Toronto 
Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS) is set to bring audiences on a cinematic journey through Another World, a themed summer-long open-air movie festival program.
TOPS
Taking place from June 22 to August 27, 2023, the festival will feature 21 film screenings in various locations across Toronto.
The season will commence with a five-evening opening weekend at Fort York in June, followed by screenings at Corktown Common, Bell Manor Park, and the renowned Christie Pits Film Festival in July and August.
Another World aims to transport viewers to different realms, from the microscopic worlds beneath our feet to the far reaches of outer space, from tales of the past to dystopian futures, and from escapist fantasies to communities building better worlds in the present.
One of the highlights of the festival is the opening film, “Night Raiders,” a dystopian sci-fi thriller by local filmmaker Danis Goulet, who is also the 2023 Spotlight Filmmaker for TOPS. The lineup also includes the Oscar-winning “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” a 30th anniversary screening of Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park,” Guillermo del Toro’s magnificent “Pan’s Labyrinth,” and the 25th anniversary screening of Todd Haynes’ psychedelic trip, “Velvet Goldmine.” Each feature film will be accompanied by short film pairings created by local and Canadian artists.
Corktown Common, a picturesque park offering a stunning view of Toronto’s skyline, will host TOPS’ Thursday evening series from July 6 to August 10. The program will feature films such as “Paris is Burning,” showcasing the Harlem ballroom scene with a live pre-show performance, the martial arts world of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” the dystopian future of “The Matrix,” the imaginative world of “Amélie,” the manufactured reality of “The Truman Show,” and the boundless possibilities of “Black Panther.” Short films by local and Canadian filmmakers will complement each feature screening.
The Christie Pits Film Festival, taking place on Sundays from July 9 to August 27, will present a series of curated short and feature film pairings under the theme of Another World. Audiences can expect to embark on a journey beyond reality with films like “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Viking,” “Interstella 5555,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Riceboy Sleeps,” and “Brokeback Mountain.” This program will also include a mix of international feature films and shorts by local and Canadian filmmakers.
Lastly, Bell Manor Park will offer a family-friendly film experience on three consecutive evenings in August. Films such as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Jumanji,” and “Coco” will take audiences on adventures from their backyards to outer space and to the magical worlds of board games and Mexican traditions.
The Another World program is curated by a team of industry professionals, including Artistic & Executive Director Emily Reid, co-founder Felan Parker, and programming contributors Rachel Barclay, Isabella Brown, Tika Francis, Laura Kim, David Osubronie, and Jon Petrychyn.
