The More The Merrier

tmtm 30 Nov 25 Guests: Laurie Evan Fraser and Jacinto Salcedo (Upper Canada Choristers)

Conductor, composer and Artistic Director of the Upper Canada Choristers, Laurie Evan Fraser and producer and singer, Jacinto Salcedo (UCC/Cantemos) join me to talk about the joys and sorrows of the holidays and how audiences can take comfort in the inclusivity of UCC's Dec 5 concert, This Little Child. https://www.uppercanadachoristers.org

tmtm 23 Nov 25 Guest: Patrick Shannon dir. Saints and Warriors

My chat with director, Nang Ḵ’uulas Patrick Shannon, about his award-winning documentary 'Saints and Warriors' screening November 26, 7pm at the Ted Rogers Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West (at Bathurst). Q&A with director and special guests to follow.
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.

tmtm 16 Nov 25 Guest Kanika Ambrose Re: Moonlight Schooner + Jade Elektra and Sistah Lois

Two-time Dora Award Winner, Kanika Ambrose joins me again to talk about her second play running this month in Toronto, Moonlight Schooner.
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.

tmtm 9 Nov 25 Guests: Kanika Ambrose (The Christmas Market) + Marc Starbuck on Film Noir

Two-time Dora Award winner (our place, Truth) Kanika Ambrose joins me to talk about her latest play, 'The Christmas Market.'
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. https://www.crowstheatre.com
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 attracted him to the film noir genre as a boy in Nottingham, England to his migration to Canada as an adult.

tmtm 2 Nov 25 Reel Asian International Film Festival

Filmmakers, Min Soon Lee (There are no words) and Timothy Yeung ( Finch & Jane) join me to talk about their respective films screening at this year's Reel Asian International Film Festival. The festival runs Nov 5 - 15 in-cinema and Nov 10 - 23 online. www.reelasian.com

tmtm 26 Oct 25 #TIFF50 with tmtm supporters Gordon G and Anne Gallagher

Movie lovers, Gordon G. and Anne Gallagher joins me to share some of their highlights of #TIFF50. The Toronto International Film Festival may be over but these community supporters of tmtm and CIUT 89.5 FM have lots to share.

tmtm 19 Oct 25 Guest Volker Bertelmann Academy Award-winning composer on Ballad of a Small Player (#TIFF50) + Archival interview with Michael McGowan on Still Mine (#TIFF2012)

Catching up with Volker Bertelmann, Academy Award-winning composer (All Quiet on the Western Front) about scoring the new Edward Berger film, Ballad of a Small Player, starring Colin Farrell, Tilda Swinton and Fela Chen. 
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.

tmtm 12 October 25 - Guests: Leslie Ann Coles (The Female Eye Film Festival) + J. Christian Hamilton (Indie filmmaker)

Resilience is the word that connects my two guests: Leslie Ann Coles, the founder and executive and artistic director of The Female Eye Film Festival, and filmmaker, J. Christian Hamilton, the host of CIUT's Dementia 13. Resilience is the theme emerged from the films programmed at FeFF this year and the word also describes Christian as she forges ahead with her next film project while dealing with a shattered wrist and the resulting obstacles to getting her project off the ground.
The Female Eye Film Festival runs from October 14-19, 2025. Full disclosure, CIUT is a sponsor of the festival, and I'm doing some 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 the host of her psychedelic show Dementia 13, but this is my first time getting to know her as J. Christian Hamilton, filmmaker. Like a fascinating Q&A, I get to share with you her journey, her films, and her GoFundMe appeal for her latest project, Dogs of Mercy Park.

tmtm 28 25 Guests Brandon White and Shannon Mills (Tales of the Damned) + Jade Elektra on CANFAR's doc Still Here

TALES OF THE DAMNED - Guests: Brandon White and Shannon Mills join me to talk about forming Whitemills Theatre Company and the challenges and delight of creating the immersive Gothic experience Tales of the Damned at the historic Campbell House Museum.
 
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 🇨🇦

tmtm 21 Sept 25 - TIFF50 Coverage Guests Dustin O'Halloran (Eleanor the Great) and Sara Margarethe Oskal, Åse Kathrin Vuolab and Pål Jackman (A Sámi Wedding)

Join me as I reunite with Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated composer Dustin O'Halloran to discuss his creative process behind the score for Scarlett Johansson's feature film debut, Eleanor the Great, featuring Academy Award nominee June Squibb. Dustin and I first crossed paths at TIFF 2016, where we had an engaging conversation about the film LION, alongside Academy Award-winning composer Volker Bertelmann.
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 the 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.