Canadian Crossing

2023 CFL Week 17 preview

Troy Aikman on Monday Night Football mentioning the CFL and a CFL style offence when watching the Miami Dolphins creative style of play. pic.twitter.com/pfWiIh35fk

— Dennis Baluyot (@dennisbaluyot) September 25, 2023

Some good games in store this weekend if, like Troy Aikman, you want to watch some CFL style offence.

Toronto at Winnipeg will be a strong matchup. Outside of BC, these are the best teams and a 2023 Grey Cup rematch. Unfortunately, this is the only meeting between the clubs, unless they are back in the Grey Cup.

The Argos are not taking chances, starting Cameron Dukes and resting Chad Kelly at quarterback. That won't be as much fun. Sure the Lions aren't happy about that move.

Saskatchewan and BC play for the tiebreaker late on Friday in Vancouver. The 10:30 pm Eastern time may not be too loose. Put on an extra pot of coffee for a Midnight kickoff in Newfoundland.

The Alouettes and RedBlacks gather in Ottawa to start the Saturday doubleheader. This is the third meeting between the clubs with the final game on Thanksgiving.

Calgary travels to Hamilton to finish the schedule. The Stampeders will say hi to Bo Levi Mitchell, even as he won't play in the game. Both teams desperately need a win.

CFL+ is the only option on the U.S. side this week, even for Troy Aikman.

Edmonton gets to enjoy early autumn up north.

TSN

Friday
Toronto @ Winnipeg, 8p
Saskatchewan @ BC, 10:30p
Saturday
Montréal @ Ottawa, 4p
Calgary @ Hamilton, 7p

Bye week: Edmonton

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will unveil an Indigenous logo for Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Saturday.

Indigenous artist Kyle Joedicke designed the logo (above). Joedicke is Cayuga from Six Nations of the Grand River, Turtle Clan.

Calgary, Hamilton's opponent on Saturday, also has a new Indigenous logo. Jacob Alexis, Richard Running Rabbit and Siksika Health Services CEO Dr. Tyler White conceived the logo. The logo is designed to emulate Contemporary Plains Style Traditional Art.

Calgary, Hamilton, and Ottawa join the BC Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Edmonton Elks in CFL teams with an Indigenous logo.

Indigenous artist Mike Ivall of the Chippewas of Georgina Island designed the Ottawa Redblacks new Indigenous logo. Ivall is known as @ArgoFluffy on social media.

“It represents direction, unity, elements of the culture, and all of the races,” Ivall told the team's Web site. “It’s everything that we hold value for.”

Playoff update: The BC Lions (10-4) clinched a playoff spot by beating the Elks on Friday. Winnipeg (10-4) clinched a home playoff date since the Lions won and the Roughriders lost.

Saskatchewan (6-8) has a 2-game lead on Calgary (4-10) with 4 games to play. The teams meet on October 13 to determine the tiebreaker, which might not be relevant by that time. If the Stampeders make it to 8-10, Hamilton only needs to go 2-2 to prevent a crossover. A Hamilton win over Calgary prevents a crossover from the West Division.

Montréal (7-7) has a 1-game lead over Hamilton (6-8) for the right to host a home playoff game. The Alouettes have the tiebreaker over the Tiger-Cats. The teams do meet on the final Saturday at Molson Stadium.

Ottawa can finish 8-10 with a sweep of the final 4 games. Hamilton has the tiebreaker with Ottawa so a 2-2 finish would take care of the RedBlacks.

Montréal can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Ottawa on Saturday. The Alouettes broke a 4-game losing streak in the win in Calgary on Saturday.

Alford's not done 😳#CFLGameday on TSN, RDS, & CBS SN
📲 Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/j88Ts9SXzB

— CFL (@CFL) September 23, 2023

The Ottawa RedBlacks finally snapped a 7-game losing streak. The oddity to the 2023 squad is that the RedBlacks have 4 wins, all against West teams. Factor that could have been 5 had Ottawa not blown a 19-point lead against BC.

The RedBlacks are winless in their own division. They finish up with home-and-home with Montréal and the same with Toronto.

For a team that struggled to win at TD Place, Ottawa has 3 home wins so far in 2023.

Saskatchewan left their offence for most of the second half in Ottawa. The Calgary loss meant the Roughriders didn't lose ground in the West playoff battle.

2023 CFL Week 16 preview

The Elks finally scored on BC in 2023. First on defence and later on offence. The Elks are playing well but the Lions were on a mission Friday night in Edmonton.

2023 CFL Week 15 preview

Of the CFL's 3 big rivalries, the battle of the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) is ridiculously one-sided. Toronto has won 10 of the last 11 games against Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats are 6-4 when the opponent is not Toronto.

The Argos were not at full strength and still handled Hamilton rather easily. The team rested running back A.J. Ouellette as a healthy scratch and placed Andrew Harris on the 6-game injured list with a knee issue.

HERSTORY!

Maya Turner of the @umbisons is the first woman to ever play and score points in a @USPORTSca regular season football game, including the eventual game-winning field goal! 👏

🎥 @USPORTSca / @umbisons pic.twitter.com/YUw6ItxNKJ

— CFL (@CFL) September 24, 2023

University of Manitoba kicker Maya Turner made a lot of history in her team's 27-24 victory over the Regina Rams. Turner was the first woman to dress in a U Sports regular season game. She hit a 21-yard field goal early in the second quarter, becoming the first female player to score in a regular-season U Sports football game. Then Turner hit a game-winning field goal from 21 yards out in overtime

Turner scored 9 points in her debut, going 5-for 5 on kicks with 2 field goals and 3 extra points.

2023 CFL Week 14 preview: Banjo Bowl and Battle of Alberta, part II

2023 CFL Week 13 preview: Labour Day rivalries

Toronto, Winnipeg, and the BC Lions are the cream of the 2023 CFL crop. Toronto is in Winnipeg this weekend for the team's only matchup all year. A wonderful matchup would be the Argos in Vancouver.

Unfortunately, the CFL schedule isn't balanced in that respect. There is no Toronto game in Vancouver in 2023. The teams met in Toronto earlier this year. That was the worst Lions game of the season. A rematch would have been fun but apparently Toronto and Hamilton have to play 4 times in a season.

For all we poked at the length of the Elks losing home streak, the streak was much longer since Saskatchewan played in Ottawa, dating back to June 20, 2019. Ottawa won that game 44-41. The reasonably balanced schedule makes for better football.

