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I imagined it as a fun icebreaker. “Hey, Chandler, are you perhaps in the market for a new best friend?” was the vision. What came out to filmmaker Chandler Levack during a recent interview was more like, “Do you need a new friend? Because I loved your film, I felt so seen by it,” almost immediately followed by my throat closing up and my eyes welling in a way that was undeniably obvious, even in a tiny Zoom window.

At least my inclination was right: the “Mile End Kicks” filmmaker got what I was saying. “I’m going to cry,” Levack said in her first interview for the film. “That means the world to me. That really, really does.”

It’s only fitting that Levack’s film would stir big emotions in both its maker and its audience. Much like her debut, “I Like Movies,” “Mile End Kicks” is based on her own experiences.

Exclusive: Amid monster viewership for Happy Gilmore 2, which last month scored Netflix’s biggest U.S. opening weekend ever, Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison is teaming with Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps to develop a feature adaptation of Evan S. Porter’s debut novel Dad Camp, with Kevin Jakubowski on board to pen the script.

Published by Dutton in June 2024, Dad Camp follows John, a devoted father who finds his once-close bond with daughter Avery unraveling as she enters her preteen years. Desperate to reconnect before she starts middle school, he signs them up for a week-long father-daughter retreat at a rundown summer camp, where he’s forced to confront both his fears of losing her and the evolving nature of their relationship.

Shawn Levy and Dan Levine will produce on behalf of 21 Laps, with Emily Feher and Max Gains overseeing the project for the company.

Working as a blogger in between writing his novels,...

A new Buyers In Focus series of conversations exploring the dynamic international distribution landscape is among the highlights of TIFF’s Industry Conference running September 5-9.

The programme will offer attendees access to decision-makers from Constantin Film, Mongrel Media, Curzon Film, Sony Pictures Classics, NonStop Entertainment, Rai Cinema and others, and lays the groundwork for TIFF: The Market launching in 2026.

Industry Conference programming sees the returning Perspectives roster of panel conversations on which Screen International is the media partner. Topics will explore producing elevated arthouse series with Baltasar Kormákur, Sameer Nair, and Gwen Gorst; best practices on accessible productions; inclusive and collaborative productions; and AI.

For cinephiles and film fans getting ready to head north for the 50th Toronto International Film Festival next month, consider today a particularly helpful one, as the full festival schedule has now arrived, along with the addition of six more feature films.

Those new additions, including the world premiere of Claire Denis’ “The Fence” and the North American premieres of Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” and Olivier Assayas’ “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” bring the total count of TIFF films to 291 films.

And those new additions also spell the end of TIFF announcements for this year, meaning it’s time to get cracking on making your schedule for what looks to be an extremely robust September festival.

Over the past few weeks, TIFF has announced its many selections, including Colin Hanks’ opening night documentary “John Candy: I Like Me,” plus new films from Steven Soderbergh, Nia DaCosta, Chandler Levack,...

With many of the biggest fall festival premieres officially on the calendar, every subsequent lineup announcement leans more and more towards the sicko cinephiles among us. You probably already knew that the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival would feature “The Sound of Falling,” “The Smashing Machine,” and “Frankenstein,” but the newly announced Wavelengths lineup promises to offer plenty of hidden gems you’ve never heard of. And of course, there are a few favorites from other 2025 festivals that Toronto audiences haven’t had a chance to see.

The famously avant-garde section of the festival features nine features and 14 shorts from around the world, each of which pushes the boundaries of cinematic storytelling in some way. Highlights include Kahlil Joseph’s genre-bending art piece “Blknws: Terms & Conditions” (which premiered to rave reviews at Sundance), Ben Rivers’ “Mare’s Nest” (which will also be playing NYFF), and the Gael García Bernal-led historical epic “Magellan.

Lovers of serialized storytelling, don’t let its name fool you: the Toronto International Film Festival has been celebrating series and the small screen for a decade. As the fest readies for the tenth anniversary of its Primetime program at this year’s event — dedicated to “spotlighting exceptional international series and boundary-pushing episodic storytelling” — TIFF has today announced the 2025 lineup.

This year’s Primetime slate features six world premieres including Sterlin Harjo’s latest, “The Lowdown,” which opens the section and stars Ethan Hawke, plus Netflix’s latest original Canadian series “Wayward”, Zach Baylin and Kate Susman’s “Black Rabbit”, “Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League” (the only documentary series in the lineup), and “The Savage” (created by Houman Seyyedi).

Over the past few weeks, TIFF has announced the majority of its selections, including Colin Hanks’ opening night documentary “John Candy: I Like Me,” plus new films from Steven Soderbergh,...

This year’s slate of 23 documentaries from 18 countries at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival is a melange of newsy subjects, rising directors, and potential Oscar contenders covering explorers, journalists, sex workers, activists, soldiers, and champion whistlers.

