Directed by Neil Diamond and Joanne Robertson, SO SURREAL: BEHIND THE MASKS follows Diamond as he travels across the ocean in search of the Indigenous artifacts. The focus of his journey is Raven Transformation Mask, an invaluable cultural item that was stolen and has yet to be reclaimed. In this 1on1, we speak to Diamond and Robertson about masks …

BLINK follows Edith and Sebastien Pelletier, parents of four who live (understandably) busy lives. However, their pace comes to a grinding halt when they receive the news that three of their children have been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare and incurable disease that will eventually lead to visual impairment. Knowing that their childre…

Directed by Edmund Stenson and Daniel Roher, the new documentary Blink follows Edith and Sebastien Pelletier, parents of four who live (understandably) busy lives. However, their pace comes to a grinding halt when they receive the news that three of their children have been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare and incurable disease that will…

In its inaugural year, the County Adaptation Film Festival has Prince Edward County buzzing! With a focus on screenwriters and authors, CAFF is giving voice to those who don't always get the notoriety. In this 1on1, we speak with the festival's Founding Artistic Director, Alexandra Seay about the vision for the festival and what 'adaptation' means …

The lights have gone out on TIFF '24 but the ScreenFish Team has returned to give their yearly roundup of the best films and experiences of the week. From film favourites to poison frogs, our team can't wait to share all the things that we've learned from the best of the Fest!

Directed by J Stevens, REALLY HAPPY SOMEDAY tells the story of Z (Breton Lalama), a rising star in Toronto’s musical-theatre scene. However, as he transitions, his testosterone injections have affected his powerful singing voice, forcing him to re-learn how to perform. Taking a job at a local bar, Z takes vocal lessons in the hopes of returning to …

Directed by Chris Sanders (LILO AND STITCH), THE WILD ROBOT tells the story of Rozim 7134 (Lupita Nyong’o)--aka Roz--a helper robot who lives to serve. However, when she first boots up, she finds herself lost in the wilderness, without any particular orders to follow. But this begins to change though when she meets Brightbill (Kit Connor), an orpha…

Written and directed by Andrew Currie, THE INVISIBLES tells the story of Charlie (Tim Blake Nelson), a husband who is struggling through life. With his marriage on the brink and his job feeling tedious, Charlie simply wants to disappear. Until he gets his wish. As Charlie begins to fade from existence (and memory), he slides into a world of warmth …

Written and directed by Ian Harmarine, DOUBLEs tells the story of Dhani (Sanjiv Boodhu), a Trinidadian street vendor who is forced to travel to Toronto in order to retain information from his estranged father, Ragbir (Errol Sitahal). However, as he discovers the severity of his father’s illness, Dhani opts to stay with his father temporarily in a m…

Directed by RJ Collins, CRESCENT CITY tells the story of Brian Sutter (Terrance Howard), a police officer in a small southern town who’s struggling to keep it together. When the town is terrorized by a serial killer, Sutter and his partners, Luke Carson and Jaclyn Waters (Esai Morales and Nicky Whelan), are called into action. But, as the body coun…

Inspired by the amazing true story, My Penguin Friend tells the story of Joao (Jean Reno), an older gentleman who lives a secluded life with his wife Maria (Adriana Barraza). One day, as Joao is on the beach, he discovers a lost penguin who is drenched in oil. Taking the bird into his home, Joao does his best to bring him back to health. Naming the…

Directed by RJ Collins, Crescent City tells the story of Brian Sutter (Terrance Howard), a police officer in a small southern town who’s struggling to keep it together. When the town is terrorized by a serial killer, Sutter and his partners, Luke Carson and Jaclyn Waters (Esai Morales and Nicky Whelan), are called into action. But, as the body coun…

Written and directed by Daniel Andre, RUNNING ON EMPTY tells the story of Mortimer (Keir Gilchrist), a bland California man who seems to be starting his life with the love of his life. But all that changes when he discovers his LDC, a ‘scientific’ process that determines how many days one has left to live. Discovering that he has less than a year t…

When people think of STAR TREK, the average person likely thinks of space battles and phasers 'set on stun'. But Trek fans know that there's so much more to the series. Despite it's trip across the galaxy, the franchise has always prided itself on taking a more grounded and scientific approach to its futuristic world. In order to ensure the most re…

Based on the incredible true story, SING SING tells the story of Divine G (Colman Domingo), a prisoner at Sing Sing Penitentiary for a crime he didn't commit. But, behind the prison walls, he is rejuvenated by a theatre group filled with other incarcerated men. As they prepare for their next play, the group welcomes Divine Eye (Clarence Maclin), an…

NATIONAL ANTHEM follows Dylan (Charlie Plummer), a quiet 21-year-old who does whatever he can to help his family survive. But things change when he takes a job working at a nearby ranch. Here, he discovers a community of rodeo performers that freely explore their sexuality. As Dylan begins to challenge his own identity, he finds himself attracted t…

Directed by Kelly & Brian Estes, the new documentary GOD BLESS BITCOIN explores the financial, ethical and spiritual ramifications of our changing financial systems. In this 1on1, we speak to Kelly and Brian Estes about whether or not they believe bitcoin is the most ethical choice and 'the people's money'.…

