1st on Film

1st On Film

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TV & Film

We love movies! The 1st Reviews team is dedicated to the casual moviegoers and film enthusiasts alike, with our mix of candid and fun approach to analyzing movies and all things happening in the film industry. We are focused on providing film reviews, movie news, interviews, and coverage of many film related events to an international movie loving audience.

1d ago

From the Ice to the Screen: Interview with the Cast of Smudge the Blades

We’re hitting the ice for a special 1st on Film conversation about Smudge the Blades, the new hockey comedy bringing together a talented ensemble of actors and filmmakers. In this in-depth interview, we’re joined by director and actor Cody Lightning, Ed Helms, and cast members Isaiah Kakepetum, Ezekiel Mekanak, River Rayne Thomas, Elijah Moar, and Tyler Halcrow. The group takes us behind the scenes of Smudge the Blades, discussing what it was like bringing this story to life, working together as an ensemble, and stepping onto the ice to capture the film’s hockey sequences. We talk about the challenges—and fun—of filming hockey, building chemistry as a team, the comedy behind the scenes, and what audiences can expect from the film. From working with an ensemble cast to balancing the physical demands of playing hockey on camera, Cody, Ed, Isaiah, Ezekiel, River Rayne, Elijah, and Tyler share stories and insight into the making of the film. It’s a fun, candid conversation with the people behind Smudge the Blades that hockey fans, comedy fans, and movie lovers won’t want to miss. Listen now for our full conversation with Cody Lightning, Ed Helms, Isaiah Kakepetum, Ezekiel Mekanak, River Rayne Thomas, Elijah Moar, and Tyler Halcrow!
2d ago

Agata Trzebuchowska on SICK: Horror, Adolescence & Her Directorial Debut

In this episode of the 1st on Film Podcast, we sit down with writer and director Agata Trzebuchowska to discuss her feature directorial debut, Sick (2026). A haunting psychological horror film set against the oppressive heat and isolation of the Polish countryside, Sick follows 16-year-old Maks and his older sister Emma as they travel to care for their ailing grandmother. What begins as an uneasy family summer gradually descends into something far more disturbing, as the siblings’ relationship changes, childhood boundaries begin to disappear, and their grandmother’s condition takes an increasingly unsettling turn. In our conversation, Agata takes us behind the making of Sick, discussing her approach to psychological and body horror, the film’s exploration of adolescence, desire, aging and the fear of losing one’s sense of identity, and why horror provided the right language to explore such uncomfortable themes. We also talk about creating the film’s suffocating atmosphere, working with her young cast, the challenges of making her first feature, and the journey from actor to filmmaker. Sick is a provocative and unsettling debut that uses genre to explore the complicated and often frightening transition from childhood into adulthood. Agata Trzebuchowska is a Polish filmmaker and actress whose work spans both sides of the camera. She first gained international recognition for her leading role as Anna in Paweł Pawlikowski’s acclaimed 2013 film Ida, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Trzebuchowska later moved into filmmaking, directing the short film Heat in 2017, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, followed by Vacancy, which screened at international festivals. With Sick, Trzebuchowska establishes herself as a filmmaker interested in using genre to explore deeply human and uncomfortable subjects, transforming the familiar setting of a family summer into an increasingly unsettling examination of innocence, transformation and the loss of childhood.
6d ago

