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If you love the eerie worlds created by Stephen King, then you might love the new MGM+ series based on 2019 King’s 2019 novel The Institute. Developed by Benjamin Cavell, the supernatural horror thriller series revolves around Luke Ellis, a genius teen boy and Tim Jamieson, a former police officer, as their lives intertwine after Luke is kidnapped and wakes up in a mysterious institute alongside other kids with unusual abilities.

The Institute – Episode Guide (When Will the New Episodes Come Out?) Credit – MGM+

The Institute consists of eight episodes in total. The supernatural horror thriller series premiered on MGM+ with its first two episodes on July 13, with the rest of the episodes coming out weekly every Sunday. Check out the complete episode guide of The Institute below:

Episode 1 “The Boy” – July 13, 2025 Episode 2 “Shots for Dots” – July 13, 2025 Episode 3 “Graduation...

The tension at the Institute hit an all-time high in Episode 3 and wrapped up with a discovery that changes everything for both the kids and the adults caught up in their orbit. Just as escape plans start to form, we see the episode shift its focus to Dennison, where Tim’s night patrol ends with him stumbling onto a scene that can’t be walked away from. The body in the tent? It’s Annie, and the circumstances in which she’s found don’t add up.

What looked like an overdose is immediately suspicious, especially after Annie’s clear warnings earlier in the episode about avoiding anything that would cloud her senses. So, Tim (played by Ben Barnes) knows she doesn’t drink. The episode ends with more questions than answers, building serious momentum for what’s next. Let’s dive deeper!

The Institute Episode 3 Recap: Avery’s Powers...

The teens of the Institute gain a powerful new ally in the form of 10-year-old Avery (Viggo Hanvelt), an immensely powerful telepath unlike anything anyone there has ever seen. With Avery firmly on the side of the other recruits, Nicky (Fionn Laird) and Luke (Joe Freeman) begin trying to piece together an escape plan. But Ms. Sigsby (Mary-Louise Parker) throws a wrench in their plans when she reveals that another of their number is set to graduate to the Back Half. Meanwhile, in Dennison, Tim (Ben Bares) makes a horrific discovery.

The third episode of The Institute is now available to stream on MGM+, or you can watch it tonight at 10 p.m. Est on the cable channel. Beware Full Spoilers for the episode below.

The Institute Episode 3 review: "Graduation"

"Graduation" very much feels like a set-up episode for the remainder of the season, both at the Institute and in the town of Dennison.

If there’s one thing Stephen King knows, it’s how to write stories about psychic kids. From Danny Torrance (The Shining) to Charlie McGee (Firestarter), the Master of Horror’s early work is filled with precocious children able to infiltrate the minds of those around them and set the world on fire with telekinetic power. King returned to this signature archetype in 2019 with The Institute, a sci-fi horror story about a deadly home for powerful kids. Showrunners Jack Bender and Ben Cavell have adapted this polarizing novel in a limited series for MGM+ that blends YA dystopia with King’s patented brand of heart-wrenching terror. Though engaging and well-made, the series falls short in exploring its source material, merely repacking King’s themes in a glossy new package.

Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman) is a pre-teen genius preparing to go to MIT when he wakes up one morning in a strange environment.

Along with releasing the first episode of The Institute earlier today, MGM+ also treated viewers to the second episode, making for a double premiere. Episode 2 finally explains what the ominous-sounding "shots for dots" test is and what it entails. Outside of the lab, Luke (Joe Freeman) and Nicky (Fionn Laird) consider how they might plan an escape.

Back in the town of Dennison, we get to watch Ben Barnes run around charming people as Tim. He quickly becomes something of a small town hero, and the town's resident "crazy" lady Annie (Mary Walsh) finally mentions the Institute for the first time. For now, these two storylines remain distinct from one another, to the point that I'm not sure how certain elements will tie together, but more on that later.

The second episode is a step up over the first, though it does throw quite a lot of information at viewers...

The first two episodes of new MGM+ series The Institute became available on the streamer today, available via the app and through linear airings on the MGM channel. A new supernatural horror show based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, The Institute introduces newcomer Joe Freeman as telekinetic teen genius Luke Ellis who is promptly kidnapped and placed inside the fortress-like facility known as the Institute alongside other psychically gifted teens.

Our introduction to Luke immediately establishes that he's special, even without his psychic abilities. His first scene shows him taking a test amongst other students, only for him to finish the whole thing within moments. It quickly becomes apparent that he's outgrown his high school and is destined for greater things, like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

But it doesn't take long for Luke to get kidnapped—sorry, recruited—to the Institute, and that's where the show really begins.

The latest Stephen King adaptation, The Institute should be the perfect way to pass time until the new season of Stranger Things is released. Based on King's 2019 novel, The Institute centers around a mysterious facility housing a bunch of teenagers with supernatural abilities. Luke Ellis (Joe Freeman) is our protagonist, and we follow his story as he wakes up in his strange new surroundings and meets Ms. Sigsby (Marie-Louise Parker), the enigmatic head of The Institute.

Outside of the Institute, in a nearby town, we meet Tim Jamieson, a former police officer played by Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone). Tim is eager to get a fresh start, but his peace and quiet doesn't last for long as he soon becomes entangled in the mysteries of the shadowy institution next door.

This supernatural horror series debuts this weekend, kicking off with a two-episode premiere on MGM+. Watch the official trailer below:...

Plot: The story of teen genius Luke Ellis who is kidnapped and awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did, and who are all possessed of unusual abilities. In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won’t last, as his story and Luke’s are destined to collide.

Review: As a die-hard fan of Stephen King, I approach each and every adaptation of his work with a grain of salt. I hope they will be good, but the results can be hit or miss depending on the talent involved. There have been several years where we have gotten multiple movies and series based on or inspired by the writing of King, but 2025 is shaping up to be the most prolific. While The Monkey and...

A pair of true-crime podcasters unearth a cold case from the 1980s and get into all sorts of trouble in the new, Collider-exclusive trailer for Something Undone. Madison Walsh, Michael Musi, and Billy Campbell star in this tale of long-buried secrets and small-town terror. The Canadian-made series will make its US premiere on July 8 on the streaming service MHz Choice.

In the trailer, Musi (Kim's Convenience) plays Farid Kamar, the co-host of the true-crime podcast Unsettled. He's gone to a small town in Newfoundland where a family was brutally murdered in the 1980s: the crime remains unsolved. Walsh (The Expanse) plays his partner Jo, who does all the gruesome foley work for the podcast herself, doing unspeakable things to vegetables to replicate the sounds of tearing flesh and shattering bones; she's back home in Toronto, clearing out her late mother's house. Farid is having trouble getting the locals to talk,...