The TIFF Documentary Selection will open with two-time short documentary Oscar-winner Ben Proudfoot’s “The Eyes of Ghana,” a sales title which profiles the Ghanaian filmmaker Chris Hesse and is backed by executive producers Barack and Michelle Obama. “It is a celebration of the power of cinema,” TIFF documentary programmer Thom Powers told IndieWire via Zoom. “For 60 years, Hesse, who’s still alive in his nineties and documented the early days of the Africa’s independence movement, has helped to maintain the archive of his footage from all that time.”

This year’s nonfiction lineup, culled from a record 1,000 submissions, includes 16 world premieres, many of which are sales titles. Two high-profile docs are...

Don’t let anybody tell you differently: the fall festival announcements aren’t even close to being over. Look no further than the second part of today’s morning double whammy, as the Toronto International Film Festival has just announced its sprawling Centrepiece program, just one hour after the New York Film Festival released its own Main Slate. On its own, this lineup would be juicy enough. Paired with NYFF? Well, there goes our morning.

TIFF’s internationally-focused section has always been a feast for fans of global cinema, and this year’s lineup is no exception. This year, there are 55 titles (and 19 world premieres) from filmmakers representing nearly fifty countries, all reflecting the festival’s enduring commitment to global cinema.

This year’s lineup includes the latest work from influential filmmakers Hubert Davis, Mathieu Denis, Hasan Hadi, Chie Hayakawa, Anders Thomas Jensen, Jan Komasa, Richard Linklater, Sergei Loznitsa, Pietro Marcello,...

Midnight Madness, it’s almost your time. The Toronto International Film Festival has today announced the lineup of its “signature slate of wicked wonders that are sure to delight and disturb the festival’s devoted and raucous late-night crowd.” One of the most beloved aspects of the festival, the annual assortment of tricks and treats is a feast for the genre-devoted and generally curious alike.

Midnight Madness will open with the Canadian premiere of Matt Johnson’s Toronto-set “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie.” The film is based on Johnson’s cult “Viceland” series, and is billed as a “hysterical, death-defying time-travel caper.” The section will close with “Dead Lover,” a “zany, macabre horror-comedy from Canadian director Grace Glowicki.” The 2025 edition features seven world premieres and one international premiere.

The section closes out each night of the festival with 11:59 p.m. screenings at the (possibly) haunted Royal Alexandra Theatre,...

Hasta cuatro presencias españolas en el Festival canadiense.

© TIFF

El Festival Internacional de Cine de Toronto, que celebra su 50.ª edición del 4 al 14 de septiembre, ha anunciado los primeros títulos que integrarán sus dos secciones principales: Galas y Proyecciones Especiales. Aunque se esperan más incorporaciones, ya destacan nombres como Chloé Zhao, Edward Berger, David Michôd, Gus Van Sant, Guillermo del Toro, Mark Jenkin y Paul Greengrass. Además, España no se queda atrás y pone toda la carne en el asador con cuatro títulos. A la previamente anunciada El cautivo, de Alejandro Amenábar, que tendrá su estreno mundial en el certamen canadiense, se suman Tres adioses, de Isabel Coixet, también en calidad de premiere mundial; Sirat, de Oliver Laxe, tras su triunfo en la Croisette; y la coproducción Calle Málaga, que llegará tras su estreno en Venecia.

Galas

Adulthood (Alex Winter)

A Private Life (Rebecca Zlotowski)

Driver’s Ed (Bobby Farrelly)

Eleanor...

Looking for the next Barry Jenkins, Pietro Marcello, William Oldroyd, or Darius Marder? Let the Toronto International Film Festival’s auteur-focused and discovery-minded Platform section help.

Today, the festival has announced its 2025 Platform program lineup, marking the tenth anniversary of the fest’s auteur competitive section, which “champions bold directorial vision and distinctive storytelling.”

This year’s edition features 10 films representing 19 countries. The program opens with the World Premiere of “Steve,” from Belgian director Tim Mielants, starring Tracey Ullman and Academy Award–winner Cillian Murphy. The film is Mielants’ first appearance at TIFF and his third collaboration with Murphy.

Per usual, the section is juried by a three-person team of luminaries. This year, they include Jury Chair and Spanish film writer, editor, and director Carlos Marqués-Marcet, who won the 2024 Platform Award for “They Will Be Dust.” He is joined by Oscar-nominated actor, writer, composer, and director Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who was...

Celebrating its 50th edition this year, the Toronto International Film Festival will take place September 4–14. The festival has now unveiled its Galas & Special Presentations lineup, featuring new films by Benny Safdie, Gus Van Sant, Alice Winocour, Baz Luhrmann, Mark Jenkin, Steven Soderbergh, Rian Johnson, Paul Greengrass, Mamoru Hosoda, Joachim Trier, Richard Linklater, Jafar Panahi, Guillermo del Toro, Arnaud Desplechin, and more.

See below.

2025 Galas (in alphabetical order):

*previously announced

*A Private Life | Rebecca Zlotowski | France

North American Premiere

Adulthood | Alex Winter | USA

World Premiere

Driver’s Ed | Bobby Farrelly | USA

World Premiere

Eleanor the Great | Scarlett Johansson | USA

North American Premiere

Eternity | David Freyne | USA

World Premiere

Fuze | David Mackenzie | United Kingdom

World Premiere

Glenrothan | Brian Cox | United Kingdom

World Premiere

Good Fortune | Aziz Ansari | USA

World Premiere

*Hamnet | Chloé Zhao | United Kingdom

Canadian Premiere

*Homebound | Neeraj Ghaywan | India

North American Premiere

*John Candy: I Like Me | Colin Hanks | USA...

