Directed by Matthew Miele & Justin Bare


Review by Allan Tong

You've likely seen this iconic image. But in February 1964, nobody expected a "pop" group of English moptops called The Beatles to last. Similarly, nobody bet on a loudmouthed black boxer named Cassius Clay to become the world heavyweight champion.

Scottish-born photographer Harry Benson wasn't lucky to photograph these two legends crossing paths--he was smart and hard-working. A fine, new documentary by Matthew Miele and Justin Bare reveals that it was Benson's idea to pair the Fab Four with Clay (later to rename himself Muhammed Ali). The Beatles were Miami, Benson needed shots for his editor, and Clay/Ali was in town.

Benson's images graced Life magazine and other major media outlets for decades. He's photographed scores of celebs such as Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Jack Nicholson and Judy Garland as well as politicians including the Clintons, Reagans and Martin Luther King. Arguably, Benson rises above the herd of celebrity photographers because of his memorable hard news images.

He photographed Robert Kennedy at play with his children, but also as he lay dying on a kitchen floor in Los Angeles amid chaos and screams. Benson was also there with his camera as the Berlin Wall went up, then down, three decades apart. He also risked safety to chronicle civil rights marches and police beatings in the racist American South of the mid-60s, as well as a Ku Klux Klan cross burning. Twenty years later he stayed in a Somali camp to photograph the bony limbs of children dying from horrific famine.

These images are recounted in Shoot First largely through Benson's recollections. Weighing in are his assistant, daughters, wife/manager, Gigi and subjects like film director James Brooks, Joe Namath, Sharon Stone and Robert Kennedy's daughter, Kerry.

Benson's mind is sharp and his energy high in this film. Shoot First praises him, perhaps too much. We learn that the young Benson started shooting on London's Fleet Street, but don't quite understand how this cutthroat environment shaped him. Benson is driven and works hard, but what else? Does his obsessiveness come at a price to his family or himself?

Still, Shoot First is a delight for fans of photography and pop culture who wish to hear Benson's stories bring to life his images of the past 50 years.

Director: Stephen Gaghan
Writers: Stephen Gaghan, Patrick Massett and John Zinman
Featuring: Matthew McConaughey, Édgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll

Review by Allan Tong

Matthew McConaughey sports a pot belly and bald head to portray Kenny Wells, half of a goldmining team that hits the jackpot in Indonesia in this morality play loosely based on the Bre-X scandal of 1993. Performances by him and his partner in business, Édgar Ramírez (as Michael Acosta), and love, Bryce Dallas Howard (as Kay) are sound, but we never quite fall behind Wells and cheer him as he strikes it rich nor pity him as he slides down.

It doesn't help that Gold film takes a long time to establish in the first half-hour, belatedly building to the jackpot moment. Similarly, the resolution (no spoilers here) unnecessarily takes too many detours and saps the ending of its power. The film ends on a whimper. A judicious editor with a large pair of scissors would have boosted the narrative immeasurably.

The story itself is intriguing. The message of greed, though nothing new, is certainly appropriate. What's missing is a director to milk moments of achievement (i.e. discovering the gold and getting rich) with euphoria and giddiness. Think of American Hustle or most Scorsese gangster pictures and how those anti-heroes wallow in shameless materialism then suffer for their hubris. Those high notes are missing from Gold.

Entertaining in places, though overall not memorable. Wait for this one to hit Netflix.

Director: Ben Affleck
Writer: Ben Affleck
Featuring: Ben Affleck, Zoe Saldana, Chris Cooper, Sienna Miller

ChinoKino score: B

Review by Allan Tong

A showcase of Ben Affleck's talents behind and in front of the camera, Live by Night is an uneven gangster flick redeemed by an intriguing storyline and moments of poignancy that raise this film above pulp fiction.

Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, Live by Night is about Joe Coughlin (Affleck), a disillusioned World War I vet and the bad son of a Boston police captain, who goes into bootlegging during Prohibition.

There are scores of films about the Italian mob, but few about the Irish. This is a welcome change. Coughlin's ethnicity continues to play a role after the bloody first act set in 1920's Boston. Live by Night then shifts to Tampa, Florida after Coughlin barely survives Irish rival, Albert White and leaves behind his love, Emma Gould (Sienna Miller).

1920's Tampa is an uneasy melting pot of blacks, Cubans, other Latin Americans and the Klan. Coughlin strikes a deal with the Italian mob to create a rum-running empire. He inevitably clashes with the Klan, who despise the Papist Coughlin and his black-Latino girlfriend (Zoe Saldana), but strikes an alliance with Tampa Sheriff, Irving Figgis (Chris Cooper). Coughlin prospers until Figgis' born-again daughter threatens his plan of opening a giant casino, backed by Italian mobster Maso Pescatore (Remo Girone).

I haven't read Lehane's book, but no novel fits neatly into a two-hour film. A book needs to be streamlined by discarding subplots and removing unnecessary characters. I suspect Affleck hasn't done enough condensing, since the first 20 minutes of the film are quite busy, then the story takes an abrupt turn that nearly breaks the story's overall flow. Further, the Emma Gould romance is completely unnecessary.


However, Sheriff Figgis and his daughter, Loretta (Elle Fanning), uplift the second part of the film with an unexpected twist (no spoilers here). Chris Cooper lends Figgis depth and pathos to avoid a one-dimensional character. Saldana is a fine actress, but her character is underwritten, so she remains the obligatory gangster's wife in the background.

However, it's groundbreaking to see an interracial couple in a gangster flick or Hollywood blockbuster. In fact, race plays an important undercurrent throughout the film. America in the 20's and early-30's is a land of casual bigotry where Klansman terrorized at will. It's rare to see an American film capture this historic climate of intolerance--and we need these reminders in 2017.

As for Affleck, I didn't think he was right for this role until the very end. He's underplaying it too much, I thought. He needs to play Coughlin bigger, a little less Michael Corleone of the first two Godfathers and a little more Tony Soprano. But Affleck's icy calm serves the climax well and avoids the bombast that mars too many gangster tales.

Live by Night is messy in places and sprawls, but it has moments that shine and is worth a look.

Director: Barbara Kopple

ChinoKino score: A-

Review by Allan Tong

Originally released before her death last November, Miss Sharon Jones! now serves as a memoriam to the late, great soul singer. This heartwrenching film by renown documentarian, Barbara Kopple (Harlan Country, U.S.A.), and just released on Netflix, chronicles Jones' battle against pancreatic cancer for seven months in 2013 after her diagnosis. It's not your typical glossy music doc, but a war movie.

First of all, Jones was an anomaly in the youthful world of music. She struggled for many years signing in wedding bands and even working as a corrections officer at Rikers Island before gaining fame in her fifties. As she recounts in the film, record execs told her she was too black, too fat and too short to make it big. Thankfully, she proved them wrong.

The only weakness of Kopple's film is that it hardly touches on Jones' early struggles. Jones' pre-cancer life remains sketchy to newbies and fans alike and would have explained where her perseverance and positivity to fight cancer came from.

Miss Sharon Jones! chronicles the battle she waged, and anyone who's lost a friend or relative to cancer will recognize this war. Jones weeps as a barber shaves off her bouncy locks of hair. At a studio rehearsal, she vetoes a tour because she's too weak to dance onstage, never mind stand. Famous for her acrobatics onstage, like her idol James Brown, a bald, thin Jones laments that she can only sit for now.



Cancer affects not only Jones, but the people around her. Her managers struggle to keep bookings going yet bend over backwards to accommodate their star's health. The Dap Kings, possibly the greatest soul band on the planet, support their friend, but also wonder how they can pay their mortgages, since the banks have read that Jones has cancer. Reality vs.showbiz.

What remains constant is that voice. Jones was the heir to the great soul shouters of the sixties (Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding) comparable to Amy Winehouse (who also recorded with the Dap Kings). Even emaciated and undergoing chemo, Jones can still raise a church roof as seen in an amazing scene where she sings gospel or on the Ellen show when she recovers enough to roar and shake her hips again.

However, as she regains that strength, Jones knows that the cancer can return at any moment. The monster never goes away, and unfortunately we know her outcome. But this film offers a ray of hope, as symbolized by Jones' music. She's dancing and singing in the face of death, that there's something worth fighting for, something to live for even against the odds.

And that's heroic.

The nominations for the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards were announced today in joint press conferences in Montreal and Toronto. Montreal director Xavier Dolan’s It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde and Space’s series Orphan Black are the leading nominees for this year’s Canadian Screen Awards.

Dolan’s French-language drama It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde leads the film portion with nine nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for French actor Vincent Cassel.

Orphan Black leads the televion categories with 14 nominations. CBC comedy “Schitt’s Creek followed with 13 nominations, while another of their comedies “Kim’s Convenience had 11. “19-2 and “Vikings each received nine nominations.

Christopher Plummer had been previously announced as the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards.

Howie Mandel hosts the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards, to be broadcast live from Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts on Sunday, March 12.


FILM

Best Motion Picture
Bad Seeds | Les mauvaises herbes– Luc Vandal, Lorraine Dufour
Before the Streets | Avant les rues– Chloé Leriche
Hello Destroyer– Daniel Domachowski, Haydn Wazelle
It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde– Nancy Grant, Sylvain Corbeil, Xavier Dolan
Old Stone– Xianjian Wu, Chi-an Lin, Jing Wang, Sarah Stallard
Operation Avalanche– Matthew Miller, Lee Kim, Matt Johnson
Race– Louis-Philippe Rochon, Dominique Séguin, Jean-Charles Lévy, Luc Dayan
Searchers | Maliglutit– Zacharius Kunuk
Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves | Ceux qui font les revolutions à moitié n’ont fait que se creuser un tombeau– Hany Ouichou
Weirdos– Marc Almon, Mike MacMillan, Bruce McDonald

Achievement in Art Direction / Production Design
André-Line Beauparlant – Bad Seeds | Les mauvaises herbes
Aidan Leroux, Joel Richardson – Born to Be Blue
David Brisbin, Isabelle Guay, Jean-Pierre Paquet – Race
Emmanuel Fréchette – Two Lovers and a Bear
Matt Likely – Weirdos

Achievement in Cinematography
Glauco Bermudez – Before the Streets | Avant les rues
André Turpin – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde
Josée Deshaies – Nelly
Mingkai Leung – Old Stone
Scott Moore – Werewolf

Achievement in Costume Design
Marjatta Nissinen – The Girl King
Patricia McNeil – Nelly
Megan Oppenheimer – Operation Avalanche
Mario Davignon – Race
Bethana Briffett – Weirdos

Achievement in Direction
Chloé Leriche – Before the Streets | Avant les rues
Kevan Funk – Hello Destroyer
Xavier Dolan – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde
Matt Johnson – Operation Avalanche
Mathieu Denis, Simon Lavoie – Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves | Ceux qui font les revolutions à moitié n’ont fait que se creuser un tombeau