"There are things going on that you would not believe." Those are the chilling words that open the first trailer for The Institute, the thrilling new MGM+ series based on the novel by Stephen King. Starring Ben Barnes, Mary-Louise Parker and Joe Freeman, the eight-episode first season is set to start streaming on July 13, and if the new preview (seen below) is any indication of how things will go, fans are in for a wild ride.

Showcasing a Stranger Things-like setting, we see Luke Ellis (Freeman) as he's taken from his home and brought to The Institute, a mysterious facility that experiments on kids with special abilities run by the enigmatic Ms Sigsby (Parker). From there, we see some of the horrific experiments they are subjected to, as Barnes' character of Tim Jamieson – a former cop – searches for answers.

Also starring Simone Miller, Jason Diaz, Brendan Beiser, Jordan Alexander and Mary Walsh,...

Exclusive: The Institute, MGM+‘s thriller series based on the 2019 Stephen King novel, has rounded out its cast. Brendan Beiser (The Boys) is set as a series regular, and Mary Walsh (Resident Alien) and Jordan Alexander (Gossip Girl) have been tapped for recurring roles in the series from director/executive producer Jack Bender, writer/executive producer Benjamin Cavell and MGM+ Studios. Production will begin in Nova Scotia later this year.

They join previously announced Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Barnes, Simone Miller and Jason Diaz, along with Joe Freeman, Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway, Julian Richings, Robert Joy, Viggo Hanvelt, Arlen So, Birva Pandya, Dan Beirne, Martin Roach and Jane Luk.

In the eight-episode The Institute, when 12-year-old genius Luke Ellis (Freeman) is kidnapped, he awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did, and who are all possessed of unusual abilities.

Plot: A hilarious headbanger finally makes it after struggling for decades, revealing it was all because of a childhood incident when the dark forces of rock ‘n’ roll reached out from the grave.

Review: I was only eight years old in 1989. Still, I remember this pivotal year that brought the industrial power and angst of Nine Inch Nails‘s “Pretty Hate Machine,” the birth of the internet, and a tectonic shift in the music landscape, paving the way for bands like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Hole to unseat rock ‘n’ roll as the dominant way to headbang and piss off your parents. Before the ’90s became a fashion crisis of drooping Jnco jeans, Sharpie marker skin tattoos, and bathroom sinks stained with Manic Panic, there were people like Dean Murdoch, a headbanger on the verge of emerging from his heavy metal cocoon in the small town of Haylen, Manitoba,...

Canadian rockers, your favorite headbanger is coming back in the comedy Deaner ‘89! As you can tell from the title, this one is set in 1989, and it stars Paul Spence (Fubar and Fubar 2) as his legendary character Dean Murdoch – who, in ’89, was a teenager growing up in suburban Manitoba. A press release lets us know that Deaner is “Captain of the hockey team, with a pretty girlfriend and a great adoptive family – he’s got it all… until a gnarly trunk of his recently deceased birth father’s belongings arrives. Deaner’s life changes when he learns about his heritage and identity in one fell swoop.“ Deaner ’89 will be reaching theatres across Canada on September 6th – and today, we here at JoBlo are proud to premiere the new trailer for the film! You can check it out in the embed above.

Directed by Sam McGlynn from a screenplay by Spence,...

Will Sasso, Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall) and Paul Spence are set to star in Deaner ’89, an action comedy from director Sam McGlynn that has started production in Winnipeg.

Sasso recently starred in the comedy Loudermilk from creators Peter Farrelly and Bobby Mort. He has also starred in MADtv, TV’s $#*! My Dad Says and Less Than Perfect. Star Slade, Maddy Foley and Mary Walsh are part of the ensemble cast for the feature that has Spence, who also wrote the film, reprising his original character, Dean “Deaner” Murdoch from two Fubar movies and a TV series.

Michael Dowse’s 2002 headbanger movie Fubar, about two beer-loving heavy metal musicians, Dean and Terry, played by Spence and Dave Lawrence, debuted at Sundance and was followed by the Fubar TV series and the 2010 movie sequel, Fubar 2.

Indigenous film and TV producer Eagle Vision, a co-producer on Capote, and PSA Productions...

Canada is paying tribute to Gordon Pinsent.

In celebration of National Canadian Film Day (April 19), a series of online and in-theatre events are being held in memory of the late icon of Canadian film, featuring Colm Feore, Mary Walsh and Peter O’Brian.

Read More: Canadian Actor Gordon Pinsent, Who Starred In ‘Away From Her’, Has Died At 92

Speaking with Et Canada, Feore talks about getting involved with the tribute to Pinsent, who died in February at age 92.

“Gordon Pinsent was a huge inspiration for all Canadian artists, writers, directors, actors, etc,” he said, “and a mentor to many as well.”

The actor continued, “So we thought it only fitting to celebrate his legacy by running a series of his films all in a row and then having a discussion, and just a celebration afterwards. So we’re going to do that.”

Feore will be sitting down for a conversation onstage...

CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster and #1 Canadian podcaster, today shared details about the launch of its popular Q with Tom Power show in a podcast-first format. Starting on January 30th, the show - which releases new episodes five days a week– will feature acclaimed interviewer Tom Power sitting down to chat with the artists, writers, actors and musicians who define this cultural moment in time.

Whether he’s ribbing Adele, singing a boyband classic with Simu Liu, or dissecting faith with U2 frontman Bono – Tom brings the same curiosity, respect and meticulous preparation into every interview. Plus, Tom talks to artists on the precipice of stardom – both Lizzo and Billie Eilish were on Q well before becoming Grammy award-winning artists.

Now, the show, launching as a podcast-first incarnation every morning before airing each weekday on radio, will have upcoming guests that include:

Monday, January 30: Sam Smith and Shania Twain Tuesday,...

In 1980, Canada delivered one of the most mind boggling slasher films of all time. Terror Train, directed by Roger Spottiswoode, threw Halloween, Friday the 13th, Animal House, Runaway Train and stage magic into a body bag, shook it up and dumped out a glorious Frankenstein monstrosity featuring Jamie Lee Curtis and David Copperfield. Forty-two years later, this classic oddity gets a modern yet mostly faithful retelling courtesy director Philippe Gagnon.

The premise is exactly the same: a well-to-do fraternity holds a Halloween bash on a privately chartered train only to have their numbers picked off one-by-one. There’s a mysterious magician, played by Tom Rozon in the finest Gary Numan impersonation ever, and an angry killer bent on revenge for the misdeeds of said fraternity. Costumes exchange and body counts rise as both guests and train employees realize someone is out to get them. The main difference is a twist...