Hanaël El Yousfi on THE DAUGHTERS OF ABRAHAM | TIFF 2026 Interview

On this episode of the 1st on Film Podcast, we sit down with writer and director Hanaël El Yousfi to discuss her feature film THE DAUGHTERS OF ABRAHAM, which premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The film follows two young women from Jewish and Muslim backgrounds whose friendship brings them face-to-face with family expectations, cultural identity, tradition, and the forces that can divide communities. During our conversation, Hanaël opens up about the inspiration behind the film, drawing from personal experiences and exploring the similarities that connect people across cultural and religious backgrounds. We discuss her filmmaking journey, the importance of authenticity, the challenges of telling a sensitive story, and her approach to portraying women navigating the expectations placed upon them. Hanaël El Yousfi is a French filmmaker and screenwriter of Moroccan heritage, known for her work exploring cultural identity, relationships, and the connections between Jewish and Muslim communities. Born in Provence and raised in a Moroccan family, El Yousfi initially studied law before pursuing filmmaking as a self-taught artist. Her first short film, Mazel Brouk (2021), explored connections between Jewish and Muslim worlds and received recognition at international film festivals. She made her feature-film debut with The Daughters of Abraham (Les Filles d’Abraham), a drama following two young women from Jewish and Muslim backgrounds as they navigate friendship, family expectations, tradition, and identity. The film reflects her interest in exploring the shared experiences between communities while examining the social pressures that shape women’s lives. Premiering in the Discovery section of the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, The Daughters of Abraham marks an important step in El Yousfi’s filmmaking career and establishes her as a voice exploring complex human relationships through cinema.
Sep 19

Finding the Funny in Insecurity: Maddy Foley on FIVEHEAD

In this in-depth interview, 1st on Film sits down with Canadian actress and writer Maddy Foley to discuss her short film FIVEHEAD, which premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. Maddy takes us behind the scenes of creating the dark comedy, exploring its themes of beauty standards, insecurity, and the pressures of appearance. We dive into her experience writing and starring in the film, the challenges of bringing an independently self-funded project to life, and the incredible journey of seeing it screen at TIFF. From the inspiration behind the story to collaborating with Toronto’s talented comedy community, Maddy shares her creative process, personal experiences, and what it means to find your voice as an artist. Maddy Foley is a Canadian actress, writer, and comedian based in Toronto. She is the writer and star of FIVEHEAD, a dark comedy short film that explores beauty standards, insecurity, and the ways personal appearance can shape our self-perception. Inspired in part by her own experiences with appearance and the pressures of working as an actor, Foley brought the project to life as an independently self-funded production. The film brings together a talented group of Toronto actors, comedians, and creators, and was selected for the Short Cuts program at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. Through her work, Foley combines comedy with personal and socially relevant themes, using storytelling to explore the absurdities of everyday life and the expectations placed on individuals.
Sep 17

Behind THE EPISODE: Logan Graham Greene on Filmmaking, Production Design & TIFF

We sat down in person with filmmaker and production designer Logan Graham Greene at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to discuss his short film THE EPISODE, which premiered at this year’s festival. In this interview, Logan takes us behind the scenes of the film, exploring his creative process, the challenges of filmmaking, and the vision that brought THE EPISODE to life. We dive into his work as a filmmaker and production designer, his approach to storytelling, and what it means to showcase his film at one of the world’s most celebrated film festivals. 🎥 Watch the interview and discover the creative mind behind THE EPISODE, exclusively on the 1st on Film Podcast. Logan Graham Greene is a Toronto-based filmmaker, production designer, and photographer originally from Kentville, Nova Scotia. His creative work spans directing, production design, cinematography, and visual storytelling across film and commercial projects. As a filmmaker, Greene has directed the short films A Dog Cried Wolf (2020), Sophie (2025), and The Episode (2026). His latest film, The Episode, is a sharply scripted comedy that explores jealousy and insecurity through a man who spirals while watching his actor girlfriend in an intimate scene on television. Through his work, Greene continues to explore storytelling, collaboration, and the art of filmmaking across multiple creative disciplines.
Sep 16