Achievement in Editing
Claude Palardy – Bad Seeds | Les mauvaises herbes
Michael Long – Old Stone
Richard Comeau – Two Lovers and a Bear
Duff Smith – Weirdos
Ashley McKenzie – Werewolf

Achievement in Makeup
Lynda McCormack – Born to be Blue
Maïna Militza, Denis Vidal – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde
Melissa Meretsky, Jennifer Walton, Lisa Belyea – The Northlander
Natalie Trépanier, Réjean Goderre – Race
Kathryn Casault – Two Lovers and a Bear

Achievement in Music – Original Score
Todor Kobakov, Steve London, David Braid – Born to be Blue
Michael White – HEVN (Revenge)
Alain Mayrand – Numb
Jesse Zubot – Two Lovers and a Bear
Taymaz Saba – Window Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming

Achievement in Music – Original Song
Nikan Boivin – Before the Streets | Avant les rues– “Sokecimoyekw”
David Braid – Born to be Blue– “Could Have Been”
Daniel Stimac – A Date with Miss Fortune– “Almost Had it All”
Camille Poliquin, Laurence Lafond-Beaulne – King Dave– “Natalie”
Matthew Schellenberg – Lovesick – “Draw Blood”

Achievement in Overall Sound
Marcel Chouinard, Philippe Lavigne, Stéphane Bergeron, Shaun-Nicholas Gallagher, Louis Collin – Bad Seeds | Les mauvaises herbes
Francois Grenon – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde
Sylvain Brassard, Michel Lecoufle, Stephen De Oliveira, Nicholas Gagnon – King Dave
Matt Chan – Operation Avalanche
Claude La Haye, Luc Boudrias, Pierre-Jules Audet – Race

Achievement in Sound Editing
Sylvain Brassard, Guy Francoeur, Benoit Dame, Guy Pelletier – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde
Sylvain Brassard, Guy Pelletier, Christian Rivest – King Dave
Matt Chan, James Patrick, Frieda Bay – Operation Avalanche
Pierre-Jules Audet, Jérôme Décarie, Michelle Cloutier, Stan Sakell, Jean-François Sauvé, Mathieu Beaudin, François Senneville, Luc Raymond, Jean-Philippe Saint-Laurent – Race
Miguel Nunes, Ryan Thompson, Gina Mueller, Maureen Murphy – The Unseen

Achievement in Visual Effects
Tristan Zerafa – Operation Avalanche
Martin Lipmann, Cynthia Mourou, Benoit Touchette, Jonathan Piché-Delorme, Frédéric Breault – Race
Bob Habros, Adele Venables, Julika Pape, Milos Djakovic, Adam Kube, Mike Wearing, Richard Darwin – The Unseen

Adapted Screenplay
Xavier Dolan – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde
Bachir Bensaddek – Montreal, White City | Montréal la blanche
David Bezmozgis – Natasha

Original Screenplay
Kevan Funk – Hello Destroyer
Stella Meghie – Jean of the Joneses
Johnny Ma – Old Stone
Zacharius Kunuk – Searchers | Maliglutit
Daniel MacIvor – Weirdos

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Jared Abrahamson – Hello Destroyer
Gang Chen – Old Stone
Stephan James – Race
Lawrence Barry – Riverhead
Andrew Gillis – Werewolf

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Jacques Newashish – Before the Streets | Avant les rues
Vincent Cassel – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde
Michael Reventar – Kidnap Capital
Henry Czerny – The Other Half
Evan Mercer – Riverhead

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Carmen Ejogo – Born to be Blue
Nathalie Doummar – Boundaries | Pays
Sasha K. Gordon – Natasha
Tatiana Maslany – The Other Half
Bhreagh MacNeil – Werewolf

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Kwena Bellemare Boivin – Before the Streets | Avant les rues
Nathalie Baye – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde
Sherri Shepherd – Jean of the Joneses
Gabrielle Tremblay – Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves | Ceux qui font les revolutions à moitié n’ont fait que se creuser un tombeau
Molly Parker – Weirdos

Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary
Gulîstan, Land of Roses– Zaynê Akyol, Fanny Drew, Sarah Mannering, Yanick Létourneau, Mehmet Aktas, Denis McCready
I Am the Blues– Daniel Cross, Bob Moore, Mila Aung-Thwin, Bruce Cowley
KONELĪNE: our land beautiful– Nettie Wild, Betsy Carson
The Prison in Twelve Landscapes– Brett Story
Waseskun– Steve Patry, Nathalie Cloutier, Denis McCready, Colette Loumède

Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Documentary
Chris Romeike – Giants of Africa
Joan Poggio – Gun Runners
John Price – I Am the Blues
Van Royko – KONELĪNE: our land beautiful
Derek Rogers – The Skyjacker’s Tale

Best Editing in a Feature Length Documentary
Eric Pedicelli – Black Code
Dave De Carlo – Giants of Africa
Mathieu Bouchard-Malo – Gulîstan, Land of Roses
Michael Brockington – KONELĪNE: our land beautiful
Nathalie Lamoureux – Waseskun

Best Short Documentary
Frame 394– Rich Williamson, Shasha Nakhai, Ed Barreveld
The Road to Webequie– Ryan Noth, Tess Girard
Stone Makers– Jean-Marc E. Roy, Colette Loumède, Denis McCready, Claudia Chabot
This River– Katherena Vermette, Erika MacPherson, Alicia Smith, David Christensen
Tshiuetin– Caroline Monnet, Eric Cinq-Mars

Best Live Action Short Drama
A Funeral for Lightning– Emily Kai Bock
Mutants– Alexandre Dostie, Hany Ouichou, Gabrielle Tougas-Fréchette
Oh What a Wonderful Feeling– François Jaros, Fanny-Laure Malo
Star– Emilie Mannering, Fanny Drew, Sarah Mannering
Wild Skin– Ariane Louis-Seize, Jeanne-Marie Poulain, Hany Ouichou

Best Animated Short
Blind Vaysha– Theodore Ushev, Marc Bertrand
I am Here– Eoin Duffy, Maral Mohammadian, Shirley Vercruysse
I Like Girls– Diana Obomsawin, Marc Bertrand
Mamie– Janice Nadeau, Marc Bertrand, Corinne Destombes
Red of the Yew Tree– Marie-Hélène Turcotte, Felix Dufour-Laperrière

TELEVISION 

Best Dramatic Series
19-2– Bravo (Bell Media)
Blood & Water– OMNI (Rogers Media)
Orphan Black– Space (Bell Media)
This Life– CBC (CBC)
Vikings– History (Corus Entertainment)

Best Comedy Series
Kim’s Convenience– CBC (CBC)
Letterkenny– CraveTV (Bell Media)
Mohawk Girls– APTN (Aboriginal People’s Television Network)
Mr. D– CBC (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek– CBC (CBC)

Best Reality / Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada– CTV (Bell Media)
Big Brother Canada– Global (Corus Entertainment)
Canada’s Smartest Person– CBC (CBC)
Knock Knock Ghost– OUTtv (OUTtv)
Masterchef Canada– CTV (Bell Media)

Best Animated Program or Series
Beat Bugs– Netflix (Netflix)
The Curse of Clara: A Holiday Tale– CBC (CBC)
The Deep– Family CHRGD (DHX)
Fangbone!– Family CHRGD (DHX)

Best Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series
Hip-Hop Evolution– HBO Canada (Bell Media)
Interrupt This Program– CBC (CBC)
Justice for MLK: The Hunt for James Earl Ray– Histoire (Corus Entertainment)
Loretta Lynn: Still A Mountain Girl– Documentary Channel (CBC)

Best Children’s or Youth Fiction Program or Series
Backstage– Family Channel (DHX)
Degrassi: Next Class– Family Channel (DHX)
Make It Pop– YTV (Corus Entertainment)
Odd Squad– TVOKids (TVO)
Wild Kratts– TVO (TVO)

Best Children’s or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series
Gaming Show (In My Parents’ Garage)– Family Channel (DHX)
Science Max: Experiments at Large– TVO (TVOkids)
We Are Savvy– Family Channel (DHX)

Best Documentary Program
Hold Your Fire– National (CBC)
Looking For Mike– CBC – Firsthand (CBC)
My Millennial Life– TVO (TVO)
Survivors Rowe– TVO (TVO)
Wasted– CBC (CBC)

Best Factual Program or Series
Curse of the Frozen Gold– History (Corus Entertainment)
Keeping Canada Alive– CBC (CBC)
Real Detective– Netflix  (Netflix)
Still Standing– CBC (CBC)
This Is High School– CBC (CBC)

Best History Documentary Program or Series
Newfoundland at Armageddon– CBC (CBC)
The Pass System– APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)
Reunion of Giants– Documentary Channel (CBC)
War Story: Afghanistan– History (Corus Entertainment)

Best Lifestyle Program or Series
Cityline– City (Rogers)
Great Canadian Cookbook– Food Network Canada (Corus Entertainment)
Leave it to Bryan– HGTV (Corus Entertainment)
Masters of Flip– W Network (Corus Entertainment)
You Gotta Eat Here!– Food Network Canada (Corus Entertainment)

Best Live Entertainment Special
2016 Canadian Screen Awards– CBC (CBC)
etalk @ the Oscars– CTV (Bell Media)
The Tragically Hip – A National Celebration– CBC (CBC)

Best Live Sports Event
2015 Grey Cup– TSN (Bell Media)
Game 6, Stanley Cup Final– Sportsnet (Rogers)
NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 4– TSN (Bell Media)
Rio 2016– CBC (CBC)

Best Local Newscast
CBC News: Here & Now– CBC (CBC)
CBC Toronto News– CBC Toronto (CBC)
CTV News Toronto at 6– CTV Toronto (CTV News)
Global News Hour at 6– Global (Corus Entertainment)

Best Music Program or Series
iHeartRADIO Much Music Video Awards– Much (Bell Media)
The JUNO Awards 2016– CTV (Bell Media)
WE Day– CTV (Bell Media)

Best National Newscast
CBC News Network with Ian Hanomansing– CBC News Network (CBC)
CBC News: The National– CBC (CBC)
CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme– CTV News (Bell Media)
Global National– Global (Corus Entertainment)

Best News or Information Program
CBC News: Marketplace – Toxic Jewelry– CBC (CBC)
CBC News Special Presentation – Face to Face with the Prime Minister– CBC (CBC)
W5: Healing Hands– CTV (Bell Media)

Best News or Information Segment
CBC News: The National– “Another Choice – CBC (CBC)
CBC News: The National– “Dirty Work – CBC (CBC)
CBC News: The National– “Captured in Carnage – CBC (CBC)
CBC News: The National– “Catching up with the Farwans – CBC (CBC)
the fifth estate– “The Boy on the Beach – CBC (CBC)

