News

The Netflix comedy “North of North” has been renewed for Season 2, Variety has learned.

The series is a co-production between Netflix and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in partnership with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (Aptn). It originally premiered in Canada on Jan. 7 and on Netflix on April 10.

The official logline states, “A young Inuk woman (Anna Lambe) wants to build a new future for herself after a spontaneous — and extremely public — exit from her marriage. But it won’t be easy in a small Arctic town where everybody knows your business.”

Along with Lambe, the cast includes Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Kelly William, Zorga Qaunaq, Bailey Poching, Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds, Keira Belle Cooper, and Tanya Tagaq.

The series was created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, who both also serve as executive producers. Miranda de Pencier, Anya Adams, Susan Coyne, and Garry Campbell also executive produce.

On the heels of a successful Season 1, Canadian Arctic comedy North of North will be back for a second season at Netflix, the streamer announced today.

The critically acclaimed comedy was Netflix’s first series commissioned from Canada and is a co-production with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), in partnership with Aptn.

Created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, North of North follows Siaja (Anna Lambe), a young Inuk woman who wants to build a new future for herself after a spontaneous — and extremely public — exit from her marriage. But it won’t be easy in a small Arctic town where everybody knows your business.

Cast also includes Maika Harper (Neevee), Braeden Clarke (Kuuk), Jay Ryan (Alistair), Mary Lynn Rajskub (Helen), Kelly William (Ting), Zorga Qaunaq (Millie), Bailey Poching (Colin), Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds (Elisapee), Keira Belle Cooper (Bun) and Tanya Tagaq (Nuliajuk).

Season 1 received a rare 100% Critic Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Canadian comedyNorth of Northhas been renewed for Season 2 at Netflix, less than three weeks after the highly acclaimed series debuted on the streaming service. The first season comprised eight episodes and received unanimous praise from critics, which saw it score a rare 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and quickly establish itself as a standout on an entertainment platform that is brimming with popular movies and TV shows, so it's not surprising that Anna Lambe's arctic adventures were not put on ice for long.

Lambe, who stars in North of North as Siaja, a young Inuk mother who tries to build a new life and future for herself in the tight-knit town of Ice Cove, Nunavut, after an abrupt and extremely public exit from her marriage, celebrated the news in a video posted on Instagram (as seen below) in which she holds the script for the very first episode of Season 2 of the Netflix series,...

Today, Netflix announced that the critically acclaimed, heartfelt Arctic comedy, North of North, has been renewed for a second season.

North of North was Netflix’s first series commissioned from Canada and is a co-production with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), in partnership with Aptn.

The first season premiered to rave reviews from the press and fans alike, including a rare 100% Critic Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Star Anna Lambe said, “When I got the call from Alethea, Stacey, and Miranda about North of North being renewed for a second season, my heart exploded in the best way possible! I’m so excited and overwhelmed with joy, I can’t wait to head back to Ice Cove!”

In the eight-episode first season, a young Inuk woman wants to build a new future for herself after a spontaneous — and extremely public — exit from her marriage. But it won’t be easy in...

Netflix has announced that the thriller series Wayward has started filming in the Toronto area – and along with the start of production comes the unveiling of a couple pictures that show cast members on set! Those images can be seen in this article.

Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense), Mae Martin (The Flight Attendant), Sarah Gadon (Dracula Untold), Sydney Topliffe (Davey & Jonesie’s Locker), Alyvia Alyn Lind (Chucky), Brandon Jay McLaren (Tucker and Dale vs Evil), Patrick J. Adams (Suits), Joshua Close (The Unusuals), and Patrick Gallagher (Big Sky) star in Wayward, a thriller set in a bucolic but sinister town that explores the insidious underbelly of the “troubled teen industry” and the eternal struggle between one generation and the next.

Cast member Mae Martin is also the creator of the show and serves as co-showrunner with Ryan Scott. Martin and Scott are executive producing the series with Hannah Mackay, as...

Today, Netflix announced the start of production of Wayward, a limited series by co-showrunners Mae Martin and Ryan Scott, in the Toronto area. Euros Lyn has joined the production as executive producer and director of four episodes.

