Then director, Sabina Olivia Lambert and I talk wallpaper, production values and transitioning Lauren Greenwood's 2019 Toronto Fringe play 'An Atlas, A Necktie & Other Concerns', into the short film, '& Other Concerns.' The short film will commence streaming on CBC GEM's Canadian Reflections on April 16, 2026.

Music: Tanika Charles 'Parkdale', Ndidi O 'Call Me Queen's, Lynn Olagundoye 'Beautiful', Beautiful Nubia 'Mama Bendel'

Music: 'In my soul' by Four the Moment, 'Wade in the Water' by Tikki Mercury-Clarke and 'Move Away' by Sheila 'Lady PEARL'S Brereton Robinson

Spoken Word: Imani aka Anne-Marie Woods "Who Am I, Shahaddah Jack " (HER)STORY poem, HannahFlorestthepoet "Your black friend told me to tell you this," Jonisha Lewinson "So I Wait" which I found on the YouTube channel for the United Church of Canada

In memoriam: Sistah Lois shares the legacy of Sheila 'Lady Pearl' Robinson, the first woman to win the Canadian Calypso Monarch title.

Music: Move Away by Lady Pearl

In memoriam: Sistah Lois shares the legacy of Sheila 'Lady Pearl' Robinson, the first woman to win the Canadian Calypso Monarch title.

Music: Move Away by Lady Pearl

Music: Chatte Chant by Chatta from Phem Phat's Honey Drops, Canada's first all female urban compilation.

"Stakes and Embers in association with Minmar Gaslight presents “A Question Of Character” at the Aki Studio at Native Earth, January 17-25, 2026.

Following such critically acclaimed works as the lightning-in-a-bottle The Seat Next To The King and the multi-Dora nominated Three Ordinary Man, playwright Steven Elliott Jackson returns to Toronto with the critically lauded 2025 Hamilton Fringe hit, A Question of Character.

In 1977, a film journalist knocks on a door in Paris, eager to interview a famed director whose skill she admires. On the other side of the door, awaiting her arrival, is Leni Riefenstahl. They have time. They have tea. Things go as planned until they don’t in thiunpredictable historical drama, directed by Alice Fox Lundy and featuring Paula Wing and Tanisha Taitt."

https://nativeearth.ca/shows/all-shows/a-question-of-character

Until January 25, 2026

KELLY PFLUG BACK (editor)

https://www.textandtextiles.ca/about

Kelly is a writer, textile artist, and educator/instructor. Their fiction, poetry, and journalism have appeared in places like the Toronto Star, Ideomancer Speculative Fiction, Briarpatch, Goblin Fruit, Strange Horizons, and many others. Her first full-length book of poems, The Hammer of Witches, was published with Caitlin Press/Dagger Editions in 2020.

NADJA LUBIW-HAZARD

https://www.nmlhazard.com/copy-of-tizzy-me

Nadja is the author of the adult novel The Nap-Away Motel, and the children's chapter book Tizzy and Me: Fifteen Ways to Love a Mink. Her short story collection The Life of a Creature, and her second children's chapter book, Tizzy and Me: The Incredible Adventure of Moondog's Eye will both be published in 2026.

Her work has been published in numerous Canadian literary magazines including Room, The Fiddlehead, Understorey, Event, Plenitude, Canthius, Prairie Fire, The Dalhousie Review, and The New Quarterly. Prior to turning to full-time writing, Nadja worked as a veterinarian, most recently at the Toronto Humane Society. She is currently working on several picture books about animals, and a second novel, Saving Seraphina.

Nadja is a trained creative writing workshop facilitator, and has worked with Firefly Creative Writing, The Writers Collective of Canada, Workman Arts, and CAMH Collaborative Learning College (CLC). She is passionate about the role narrative medicine and storytelling have in healing, especially as it relates to grief. Her CLC workshops focus on pet-loss grief, eco-grief, and the grief of mental illness. Find out more and sign up here.

A life-long animal-lover and long-time vegan, her writing often explores themes related to the more-than-human world. She lives with her wife, their two daughters, and a feisty, fluffy cat in Toronto.

ALTHEA KNIGHT

https://altheaknight.com/index.php/about-althea/

Born in London, England, to Jamaican and West African lineages, Althea Knight is a Canadian poet, artist, and educator living on unceded Algonquin territory in Ottawa. She has led workshops across cultures and communities, nurturing creative practice, self-discovery, and wellness. Her poems and visual art have been featured in galleries, museums, and community spaces, and published in Love Dimensions, Recipes for Sustainability, #WeBelieveSurvivors, and Up:Rising. She continues to create work that witnesses what was silenced, questions inherited narratives, and reclaims and tends what was disrupted across personal, ancestral, structural, and relational life.

ALEXANDRA C. YEBOAH

https://acyeboah.com/

Alexandra C. Yeboah is a Brampton-based writer, storyteller and creative facilitator whose work often drifts between the heartfelt and the hilariously human. A quiet observer with a mischievous curiosity, she writes stories exploring identity, discovery, belonging, and life’s awkward corners. Her nonfiction and poetry appear in Back Where I Came From, UpRising, and The Art of Solidarity anthologies. Alexandra is a second-generation Canadian with Jamaican and Ghanaian ancestry who is passionate about people, history, and culture. When not writing or facilitating, Alexandra can be found pretending her life is musical, daydreaming, or writing somewhere outdoorsy or by the light.

TICKETS: $15 www.hotdocs.ca

ABOUT: Set against the sweeping backdrop of Haida Gwaii, the documentary explores two titles: the Skidegate Saints’ quest to defend their All Native Basketball Championship and the community’s fight to reclaim their land and waters, stolen under the Indian Act of 1876. These intertwining battles on and off the court highlight what some might call "a silly game of putting the ball in the hoop" has become a profound tool for political action, community leadership, and cultural survival in Haida Gwaii.

Then I'm joined by drag performer, Jade Elektra, who hosted my fundraiser 'Mingle with The More the Merrier'. I co-hosted the event and was very happy to have Sistah Lois our my special guest. Thank you John Allan for allowing me to use your recording.

DESCRIPTION: "Far from home, three Caribbean migrant workers carve out a sense of belonging in an unfamiliar—and often unforgiving—landscape...Razor-sharp, funny, and unflinching, The Christmas Market is a powerful exploration of community resilience and the hope created by found family." At Crows Theatre until Nov 30, 2025.

CIUT is YOUR radio station and community members area always welcome to share their love of the arts. Marc Starbuck joins me to talk about what attracts him to the film noir genre, a genre he's loved since his boyhood in Nottingham, England to his adulthood in Canada.

Revisiting #TIFF2012 with an archival interview with Michael McGowan director, Still Mine, starring Academy Award Nominated actors, James Cromwell and Genevieve Bujold. Still Mine is one of my favourite Canadian films. I first saw the film at #TIFF2012 before it was renamed Still Mine upon its release by Mongrel Media.

The Female Eye Film Festival runs October 14-19. Full disclosure, CIUT is a sponsor of the festival and I'm doing some behind the Scenes work for the festival. I've interviewed Leslie Ann in previous years when I had no connection to the festival, so this is my usual chat about what audiences can look forward to seeing this year, and what's new at the festival.

