Latest news with #ChandlerLevack
Hamilton Spectator
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Montreal-set rom-com ‘Mile End Kicks' among world premieres at TIFF's 50th edition
TORONTO - A rom-com about a love triangle set in Montreal's music scene is among the films making their world premieres at the 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. 'Mile End Kicks,' from Toronto director Chandler Levack, stars Barbie Ferreira as a young music critic who moves to Montreal in 2011 to write a book about Alanis Morissette's album 'Jagged Little Pill.' Her plans take a turn when she falls for two members of the same fledgling indie rock band and decides to become their publicist. The film portrays the music scene in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhood, which gave rise to acts including Arcade Fire, Grimes and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It's one of five special presentations announced by TIFF, including Steven Soderbergh's 'The Christophers,' about siblings who hire a forger to finish their late father's art. TIFF runs from Sept. 4 to 14 and will open with 'John Candy: I Like Me,' a documentary on the late Canadian comic. The taste of the lineup revealed Thursday also includes Alejandro Amenábar's 'The Captive,' which tells the story of 'Don Quixote' author Miguel de Cervantes. Meanwhile, 'Hedda,' by 'The Marvels' director Nia DaCosta, is a reimagining of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's play 'Hedda Gabler,' about the daughter of a general who is trapped in a loveless marriage. Another premiere at TIFF is 'Good News,' a drama by South Korean director Sung-hyun Byun about a covert mission to land a hijacked airplane. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said in a statement that this first wave of world premieres reflects the 'innovation, heart, and global perspective' that have defined the festival for the last five decades. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Montreal-set rom-com ‘Mile End Kicks' among world premieres at TIFF's 50th edition
Director Chandler Levack poses for a photograph at the Houndstooth in Toronto, ahead of the premier for her film "I Like Movies," as part of the Toronto International Film Festival, on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Her new film, the rom-com "Mile End Kicks," will premiere this fall at TIFF. (Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press) A rom-com about a love triangle set in Montreal's music scene is among the films making their world premieres at the 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. 'Mile End Kicks,' from Toronto director Chandler Levack, stars Barbie Ferreira as a young music critic who moves to Montreal in 2011 to write a book about Alanis Morissette's album 'Jagged Little Pill.' Her plans take a turn when she falls for two members of the same fledgling indie rock band and decides to become their publicist. The film portrays the music scene in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhood, which gave rise to acts including Arcade Fire, Grimes and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It's one of five special presentations announced by TIFF, including Steven Soderbergh's 'The Christophers,' about siblings who hire a forger to finish their late father's art. TIFF runs from Sept. 4 to 14 and will open with 'John Candy: I Like Me,' a documentary on the late Canadian comic. The taste of the lineup revealed Thursday also includes Alejandro Amenábar's 'The Captive,' which tells the story of 'Don Quixote' author Miguel de Cervantes. Meanwhile, 'Hedda,' by 'The Marvels' director Nia DaCosta, is a reimagining of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's play 'Hedda Gabler,' about the daughter of a general who is trapped in a loveless marriage. Another premiere at TIFF is 'Good News,' a drama by South Korean director Sung-hyun Byun about a covert mission to land a hijacked airplane. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said in a statement that this first wave of world premieres reflects the 'innovation, heart, and global perspective' that have defined the festival for the last five decades. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025. Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cameron Bailey On TIFF World Premiere Title ‘Mile End Kicks' & Why The Festival Is Now Focused On 'Celebrating Canada'
EXCLUSIVE: 'We are all about celebrating Canada right now,' TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey explains on a Zoom call with us ahead of his festival's latest lineup announcement this morning. 