The cast includes Mae Martin, Toni Collette, Sarah Gadon, Sydney Topliffe, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Brandon Jay McLaren, Patrick J. Adams, Joshua Close, and Patrick Gallagher.

Wayward is a thriller set in a bucolic but sinister town that explores the insidious underbelly of the “troubled teen industry” and the eternal struggle between one generation and the next.

Martin is looking forward to introducing viewers to the Wayward series. “We are deep in the bizarre world of Wayward, and I am so excited to show everyone what we’ve been making — what a cast!” they told Tudum. “I hope this show ignites the rebellious teenagers that exist in all of us. And, most importantly, let...

Mary Lynn Rajskub and Jay Ryan have boarded the Netflix, CBC and Aptn comedy North of North, which has started production in Nunavut in northern Canada.

Rajskub played Chloe O’Brian on the long-running 24 drama and also starred in the comedy Night School with Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish and Mayfield Games with Mira Sorvino. Ryan is a veteran of New Zealand soaps and series like Mary Kills People and Beauty and the Beast.

Other new cast members for North of North include Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Kelly William, Zorga Qaunaq, Doreen Simmonds and Tanya Tagaq. They join the previously-announced lead Anna Lambe, who plays young Inuk mother Siaja, with Keira Cooper, a 7 year-old actress from Iqaluit, Nunavut, playing her daughter Bun.

Siaja wants to build a new future for herself, not easily done in her small Arctic town where everyone knows your business, according to a synopsis for North of North from the producers.

Netflix’s upcoming arctic comedy finally has a name and has rounded out cast, as it goes into production in snowy Nunavut, Canada.

Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril’s North of North began production today. The comedy follows a young Inuk mother (Anna Lambe) who wants to build a new future for herself, but finds it won’t be easy in her small Arctic town where everyone knows her business.

Joining Anna Lambe and Keira Cooper in the cast are Mary Lynn Rajskub, Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Kelly William, Zorga Qaunaq and Doreen Simmonds (True Detective: Night Country).

Lambe and Cooper were cast in mother-daughter roles in December, as we reported at the time.

Rajskub...

Mark Critch’s bestselling memoir provides the source material for the half-hour comedy Son of a Critch which originally premiered on Canada’s CBC back in January 2022. The CW snatched it up and will add season one to its summer primetime lineup with the release of the first two episodes on July 24, 2023 at 8pm Et/Pt. Both episodes were written by Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe and directed by Renuka Jeyapalan.

Mark Critch stars as his dad, Mike, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth plays young Mark. The cast also includes Claire Rankin as Mark’s mom, Mary, and Malcolm McDowell as Patrick “Pop” Critch. Colton Gobbo stars as Mike Jr, Mark’s brother. The season one cast also includes Sophia Powers and Mark Rivera.

Mark Critch and Tim McAuliffe created the series and executive produce along with Andrew Barnsley, and Allan Hawco.

Series Premiere Plot: Mark’s first day of sixth...

The CW has released trailers for its new series for the 2023-24 season: the AMC Studios-produced drama 61st Street; Canadian series Children Ruin Everything, Run the Burbs, Son of a Critch, The Spencer Sisters and Sullivan’s Crossing; UK series Everyone Else Burns; documentary film series I Am; reality series Fboy Island; and German eco-thriller drama series The Swarm. You can read about each and watch below.

61St Street

Produced by AMC Studios. From Peter Moffat, J. David Shanks and Outlier Society and executive producers Moffat, Shanks, Michael B. Jordan, Alana Mayo, Jeff Freilich, Hilary Salmon. The propulsive thriller courses through the dark heart of the infamous Chicago criminal justice system as police and prosecutors investigate a deadly drug bust that threatens to unravel the police department’s code of silence. Cast includes Courtney B. Vance, Aunjanue Ellis, Mark O’Brien, Holt McCallany, Tosin Cole, Andrene Ward-Hammond and Bentley Green.

Children Ruin Everything...