Best News or Information Series
CBC News: Marketplace– CBC (CBC)
Daily Planet– Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
the fifth estate– CBC (CBC)
W5– CTV (Bell Media)

Best News Special
2015 Federal Election– CTV News (Bell Media)
CBC News: Beaumont-Hamel 100th– CBC Newfoundland and Labrador (CBC)
CBC News: Canada Votes – Election Night: October 19th– CBC (CBC)
Decision Manitoba– Global Winnipeg (Corus Entertainment)
Fort McMurray Wildfire Evacuation– Global Edmonton (Corus Entertainment)

Best Performing Arts Program
The Adventures of Pericles– CBC (CBC)
The Taming of the Shrew– CBC (CBC)

Best Pre-School Program or Series
The Adventures of Napkin Man– CBC (CBC)
Kids’ CBC Training Day– CBC (CBC)
PAW Patrol– TVO (TVO)
Peg + Cat– Treehouse (Corus Entertainment)
Scout & The Gumboot Kids– Kids’ CBC 1 (CBC)

Best Reportage, Local
CBC Vancouver News at Six– “Online Revenge Arrest – CBC British Columbia (CBC)
Global BC– “Missing Plane Found – Global (Corus Entertainment)
Global News at 5:30 and 6:00– Global (Corus Entertainment)
Life and Death Decisions– CICT Global (Corus Entertainment)

Best Reportage, National
Campus Sexual Harassment: A CBC News Investigation– CBC (CBC)
CBC News: The National– “Trapped at the Border – CBC (CBC)
CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme– “On the Front Line: Iraq – CTV News (Bell Media)
Global National– CHAN (Corus Entertainment)

Best Science or Nature Documentary Program or Series
Kenya Wildlife Diaries– Love Nature (Blue Ant Media)
Moose: A Year in the Life of a Twig Eater– CBC (CBC)
My Brain Made Me Do It– CBC (CBC)
Trapped in a Human Zoo– CBC (CBC)
Volcanic Odysseys– Love Nature (Blue Ant Media)

Best Sports Feature Segment
Believe in Ryp– TSN (Bell Media)
El Presidente– TSN (Bell Media)
Gordie Howe Segment– Sportsnet (Rogers)
Radical Play– TSN (Bell Media)
Stephen Brunt’s Ali Essay– Sportsnet (Rogers)

Best Sports Opening/Tease
Jays Post Season Opening Tease – Sportsnet (Rogers)
Raptors Playoff/Marcus Stroman– Sportsnet (Rogers)
Rio 2016– CBC (CBC)
Toronto Argonauts Season Opener– TSN (Bell Media)

Best Sports Program or Series
Against All Odds: The RCAF Flyers– Sportsnet (Sportsnet)
The Equalizer– CBC (CBC and Société Radio-Canada)
Journey to the Grey Cup: 2015 Edmonton Eskimos– TSN (Bell Media)
Muhammad Ali – The Greatest– Sportsnet (Rogers)
Sinaloa to the Show – The Robert Asuna Story– Sportsnet (Rogers)

Best Talk Program or Series
etalk’s Ultimate Oscar Guide 2016– CTV (Bell Media)
InnerSpace– Space (Bell Media)
The Marilyn Denis Show– CTV (Bell Media)
The Social- CTV/CTV TWO/M3/E! (Bell Media)

Best TV Movie or Limited Series
Murdoch Mysteries – A Merry Murdoch Christmas– CBC (CBC)
Odd Squad: The Movie– TVOKids (TVO)
Slasher– Super Channel (Allarco Entertainment)
Unclaimed– CBC (CBC)

Best Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series
Baroness Von Sketch Show– CBC (CBC)
The Beaverton– The Comedy Network (Bell Media)
Canada’s Walk of Fame 2015– Global (Corus Entertainment)
This Hour Has 22 Minutes– CBC (CBC)

Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program
After the Last River– Documentary Channel (CBC)
I, Pedophile– CBC (CBC)
Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr– Documentary Channel (CBC)
The War at Home– CBC (CBC)

CRAFT CATEGORIES

Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research
Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven– TVO (TVO)
The Pass System– APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)
Trapped in a Human Zoo– CBC (CBC)
War Story: Afghanistan– History (Corus Entertainment)
While You Were Sleeping– CBC (CBC)

Barbara Sears Award for Best Visual Research
Against All Odds: The RCAF Flyers– Sportsnet (Rogers)
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah– Documentary Channel (CBC)
The Fifth Estate– “The Fire Breather: The Rise and Rage of Donald Trump” – CBC (CBC)
How to Change the World– HBO Canada (Bell Media)
Ron Taylor: Dr. Baseball– Bravo (Bell Media)

Best Achievement in Make-Up
Dark Matter– “Welcome to Your New Home” – Space (Bell Media)
Frontier– “Mushkegowuk Esquewu” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Murdoch Mysteries– “Summer of ’75” – CBC (CBC)
Reign– “Clans” – CTV (Bell Media)
Wynonna Earp– “Diggin’ Up Bones” – CHCH (Channel Zero)

Best Costume Design
Frontier– “Wolves” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Murdoch Mysteries– “Unlucky in Love” – CBC (CBC)
Reign– “Clans” – CTV (Bell Media)
Wynonna Earp– “Keep the Home Fires Burning” – CHCH (Channel Zero)
X-Company– “Black Flag” – CBC (CBC)

Best Direction in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series
Degrassi: Next Class– “#ThisCouldBeUsButYouPlayin” – Family Channel (DHX)
The Mystery Files– “The Mystery Behind the Mask” – TVOKids (TVO)
Odd Squad– “The First Day” – TVOKids (TVO)
Odd Squad– “Failure to Lunch” – TVO (PBS & TVO)
Science Max: Experiments at Large– “How You Build It” – TVO (TVOkids)

Best Direction in a Comedy Program or Series
Kim’s Convenience– “Gay Discount” – CBC (CBC)
Letterkenny– “Super Soft Birthday” – CraveTV (Bell Media)
Mohawk Girls– “Pinó Noir” – APTN (Aboriginal People’s Television Network)
Schitt’s Creek– “Moira’s Nudes” – CBC (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek– “Happy Anniversary” – CBC (CBC)

Best Direction in a Documentary or Factual Series
Hello Goodbye– “Second Chances” – CBC (CBC)
Hip-Hop Evolution– “From the Underground to the Mainstream” – HBO Canada (Bell Media)
Interrupt This Program– “Beirut” – CBC (CBC)
Still Standing– “Vanastra” – CBC (CBC)
War Story: Afghanistan– “The Long Way Home” – History (Corus Entertainment)

Best Direction in a Documentary Program
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah– Documentary Channel (CBC)
Girls Night Out– CBC (CBC)
Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr– Documentary Channel (CBC)
How to Change the World– HBO Canada (Bell Media)
Moose: A Year in the Life of a Twig Eater– Main (CBC)

Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series
Amber Alert– The Movie Network (Bell Media)
Hamlet– CBC (CBC)
Murdoch Mysteries – A Merry Murdoch Christmas– CBC (CBC)
Slasher– Super Channel (Allarco Entertainment)
Unclaimed– CBC (CBC)

Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
19-2– “Water” – Bravo (Bell Media)
Frontier– “A Kingdom Unto Thyself” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Orphan Black– “Transgressive Border Crossing” – Space (Bell Media)
Vikings– “Promised” – History (Corus Entertainment)
Vikings– “The Last Ship” – History (Corus Entertainment)

Best Direction in a Lifestyle or Information Program or Series
Imagining Canada– Documentary Channel (CBC)
Love It or List It Vacation Homes – “Margaret & Barbara” – W Network (Corus Entertainment)
Survivorman– “Lost on Park Trails – Patagonia” – OLN (Rogers)
Vikings Season 4 Special– Global (Corus Entertainment)
You Gotta Eat Here!– “Florence Addition – All’Antico Vinaio” – Food Network Canada (Corus Entertainment)

Best Direction in a Live Sporting Event
2015 Grey Cup– TSN (Bell Media)
2016 IIHF World Junior Gold Medal Game– TSN (Bell Media)
Calgary Stampede– CBC (CBC)
Rio 2016– CBC (CBC)

Best Direction in a Reality / Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada– “For Those About to Rock” – CTV (Bell Media)
Big Brother Canada – “Finale” – Global (Corus Entertainment)
Canada’s Smartest Person– “Episode 208” – CBC (CBC)
Survivor Special– Global (Corus Entertainment)
Tornado Hunters– “The Manitoba Monster” – CMT (Corus)

Best Direction in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series
Baroness Von Sketch Show– “Last Year You Weren’t Forty” – CBC (CBC)
The Beaverton– “103” – The Comedy Network (Bell Media)
Rick Mercer Report– “Episode 7” – CBC (CBC)
This Hour Has 22 Minutes– “Episode 6” – CBC (CBC)
The Tragically Hip – A National Celebration– CBC (CBC)

Best Direction in an Animated Program or Series
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Camping!– Treehouse TV (Corus Entertainment)
Fugget About It– “What the F#@k is the Grey Cup” – Adult Swim (Corus Entertainment)
Inspector Gadget– “Gadget 2.0 Part ½” – Teletoon (Corus Entertainment)
Justin Time– “Babushka’s Bear” – Family Jr. (DHX)
PAW Patrol– “Pups Save Friendship Day” – TVO (TVO)

Best Original Music for a Non-Fiction Program or Series
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah– Documentary Channel (CBC)
Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr– Documentary Channel (CBC)
How to Change the World– HBO Canada (Bell Media)
Moose: A Year in the Life of a Twig Eater– Main (CBC)
Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven– TVO (TVO)

Best Original Music Score for a Program
Crossfire– The Movie Network (Bell Media)
L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables– YTV (Corus Entertainment)
Love Under the Stars– Hallmark Channel (Hallmark)
Murdoch Mysteries – A Merry Murdoch Christmas– CBC (CBC)
Odd Squad: The Movie– TVOKids (TVO)

Best Original Music Score for a Series
19-2– “City” – Bravo (Bell Media)
Orphan Black– “The Scandal of Altruism” – Space (Bell Media)
The Romeo Section– “The China Shop” – CBC (CBC)
Wynonna Earp– “House of Memories” – CHCH (Channel Zero)
X-Company– “Black Flag”– CBC (CBC)

Best Photography in a Comedy Program or Series
Kim’s Convenience– “Frank & Nayoung” – CBC (CBC)
Mr. D– “Gerry Turns 40” – CBC (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek– “Finding David” – CBC (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek– “Happy Anniversary” – CBC (CBC)
Sensitive Skin– “Episode 203” – HBO Canada (Bell Media)