As the fall festivals begin to roll out their lineups (a phrase you’ll be seeing a lot of on IndieWire in the coming days), a word of both caution and delight: don’t forget about the festival films that have already premiered elsewhere, from Sundance to Cannes. The Toronto International Film Festival certainly has not, as today’s full lineup of Gala and Special Presentations includes plenty of previously-premiered films that are already ranking among the year’s best.

We’re talking Sundance standouts like Mary Bronstein’s “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” and Clint Bentley’s “Train Dreams,” plus Cannes hits likes Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” Mascha Schilinski’s “Sound of Falling,” Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident,” Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague,” and Óliver Laxe’s “Sirāt.”

And today’s announcement also includes world premieres like Aziz Ansari’s “Good Fortune,” Maude Apatow’s “Poetic License,...

Ok, Ok, television fans, you had your day yesterday, with the announcement of the latest batch of Emmy nominations. Today? It’s back to film land, specifically when it comes to the rapidly approaching spate of fall festivals.

While the Toronto International Film Festival has already made quick work of announcing early picks for its selection, including Colin Hanks’ opening night documentary “John Candy: I Like Me,” plus new films from Steven Soderbergh, Nia DaCosta, Chandler Levack, Alejandro Amenábar, and Sung-hyun Byun, today the festival announced the addition of 11 more titles in the Gala and Special Presentations program.

And they include some biggies, like Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery”, Derek Cianfrance’s fact-based Channing Tatum-starring “Roofman,” Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of “Hamnet,” Paul Greengrass’ harrowing true story “The Lost Bus,” and Hikari’s intriguing-sounding “Rental Family.”

Those titles are also joined by Nicholas Hytner’s “The Choral,...

Exclusive: Director Chandler Levack (I Like Movies) has locked a starry cast for Roommates, a new ensemble comedy for Netflix. The call sheet will include Sarah Sherman (Saturday Night Live), Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face), Nick Kroll (Big Mouth), Sadie Sandler (You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah), Chloe East (Heretic), and Storm Reid (The Last of Us).

In the film penned by Jimmy Fowlie and Ceara O’Sullivan of SNL, a hopeful, naive college freshman, Devon, asks the cool and confident Celeste to be her roommate, seeing a blossoming friendship spiral thereafter into a war of passive aggression. No word yet on who is producing.

Levack is a writer-director whose critically acclaimed coming-of-age dramedy I Like Movies premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2022. More recently, she wrote and directed Mile End Kicks, an upcoming rom-com set against Montreal’s indie music scene of 2011, which stars Jay Baruchel, Devon Bostick,...

Exclusive: “We are all about celebrating Canada right now,” TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey explains on a Zoom call with us ahead of his festival’s latest lineup announcement this morning.

“But only in the sense that I’m very focused on how Canadian stories speak to the whole world. There is a thriving culture that I think is somewhat unique to Canadian cinema because it is supported by public bodies. Nearly all Canadian cinema is independent cinema, unlike some countries with big commercial industries.”

Mile End Kicks, the sophomore feature from Toronto native Chandler Levack (I Like Movies), is one of those independently produced titles set to come out of Canada this year, and it was included as a world premiere in this morning’s TIFF announcement. Levack joined us on the call with Bailey.

Written and directed by Levack, the film follows a 24-year-old female music critic who moves...

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has revealed its first five special presentation world premieres for this year’s official selection, among them Steven Soderbergh’s comedy The Christophers,Alejandro Amenábar’s adventure The Captive andNia DaCosta’s Hedda.

Also set to make their global debuts at the 50th TIFF edition, running September 4-14, are Sung-hyun Byun’s action thriller Good News, Nia DaCosta’s Hedda and Chandler Levack’s Mile End Kicks.

The Christophers, hailing from the UK, stars Ian McKellen, James Corden, Jessica Gunning and Michaela Coel and follows the estranged children of a famous artist who hire...

The 50th Toronto International Film Festival has set its first five World Premiere Special Presentation titles in the Official Selection: Alejandro Amenábar’s The Captive, Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers, Sung-hyun Byun’s Good News, Nia DaCosta’s Hedda, and Chandler Levack’s Mile End Kicks.

The festival runs from Sept. 4-14, presented by Rogers.

“These first five films of our Official Selection reflect the innovation, heart, and global perspective that have made our Festival a home for great cinema over the past 50 editions,” said TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey. “We’re excited to kick-off our Special Presentations with Chandler Levack’s Mile End Kicks, a young, Canadian director who has very close ties to TIFF in addition to these established directors. We can’t wait to share more in the weeks ahead as we celebrate this historic year with audiences and filmmakers from around the world.”

These five movies from Canada,...