Christian and I have been programmers at CIUT for years, so I know her work as a DJ and as a host of her psychedelic show Dementia 13, but this was my first time getting to know her as J. Christian Hamilton, filmmaker. Like a fascinating Q and A, I get to share with you her journey and her films, and her GoFundMe appeal for assistance on her latest project, Dogs of Mercy Park.

But up first, an interview with Jibola Fagbamiye and Conor McCreery about their collaboration on the new graphic novel 'Fela: Music is the weapon,' which explores the life of revolutionary Nigerian activist, politician, and father of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti.

The graphic novel is available for sale on October 7, with the official launch on October 16 at 7:00 p.m. at 1213 Bathurst Street, Toronto, with the authors in attendance. Tickets are $10, which also acts as a discount toward the purchase of the book. The event is presented by Supafrik and Space Unltd. Check Eventbrite for complete details.

BIOS:

Jibola Fagbamiye is a Nigerian-born visual artist based in Toronto, Canada. His work, inspired by African history and North American pop culture, has been exhibited in galleries across Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, and Lagos. Jibola illustrated the New York Times bestseller Black AF: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America, Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar, and contributed to IDW's "FULL BLEED Vol.4" anthology.

Conor McCreery is a former journalist turned comics scribe. He co-created Kill Shakespeare, has written for Assassin’s Creed, Sherlock Holmes vs Harry Houdini, Adventure Time, Regular Show, and has worked for many of the industry's top publishers including DC, IDW, BOOM!, Titan, and Dark Horse.

Karla Badillo is a Mexico City–based director, producer, and screenwriter who graduated from Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica. She wrote and directed the short films Oasis (17) and Sin regresos (19) and has served as producer on Ruido (22) and Eureka (23). Oca (25) is her feature directorial debut.

Jade Elektra on Legacy Project – STILL HERE Screening (General Admission)

CANFAR's first documentary short, Still Here – A Portrait of HIV & Aging, at Cineplex Varsity VIP on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. This documentary features the first-hand lived experiences of Billy Newton-Davis, Jade Elektra, and Trevor Stratton – all of whom have been living with HIV for over 35 years.

Event details

Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Time: Doors at 6:45pm, Screening at 7pm

Location: Cineplex Cinemas Varsity & VIP (55 Bloor Street West)Tickets are free for paying Legacy Project members, or $25 for general admission. All ticket sales support CANFAR's national youth awareness program – Sexfluent.

Music: A little bit of house by Jade Elektra 🇨🇦

Later in the episode, I reconnect with Sara Margrethe Oskal, director of The Tundra Within Me at TIFF 2023, who stars in A Sámi Wedding. I also meet filmmakers Åse Kathrin Vuolab and Pål Jackman. This comedy series, part of TIFF's Primetime program, is set in a Norwegian Sámi community where chaos ensues as Sara's character, Garen, attempts to organize a traditional Sámi wedding for 3,000 guests in just one month, all while facing limited funds and resources.

Music selections: Molly Johnson (Boogie Street 🇨🇦), Lillian Allen (Dis ya Mumma Earth 🇨🇦), Four the Moment (In My Soul 🇨🇦), Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra (Che Che Cole Makossa), Lorraine KLAASEN (Jolinkomo 🇨🇦), Nubya Garcia (Together is a Beautiful Place to Be)

Later on in the show, I'll share some film-related audio selections on Libby and Kanopy.

Music: 'Crabapples' by Bruce Peninsula

David Dacks is a Toronto-based advocate of creative music in all its forms. He is currently Executive Director of Labyrinth Music Workshop Ontario and was previously Artistic then Executive Director of renowned experimental venue the Music Gallery from 2011-23. Previously, David was an editor of Exclaim Magazine’s coverage of jazz, R&B, experimental music, reggae, and music from around the world. His has also written for Spinner.com, The Grid, Weird Canada, BlogTO, Paste Magazine, The African Drum and Musicworks. He was a programmer and host at CIUT-FM for 25 years, and produced four documentaries for CBC Radio. As a musician and DJ, he recorded eight albums featuring wild combinations of electronics with dub, cumbia and improvised elements, and ran his own record label. David served on the Toronto Arts Council’s Board of Directors from 2017-23, and was a juror for Polaris Music Prize (Grand Juror, 2011), and Polaris Music Heritage Prize. He currently serves on the board of New Feeling Writers Cooperative.

Sydney Dacks is a Toronto and Montreal-based student and up-and-coming video game developer, completing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Sociology at McGill University, graduating this fall. Sydney is passionate about investigating the creative potential of the computer and about using technology for storytelling, and helping artists to execute their creative vision. They have built six video games in Unity and have another two under development. They have participated in several hackathons and Game Jams, winning the best VR Game award in the 2024 McGameJam. They have designed and taught curriculum for childhood coding education, centered on fun and engagement while providing IT support. Sydney is also interested in and has conducted responsible AI research with a focus on algorithmic fairness and data privacy. - INTERSECTION FESTIVAL

Plus works by Elizabeth Acevedo, Nikita Gill and Sunnah Khan.

Music: 'Close' by LAL 🇨🇦

Then "pan man" Alvin Rostant joins me to talk about learning the steel pan back in Trinidad when he was 14 years old, his travels around the globe playing pan, writing his book "Carnival is Me" (also a song) and living and working in Australia.

Then an archival interview (TIFF 2023) featuring filmmakers Suvi West and Anssi Kömi talking about the repatriation of Sami cultural artifacts from museums back to their original Sami locations in their doc, 'HOMECOMING.' Suvi is Sami and Anssi is Finnish.

Then Portuguese animator, Alexandra Ramires and I talk about the process involved in making her short film, Tie (Elo). This is an archival interview from TIFF 2020.

Music: 'bom feeling' by the late Portuguese singer, Sara Tavares.

The Fringe runs July 2 - July 13, 2025 www.fringetoronto.com

A New Zealander in Denmark? Director Peter Borgman about his film 'RESIN' which screened at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Peter and I talk about working with a Danish crew, his cast and the nightmarish paranoia that overtakes the characters in his film.

Guests: Actor, Ricardo Darín ('Herioc Losers', Argentina), Director, Zaidah Bergroth ('Maria's Paradise', Finland) and Director, Grímur Hákonarson ('The County', Iceland)

Out of the archives! These interviews originally aired in 2019 when my show was broadcast in the Tuesday overnight spot from 1-2 am. I've added new music by Soca Cypher ('HEAT') and Michie Mee ('Jamaican Funk'). Enjoy!

ABOUT THE FILMS:

Heroic Losers: Starring Ricardo Darín, this is an Argentinian heist movie that tackles the serious topic of economic recession using humour. It was Argentina's entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

Maria's Paradise: Zaidah Bergroth is the director of 'Miami' and 'Tove' (Finland's entry to the Best International film category at the 93rd Academy Award but was not nominated). At TIFF 19 she and I spoke about her film MARIA'S PARADISE about the Finnish Akerblom movement which some called a cult.

The County: Grímur Hákonarson (best known for directing 'Rams,' ) and I talk about the making of his film which tells the story of a farm widow who decides to fight against corruption in her community's co-op structure.