Directed by Brian Skiba, CLEAR CUT follows Jack, a man who wants to start over by taking a dangerous job in the logging community in the Pacific Northwest. But you can't outrun the past. And suddenly, he comes across a band of ruthless criminals from his past who are determined to kill him before he can escape. In this 1on1, we speak to Skiba about…

Directed by Thomas Napper, WIDOW CLICQUOT follows Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot (Haley Bennett) as she grieves the loss of her beloved husband. Having been left the family’s fledgling wine business in his will, Clicquot finds herself under pressure to relinquish the land to male buyers. But she refuses to sell, beginning a journey that will chang…

Written, directed and starring Viggo Mortensen, THE DEAD DON'T HURT tells the story of Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps), an independent woman who falls in love with Danish immigrant, Holger Olsen (Mortensen). Set during the outbreak of the Civil War, their relationship is torn apart when Olsen decides to fight on behalf of the Union. Suddenly left …

Shark Week comes to Canada?! In recent years, the Canadian East Coast has found themselves in the crosshairs of a massive shark migration, suggesting that this may be one of the largest hosting grounds for them in the world. In GREAT WHITE NORTH, director PJ Naworynski and his team take a deep dive into this surprising development as they attempt t…

Set in 1969, the new romcom FLY ME TO THE MOON tells the story of Cole (Channing Tatum), NASA's launch director who works hard to ensure the safety of his men. However, with Russia advancing in the space race , the government hires Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), a marketing maven, in the hopes of garnering public support. As the two grow closer,…

In THE GREAT SALISH HEIST, Steve Joe is an archaeologist for the Moquahat people who is convinced that his people's struggles are a direct result of the displacement of sacred artifacts. Determined to make things right, Steve assembles a rebellious crew from the Rez who plan on breaking into the museum in order to retrieve what rightfully belongs t…

Directed by Anna Fahr, VALLEY OF EXILE follows Rima and Nour, two Syrian sisters who are trying to set up a new life in Lebanon. Struggling to take possession of their home, they're forced to temporarily stay in a Syrian refugee camp as time ticks away on Rima's pregnancy. In this 1on1, we speak to Fahr about telling authentic stories and filming i…

Written by and starring Dana Abraham, A HUNDRED LIES tells the story of Ricky (Rob Raco), a once-popular artist in Toronto’s music scene who believes that it might finally be time for his big break. With his best friend, Damian (Abraham) serving as his manager, Ricky gets connected with an underground producer who believes his star is on the rise. …

Directed by Jeff Celentano, BLACKWATER LANE is a harrowing ghost story with many twists and turns. After moving into their stunning new home, Cass witnesses a terrible tragedy on a lonely, country road. Traumatized by the experience, Cass is soon haunted by a ghostly presence that calls her mind into question. As things continue to get worse, Cass …

Directed by Dawn Mikkelson, MINNESOTA MEAN steps into the world of roller derby as Minnesota's home team attempts to fight their way to the top. As they thunder away at the competition, we also watch as the women go on their own personal journeys that have stakes much higher than any championship gold. In this 1on1, we speak to Mikkelson about athl…

Based on the infamous murders of Alto Mesa, BONEYARD is a harrowing journey into a world of corruption and murder. Starring Brian Van Holt (COUGAR TOWN) and Mel Gibson, the film is an intense ride that takes its real-world premise and adds fictional characters to explore its dark side. In this 1on1, we speak to Van Holt about the connection between…

INSIDE OUT 2 revisits the mind of Riley, a young woman who is finally stepping into her teenage years. Though Riley’s emotions have been governed by Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale) and Disgust (Liza Lapira), the onset of puberty brings new and confusing additions to the team. With the arrival of Anx…

Now streaming on Apple TV+, WONDLA focuses its story on Eva (Jeanine Mason), a 16-year-old teenager who has been raised in an underground bunker by Muthr (Teri Hatcher), her robot caretaker. However, after an attack forces her out of her home, Eva discovers that the surface is not anything like she was led to believe. In this 1on1, we speak to Maso…

Directed by Anna Jane Edmonds, DARK HIGHWAY may be one of the most terrifying films in recent memory. Not because it's exploitative in any way--simply because it's true. Exposing the horrors of human trafficking, HIGHWAY is a call to justice (and support) for a crime that we simply do not talk about but happens all around us. In this 1on1, we speak…

In THE EXORCISM, Anthony Miller (Russell Crowe) is an actor who’s struggling to find work. When he finally lands a role in a supernatural horror film, he believes he may have found a role that can help him rebuild his career. When his estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins) arrives, Anthony begins to show signs of the addition that drove his family…

In this 1on1, we speak to Snow and Kayne about 'becoming Max', the power of shame and the relationships between suffering and faith.

