#FIRSTLOOK: DEVERY JACOBS AND HUMBERLY GONZALEZ TO BE HONOURED AT FUTURE OF FILM SHOWCASE (FOFS) 2025 | PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

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).

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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.

#INTERVIEW: “GHOSTING WITH LUKE HUTCHIE AND MATTHEW FINLAN” SEASON TWO

CBC and Blue Ant Studios’ GHOSTING WITH LUKE HUTCHIE AND MATTHEW FINLAN is back for its second season, dropping March 21, 2025 only on CBC GEM and CBC‘s YouTube Channel!

This time around our charismatic hosts Hutchie and Finlan go cross-country, uncovering humorously whether Canada’s most notoriously spooky spots are in fact, haunted! So many celebrity guests including Percy Hynes White, Nikki Roumel, Humberly González, Priyanka, and several more!

This season’s haunts include:

The Caribou Hotel with Joel Oulette (Carcross, YT) – Star of Trickster, Joel Oulette fully understands the meaning of everything is not what it seems. From the caribou gold rush, to mysterious deaths, and now the ghosts of talking birds, Joel will step into one of Canada’s most historic, and haunted, buildings with Luke and Matthew in hopes of finally getting answers to hundred-year-old questions at the Caribou Hotel in Carcross, Yukon.

The Tuckett Mansion with Priyanka (Hamilton, ON) – Canada’s Drag Race Winner to pop music royalty, Priyanka is a force to be reckoned with. Visiting a mansion originally built for the founder of a tobacco empire and later turned into the home of a freemason brotherhood, Priyanka will use her own empire building skills to investigate alongside Luke and Matthew the mysterious legacy of Tuckett Mansion in Hamilton, Ontario.

The Bell Island Mines with Veronika Slowikowska (Bell Island, NL) – From shadows to portals, Veronika Slowikowska has truly been to space and back in her career. The Davey and Jonesie’s Locker actress and global comedy sensation, will need to forget all she knows about being above ground as she ventures four hundred meters into the earth with Luke and Matthew to explore one of the country’s most hidden and haunted landmarks, the Bell Island Mines on Bell Island, Newfoundland.

Craigdarroch Castle with Percy Hynes White (Victoria, BC) – Stepping into Canada’s most haunted castle, Percy Hynes White is more than familiar with things that go bump in the night. Between evil monsters and ghostly storylines in Wednesday, Percy will step into the dark with Luke and Matthew to investigate the infamous haunting of Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, British Columbia.

Lunenburg Academy with Nikki Roumel (Lunenburg NS) – Teen drama and a little bit of danger is no stranger to Ginny & Georgia’s Nikki Roumel. A Victorian school built on what was once the town’s gallows hill, this paranormal hotspot is filled with the spirits of those executed there, and more. As Nikki steps back into class with Luke and Matthew, they will explore one of Canada’s oldest schools, in one of the country’s first settlements, Lunenburg Academy in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.

Fulford Place with Humberly González (Brockville, ON) – Horoscopes read and deadly fortunes told, Tarot’s Humberly González has more than enough fictional experience with the occult. In a house built for one of the wealthiest families in Canada at the time, Humberly will join Luke and Matthew as they investigate the tales of deceit, scandal, and witchcraft at Canada’s very own seance house, historically known as Fulford Place in Brockville, Ontario.

Fort Henry with Jordan Connor (Kingston, ON) – Constantly in battle from being on the wrong side of the tracks in Riverdale, Jordan Connor will have to go back to war for the night as he steps into one of Canada’s most historic landmarks. A military fort filled with tragedy and rage, Jordan will march right into the investigation with Luke and Matthew as they investigate the hauntings of Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario.

Kawartha Settlers’ Village with Krista Nazaire (Bobcaygeon, ON) – Solving mysteries is second nature to Hardy Boys’ Krista Nazaire, but can her fictional skills help her uncover the truth of a real life crime. Dead farmers, possessed bears, and a murderous gay love triangle bring Krista, Luke, and Matthew to investigate one of Canada’s most historically preserved pioneer villages, Kawartha Settlers’ Village in Bobcaygeon, Ontario.