Description: "Scientists have since learned that the more a father is involved, the lower his T levels are. They’ve discovered dads, like moms, experience spikes in other hormones, like oxytocin, the “cuddling hormone”, when interacting with their infants. These changes don’t just show up in fathers, there’s evidence that grandfathers and male parents in same sex couples are impacted. Neuroscientists are now studying how men’s brains are changed by parenthood. “Daddy brain” is a thing!"

Christine was head writer on the Science Channel series Mega Marine Machines and the second season of If We Built it Today. She has also directed seven wildlife documentaries for CBC’s Land and Sea. In 2017 she received a Wave Award from Women in Film and Television for her dedication and mentorship in the documentary world.

PLUS audiobooks you can download with you library card using the Libby app. I used my Toronto Public library to bring you these samples of 2SLGBT+ audiobooks. Happy Pride! Happy Indigenous Month!

I had the pleasure of chatting with actor David Lopez (see credits below) about his role as a swing for the Toronto production of the Tony Award-winning play, A Strange Loop. Don't know what a swing is? Not to worry. David is going to give personal insight into this often publicly overlooked theatrical role and how it relates to him being in A Strange Loop. Due to popular demand the show has been extended until June 8, 2025. www.soulpepper.ca for details and tickets.

Four theatre companies came together to co-produce this multiple award winning musical: Crow's Theatre, Soulpepper Theatre, The Musical Stage Company and TO.Live.

David Lopez

For Soulpepper: Debut Other Theatre: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (YPT), Seussical (YPT, Citadel), The Wild Party, Passing Strange (Musical Stage Co.), The Rocky Horror Show (CanStage, RMTC, STC), High Society (Shaw Festival), The Little Mermaid (Globe Theatre), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (CanStage, Dora Award Nomination), La Cage aux Folles (Neptune Theatre, Merritt Award Nomination), Kinky Boots (Mirvish Productions) Film &Television: Once Upon A Mattress, At The Hotel, Stormy Weather, A Handmaid’s Tale, Workin’ Moms Other: Backup dancer for Patti LaBelle and Katy Perry.

Music/Spoken Word: Ebony Stewart 'Gay God' ; d'bi.young anitafrika, 'gendah bendah' ; Jade Elektra 'What a difference a day makes' (performed live at the 2024 Poz-To Awards.

Hot Docs and Inside Out Films festivals overlap with my interview with director, Noam Gonick and producer, Justine Pimlott about their NFB film 'Parade: Queer Acts of Love and Resistance'. My guests join me to talk about their Hot Docs experience and looking forward to their Inside Out screening.

Music: Jade Elektra, 'Basic Bitch'

Music: Ndidi O, 'Inside Looking Out'

Frequent collaborator Heidy M joins me to discuss Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival. Heidy is an arts and culture writer and creator of hyemysings.ca. She is also a programmer for the the genre festival Blood in the Snow and. Rotten Tomato approved movie critic.

Then 'Angel's in the Dark, an audio drama from the Wireless Theatre Company Limited. This Scrooge meets The Twilight Zone drama is about a boss from hell who may or may not learn for his past actions.

Music: 'Aerobics in space' by MayleeTodd

SYNOPSIS: Fresh out of prison, Billy Skinner (Sean Dalton) returns to his transformed low-income neighborhood, now populated by Syrian refugees. Struggling to overcome his dark past, Billy forges an unexpected bond with Mo (Jay Abdo), a compassionate Syrian immigrant determined to build a better life for his family.

Playing for one night only April 16th at the Royal in Toronto. Get your tickets at https://theroyal.to Click on EVENTS. Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.) Location: The Royal Theatre - 608 College St, Toronto, ON Age requirement: +16 TICKETS: $15

NEXT STOPS: Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver

https://skeetfilm.com/

Catherine Bourgeois, Artistic and Executive Director of Montreal's Joe Jack et John Productions joins me to talk about the company and Cispersonnages en quête d'auteurice/Cis-characters in Search of an Author which will run April 24 to 27, 2025 at Theatre Passe Muraille, 16 Ryerson Ave, Toronto

SYNOPSIS: Five neurodivergent performers gather in a rehearsal studio to kick off a new creative process. But when they realize they can’t put on the unicorn show they originally envisioned—because, well, they’re not unicorns—they each start pitching ideas to break through the creative block.

http://www.passemuraille.ca/

The show is the first collaboration between Théâtre français de Toronto and Théâtre Passe Muraille. All performances are in French with ENGLISH surtitles.

Music: Poso Oyo by Naxx Bitota

Alphonso joined me to talk about Top Star Live 2025, his weekly Wednesday evening talent show, but our conversation veered off into other areas of his fascinating life and some interesting and personal LGBT+ history facts came to light.

Later on in the show you'll hear a bit more from Alphonso from his appearance on Season 3 of Drag Heels.

Music: Live performances by Ackeria Smith (Top Star Live 2024 winner) of "Saving all my Live for you" and Jade Elektra sings "What a difference a day makes" at the historic El Mocambo during the POZ-TO 2025 Awards.

Kevin Matthew Wong is a Hakka Chinese-Canadian theatre creator, dramaturg, facilitator, video artist, and producer. The co-founder of Broadleaf Creative joins me to talk about the world premiere of his work 'Benevolence,' running April 8 - May 4, 2025 at the Tarragon Theatre

Music: 'Home' by Miss Neshama

A Mother Apart follows the journey of award-winning poet and performance artist Staceyann Chin as she looks for answers about her mother who abandoned her as a child. The film captures the healing power of radical motherhood, as we watch Staceyann confront the painful abandonment of her childhood while trying to mother differently, with her young and outspoken daughter, Zuri. Staceyann Chin dares to redefine motherhood for herself as her young daughter Zuri finds her own voice on a journey that takes them from Canada to Europe, to the US then Jamaica.

The film will stream on CBC Gem and the NFB's free app.

After six years, Megan Wennberg and I catch up about her latest documentary 'Dances with Cranes' for CBC's The Nature of Things. I last spoke with Megan in 2019 about her doc 'Drag Kids.'

Award-winning filmmaker Megan Wennberg (Unsyncable, 2023) captures the remarkable recovery of Whooping Cranes from the brink of extinction in Dances with Cranes. Joined by renowned conservation scientist and fellow Nova Scotian George Archibald, Wennberg follows this incredible story from the early days, when Archibald spent years ‘dancing’ with a female whooping crane named Tex, in hopes he could get her to reproduce. Dances with Cranes premieres on CBC’s The Nature of Things, Thursday, March 13 at 9 pm (9:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem.

Then, I'll have a focus on Beah Richards in her own words. If the name sounds familiar, she is best known to the general public for her Oscar-nominated role as Sidney Poitier's mother in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Besides being a movie actress, Beah Richards was a TV and stage actress and a writer. She is the subject of the award-winning documentary Beah: A Black Woman Speaks by Lisagay Harden. Today, you'll hear a clip from the film and a performance by Beah of her work A Black Woman Speaks of White Womanhood, of White Supremacy, of Peace.