The CW Network has announced a partnership with CBC and Lionsgate Television to bring the acclaimed comedy series, Son of a Critch, to American audiences. The 13-episode first season of the series, created by comedian, actor, and writer Mark Critch, will debut on The CW in Summer 2023. The series is produced by Andrew Barnsley, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning executive producer of “Schitt’s Creek,” and written by Tim McAuliffe, known for his work on “The Office” and “Last Man on Earth.”

Son of a Critch is a unique family comedy that follows the hilarious and heartfelt story of young Mark Critch coming of age in the 1980s. Based on the award-winning, bestselling memoir of the same name, the show provides a window into the life of a child who is much older inside than his 11 years, using comedy and self-deprecation to win friends and connect with the small collection of people in his limited world.

A Canadian comedy from the exec producer of Schitt’s Creek is heading to The CW.

The network has bought Son of a Critch to air this summer, reuniting Andrew Barnsley, who exec produced Schitt’s Creek, with former Pop TV boss Brad Schwartz, who is now The CW’s President of Entertainment.

The CW will air Son of a Critch, which comes from Canada’s CBC and Lionsgate Television, this summer.

The series was created by and stars Mark Critch, based on his memoir. It is the story of a young Mark coming of age in the 1980s. The comedy stars Mark Critch as his father, Mike, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (Pinocchio) as young Mark. Claire Rankin (Molly’s Game) stars as Mark’s mother, Mary, alongside newcomers Sophia Powers and Mark Rivera, who play classmates of young Mark. Colton Gobbo (Ginny & Georgia) plays Mark’s older brother, Mike Jr., and Malcolm McDowell...

Exclusive: Canadian comedy Son of a Critch is establishing itself as a mainstay of CBC’s schedule as it is greenlit for a third season before the second has finished airing.

CBC said Season 2, which finishes next week, is the pubcaster’s most-watched English Canadian comedy series and most-watched show with 18-49 year olds.

The series is produced by Schitt’s Creek’s Andrew Barnsley and created by Mark Critch, who plays a fictionalized version of himself based on his award-winning memoir, with The Office scribe Tim McAuliffe.

The show tells the story of 11-year-old Mark coming of age in St. John’s, Newfoundland in the ’80s, a boy much older inside than his 11 years – using comedy and self-deprecation to win friends and connect with the small collection of people in his limited world.

Filming begins on Season 3 in Newfoundland this summer.

“I’m honoured to have such talented people...

It is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and few characters are more iconic than Janet Kim from “Kim’s Convenience” (2016). In this widely-watched TV show, Andrea Bang spins Janet as a headstrong, single 20-some year old who brings her Korean Canadian family together. After the show’s sudden shut-down last year, Bang re-emerges in feature form with director Renuka Jeyapalan (also from “Kim’s Convenience”). “Stay the Night” marks the duo’s re-entry into the film world, and not without applause. The film premiered in SXSW and more recently screened at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Here, Bang plays Grace, a stubbornly introverted corporate employee. Her roommate Joni (Humberly Gonzalez), however, is anything but. So when Joni kicks out Grace for (yet another) spontaneous hook-up, Grace finds herself looking for a retreat. She resorts to what any desperate urban, young woman would do in her shoes: find a one-night stand.

Stay the Night SXSW Film Festival Narrative Spotlight Section Reviewed for Shockya.com by Abe Friedtanzer Director: Renuka Jeyapalan Writer: Renuka Jeyapalan Cast: Andrea Bang, Joe Scarpellino, Humberly González, Raymond Ablack Screened at: SXSW Film Festival Online, LA, 3/13/22 Opens: March 12th, 2022 All it takes is one chance encounter to change a person’s life. There […]

The post SXSW 2022: Stay the Night Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

She is a dissatisfied Hr advisor. He is a professional hockey player placed on waivers. She hasn’t got much luck when it comes to her relationships and learns her colleagues find her just a little standoffish. He finds himself having to make a decision that may very well shake up his world. In rehashing the stranger-connects-with-a-stranger premise that cinema has such a soft spot for, writer-director Renuka Jeyapalan develops a vision that balances a lack of a distinctive visual voice with committed character work.