A Sesaon Two Premiere of the Series was held at HOT DOCS TED ROGERS Cinema and even some of Season 1’s alumni came out to show support! We chat with Hutchie, Finlan, plus guest stars Humberly González, Percy Hynes White, Priyanka, Nikki Roumel, and more! We chat about how their experiences on this Series changed how they perceive the paranormal.

Highlights below:

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#SPOTTED: HUMBERLY GONZALEZ, KACEY ROHL & OLATUNDE OSUNSANMI IN TORONTO FOR “STAR TREK: SECTION 31”

So awesome celebrating STAR TREK: SECTION 31 in the very City it was made, TORONTO! This latest entry into the beloved STAR TREK universe gives us a feature film, which arrives next week on Paramount+!

A big bash was held in support of the film starring Michelle Yeoh, who reprises her role as Philippa Georgiou. Here, she confronts her past actions and love as she teams with Section 31 to protect the United Federation of Planets.

Director Olatunde Osunsanmi along with stars Kacey Rohl and Humberly Gonzalez, came out and graced us with their presence at a special screening, hosted by Hotel X. They spoke at a Q&A following the film, before staying behind to meet attendees including fans, influencers and media at a reception.

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STAR TREK: SECTION 31 arrives January 24, 2025 on Paramount+.

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#FIRSTLOOK: “STAR TREK: SECTION 31” OFFICIALLY IN PRODUCTION

Paramount+ today announced that production has begun in Toronto on STAR TREK: SECTION 31, an original movie event starring Academy Award® winner Michelle Yeoh. In STAR TREK: SECTION 31, Yeoh will reprise her fan-favorite role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou – a character she played in STAR TREK: DISCOVERY’s first season – who joins a secret division of Starfleet. Tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, she also must face the sins of her past.

In addition, it was announced that Omari Hardwick (Power), Vancouver born Kacey Rohl (Hannibal), Emmy® winner Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso), Sven Ruygrok (One Piece), Robert Kazinsky (Pacific Rim), Canadian Humberly Gonzalez (Ginny & Georgia) and James Hiroyuki Liao (Barry) have joined the cast of the original movie event.

Hardwick is best known for his lead role of James ‘Ghost’ St. Patrick in the hit series Power, which earned him critical acclaim and back-to-back Image Awards (NAACP) for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. Following his success in Power, Hardwick starred opposite Jennifer Lopez in the thriller The Mother. Hardwick also starred in the limited series Pieces of Her and Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead. Next, Hardwick will star in Xeno, from Kevin Hart’s Heartbeat production company. In addition to acting, Hardwick founded the film and production company Bravelife in 2010. A talented actor, Hardwick also is a poet and musical artist; his debut album “Concrete & Whiskey” is on the horizon.

Rohl’s first on-screen appearance was in 2010 in the reboot of the series V. She’s best known for her role of Abigail Hobbs in Hannibal and as Sterling Fitch in The Killing. She played Prudence in the 2011 Warner Bros feature Red Riding Hood, opposite Amanda Seyfried, and portrayed Kerry Campbell in Wayward Pines, Alena in Arrow and Marina in The Magicians. After starring in the series Fortunate Son, she led the cast of the Toronto Film Festival’s buzzy White Lie, which garnered her a spot among TIFF’s Rising Stars platform in 2019.

Richardson is best known for his standout role as Richard Splett on Veep. He most recently earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, winning his first Emmy for his role in Ted Lasso. His diverse career includes starring in The Afterparty, Hocus Pocus 2 and Velma and voicing Uncle Brill in DreamWorks’ Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken. His notable filmography includes Good Boys, Game Over Man, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Neighbors 2, Senior Year, The Tomorrow War, Werewolves Within, Superintelligence, Detroiters, and Office Christmas Party. On television, he’s been seen in The Office, New Girl, Arrested Development and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Richardson is an alumnus of Second City Chicago MainStage.

Ruygrok is a dynamic South African actor who is well-known for his role as Rambo in the Spud film franchise alongside John Cleese, Troye Sivan and Caspar Lee. His other films include City of Violence, The Empty Man, Bring It On and Inside Man: Most Wanted. His most recent works include lead roles in The Good Life and Breathing In (in post-production), and he can be seen as Cabaji in the hit TV series One Piece.