The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the AFI Film Festival and A Peabody. You can find out more about LisaGay at https://www.lisagayhamilton.com

Music:

Amai Kuda and Y Josephine 'Freedom'

Lorraine Klaassen 'Jolinkomo'

The last time she was here, we talked about the show The Noose, written by renowned Haitian playwright Frankétienne, starring Edmond Clark as Polydor and Louco St. Fleur as Pyram—two Haitian men from different social levels living in a small New York apartment during the '80s. The play ran at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in October 2024.

Abigail joins me this time to talk about directing McBitches, written by Sophie Macintosh.

Then, it's a quick Oscars chat with friends and cinephiles Gordon Gingras and Anne Gallagher.

Music: Molly Johnson 'Boogie Street'

Plus a Black History Month segment featuring a mix of poetry, dub poetry, spoken word, and music by Black women.

Fat Ham by James Ijames

A Canadian Stage Production

Feb 15 - Mar 9, 2025

https://www.canadianstage.com/

A bold and hilarious reimagining of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy. Helmed by celebrated Canadian director Philip Akin – who directed last season’s hit production of THE LEHMAN TRILOGY – FAT HAM features an exemplary cast led by beloved actor Peter Fernandes as Juicy with David Alan Anderson, Raven Dauda, Nehassaiu deGannes, Virgilia Griffith, Tawiah M’Carthy, and Tony Ofori. A thrilling and hilarious remake of Shakespeare’s HAMLET set against the backdrop of the American South, in FAT HAM, Juicy must throw a cookout to celebrate his mother’s remarriage to his late father’s brother after receiving a ghostly visit from his recently deceased father. Striking an eerie resemblance to that classic tale, Juicy – a young, queer Black man - must grapple with familial tensions, a quest for justice, and his own identity as he determines his next move. However, faced with the same questions as Hamlet, Juicy ultimately finds different answers.

Plus, a selection of audiobooks by Black authors in honour of Black History Month.

Then another wonderful audio presentation from The Wireless Theatre Company with 'Time Travel Inc' by Peter Davis. A new employee gets some on-the-job training about a new technology.

Music: Kellylee Evans 'Questioning my path' and I dip into the archives with True's 'Comin' In'

I’ll also talk about the powerful film Hard Truths, written and directed by Mike Leigh and starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Secrets and Lies) and Michelle Austin. The story follows two sisters living completely different lives, and I’ll explain why this one really resonated with me.

And before he became an Oscar-nominated director, I had the chance to interview Croatian filmmaker Nebojša Slijepčević about his Palme d'Or and European Film Award-winning short film The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent. Based on a real 1993 incident aboard a Bosnian train, we discuss the moral dilemma at the heart of the film and its universal themes.

Music: 'Bam Bam' by Sister Nancy

As usual you can find me on IG/FB and Bluesky under the handle tmtmwithdonnag or via the CIUT website: www.ciut.fm/tmtm

After that, I'll be catching up with Alphonso King Jr. about his new community project, Pink Cinema, a series of screenings of 2SLGBT films curated by popular vote, launching with The Ritz on January 20, 2025. We also tease February's screenings and chat about his other community initiatives, Mingle and Poz Planet Magazine.

Then regular contributor, Heidy M, arts and culture writer and founder of Hyemusings.ca shares her take on Pedro Almodóvar's The Room Next Door; the award-winning Latvian animated feature, Flow; then we exchange thoughts on Robert Eggers interpretation of Nosferatu.

Then, stick around for an old-time radio episode of Our Miss Brooks starring Eve Arden (oldwaveradio.com). Get ready for some laughs!

Plus I play a story told by Comfort Iyase Ero called The Storyteller and the Seven Days Story.

Music by

Lorraine Klaassen 'La reine'

Mis Blandine 'Makambo'

Okavango African Orchestra 'Ngaisangane'

Note: audio samples are those offered by the Toronto Public Library's website and includes the name of each work's publisher. No copyright infringement is intended.

Then sit back and allow your ears to enjoy some old time radio drama with SUSPENSE! The episode 'EVE' is one of my favourites and stars Nancy Kelly, Tony award-winner and Oscar Nominee for The Bad Seed. 

PLAYLIST 

'Arachnophobia' by Lady Laistee featuring Jaeyez

'My Cutie Pie' byA lex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks 

MY CONTACTS

https://ciut.fm/tmtm/

FB/IG @tmtmwithdonnag

Bluesky @tmtmwithdonnag.bsky.social

My mom would have had lots of questions about CONCLAVE after listening to the second part of my show, which features a discussion about the film with my friend Heidy M. Heidy is an arts and culture writer, the founder and creator of https://hyemusings.ca/, and a Rotten Tomato-approved critic. She is also a programmer for Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS), a genre festival in Toronto.

I can be reached on IG and FB under @tmtmwithdonnag or www.ciut.fm

We’ll explore three dynamic productions at this year’s festival. First, I chat with Abigail Whitney, director of 'The Noose' a Haitian play that hasn't been produced in English since 1997. Then, you'll hear from Bonnie Duff, playwright of 'This Feels Like The End' alongside director Michelle Blight. And finally, I'll be joined by producer Olivia Daniels and director Ilana Khanin to discuss 'I Was Unbecoming Then'.

These interviews will flow back-to-back, so stay with me for a fantastic lineup of conversations!

For full details and tickets, head over to www.fringetoronto.com and click on 'Next Stage'

Special shout out to arts and culture writer and interviewer Heidy M of hyemusings.ca who wasn't able to join us for our annual TIFF roundup. Please visit her site to check out her coverage. 😊

Music: Poso Oyo by Naxx Bitota

My coverage of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival continues my interview with Fabian Stumm, the director, writer, and star of Sad Jokes. This German tragicomedy tells the story of Joseph, a gay screenwriter, played by Stumm himself, who co-parents a child with his best friend. When she falls into depression, Joseph steps in as the primary caregiver, all while trying to craft a screenplay that will resonate with audiences. I had the chance to sit down with Fabian during the festival, and I hope you enjoy our conversation!

PLAYLIST

Chet Singh 'The Price is Right

Jade Elektra 'A Little Bit of House'

Jef Kearns 'Soulphisticsted'

I had the chance to chat with director Frida Kempff and the star of her new film 'The Swedish Torpedo', Josephin Neldén. It’s a biopic about Sally Bauer, the first Scandinavian to swim the English Channel, and it's premiering at TIFF 2024.

Afterwards, you'll hear from frequent tmtm guest Heidy M, an arts and culture writer, who stepped in to help me out since I’m under the weather. She’s graciously allowed me to use a portion of her interview with TIFF programmers Norm Wilner and Kelly Boutsalis, where they talk about what goes into programming for TIFF and highlight some exciting established and new Canadian talent. The complete interview can be watched HERE .

Heidy's YouTube channel @hyemusings

Heidy on IG: @hyemusings

PLAYLIST:

Dominique Fils-Aimé Good Feeling

Ndidi O: Hands High

Then from Wireless Theatre Limited:

A FUNNY OLD BUSINESS

Starring: Richard Rycroft, Karen Bartholomew, Jan Haydn Rowles, Reuben Anderson, Trevor Cutherbertson, Jack Bowman and Neil Frost.