2023 CFL preview

The CFL is stuck with overlapping start times on Friday night doubleheaders. As we saw Friday night, TSN1 started the late game in Edmonton while the Roughriders were coming back late in Ottawa.

That works for most Canadians since they can tape the late game and start in after the first game. This doesn't work too well for CFL+ viewers where you can't watch the game tape delayed. Asking your American fans to watch 2 games live at the same time is a bit much, even for football. Try being a BC Lions fan in London, England.

CFL+ fans often miss segments such as the halftime promo coming out of the 3-minute warning, such as Hamilton-Toronto on Saturday.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Rod Smith and Duane Forde pulled double duty with Claire Hanna in Ottawa and Brit Dort in Toronto.

Dustin Nielson didn't have to step on a plane or rent a hotel room, working in Edmonton Friday night with Glen Suitor with Ryan Rishaug in Edmonton. Marshall Ferguson went as far west as he has ever been on TSN with Suitor with Farhan Lalji on Saturday afternoon in Calgary.

Matthew Scianitti filled in for Kate Beirness on Saturday on the CFL on TSN panel. Paul LaPolice was in for Milt Stegall on Friday and Jim Barker and Dave Naylor in for Stegall and Davis Sanchez on Saturday. This was a weekend where Matt Dunigan didn't go game analysis and was the one who stayed on the panel both days.

Twitter capture: @dennisbaluyot via ESPN; @CFL; @CFL
logo credit: CFL
photo credits: Hamilton Tiger-Cats; Calgary Stampeders; CFL 

Canadian film review: BlackBerry

We are partial to the idea that Canada has amazing stories but Canadians aren't always good at telling those stories. The terrible film Argo is a great example of Americans trying and failing to tell Canadian stories.

BlackBerry is a Canadian film telling a Canadian story. There are essentially 3 characters:

Jim Balsillie (American actor Glenn Howerton)
Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel)
Doug Fregin (Matt Johnson)

Lazaridis and Fregin head Research in Motion. They have an idea for a phone that can do e-mail. They take it to Balsillie. He turns them down. The parties go back and forth and eventually form a partnership.

The rise and fall of the BlackBerry and Research in Motion.

The contrast of intensity (Balsillie) vs. timidity (Lazaridis and Fregin) is at play. They need each other for everything to work. Then it does and Blackberry takes off.

BlackBerry isn't about character development or remorse. This is the story at least told on film.

Matt Johnson, who wrote and directed the film, also stars as Fregin. This might seem an unusual move for a director to make yet Johnson is excellent as Fregin. If you think of Baruchel as a "jerk," the person can act as you will see here. Wasn't sure about Howerton as Balsillie but proven wrong. Howerton brings a strong amount of intensity to an intense person.

Johnson looks at several moments through a more modern lens. Balsillie brings in a, well, jerk as the COO who, at one point, makes a sexist remark. Johnson focuses the camera on a female employee and her facial reaction to what is being said. 

The film also takes time to show Balsillie's interest in buying a NHL team. This allows Mark Critch to appear briefly as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Critch didn't shave his head for the brief role.

Matt Johnson gives the film audience an intimacy this story needs. Johnson is also known for The Dirties (2013), Operation Avalanche (2016), and the Web series Nirvanna the Band the Show.

You don't have to be a geek or a hard-headed financier to appreciate the film. A well-told Canadian story that most people think they know.

Checking out the 23 best Canadian film comedies

2023 Victoria Day notebook: Alberta wildfires starting early

RIM's BlackBerry continues to struggle, especially with latest outage

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, senior domestic policy adviser to presidential candidate John McCain in 2008, claimed that the Blackberry was a "miracle that John McCain helped create." The claim was ridiculous even if the Blackberry was a U.S. invention. This movie will remind people that the Blackberry is Canadian.

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Barry Hertz from The Globe and Mail recently ranked this film 3rd on a list of the 23 best Canadian comedies. The Windsor International Film Festival announced BlackBerry is one of the 10 finalists for its 2023 prize in Canadian film. 

BlackBerry has had theatrical runs in Canada and the United States.

video credit: YouTube/IFC Films
photo credit: BlackBerry

2023 NHL preseason schedule

Editor's note: The schedule is fully updated to include the entire Rogers Sportsnet coverage.

You might be ready for the 2023 NHL preseason. Good if you are. This is our look at the 2023 NHL preseason schedule for the Canadian teams.

We finally get caught up with Kraft Hockeyville with the 2022 and 2023 winners. The Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers meet in Sydney, NS (2022 winner) on October 1 at Centre 200. West Lorne, ON is the 2023 winner and that game will be at the Joe Thornton Community Centre in St. Thomas, ON with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres on September 27.

Rogers Sportsnet is carrying the 2023 Kraft Hockeyville winner. The Canadian national rights leader refused to carry the 2020 and 2021 Kraft Hockeyville winners last fall.

The NHL Network is showing the 2022 winner live on television, but not via Sportsnet. Rogers could have given those games to CBC but didn't select that option.

Kraft @Hockeyville NHL Preseason matchups announced for 2022 and 2023 winning communities. https://t.co/osQMEKEfKj pic.twitter.com/3AEVL5Mo8t

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 21, 2023

Vancouver has one of its "home" games in Abbotsford, BC with Seattle in town on October 4. The unofficial Sidney Crosby Bowl will be in Halifax, NS with the Ottawa Senators and Crosby's Pittsburgh squad on October 2.

September 24

Toronto @ Ottawa, 2p
Winnipeg @ Edmonton, 6p
Vancouver @ Calgary, 8p

September 25

New Jersey+ @ Montréal, 7p
Ottawa @ Toronto, 7p
Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 8p
Seattle+ @ Calgary+, 9p
Calgary+ @ Seattle+, 10p

September 27

Buffalo @ Toronto, 6:30p [St. Thomas, ON (Joe Thornton Community Centre) Kraft Hockeyville]
Ottawa @ Montréal, 7p
Calgary @ Winnipeg, 8p
Vancouver @ Edmonton, 9p

September 28

Vancouver @ Seattle, 10p

September 29

Toronto @ Montréal, 7p
Winnipeg @ Ottawa, 7p
Edmonton @ Calgary, 9p

September 30

Toronto @ Montréal, 7p
Edmonton @ Vancouver, 9p

October 1

Florida @ Ottawa, 4p [Sydney, NS (Centre 200) Kraft Hockeyville]

October 2

Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh, 6p [Halifax, NS (Scotiabank Centre)]
Montréal @ Toronto, 7p
Winnipeg @ Calgary, 9p
Edmonton @ Seattle, 10p

October 4

Calgary @ Edmonton, 9p
Seattle @ Vancouver, 10p [Abbotsford, B.C. (Abbotsford Centre)]

October 5

Ottawa @ Winnipeg, 8p

October 6

Detroit @ Toronto, 7p
Seattle @ Edmonton, 9p
Calgary @ Vancouver, 10p

October 7

Montréal @ Ottawa, 7p
Toronto @ Detroit, 7p

+ split squad games; All times EDT.