Stars: Matias Garrido, Corteon Moore, Robyn Alomar, Noah Parker, Dakota Jamal Wellman, Tim Rozon, Mary Walsh, Emma Elle Paterson, Tori Barban | Written by Ian Carpenter, Aaron Martin | Directed by Philippe Gagnon

Released in 1980 the original Terror Train was one of the many slashers to be released in the wake of Friday the 13th and Halloween. Benefiting from the presence of that film’s star, Jamie Lee Curtis it did well at the box office and has built a following over the years. There was even an attempt to remake it in the early 2000s, but that ended up morphing into Train, a film that sucked even by torture porn standards.

Since the original was a favourite of mine, I was initially interested when I heard it had been remade and was scheduled for an October release. However, when I heard Tubi was involved, a lot of that interest faded. As...

“Schitt’s Creek” and “Blood Quantum” were the big winners in the television and film categories, respectively, at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards.

“Schitt’s Creek” led television honors with eight awards for it’s sixth and final season, including best comedy series; best direction, comedy for Andrew Cividino and Daniel Levy; and the sixth win in a row for Catherine O’Hara as best lead actress in comedy. “Canada’s Drag Race” follows with five wins, including best reality/competition program or series.

Jeff Barnaby’s “Blood Quantum” topped film honors with seven Canadian Screen Awards, including Michael Greyeyes in the performance by an actor in a leading role category. Tracey Deer’s first feature “Beans” won best motion picture, while Deepa Mehta was awarded best achievement in direction for “Funny Boy.” Michelle Pfeiffer won actress in a leading role for “French Exit.”

Recently departed Canadian thespian Christopher Plummer was the recipient of best...

Washington, Jan 9 (Ians) An upgraded SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft is set to transport significantly more science back to Earth next week than possible in previous Dragon capsules, and is the first space station cargo capsule to splash down off the coast of Florida.

In addition, key science experiments returns from the space station through NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the first time since the retirement of the space shuttle, NASA said in a statement late on Friday.

The space experiments include 'Cardinal Heart', which studies how changes in gravity affect cardiovascular cells at the cellular and tissue level using 3D engineered heart tissues, a type of tissue chip.

On January 11, the SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft carrying out the company's 21st commercial resupply services (Crs-21) mission for NASA will undock from the International Space Station (Iss), heading for splashdown off the coast of Florida about 12 hours later.

"Sending...

You may think you’ve already done had yourses, but you haven’t unless you’ve turned your gaze northward for “Canada’s Drag Race.” The new series kicked off July 2nd featuring Canadian model Stacey McKenzie, Canadian television star Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Rpdr season 11 runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes as season-long judges.

In last week’s fourth episode, the nine remaining queens split into three fashion houses to create a 3-look collection of looks using recyclable materials. Rita Baga became the first two-time challenge winner, leading her group to victory with their made-from-plastic creations. On the losing side was Team Paper, with Tynomi Banks and Ilona Verley declared the bottom two of the week. Despite Ilona’s dramatic overreaction and not wanting to go head-to-head against her friend, Tynomi’s third straight trip to the lip sync was one too many and the judges had no choice but to send her home.

Watch: Mary Walsh gives her uncensored take on Harvey Weinstein and sexual misconduct in media industry Note: These videos contain foul language. Please watch at your own discretion. Canadian comedian Mary Walsh has a unique perspective: not only has she been in the world of comedy for a long time, but as a woman, she’s […]...

This weekend New Yorkers will have a change to dive into a selection of the best recent Canadian cinema thanks to a showcase created by Tiff and Telefilm Canada appropriately called "See the North." On April 1, 2 and 3 2016, audiences at the IFC Center in New York City will be treated to this curated program of Canada’s finest creative talent, with directors in attendance for intros and Q+A’s.

The series includes the most recent work my Oscar-nominated filmmaker Philippe Falardeau ("Monsieur Lazhar"), an Lgbt-themed debut, and a drama starring Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood.

Here is the full lineup:

"Closet Monster" – Ontario/Newfoundland

A film by Stephen Dunn

Starring Connor Jessup, Aaron Abrams, Joanne Kelly, Aliocha Schneider, Sofia Banzhaf, Jack Fulton, Mary Walsh, Isabella Rossellini

Rt: 90min

U.S. Distributor: Strand Releasing

Screening: 4/1 at 9:30pm with intro and Q + A from director Stephen Dunn

Canada Goose Award for Best Canadian Feature Film, 2015 Toronto International Film Festival

An East Coast teenager and aspiring special-effects makeup artist (Connor Jessup, Blackbird, 2012 Tiff Rising Star) struggles with both his sexuality and his fear of his macho father, in this imaginative twist on the coming-of-age tale from first-time feature director Stephen Dunn.

"The Demons" (Les démons) – Quebec

A film by Philippe Lesage

Starring: Edouard Tremblay-Grenier, Pier-Luc Funk, Pascale Buissière

Rt: 118min

Sales Agent: FunFilm Distribution

Screening: 4/2 at 9:30pm with intro and Q + A with director Philippe Lesage

While Montreal is in the throes of a string of kidnappings targeting young boys, 10-year-old Felix is finishing his school year in the seemingly quiet suburb where he lives. A sensitive boy with a vivid imagination, Felix is afraid of everything. Little by little, his imaginary demons begin to mirror those of the increasingly disturbing world around him.

"Into the Fores" – British Columbia/Ontario

A film by Patricia Rozema

Starring Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Callum Keith Rennie, Michael Eklund, Wendy Crewson

Rt: 101min

U.S. Distributor: A24 Films

Screening: 4/1 at 7:00pm with intro and Q + A from director Patricia Rozema

Two sisters (Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood) struggle to survive in a remote country house after a continent-wide power outage, in this gripping apocalyptic drama by one of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers.

"My Internship in Canda" (Guibord s'en va-t-en guerre) – Quebec

A film by Philippe Falardeau

Starring Patrick Huard, Irdens Exantus, Clémence Dufresne-Deslières and Suzanne Clément

Produced by Luc Déry, Kim Mccraw

Rt: 108min

Sales Agent: Film Distribution

Screening: 4/2 at 7:00pm with intro and Q+A from director Philippe Falardeau

Guibord is an independent Member of Parliament representing a vast county in Northern Quebec who unwillingly finds himself in the awkward position of determining whether Canada will go to war. Accompanied by his wife, daughter and Souverain (Sovereign) Pascal, an idealistic intern from Haiti, Guibord travels across his district in order to consult his constituents and face his own conscience. This film is a sharp political satire in which politicians, citizens and lobbyists go head-to-head while tearing democracy to shreds.