New movies from directors Steven Soderbergh and Nia DaCosta have been added to this year’s Toronto Film Festival lineup.

TIFF organizers announced on Thursday the first five titles of its official selection, all of which are set to world premiere in Canada. They are Soderbergh’s “The Christophers,” DaCosta’s “Hedda,” Alejandro Amenábar’s “The Captive,” Sung-hyun Byun’s “Good News” and Chandler Levack’s “Mile End Kicks.”

Soderbergh, the prolific filmmaker of “Ocean’s 11,” “Contagion” and “Erin Brockovich,” was at the last edition of TIFF with his ghost thriller “Presence.” His newest film, “The Christophers,” is described as a black comedy set in the art world and stars Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, Jessica Gunning, and James Corden.

DaCosta, known for “The Marvels,” “Candyman” and the upcoming “28 Years Later: Bone Temple,” is adapting Henrik Ibsen’s famous play with Tessa Thompson and Imogen Poots in the lead roles. “Hedda...

Steven Soderbergh’s “The Christophers,” Alejandro Amenábar’s “The Captive,” Byun Sung-hyun’s “Good News,” Nia DaCosta’s “Hedda” and Chandler Levack’s “Mile End Kicks” are among the films that will have their world premieres at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF organizers announced on Thursday.

The five films will be part of the festival’s Special Presentation section. They join the opening-night selection, Colin Hanks’ documentary “John Candy: I Like Me,” as the first films to be announced by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey.

Soderbergh’s “The Christophers” is written by Ed Solomon and stars Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, James Corden and Jessica Gunning; it focuses on the estranged children of a famous artist, who hire a forger to finish their father’s uncompleted paintings.

“The Captive” is a historical drama focusing on the time that “Don Quixote” author Miguel de Cervantes spent in an Algerian prison.

Although it may still be high summer, we’re already looking forward to the upcoming fall film festivals. After previously announcing that this year’s edition will open with Colin Hanks’ documentary “John Candy: I Like Me,” the Toronto International Film Festival has today announced the first five Special Presentation titles of its Official Selection set to have their world premieres at the festival’s 50th edition this September.

The five include new films from Steven Soderbergh, Nia DaCosta, Chandler Levack, Alejandro Amenábar, and Sung-hyun Byun. Per today’s press release, “These films hail from Canada, Spain/Italy, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and reflect the bold vision, global perspective, and artistic excellence that have defined TIFF for five decades.”

Soderbergh will bring his dark comedy “The Christophers” to the festival. Starring Ian McKellen, James Corden, and Michaela Coel, it’s about a family who hires...

Steven Soderbergh’s dark comedy The Christophers and The Marvels director Nia DaCosta’s latest film, Hedda, are set for world premieres at the Toronto Film Festival in September, organizers said on Thursday.

Ian McKellen, Jessica Gunning, Michaela Coel and James Corden star in Soderbergh’s movie about the estranged children of a famous artist who hire a forger to finish their father’s unfinished paintings so they can be sold after his death.

Soderbergh directed The Christophers based on a script by Now You See Me scribe Ed Solomon. The creative duo collaborated on earlier projects like No Sudden Move, Full Circle and Mosaic.

Also getting a first look in Toronto is DaCosta’s Hedda, a reimagining of the Henrik Ibsen stage play Hedda Gabler that stars Tessa Thompson, Nina Hoss and Imogen Poots. Thompson will play Hedda Gabler, considered one of the greatest dramatic roles in theater history.

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Bonjour Tristesse (Durga Chew-Bose)

There was slight trepidation going into Bonjour Tristesse. Justifying itself as another “adaptation” of Françoise Sagan’s text rather than remake of Otto Preminger’s masterpiece of mise-en-scène, there’s still some hesitation about the chutzpah that must go into thinking you can top that great craftsman at the height of his power. As directed by writer-turned-filmmaker Durga Chew-Bose with a great deal of formal assurance, this 2024 iteration is a highly respectable effort that’ll speak to countless people the original didn’t. One major difference being that Preminger made the film as a showcase for the muse he was having an affair with, Jean Seberg, casting some leering-male element onto the whole project. Chew-Bose’s project isn...

Back in my day, we had daredevils like Evil Knievel and Super Dave Osborne. They’d defy death while entertaining crowds of cheering fans, risking life and limb for applause. I never wanted to be a daredevil, but I did appreciate their bravery and risk-taking approach to life. Jay Baruchel is a daredevil enthusiast, too, and he’s reuniting with Goon’s Michael Dowse for The Stunt Driver, an upcoming comedy about the daredevil stuntman Ken Carter.

According to Deadline, The Stunt Driver revolves around “The Mad Canadian” Carter, who “attempts to execute the boldest maneuver of his career during the 1970s, launching a rocket car off a 90-foot-high ramp across the St. Lawrence River. The stunt would have him jump from Canada into the United States, covering more than a mile.” The film “follows Carter’s quest to make his seemingly impossible dream a reality, chronicling his preparation for...