Alex DeBrincat leaves the Ottawa Senators in part to search for a nearby Chipotle

The Canadian outlets of Rogers Sportsnet and TSN have preseason coverage of select games.

Rogers Sportsnet preseason games

September 24 Toronto @ Ottawa, 2p
September 24 Vancouver @ Calgary, 8p
September 25 Ottawa @ Toronto, 7p
September 27 Buffalo @ Toronto, 6:30p
September 27 Vancouver @ Edmonton, 9p
September 30 Edmonton @ Vancouver, 9p
October 2 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p
October 6 Calgary @ Vancouver, 10p

TSN preseason games

September 25 Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 8p
September 27 Ottawa @ Montréal, 7p
September 27 Calgary @ Winnipeg, 8p
September 29 Toronto @ Montréal, 7p
September 29 Winnipeg @ Ottawa, 7p
September 30 Toronto @ Montréal, 7p
October 2 Ottawa @ Pittsburgh, 6p
October 5 Ottawa @ Winnipeg, 8p
October 6 Detroit @ Toronto, 7p
October 7 Montréal @ Ottawa, 7p
October 7 Toronto @ Detroit, 7p

2023 Stanley Cup notebook: Toronto and Edmonton eliminated

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

The NHL Network in the United States will have live and tape delayed telecasts of NHL preseason games. The Rogers Sportsnet and TSN feeds provide potential Canadian coverage of those games. ESPN+ has an extensive schedule of the NHL preseason games.

The 2023-24 regular season starts October 10 for some U.S. teams and October 11 for Canadian teams.

photo credit: NHL
Twitter capture: @PR_NHL

2023 CFL Week 16 preview

Saskatchewan is coming off a tough loss to Edmonton and can use a road win, even if that means a trip to Ottawa. Crossover is the unofficial theme of this contest to start out Friday night.

CBS Sports Network comes off the bench to show this game.

BC travels to Edmonton for the final time this season. The teams have played in Edmonton and Vancouver, a Lions shutout both times. A point for the Elks would be an improvement in the latter half of the Friday doubleheader.

Calgary has done poorly at home. Montréal may see an opening to start out the Saturday doubleheader in the afternoon in Calgary.

Hamilton finally gets its revenge game in Toronto following the Labour Day contest. A good chance for the Argos to draw a good crowd in prime time on Saturday night.

CFL+ has the final 3 games of the week for our American readers.

Winnipeg needs a rest after a trip to Hamilton and has reasonably good weather to enjoy a week off from football.

CBS Sports Network

Friday
Saskatchewan @ Ottawa, 7p

TSN

Friday
Saskatchewan @ Ottawa, 7p
BC @ Edmonton, 9:30p
Saturday
Montréal @ Calgary, 4p
Hamilton @ Toronto, 7p

Bye week: Winnipeg

THIS GAME’S NOT OVER YET#Redblacks #BCLions #CFLpic.twitter.com/NRENgfpAjK

— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) September 17, 2023

Sure Ottawa had lost 6 straight games but all 3 of the RedBlacks wins have been against the West. Sure Ottawa hadn't won in Vancouver since 2017 but the team had a 19-point lead over the BC Lions.

Sure Ottawa wouldn't try a long field goal attempt where BC's Terry Williams wouldn't return the missed field goal attempt 120 yards for a touchdown.

Vernon Adams Jr. had 3 interceptions that didn't help the Lions cause through most of the game. Then Adams became the Adams he has shown through most of the season. The comeback was worth staying up to watch.

The Lions have proven tough at home with the loss to Hamilton being the only blemish in Vancouver.

The Lions don't always win when Adams throws for 300+ yards but his consistency will help BC go far.

Ottawa's woes got worse after kicker Lewis Ward suffered a torn pectoral muscle and is out for the season.

The Toronto Argonauts clinched the East Division title and will host the Eastern Final at BMO Field on Saturday, November 11. The Argos didn't need to beat the Alouettes a third time but remain undefeated in their own division.

Toronto's 3rd-and-3 play from deep into their own end was a good gamble, thanks to a pass interference call. Montréal had the 7-point lead against a team not used to coming from behind in the game.

The Argos play through every week, using up all their byes. The team doesn't have to anything to play for, except pride and individual stats.

2023 CFL Week 15 preview

2023 CFL Week 14 preview: Banjo Bowl and Battle of Alberta, part II

2023 CFL Week 13 preview: Labour Day rivalries

The BC Lions were thrilled with the Winnipeg loss in Hamilton. Winnipeg hasn't won in Hamilton since 2017 when Collaros was the Tiger-Cats quarterback. This was only the Tiger-Cats second home win and the first against any team not being Ottawa.

Hamilton's Tyreik McAllister returned a missed extra point attempt 126 yards to give the Ticats 2 points. When your NFL loving buddies bash the CFL, tell them about Williams and McAllister.

The Alouettes collapse and Hamilton rise mean the teams are tied for second in the East. Montréal has the tiebreaker and is done with Toronto. The Tiger-Cats have now won 3 of its last 4 games, including BC on the road and Winnipeg at home.

Edmonton and Saskatchewan went back and forth with scores. The Elks scored the final 16 points of the game, including an ill-timed safety that forced the Roughriders to need 2 scores to win.

Tre Ford had 2 scrambles of note: one to free himself to throw a TD pass to Eugene Lewis and the other, a 20-yard run to score the clinching touchdown. Saskatchewan needed a win to keep in a playoff position but Edmonton outplayed them down the stretch.

The Elks have won 4 of their last 5 games.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Marshall Ferguson and Matt Dunigan were with Kenzie Lalonde in Montréal on Friday night. Dustin Nielson and Glen Suitor hung out with Brit Dort in the battle of green in Regina in the Friday nightcap.

