The focus today is film festivals. Up first, I'll be speaking to poet, playwright, oral storyteller, Shalan Joudry, whose beautiful short film, 'Welima'q' will be screening at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Shalan identifies as L’nu (Mi'kmaw) and European settler.

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/

From a Greek amphitheatre in Scarborough, Ontario, to a chateau in France today's show takes us on a journey through history, mystery, magic, and madness.

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.

Actress ('Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial,' 'American Horror Story') and screenwriter Megan Davis and I discuss her short film 'Hemorrhage,' which premiered at the 22nd Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto. The film focuses on a young couple's drive across several state lines seeking safe grounds for the legal termination of a pregnancy.

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').

The focus of this show is women in film, more precisely those behind the lens and scenes of The Female Eye Film Festival. Up first is my chat with festival founder Leslie Ann Coles about the growth of the festival and some of the films that will bescreening July 18-21.

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.

10 shows share WHY you should go see them at the Toronto Fringe Festival. Which one(s) will get your bum in their seat(s)?

PLAYLIST

LAL: 'Dead Happiness'

Calypso Rose: :Soca Tempo'

Brian George, a self-described 'sit down comedian,' joins me to talk about his journey into acting and the series 'Roll With It' (Bell Fibe TV1), which is going into its second season.

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

This episode is all about 2SLGBT+ audiobook memoirs you can grab on the Libby app.

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.

I've got interviews with Nigerian-Italian (and now Canadian) singer, songwriter, and actress Sonia Aimy, who will be launching her brand new album 'Light/Imole' at the legendary El Mocambo right here in Toronto on June 14th (one night only!) I'll also be playing some tracks from Sonia's album.

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

Today's special guests are actor and playwright Djennie Laguerre, writer and editor Neil Armstrong, street photographer Gun Roze, singer-songwriter Gyles, and two-time Juno nominee jazz vocalist Alex Bird.

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'

I fell in love with Dalton Harris after seeing him in Kim Longinotto and Frank Murray Brown's documentary "Dalton's Dream." If you're Jamaican you will understand the phrase "mi spirit tek 'im." I know films are edited to share a certain perspective, but I trusted experienced documentary filmmaker Kim Longinotto with Dalton Harris's story. I've seen her films:

- "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