Jay Baruchel has boarded Chandler Levack’s romantic comedy Mile End Kicks, which also stars Barbie Ferreira, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Set in 2011 in Montreal’s indie music scene, the film follows Grace Pine (Ferreira), a 24-year-old music critic who moves to the Canadian city to write a book on Alanis Morissette’s classic Jagged Little Pill album. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she gets romantically involved with members of an indie band for whom she serves as their publicist.

Mile End Kicks, the Canadian indie from producers Zapruder Films and Banner House Productions, gets Baruchel back together with the production team behind Blackberry. Baruchel co-starred in Matt Johnson’s tale of the once-revolutionary cel phone invention out of Waterloo, Ontario, and the band of uber-nerd techies at Research in Motion who made it happen.

The indie also stars Devon Bostick, Stanley Simons and Juliette Gariépy,...

Jay Baruchel has reunited with the production team behind indie hit “Blackberry” on the upcoming rom-com “Mile End Kicks.”

The film, written and directed by Chandler Levack (“I Like Movies”), has just wrapped production in Montreal, and also stars Barbie Ferreira (“Euphoria”), Devon Bostick (“Oppenheimer”) Stanley Simons (“The Iron Claw”) and Juliette Gariépy (“Red Rooms”). Beloved Montreal rock band Tops has written two original songs for the soundtrack, performed live by a fictional rock group in the film.

The film is a Banner House Productions/Zapruder Films production and is produced by Pat Kiely (“Three Night Stand”) and Matthew Miller (“BlackBerry”). XYZ Films is financing the project in conjunction with Ipr.Vc via its New Visions initiative.

In the film, Grace Pine (Ferreira), a 24-year-old music critic moves to Montreal in the summer of 2011 with the goal of writing a book about Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill.” Instead, she falls...

Welcome to Burlington, Ontario, in the early 2000s. It’s here that we meet Lawrence Kweller, our video-store-dwelling, movie-obsessed 17-year-old protagonist. Written and directed by Chandler Levack, I Like Movies takes us into Lawrence’s world and the coming-of-age journey he embarks on. With a leading performance by Isaiah Lehtinen, the film offers an authentic look at teen life through Lawrence’s eyes.

Lawrence practically lives at the local rental shop, Sequels, where he longs to work. There, between sweeping up popcorn and restocking shelves, he talks movies with passion. He name-drops directors like PTA and references deep cuts you’d expect only the biggest cinephiles to know.

But beneath the bravado, Lawrence struggles with real challenges too. He recently lost his father and now lives with just his mother. Navigating friendships and school without his dad’s guidance hasn’t been easy.

Levack transports us back to that nostalgic period,...

"I thought I got hired here to talk about real cinema." Ha! Oh, you wish buddy. Freestyle Digital Media is finally releasing this acclaimed Canadian indie film in America. I Like Movies is the feature directorial debut of Canadian filmmaker Chandler Levack and it premiered at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival a few years ago. It's an exceptionally smart, nuanced, entirely original take on a young movie nerd geeking out over his job at a video store. Although he comes to learn that his obsession with movies prevents him from connecting with others. Set in the early 2000s (back when video stores still existed), Lawrence Kweller, a socially inept 17-year old cinephile, gets a job at a video store, where he forms a complicated friendship with his older female manager. I Like Movies stars Isaiah Lehtinen as Lawrence, along with Romina D'Ugo, Krista Bridges, Percy Hynes White, Alex Ateah, and Andy McQueen.

Barbie Ferreira has lined up her first big rom-com!

The 27-year-old actress, who was a Euphoria favorite for her portrayal of Kat Hernandez, is set to star in the new romantic comedy Mile End Kicks, which is from writer-director Chandler Levack.

She’ll find herself wrapped up in a love triangle in the project, which is already in production in Montreal, Canada.

Keep reading to find out more…

Variety reported that Barbie will star in the movie alongside Devon Bostick, Stanley Simons and Juliette Gariepy.

According to the outlet, the movie “follows Grace Pine (Ferreira), a 24-year-old music critic who moves to Montreal intending to write a book about Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. Her plans take an unexpected turn when she becomes romantically involved with two members of the same struggling indie rock band and decides to become their publicist.”

Barbie will also act as an executive producer on the project.

If the only April release was my top pick of the month it would be one of the finest lineups of the years, but thankfully there’s more to recommend. Featuring films about cinephilic obsession, subversive superhero tales, and what is sure to be at least one divisive big-screen near-future adventure, check out the list of must-sees below.

12 & 11. Kim’s Video (David Redmon and Ashley Sabin; April 5) and I Like Movies (Chandler Levack; April 8)

Anyone interested in physical media will appreciate a pair of films this month. Kim’s Video explores the strange story of the East Village establishment that housed around 55,000 DVDs while I Like Movies is a Canadian coming-of-age tale about a video store clerk who has bigger dreams in life, and is chockfull of cinephile-related humor that rang quite a familiar bell for this writer. John Fink said in his review of the former, “A sweeping documentary...