Grace (Andrea Bang) and Carter (Joe Scarpellino) meet outside of a bar in Toronto. They share a cab, they walk, they talk, they confess their hopes and fears to one another. The film puts grounded exchanges at its forefront; this emphasis on intimate expression is a double-edged sword, though, because while it enhances the believability of the pair’s bond, it puts to the test their capacity to.

Exclusive: Canadian comedy Son of a Critch is returning for a second season.

CBC has renewed the series for its sophomore run after its debut in January. The public broadcaster noted that the half-hour series scored its highest rating for a comedy premiere since Kim’s Convenience debuted in October 2016.

The series comes from Schitt’s Creek producer Andrew Barnsley and comedian Mark Critch and is distributed internationally by Lionsgate.

Based on Critch’s memoir Son of a Critch: A Childish Newfoundland Memoir, he stars alongside Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Malcolm McDowell, Claire Rankin and newcomers Sophia Powers and Mark Rivera.

It is the story of 11-year-old Mark coming of age in St. John’s, Newfoundland in the ’80s, a boy much older inside than his 11 years – using comedy and self-deprecation to win friends and connect with the small collection of people in his limited world.

Critch, who created the series with The Office...

In-person festival to run in Austin, Texas, from March 11-20.

A starry SXSW 2022 film line-up announced on Wednesday (2) includes world premieres of new work from Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Richard Linklater and Nicolas Cage, among many others.

The Austin, Texas, festival ran online editions over the past two years and is planned to take place from March 11-20 as an in-person event against a backdrop of declining Omicron infection levels across the United States.

The roster includes Irish filmmaker and actor Campbell-Hughes’s It Is In Us All (pictured) in Narrative Feature Competition starring Cosmo Jarvis, Claes Bang and Campbell-Hughes about a...

HBO Max said Thursday that it is launching a new eight-episode half-hour comedy series Sort Of this fall.

The series stars Bilal Baig (Acha Bacha) who, along with Fab Filippo (Save Me) created the show. Commissioned by HBO Max and the CBC, the series is produced by Sienna Films, a Sphere Media company, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund.

The series will also launch in Canada this fall on the CBC Gem streaming service and CBC TV.

Sort Of follows the journey of Sabi Mehboob (Baig), a gender-fluid millennial who straddles various identities from sexy bartender at an LGBTQ bookstore/bar, to the youngest child in a large Pakistani family, to the de facto parent of a downtown hipster family. Sabi feels like they’re in transition in every aspect of their life, from gender to love to sexuality to family to career. A coming-of-age story, Sort Of...

Netflix released a trailer for “Q-Force,” an animated series starring Sean Hayes, Gary Cole, David Harbour, Patti Harrison, Laurie Metcalf, Matt Rogers, Wanda Sykes and Gabe Liedman that launches Sept. 2.

“Q-Force” follows Steve Mayweather, Aka Agent Mary (voiced by Hayes), who was once the leader of the American Intelligence Agency (Aia) until he came out as gay. The Agency was not able to fire him on the basis of his sexual orientation, so they sent him to West Hollywood to disappear into obscurity. Instead, Steve put together a rag-tag group of LGBTQ geniuses, joining forces with the expert mechanic Deb (Sykes), master of drag and disguise Twink Rogers), and hacker Stat (Harrison), making the “Q-Force” squad.

“Q-Force” is created by Liedman, who executive produces alongside Hayes, Todd Milliner, Ben Heins, Mike Schur and David Miner.

Watch the trailer below.

Also in today’s TV news roundup…

Programming

HBO Max announced...

Exclusive: Lionsgate has teamed with Canadian broadcaster CBC to bring comedy series Son of a Critch to the U.S. and the world.

The 13-part series comes from Schitt’s Creek producer Andrew Barnsley and comedian Mark Critch, and Lionsgate is hoping that it can replicate the success of the Emmy-winning Canadian comedy, which it brought to the U.S. via Pop TV.