Best Photography in a Documentary Program or Factual Series
Kenya Wildlife Diaries– “Vanishing Wilderness” – Love Nature (Blue Ant Media)
Moose: A Year in the Life of a Twig Eater– Main (CBC)
Newfoundland at Armageddon– CBC (CBC)
Real Detective– “Darkness – Netflix (Netflix)
Real Vikings: Age of Invasion– History (Corus Entertainment)

Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or Series
19-2– “Rescue” – Bravo (Bell Media)
Blood & Water– “Episode 108” – OMNI (Rogers Media)
Orphan Black– “From Dancing Mice to Psychopaths” – Space (Bell Media)
Reign– “In a Clearing” – CTV (Bell Media)
The Romeo Section– “A String of Pearls” – CBC (CBC)

Best Photography in a Lifestyle or Reality / Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada– “Who’s Ready to Let It All Hang Out?” – CTV (Bell Media)
Love It or List It Vacation Homes– “Kelly & Brent” – W Network (Corus Entertainment)
Masters of Flip– “Color Code” – W Network (W Network)
Survivorman– “Lost on Park Trails” – Patagonia – OLN (Rogers)
Tornado Hunters– “The Manitoba Monster” – CMT (Corus Entertainment)

Best Photography in a News or Information Program, Series or Segment
aptn Investigates: DEFIANCE– APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)
CBC News: The National– “Ethiopia on Edge” – CBC (CBC)
The Fifth Estate– “Why Didn’t We Know?” – CBC (CBC)
W5: Born Free– CTV (Bell Media)

Best Photography in a Variety Program or Series
HumanTown– CBC (CBC)
This Hour Has 22 Minutes– “Episode 6” – CBC (CBC)
The Tragically Hip – A National Celebration– CBC (CBC)
Rick Mercer Report– “Episode Five” – CBC (CBC)
Sunnyside– “War Is Hell” – City (Rogers)

Best Picture Editing in a Comedy Program or Series
Schitt’s Creek– “Happy Anniversary” – CBC (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek– “Moira’s Nudes” – CBC (CBC)
Letterkenny– “Ain’t No Reason To Get Excited” – CraveTV (Bell Media)
Letterkenny– “Super Soft Birthday” – CraveTV (Bell Media)
Kim’s Convenience– “Gay Discount” – CBC (CBC)

Best Picture Editing in a Documentary Program or Series
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah– Documentary Channel (CBC)
Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr– Documentary Channel (CBC)
Hip-Hop Evolution– “From the Underground to the Mainstream” – HBO Canada (Bell Media)
Interrupt This Program– “Medellin” – CBC (CBC)
Rock Icons– “Daryl Hall – The Soul Man” – HBO Canada (Bell Media)

Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series
19-2– “Burn Pile” – Bravo (Bell Media)
Orphan Black– “The Scandal of Altruism” – Space (Bell Media)
Vikings– “The Last Ship” – History (Corus Entertainment)
Vikings– “Kill the Queen” – History (Corus Entertainment)
Vikings– “The Profit and the Loss” – History (Corus Entertainment)

Best Picture Editing in a Factual Program or Series
CBC News: Marketplace– “Are We Racist?” – CBC (CBC)
Hello Goodbye– “Second Chances” – CBC (CBC)
Hello Goodbye– “Honour the Past” – CBC (CBC)
Keeping Canada Alive– “Episode 1001” – CBC (CBC)
This Is High School– “Grade 9 is the Worst Year” – CBC (CBC)

Best Picture Editing in a Reality/Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada– “Who’s Ready to Let it All Hang Out” – CTV (Bell Media)
The Amazing Race Canada– “Second Place Isn’t Good Enough” – CTV (Bell Media)
Big Brother Canada– “Finale” – Global (Corus Entertainment)
Chopped Canada– “Redemption – Gone Too Soon” – Food Network (Corus Entertainment)
Masterchef Canada– “Season 3 Finale” – CTV (Bell Media)

Best Picture Editing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series
Baroness Von Sketch Show– “If the Killer is Watching” – CBC (CBC)
The Beaverton– “103” – The Comedy Network (Bell Media)
Canada’s Walk of Fame 2015– Global (Corus Entertainment)
HumanTown– CBC (CBC)
Rick Mercer Report– “Episode Nineteen” – CBC (CBC)

Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Fiction Program or Series
Dark Matter– “Welcome to Your New Home” – Space (Bell Media)
Frontier– “A Kingdom Unto Thyself” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Murdoch Mysteries– “24 Hours til Doomsday” – CBC (CBC)
Orphan Black– “Human Raw Material” – Space (Bell Media)
Reign– “Spiders in a Jar” – CTV (Bell Media)

Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Non-Fiction Program or Series
2016 Canadian Screen Awards– CBC (CBC)
Big Brother Canada– “Premiere” – Global (Corus Entertainment)
Canada’s Worst Driver– “Soaked and Wet” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Real Detective– “Vengeance” – Netflix (Netflix)
The Tragically Hip – A National Celebration– CBC (CBC)

Best Sound in a Comedy or Dramatic Program or Series
19-2– “Burn Pile” – Bravo (Bell Media)
Dark Matter– “We Voted Not to Space You” – Space (Bell Media)
Orphan Black– “The Scandal of Altruism” – Space (Bell Media)
Vikings– “The Last Ship” – History (Corus Entertainment)
X-Company– “Butcher and Bolt” – CBC (CBC)

Best Sound in a Non-Fiction Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada– “Shine Your Light” – CTV (Bell Media)
Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr– Documentary Channel (CBC)
Highway Thru Hell– “War Zone” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Real Vikings: Age of Invasion– History (Corus Entertainment)
Sonic Magic: The Wonder and Science of Sound– CBC (CBC)

Best Sound in a Variety or Animated Program or Series
Canada’s Walk of Fame 2015– Global (Corus Entertainment)
The Deep– “Here Be Dragons” – Family CHRGD (DHX)
The JUNO Awards 2016– CTV (Bell Media)
The Tragically Hip – A National Celebration– CBC (CBC)
WE Day– CTV (Bell Media)

Best Visual Effects
Beauty and the Beast– “Au Revoir” – Showcase (Corus Entertainment)
Killjoys– “How to Kill Friends and Influence People” – Space (Bell Media)
Orphan Black– “From Dancing Mice to Psychopaths” – Space (Bell Media)
Vikings– “The Last Ship” – History (Corus Entertainment)
Wynonna Earp– “I Walk the Line” – CHCH (Channel Zero)

Best Writing in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series
Annedroids– “The Mother of Invention Part 2” – TVOKids (TVO)
Bruno & Boots: Go Jump In The Pool– YTV (Corus Entertainment)
Degrassi: Next Class– “#YesMeansYes” – Family Channel (DHX)
Odd Squad– “The First Day” – TVOKids (TVO)
The Stanley Dynamic– “The Stanley Wild Weekend” – YTV (Corus Entertainment)

Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series
Kim’s Convenience– “Ddong Chim” – CBC (CBC)
Kim’s Convenience– “Gay Discount” – CBC (CBC)
Letterkenny– “Super Soft Birthday” – CraveTV (Bell Media)
Mohawk Girls– “Going Native” – APTN (Aboriginal People’s Television Network)
What Would Sal Do?– “Punches Pilot” – CraveTV (Bell Media)

Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series
Hip-Hop Evolution– “From the Underground to the Mainstream” – HBO Canada (Bell Media)
How to Change the World– HBO Canada (Bell Media)
Rock Icons– “Geddy Lee – The Maestro” – HBO Canada (Bell Media)
The War at Home– CBC (CBC)
The Woman Who Joined The Taliban– CBC (CBC)

Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series
L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables– YTV (Corus Entertainment)
Murdoch Mysteries – A Merry Murdoch Christmas– CBC (CBC)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: From Paris with Love– E! (Bell Media)
Slasher– Super Channel (Allarco Entertainment)
Swept Under– The Movie Network (Bell Media)

Best Writing in a Dramatic Series
19-2– “Water” – Bravo (Bell Media)
Orphan Black– “The Collapse of Nature” – Space (Bell Media)
Orphan Black– “The Stigmata of Progress” – Space (Bell Media)
Orphan Black– “Transgressive Border Crossing” – Space (Bell Media)
Wynonna Earp– “Purgatory”> – CHCH (Channel Zero)

Best Writing in a Factual Program or Series
Highway Thru Hell– “My Purpose is to Protect” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Mayday– “Fatal Delivery” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Polar Bear Town– “Quest for the Cubs” – OLN (Rogers)
Real Detective– “Malice” – Netflix (Netflix)
Still Standing– “Vanastra” – CBC (CBC)

Best Writing in a Lifestyle or Reality / Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada– “Toads! Are you Kidding Me?” – CTV (Bell Media)
Canada’s Worst Driver– “The Checkered Flag” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Food Factory– “Easy as ABC” – Food Network Canada (Corus Entertainment)
Masterchef Canada– “Yes, No, Maybe So” – CTV (Bell Media)
Survivorman– “Lost on Park Trails”

Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series
Baroness Von Sketch Show– “I Can’t Believe This Used to Take Days” – CBC (CBC)
The Beaverton– “Episode 103” – The Comedy Network (Bell Media)
This Hour Has 22 Minutes– “Episode 3” – CBC (CBC)
Rick Mercer Report– Episode 7 – CBC (CBC)
Sunnyside– “Volcano” – City (Rogers)

Best Writing in an Animated Program or Series
Fangbone!– “The Field Trip of Mayhem Part ½” – Family CHRGD (DHX)
Fangbone! – “The Polluted Light of Destiny” – Family CHRGD (DHX)
Knuckleheads– “The Revenge of Jack Curtis” – Adult Swim Canada (Corus / Teletoon)
Nerds and Monsters– “Bee-Hive Yourself” – YTV (Corus Entertainment)
Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race– “Bahamarama” – Cartoon Network Canada (Corus

PERFORMANCE CATEGORIES

Best Achievement in Casting
Frontier– “A Kingdom Unto Thyself” – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Kim’s Convenience– “Frank & Nayoung” – CBC (CBC)
Letterkenny– “Rave” – CraveTV (Bell Media)
Schitt’s Creek– “Bob’s Bagels” – CBC (CBC)
Vikings– “Yol” – History (Corus Entertainment)

Best Host in a Lifestyle, Talk or Entertainment News Program or Series
Bake with Anna Olson– Anna Olsen – Food Network (Corus Entertainment)
etalk Presents: Adele– Danielle Graham – CTV (Bell Media)
Great Canadian Cookbook– Noah Cappe – Food Network Canada (Corus Entertainment)
Masters of Flip– Kortney Wilson, Dave Wilson – W Network (W Network)
Still Standing– Jonny Harris – CBC (CBC)