Exclusive: Skydance has taken on the challenge of turning the bestselling YA fantasy novel series Ranger’s Apprentice into a live action film, with the hope it can become a franchise. Skydance has gotten control of the John Flanagan book series, and has closed a big deal with Hidden Figures helmer Ted Melfi to adapt, direct, and produce the film. Kim Quinn will also be producer.

Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger will produce alongside Melfi and Quinn. Flanagan will be executive producer, and Matt Grimm will oversee for Skydance.

I’ve heard that Melfi has made a deal worth high 7-figures if the movie gets made. His task will be to take the first two volumes – The Ruins of Gorlan & The Burning Bridge – and get a franchise off the ground that focuses on an orphan named Will who becomes an apprentice to a group of mysterious protectors known as the Rangers.

Exclusive: Canadian streamer Crave has cast Lauren Collins and Megan Follows to lead a six-part short-form comedy, My Dead Mom.

The series follow Emmy, a woman questioning her life choices three years after her mother’s passing. It explores the complicated nature of grief through the filter of mothers and daughters.

Production has begun in production in Toronto, with Follows and Collins starring. Rounding out the cast are Rainbow Sun Francks (High Fidelity), David Reale (The Boys), Daniel Maslany (Murdoch Mysteries), Daniel Kash (Slasher) and guest star Matt Murray (In the Dark).

Synopsis reads: “Emmy wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail after her mother died, she was just really busy. But three years on now, her grief is catching up with her. As she questions her lipstick and life choices, her dead mother, Fern, pops into her life...

The reviews are in for Warner Bros.' much-ballyhooed Barbie movie. Based on the Mattel fashion dolls, the film teams director and co-writer Greta Gerwig with stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling for an adventure that finds Barbie and Ken leaving Barbie Land in search of self-discovery in the real world. Since filming began in 2022, Barbie has been one of the most discussed movies in recent memory, with viral set photos and trailers generating an insane amount of hype online.

Now, ahead of the Barbie movie's release date in a few days, critics have begun sharing their reviews. They are overwhelmingly positive and praising the movie as a fun and entertaining romp, though they also point out how surprisingly profound it is. Check out a few excerpts from the reviews below:

Tatiana Hullender, Screen Rant

Everything about Barbie is crafted with both mass appeal and personal insight, much like the doll,...

Nouvelles Vagues, a new international festival dedicated to films about youth, is set to make a splashy debut Wednesday in Biarritz, a surf haven in southwestern France, with Penélope Cruz as its inaugural guest of honor.

Launching with partners such as Chanel and leading French pay TV banner Canal+, Nouvelles Vagues was founded by fashion veteran Jérôme Pulis, who worked at Christian Dior for 16 years and producer Sandrine Brauer. The pair have enlisted former Locarno artistic director Lili Hinstin as programming chief.

The festival is kicking off Wednesday evening with the screening of Tina Satter’s “Reality,” the Berlinale breakout film starring Sydney Sweeney, followed by a gala dinner hosted by Chanel. “Reality” was acquired by HBO Films for North America on the heels of its critically acclaimed world premiere at Berlin. Metropolitan FilmExport, the French distributor of “Reality,” is holding the local premiere of “Reality” at Nouvelles Vagues ahead...

Cinephile Game Night has returned this year for Cinephile Summer, a brand new season featuring your favorite podcasters and filmmakers going head-to-head to see who is the ultimate cinephile. Hosted by The Film Stage’s Jordan Raup, Conor O’Donnell, and Dan Mecca along with Cinephile: A Card Game creator Cory Everett, the series will debut new episodes bi-weekly on The Film Stage Show podcast feed and The Film Stage YouTube channel.

For the first episode of Cinephile Summer, launching today, we were thrilled to face off against our friends at The Letterboxd Show, featuring Mitchell Beaupre, Matt “Slim” Kolowski, Mia Vicino, and special guest Chandler Levack, whose debut feature I Like Movies is now available digitally in Canada. Watch/listen below and stay tuned for episodes featuring One Heat Minute, We Hate Movies, and more!

Each episode features teams facing off for rounds of Filmography, Movie-Actor and Six Degrees...

The new dramedy by the up-and-coming writer-director Chandler Levack, titled I Like Movies, keenly captures the life of high schooler Lawrence Kweller, who is obsessed with movies like no other kid around. Set in 2002, the story chronicles Lawrence’s final days of high school. He hopes to get into New York University’s film program to become a filmmaker. In order to save for the tuition fees, he gets a job at a video store and starts to develop feelings for his store manager, who once worked in movies as an actress. Lawrence’s temperamental problems start coming to the forefront as his friendship with his best friend Matt begins to dissolve when Matt involves another girl in the making of the high school’s year-end video.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In ‘I Like Movies’?

Lawrence Kweller is the only son of single mom Terri. Lawrence’s best friend is Matt Macarchuck,...

’The Martini Shot’, starring Matthew Modine, John Cleese and Derek Jacobi, will also world premiere.

The Galway Film Fleadh has lined up a number of world premieres of Irish films for this year’s festival, which runs from July 11-16, including Lisa Mulcahy’s Lies We Tell, George Kane’s Apocalypse Clown and The Martini Shot, starring Matthew Modine, John Cleese and Derek Jacobi.