Rod Smith and Duane Forde with Matthew Scianitti handled the Hall of Fame game on Saturday afternoon in Hamilton. Farhan Lalji made his 2023 play-by-play debut in Vancouver with Suitor with Claire Hanna on Saturday.

The CFL on TSN panel were in Hamilton for the Hall of Fame festivities.

logo credit: CFL
Twitter capture: @3DownNation
photos credit: CFL/TSN (x2)

Canadian film review: Breakaway

When people say hockey is for everyone, Breakaway feels like a good way to show how true that is. Rajveer Singh (Vinay Virmani) loves playing hockey. His Indian-Canadian family doesn't understand why he loves playing hockey.

Singh also struggles to convince others on the ice of the worthiness of people of Indian descent playing hockey.

Breakaway deals with serious issues in a relatively light-hearted manner. The film is very easy to watch in that regard.

The team is known as the Speedy Singhs, which might have made a better title than Breakaway.

Breakaway features other Canadian actors, such as Russell Peters and Ali Mukaddam. Drake makes a cameo as himself in the film.

The film has a few inconsistencies. There is a crucial scene where the team has to decide about turbans vs. helmets. The film forgets about this moment until much later in the film.

American actors Rob Lowe and Camilla Belle play brother/sister but they are a generation apart. Lowe plays the coach. We get the impression from watching the film that even Lowe is not sure why he is in the film.

Singh falls in love with the coach's sister but could have easily fallen in love with the coach's daughter. Perhaps Lowe's ego wouldn't allow for that.

Vinay Virmani is a triple threat as lead actor, co-writer, and producer in the film. Virmani is very personable in the lead and that makes getting past the inconsistencies a lot easier.

Virmani co-wrote the film with Noel S. Baker, Jeffrey Alan Schechter, and Matt Simmons. Robert Lieberman was the director.

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

The 2011 film isn't a great film but has its moments. The soundtrack may be more noteworthy than the film itself. Breakaway is a light film that is sufficiently entertaining without being deep or over the top.

Breakaway is available in Canada on CBC Gem and Fawesome.tv in the United States.

video credit: YouTube/eOnefilms
photo credit: Breakaway

Canadian TV notebook: Fall 2023 premiere dates on both sides of the border

You ready?

Stream Shoresy Season 2 starting September 29 on @CraveCanada and October 27 on @hulu. From @newmetricmedia. pic.twitter.com/qvE7TraOLW

— Shoresy (@ShoresyHockey) September 15, 2023

Fall TV premieres are normally an over-the-air concept in the early fall. Well, we are in a different world thanks to the writers and actors strikes.

We do have some premiere news for Canadian TV fans on both sides of the border. While Letterkenny debuts are a day apart (Christmas Day in Canada, Boxing Day in the United States), Season 2 of Shoresy had a longer wait time in the United States.

Canadian streamers of Crave can start watching Shoresy on September 29 while Hulu subscribers have to wait until October 27. Crave subscribers via satellite will have to wait for the show to appear on its schedule. Crave used to issue a monthly schedule but Bell Media scrapped that back in May. (Boo!!)

Season 2 will have 6 episodes, just like Season 1.

You could plan a trip to Canada and find an Airbnb that has Crave. A worthy road trip, especially since you can buy ketchup chips and butter tarts, snacking while you binge on Jared Keeso and the cast.

We begged and begged (and begged) for NBC to finally let us know when the U.S. network would air Season 3 of the CTV show Transplant. The last implication we had was a longer wait, like spring of 2024.

We have better news: NBC will run Season 3 of Transplant on Thursday nights beginning October 12 at 9 pm Eastern.

CTV or CTV2 might simsub those episodes, depending on its own mostly U.S. TV lineup. Season 3 ran on CTV in Canada last fall and winter. There are 13 episodes. Here's hoping NBC will air them in a row instead of screwing up, like the network did for Season 2.

Canadians can catch up via CTV.ca while Americans can watch episodes (after they have aired on NBC) on Peacock.

Canadians can watch Season 4, the final season, on Fridays at 9 pm starting October 6 on CTV. There will only be 10 episodes in Season 4. This would free up NBC to air Season 4 next winter, though there are no guarantees.

"I'd always intended a four-season window into Bashir's life as he completes his medical residency for a second time, sets down roots in Canada, and learns to shed some of his past, and it's incredibly fulfilling to be able to tell his complete story,” said Joseph Kay, Transplant creator, executive producer, and showrunner. We expect CTV would want more of Dr. Bashir Hamed (Hamza Haq) and the group.

We are not talking out of school to say John Hannah (Dr. Jedediah "Jed" Bishop) is not back for Season 3. We still miss Grace Lynn Kung as Viv, the social worker who only appeared in Season 1.

The CW finished its runs of Season 2 of Family Law (from Global) and Season 1 of Moonshine (from CBC). The network is running through its comedy lineup with Son of a Critch, Run the Burbs, and Children Ruin Everything.

Those comedies are running on Monday nights instead of the intended switch to Tuesday nights. The shows will switch to Thursdays on October 19.

The U.S. network will run Sullivan's Crossing at 8 pm Eastern and The Spencer Sisters at 9 pm Eastern on Wednesdays starting October 4 on the CW. Both dramas aired 10 episodes last winter and spring on CTV.

Son of a Critch has 2 seasons, 13 episodes each season. Run the Burbs has 2 seasons, 12 in the first and 13 in the second. Season 3 for both shows will air this winter on CBC.

The Season 3 premiere of Children Ruin Everything on CTV airs Wednesday evenings, starting September 27 at 9 pm. The Bell Media release says Season 3 of Children Ruin Everything will premiere on The CW, though with no set date.

2023 CBC television fall preview

Son of a Critch fans should know VOCM is a real radio station in St. John's

Actors and writers strikes could bring some advantage to Canada but others are suffering

CW announces summer schedule filled with Canadian television

Canadian TV notebook: A much longer wait for Season 3 of Transplant on NBC

SurrealEstate Season 2 will finally air on SyFy in the United States and CTV Sci-Fi Channel in Canada on October 4.

You might recall that the drama, which was cancelled and then renewed, starred Tim Rozon and Sarah Levy as heads of a real estate agency dealing in haunted houses. The cast also features Adam Korson, Maurice Dean Wint, Savannah Basley, and Tennille Read.

We had little expectations of the show beyond a Season 2. Anything else would be gravy though we feel the show deserved a Season 2.