Best Host in a Variety or Reality/Competition Program or Series
2016 Canadian Screen Awards– Norm Macdonald – CBC (CBC)
Canada’s Smartest Person– Jessi Cruickshank – CBC (CBC)
The Great Canadian Screen Test– Steve Patterson – CBC (CBC)
iHeartRADIO Much Music Video Awards Red Carpet– Chloe Wilde, Jus Reign, Jillea – Much (Bell Media)
The JUNO Awards 2016– Jann Arden, Jon Montgomery – CTV (Bell Media)

Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series
CBC News Ottawa– Adrian Harewood – CBC (CBC)
CBC News: Power & Politics– Rosemary Barton – CBC News Network (CBC)
CBC News: The National– Wendy Mesley – CBC (CBC)
Mansbridge One on One– Peter Mansbridge – CBC & CBC News Network (CBC)
W5– Kevin Newman – CTV (Bell Media)

Best News Anchor, Local
CBC News: Here & Now– Debbie Cooper, Jonathan Crowe, Ryan Snoddon – CBC Newfoundland and Labrador (CBC)
CBC Nova Scotia News– Tom Murphy, Amy Smith – CBC Halifax (CBC)
CBC Vancouver News at Six– Andrew Chang – CBC British Columbia (CBC)
CTV News Edmonton– Daryl McIntyre – CTV (Bell Media)
Global BC– Sophie Lui, Chris Gailus – Global (Corus Entertainment)

Best News Anchor, National
CBC News Network with Heather Hiscox– Heather Hiscox – CBC News Network (CBC)
CBC News Network with Ian Hanomansing– Ian Hanomansing – CBC News Network (CBC)
CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme– Lisa LaFlamme – CTV News (Bell Media)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Kim’s Convenience– Paul Sun-Hyung Lee – CBC (CBC)
Letterkenny– Jared Keeso – CraveTV (Bell Media)
Mr. D– Gerry Dee – CBC (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek– Daniel Levy – CBC (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek– Eugene Levy – CBC (CBC)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
19-2– Adrian Holmes – Bravo (Bell Media)
Blackstone– Eric Schweig – APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)
Frontier– Landon Liboiron – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Frontier– Jason Momoa – Discovery Channel (Bell Media)
Motive– Louis Ferreira – CTV (Bell Media)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series
19-2– Dan Petronijevic – Bravo (Bell Media)
Blood & Water– Simu Liu – OMNI (Rogers Media)
Orphan Black– Kevin Hanchard – Space (Bell Media)
Versailles– Evan Williams – Super Channel (Allarco Entertainment)
X-Company– Torben Liebrecht – CBC (CBC)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role or Guest Role in a Comedic Series
Kim’s Convenience– “Janet’s Photos” / “Ddong Chim” – Andrew Phung – CBC (CBC)
Letterkenny– “Super Soft Birthday” / “Fartbook” – Nathan Dales – CraveTV (Bell Media)
Mr. D– “Out Cold” – Jonathan Torrens – CBC (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek– “Bob’s Bagels” – John Hemphill – CBC (CBC)
What Would Sal Do?– “Vince’s Uncle” – Ryan McDonald – CraveTV (Bell Media)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series
The Adventures of Pericles– Evan Buliung – CBC (CBC)
Hamlet– Geraint Wyn Davies – CBC (CBC)
Slasher– Steve Byers – Super Channel (Allarco Entertainment)
The Taming of the Shrew– Ben Carlson – CBC (CBC)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Kim’s Convenience– Andrea Bang – CBC (CBC)
Kim’s Convenience– Jean Yoon – CBC (CBC)
Sensitive Skin– Kim Cattrall – HBO Canada (Bell Media)
Schitt’s Creek– Catherine O’Hara – CBC (CBC)
What Would Sal Do?– Jennifer Dale – CraveTV (Bell Media)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Blackstone– Carmen Moore – APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)
Motive– Kristin Lehman – CTV (Bell Media)
Orphan Black– Tatiana Maslany – Space (Bell Media)
Reign– Megan Follows – CTV (Bell Media)
Saving Hope– Erica Durance – CTV (Bell Media)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series
Between– Shailyn Pierre-Dixon – City TV (Rogers)
Saving Hope– Michelle Nolden – CTV (Bell Media)
Slasher– Wendy Crewson – Super Channel (Allarco Entertainment)
This Life– Lauren Lee Smith – CBC (CBC)
X-Company– Lara Jean Chorostecki – CBC (CBC)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role or Guest Role in a Comedic Series
Mr. D– “Student Teacher” – Lara Jean Chorostecki – CBC (CBC)
Mr. D– “Gerry Coaches Fencing” – Naomi Snieckus – CBC (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek– “Bob’s Bagels” / “Moira’s Nudes” – Emily Hampshire – CBC (CBC)
Sensitive Skin – “Episode 202” – Mary Walsh – HBO Canada (Bell Media)
You Me Her– “Sweet Home Colorado” – Laine MacNeil – HBO Canada (Bell Media)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series
L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables– Sara Botsford – YTV (Corus Entertainment)
Murdoch Mysteries – A Merry Murdoch Christmas– Hélène Joy – CBC (CBC)
Odd Squad: The Movie– Millie Davis – TVOKids (TVO)
Unclaimed– Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers – CBC (CBC)

Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series
Annedroids– Addison Holley – TVOKids (TVO)
Hi Opie!– Jordan Lockhart – TVO, Rogers Broadcasting Limited, Knowledge Network (TVO, Rogers Broadcasting Limited, Knowledge Network)
Lost & Found Music Studios– Jeni Ross – Family Channel (DHX)
The Next Step– Brittany Raymond – Family Channel (DHX)
Odd Squad– Sean Michael Kyer – TVOKids (TVO)

Best Performance in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series
Blackstone– “Super Dad” – Julian Black Antelope – APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)
Forgive Me– “Blessed Is” – Edward Asner – Super Channel (Allarco Entertainment)
Murdoch Mysteries– “Marked Twain” – William Shatner – CBC (CBC)
Orphan Black – “The Antisocialism of Sex” – Gord Rand – Space (Bell Media)
Saving Hope– “Beasts of Burden” – Christine Horne – CTV (Bell Media)

Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble)
Baroness Von Sketch Show– Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne, Jennifer Whalen – CBC (CBC)
The JUNO Awards 2016– Alessia Cara – CTV (Bell Media)
The JUNO Awards 2016– White Horse – CTV (Bell Media)
This Hour Has 22 Minutes– Mark Critch, Cathy Jones, Susan Kent, Shaun Majumder, Meredith MacNeill – CBC (CBC)
The Tragically Hip – A National Celebration Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair – CBC (CBC)

Best Performance in an Animated Program or Series
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Camping!– Martin Short – Treehouse TV (Corus Entertainment)
The Curse of Clara: A Holiday Tale– Saara Chaudry – CBC (CBC)
Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood– Devan Cohen – CBC (CBC)
Knuckleheads– Joe Cobden – Adult Swim Canada (Corus Entertainment)
Peg + Cat– Dwayne Hill – Treehouse (Corus Entertainment)

Best Sports Analyst in a Sports Program or Series
2015 Grey Cup– Glen Suitor – TSN (Bell Media)
2016 IIHF World Hockey Championship Gold Medal Game– Ray Ferraro – TSN (Bell Media)
2016 NBA Playoffs: Heat vs. Raptors Game 7– Jack Armstrong – TSN (Bell Media)
Blue Jays Central– Gregg Zaun – Sportsnet (Rogers)
Rio 2016– Mark Tewkesbury – CBC (CBC)

Best Sports Host in a Sports Program or Series
Free Agent Frenzy– James Duthie – TSN (Bell Media)
Hometown Hockey– Ron Maclean – Sportsnet (Rogers)
Queen’s Plate– Brian Williams – TSN (Bell Media)
Rio 2016– Scott Russell – CBC (CBC)

Best Sports Play-by-Play Announcer
2015 Grey Cup– Chris Cuthbert – TSN (Bell Media)
2016 IIHF World Hockey Championship Gold Medal Game– Gord Miller – TSN (Bell Media)
Blue Jays Baseball– Buck Martinez – Sportsnet (Rogers)
Hockey Night In Canada– Jim Hughson – Sportsnet (Rogers)
Rio 2016– Mark Lee – CBC (CBC)

by Allan Tong
(last update: Feb. 24)

Toronto is a frozen hell-hole in January. Besides paying off Christmas credit card bills and enduring the darkest days of the year, Torontonians have little to enjoy at the start of the year. The Interior Design Show shrewdly fills the void to promote Canadian and world designers of home furnishings while injecting colour and fun into the city.

The Caestarstone Stage was rocking on opening night, but turned into the main stage for guest speakers for the rest of IDS (below).

Suck on a sweet helium balloon at the Partisans Factory booth.

Partisans is produces a line of architectural lights called Gweilo. Yup, that's a light and each is shaped as hot plastic. LED lights are diffused across the sheet. Gweilo lights can be accents, dividers or centrepieces.

Avalon'sNativeStone tub (made of slate) was a show winner last year.

Samsung's futuristic smart refrigerators lets you peek inside when you're shopping at the supermarket. They're about to hit Canada at $7,000.

Storyboard Furniture's lamp will catch attention and light a room.

These beautiful screens by Susan Avishai may look like lace, but they're actually recycled men's dress shirts.

Canadian Tire (above and below) attracted lots of adults painting-by-numbers the Toronto skyline, using its Premier line of paints.

Montreal-based Wetstyle offers a range of bio-friendly bathtubs and sinks, made of soy and mineral stone.

Tatiana Maslany (above) walked away with two big statues at Sunday's Canadian Screen Awards gala in Toronto. That's three if you count the award that Orphan Black (below) snagged for its farewell season. Pretty good for a show that nobody in Canada picked up until BBC America did. Oh, Canada...



Other big winners were Montreal director Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World, the Jesse Owens biopic Race and Letterkenny for best TV comedy series.



The red carpet was more racially diverse than usual with the cast of Mohawk Girls (above), Kim's Convenience, Tattoo Cardinal (receiving the Earle Grey award) and American stand-up superstar, Dave Chappelle (below) posing before the paparazzi .


Chappelle presented a lifetime achievement award to the Just For Laughs Festival, "a national treasure" and compared kinder, gentler Canada to a "little gay brother I didn't know we had."



Christopher Plummer (above in the press room) accepted his lifetime achievement award with grace and wit, insisting, "By no means is this the end. The curtain has not yet fallen. It's simply stuck." It was a high point of the show.
These quips overshadowed Howie Mandel's flat jokes in between awards. Mandel lamely made fun of Paul Sun-Hyung Lee's Korean name, which made the few Asians in the audience fume. Lee had the last laugh by winning best actor in a TV comedy for playing Appa in Kim's Convenience (cast and crew below).