Lies We Tell is the story of an heiress who is forced to embrace her family’s dark legacy, starring Agnes O’Casey, David Wilmot, Holly Sturton and Chris Walley. Produced by Blue Ink Films and backed by Screen Ireland,...

Viewership Record

Indian streaming service JioCinema claimed a record for the number of concurrent viewers this week. It reported that 32 million viewers were simultaneously using its service to watch the Ipl cricket final match between The Chennai Super Kings and the Gujarat Titans. The platform’s previous peak was 25 million. Chennai eventually won the rain-affected and one-day delayed match

Dark Matter

Warner Bros Discovery (Wbd) has removed its bouquet of 14 channels from Indonesia’s TV largest platform, Mnc, ending decades-long affiliate arrangements, Content Asia reported. The decision, confirmed by Wbd, involves channels from HBO and Cartoon Network to Discovery and TLC, all of which came off air on May 12. The move is understood to be the culmination of a payments disagreement. In November last year, beIN removds its sports service from Mnc. Wbd content remains available on three smaller platforms in Indonesia, IndiHome First Media and Trans.

Location Attraction

Ausfilm,...

Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s “The Beasts” (Spain), Lilo and Camilo Vilaplana’s “Plantadas” (U.S.), Hansel Porras Garcia’s “Febrero”, Chandler Levack’s “I Like Movies” (Canada) and Pavel Giroud’s “The Padilla Affair” were among the winners at the 40th edition of Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival, which ran March 3-12.

“The Beasts,” won the festival’s top awards, including the top jury prize, the $25,000 Knight Marimbas trophy and the Rene Rodriguez Critics nod. In addition to the two awards, “The Beasts” composer, Oliver Arson was recognized for his soundtrack and awarded the Alacran Music in Film Award, he was selected by Art of Light (Composer) Award honoree Nicholas Britell.

“Febrero” and “Plantadas” both were awarded $45,000 for the ​​Knight Made in Mia Film Award after the two made their world premieres.

In addition “Plantadas” received the Audience Feature Film Award, while Aitch Alberto’s “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe...

We talk perhaps a bit too much about films that are 'love letters to cinema', a term adorned too widely. Instead, maybe what we need a more odes to the cinephile. I count myself among that group, but then perhaps there is a specific kind of cinephile that needs an ode: one whose obsession reaches almost manic heights, one that sees everyone that doesn't agree with him and every film that doesn't meet his exhaustive standards, as beneath him. But there is also a lot to love in that cinephile, if you know how to bring out their heart. So let's call Chandler Levack's feature debut, I Like Movies, an ode to the cinephile. And what a tremendous debut it is. Inciteful, smart, funny, heartfelt,...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

The official trailer for the upcoming Canadian comedy film “I Like Movies” has arrived.

The film, which premiered at TIFF in September 2022 and recently screened as part of their Top Ten Film series, is the feature debut from Toronto-based director Chandler Levack.

Read More: New CBC Show ‘Push’ Is Canada’s First Major-Network Primetime Series Featuring Leading Cast With Disabilities

The official film synopsis reads: “Socially inept 17-year-old cinephile, Lawrence Kweller (Isaiah Lehtinen) gets a job at a video store, where he forms a complicated friendship with his older female manager.”

We're excited to present the new poster for...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (Sbiff) announced its winning films at a ceremony this morning in Santa Barbara.

“This 38th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival drew filmmakers from as far as Turkey, India, Israel, and Sierra Leone, half of whom were women,” said Sbiff’s Programming Director, Claudia Puig. “We were delighted with the enthusiastic reception to our diverse program of 200 films from 43 countries. Cinema is one of the most powerful vehicles for empathy, providing a window of understanding to all who seek to look through it. We thank the filmmakers in attendance and our avid Santa Barbara audience for so heartily embracing the festival experience. Several films prompted standing ovations and packed theaters, marking 2023 a full-throttled return to celebrating cinema from around the globe.”

The 38th Santa Barbara International Film Festival took place February 8 – February 18. Official events included screenings, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and celebrity tributes,...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced its prizewinners Saturday morning, with “26.2 to Life,” directed by Christine Yoo, winning the audience choice award. The Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema went to “I Like Movies,” directed by Chandler Levack, while the international feature film award went to “A Man (Aru Otoko),” directed by Kei Ishikawa. “A Bunch of Amateurs,” directed by Kim Hopkins, won the documentary award.

See more winners here:

Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema: Manuela Directed by Clara Cullen

Best Middle Eastern/Israeli Film Award: The Taste Of Apples Is Red Directed by Ehab Tarabieh

Best Nordic Film Award: Summerlight And Then Comes The Night (SUMARLJÓS Og Svo Kemur NÓTTIN) Directed by Elfar Aðalsteins

Social Justice Award for Documentary Film: Black Mambas Directed by Lena Karbe

Adl Stand Up Award, sponsored by Adl Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, the Skinner Social Impact Fund, and Steve & Cindy Lyons...