Lionsgate will handle U.S. and international distribution rights.

The half-hour series is based on Critch’s memoir Son of a Critch: A Childish Newfoundland Memoir and he will star alongside Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Malcolm McDowell, Claire Rankin and newcomers Sophia Powers and Mark Rivera.

Son of a Critch, which has just started production, is the story of 11-year-old Mark coming of age in St. John’s, Newfoundland in the ’80s, a boy much older inside than his 11 years – using comedy and self-deprecation to win friends and connect...

Cate Jones, David Romberg and Andy Marlatt are among the winners of the ninth annual Best of NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Awards (Nfmla).

The 2021 Nfmla Awards included 125 nominees across 16 categories, plus the new filmmaker award, which went to Alberto Belli. The selection of films spans narrative, documentary, animation and new media work and includes movies from Nfmla’s InFocus diversity initiative.

Jones won for feature film “She’s the Eldest,” produced by Kelley Gann. It follows three siblings who return home to reconnect but end up digging up the past of their parents’ mysterious disappearances.

Romberg took home the award for documentary feature film for “The Man of the Monkey.” Produced by Robert Girvin, the film explores the myth of a man who lives with his chimpanzee wife on the Brazilian island of Ilha Grande. On his journey, Romberg’s discoveries are even more shocking than what he expected.

Renuka Jeyapalan...

In today’s Global Bulletin, Telepool’s Global Screen consolidates sales and acquisitions and puts Julia Weber in charge, Izzy snags six series for streaming, ITV will adapt “Our House,” Abacus Media Rights will distribute Canadian Comedy “Sort Of,” and Zdfe and taglicht team on historical cold cases.

Appointment

Telepool’s international distribution division Global Screen is consolidating its sales and acquisition activities for both film and TV content and has appointed Julia Weber as the company’s new head of international acquisitions and sales, effective January 2021. Alexandra Heidrich, who previously held the role, will exit Telepool before the end of 2020.

“I kicked off my career in TV sales and have also spent years dedicating myself to the film business,” said Webber in a release. “This move allows me to bring it all together just as the lines between cinema, TV and VOD are becoming increasingly blurred.”

“The traditional international...

A stellar group of eight Canadian women directors, along with an ensemble of hand-picked Industry professionals, mentors, actors and crews, have been selected to attend the 19th annual Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc) program, and the two-day pilot session of the Widc Whistler Film Festival Industry Immersion. Over the next two months these rising stars will develop their feature films and web series, while cultivating relationships with industry insiders along with key collaborators, and an ensemble of hand-picked professional actors and technicians. The program culminates with a technical creative master-class at The Banff Centre.

Mounting their directorial debut feature films are, from the Northwest Territories, Kirsten Carthew ("Prototype"), Manitoba-based Rebecca Gibson ("Jane Garbage"), from Ontario, Renuka Jeyapalan ("Sex with as Perfect Stranger"), and Simone Stock ("Dark Horse"), BC-based Kate Kroll, ("One.Last.Stop"), Reem Morsi ("Lips"), and Loretta Todd ("Monkey Beach'), and Pei-based, Jenna MacMillan is developing a new web series, ("Gran Bandit").

“These filmmakers are already established in their own right,” says Carol Whiteman, award-winning Widc producer. “They have won awards and fellowships, some from our collaborating partners like Women In Film, the St John’s International Women’s Film Festival, and the Whistler Film Festival. We all see the talent that these women possess and the potential of their projects.” “I appreciate how Widc supports women’s work and vision,” says seasoned documentary filmmaker, Loretta Todd whose sci-fi martial arts pilot Skye and Chang airs on Aptn. “Being part of Widc Sim 2.O is a significant opportunity to help me be prepared so I can be even more courageous as a director.”