"Our Loved Ones" (Les Êtres Chers) – Quebec

A film by Anne Émond

Starring: Maxim Gaudette, Karelle Tremblay, Valérie Cadieux, Mickaël Gouin

Rt: 102min

Sales Agent: Wide Management

Screening: 4/3 at 7:00pm with intro and Q+A from director Anne Émond

The story begins in 1978 in a small town on the Lower St.-Lawrence where the Leblanc family is rocked by the tragic death of Guy, found dead in the basement of the family home. For many years, the real cause of his death is hidden from certain members of the family, his son David among them. David starts his own family with his wife Marie and lovingly raises his children, Laurence and Frédéric, but deep down he still carries with him a kind of unhappiness. Our Loved Ones is a film of filial love, family secrets, redemption and inherited fate. Featuring 2015 Tiff Rising Star Karelle Tremblay.

"Sleeping Giant" (Le géant endormi) – Ontario

A film by Andrew Cividino

Starring: Jackson Martin, Nick Serino, Reece Moffett, David Disher, Erika Brodzky, Katelyn McKerracher, Lorraine Philp

Rt: 90min

U.S. Distributor: FilmBuff

Screening: 4/3 at 9:30pm with intro and Q+A from director Andrew Cividino

City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film, 2015 Toronto International Film Festival

Spending his summer vacation on rugged Lake Superior, teenager Adam befriends Riley and Nate, smart-aleck cousins who pass their ample free time with pranks, vandalism and reckless cliff jumping. The revelation of a hurtful secret sets in motion a series of irreversible events that test the bonds of friendship and change the boys forever.

Two episodes were provided prior to broadcast.

It’s more fitting than frustrating that Slasher, horror network Chiller’s first foray into original scripted programming, unspools as an unabashed amalgam of horror movie tropes. After all, the NBCUniversal-owned channel has carved out a funky little niche for itself broadcasting “scary good” films and TV series, from classics like Kolchak: The Night Stalker to little gems like Harper’s Island, not so much curating its content as airing it all as a bloody buffet for horror hounds.

That approach has kept the lights on up until now, encouraging Chiller to think bigger with original features like Animal and (excellent) SXSW entry The Boy. And so, despite the creative energies of director Craig David Wallace (Todd and the Book of Pure Evil) and writer-creator Aaron Martin (DeGrassi: The Next Generation), it makes sense that Slasher is also guided by the techniques and...

The 15th anniversary celebration of the Whistler Film Festival wrapped Sunday night, living up to its title as ‘Canada’s coolest film fest’ by hosting more premieres, filmmakers, industry executives, and celebrities than ever before, including unique experiences from films, music and parties to high adrenaline races.

The Whistler Film Festival’s Pandora Audience Award went to British-American romantic drama "Carol," directed by Todd Haynes from the screenplay by Phyllis Nagy (Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch class of 2014) starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, which received its Canadian premiere at Whistler. The Wff Audience Award runner-ups were "The Legend of Barney Thomson," character-actor Robert Carlyle's first theatrical feature and directorial debut, which received its North American premiere at the festival, followed by Ricardo Trogi’s mid-life crisis dramedy, Quebec film "Le Mirage," the highest grossing and most popular Canadian film of the year so far. The Wff Audience Award is a non-cash prize presented to the highest-rated film as voted by the audience.

Paul Gratton, Director of Programming had this to say about this year’s event: "We were very fortunate to open this year's fest with the Canadian premiere of "Carol," a film we are convinced will be a major contender in this year's awards season race. The festival took off from there, with many sold out screenings, packed and newsworthy industry sessions, and over 450 guests who made a point of trekking out to beautiful Whistler to support their films and talk business with the high-level movers and shakers also in attendance. 2015 represented another step forward towards making Wff the coolest festival in the world. Can't wait 'til next year.”

Total attendance for this year’s fest was 13,233 attendees (a 18% increase over 11,273 in 2014) . This included 7,740 film-screening attendees and 3,533 special event attendees (Signature Series, Music Café, ShortWork Showcase, R-Rated Party, Awards Brunch, L’Oreal Men Expert Bobsleigh Race and Celebrity Challenge Ski Race), in addition to 2,530 Summit attendees. Several of the feature films were at or near capacity, including: "Born to be Blue," "Chasing Bansky," "Forsaken," "How to Plan and Orgy in a Small Town," "Legend,""Legend of Barney Thomson," "Numb," "The Lady in the Van," "the Steps," and "Trumbo."

Designed to facilitate international alliances and financial partnerships, Wff’s industry Summit program presented 30 interactive sessions that addressed a range of issues affecting the film, television, and digital media industry. Overall Summit attendance was at 86% capacity with 2,530 attendees (a 13% increase over 2,231 in 2014) including 855 delegates (on par with 2014). The Whistler Summit directly connects to Wff’s slate of project development programs designed to provide creative and business immersion experiences for 42 Canadian artists including its Feature Project Lab, Praxis Screenwriters Lab, Aboriginal Filmmaker Fellowship, and Music Café. Wff also collaborates with several industry organizations by hosting specific third party initiatives at the Whistler Summit including the Women in the Director’s Chair Industry Immersion, Women in Film & Television Film Market Preparation Mentorship, and the Mppia Short Film Award Pitch with the Motion Picture Production Industry Association and Creative BC. In addition to the

204 scheduled meetings (a 10% increase over 186 in 2014) that took place during the Summit, there was again a notable increase in unscheduled meetings that took place outside of scheduled blocks proving the festival remains an important place for the industry to meet and do business. Industry guests came from Canada, USA, UK, India, and China to participate, and included some of the top talent and executives in the business.

Film met music when Morning Show, one of the ten-featured BC artists from Wff’s Music Café, performed the live score for "He Hated Pigeons." Wff’s Music Café, which expanded to include two showcases over two days and featured five music supervisors, was well received with several deals in the works and over 526 guests in attendance.

Toronto’s first-time feature director Jamie M. Dagg’s "River" dominated Whistler prize-giving, winning for best Canadian feature, Best Director and Best Screenplay in the Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature presented by the Directors Guild of Canada – British Columbia. The jury also awarded French-Canadian actor Paul Savoie with Best Performance in a Borsos Film for his performance in "The Diary of an Old Man," as well as provided honorable mention for Rossif Sutherland’s work in "River" and Laura Abramsen’s roles in "Basic human Needs" and "The Sabbatical." Lastly, Best Cinematography in a Borsos Film, presented by I.A.T.S.E. Local 669, went to cinematographer Dylan Macleod for "He Hated Pigeons," directed by Ingrid Veninger. The Borsos Jury was comprised of three accomplished film industry artists that included the highly versatile director and screenwriter and WFF15 Alumni Carl Bessai ("Rehearsal), beloved actor and director Marc-André Grondin , and award-winning producer extraordinaire, Kim McCraw.