'But only in the sense that I'm very focused on how Canadian stories speak to the whole world. There is a thriving culture that I think is somewhat unique to Canadian cinema because it is supported by public bodies. Nearly all Canadian cinema is independent cinema, unlike some countries with big commercial industries.' More from Deadline TIFF 50th Edition Kicking Off With Colin Hanks & Ryan Reynolds' New Documentary 'John Candy: I Like Me' Details Of Toronto Film Festival's C$23M Market Revealed: Name & Dates Set As More Heavyweight Industry Advisors Join Ahead Of 2026 Launch Doc Talk: Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger On Staging "Attempted Coup" Within The GOP, And More From Toronto Film Festival Mile End Kicks, the sophomore feature from Toronto native Chandler Levack (I Like Movies), is one of those independently produced titles set to come out of Canada this year, and it was included as a world premiere in this morning's TIFF announcement. Levack joined us on the call with Bailey. Written and directed by Levack, the film follows a 24-year-old female music critic who moves to Montreal to write a book about Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she becomes intertwined with a struggling indie rock band and decides to become their publicist. Starring are Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria), Jay Baruchel (BlackBerry), Devon Bostick (Oppenheimer), Stanley Simons (The Iron Claw), and Juliette Gariépy (Société distincte). Bailey tells us that he 'fell in love with the film' after seeing an early, unfinished cut. 'I was a film critic for an alternative weekly paper in Toronto for many years. I never got to live in Montreal like the character in the movie, but I know that world,' Bailey says. 'And Mile End Kicks is telling this incredible story of what it's like to exist as a young woman in that world, which is an alternative cultural world, but still has a lot of hazards for women. That plays out in the film with great insight, humor, and candor.' Bailey adds that he believes Levack, who for some time worked on the editorial team at TIFF and debuted her first feature, I Like Movies, at the festival in 2022, represents 'the very best of what Canadians can do.' 'I think of the early work of Patricia Rozema and Patricia Rozema, Clement Virgo, and then in Montreal, people like Philippe Falardeau and Denis Villeneuve, those early independent features that really feel like they're immersed in a world, and speak to the experience of young people at that time — Chandler's in that lineage,' Bailey says. 'So I want the world to know about her, and that's why we're giving this film that kind of platform.' In a similar vein to I Like Movies, a film about a socially awkward teenage cinephile who gets a job at a video store, Mile End Kicks is inspired by Levack's own life experiences. 'I left Blockbuster and became a magazine writer in my early 20s. I wrote for magazines like Spin and Village Voice,' she explains. 'It was tremendously exciting. But looking back at those years, I would think about how all my bosses were men in their 40s, and how maybe there was something weird about that. And maybe the way I was being singled out as special and talented had a deeper meaning to it.' The film is set against the indie music scene in the titular Mile End neighborhood of Montreal, where acts such as Grimes, Mac DeMarco, and Arcade Fire first found acclaim. Montreal rock band TOPS have recorded two original songs for the film's soundtrack. 'This is a movie that should be of enormous interest to buyers,' Bailey adds. When you look at what's out there, what's succeeding in art house distribution and awards season, it's fresh voices and filmmakers who are connected to where the culture is right now. Mile End Kicks is exactly in line with that.' Titles also announced this morning as part of TIFF's Official Selection were Alejandro Amenábar's The Captive, Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers, Sung-hyun Byun's Good News, and Nia DaCosta's Hedda. They join the previously announced opening night flick, John Candy: I Like Me. On the wider TIFF lineup, which will be announced in August, Bailey adds: 'We've been in close conversation with all of our usual partners, the studios, streamers, sales companies, and independent producers. There's no let up it just all depends on what films are available, both in terms of what they present to us and what we end up choosing. Thankfully, we're still seeing some great movies.'TIFF 2025 runs from September 4–14. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far Everything We Know About The 'Reminders of Him' Movie So Far
CBC
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Chandler Levack's Montreal-set rom-com among world premieres at TIFF's 50th edition
A rom-com about a love triangle set in Montreal's music scene is among the films making their world premieres at the 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. Mile End Kicks, from Toronto director Chandler Levack, stars Barbie Ferreira as a young music critic who moves to Montreal in 2011 to write a book about Alanis Morissette's album Jagged Little Pill. Her plans take a turn when she falls for two members of the same fledgling indie rock band and decides to become their publicist. The film portrays the music scene in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhood, which gave rise to acts including Arcade Fire, Grimes and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It's one of five special presentations announced by TIFF, including Steven Soderbergh's The Christophers, about siblings who hire a forger to finish their late father's art. TIFF runs from Sept. 4 to 14 and will open with John Candy: I Like Me, a documentary on the late Canadian comic. The taste of the lineup revealed Thursday also includes Alejandro Amenabar's The Captive, which tells the story of Don Quixote author Miguel de Cervantes. Meanwhile, Hedda, by The Marvels director Nia DaCosta, is a reimagining of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's play Hedda Gabler, about the daughter of a general who is trapped in a loveless marriage. Another premiere at TIFF is Good News, a drama by South Korean director Sung-hyun Byun about a covert mission to land a hijacked airplane. TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said in a statement that this first wave of world premieres reflects the "innovation, heart and global perspective" that have defined the festival for the last five decades.