Kazinsky can be seen in the Russo Brothers-directed film The Gray Man, starring Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas, and in the drama Second Chance. He starred opposite Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson in Captain Marvel; opposite Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara in Hot Pursuit, directed by Anne Fletcher; and opposite Alexander Skarsgård and Paul Rudd in Mute for director Duncan Jones and Liberty Films. Kazinsky also appeared in the feature Warcraft for Jones. Previously, Kazinsky starred in Guillermo del Toro’s film Pacific Rim, opposite Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba, and was the mysterious love interest to Anna Paquin in True Blood.

Gonzalez next will play a lead in the feature Horrorscope. She stars in the new Star Wars video game Star Wars: Outlaws, stars in the hit series Ginny & Georgia and was recently seen in Jupiter’s Legacy. She starred in Nobody, opposite Bob Odenkirk and Connie Nielson; Slumberland, opposite Jason Momoa; and the indie A Hundred Lies. She played the lead role in the mini-series Utopia Falls and recurred on the series Nurses. Last year, Humberly played the fan-favorite role of Vanessa on the series In the Dark. Her previous credits include Orphan Black, Saving Hope, Workin’ Moms and The Detail. Humberly is a graduate of the prestigious CFC Conservatory program in Toronto and the National Theatre School in Montreal.

Liao, a Juilliard-trained character actor, is known for his roles as Edmond Ku in the award-winning series The Dropout and Albert Nguyen in the Emmy-winning series Barry. He is set to appear in the upcoming limited series Presumed Innocent and the first season of Orphan Black: Echoes and continues his recurring role of Lt. Fleming in the new season of Blue Bloods. Liao’s recent credits include Cowboy Bebop, opposite John Cho, and Paramount Pictures’ Snake Eyes with Henry Golding. Other notable roles include Michael Pak in the film Lost Girls and voicing Toshiaki in Tim Burton’s animated film Frankenweenie. Liao has a diverse range; he’s tackled everything from battling aliens in Battle Los Angeles to displaying his comedic skills in Management with Jennifer Aniston, Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn. His television presence includes recurring roles in Paramount+’s SEAL TEAM, Prison Break, CSI and 24, along with guest appearances on shows like Manifest, Iron Fist and Law & Order.

Written by Craig Sweeny and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, STAR TREK: SECTION 31 is executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, Craig Sweeny, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth and Michelle Yeoh and is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.

STAR TREK: SECTION 31 will be available to stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and in all international markets where the service is available. The movie is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

#SPOTTED: HUMBERLY GONZALEZ & ROMI SHRAITER AT ONSCREEN/BACKSTAGE

The talented Humberly Gonzalez (the “H” is silent) made an appearance tonight at ONSCREEN/BACKSTAGE, an event put-on by the Femme Fatale Film Festival celebrating local female Filmmakers, BIPOC Filmmakers and the work of marginalized Creators. The event took place at charming Annex haunt BAMPOT HOUSE OF TEA & BOARD GAMES, an intimate affair with Short Films like REVERENCE by Teaunna Gray was shown. The Documentary centers on an anti-slavery convention that had taken place at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Hall in the 1850s.

See the Short Film here:

Gonzalez is based now in Toronto by way of Montreal, born in Venezuela. Things are taking off very-quickly for the disarming Actress. She starred as Sophie Sanchez in popular Netflix Series GINNY & GEORGIA, which is wrapping-up its second season soon. She also will star in FALLEN ANGELS MURDER CLUB, a series of TV Movies starring Toni Braxton coming April 2, 2022 and the following week April 9, 2022 to Lifetime in the U.S. The Movies will be airing at a later date on CTV Drama in Canada. This is a huge year for her as she stars in Toronto-set STAY THE NIGHT which just premiered at SXSW earlier this month, and she stars alongside Jason Momoa in Francis Lawrence’s Slumberland, coming soon as well!

It warms our heart we got to meet this amazing and lovely young woman. And yes, we cannot wait any more for the second season of GINNY & GEORGIA, which hopefully will be out later this year seeing that it has a Holiday arc, hopefully in-time for a release around then.

But above this, Romi Shraiter, who also starred in the first season of GINNY & GEORGIA as Samantha, also was at the event! What a treat!

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