Other Whistler award winners included "Last Harvest" by first-time female director Hui (Jane) Wang that won the World Documentary Award presented by Tribute.ca with honorable mention for Brian D. Johnson’s "Al Purdy Was Here." The Best Mountain Culture Film presented by Whistler Blackcomb went to Anthony Bonello’s "Eclipse." The Canadian ShortWork Award went to "Withheld" directed by Johnathan Sousa, with an honorable mention to Amanda Strong and Bracken Hanuse Corlett’s Mia’. The International ShortWork Award was awarded to "Dissonance" by Germany filmmaker Till Nowak, with Langara College’s Canadian ShortWork Award for Best Screenplay given to Jem Garrard’s "The World Who Came to Dinner." Emily Carr University of Art and Design’s Lawrence Lam won the ShortWork Student Award presented by Capilano University Film Centre for "The Blue Jet," and Maja Aro won the Mppia Short Film Award for "Hoods" presented by Mppia and Creative BC, which consists of a $15,000 cash award plus up to $100,000 in services. The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (Awfj) Eda Awards gave Best Female-Directed Narrative Feature to Valerie Weiss’ "A Light Beneath Their Feet," Best Female-Directed Documentary to Hui (Jane) Wang’s "Last Harvest," with a special mention for Brian D. Johnson’s "Al Purdy Was Here." In addition, Céline Devaux’s "Sunday Lunch" took home the Best Female-Directed Short Award.

Receiving Wff’s Trailblazer Award and Tribute presented by Pandora, British-born Canadian actor, film producer, and film director Kiefer Sutherland discussed his extensive acting career spanning film, stage and television, with CTV Film Critic Jim Gordon , followed by the Western Canadian Premiere of his latest film, "Forsaken." Scottish-born Robert Carlyle , one of the most recognizable actors today, graced the Festival’s red carpet at this year’s Spotlight event as Wff’s Maverick Award honoree and sat down with Jim Gordon to discuss his bold choices that have led to the creation of some of the most dynamic, memorable, and beloved characters of our time before the North American Premiere of his directorial debut, "The Legend the Barny Thomson." One of Canada's hardest working and most accomplished character actors, Bruce Greenwood was the recipient of Wff’s Career Achievement Award, at the World Premiere of his latest film "Rehearsal," directed by admired Wff Alumni Carl Bessai.

The Whistler Film Festival proudly hosted the Variety 10 Screenwriters to Watch for the fourth consecutive year hosted by Variety Vice President and Executive Editor, Steven Gaydos . This year’s slate of screenwriters in attendance included Bryan Sipe ("Demolition"), John Scott III ("Maggie"), Meg LeFauve ("Inside Out"), Mike Le ("Patient Zero"), and Emma Donoghue ("Room"), who also delivered a Master Class for the Wff Praxis Screenwriters Lab participants.

To top it all off, Lauren Lee Smith ("How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town"), Jakob Davies ("The Birdwatcher"), Taylor Russell and Rustin Gresiuk ("Suspension") were recognized as Wff’s Rising Stars sponsored by Ubcp/Actra at this year’s Keynote Filmmaker Luncheon presented by Pacific Northwest Pictures, and all had films premiering at the fest.

Over 400 guests attended the fest with other notable talent in attendance with films premiering at the fest including: actor Rossif Sutherland ("River"), director Jon Cassar ("Forsaken"), actor Callum Keith Rennie ("Born to Be Blue"), director/writer Sandy Wilson ("My American Cousin), actors Aleks Paunovic, Stefanie von Pfetten, Marie Avgeropoulos and Colin Cunningham ("Numb"), actors Chelah Horsdal and Alex Zahara ("Patterson's Wager"), actor Sage Brocklebank ("Suspension"), actors Gabrielle Rose and Camille Sullivan ("The Birdwatcher"), actor Rebecca Dalton ("The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship"), actor Paul Savoie ("The Diary of an Old Man"), director and founder of the Toronto Film Critics Association Brian D. Johnson ("Al Purdy Was Here"), director and co-founder of World Elephant Day Patricia Sims and co-director Michael Clark ("When Elephants Were Young"), "The Steps" director Andrew Currie and actor Steven McCarthy , and award-winning directors Philippe Lesage ("The Demons") and Ricardo Trogi ("The Miracle"). Veteran director Bruce McDonald attended as a mentor of the Wff Praxis Screenwriters Lab, as well as Canadian actress, writer, filmmaker, comedian, and social activist Mary Walsh , who participated in the Women In The Director’s Chair program and got a standing ovation as Wff’s Keynote Speaker at the Filmmaker Luncheon.

Eight women directors from across Canada have been selected to attend the 20th annual session of Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc), which includes the pilot program, Widc Story & Leadership. Over the coming months this top-notch group of content creators will develop their feature films and web series, working with an ensemble of hand-picked professional actors, technicians and other industry experts. A major component of the program takes the form of an Industry Immersion at the 15th anniversary Whistler Film Festival (December 2-6), and culminates with a three-month mentorship tailored to advance each director’s project.

Mounting their sophomore feature films are East coast favorites, Mary Walsh ("A Christmas Fury," based on the characters from the riotously-funny TV series "Hatching, Matching and Dispatching"), Anita Reilly McGee ("Black Mammy"), and Widc Feature Film Award-winner, Jordan Canning ("Suck It Up"). Weaving fiction into their prolific body of documentary works from Ontario are, Maya Gallus ("Nights in the Underground"), and Frances-Anne Solomon ("Hero"). Also from Ontario is Nicole Dorsey , developing a debut feature "Black Conflux," along with BC-based actress Ana De Lara ("The Virgin Mary Had a Little Lamb"). Multiple award-winner Marie Clements is developing a new interactive web series "Crooked Bones," based on the true story of First Nations artist, Connie Watts.

"Widc understands that being committed to bringing women’s voices to the screen means investing in the storyteller. Not simply as a “one off” but as a continued partnership between stakeholders who recognize that the development of skill, process, and creation has lasting and profound value,” states Metis actor/ writer/director, Marie Clements. “I am honored to be in this year’s Story & Leadership Program with some of Canada’s most talented and innovative filmmakers."

Award-winning director Rachel Talalay ("Dr. Who," "Tank Girl") will be one of this year’s key mentors focusing on directing action. This year’s line up also includes peer mentors, award-winning Widc alumnae, writer/directors Siobhan Devine ("The Birdwatcher," which premieres at the Whistler Film Festival), and web series creator Karen Lam ("Mythos"), along with popular Widc instructors, writer and Jungian expert, Dr. Carolyn Mamchur , and screen-writer / story consultant Linda Coffey ("These Arms of Mine"). Industry guests include, John Galway (Harold Greenberg Fund), Maureen Levitt , (Super Channel), independent producer, Lael McCall , (Principia Productions), and Telefilm Canada’s Lauren Davis .