“I’m living in a dream. Thank you so much,” Lee began his acceptance speech. “I have to say that I am an immigrant and I am a Canadian. In this weird sort of political time, the portrayal of an immigrant family on a national broadcaster doing what all families do – which is try to make a life for themselves through the laughter, through the tears, through the fights, through the love – is so much more important now than ever before.”


Complete list of winners for the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards Broadcast Gala

FILM

Best Motion Picture | Meilleur film
It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde– Nancy Grant, Sylvain Corbeil, Xavier Dolan

Achievement in Art Direction / Production Design | Meilleure direction artistique
Emmanuel Fréchette – Two Lovers and a Bear

Achievement in Cinematography | Meilleures images
André Turpin – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde

Achievement in Costume Design | Meilleurs costumes
Patricia McNeil – Nelly

Achievement in Direction | Meilleure réalisation
Xavier Dolan – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde

Achievement in Editing | Meilleur montage
Richard Comeau – Two Lovers and a Bear

Achievement in Make-Up | Meilleurs maquillages
Maïna Militza, Denis Vidal – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde

Achievement in Music – Original Score | Meilleure musique originale
Todor Kobakov, Steve London, David Braid – Born to be Blue



Achievement in Music – Original Song | Meilleure chanson originale
David Braid – Born to be Blue– “Could Have Been”

Achievement in Overall Sound | Meilleur son d’ensemble
Claude La Haye, Luc Boudrias, Pierre-Jules Audet, Patrick Rioux, Nicolas Dallaire – Race

Some of the creative team behind Race

Achievement in Sound Editing | Meilleur montage sonore
Pierre-Jules Audet, Jérôme Décarie, Michelle Cloutier, Stan Sakell, Jean-François Sauvé, Mathieu Beaudin, François Senneville, Luc Raymond, Jean-Philippe St-Laurent – Race

Achievement in Visual Effects | Meilleurs effets visuels
Martin Lipmann, Cynthia Mourou, Benoit Touchette, Jonathan Piché-Delorme, Frédéric Breault – Race

Adapted Screenplay | Meilleure adaptation
Xavier Dolan – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde

Original Screenplay | Meilleur scénario
Daniel MacIvor – Weirdos

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role | Interprétation masculine dans un premier rôle
Stephan James – Race

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role | Interprétation masculine dans un rôle de soutien
Vincent Cassel – It’s Only the End of the World | Juste la fin du monde

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | Interprétation féminine dans un premier rôle
Tatiana Maslany – The Other Half

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role | Interprétation féminine dans un rôle de soutien
Molly Parker – Weirdos

Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary | Meilleur long métrage documentaire
I Am the Blues– Daniel Cross, Bob Moore, Mila Aung-Thwin, Bruce Cowley

Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Documentary | Meilleures images dans un long métrage documentaire
John Price – I Am the Blues

Best Editing in a Feature Length Documentary | Meilleur montage dans un long métrage documentaire
Dave De Carlo – Giants of Africa

Best Short Documentary | Meilleur court métrage documentaire
This River– Katherena Vermette, Erika MacPherson, Alicia Smith, David Christensen

Best Live Action Short Drama | Meilleur court métrage dramatique
Mutants– Alexandre Dostie, Hany Ouichou, Gabrielle Tougas-Fréchette

Best Animated Short | Meilleur court métrage d’animation
Blind Vaysha– Theodore Ushev, Marc Bertrand

TELEVISION

Best Dramatic Series
Orphan Black
Space (Bell Media)
(Temple Street)
David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, John Fawcett, Graeme Manson, Claire Welland, Kerry Appleyard, Tatiana Maslany, Alex Levine, Peter Mohan

Best Comedy Series
Letterkenny
CraveTV (Bell Media)
(New Metric Media)
Mark Montefiore, Patrick O’Sullivan, Jared Keeso, Jacob Tierney

Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
Orphan Black
Space (Bell Media)
(Temple Street)
Tatiana Maslany


Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Schitt’s Creek
CBC (CBC)
(Not A Real Company Productions, Inc)
Catherine O’Hara

Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Comedic Role
Kim’s Convenience
CBC (CBC)
(Thunderbird)
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee


Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
19-2
Bravo (Bell Media)
(Sphere Media Plus)
Adrian Holmes (above)

Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble)
The Tragically Hip – A National Celebration
CBC (CBC)
(Insight Production Company Ltd.)
Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair

Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary Program
Guantanamo’s Child: Omar Khadr
Documentary Channel (CBC)
(White Pine Pictures)
Patrick Reed, Michelle Shephard, Peter Raymont

Best Sports Host in a Sports Program or Series
Rio 2016
CBC (CBC)
Scott Russell

Best Host in a Variety or Reality/Competition Program or Series
2016 Canadian Screen Awards
CBC (CBC)
(Frank Content)
Norm Macdonald

SPECIAL AWARDS


Academy Icon Award
Just for Laughs

Best First Feature Award
Johnny Ma – Old Stone

Cineplex Golden Screen Award for Feature Film
The 3 Little Pigs 2 | Les 3 p’tits cochons 2

Earle Grey Award
Tantoo Cardinal

Fan’s Choice Award
Natasha Negovanlis – Carmilla

Golden Screen Award for TV Drama or Comedy
Murdoch Mysteries
CBC (CBC)
(Shaftesbury)

Golden Screen Award for TV Reality Show
The Amazing Race Canada
CTV (Bell Media)
(Insight Production Company)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Christopher Plummer

From the CSA gala red carpet:

The Baroness von Sketch Show

Gerry Dee of Mr. D and two fans

Helene Joy, Murdoch Mysteries, one of the evening's big winners

Clara Pasieka, Inhuman Condition

Gerry Dee snaps a souvenir with his Mr. D castmates

Before The Streets

Kim Coates, Bad Blood

The producers and director of Operation Avalanche, nominated for best picture

This Hour Has 22 Minutes

Jennifer Dale of What Would Sal Do? glamming it up

Michelle Nolden of Saving Grace

Monique Smart, SODEC. Half of best picture nominees were from Quebec.

Always funny, Rick Mercer

Raptors president Masai Ujiri, and of Giants of Africa

Stephanie Song and Fiona Fu of Blood and Water

The Hello Destroyer star and creators, up for best picture

by Allan Tong

Sundance is entering the streaming game with a new service called Sundance Now. For US$6.99 a month, subscribers access a catalogue of indie features, award-winning docs and some series.

Sundance Now's curator George Schmalz (pictured above, left, formerly of Kino Lorber and Kickstarer) and general manager, Jan Diedrichsen (right) flew up from New York last night to launch the service with a Q&A and brief video presentation at the AGO in Toronto.

Features include Heathers, Rhythm Thief, Dementia 13, Kubrick's obscure early film, Fear and Desire, and Takeshi Kitano's Violent Cop. The documentary selection is particularly notable with titles such as Knuckleball, War Don Don, Burma VJ, Detropia, Wordplay, Bronx Obama and Page One. So far, there are only seven series including two Sundance originals, The Bureau and Take 5: Justice in America which center on espionage and the prison system. Viewers can select titles pre-curated by filmmakers such as Jonathan Demme and Bruce McDonald under the Curators Collection select their own playlists (The Central Park Five and Anvil, respectively).

The cost is US$6.99 a month or US$59.99 a year. Note that Canadians pay based on the US price, so account for the currency exchange.

Will Sundance Now make a dent in the Netflix juggernaut? Hard to say. Canada showed the door to Shomi last year, but Shomi didn't offer any original content which was their fatal flaw. At least Sundance Now has a few original series and offers more obscure but acclaimed indie films than mainstreams VOD channels. It may come down to Sundance and its partners investing in original programming to thrive.

Whatever the case, the current catalogue relects Sundance's indie and social activist bent, qualities the Sundance brand has championed from day one.

(Disclosure: I'm a Sundance Documentary Fellow, and the Sundance Documentary Film has financed one of my films.)

"Writers and crazy people spend time with imaginary characters." - Adam Reed, Archer creator
While constantly fielding pitches, AMC commissions 70 scripts each year, then assigns six to eight writers' rooms (three or four twice a year). Here, they decide which shows to greenlight for production. They don't order pilots.


"Have the courage to tell a story that matters to you. Plumb your own heart of darkness," which are your darkness fears and internal conflicts. - writer and screenwriting coach, Corey Mandell




If you're a writer in Toronto or anywhere and want to pitch AMC, but don't have an agent in Hollywood? Then, partner with a producer, but don't assign him/her ownership. Leave that to AMC who wants to own the show. The days of a prodco licensing say, Mad Men, to AMC are over.

"A story escalates or dies. A great story escalates through its characters' hearts of darkness," their darkest nightmare. - Corey Mandell 


Unsolicited scripts end up in the garbage bin, reveal American producers. Sorry. It's true.


Courtney Jane Walker finds that female Degrassi (Next Generation, Next Class) fans harshly criticize her show's female characters on Twitter more than guys do to male characters.


The "boneyard" of discarded ideas is useful when you need an idea in the clutch, says Kim's Convenience co-showrunner, Kevin White.

Paul Haggis' question to himself and to characters he creates: "What would you for love? What two things? Now...choose one."
Showrunner Marti Noxon never aimed for commercial success, but wound up marrying her personal interests (i.e. anorexia) + genre (thrillers, soaps) + specificity (detail, knowledge of a subject).

"I don't recommend virtual reality. It's as bad as this one." - Motive showrunner, Dennis Heaton (left) with Archer creator Adam Reed

"Daffy Duck is one.of the great villains of all time." Archer animated series creator Adam Reed (right)

Two questions to ask when writing any script, comedy or drama (from Kim's Convenience) (click to enlarge):


U.S. producers more likely to hire a new writer for TV than films given writer's room. A studio can pair a rookie with a veteran scribe.


Paul Haggis, who used to work at a moving company: "We all have jobs. Take the shittiest job, nothing creative....Save that for writing."



Get to the point of a comedy sketch within the first five seconds. Lesson learned from season one of the Beaverton.


The biggest career mistake that writers make: they stop getting better. "Keep pushing yourself to get from good to very good to great to EXTRAORDINARY." - Corey Mandell

For more nuggets of wisdom and photos, find us on Twitter at @chinokino_com

As in recent years, the ICFF will take place in several cities at once. A total of 180 screenings will grace screens from June 8-16 at Toronto's TIFF Bell Lilghtbox as well as in Vaughan, Hamilton, Montreal, Québec City and Vancouver. To honour Canada's 150th birthday, the ICFF will host From Bello to Beautiful: The Art and Impact of Italian-Canadian Cinema, seven days of free screenings starting with Noelle’s Journey, a documentary by Peter Gentile about two immigrants who left southern Italy for a new life in Canada.

