The More the Merrier with donna g

Today’s show is all about film. I speak with award-winning Canadian director Serville Poblete, whose film SUNBURN debuted at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, and award-winning composer Rebekka Karijord, who scored the Apple TV production, TENZING, starring Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, and Genden Phuntsok as the renowned Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay. 

 Both interviews are part of my TIFF ’26 coverage and are airing for the first time today.

This episode explores television and theatre. Chris Sharpe joins me to discuss 'Cool Sweepings', a new comedy about Black curlers in Winnipeg, premiering October 30 on Bell Fibe TV1. Then, comedy award-winning director Byron Laviolette and internationally renowned, Dora-nominated puppeteer Adam Francis Proulx celebrate the 100th performance of 'The Family Crow: A Murder Mystery' at Factory Theatre on Halloween night. Finally, actor Katherine Cappellacci talks about Riot King’s Canadian adaptation of the dark satire 'Radiant Vermin' by British playwright Philip Ridley, running November 12–22 at Red Sandcastle Theatre, 922 Queen Street East.

Guests: Carolyn Fe and Tanisha Taitt (Aye Caesar) and Sámi screenwriter, director and actor, Suvi West (MÁTTÁRÁHKKÁ)

I chat with two-time Dora Award nominee, Betty Mitchell Award nominee, Toronto Theatre Critics’ Award recipient, and 'Aye Caesar' playwright Carolyn Fe, as well as Dora Award nominee and Gina Wilkinson Prize recipient Tanisha Taitt, the play’s director, about Aye Caesar's journey from a reading to a co-production by Stakes and Embers, Carolyn Fe, and Eldritch Theatre.

Aye Caesar will be on stage at Red Sandcastle Theatre 922 Queen St. East, September 26 to October 4, 2026

September 26, 2:00pm and 7:30pm (Previews)

September 27, 2:00pm (Opening)

September 28, 2:00pm and 7:30pm

September 30, 2:00pm and 7:30pm

October 1, 7:30pm

October 2, 7:30pm

October 3, 2:00pm and 7:30pm

October 4, 2:00pm (Closing)

Tickets available online: https://eldritchtheatre.ca/ayecaesar/

Pick your price: $30, $38, $45 (taxes included)

Suvi West joins me to talk about the Market side of TIFF26 and pitching her project-in-development: MÁTTÁRÁHKKÁ (Sápmi, Finland, Norway, Sweden)Director: Suvi West (Sámi), Anssi Kömi 

Producer: Julia Elomäki

Co-Producer: Sara Beate Eira (Sámi) / Screaming Fox Productions, Eva Åkergren & Siri Hjorton

Music: Boogie Street by Molly Johnson 

Writer/directors Ian Bawa (Strong Son) and Ang Geck Geck Priscilla (Ah Girl) shares personal information about their debut feature films, screening at The Toronto International Film Festival #TIFF26

www.tiff.net

Chatting TIFF26 with Heidy M, arts and culture writer and founder of https://hyemusings.ca/ and cinephiles Gordon Gingras and Anne Gallagher. 

Plus archival interview from TIFF 2013 with director and screenwriter, Lisa Langdeth about her film 'Hotell' starring Alicia Vikander. 

Music: 'Soul Rebel' by AMMOYE 

Finnish directors Dome Karukoski and Iiris Härmä respectively talk about their films, "The Grump" and "Leaving Africa" in these archival interviews from the Toronto International Film Festival 2014 and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival 2015. 

Music by Jonathan Nvita, a Cogolese-born Toronto-based singer.

Sharon Marley, Jamaican, mother, singer and cultural advocate joins me to talk about her album FIREBIRD. The album's sound is a personal reflection of Sharon and may surprise fans of her parents, Rita and Bob Marley.

Nadine McNulty, Artistic Director of Batuki Music Society and host and producer of CIUT's 'Karibuni' (Sundays from 3-5 pm) joins me to talk about Habari Africa Festival at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen's Quay East in Toronto. The FREE festival is a celebration of diverse African arts and culture running August 7-9th.

Then you will hear two Anansi stories from Dr Rita Cox, storyteller, former head librarian of Parkdale Library, community activist, and Member of the Order of Canada: 'Making the Stone Smoke' and 'How the World Got Wisdom.' The stories are from her album, 'Wit and Wisdom: Anansi Tales and Other Stories.'

Today's show features music from Habari Africa Festival musicians:

• Keila (Pare)
• Zale Seck (Talibe)
• ILAM (Guilli)
• Melat Mengesha (Sememen)
• Girma Woldemichael (Nafqote)

Guest: jazz singer, Alex Bird on jazz legend Oliver Jones, musician, composer, arranger, educator (September 11, 1934 – July 22, 2026).

Guests: No Strings Theatre + Lina Rodriquez

Soprano Denise Williams, founding and artistic director of No Strings Theatre, and her team join me to talk about the company’s work supporting teens and emerging artists, along with a bevy of upcoming events and performances in their summer season.

Then, an archival TIFF 2014 interview with screenwriter and filmmaker Lina Rodriguez, talking about her film Mañana a esta hora. Lina’s films are now available on the Criterion Channel.