In IF, Bea (Cailey Fleming) is a young woman facing hard realities about growing up. When she stumbles into the world of Imaginary Friends (IFs), she's invited to face the world with new perspective, even in the midst of hard times. In this 1on1, we speak to Fleming about keeping our sense of wonder, working with CGI and the stories we tell ourselv…

With Pixar's INSIDE OUT 2, Disney returns to the mind of Riley as she begins to step into her teenage years. Flooded with new emotions such as Embarassment, Envy, Ennui and, of course, Anxiety, Riley's emotions battle for control to help Riley deal with her ever-changing life. In this 1on1, we speak to INSIDE OUT 2's Simulation Lead Technical Direc…

With Pixar's INSIDE OUT 2, Disney returns to the mind of Riley as she begins to step into her teenage years. Flooded with new emotions such as Embarassment, Envy, Ennui and, of course, Anxiety, Riley's emotions battle for control to help Riley deal with her ever-changing life. In this 1on1, we speak to John Hoffman, INSIDE OUT 2's story supervisor,…

Directed by GS Sommers, WILD EYED & WICKED tells the story of Lily, a young woman who's haunted by visions of her deceased mother (Stefanie Estes). As she attempts to deal with her estranged father (Michael X. Sommers), Lily must battle with the ghosts of her past in a way that may change her life forever.…

Co-written by Amnon Carmi and Ben Ducoff, YANIV is tells the hilarious story of two men who break into a high stakes card tournament to win back their school's art budget. In this 1on1, we speak to Ducoff and Carmi about doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, the joy of working with their students and telling stories of addiction. YANIV is no…

Directed by Regan Latimer, Bulletproof: The Lesbian’s Guide to Surviving the Plot explores the nature of Queer representation in television. Fueled by animation, clips from the past and present and multiple interviews with televisions insiders and fans, the series steps into the power of media to help us understand and empower who we are. In this 1…

Premiering at Inside Out 2024, UNUSUALLY NORMAL explores the heart and soul of 'Canada's Gayest Family' as they share about their loving journey together and the obstacles that they faced along the way. Directed by Colette Johnson-Vosberg, NORMAL explores the beautiful relationships in a family that includes three generations of gay women in the sa…

Harrison Xu and Ivan Leung have an extremely unique dynamic between them... and it's also the title of their latest film. Premiering at Inside Out '24, EXTEREMELY UNIQUE DYNAMIC tells the story of two best friends who decide to commemorate their friendship by making a movie together right before one of them moves away. But, one of them has a secret…

With the new documentary THE BLUE ANGELS, director Paul Crowder chronicles a year with the Navy’s elite Flight Demonstration Squadron—from selection through the challenging training and demanding show season—showcasing the extraordinary teamwork, passion, and pride that fuels them. In this 1on1, Dave Voigt speaks to former Blue Angel Greg Wooldridg…

With the release of X-MEN '97, Marvel revives more than the show's classic theme. Conversations about injustice, freedom and acceptance have always been embedded within the series, creating a legacy of hope for the disenfranchised. This week, Miriam Ibrahim, Dina Hamdieh and Raevin Larue reunite to talk with Steve about the real power of the X-Men …

Directed by Greg Jacobs and Jon Siskel, The Here Now Project take a look at the year 2021 from an environmental perspective. Having compiled incredible footage shot by everyday people from all walks of life, the film chronicles the state of our climate reality and calls for us to band together in unity. In this 1on1, we speak to Jacobs about what s…

Directed by Simon Cellan Jones, ARTHUR THE KING follows Michael Light (Mark Wahlberg), an ultimate racer who left the sport in shame. When one last chance to secure his legacy presents itself, he fights to secure a sponsor and a team of athletes (Simu Liu, Nathalie Emmanuel and Ali Suliman) for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominic…

Directed by Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker, Carol Doda: Topless at the Condor transports the viewer back to San Francisco in the 1960s. Here, we meet Carol Doda, the first dancer to go topless in the booming nightclub scene. In doing so, Doda became an overnight sensation and struck a blow for gender equality (both legally and culturally) that …

In SOMEONE LIKE YOU, rural architect Dawson Gage (Jake Allyn) has always been in love with London Quinn (Sarah Fisher), even if she hasn’t felt the same. Now, a decade later, the two finally seem to be on the same page romantically… when suddenly tragedy strikes and that opportunity is lost. But Dawson yearns to find some piece of her and, upon dis…

Directed by Damian Hurley, STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL tells the story of Mia (Georgia Lock), a young woman still grieving the loss of her best friend, Rebecca. On the anniversary of her mysterious death, Mia and her friends return to the Caribbean paradise in honour of Rebecca and her life. As Mia reconnects with her old flame, dear friends and Rebecca’…

Directed by Damian Hurley, STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL tells the story of Mia (Georgia Lock), a young woman still grieving the loss of her best friend, Rebecca. On the anniversary of her mysterious death, Mia and her friends return to the Caribbean paradise in honour of Rebecca and her life. As Mia reconnects with her old flame, dear friends and Rebecca’…

Directed by Hamoody Jaafar, Rouge steps behind the walls of River Rouge high school and into the world of competitive high school basketball. With a legacy of 14 state championships, River Rouge is hungry for another and Rouge follows its current coach and players who yearn to bring home another trophy. Meanwhile, the film also taps into the school…