“Taking part in this Widc workshop makes me excited about the possibility of someday having television and film represent the perspectives of women, “ states Mary Walsh, a recipient of the Order of Canada and the Governor General’s Lifetime Achievement Award in the Performing Arts. “Although women make up 51% of the Canadian population, they comprise less than 20% of the directors and screenwriters working in Canadian Film.”

The Women In the Director’s Chair (Widc) program has earned an international reputation for propelling over two hundred Canadian women directors’ skills, stories and careers to the next level of excellence. Creative Women Workshops Association, The Banff Centre and Actra (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) have been Widc collaborators, and Telefilm Canada has been a major sponsor since the program’s 1997 inception. Widc and the Whistler Film Festival collaborate again through the Widc Wff Industry Immersion.

The Festival’s online box office is now open for Industry Passes, Festival Passes and Ticket Packages allowing you to select your films in advance and share them with friends and family.

New for 2015 , Wff has introduced a Festival Credential that provides access to the Music Café, ShortWork Showdown and Festival Lodge, and is included in select ticket packages if purchased by October 31.

Air travel and ground transportation deals as well as best accommodation rates starting from $89 per night are now available. The Westin Whistler Resort and Spa is Wff’s official host hotel. Wff has 20 accommodation partners to choose from that offer special rates to Whistler Film Festival attendees. Book your accommodation early to ensure your perfect match and price. For information, go to whistlerfilmfestival.com.

Even those not so thoroughly ensconced in Canadian politics know who Danny Williams is. He was the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador from 2003 to 2010, and while he may not have been the head of the most powerful province, or the richest, or the most influential, or the most culturally significant, he did make a name and a reputation for himself as its leader.

Danny, the simply titled biographical film about Williams, chronicles his pre-political life and his tenure as perhaps the most influential provincial politician in Newfoundland since the quarter-century reign of Joey Smallwood from 1949 to 1972. It’s likely that only real politicos would consider a documentary about retired politician from Canada, but there is a universality to the story that the politically ignorant might appreciate.

Stylistically, Danny doesn’t re-invent the wheel. Interviews with Williams, his family, his friends and his former staff are all inter-cut with B-roll, archival footage,...

"I hate that my friend always looks so good in her Instagram photos."  "Facebook elevates social nicety to an art form."  "As soon as you hit 1,000 likes or views, it grips you - it's become something more."  If any of this sounds kind of familiar, you'll really enjoy watching a couple of comics and filmmakers commenting on the fakability of Facebook, the laziness of online dating, what happens when Twitter becomes your boyfriend, and the habit of Instagraming food.  The Nfb and the Guardian launched "The Seven Digital Deadly Sins," an interactive documentary divided into a clickable map of the seven deadly sins, with brief activities and articles grouped topically according to sin (Lust, Sloth, Wrath, Pride, Gluttony, Greed, and Envy). The doc features appearances from singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, comic Mary Walsh, novelist Gary Shteyngart, comic Josie Long, Bill Bailey, writer and filmmaker Jon Ronson and comic Ophira Eisenberg.  Here's an.

In Don McKellar’s charming character-driven comedy, The Grand Seduction, a small Newfoundland fishing village facing hard times pulls out all the stops to find a town doctor needed to land a lucrative factory contract that would mean jobs for everyone. Long-time resident Murray French (Brendan Gleeson) comes up with a scheme to seduce a big city doctor (Taylor Kitsch) into staying after he arrives for his one month trial residence. Opening May 30th, the film is directed from a screenplay by Mike Dowse and Ken Scott and features a terrific cast that includes Gordon Pinsent, Mark Critch and Mary Walsh. In an exclusive interview, McKellar talked about the appeal of the script, what the cast brought to the film, the challenge of finding the right tone, how D.P. Doug Koch and Production Designer Guy Lalande drew on the amazing landscape to create the distinct look of the film,...

Taylor Kitsch’s film career did not get off to the best of starts in 2012, when John Carter, Battleship and Savages all disappointed at the North American box office. However, the actor, who shot to fame with his role as Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights, chose wisely to try his hand at some smaller projects with more refined stories. He has two films set for May, the HBO drama The Normal Heart with Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo, and the film festival favourite The Grand Seduction, a Canadian comedy from director Don McKellar (Last Night).

The Grand Seduction feels like a modest, charming crowd-pleaser that will hopefully not get trampled over by blockbuster behemoths when it comes out on May 30th. In the remake of a 2003 French-Canadian film, Kitsch plays Dr. Paul Lewis, employed by the small Newfoundland town of Tickle Bay. Since the tiny, beleaguered population wants to...

If you are a member of the Brendan Gleeson fan club (and really, who isn’t?), then this summer should be a blast for you. While you are most likely aware of his upcoming film “Calvary,” which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to solid buzz and comes out this August, you may be surprised to learn that he co-stars in yet another comedy this year. That film would be “The Grand Seduction,” which finds Gleeson starring alongside Taylor Kitsch. And a new trailer has arrived.This indie comedy from Canada takes place in a fictional town in Newfoundland, where the townspeople are looking for a doctor who will take permanent residence so that they can obtain a contract in order to build a new factory. Taylor Kitsch plays the doctor and Gleeson is a resident of the village who leads the campaign. The rest of the cast includes Gordon Pinsent,...

The 38th Toronto International Film Festival has released an incredible guest list of celebrated talent from around the globe. Filmmakers expected to present their world premieres in Toronto include: Catherine Breillat, Nicole Garcia, Pawel Pawlikowski, Bertrand Tavernier, Steve McQueen, Godfrey Reggio, Denis Villeneuve, Bill Condon, Jean-Marc Vallée, John Wells, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Ayoade, Atom Egoyan, Matthew Weiner, John Carney, Jason Reitman, Jason Bateman, Yorgos Servetas, Liza Johnson, Megan Griffiths, Fernando Eimbcke, Alexey Uchitel, Johnny Ma, Biyi Bandele, Rashid Masharawi, Paul Haggis, Ron Howard, Eli Roth, Álex de la Iglesia, Bruce McDonald, Jennifer Baichwal, John Ridley, and Justin Chadwick.

The Festival also welcomes thousands of producers and other industry professionals bringing films to us.

The following filmmakers and artists are expected to attend the Toronto International Film Festival:

Ahmad Abdalla, Hany Abu-Assad, Yuval Adler, Akosua Adoma Owusu, Alexandre Aja, Bruce Alcock, Gianni Amelio, Thanos Anastopoulos, Madeline Anderson, Nimród Antal, Louise Archambault,...

Brendan Gleeson has been cast in 'The Grand Seduction', an English-language remake of successful French comedy 'La Grande Seduction'. Gleeson has been cast as a village resident who tries to convince a young doctor to take up permanent residence in the village. The doctor will be played by Canadian actor Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights). Other Canadian talent including Gordon Pinsent (The Thomas Crown Affair, The Good Shepherd), Liane Balaban (Definitely, Maybe) and comediennes Mary Walsh and Cathy Jones have also been cast. Don McKellar (Last Night) is directing.