Short radio comedy. Join an eclectic group of enthusiastic comedy students, and a Dalek, as they seek out their funny bones and duck the punch lines at Robert Mugabe University (Formerly Hackney Polytechnic for the Academically Less Gifted). starring Richard Rycroft (Game of Thrones)

LIE DETECTOR

Starring: Reuben Anderson and Mariele Runacre Temple. Written By: Peter Yates Directed By: Neil Frost

A suspect is questioned by a secret service agent using sophisticated polygraph equipment with surprising results. Satire, by playwright Peter Yates, starring Mariele Runacre-Temple and Rueben Anderson.

Later in the show, I'll be joined by Martha Cooley, Executive Director, and Lisa Haller, Director of Programming, of the Atlantic International Film Festival. We will be chatting about the festival, the films, and beautiful Halifax.

Music:'Ko'jua' by Mi'kmaw fiddler and singer Morgan Toney.

https://www.morgantoneymusic.com/

Helen Juvonen and Tyler J. Seguin, co-artistic directors of Guild Festival Theatre, discuss their new production, 'Isle of Demons' based on a play by Robert Chafe about the real-life Marguerite de la Roque, a 16th century French noblewoman marooned on an island with her lover and her maid. The show runs until August 25th.

Then, I'll chat with director Jon Ornoy about his documentary, 'Lost in the Shuffle', featuring Canadian magic champion Shawn Farquhar and his theory about a king's murder hidden in our everyday deck of cards. 'Lost in the Shuffle' will have a two-day run on August 26th and 27th at the Revue Cinema in Toronto, with both Jon and Shawn in attendance.

Then, director Tamara Scherbak and I discuss her film 'White Noise,' another Female Eye Film Festival entry, a horror film about misophonia, co-written with producer Christina Saliba (Misfit Films). The film stars Bahia Watson ('The Handmaid's Tale,' 'Star Trek: Discovery').

Afterwards, we'll segue into my brief chat with Ilse Moreno, the director of the short film "The Canadian Dream," A personal documentary about her father's work as migrant farm worker in Ontario. In The film screens as part of THE SHIFT programme on July 18 at the paradise theatre at 2:30 pm. Ilse joins me during her break on set, so heads up about any background noise you hear during our conversation.

Later on in the show, I'll be sticking with the female perspective with a rebroadcast of my TIFF 2020 interview with award-winning director Tiffany Hsiung about her attempt to uncover the mystery of her mother's past in "Sing Me a Lullaby," available on CBC Gem and other streaming platforms.

PLAYLIST

LAL: 'Dead Happiness'

Calypso Rose: :Soca Tempo'

Then, I'm joined by tmtm fan and supporter Gordon G., who shares a few queer classic film recommendations for Pride.

PLAYLIST

'Heat' by SOCA CYPHER (Legacy 24 K, Eko, Jenelle Ross, Noelle Archer, Chelsea Sic, Gyles)

'Enter You' performed by Tori Spelling from the TRICK soundtrack

'1-800-READ-A-BITCH' by Jade Elektra

'Juba Song' by Four the Moment

First up, we've got "Baggage" by Alan Cumming, and then "Naturally Tan" by Tan France from Queer Eye. Next, we'll slide into Saeed Jones's "How We Fight for Our Lives," followed by "Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw" by Eddie Ndopu and Schuyler Bailar's "He She They."

After enjoying d'bi young anitafrika's song "Kiss," we'll continue with more memoirs: "Family Outing" by Jessi Hempil, "Ma and Me" by Putsata Reang, and "Embracing Queer Family" by Nia Chiarmonte and Katie J. Chiarmonte.

After listening to the sample from "Horses and Sand: A Memoir" by Métis writer Lorrie Potvin, I added it to my "to be read/listen to" list. It's narrated by Mohawk actress and singer, Cheri Maracle and I wanted to hear more. HEADS UP: the sample includes references to unwanted sexual touching. I wrestled with whether to include it since it might be triggering, but it serves its purpose by helping you decide if you want to borrow the book. Feel free to listen or scroll ahead five minutes, where I wrap things up, not with a memoir, but with "Queer Little Nightmares: An Anthology of Monstrous Fiction and Poetry," edited by David Ly and Daniel Zomparelli.

And finally, I close the show with "Rising" by Lhasa de Sela (Lhasa), just because I wanted to share her amazing voice with you.

Then I'll chat with co-directors Neil Diamond and Catherine Bainbridge about their new documentary 'Red Fever,' which deals with the fetishism and cultural appropriation of First Nations culture. The film opens across Canada next week June 14, 2024.

PLAYLIST: 'Light-Imole' and 'Happy Times' by Sonia Aimy

Djennie and I chat about how she learned to be true to herself, her Haitian heritage and her work. We also discuss her new play (a work-in-progress) about Black women, mental health and the healing properties of community.

Neil and I discuss his past role as Program Director at CHRY radio (York University), the importance of campus and community radio in promoting diverse content on the airwaves. Neil also shares a couple of good reads that may be available at your local library or that can be purchased from your local bookseller.

Gun and I discuss the extension (by popular demand) into Pride Month of his exhibition 'Masculine Form and Energy'. The shadowed photographs are a collaborative effort between Gun and his subjects and depicts the male nude in opposition to mainstream images of the masculine form.

Gyles and I catch up about her latest music and the release of 'HEAT' by all-female group SOCA CYPHER, representing Canada and the Caribbean. We also reminisce about her early start on the music stage.

Alex shares news about meeting Grammy-winning artist Cheo and shares the serendipitous news of how he came into possession of early works by his idol, Bobby Darin.

PLAYLIST:

dominique fils-aimee,

jojo and the fugitives 'chips chicken banana splits'

alex bird, you are the light and the way

amai kuda et les bois, 'woman'

- "The Day I Will Never Forget" (2002) – Director/Cinematographer

- "Sisters in. Law" (2005) – Co-director (with Florence Ayisi)/Cinematographer/Producer

- "Rough Aunties" (2008) – Director/Cinematographer

- "Pink Saris" (2010) – Director/Camera

I believed Dalton's truth. He is very open about his abusive childhood in Jamaica, his journey to becoming a winner of the 2018 UK "The X Factor," and the homophobic vitriol he faced when a photo of him sitting on a man's lap was posted on social media. The film screened at Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival 2024

PLAYLIST

'Sober' by Dalton Harris (from the film Dalton's Dream)

'Kiss' by d'bi.young anitakfrika

Harar V.A. Hall performs spoken word poetry: 'mahogany', 'untitled reflections' and 'sometimes when I don't know what to believe in, I choose to find divinity in rest'

'Strength' by Amai Kuda and Y Josephine

Have you heard about the gayest family in Canada, consisting of seven women across three generations of lived lesbian history? Well, the family is featured Colette Johnson-Vosberg's debut documentary 'Unusually Normal,' screening at this year's Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Festival?

PLAYLIST : Poetry/Spoken Word/Audiobook Samples/Music

Zuri and Staceyann Chin read Nikki Giovanni's work, 'Mothers' from Staceyann Chin's Facebook page.