2023 Canadian TV upfronts highlights

CanadianCrossing.com Canadian TV coverage

We mentioned Little Bird, a 6-part series about a young Indigenous woman raised by a Montréal Jewish family. The show ran on APTN Lumi and Crave. 

Now the show will have a run on APTN in Canada and PBS in the United States. The debut date on those platforms is October 12.

FNX was a great outlet for Indigenous programming in the United States, though the outlets are scattered. Glad to see PBS filling a needed gap south of the 49th parallel.  

CanadianCrossing.com television coverage

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

Let us know if we missed an upcoming premiere date for a Canadian TV show.

Twitter capture: @ShoresyHockey
video capture: Crave
photo credits: CTV (x2)

2023 TIFF wrapup

The 2023 Toronto International Film Festival is over. The mainstream film journalism sources are obsessed with the People's Choice Award (we'll get to that soon). We like to recognize the Canadian films that win awards at TIFF 2023.

Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe from director Robert McCallum won the People's Choice Documentary Award. Easy to say Ernie Coombs aka Mr. Dressup is the Canadian version of Mister Rogers. As you can see in the above photo, the two of them worked together. Rogers created Mister Rogers Neighbourhood in Canada before bringing the show to the United States.

Every American movie on Rogers ignores his time in Canada with the CBC. Watch this documentary to see what you have been missing.

Announcing the winner of the #TIFFPeoplesChoiceAward for Documentary: MR. DRESSUP: THE MAGIC OF MAKE-BELIEVE dir. Robert McCallum #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/1EK0B4haqG

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 17, 2023

Kanaval might be our unofficial Canadian film winner of TIFF 2023. The film directed by Henri Pardo won the Amplify Voices Award for Best BIPOC Canadian Feature. Kanaval also won Honourable Mention for Best Canadian Feature Film, which these days is better than winning the award (more on that later).

Tautuktavuk from directors Carol Kunnuk and Lucy Tulugarjuk won the Amplify Voices Award for Best BIPOC Canadian First Feature. We applaud that this category has an overall winner and rewards first-time feature filmmakers. We just want the Best Canadian First Feature Film award back for Canadian films overall.

Announcing the winner of the #TIFF23 Best Canadian Feature Film Award: SOLO dir. Sophie Dupuis pic.twitter.com/EGqAMKzpmH

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 17, 2023

Solo from Sophie Dupuis won the Best Canadian Feature Film award. Unfortunately, this heralded award has lost a lot of its credibility in the last 3 years. Much better films win Honourable Mention.

We haven't seen Underground, Dupuis' second film. Her debut film — Chien de Garde — was one of the worst Canadian films we've seen. Hopefully, Dupuis has improved as a filmmaker. She does have the good sense to cast Théodore Pellerin in her 3 films.

Ste. Anne and To Kill a Tiger, the previous 2 winners, were also not the "best" Canadian film in the festival.

Announcing the winner of the FIPRESCI Prize: SEAGRASS dir. Meredith Hama-Brown. #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/29Zsql0KD0

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 17, 2023

The FIPRESCI Prize is given by international critics and a Canadian film rarely wins this award. I knew nothing about Seagrass from Meredith Hama-Brown before our TIFF Canadian film preview. The plot intrigued me for a lot of personal reasons.

This feels more significant this year than the actual Best Canadian Feature Film award.

Motherland from director Jasmin Mozaffari won the Best Canadian Short. Damon D’Oliveira won the Amplify Voices BIPOC Canadian Trailblazer Award.

Summer Qamp from director Jen Markowitz was the first runner-up for the People’s Choice Documentary Award.

Hell of a Summer from directors Finn Wolfhard, Billy Bryk, technically a Canada co-production, won second runner-up for the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award.  

Spike Lee interviewing Talking Heads (David Byrne on far left) after very cool 40th Anniversary IMAX screening of Stop Making Sense… #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/i8Tpe15qLB

— Matthew Belloni (@MattBelloni) September 11, 2023

Nothing can stop Ethan Hawke from coming to #TIFF23 ❤️

The actor-director talks about taking a bus to Toronto to attend the World Premiere of his new film, WILDCAT. Captured with the @canoncanada PowerShot V10. pic.twitter.com/j9s3wwGYt0

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 12, 2023

We interrupt the Canadian film portion of our TIFF 2023 coverage to talk about things not Canadian. American Fiction from director Cord Jefferson won the People’s Choice Award. Sounds like the film has some things in common with Black Cop, the great Canadian film from a few years ago.

For the first time in recent memory, a Canadian film did not get a runner up spot in this award.

There wasn't as much of a "celebrity factor" because of the writers and actors strike. Getting David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Frantz together again is worth a trip across the border. The Talking Heads reunited for an updated version of their amazing concert film Stop Making Sense. Too bad director Jonathan Demme has passed away, making a true reunion impossible.

Ethan Hawke, who has been in Canadian films such as Maudie and Born to Be Blue, has a great travel adventure of taking a bus from New York City to Toronto to attend TIFF 2023. Hawke directed his daughter Maya in Wildcat.

Announcing the winner of the Amplify Voices Award for Best BIPOC Canadian Feature, presented by @canadagoose: KANAVAL dir. Henri Pardo. #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/mg08H3Bqnv

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 17, 2023

Tom Power and Q normally have extensive TIFF coverage, some of that related to Canadian film. Often, the segments run after the festival. The closest we get to Canadian film is an interview with Emma Seligman. Her new film is called Bottoms and definitely not a Canadian film.

The Current with Matt Galloway has some interviews with Canadian filmmakers.

• Rob McCallum and Judith Lawrence on the documentary Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe
• Jen Markowitz's new documentary Summer Qamp

Announcing the winner of the Amplify Voices Award for Best BIPOC Canadian First Feature, presented by @canadagoose: TAUTUKTAVUK (WHAT WE SEE) dirs. Carol Kunnuk, Lucy Tulugarjuk. #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/miTWfbytBz

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 17, 2023

We already have the 2023 Windsor International Film Festival Canadian Film nominees. 5 of the 10 films played at TIFF 2023.

Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicidal Person (Ariane Louis-Seize)
Irena's Vow (Louise Archambault)
The Nature Of Love (Monia Chokri)
Seven Veils (Atom Egoyan)
Solo (Sophie Dupuis)

We will have a lot more on this closer to WIFF 2023.

The video comes from TIFF 2023 celebrating Canadian film, which we do appreciate.

2023 TIFF leftovers

2023 TIFF preview

2023 TIFF Rising Stars

2023 TIFF Canadian film preview

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

TIFF Rising Stars

We profiled the 2023 class of TIFF Rising Stars. Here is the list from all the years.