The Vancouver Film Critics Circle has named Everything Everywhere All at Once as its best international feature of 2022.

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert were also named best directors for their award season contending comedy, which also earned Michelle Yeoh the crown as best actress. Earlier, A24’s Everything Everywhere All at Once led the field for the 95th Academy Awards with 11 nominations, including best picture.

The international film categories at the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards, handed out Monday night, also saw Martin McDonagh pick up the best screenplay trophy for The Banshees of Inisherin, which also had Colin Farrell winning for best actor and co-star Brendan Gleeson named best supporting actor. The Searchlight film picked up nine Oscar nominations.

Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley won for best supporting actress for her performance in Women Talking, Laura Poitras’ All the Beauty and the Bloodshed was named best documentary of 2022 and Netflix’s...

Sales include re-release deal for ’Welcome To The Dollhouse’ in UK.

Visit Films, which is jetting in to Berlin to launch EFM sales on Berlinale section Dreams’ Gate among other titles, has announced a wave of deals on recent festival hits including a US deal and multiple territories on last year’s Berlin Silver Bear winner Robe Of Gems.

Natalia Lopez’s tale of redemption, family and violence in Mexico will open in the US this summer through Monument Releasing and has also gone to Madman Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand, as well as Mubi for Italy, Baltics, Africa,...

Under veteran Executive Director Roger Durling, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival has thrived by surfing the awards season wave and programming a ton of onstage interviews with Oscar contenders.

This year’s edition marks a return to a fully live, in-person film festival. The festival will showcase 52 world premieres and 78 U.S. premieres from 43 countries, along with free community education and outreach programs.

Every year, screenwriters, directors, and producers promote their films on panels, and the likes of Kristen Stewart, Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Bong Joon Ho, Adam Driver, Renée Zellweger, Laura Dern, Viola Davis, Lupita Nyong’o, Saoirse Ronan, Bruce Dern, Jeff Bridges, Melissa McCarthy, Isabelle Huppert, Viggo Mortensen, Rami Malek, Glenn Close, Ben Affleck, Christopher Nolan, Sam Elliott, and many more submit to in-depth tributes.

The panels, tributes, and special screenings lure local cinephiles and Academy members eager to hear Oscar contenders talk about their creative process. All...

The Santa Barbara Intl. Film Festival celebrates movies and the people who make them.

One essential element of Sbiff is its focus on film education. With a carefully curated program, executive director Roger Durling says, “We’re educating your average filmgoer that comes to the festival.” Every event — from panels to tributes — is designed to teach, he says. This includes awards celebrating renowned stars including Angela Bassett, Brendan Fraser and Cate Blanchett.

“The format is a 90-minute conversation,” he says. “It’s not an awards evening where the person shows up and gets the award. Cate Blanchett will be on stage talking about her craft and career.”

Beyond staples such as films and panels, the program includes a variety of educational opportunities for cinephiles of all ages. For Durling, one of the most exciting parts of Sbiff is the Film Studies Program in which 30 undergraduate students from around the country...

Six world premieres, 16 European and international premieres and 70 UK premieres feature in the line-up

Glasgow Film Festival (Gff) has unveiled the full line-up for its 19th edition, taking place March 1-12, with the UK premiere of Nida Manzoor’s Sundance title Polite Society the closing night film.

The festival will screen 123 features, including six world premieres, 16 European and international premieres and 70 UK premieres.

Polite Society is the feature debut of Screen Star of Tomorrow 2021 Nida Manzoor, who created Channel 4 and Peacock series We Are Lady Parts.

Her first feature is an action comedy about an aspiring stuntwoman who tries...

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival announced plans Wednesday for 52 world premieres and 78 U.S. premieres spanning a total of 43 countries throughout the 11-day event.

“At a time where there’s a dwindling of movie theater attendance, the role of film festivals has never been more important,” said Sbiff executive director Roger Durling. “At Sbiff, with the 38th edition, our marching orders are clear, to celebrate movies and to nurture and exalt the film community, the artists as well as the cinephiles. It’s a great slate with 43 countries represented.”

The festival starts Feb. 8 with the world premiere of “Miranda’s Victim” from director-producer Michelle Danner. The period piece is set in the year 1963 and documents the true story of Patricia “Trish” Weir (Abigal Breslin), who attempts to put her abuser behind bars after being kidnapped and sexually assaulted at 18 years old.

Director Chandler Levack’s “I Like Movies” will...

The 38th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will run Feb. 8-18, will open with Miranda’s Victim, one of 52 world premieres in this year’s lineup, and will close with the U.S. premiere of I Like Movies, one of 78 U.S. premieres, the fest announced Wednesday.

These are, of course, in addition to a slew of the career-retrospective tributes for which the fest is famous, which this year will celebrate the likes of Cate Blanchett, Brendan Fraser, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, as well as panels with breakthrough artists, artisans, directors, writers, producers, female creatives and international filmmakers.

The fest will also offer a variety of free educational programs, including Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies (for 4,000-plus fourth through sixth grade students from low-income schools throughout Santa Barbara County), which this year will feature a screening of Guillermo del Toro...