“This year’s Festival lineup," explained Cristiano de Florentiis, ICFF's Artistic Director, "focuses on three aspects of Italian cinema: creating a bridge between the classics [De Sica]; welcoming [actress] Paola Cortellesi, who will show the importance of women in film as they headline both the opening and closing screenings, as well as celebrating Canada’s 150th.”


ICFF’s opening film will be Qualcosa di nuovo/Something New, a comedy directed by Cristina Comencini. Other special guests include actors Giancarlo Giannini (above), best known here for Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, and a veteran star in Italy with accolades from Cannes, Locarno and the Italian Golden Globes.


Another acting legend, Franco Nero (Die Hard 2, Django Unchained, above), will grace the ICFF red carpet as will Paola Cortellesi (below) who stars in the opening night film.



For further details about films, the ICFF's school screening program and the opening and closing gala parties, please visit here.

Indivisibili

by Allan Tong

After a decades-long slumber, Italian cinema may finally be waking. It's too soon to call this a golden age or even a revival, but recent films such asThey Called Me Jeeg, which dazzled last year's Italian Contemporary Film Festival, and ones this year--starting tonight through June 16 in cities like Toronto, Vaughan and Montreal--offer hope.


Sure, the ICFF boasts a healthy share of mainstream comedies, such as tonight's opening gala, the crowd-pleasing Qualcosa di nuovo (Something New), but the festival has included some films that offer unique voices and imaginative stories.


Orecchie (Ears) is an eccentric film by shot in scintillating black-and-white with a narrow, square-shaped aspect ratio. It's about a supply teacher who wakes up with a mysterious ringing in his ears. Like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, he encounters one mishap after another, from proselytizing nuns to a mysterious Luigi who has taken his car. Maybe. Director Alessandro Aronadio toys with reality in an episodic, surreal film that's intriguing at times, but lacks direction at others. Despite its flaws, there really is nothing like Orecchie.




Perhaps the best film of this year's festival is Indivisibili (Indivisible). It's about Siamese twins, Daisy and Violet about to turn 18 who seek to split from each other and their exploitive father. Blessed with sweet voices, the twins are fed up with audiences treating them like singing circus freaks. One day, a Swiss doctor offers to separate them as long as they get to his clinic in Switzerland. That'll cost 20,000 Euros, which the twins have earned, but their father has gambled away. The twins escape home to raise the money themselves, but risk their lives. Twins Angela and Marianna Fontana deliver heartbreaking performances, while director Edoardo De Angelis translates Nicola Guaglianone's delicate story into a haunting fable.

For showtimes and tickets to all ICFF film, click here.

Noelle’s Journey screened Saturday evening to a full house at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Directed by Peter Gentile (left), the documentary is about two immigrants who left southern Italy to pursue a new life in Canada. One of their granddaughters, Noelle Elia (right), traces both family's histories by journeying to Italy from Toronto. The film is part of the program From Bello to Beautiful: The Art and Impact of Italian-Canadian Cinema, to honour Canada's 150th birthday. Screenings are free.


The ICFF continues through Friday, June 16 in Toronto, Vaughan, Hamilton, Montreal, Québec City and Vancouver. Recommended: Indivisible. Visit here for the full schedule.

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL REVEALS FIRST GALA AND SPECIAL PRESENTATION TITLES FOR 2017
Featuring premieres from filmmakers including Hany Abu-Assad, Haifaa Al Mansour, Darren Aronofsky, George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Richard Eyre, Stephen Frears, Deniz Gamze Ergüven, Greta Gerwig, Craig Gillespie, David Gordon Green, MahamatSaleh Haroun, Angelina Jolie, Anurag Kashyap, Mélanie Laurent, Sebastián Lelio, Ben Lewin, Martin McDonagh, Hansal Mehta, Olivier Nakache, Alexander Payne, Angela Robinson, Andy Serkis, Eric Toledano, Wim Wenders, Joe Wright and more.

Piers Handling, CEO and Director of TIFF, and Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF, today unveiled the first round of titles premiering in the Gala and Special Presentations programmes of the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival®. Of the 14 Galas and 33 Special Presentations, this first announcement includes 25 World Premieres, eight International Premieres, six North American Premieres and eight Canadian Premieres.

“Festival-goers from around the world can anticipate a remarkable lineup of extraordinary stories, voices and cinematic visions from emerging talent and some of our favourite masters,” said Handling. “Today’s announcement offers audiences a glimpse at this year’s rich and robust selection of films, including works from Canada, USA, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, India, Chile, Egypt and Cambodia.”

“Every year we set the stage for film lovers of all ages and cultural backgrounds to come together and embrace the universal power of cinema,” said Bailey. “As the Festival enters its fifth decade, we’ve challenged ourselves to adapt and build on our strengths, and we look forward to championing a new selection of films that will captivate and inspire global film audiences.”

The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.

GALAS 2017

Breathe Andy Serkis, United Kingdom
World Premiere

The Catcher Was A Spy Ben Lewin, USA
World Premiere

*Closing Night Film*
C'est la vie! Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano, France
World Premiere

Darkest Hour Joe Wright, United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere

Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool Paul McGuigan, United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere

Kings Deniz Gamze Ergüven, France/Belgium
World Premiere

Long Time Running Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, Canada
World Premiere

Mary Shelley Haifaa Al Mansour, Ireland/United Kingdom/Luxembourg/USA
World Premiere

The Mountain Between Us Hany Abu-Assad, USA
World Premiere

Mudbound Dee Rees, USA
International Premiere

Stronger David Gordon Green, USA
World Premiere

Untitled Bryan Cranston/Kevin Hart Film Neil Burger, USA
World Premiere

The Wife Björn Runge, United Kingdom/Sweden
World Premiere

Woman Walks Ahead Susanna White, USA
World Premiere

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2017

Battle of the Sexes Valerie Faris, Jonathan Dayton, USA
International Premiere

BPM (Beats Per Minute) Robin Campillo, France
North American Premiere

The Brawler Anurag Kashyap, India
World Premiere

The Breadwinner Nora Twomey, Canada/Ireland/Luxembourg
World Premiere

Call Me By Your Name Luca Guadagnino, Italy/France
Canadian Premiere

Catch the Wind Gaël Morel, France
International Premiere

The Children Act Richard Eyre, United Kingdom
World Premiere

The Current War Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, USA
World Premiere

Disobedience Sebastián Lelio, United Kingdom
World Premiere

Downsizing Alexander Payne, USA
Canadian Premiere

A Fantastic Woman Sebastián Lelio, Chile
Canadian Premiere

First They Killed My Father Angelina Jolie, Cambodia
Canadian Premiere

The Guardians Xavier Beauvois, France
World Premiere

Hostiles Scott Cooper, USA
International Premiere

The Hungry Bornila Chatterjee, India
World Premiere

I, Tonya Craig Gillespie, USA
World Premiere

*Special Presentations Opening Film*
Lady Bird Greta Gerwig, USA
International Premiere

mother! Darren Aronofsky, USA
North American Premiere

Novitiate Maggie Betts, USA
International Premiere

Omerta Hansal Mehta, India
World Premiere

Plonger Mélanie Laurent, France
World Premiere

The Price of Success Teddy Lussi-Modeste, France
International Premiere

Professor Marston & the Wonder Women Angela Robinson, USA
World Premiere

The Rider Chloé Zhao, USA
Canadian Premiere

A Season in France Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, France
World Premiere

The Shape of Water Guillermo del Toro, USA
Canadian Premiere

*Special Presentations Closing Film*
Sheikh Jackson Amr Salama, Egypt
World Premiere

The Square Ruben Östlund, Sweden
North American Premiere

Submergence Wim Wenders, France/Germany/Spain
World Premiere

Suburbicon George Clooney, USA
North American Premiere

Thelma Joachim Trier, Norway/Sweden/France/Denmark
International Premiere

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Martin McDonagh, USA
North American Premiere

Victoria and Abdul Stephen Frears, United Kingdom
North American Premiere

---

WORLD PREMIERE OF C’EST LA VIE! TO CLOSE THE 2017 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Latest film from duo behind The Intouchables and Samba closes TIFF on Sept 16

TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival® announced today the World Premiere of C’est la vie! as the Closing Night Gala. Written and directed by award-winning filmmakers Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, the film stars Gilles Lellouche, Suzanne Clément, Eye Haïdara, and Jean-Pierre Bacri. C’est la vie! will screen at Roy Thomson Hall on September 16.

“We are proud to announce C’est la vie! as this year’s Closing Night film,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF. “The filmmakers have truly captured the love, laughter, and often chaos that goes into planning our most important milestones, giving audiences a unique point of view to what our lives could look like to people from the outside.”

“Nakache and Toledano make films that the whole world has embraced. We're thrilled to welcome them back with their latest,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. “This will be a terrific way for Toronto to close out the Festival.”

“We are excited to be back at TIFF to present C’est la vie! for the Closing Night film,” stated Nakache and Toledano. “We loved the experience we had at the Festival with Samba and are looking forward to meeting the audience again.”

C’est la vie! tells the story of Max, who has begun to grow tired after running his catering company for 30 years. While planning a large wedding for clients Pierre and Helena, a series of mishaps upends a very tight schedule, and every instant of happiness and emotion could veer into disaster and chaos. From the preparations to daybreak, we get a behind-the-scenes look at a wedding party through the eyes of the people working the event. They will all have to count on their one common quality: knowing how to throw a good party!

C’est la vie! is produced by Nicolas Duval Adassovsky, Laurent Zeitoun and Yann Zenou, who also produced the directing duo’s most recent films Samba and The Intouchables.

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LADY BIRD TO OPEN SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS PROGRAMME AT 2017 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut opens Special Presentations Programme at TIFF

TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival® announced today Lady Bird as the Opening film of the Special Presentations Programme. Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothee Chalamet and Beanie Feldstein.

“We are so pleased to announce Lady Bird as the Special Presentations opener and we know from Frances Ha and Mistress America that Greta Gerwig is an accomplished screenwriter,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF.

“Lady Bird proves she can direct the hell out of a movie as well.”

Lady Bird is an IAC Films Production, produced by Scott Rudin, Eli Bush and Evelyn O’Neill.

---

WORLD PREMIERE OF SHEIKH JACKSON TO CLOSE TIFF SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS PROGRAMME
Michael Jackson–themed work from Egypt’s Amr Salama to cap off the Special Presentations programme

Today the Toronto International Film Festival® announced that the World Premiere of Sheikh Jackson will be the Closing Night Special Presentation. Written and directed by Amr Salama, Sheikh Jackson tells the story of a young imam and former Michael Jackson devotee who falls into a tailspin following the news of the King of Pop’s death.