Brittney Gavin & Amy Mielke on TIFF’s Dough Man

We sit down with filmmakers Brittney Gavin and Amy Mielke, the creative duo behind Dough Man, a quirky supernatural dark comedy making its World Premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. In this conversation, we explore the inspiration behind the film, bringing a unique story rooted in a Halifax Black community to the screen, and the creative collaboration that brought this eccentric world to life. Brittney and Amy discuss their filmmaking journeys, the balance of humour and supernatural storytelling, and their work through A+B Roll Films. When a quirky newcomer moves into a Halifax Black community, the eldest of three sisters, Evelyn, becomes convinced that he is a witch. While her middle sister dismisses the theory and her youngest sister falls for him, Evelyn embarks on a series of increasingly absurd attempts to prove her suspicions, leading to one final test. Brittney Gavin is a Nova Scotian filmmaker based in Halifax with experience across documentaries, narrative films, corporate videos, and commercials. She began her career in the film industry as an editor before expanding into producing and directing her own projects. Before entering filmmaking, Brittney worked as a Health Promotion Facilitator throughout Nova Scotia and Alberta, focusing on addressing health inequities and improving population health outcomes. This background informs her commitment to storytelling that advances the perspectives of equity-seeking communities. Amy Mielke is an award-winning filmmaker and editor with more than a decade of experience in film and television. She began her career in Toronto as an editor at the internationally recognized editorial company Panic & Bob, working across narrative films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. In 2022, Amy co-founded A+B Roll Films with Brittney Gavin, expanding her work into producing and directing. She co-directed and edited Cold Dip, a short documentary that aired on CBC and streams on CBC Gem. The film won Best Documentary at the 2024 Screen Nova Scotia Awards. Amy received the WIFT-AT Making Waves Award in 2024, recognizing her commitment to filmmaking and storytelling. She also won the WIFT-AT Best Director Award alongside Brittney Gavin at the 2024 Screen Nova Scotia Awards.
Sep 9

Scoring the Apocalypse: Samuel Jones on ‘Didn’t Die’

Composer Samuel Jones joins 1st on Film to discuss his work scoring Meera Menon’s Didn’t Die, the black-and-white zombie comedy-drama that premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. The film follows Vinita, a podcaster celebrating her 100th episode when a zombie apocalypse throws her world into chaos. But beneath the genre elements, Didn’t Die is also a story about grief, family, connection and finding hope in the middle of an uncertain world. In our conversation, Samuel discusses the unique musical challenges of balancing the film’s horror, comedy and emotional drama, and how he approached creating a score that could move between grounded human moments and the heightened world of the zombie apocalypse. He also shares insight into his collaboration with director Meera Menon, who has worked with Jones across multiple projects. Samuel Jones is a Los Angeles-based composer, producer, recording engineer, mixer, guitarist and keyboardist whose work spans film, television, games and music production. His scoring credits include Meera Menon’s Didn’t Die, Netflix’s animated feature Next Gen, The Unknown Country, Equity, Lila & Eve, We’ll Never Have Paris and Preservation. He also served as composer across six seasons of TNT’s acclaimed drama series Animal Kingdom. His film and television work ranges from electronic minimalism to lush orchestral arrangements, with credits spanning more than 15 feature films as well as documentaries, games, video installations and advertising.
Sep 7

North of North Season 2: Anna Lambe & Maika Harper on Returning to Ice Cove

On this episode of the 1st on Film Podcast, we sit down with Anna Lambe and Maika Harper, the stars of the hit Arctic comedy North of North, to talk all about the highly anticipated second season. Anna Lambe returns as Siaja, the young Inuk mother determined to take charge of her life, while Maika Harper reprises her role as her mother, Neevee — a character whose complicated past and larger-than-life personality continue to shape Siaja’s journey. We discuss what fans can expect from Season 2, how Siaja and Neevee have evolved since the first season, the unique mother-daughter relationship at the heart of the series, returning to the world of Ice Cove, filming in Iqaluit, and the balance of humour, heart and Inuit culture that makes North of North so special. Anna Lambe is an Inuk actress, host and emerging filmmaker from Iqaluit, Nunavut. She first gained major recognition for her performance in the feature film The Grizzlies, earning a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She followed that with a role in the CBC series Trickster, earning another Canadian Screen Award nomination, and later appeared in HBO’s True Detective: Night Country Maika Harper is an Indigenous Canadian actress known for her work in television and film, including Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent and Burden of Truth. She stars in North of North as Neevee, the fiercely independent and often chaotic mother of Siaja.

We love movies! The 1st Reviews team is dedicated to the casual moviegoers and film enthusiasts alike, with our mix of candid and fun approach to analyzing movies and all things happening in the film industry. We are focused on providing film reviews, movie news, interviews, and coverage of many film related events to an international movie loving audience.

Creator

1st On Film
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

203
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 1st On Film
Show Website

1st on Film

TV & Film

TV & Film

Updated Semiweekly
TV & Film

TV & Film

Updated Semiweekly