2011 Sarah Allen, Katie Boland, Sarah Gadon, Keon Mohajeri

2012 Tatiana Maslany, Connor Jessup, Charlotte Sullivan, Charlie Carrick

2013 Megan Park, Johnathan Sousa, Evelyne Brochu, Cara Gee

2014 Shannon Kook, Sophie Desmarais, Alexandre Landry, Julia Sarah Stone

2015 Deragh Campbell, Stephan James, Aliocha Schneider, Karelle Tremblay

2016 Jared Abrahamson, Grace Glowicki, Mylène Mackay, Sophie Nélisse

2017 Daniel Doheny, Mary Galloway, Théodore Pellerin, Ellen Wong

2018 Devery Jacobs, Lamar Johnson, Michaela Kurimsky, Jess Salgueiro

2019 Kacey Rohl, Mikhail Ahooja, Nahéma Ricci, Shamier Anderson

2020 Madeleine Sims-Fewer

2021 Arooj Azeem, Emma Ferreira, Phillip Lewitski, Thomas Antony Olajide

2022 Natalia Aranguren, Isaiah Lehtinen, Carmen Madonia, Joshua Odjick

2023 Amrit Kaur, Cody Lightning, Kudakwashe Rutendo, Mark Clennon

Best Canadian Feature Film

Best Canadian Feature Film
Year	Film	Director
2023	Solo	Sophie Dupuis
2022	To Kill A Tiger	Nisha Pahuja
2021	Ste. Anne	Rhayne Vermette
2020	Inconvenient Indian	Michelle Latimer
2019	Antigone	Sophie Deraspe
2018	The Fireflies Are Gone	Sebastien Pilote
2017	Les Affamés	Robin Aubert
2016	Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves	Mathieu Denis, Simon Lavoie
2015	Closet Monster	Stephen Dunn
2014	Felix and Meira	Maxime Giroux
2013	When Jews Were Funny	Alan Zweig
2012	Laurence Anyways	Xavier Dolan
2011	Monsieur Lazhar	Philippe Falardeau
2010	Incendies	Denis Villeneuve
2009	Cairo Time	Ruba Nadda
2008	Lost Song	Rodrigue Jean
2007	My Winnipeg	Guy Maddin
2006	Manufactured Landscapes	Jennifer Baichwal
2005	C.R.A.Z.Y.	Jean-Marc Vallée
2004	It's All Gone Pete Tong	Michael Dowse
2003	Les Invasions Barbares	Denys Arcand
2002	Spider	David Cronenberg
2001	Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner)	Zacharias Kunuk
2000	Waydowntown	Gary Burns
1999	The Five Senses	Jeremy Podeswa
1998	Nô	Robert Lepage
1997	The Sweet Hereafter	Atom Egoyan
	The Hanging Garden	Thom Fitzgerald
1996	Long's Day Journey Into The Night	David Wellington
1995	Live Bait	Bruce Sweeney
1994	Exotica	Atom Egoyan
1993	Kanehsatake: 270 Years Of Resistance	Alanis Obomsawin
1992	Requiem Pour Un Beau Sans-Coeur	Robert Morin
1991	The Adjuster	Atom Egoyan
1990	H	Darrell Wasyk
1989	Roadkill	Bruce McDonald
1988	The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick	Allan Goldstein
1987	Family Viewing	Atom Egoyan
1986	Le Déclin De L'empire Américain	Denys Arcand
1985	Canada's Sweetheart: The Saga Of Hal C. Banks	Donald Brittain
1984	La Femme De L'hôtel	Léa Pool
Best Canadian Feature Film (1991-present); Excellence in Canadian Production (1984-1990).

 

Best Canadian First Feature Film

Best Canadian First Feature Film
Year	Film	Director
2019	The Twentieth Century	Matthew Rankin
2018	Roads in February	Katherine Jerkovic
2017	Luk' Luk'l	Wayne Wapeemukwa
2016	Old Stone	Johnny Ma
2015	Sleeping Giant	Andrew Cividino
2014	Bang Bang Baby	Jeffrey St. Jules
2013	Asphalt Watches	Shayne Ehman, Seth Scriver
2012	Antiviral	Brandon Cronenberg
	Blackbird	Jason Buxton
2011	Edwin Boyd	Nathan Morlando
2010	The High Cost of Living	Deborah Chow
2009	The Wild Hunt	Alexandre Franchi
2008	Before Tomorrow	Marie-Hélène Cousineau
		Madeline Piujuq Ivalu
2007	Un Film Sans Fusil Continental	Stéphane Lafleur
2006	Sur La Trace D'igor Rizzi	Nöel Mitrani
2005	The Life And Hard Times Of Guy Terrifico	Louise Archambault, Michael Mabbott
2004	La Peau Blanche	Daniel Roby
2003	Love, Sex and Eating The Bones	Sudz Sutherland
2002	Marion Bridge	Wiebke Von Carolsfeld
2001	Inertia	Sean Garrity
2000	La Moitié Gauche Du Frigo	Philippe Falardeau
1999	Just Watch Me:	Catherine Annau
	Trudeau and The 70's Generation
1998	Last Night	Don McKellar
1997	Cube Vincenzo	Natali
As determined by the Toronto International Film Festival.

Twitter captures: @TIFF_NET (x3); @MattBelloni; @TIFF_NET (x3)
photo credits: Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe; Kanaval
video credit: Toronto International Film Festival

2023 TIFF leftovers

We will have a large article tomorrow morning on the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival award winners at TIFF 2023. We thought to have some fun and share some excitement over some of the Canadian films that might have significance, even without winning a major award.

The idea of a contest to test my Canadian film trivia knowledge sounds better than a donair, a plate of poutine, and butter tarts for dessert. Sorry I missed that event.

Team #BACKSPOT at our WORLDWIDE PREMIERE @tiff_net ✨🌎🎬#tiff23 pic.twitter.com/B1tGfzzmp9

— D.W. Waterson (@dw_waterson) September 15, 2023

Backspot has tremendous potential as a film, Canadian film or otherwise. Bottoms (not a Canadian film) from Canadian filmmaker Emma Seligman may have a stronger marketing budget, but Backspot could be the better film.

We were a bit surprised this film didn't scratch at an award at TIFF 2023.