'Dandelion' written by Jamie Chai Yun Liew, audiobook sample read by Jennifer Hui. Source: Toronto Public Library.

'Tamarind Mem' by Anita Rau Badami, sample read by the author. Source: Toronto Public Library.

'The Story of Us' by Catherine Hernandez, sample read by the author. Source: Toronto Public Library.

Julia Gaskil's spoken word piece 'Mother's Day Mantra' from Vancouver Slam Poetry. Source: Vancouver Poetry House (YouTube)

Andrea Menard's 'The Mother Song'

Portions of Amai Kuda et les bois' 'Woman' can also be heard during the broadcast

Then, focusing on the Upper Canada Choristers (UCC), I interview composer and conductor Laurie Evan Fraser, and Jacinto Salcedo, a tenor and coordinator of UCC's Latin music ensemble 'Cantemos.' We discuss their musical paths from the U.S. and Venezuela respectively, as well as UCC's upcoming concert, 'New Beginnings,' which celebrates the choir's 30th anniversary. The concert takes place in person on May 10, 2024 at Grace Church-on-the Hill or online https://www.uppercanadachoristers.org/

FAMILY TREE: North Carolina’s sustainable forestry movement is a rare gesture towards community-based climate action. Seen through the stories of two Black families who fight to preserve their land and generational legacy, Family Tree’s cinema vérité approach reveals the colossal task of maintaining the land while navigating family dynamics, unscrupulous developers and changing environmental needs. Each challenge is faced with diligence and integrity, while the forest itself becomes a kind of character in this drama about its own survival. SOURCE: hotdocs.ca

CHASING TIME: After bringing some of the first and most striking visual evidence of our changing planet to the fore through the groundbreaking study of melting glaciers, photographer James Balog returns to Iceland to close the last chapter of his life’s work. SOURCE: hotdocs.ca

Revisiting Anna Magnani with James Quandt, film writer and former Senior Programmer for TIFF Cinematheque. This is an edited version of an interview I did with James 7 years ago.

Mad Madge Credits:

Written by Rose Napoli

Directed by Andrea Donaldson

Starring: Rose Napoli, Karl Ang, Wayne Burns, Izad Etemadi, Farhang Ghajar, and Nancy Palk

Set, Costumes, and Props Designed by: Astrid Janson, Abby Esteireiro, and Merle Harley

Wardrobe Team: Alessia Urbani, Jennifer Purcell Martin, and Maxim Bortnowski

Dresser: Tsz Ting Lam

Lighting Design: Rebecca Vandevelde

Sound Design: Olivia Wheeler*

Associate Sound Designer: Frank Incer

Intimacy Director: Christina Fox

Stage Manager: Hannah MacMillan

Production Manager: Maya Royer

Production Consultant: Pip Bradford

Producer/Publicist: Victoria Laberge

Commissioned by: Kate Amesbury

*Represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.

Photo of Rose Napoli by Dahlia Katz

MUSIC/SPOKEN WORD PLAYLIST

Scott Thompson: I'm Canadian from Kids in the Hall Buddy Cole 5

Jully Black: I Got Four Kids from Caroline, or Change

Randell Adjei ( I Am an Artist) and Borelson (M.O.B (Mind Over Body) featuring Ink the Urban Myth, Phoenix, Deqwi, Tracey Kayy, R.Q.TEK from As Far as Eye Can See

Dominique Fils-Aimé: Free Dom

Spoke word by Amani (I Am an artist, My Life)

Poetry by Ashley Obscura (Ambient Technology)

Music by Haviah Mighty (Wishy Washy)

John Galway, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Toronto Irish Film Festival is back to showcase the feature films at this year's festival. Note: I'm a member of the shorts program jury so we didn't discuss those in detail.

Photo: Gun Roze at "Backstage" opening. Source: Instagram @gunroze7

Photo of Sistah is courtesy of her Instagram @sistahlois

Music: Peace is the only way by Lenka Lichtenberg and Roula Said

Bahamadia, 'I Confess'

Jill Scott, 'Easy Conversation'

Kindred the Family Soul, 'Surrender to Love'

Melanie Durrant, 'Let Me'

LAL, 'One Way'

Jade Elektra, 'A Little Bit of House'

Njako Backo and Kalimba Kalimba, 'Family'

Okavango African Orchestra (Juno Award winners), 'Bilan'

Miss Blandine, 'Point d'interrogation'

Djely Tapa, 'Départ pour lune'

Naxx Bitota, 'Poso Oyo'

Sonia Aimy, 'Husband in Canada'

AUDIOBOOKS

'Tatouine', Jean-Christophe Réhel

'A Dream of a Woman', Casey Plett

'Chinkstar', John Chan Simpson

'Kameleon Man', Kim Barry Brunhuber

'God Loves Hair', Vivek Shraya

'Empire of Wild', Cherie Dimaline

'We, Jane', Aimee Wall

MUSIC

Blaxam 'everybody'

Nicky Lawrence 'dreamer'

Alan Hobbins 'Chopin Nocturne in d-flat major, opus 27, no 2'

Music on the show includes works from Rocking Horse Winner composer and librettist Gareth Williams and Anna Chatterton; Nathaniel Dett Chorale (Listen to the Lambs cd), and soprano, Denise Williams (Soulphisticated.)

I never dreamed that I would ever get the chance to interview Hiam Abbas, let alone meet her director daughter, Lina Soualem. But it happened this year, and it's one of my moments of gratitude. "Gaza Mon Amour" was my favorite film at TIFF2020, and I've long admired Hiam for her work in films like "Satin Rouge," "The Syrian Bride," "Munich," "The Lemon Tree," "The Visitor," etc. However, many of you may know her from HBO's "Succession". "Bye Bye Tiberias" is not about Hiam's films; it's about Lina's personal journey through four generations of the women in her family, with the starting point being her mother's departure from Palestine to pursue an acting career.

Director Sara Summa and I discuss "Arthur And Diana", a brother-sister road movie through Germany, France, and Italy. It's a family affair since Sara (Diana) and Arthur (Robin Summa) are siblings in real life. Along for the ride is Sara's toddler, Lupo. It was my first time meeting Sara, and I enjoyed our conversation about filming this fictional biography.

Sara and I are both short. We had a good laugh trying to find the right spot on a daybed-sized couch that would accommodate our lack of height. 😊

@touchwoodpr

@lanstephen

@tiff_net

TIFF DESCRIPTIONS

Not A Word: On a barren island, a mother and son confront years of silence and misunderstandings in writer-director Hanna Slak’s formidable fourth feature film starring Maren Eggert, scored by Amélie Legrand, and shot by Claire Mathon.-Dorota Lech

The Tundra Within Me: In Sara Margrethe Oskal’s debut feature, set amongst the reindeer herds of northern Scandinavia, a Sámi artist returns to her hometown where she confronts her past demons and finds an unexpected new love. -Jason Ryle

Director's Statement (edited)

"As an ulcerative colitis sufferer, fecal transplant had been on my radar for years. But when I broached it with my gastroenterologist I was immediately shut down. “We simply don’t have enough research yet” he responded, while writing me prescriptions for the less-than-effective drug regimen I’d been on for nearly a decade. As with many of my doctor appointments, I walked away with no real answers to my burning questions, and no new options for getting myself out of an on-going cycle with this chronic illness. I was determined to find out more about this promising new treatment and if I didn’t have my doctor’s support, I was willing to go it alone. This film does not shy away from the difficult reality of what it means to be a person living with a chronic illness. Themes of love and caregiving, guilt and shame, are all touched upon...There are currently 416 active clinical trials studying the potential of fecal transplants in the treatment of various diseases ranging from inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, autism, bi-polar depression, cancer and COVID...In the end, our goals with this film are to give a voice to those suffering from chronic illnesses and to help alleviate some of the shame and embarrassment around something we all deal with everyday."