After the double punch of John Carter and Battleship’s disappointments (not to mention the relatively quiet Us box office take for Savages), Taylor Kitsch is looking to change things up for the future and tackle something with a little smaller. He and Brendan Gleeson are jumping aboard Canadian director Don McKellar’s next film, The Grand Seduction.A remake of 2003 French comedy drama Le Grande Seduction, the film is set in a small harbour town that needs to lock in a doctor so that it can become the site of a much-needed new factory. Gleeson’s character will be the man charged with tracking down the right medical sort (we assume that will be Kitsch) and he will then work with the whole town to convince his target to stay.With a script written by Michael Dowse and the original film’s scribe Ken Scott, McKellar has also rounded...

Brendan Gleeson and Taylor Kitsch are set to star in Don McKellar's $12.7 million remake of the 2003 French-Canadian feature "The Grand Seduction" for Max Films and Morag Loves Company says Variety.

The story centers on a small harbor town which needs a doctor so that it can land a contract to secure a factory. Gleeson will portray a village resident who employs tactics to seduce the doctor to stay permanently.

Gorden Pinsent, Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones and Liane Balaban also star. Michael Dowse and Ken Scott, who wrote the original French film, are also penning this version.

Roger Frappier and Barbara Doran are producing. Shooting commences today in St John's, Newfoundland.

There's still hope for Taylor Kitsch, despite the failures of "John Carter," "Battleship" and "Savages." He is set to join the ensemble cast of Brendan Gleeson, Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones and Gordon Pinsent for "The Grand Seduction," which begins shooting today in Newfoundland, Canada. The film, to be directed by Candian filmmaker Don McKellar, is a remake of 2003 Quebecois film "Le Grand Seduction" (aka "Seducing Doctor Lewis"). The story "centers on the small harbour of Tickle Cove which is in need of a doctor so the town can land a contract to secure a factory that will save the town from financial ruin. Village resident Murray French (Gleeson) searches to find a doctor, and when he finds Dr. Paul Lewis (Kitsch) he employs – along with the whole town – tactics to seduce the doctor to stay permanently." The original (which played Cannes 2003) was scripted by Ken Scott, who adapted it into.

After starring in a couple of big budget, high profile pics, Friday Night Lights alum Taylor Kitsch is lining up a smaller scale dramatic feature. THR reports that Kitsch and Brendan Gleeson have joined the cast of Don McKellar’s English-language remake of the Quebec film The Grand Seduction. The story centers on a tiny village in dire need of a full-time doctor, and the residents’ scheme to lure such a professional into taking up permanent residency. Gleeson will play one of the village’s residents, while Kitsch will play the desirable MD. Ken Scott, who wrote the Canadian original film, was initially set to direct before departing to helm an English-language remake of his film Starbuck. McKellar is now set to helm from a screenplay by Scott and Michael Dowse (Goon). The ensemble cast includes Gorden Pinset, Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones and Liane Balaban. Kitsch, a native Canuck, is...

Toronto - Brendan Gleeson and Taylor Kitsch have joined Don McKellar's The Grand Seduction, the English-language remake of the Quebec movie hit La Grand Seduction. Photos: Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch Walk the Red Carpet at 'Savages' L.A. Premiere The ensemble cast includes Gorden Pinsent, Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones and Liane Balaban for the Canadian indie that was originally to be directed by Ken Scott, who abandoned the project to direct DreamWorks' remake of the Quebec box office hit Starbuck. Gleeson will play a village resident who searches for a doctor and, finding one whose role is performed by Kitsch,

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Considering the unfortunate manner in which his 2012 unfolded, it might be for Taylor Kitsch‘s own good when he does a non-blockbuster project. But maybe that’s just me.

According to Variety, he and Brendan Gleeson are already shooting Grand Seduction, an English-language remake of the 2003 French hit Seducing Doctor Lewis. Don McKellar will be directing, with the script coming from the original writer, Ken Scott — who, up until late April, was going to helm — and Michael Dowse; Canadian character actors Gordon Pinsent, Mary Walsh, Liane Balaban, and Cathy Jones are all co-starring. And they’re getting to work this very day!

Like the original, this Grand Seduction takes place in “a small harbor town which needs a doctor so that it can land a contract to secure a factory.” One citizen (Gleeson) takes it upon himself to get the doctor, while the rest of this community devise various strategies...

Brendan Gleeson and Taylor Kitsch will star in The Grand Seduction, which Don McKellar is directing from a screenplay by Michael Dowse and Ken Scott. Scott scripted the 2003 French original Le Grande Seduction. Cast will also include Gorden Pinsent, Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones and Liane Balaban. Casting is by Heidi Leivitt and Lucie Robitaille. Roger Frappier produced the original and is back for the remake, producing with Barbara Doran. Shooting is just getting underway in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada and in various outport communities around Trinity Bay, Red Cliff, New Bonaventure and Port Rexton. The film centers on the small harbor of Tickle Cove, which is in dire need of a doctor so the town can land a contract to secure a factory that will save the town from financial ruin. Village resident Murray French (Gleeson) leads the search, and when he finds Dr. Paul Lewis (Kitsch) he employs...

Los Angeles, May 17 (Ians/Efe) Cuban-American actor Andy Garcia has lined up the financing for his film project on legendary writer Ernest Hemingway, who will be played by Anthony Hopkins, the Deadline blog reported Wednesday.

"Hemingway & Fuentes" will also star Annette Bening, who will play the Nobel laureate's third wife, Mary Walsh.

Garcia, who will direct the film, kept the role of Gregorio Fuentes, Hemingway's close friend and boat captain, for himself.

"The novelist's niece Hilary Hemingway and Garcia wrote the screenplay. Shooting is scheduled.

• James Badge Dale (HBO’s The Pacific, AMC’s Rubicon) has signed onto Iron Man 3 to play villain Eric Savin, who in Marvel Comics lore becomes a cyborg called Coldblood. Apparently, killer cyborgs aren’t subtle. [Deadline]

• Morgan Freeman is in talks to join the increasingly impressive cast of the older-men-on-a-bachelor-party-bender comedy Last Vegas, starring Michael Douglas and Robert DeNiro. [Deadline]

• Helena Bonham Carter and Kathy Bates have joined The Young and Prodigious Spivet, an English-language coming-of-age road film from Amélie director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, about a precocious 12-year-old boy (Kyle Catlett) en route from Montana to the Smithsonian Museum. Jeunet cowrote...