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TIFF Next Wave Film Festival: Emma Seligman, 'Bottoms' and 'Shiva Baby' filmmaker, among special guests
The 14th edition of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival kicks off next month (April 10-13), with some notable alumni returning as special guests. Notably, filmmaker Emma Seligman will screen her films Shiva Baby and Bottoms, followed by a Q&A, on April 13. Additionally, I Like Movies writer-director Chandler Levack will host a screening of Fast Times at Ridgemont High on April 10. And drag performer Miss Moço will host a quote-along screening of Josie and the Pussycats. But the stars of the event are the 10 films that have been selected to be part of the festival, made by young filmmakers between the ages of 14 and 24. The themes of the films include, "coming-of-age, exploring new friendships, finding your place in the world, and self-expression through creativity and art." Films are selected by the TIFF Next Wave Committee, which is made up of 12 teen film lovers and creators ranging in ages from 15 to 18, from across the Greater Toronto Area. "TIFF's Next Wave Film Festival reflects our mission to empower young creators and cultivate an exciting relationship with cinema for Toronto's youth that we hope will last a lifetime," a statement from Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer at TIFF, reads. "This is absolutely one of our favourite events of the year as we welcome both new and now-established directors who were themselves a part of this Festival not too long ago, including Emma Seligman. Emma's journey is a testament to how TIFF has nurtured young creators, and the impact of our commitment to discovering new talent and launching the next generation of original storytellers." Brides, dir. Nadia Fall, United Kingdom, 2025 - Canadian Premiere The Dog Thief (El ladrón de perros), dir. Vinko Tomičić Salinas, Bolivia/Chile/Mexico/France/Ecuador, 2024 - Toronto Premiere Manas, dir. Marianna Brennand, Brazil/Portugal, 2024 - Canadian Premiere Pools, dir. Sam Hayes, USA, 2024 - North American Premiere Queens of Drama (Les reines du drame), dir. Alexis Langlois, France/Belgium, 2024 - Toronto Premiere Rape Play, dir. Gabriella Mykal, USA, 2023 - International Premiere Seaside Serendipity (海辺へ行く道), dir. Satoko Yokohama, Japan, 2025 - North American Premiere The Virgin of the Quarry Lake (La Virgen de la Tosquera), dir. Laura Casabe, Argentina/Spain/Mexico, 2025 - Canadian Premiere We Were Dangerous, dir. Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, New Zealand, 2024 - Toronto Premiere Where the Wind Comes From, dir. Amel Guellaty, Tunisia/France/Qatar, 2025 - Canadian Premiere Opening Night: Battle of the Scores & After Party — April 11 Battle of the Scores, co-presented by Insomniac Film Festival, involves four up-and-coming bands being challenged to score two silent short films, and the audience then picks the winner. Loved It: Chandler Levack on Fast Times at Ridgemont High (April 10 at 7:30 pm) Quote-along screening of Josie and the Pussycats (April 12 at 8:00 pm) hosted by drag performer Miss Moço Double-bill screening of Emma Seligman's Shiva Baby and Bottoms with Q&A (starting at 6:30pm on April 12) First-feature director Sam Hayes and producer Jack Heston present the North American Premiere of their film Pools followed by a Q&A Gabriella Mykal will present her debut film Rape Play The Young Creators Co-Lab is a space for young and emerging artists in Toronto to connect with their peers and industry professionals. This year's lab sessions include a new to the festival Focus on Actors panel, with actors sharing advice on "how to navigate the industry and hone your craft as a young actor." There will also be the interactive Let's Get Weird! panel with seven members of the New Toronto Bizarre film movement about building community, DIY filmmaking techniques, and "keeping cinema weird." Francisca Duran and Derek Jenkins will have a panel on the history of expanded cinema and the process of creating moving-image art. In Coming-of-age Confrontations, directors Chandler Levack, Emma Seligman and Sam Hayes will revisit "the scenes that defined their characters' turning points," breaking down their approaches to "accurately and empathetically" representing experiences of being young and "navigating the world on your own terms." Celebrating boundary-pushing work by emerging filmmakers, the Young Creators Showcase focuses on themes of "connection, identity, and finding community," a shorts programme created for youth, by youth.
