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Exclusive: Jasmeet Raina, the creator and star of Late Bloomer, will make his directing debut in the Crave comedy’s second season.

Production on Season 2 recently got underway in the greater Toronto region, starring Raina as Jasmeet Dutta, a Punjabi Sikh millennial and burgeoning online content creator trying to balance his ambitions for success with his commitment to his family, community and culture. It is inspired by Raina’s life.

Co-executive producer Peter Huang is back to direct six of the season’s eight episode, with Raina directing the other two and also executive-producing. Pier 21 is producing in association with Crave.

Starring alongside Raina are Baljinder Singh Atwal (Des Pardes) and Sandeep Bali as Jasmeet’s parents, Ashley Ganger (Grand Army) as his sister, Sugenja Sri (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Sachin Mahashi as his friends and Ahamed Weinberg (Insecure) as a cousin. Seher Khot (Sex/Life) also returns in an expanded role.

Europe’s largest South Asian film festival, the London Indian Film Festival (Liff) celebrates its 15th birthday this year with a power-packed programme of features, shorts, series, gaming and Xr across 6 UK cities. With each year the festival showcases outstanding films that present thought-provking and moving films along with fascinating Q&a’s after the screenings and this year looks to be even better!

Speaking on the phenomenal growth of Liff, CEO and Programming Director Cary Rajinder Sawhney remarked, “It’s been an incredible journey marking 15 years this year and we are delighted to expand into new UK cities, welcoming Bradford and Liverpool into our 6 city reach. It’s also personally exciting to have such a talented team and innovative partners, as we push ahead to explore new frontiers of South Asian gaming and Xr scenes and continue our mission to showcase and celebrate emerging and established filmmakers, diversifying our offer to UK audiences.

The 15th anniversary edition of the London Indian Film Festival will open on June 26 with the European Premiere of U.S. indie, tear-jerker drama “Paper Flowers,” directed by Mahesh Pailoor (“Brahmin Bulls”), starring “Deadpool’s” Karan Soni. It will close on July 3 with a screening of ultra-violent Indian actioner “Kill,” which is produced by Karan Johar and Guneet Monga and which represents Lionsgate’s first foray into South Asian film production.

In between, the festival will operate across five additional cities and thematically extend itself across feature film, TV series, short films, Xr and gaming.

“It’s been an incredible journey marking 15 years this year and we are delighted to expand into new U.K. cities, welcoming Bradford and Liverpool into our 6-city reach. It’s also personally exciting to have such a talented team and innovative partners, as we push ahead to explore new frontiers of South Asian gaming...

Canadian streaming service Crave has partnered with Pier 21 Films on eight-part series “Late Bloomer,” created by and starring Jasmeet Singh Raina, also known as Jus Reign.

The series is inspired by Raina’s life as a Punjabi Sikh millennial and online celebrity. The show follows burgeoning content creator Jasmeet Dutta as he tries to balance his ambitions for success with his commitment to his family, community and culture. Production is underway in Toronto and Hamilton.

As Jus Reign, Raina is a global social media star and was one of Much Digital Studios’ first content creators in 2015. Raina became known for his deadpan comedic style and commentary on race and pop culture and is part of a group of storytellers who charted the way for increased South Asian representation in mainstream media.

The series features an ensemble cast including Baljinder Singh Atwal, Sandeep Bali, Ashley Ganger, Sugenja Sri, Sachin Mahashi and Ahamed Weinberg.

Canadian comedian Russell Peters (“The Indian Detective”) will executive produce half-hour series “Late Bloomer,” featuring fellow Canadian comic Jasmeet Singh Raina (Aka Jus Reign), with independent production company Pier 21 Films.

The show is currently in development at Canadian public broadcaster CBC.

As Jus Reign, Raina has more than 167 million YouTube views with 974,000 subscribers and more than a million Facebook fans.

Inspired by his own real-life experiences, “Late Bloomer” will focus on Raina’s journey navigating his new-found internet fame, dating, spirituality, culture and his dysfunctional, yet loving, family. As a first-generation Indo-Canadian, his identity is constantly questioned as he struggles to find the balance between Eastern customs centered around community and the Western ideal of individualism.

Pier 21’s credits include news satire show “The Beaverton” and history series “Secrets.”

“Jasmeet is a one-of-a-kind talent and the latest in the long line of incredible Canadian comedians to find stardom on the global stage.

YouTube Red has announced the cast and unveiled the official trailer for Ultimate Expedition -- an adventure competition series produced alongside The Dudesons in which both digital and traditional stars will attempt to summit Mount Tocllaraju in the Peruvian Andes.

YouTube creators like dance luminary Chachi Gonzales, Canadian comedian Jus Reign, gaming star Lia 'SSSniperwolf' Shelesh, prankster Nikki Baker, and competitive eater Furious Pete will be joined Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy, Ufc champion Chuck Liddell, and the comedian Steve-o. The Dudesons' Jukka Hilden will serve as executive producer and host, and Hilden, the ringleader of the Finnish stunt squad, will guide cast members as they attempt to conquer personal challenges while climbing the 20,000-foot mountain.

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