“We couldn’t be happier to have Sheikh Jackson close the Special Presentations programme and to welcome Amr Salama to TIFF for its World Premiere,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF. “With this film he has provided a deeply personal look at one man’s life through the lens of the passing of his larger-than-life hero. Film lovers can expect a tender and moving account of fandom and faith and their influence on the more intimate aspects of our lives.”

"I'm thrilled to have this film premiere at such a prestigious festival,” said Amr Salama, writer and director, Sheikh Jackson. “Though this film was a collaborative effort, it's my most personal film to date. It's about faith, identity, self-discovery and embracing one's contradictions.”

Sheikh Jackson is produced by Mohamed Hefzy and Hani Osama.


The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017.

For film synopses, cast lists, images and more information see tiff.net/galas and tiff.net/specialpresentations. Festival ticket packages start at $105. Purchase packages online at tiff.net/tickets, by phone (416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433), or in person at TIFF Bell Lightbox until August 13 while quantities last. TIFF prefers Visa.

Social Media:
@TIFF_NET
#TIFF17
Facebook.com/TIFF

About TIFF
TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world, through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution programme Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

by Allan Tong

2017 will be remembered as the downsized TIFF: fewer films, slower sales and smaller red carpets (literally). The Canadian economy is growing, but Hollywood is in a slump, coming off its worst summer box office in over a decade. Inevitably this effects TIFF which the Hollywood studios use (Sept.7-17 this year) as the unofficial launch of the Oscar race. Before the festival, TIFF had already announced the end of the Vanguard and City to City programs and, sadly, the cessation of multimedia exhibitions in its gallery space, such as the dazzling ones to Kubrick and Cronenberg. Of course, the biggest news was TIFF CEO Piers Handling announcing his retirement after the 2018 edition.

The Italian party hosted by Mongrel Media

Where is TIFF headed? Where is the movie industry headed? One answer: the internet.

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writers: Hampton Fancher (also story), Michael Green, based on a Philip K. Dick novel
Featuring: Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks

ChinoKino score: A

Review by Allan Tong

When I heard there would be Blade Runner sequel, I groaned, fearing another Hollywood cash-grab of a classic film. Leave it alone. But when I heard that Quebec's Denis Villeneuve would direct, I contained my skepticism until I saw it. Well, I just saw the new Blade Runner.

Verdict: Mesmerizing.

2049 extends and completes the story of the 1982 original, resuming the storyline where the original film ends: Harrison Ford's Deckard escaping with experimental replicant Rachael (Sean Young). They're lovers in a dangerous time where blade runners like Deckard hunt down man-made replicants.

Villeneuve, DP Roger Deakins, production designer Dennis Gassner and the rest of his crew faithfully update Ridley Scott's vision of a dystopic Los Angeles in 2019. The L.A. of 2049 remains crowded, alienating, polluted and oppressively dark, though it's now radioactive and child slaves pick through computer parts in a factory. Like the original film, 2049's futuristic vistas are stunning and must be seen on the large screen.


Ryan Gosling plays the new blade runner, simply known as "K" while Ford reprises his role 30 years older and greyer. The story [spoiler alert] boils down to K reuniting Deckard with the child he and Rachel gave up many years ago to avoid capture by blade runners.

Beneath this storyline run questions about mortality that enriched the original Blade Runner: What is a human? Who is a soul? What the value of memory? Can a man-made machine have any or all these qualities? 2049 adds another level to the human/computer discourse by weaving in virtual reality through K's "digital" love interest, Joi (Ana de Armas).

2049 is also consistent with the original in tone--futuristic noir, lensed in rich oceans of shadow and darkness. Even the daytime scenes look like night. The pacing is meditative, never rushed. Action scenes avoid today's shallow videogame staccato tempo and instead advance the story. To further link to the 1982 film, characters Gaff (Edward James Olmos) and Rachel (Young) briefly reprise their roles, some with the aid of modern technology.

Though a worthy sequel, 2049 doesn't quite reach the heights of pathos like the original. I'm talking about Roy Batty's death where Rutger Hauer's final words brought tears to audiences alike in 1982.  Also, 2049 falls short of portraying the likely racial make-up of L.A. in 2049. True, women like Robin Wright's character (K's boss) and villain Sylvia Hoeks dominate the cast, but there are few black, Latino, east Asian and south Asian faces here, all of whom populate the streets of L.A. today. I'm afraid this shortcoming will soon date Blade Runner 2049.

Shortcomings aside, Blade Runner 2049 is a worthy successor that honours and builds on the original film. It propels viewers into another world, both foreboding and hypnotic.

IIDEX, Canada's largest architecture and interior design expo, returned yesterday (ending today) to occupy the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Among the two days of panels, awards, talks and receptions, these exhibits caught our eye:
Feelux Canada's seamless LED lights are lightweight, waterproof and malleable, such as the FLX Stix NDPro (pictured below), ideal for retail displays or homes in various colours, and ballparking at $45 per linear foot. These plug 'n' play LEDs snap together like Lego and don't require soldering.



James Clarke-Hicks and Isabel Ochoa (picture below) steam-bent ash to exploit the wood's elasticity to design the SPLIT Lamp. Below, Ochoa demonstrates how to increase the illumination with the simple twist of a knob.

The next generation of Rebels (left to right): Finn, Rey and Tico

Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Featuring: Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Kelly Ann Tran, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver

The Last Jedi thrills Star Wars longtime fans, ties up several story threads, and passes the light sabre to a new generation of characters. Though imperfect, it is one of the best films in the franchise.

[spoiler alert: Read no further if you haven't seen the film. If you have, read on.]

The Last Jedi picks up from 2015's The Force Awakens which introduced the next generation of Star Wars heroes and villains: Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Depending on whether you liked it or not, The Force Awakens either honoured or plagiarized the very first Star Wars. Young junk scavenger Rey was the young Luke Skywalker; Han Solo and Chewbacca reunited in their Falcon; BB-8 was the droid carrying a secret message, and so on.

In contrast, The Last Jedi strikes new ground. For starters, I'm glad it reverses the Yoda-Luke teacher/pupil story from The Empire Strikes Back as elder Luke refuses to teach Rey the ways of the Jedi. Luke, now a hermit on a distant planet, is sickened by the destruction that the Jedis (notably his former pupil Kylo Ren) have wrought. Rey begs Luke, and his obstinancy notches up the tension. Rey is running out of time.



Meanwhile, Finn recovers from his injuries in The Force Awakens, but is caught deserting by mechanic Tico Rose. Played by newcomer Kelly Marie Tran (pictured right, top), Rose is the new character of The Last Jedi and a stunning addition. She's feisty and tough, an underdog orphan bringing the best out of Finn. Tico also adds a belated Asian face to Star Wars and bolsters its feminine presence. Tico Rose modernizes Star Wars.


There's no shortage of battle scenes in space and dazzling light-sabre duels, but telepathy plays a huge role in this film. Crossing the galaxy, Rey "speaks" to Kylo Ren through their minds, wooing him to abandon the Dark Side under Supreme Leader Snoke and join the side of good under the Rebels. Luke takes this kind of telepathy a leap forward when he inevitably faces Kylo Ren in a showdown.

Two things struck me with The Last Jedi. One, there were some laughs. When the Empire blasts a stock-still Luke a thousand times, an unscathed Luke merely wipes his shoulder. More importantly was the poignancy. Everyone knows Carrie Fisher (above) passed away a year ago, so seeing her hurled into space, lifeless and covered in ice, silenced the audience. Later, seeing her and Mark Hamill (below) reunite was touching. You somehow knew those two would not see each other again. (And they joke about their hair.) And it's no secret, given the title, that this is Luke Skywalker's last appearance. How he goes, you don't know. These farewells are executed with class and eloquence, never forced.


Two cameos are worth noting. Benecio del Toro steals his scenes as DJ, a shyster who gets Tico and Finn onto the Empire's mothership to switch off its tracking device, so that the Rebels can try to escape, but then DJ sells them out to the Empire. Then there's Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Holdo. I wasn't sure about her presence or character's motivations at first, but she propels that crucial scene where she slices the Empire's ship in two.

The Last Jedi suffers from a few imperfections. The middle of the film drags a bit and the third act feels extended with one epic battle immediately following another. But I can live with that. What I can't stand are these super-cute puffin birds that pop up on Luke's planet. It's like there's a Cute Quota in each Star Wars and these puffins fulfilled that.

Thank God there is no medal ceremony to neatly end The Last Jedi as in the first and third films. There's enough ambiguity to tantalize the viewer, yet enough closure to satisfy. In The Last Jedi, the past of the original Star Wars closes, and the door to the future--Rey, Tico, Finn, Poe and Kylo Ren--opens. I hope where they lead us is just as wondrous as this chapter.

review by Allan Tong

A day after Canadian interest rates rose and as housing prices continue to flirt with all-time highs, 5,500 Torontonians celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Interior Design Show last night. At the IDS opening party, well-dressed partygoers sipped fine wines from Niagara to California, tasted delicious canopes prepared by local restaurants and, of course, sampled the latest in interior design and furnishings from more than 300 exhibitors. Forget your worries (and winter) and enjoy.

Perrin & Rowe are aglow

Canadian designers Sarah Richardson, Tommy Smythe, Colin & Justin, Arren Williams and international stars Jay Osgerby, Snarkitecture and Kathryn Ireland mingled with the crowd as Bellosound DJ's blasted grooves across the Metro Convention Centre (though no one was dancing). Altogether, the IDS kick-off amounted to a giant TIFF party but with cool furniture. The IDS opener remains one of the prime cultural events of the city.


For the industry and public alike, the IDS continues through Sunday. Designers can attend professional classes, in-person meets with folks like Richardson, and tours (all sold out) of local landmarks, such as the Broadview Hotel and Bisha Hotel. Homeowners can check out the massive floor show (alas, without the food and wine samples) on Saturday and Sunday (not today, Friday). Tickets.

Whipping up Wit cocktails in front of the DJ at the Caesarstone Stage, the central hub of the IDS

Pai Restaurant creates its wing bean salad: blanched wing bean, chilli shrimp paste, toasted coconut and crispy shallots. A food highlight.

Arepa Cafe's mini reina pepiadas - curvy queens: roasted chicken, avocado, red onion and cilantro. Another food highlight.

Hot Bunzz's Spadina BBQ Duck bun: 5-spice BBQ duck, cucumber, orange fennel slaw and hoisin glaze. The most delicious food of the IDS party.

Meyer's Clean Day blends aromotherapy with household cleaning products, like lemon verbena laundry detergeant.

Jan Kath

Bonaldo

Kare

Design Workshop Architects

PrettyHardware.com

Oscar Peterson pianos

Maple Six: 5-year aged cheddar, benedictine bleu and chevre noir

Inbound by Retrobound

Benjamin Moore

Story and photos by Allan Tong