Jeff Teravainen (Lt. John Anders in “But First We Save The Galaxy“) is Gerald in UTOPIA FALLS, a post-apocalyptic near future series which follows a group of teens who have been chosen to participate in a prestigious performing arts competition in the colony of New Babyl. On the way there, the group stumbles upon an ancient, forbidden archive of cultural relics and what they discover in it makes them question everything they have ever been taught about music and art. (Snoop Dog is the voice of the archive.)

A variety of dance styles and musical genres will be featured on the show, which describes itself as “the first ever performance based sci-fi series for culturally diverse and socially and politically minded young audiences“. Melanie Orr, who directed the DARK MATTER episode “Built, Not Born“, will direct two episodes; Kate Drummond (Sajen in “The Dwarf Star Conspiracy“) appears in several episodes as Authority Phydra; and Joseph Mallozzi is showrunner. All ten episodes of UTOPIA FALLS will be available 14 February on CBC Gem in Canada, and on HULU in the US.

Kris Holden-Reid (Inspector Kierken in “She’s One of Them Now“) has an as yet unspecified role in MATERNAL, which will star Amybeth McNulty as Charley, a young woman who, faced with the her father’s approaching remarriage, is overcome with nostalgia about her deceased mother. On the way to the wedding, she is involved in a serious car crash. She dies on the operating table and while dead, reconnects with her mother’s spirit. The doctors bring Charley back to life, but mom’s spirit has no intention of letting go. She follows Charley everywhere (or at least Charley believes that she does), trying to persuade her to return to the afterlife. Among others in the cast are Laura Vandervoort and Colm Feore. Directed by Megan Follows, MATERNAL will be released in Canada on Mothers Day ( 10 May ).

Shaun Sipos (Devon Taltherd in “We Were Family“) will be Randy in NIGHT RAIDERS, a film set in a post-war America where a military occupation controls disenfranchised cities, and children are the property of the state. Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN) stars as Niska, a desperate Cree woman who joins with an underground band of vigilantes in an attempt to rescue her daughter from a State-run children’s academy. It is the first feature for award-winning director Danis Goulet, who told Broadway World: “This story focuses on the bond between a mother and her daughter and explores the impacts of colonization, and especially what happens to families when they’re fractured by the State…I’m so thrilled to be seeing change happen in the industry to support more Indigenous perspectives and it’s an honour and privilege to make a film that I’ve been writing for seven years with such incredible industry support.” NIGHT RAIDERS completed filming in Southwestern Ontario in November. No release date has been announced.