I'm joined by director Zarrar Khan and producer Anam Abbas to discuss their film In Flames and their fresh interpretation of genre films.

TIFF has public screenings which most of you are familiar with, however, there is parallel industry section where delegates buy and sell films--some of these films are available first industry eyes only.

The heist sequel, Umbrella Men Escape from Robben Island screened in the Industry section and I was invited you screen the film because of my past interview with the director, John Barker about the film that set it all off: The Umbrella Men. I'm joined by (right to left) Keenan Arrison, Shamilla Miller, Bronte Snell. Absent: Jaques De Silva.

I'm joined by South African director Ian Gabriel (Forgiveness, TIFF '04, Four Corners, TIFF '13) and the cast of Death of a Whistleblower, a political thriller about a determined journalist chasing a corruption story whose seeds were sown during the Apartheid years and continue to blossom in post-Apartheid South Africa. September 9, TIFF Bell Lightbox September 10, 17, Scotiabank Theatre.

Guitarist Stevie Salas (executive producer of Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World) and I chat about his co-director role (with James Burns) in the Canadian documentary, Boil Alert. Our guide through this film is Layla Staats, a Haudenosaunee mother who shares her personal stories while connecting us to the environmental racism impacting reservations from Ontario, Canada, to Navajo Nations in the US. September 15, 16, Scotiabank Theatre.

Toronto International Film Festival runs September 7-17, various venues. www.tiff.net.

The second part of my show is a focus on the work of spoken word artist, (motivational speaker and event organizer) Dwayne Morgan from BHM2023 presentation by brick yard (brick books)

Spoken Word: d’bi.young anitafrika (bloodclaat)

Playlist: Amai Kuda et les bois Oshun, Maylee Todd (Aerobics in Space), dub poetry by Dr. Afua Cooper (My Piece + Steppin to da muse/ic, a poem for Bob Marley) Juno Award winner and 2023 Toronto Poet Laureate, Lilian Allen (Rasta), Dennison George (Grenada Will Rise Again)

Music and Spoken Word by: Malika Tirolien (Rise), d'bi young (Gawdess), Pearl Cleage (Turning 40), Kindred and the Family (I Am), Ursula Rucker (Letter to a Sister Friend), Maxx Botita (Femme), Shakura S'aida (Gotta Live)

#TheMoreTheMerrierWithDonnaG

#BlackWomenBehindTheMic

#BlackWomenInCommunityRadio

#BlackWomenInCampusRadio

#CIUT895FMMatters

#RepresentationMatters

#ArtsRadio

Music by Mosa Neshama, Blaxam, Chet Singh and Tribe Called Red

Music: Basic Bitch and A Little Bit of House by Jade Elektra

Music by Alex Bird and Blaxam

CONTENT WARNING: Mature themes and language. References to depression and un-surviving. If triggered, please visit Hope for Wellness or call 1-855-242-3310 (indigenous/Inuit) support line or Distress Centres of Greater Toronto or call 416-408-4357. These are suggestions only as many other organizations exist to help you and/or your loved one(s).

DISCLAIMER: Samples used are those posed on the site and not from any other parts of each book.

Toronto Jewish Film Festival coverage with directors, Eli Gorn and Tamás Wormser. Eli and I talk about his doc, Burning Off The Page about the extraordinary Celia Dropkin who wrote Yiddish erotic poetry at the turn of the 20th century. Tamás and I discuss the multi-layered realities of his doc, Shalom Putti about the Abayudaya, a group of Black Ugandan Jews, who, after 100 years of conversion, are seeking official recognition from Israel.

Treemonisha is a Volcano Production, and part of the Luminato Festival and partnered with TOLive.

Photo: Neema Bickersteth as Treemonisha. Photo credit: Dahlia Katz. Artwork: Lost in the Island.

Photo of Eli, Tamás and posters courtesy of www.tjff.com

Plus music by Daúde (pronounced “Dah-ooh-gee”), @amaikudaetlesbois, Andrea Menard @andreamenardmusic, Alex Bird @alexbird007, #DioneTaylor, dub poetry by @dbiyounganitafrika and #ChetSingh and poetry by Indrani Amirthanayagan.

#TheMoreTheMerrierWithDonnaG

#BlackWomenBehindTheMic

#BlackWomenInCommunityRadio

#BlackWomenInCampusRadio

#CIUT895FMMatters

#RepresentationMatters

La Singla "A striking portrait of deaf Flamenco dancer Antonia Singla, who was hailed as one of the greatest performers of her time before mysteriously fading away from the spotlight at the peak of her career." -Hot Docs

The Mountains "Expanding on his 2018 Hot Docs Best International Short Documentary award-winner Haunted, filmmaker Christian Einshøj focuses this sensitive self-portrait on the men in his family and the devastating tragedy that led to the distance between them." - Angie Driscoll

Playlist: Roger Scannura (Burning Bridges), Jef Kearns (Strange Predictions), Alan Hobbins Chopin's Nocturne in .

Matt and Mariya’s love spans continents, but distance can’t tame their passionate connection. After meeting on a theatre research trip in Kyiv, a Canadian Playwright and a Ukrainian artist spark up a romance that takes them from the beaches of the Black Sea to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, through the onset of a global pandemic and the eruption of a brutal war, plus many moments of joy through it all including marriage and the birth of their son.

Joelle Peters and I discuss her play "Niizh," a coming-of-age comedy, inspired by YA romance novels, set on a reserve in Southwestern Ontario. The play follows the youngest of the ‘Little’ family, Lenna Little (Theresa Cutknife), who prepares to leave home for the first time. In the midst of this she meets Sam Thomas (Kole Durnford), who has returned to the reserve after many years away. Is there a meet-cute? Is there a fish fry? Is there a sax solo? Of course.

Joelle Peters is an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) award-winning playwright and actor from Walpole Island First Nation, now based in Toronto and serving as the Interim Artistic Director of Native Earth Performing Arts. In 2020, Joelle received the Siminovitch Protégé Playwright prize.

Music by: Kindred and the Family Soul (We), Melanie Durrant (Sky) and Maxx Bitota (Poso Oyo)

📸 Kanika's headshot by the brilliant Dahlia Katz was cropped for space but you can see Kanika's 3 new headshots on her Instagram account @kanikaambrose.