From heartbreaking books like Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises to his blustering yet bruised bravado, American writer Ernest Hemingway has captured the interest and imaginations of artists since the 1920s. Actor turned director Andy Garcia has long been fascinated by the man, and has been working diligently to get Hemingway & Fuentes, a docudrama about his creation of The Old Man and the Sea, rolling since 2009. It was then that he secured Anthony Hopkins to portray Hemingway and Annette Bening to play his fourth and final wife, Mary Walsh Hemingway. But now Deadline reports Garcia has finally lined up financing for the feature, and so Hemingway & Fuentes has at long last set a start date for January of next year. Garcia will not only direct the drama, but also co-star, playing Gregorio Fuentes, the first mate and close, personal friend of Hemingway. The screenplay penned by Garcia and...

2011 was a pretty big year for the TV world in general. Oprah said farewell to her beloved daytime chatfest. Regis bid adieu to mornings with Kelly and Gelman. And Kim Kardashian broadcast her "fairytale" wedding for all the world to bask in. Here in Canada, we had some pretty memorable small screen moments of our own.

Perhaps most notably, our Canuck quest for global TV domination continued to gain momentum with homegrown shows like "Rookie Blue,""Todd and the Book of Pure Evil,""Lost Girl" and "Republic of Doyle" steadily growing their international audiences around the world (and we also reinforced the global stereotype that Canadians are an attractive bunch, with the likes of Anna Silk, Missy Peregrym and Allan Hawco representing us on the world stage).

Since it’s that time of year (yes, list time), we've compiled a list of the top 11 most memorable moments in Canadian TV this year.

In a recent interview on CBC radio, actress-comedian Mary Walsh spoke about her own reasons for volunteering and for being an advocate for various causes.

“I grew up in the time when to be a volunteer was seen as a great thing,” she says. “I started volunteering as a candy striper, mostly to get to wear the uniform, so volunteering and community service, that just seems to be a normal part of life to me.”

Nevertheless, there are some causes that she has a personal connection to. As a sufferer of macular degeneration, Walsh is a spokesperson for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Before injections to stop macular degeneration and in some cases even to repair the damage became available, she sought a different treatment for herself.

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The nominees for the 31st Annual Genie Awards, Canada’s answer to the Oscars, were unveiled at simultaneous press conferences in Montreal and Toronto yeseterday. After being snubbed by the major Hollywood awards, only receiving 1 nomination and win for Paul Giamatti at the Golden Globes, Barney’s Version has been highly recognized by Canadian audiences. This is no surprise as its source material is a novel from beloved Canadian treasure Mordecai Richler and the film was partially shot in Montreal. Barney’s VersionIncendies leads the pack with 11 nominations including Best Motion Picture and populating most of the acting categories including one for Paul Giamatti for a Performace by an Actor in a Leading Role and Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Dustin Hoffman. Following closely is the other Canadian darling this year, Incendies , which garnered 10 nominations such as Adapted Screenplay (Denis Villeneuve) and Performance by an Actress...

Richard J. Lewis’ “Barney’s Version,” a festival favorite and big-screen version of the Mordecai Richler, garnered 11 nominations — including Best Motion Picture and Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Giamatti) — to lead the way for the 31st Annual Genie Awards, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Denis Villeneuve’s “Incendies,” a contender this year for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards, was next with 10 nominations, including Best Motion Picture and Achievement in Direction.

The Genies will be handed out on Thursday, March 10, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The following is a list of nominees in some of the major categories.

Best Motion Picture

“10 ½”

Pierre Gendron

“Les amours imaginaires” (“Heartbeats”)

Xavier Dolan, Carole Mondello, Daniel Morin

“Barney’s Version”

Robert Lantos

“Incendies”

Luc Déry, Kim McCraw

Splice

Steven Hoban

Achievement in Direction

Podz

“10 ½”

Xavier Dolan

“Les amours imaginaires” (“Heartbeats”)

Denis Villeneuve

“Incendies”

Vincenzo Natali...

Richard J. Lewis’ “Barney’s Version,” a festival favorite and big-screen version of the Mordecai Richler, garnered 11 nominations — including Best Motion Picture and Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Giamatti) — to lead the way for the 31st Annual Genie Awards, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Denis Villeneuve’s “Incendies,” a contender this year for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards, was next with 10 nominations, including Best Motion Picture and Achievement in Direction.

The Genies will be handed out on Thursday, March 10, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The following is a list of nominees in some of the major categories.

Best Motion Picture

“10 ½”

Pierre Gendron

“Les amours imaginaires” (“Heartbeats”)

Xavier Dolan, Carole Mondello, Daniel Morin

“Barney’s Version”

Robert Lantos

“Incendies”

Luc Déry, Kim McCraw

Splice

Steven Hoban

Achievement in Direction

Podz

“10 ½”

Xavier Dolan

“Les amours imaginaires” (“Heartbeats”)

Denis Villeneuve

“Incendies”

Vincenzo Natali...

Yesterday, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Acct) announced the nominees for the 31rst Genie Awards, Canada's own Oscars.

Best Motion picture:

* 10 1/2

* Les amours imaginaires

* Barney's Version

* Incendies

* Splice

Best Actor in a Leading Role:

* Jay Baruchel in The Trotsky

* Paul Giamatti in Barney's Version

* Robert Naylor in 10 1/2

* Timothy Olyphant in High Life

* François Papineau in Route 132

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

* Martin Dubreuil in 10 1/2

* Dustin Hoffman in Barney's Version

* Alexis Martin in Route 132

* Callum Keith Rennie in Gunless

* Rossif Sutherland in High Life

Best Actress in a Leading Role:

* Lubna Azabal in Incendies

* Tatiana Maslany in Grown Up Movie Star

* Molly Parker in Trigger

* Rosamund Pike in Barney's Version

* Tracy Wright in Trigger

Best Actress In a Supporting Role:

* Sonja Bennett in Cole

* Anne-Élizabeth Bossé in Les amours imaginaires

* Minnie Driver in Barney's Version

* Terra Hazelton in Fubar 2

* Mary Walsh in Crackie

Best Adapted Screenplay:

* Michael Konyves...

Anchor Bay Entertainment presents the 'psychological thriller' "Abandoned" on Blu-ray and DVD:

"...'Abandoned' follows 'Mary Walsh' (Murphy) as she delivers boyfriend 'Kevin' (Dean Cain) to a hospital for a routine outpatient surgery. But when Mary returns to take him home, he is nowhere to be found. The hospital administrator can't find any record of him and a police search turns up nothing. Increasingly frantic, Mary is taken to a staff psychiatrist 'Dr. Bensley' (Peter Bogdanovich) who pronounces her 'unstable'. Now she must not only find her missing boyfriend, but prove her own sanity.

"When a stranger informs Mary he knows of Kevin's whereabouts, but demands a $10 million ransom, Mary realizes that to save herself and the man she loves, she must use any means necesssary..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Abandoned"...