This year's eight directors also benefit from the expertise of award-winning Canadian writer/directors and Widc alumnae, Katrin Bowen ("Amazon Falls," "Random Acts of Romance"), Lulu Keating ("Lucille's Ball," "The Mood Brood") who mentor in Vancouver, Deanne Foley ("Beat Down," and "Relative Happiness" premiering at Whistler Film Festival) at the Whistler Film Festival, and celebrated writer/director Gail Harvey ("Looking is the Original Sin," "Long Story Short") will be the program's Mentor Director in Banff. The line up of award-winning Widc mentors also includes director of photography, Roger Vernon ("Twilight: Breaking Dawn"), Teresa Hannigan (Rookie Blue), Jeanne Slater ("Lucille's Ball," "Evangeline"), screen-writer and Jungian expert, Dr. Carolyn Mamchur, writer/story consultant Linda Coffey ("These Arms of Mine"), and actress/acting instructor, Lori Triolo (Blackstone, Supernatural). Industry experts include, John Galway (of Harold Greenberg Fund), Maureen Levitt, (of Super Channel), independent producer, Lael McCall, (of Principia Productions), and Lauren Davis of Telefilm Canada.

The Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc) program has earned an international reputation for propelling women directors’ skills, stories and careers to the next level of excellence. Creative Women Workshops Association, The Banff Centre and Actra (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) have been Widc collaborators and Telefilm Canada has been a major sponsor since the program’s 1997 inception. This is Widc’s first year collaborating with the Whistler Film Festival, with the Widc Whistler Film Festival Industry Immersion taking place on December 3 and 4.

The Festival’s online box office is now open for industry and festival passes, ticket packages, and individual film and special event tickets (until December 7). The Festival Box Office is also open for phone sales (1-877-838-film) and on November 28 for walk-in sales. Wff’s film, event and industry Summit lineup and schedules are available at whistlerfilmfestival.com.

The Westin Whistler Resort and Spa is Wff’s official host hotel. Wff has 17 accommodation partners to choose from that offer special rates to Whistler Film Festival attendees. Book your accommodation early to ensure your perfect match and price. For information, go to whistlerfilmfestival.com.

The Whistler Film Festival is supported by Telefilm Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and Tourism Whistler, and is sponsored by Variety, Elle Canada, the Directors Guild of Canada - British Columbia, Creative BC, The Harold Greenburg Fund, Cineplex, CTV, Pandora, Sorel, Columbia, Whistler Blackcomb, Promosa and the Westin Resort & Spa Whistler.

About Widc – Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc) is an internationally respected Canadian professional development offering, specially designed to advance the skills, careers and screen projects of women directors. With nearly 200 director alumnae across Canada, Widc is presented in partnership by Creative Women Workshops Association, The Banff Centre and Actra, with major support from Telefilm Canada, William F. White Intl., and with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des Arts du Canada, Panavision Canada, Sim Digital, Clairmont Camera Film and Digital, North Shore Studios, The Bridge Studios, Vancouver Film Studios, Front Row Insurance, Banff World Media Festival, Actra Fraternal Benefit Society, Ubcp/Actra, Actra Alberta, Iatse 669, Iatse 212, Independent Production Fund, Wift Vancouver, Female Eye Film Festival, St John’s International Women’s Film Festival and Whistler Film Festival. Director’s chair sponsors include Creative BC, BC Arts Council, Wiftv. Find out more at www.widc.ca www.facebook.com/widc.ca @WIDC_ca #Widc enquiries@creativewomenworkshops.com

About the Whistler Film Festival: From December 3 to 7, 2014, the Whistler Film Festival (Wff) will celebrate its 14th edition as one of Canada's leading festivals. Featuring innovative and original films from around the world and opportunities to connect with the people who made them, this year’s five day Festival will be filled with a solid lineup of premieres, star-studded guests, lively celebrations and unique industry initiatives. Find out more at www.whistlerfilmfestival.com.

About the Whistler Film Festival Society: The Whistler Film Festival Society (Wffs) is a charitable cultural organization dedicated to furthering the art of film by providing programs that focus on the discovery, development and promotion of new talent culminating with a must attend festival for artists, the industry and audiences in Whistler. Wffs produces one of Canada's leading film festivals and plays a leadership role in offering project development programs for Canadian filmmakers. Find out more at whistlerfilmfestival.com.