sometimes not just who’s coming – it’s who they’re bringing.  Don’t be surprised if Jennifer Garner brings Husband Ben Affleck along and be warned if Andrew Garfield brings Emma Stone along!

Who’s on our list of Must-Meets?  Plenty!  We hope finally to get a positive moment with Reese Witherspoon and Kate Winslet!  Excited about Martin Scorcese, J.K. Simmons, Bobby Cannavale, Miles Teller, Corey Stoll, Tobey Maguire, Rose Byrne, Michael Douglas and newer names like Max Irons and Douglas Booth, that’s for sure.  And did we read TINA FEY!?!?  Finally!  AND WHERE IS TOM HARDY?!?!

The list is always subject to surprise and no-shows as we know all too well!

Visit the official TIFF Website for more.

TIFF ’14 runs September 3 – 14, 2014.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)