“You could really feel us transcend.” ✨@TheElliotPage reflects on his experience with director Dominic Savage (@SavageDominic) and co-star Hillary Baack while filming CLOSE TO YOU.

The movie made its moving World Premiere at #TIFF23. pic.twitter.com/lUfIZwQeFB

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 14, 2023

Pageboy: A Memoir may be one of the most interesting books of 2023, Canadian or otherwise. Curious to see what comes of Close to You, especially with a potential limit on major American films. Elliot Page is also an executive producer on Backspot.

"I think TIFF is my home." ❤️

Deepa Mehta (@IamDeepaMehta) shares how it feels to be back in Toronto for the World Premiere of I AM SIRAT. #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/QhCS9JnW1l

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 14, 2023

We think I Am Sirat will be more interesting and perhaps better edited than Funny Boy from Deepa Mehta.

THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS mashes up textures of Indian cinema and a Canadian coming-of-age picture, tracing key moments in the lives of a mother and daughter born three decades apart. pic.twitter.com/pWQVaPyzjB

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 10, 2023

Canada is very good at films with strong immigrant stories. The Queen of My Dreams has some promise. This is the full-length directorial debut from Fawzia Mirza (which would have made this eligible for the Best Canadian First Feature Film if TIFF brought that back) and features 2023 TIFF Rising Star Amrit Kaur. Never hurts to have one of our favourite Canadian actors in Hamza Haq in the cast.

"This film is for everyone who has ever felt like their existence was a problem to be solved or who never felt like they fit into the suffocating boxes the world wants to package us in." -- Molly McGlynn https://t.co/8hN1iGMA5F

— Barbara Dylla (@Walk_Bike_Bus) September 14, 2023

Molly McGlynn's new film Fitting In / Bloody Hell is based from her own medical experience. Should be funny and also informative.

#TIFF23 SPOTLIGHT: Backspot star Devery Jacobs and filmmaker D.W. Waterson talked to #CherryPicks about the new film, what they learned about themselves while making it, and why people tend to underestimate cheerleading. #TIFF2023 @kdeveryjacobs @dw_waterson

** Backspot has a… pic.twitter.com/C26JvMlr2M

— CherryPicks (@TheCherryPicks) September 14, 2023

Eli Glasner covers film for the CBC. Glasner rarely talks about Canadian film in any language so this very short piece for The National is worth noting. 

The story is supposed to be about French-Canadian film. Glasner focuses mostly on actor Sophie Desmarais and writer-director Chloé Robichaud from Days of Happiness | Les Jours heureux. He briefly talks to Sophie Dupuis (Solo).

Unfortunately, Glasner mixes in a French (as in France) film Anatomy of a Fall starring German actor Sandra Hüller speaking English.

We would have suggested actual French-Canadian directors who had films at TIFF, such as Monia Chokri (The Nature of Love | Simple Comme Sylvain) or Louise Archambault (Irena's Vow). Maybe Radio-Canada could have produced the feature with subtitles for the English speaking audience.

Then again, Glasner's point was that French Canada filmmaking doesn't stray outside Quebec. Sophie Nélisse (Irena's Vow) and Théodore Pellerin (Solo) are a few of plenty of acting exceptions.

As an editor, I cringe when obvious mistakes are made, even in a 2-minute TV news piece. Nothing wrong with celebrating 3 French-Canadian films in a story about French-Canadian films.

2023 TIFF preview

2023 TIFF Rising Stars

Once in a lifetime. Talking Heads reunite at #TIFF2023 for the @IMAX world premiere of STOP MAKING SENSE. pic.twitter.com/OPKhukAJmF

— A24 (@A24) September 11, 2023

Will take a Talking Heads reunion over most celebrity interactions at the Toronto International Film Festival. Sorry we missed that in person. Getting David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Frantz together is really rare. Stop Making Sense is an amazing concert film. The reunion was missing the director, the late Jonathan Demme.

“Making movies is an arduous job but a great adventure."

🏆 Pedro Almodóvar accepts the #TIFFTribute Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media, presented by @participant. #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/2DuIMMh3pp

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 11, 2023

As much as we love Canadian film, we recognize the amazing filmmakers from around the world. Appreciate Pedro Almodóvar, one of the best filmmakers anywhere, alive or dead. So incredible.

“You give me this gift, and if I can give something back to all of you, I will give back to you the feeling that you’re accepted for who you are.”

🏆 Vicky Krieps accepts the #TIFFTribute Performer Award. #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/cpKEnZMnv0

— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 11, 2023

Your humble narrator has seen 3 films in the last year featuring Vicky Krieps, each in a different language. Corsage (German), Hold Me Tight (French), and Bergman Island (English). First saw her in The Chambermaid (2014). Not a minor actor in any of these films; Krieps is the star. Krieps is so smooth and fluid on screen that you have to watch her every move.

Krieps is a Luxembourg actor so you can win a bar bet to show you know one actor from that country. maybe we can sneak Krieps into a Canadian film. By sneak, I mean make her the lead.

2023 TIFF Canadian film preview

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

We will have a lot more on the award winners tomorrow morning for the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.

photo credit: Reel Canada/Facebook
Twitter captures: @dw_waterson; @TIFF_net (x3); @Walk_Bike_Bus; @TheCherryPicks; @A24; @TIFF_net (x2)
video credit: CBC News

2023 CFL Week 15 preview

While not an official rivalry, Toronto and Montréal meet for the second week in a row. This time, the game is in La Belle Province and kicks off the CFL week Friday night.

Saskatchewan needs some momentum toward a playoff push. Edmonton isn't the pushover of old. One shade of green (Edmonton) travels to another shade of green (Saskatchewan) in the second half of the doubleheader. The 9:30 pm start time is like the NHL U.S. doubleheaders, not to be trusted.

Winnipeg wants to be in Hamilton for the Grey Cup and the Blue Bombers get their chance to check out Tim Hortons Field. This game kicks off the Saturday doubleheader.

Ottawa gets on a long plane ride to visit Vancouver in September. This is another late afternoon start on the West Coast, which hopefully is boosting Lions attendance.

CBS Sports Network has the weekend off so CFL+ or nothing for our American readers.

Calgary gets to enjoy a pleasant weekend along the Bow River, knowing the Battle of Alberta is over for 2023.