Music by motion (Feelin' It) and Wall Matthews and Aleatha Green (Nozeli In Passage / Jenny In Love)

Spoken excerpts from "Finnegans Wake" performed by Richard Harte

Music: Amai Kuda (Earth), Kevin Kennedy (Finnegans Wake folk song) and Jeff Kearns (Soulphisticsted)

Then neurologist and playwright, Dr. Suvendrini Lena and I discuss her love of theatre and her latest project, a "dramatic imagining of the celebrated poetry of Mahmoud Darwish (translated by Fady Joudah) and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, in RUBBLE a mother and her family in Gaza receive a courtesy call: “You have 58 seconds to leave your home before an explosion. Run.” A presentation by Aluna Theatre and Theatre Passe Muraille, on stage at Passe Muraille February 25 – March 18.

Music by Maza Meze (Sallam Allay)

Description: "Out for a walk in their West End neighbourhood, Mike and Marissa—an interracial couple—meet a dog with an unfortunate breed name: Redbone Coonhound." Source: @tarragontheatreto

Runs Feb 7 -15, 2023

Plus: Audiobook samples of work by Black Canadian Authors available through Toronto Public Library using the Libby App.

Music: @naxxbitota @originalndidia and Blaxäm

"The Magic of Assembly" is a new collaborative production with street dance (waacking) choreographer Perez, electronic music duo LAL, @torontodancetheatre Artistic Director, Andrew Tay and TDT's ensemble. On stage @winchesterstreettheatre February 2 – 4 & 9 – 11, 2023.

"The Flight" is a bio drama about Bessie Coleman written and performed by Beryl Bain. "Brave Bessie" was the first African-American and Native-American to hold an international aviator's license. On stage @factorytheatre February 10-18, 2023.

Music by: @amaikudaetlesbois @lalforest @sing.with.mi @naxxbitota

Music tracks by Naxx Bitota: Kurti, Femmes, Moseko

Music: Red Sky Performance (Ziibi); Kellylee Evans (Questioning my Path); Melanie Durrant (Sky)

Recommended for You by Sarah Silverman

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

Christmas Eve at Cranberry Eve by Kate Forester

Wrapped Up in You by Talia Hibbert

Jingle all the Slay by Dakota Cassidy

Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Demon by James Lovegrove

The Usual Santas (A Collection of Soho Crime Christmas Capers) by various authors

When Christmas Comes by Andrew Klavan

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshik Rice

Music: "Where the Blackbird Sings" by Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks

#tmtmwithdonnag

#CIUT895FMMatters

FROM Amai Lisa's IG post:

Posted @withrepost • @amaikudaetlesbois GET YOUR TICKETS FAST BEFORE THEY SELL OUT!! LINK IN BIO

So excited to be sharing the new work with you all live! It's been four years since our last release party and we dont often perform in Toronto anymore, so it'll be really special to connect with our 'hometown' audience again.

We'll also be blessed with a live opening performance by Janïsa, so its going to be a beautiful night guaranteed.

#livemusic #the6ix #newmusiccanada #torontomusic #livemusictoronto

@indoorrecessinc @scorpyus__music @jimmykiddo @theplanetarygroup @afroloops @takesuco @horusmusic @horusmusicbr

Laurie is a composer and the co-founder of UCC where she is the Artistic Director and Conductor.

Jacinto is a member of UCC and the coordinator of its ensemble, Cantemos, which sings music in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin.

Besides music by UCC, you can also hear music by Juno-Award nominee, Alex Bird (@alexbird007), @nubya_garcia, #EthnicHeritageEnsemble, #OkavangoAfricanOrchestra & by aadm (#PublicTransportRecordings)

Please note that this show occurred during CIUT's Fall Fundraising Campaign so you will hear reference and ads to that effect.

Adam is a poet, playwright, stage director, and the founder and artistic director of One Little Goat Theatre Company. We talk about the Nov 14th book launch of Claude Gauvreau's "The Vampire and the Nymphomaniac" translated by Ray Ellenwood, winner of the Governor General Award in translation. Edited by Thierry Bissonnette, Ray Ellenwood and Adam Seelig. Published by One Little Goat Theatre Company, in association with Nouvelles Éditions de Feu-Antonin.

Kanika Ambrose is a Toronto-based playwright, librettist and screenwriter, among many other artistic titles. She joins me to talk about her play, "Our Place" set in a Caribbean jerk pork restaurant in Scarborough. The play stars Virgilia Griffith, Sophia Walker, Pablo Ogunlesi and Tremaine Nelson. The play runs Nov. 18 - Dec 3 at Theatre Passe Muraille.

The playlist for the show features dub poetry and one Carribean folk piece:

Peculiar I, "feelings"

Lillian Allen, "proud Mary"

Ahdri Zhina Mandela, "sugar and spice"

Chet Singh, "jane and finch

d'bi young.anitafrika, "sailor"

Denise Williams, "st. john's market" (traditional folk song)

@themarktara is a podcaster (www.marktara.com) and the host of CIUT 89.5 FM's "Rainbow Country." @hyemusings is the owner of the indie arts and culture site www.hyemusings.ca and a frequent guest on #TheMoreTheMerrierWithDonnaG.

Andréa Picard, Senior curator #TIFFCinematheque and #TIFFWavelengths is a film writer whose works have appeared in various film publications and an advisor to the Marrakech International Film Festival.

I used the #libbyapp via my Toronto Public Library card.

Note: Mature content warning for this show as these are adult samples. This show is for fans of this genre. All samples are those that can be heard on your public library site and not from any other part of the books.

#JapaneseFilms

#KurdsInJapan

#KurdishRefugees

#FilmDistrisbution

#MomoFilmsInc

@whitebearpr

#ObscuredPictures

Mark Tara from Rainbow Country Talks with Emmy nominated filmmaker Vera Drew about her latest movie The People's Joker, an illegal QUEER coming of age comic book movie.

I chat with South American director John Barker about his new dramatic thriller

The Umbrella Man which premiered at TIFF22.

Film critic Daniel Garber from Critic's Circle Shares his interview with Sam Soko and Lauren deFilippo about their fascinating documentary FREE MONEY

EPISODE 2

I share my interview with Stephanie Johnes, director of Maya and the Wave.

Mark Tara from Rainbow Country brings us Buffy Sainte-Marie Carry It On. Award-Winning Music producer Chris Birkett talks about this new DOC. His decades long working relationship with Buffy Sainte-Marie & MORE.

Film critic Daniel Garber from Critic's Circle shares his interview with Gail Maurice director of the new Canadian film ROSIE.

Images courtesy of www.tiff.net

Film critic Daniel Garber from Critic's Circle Shares his interview with Gaspar Noé director of 2015's Love.

I share my 2021 interview with Jean Luc Herbulot director of Saloum.

Mark Tara from Rainbow Country talks with TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey about what audiences can expect at this year's Toronto International Film Festival.

Music featured on the show: Ahdri Zhina Mandiela (Black Woman), Comfort Iyase Ero (Kokodiko, the Dance Monster) and Lillian Allen (Freedom & Dance).

My second interview is with Rochelle Richardson, the co-artistic director of Low Hanging Fruit, about the media piece she adapted from her play, "Queen Latifah Give Me Strength". The new iteration will be part of Rendezvous with Madness Festival (October 15-25), the largest mental health festival in the world. The Festival is presented by Workman Arts.