TSN

Friday
Toronto @ Montréal, 7p
Edmonton @ Saskatchewan, 9:30p
Saturday
Winnipeg @ Hamilton, 4p
Ottawa @ BC, 7p

Bye week: Calgary

not a revenge game.#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/6ru2e9kE9j

— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) September 9, 2023

6 straight touchdowns on 6 first half possessions. The Banjo Bowl is when you expect a good team such as Winnipeg to be on their game. The Blue Bombers punted for the first time with about a minute left in the game.

Saskatchewan should realize that despite the point differential, the loss only counts as one loss in the standings. The Roughriders and Calgary will be in a fight as to which team stays in the West for the playoffs and which team might crossover.

2023 CFL Week 14 preview: Banjo Bowl and Battle of Alberta, part II

Not that Toronto needed the tiebreaker with Montréal, but the Argos decisive win gave Toronto that tiebreaker and a playoff spot. Both Toronto and Winnipeg grabbed playoff spots over the weekend.

Alouettes receiver Austin Mack got kicked out of the game for rough play. Somehow headbutting a quarterback (Zach Collaros) isn't worth an ejection.

2023 CFL Week 13 preview: Labour Day rivalries

Hamilton has won the last 10 games over Ottawa. The RedBlacks haven't won a game against a divisional opponent. Ottawa was 3-3 and is now 3-9 with a 6-game losing streak. The Tiger-Cats have 5 wins in 2023, 3 of them against Ottawa.

The Tiger-Cats defence stopped Ottawa in a goal-line stand in the first half. The teams traded field goals in the first half and touchdowns in the second half.

The Redblacks have lost 16 consecutive home games to East Division rivals. Their last home win against an East team came in November 2018 against Toronto.

REDEMPTION FOR THE ELKS!

The Elks come back to win it all at Commonwealth Stadium. pic.twitter.com/ak2y8ko0RG

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 10, 2023

11 yards passing. Tre Ford had 11 yards passing in the first half. Yet the Elks staged their own comeback and won a second home game in 2023.

Calgary had its own comeback on Labour Day and Edmonton returned the favour.

The teams only play twice this year, so Calgary has the tiebreaker. The Stampeders won by 4 points and the Elks won by 2 points, giving Calgary a +2 point differential.

2023 CFL Week 12 preview

Hamilton is 5-7 and right now would make the CFL playoffs. Calgary is 4-9, 2½ games behind Saskatchewan at 6-6. Too early to think crossover but the Stampeders would need a better record than the Tiger-Cats to crossover. Ottawa is 3-9 and Edmonton is 3-10, in case there are upsets on the way.

2023 CFL Week 11 preview

We talk about the excitement of the quarterbacks in the CFL. So many receivers have missed so much time this season. Veteran receiver Greg Ellingson is someone we enjoy seeing on the football field.

Ellingson finally got onto the field for Montréal. He caught a pass for 10 yards. Now Ellingson is back on the 6-game injured list with a knee injury, the same ailment that caused him to miss the start of the 2023 season.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Rod Smith and Duane Forde got the Friday game with Claire Hanna in Ottawa on Friday night.

Dustin Nielson and Glen Suitor with John Lu were at the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg.

Smith and Matt Dunigan had the second half of the Battle of Alberta with Ryan Rishaug in Edmonton on Saturday.

Marshall Ferguson and Paul LaPolice started the tripleheader with Kenzie Lalonde on Saturday afternoon in Toronto.

Jim Barker and Dave Naylor filled in on the CFL on TSN panel.

The panel will be on site in Hamilton on Saturday in honour of the 2023 Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees.

Your humble narrator realized that CBS Sports Network had the listing starting at 7 pm when clearly the game was at 7:30 pm. That was a new one for us on the U.S. side. No harm since the recording got the whole game.

logo credit: CFL
Twitter captures: @Wpg_BlueBombers; @TSN_Sports

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late September 2023

Welcome back to our coverage of Canadian films on the CBC. We've seen a few new films this summer and fall, even to us, though they are likely Canadian films in name only.

Mystery could be the code word for the September 16 lineup. A classic film finishes out the September 23 lineup of Canadian films.

CBC shows Canadian films on Saturday night before Hockey Night in Canada returns to the public broadcaster in October.

This summer, the CBC presentations are starting at 9 pm local time (9:30 pm in Newfoundland).

We are getting 6 films in the next 2 weeks, though some weeks have 2 Canadian films.

This is a nice service from the public broadcaster.

The CBC will have a special Indigenous programming night on September 30 for National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

Here is the CBC Canadian films schedule for late September 2023.

September 16

9p Disappearance at Clifton Hill (2019)
11p American Woman (2019)
1a Sleeping Giant (2015)

September 23

9p Charlotte (2021)
11p Akilla's Escape (2020)
1a Bon Cop Bad Cop (2006)

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for early September 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late August 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for early August 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late July 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for early July 2023

CBC Saturday night Canadian film schedule for late June 2023

A recap of CBC Saturday night Canadian films in the 2022 offseason

Canadian film review: Disappearance at Clifton Hill

Canadian film review: Sleeping Giant

Canadian film review: Akilla's Escape

Canadian film review: Bon Cop Bad Cop

Canadian film review: Bon Cop Bad Cop 2

The only major drawback to Disappearance at Clifton Hill is the dullness of the lead female actor but is otherwise an interesting film. Hannah Gross plays the sister but would have been better in the lead. Sleeping Giant (2015) played earlier this summer on July 29.

Charlotte is a Canadian film in name only. The animated film is based on German painter Charlotte Salomon. Henry Czerny is the highest Canadian actor on the callsheet. English actor Keira Knightley voices Charlotte.

We like Charles Officer as a Canadian filmmaker. This encouraged us to see Akilla's Escape, which exceeded my expectations as a film.

If you haven't seen Bon Cop Bad Cop, run the DVR or PVR. The film is a classic for a reason.

The only Canadian film on the schedule that we don't know about is American Woman, written and directed by Semi Chellas. American actor Hong Chau and Canada's own Sarah Gadon are in the cast. Fugitives are involved.

CanadianCrossing.com CBC coverage

CanadianCrossing.com film reviews

CanadianCrossing.com film coverage

Yes, we praise a lot of Canadian films. Watching films with commercials isn't fun. These intriguing Canadian films address issues where Canadians should be familiar, even if they aren't in their regular wheelhouse.

Saturday nights during the hockey season means the NHL on CBC. Otherwise, CBC has Canadian films in store.

Canadians can choose to watch these Canadian films on CBC Gem. For a monthly fee, you can watch them without commercials.

logo credit: CBC
photo credits: Sleeping Giant; Akilla's Escape