Contra Zoom, Author at That Shelf

Contra Zoom

Contra Zoom is a film based podcast going in depth about varying movie related subjects. Dakota Arsenault, Rachel Ho and guests go over both academic and the fun aspects of enjoying the film medium. Episodes feature lists, interviews and comparisons. Email us at [email protected]

Articles by Contra Zoom:

October 7, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 345: 2026 TIFF Wrap Up
The 51st edition of TIFF ran from September 10th to 20th, and Contra Zoom Pod looks at the award winners and discusses some of our favourite films.

September 15, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 344: Interview With Matthew Rankin of Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney
On the latest Contra Zoom Pod they interview Matthew Rankin about his film Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney, which had its world premiere at TIFF.

September 8, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode Episode 343: 2026 TIFF Preview
The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10-20th, and Contra Zoom Pod previews 8 films they are excited to see.

August 31, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 342: Canadian Film Draft
On the latest Contra Zoom Pod, Dakota Arsenault, Matthew Simpson, Bil Antoniou and Matt Sheardown draft the best Canadian movies!

August 24, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 340: Interview with Shiho Kataoka of Aruku
On Contra Zoom Pod, Jeff Bulmer chats with Shiho Kataoka, the director of Aruku , which played at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival.

August 20, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 341: 2026 Fantasia Festival Wrap-Up
Over on Contra Zoom Pod, they wrap up the Fantasia Film Festival by discussing 6 films watched, including Dance Freak, Home Bodies and more!

July 15, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 339: Best Films By City, Part 2
It is a yearly tradition for Contra Zoom Pod’s host Dakota to celebrate his birthday by making a fun list. This year, he continues by picking 10 great films for the cities they represent!

July 12, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 338: New Oscar Rules
The Oscars recently announced a slate of new rules. Contra Zoom Pod discusses the changes to the acting categories, Best International Film and more.

June 23, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 337: Paul Thomas Anderson Ranked
Over on Contra Zoom Pod, they rank the 10 films of Paul Thomas Anderson from Hard Eight to One Battle After Another .

June 3, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 336: 2026 Canadian Screen Awards
The 2026 Canadian Screen Awards concluded their week-long celebration. On Contra Zoom Pod, they discuss the big winners, losers and snubs.

May 29, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 335: Interview with Tommy Avallone of MySpace
Jeff Bulmer had the chance to talk with the director of the film MySpace, Tommy Avallone, for Contra Zoom Pod after it played at Hot Docs.

May 23, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 334: 2026 Hot Docs
The 2026 Hot Docs festival, celebrating the best in documentary cinema, has come to a close. Contra Zoom Pod discusses eight films that played!

April 17, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 333: Interview With Amalie Atkins of Agatha’s Almanac
Jeff Bulmer interviews Amalie Atkins, the director of the new doc â Agatha’s Almanacâ , which stars her grandma, who runs a 64-acre farm in Manitoba.

April 7, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 332: Best Films of 2025
Now that Oscar season has come and gone, it is finally time for Contra Zoom to put a bow on the films from 2025. We rank our top 10 films of the year.

April 1, 2026
Contra Zoom Pod Episode 331: 2026 Canadian Screen Award Nominations
The noms for the Canadian Screen Awardsâ have been released. Contra Zoom Pod discusses the new rule changes, our favourite nominated films and more.

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Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother follows Latif, a devout Muslim and hitman whose life takes a turn after his wife’s death leaves him caring for their three children. With his infant refusing formula and their supply of breast milk running out, Latif must navigate a dangerous world of crime and violence while trying to provide for his family. Mahershala Ali delivers an extraordinary performance in this striking blend of crime thriller, dark comedy, and religious parable. Bassam Tariq explores faith, fatherhood, hypocrisy, and forgiveness without losing sight of the tenderness at the film’s heart. Despite some uneven pacing near the end, it’s a bold, moving, and unforgettable film that stands apart from anything else this year. 📝 Full review by Lyle Kruger now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
20 hours ago
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Eva Marie Saint, one of the last silver-screen icons, has passed away at 102. She burst onto the scene with a magnificent supporting role opposite Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront — a role that earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She went on to memorable parts in North by Northwest, Raintree Country, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, Summer and Smoke, Exodus, and The Rainmaker. Her more recent roles included parts in Winter's Tale, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Superman Returns. Originally from Newark, she auditioned for Elia Kazan and was accepted into the Actors Studio, becoming one of a new generation of strong, method actors. One of the last of her Hollywood generation, she leaves us with an impressive career and legacy of over 6 decades! RIP.
5 days ago
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ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO SEE #THESOCIALRECKONING! Inspired by true events and the whistleblower who started the social media reckoning we’re seeing play out today, this Aaron Sorkin original screenplay is a companion piece to the hit film The Social Network and a true David and Goliath story. Frances Haugen (Madison), a young Facebook engineer, enlists the help of Jeff Horwitz (White), a Wall Street Journal reporter, to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on the social network’s most guarded secrets. Follow the instructions below, and you'll be entered to win tickets to see the film when it hits theatres on October 9th, courtesy of @sonypictures, @thetarogroup and That Shelf! 📱 Follow That Shelf, 📱 Like this post, 📱 Tell us your favourite based-on-a-true-story movie, and, 📱 Tag the friend you'll bring with you to the movie! @TheSocialReckoning debuts exclusively in movie theatres on October 9, 2026. Giveaway closes on October 7 at 11:59 ET. Open to Canadian residents only. One entry per person. #giveaway #canadacontest #movietickets
6 days ago
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CONTEST: ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO BRAZIL FILM FEST That Shelf, and @brazilfilmfest want to send you and a friend to see the best of Brazilian cinema in Toronto! 🗓️ Film 1 - Malês (Oct 9, 11 am) 🗓️ Film 2 - Zico, the Samurai of Quintino (Oct 9, 2 pm) 🗓️ Film 3 - The Noise of the Night (Oct 9, 4:45 pM) 🗓️ Film 4 - If I Were You 3 (Oct 10, 11:15 am) 🗓️ Film 5 - The Crime Genius (Oct 11, 11 am) Here's how to enter: 🇧🇷 Follow us and @brazilfilmfest 🇧🇷 Like this post 🇧🇷 Tell us which film you'd like to attend, and 🇧🇷 Tag a friend October 9–11, 2026 📍 TIFF Lightbox | Toronto 🎟️ Tickets & festival details: brazilfilmfest.ca Giveaway closes on October 7. Open to Canadian residents only. Winners will be contacted via DM. 🗓️ Film 1 - Malês (Oct 9, 11 am) Malês is a powerful story of resilience and courage set against the vibrant backdrop of Salvador in 1835. Torn from their homeland in Africa during their wedding ceremony, two young Muslims are enslaved in Brazil. Separated by a cruel fate, they struggle to survive and find one another again as they become caught up in the largest enslaved uprising in Brazilian history: the Malê Revolt. 🗓️ Film 2 - Zico, the Samurai of Quintino (Oct 9, 2 pm) An original portrait of the life and career of Arthur Antunes Coimbra—better known as Zico. The Samurai of Quintino explores the many dimensions of one of football's greatest legends, revealing the unique personality behind the icon. Drawing on Zico's personal archive—made public for the first time—the documentary weaves together stories from his remarkable journey with Flamengo, the Brazilian National Team, and Japan. Featuring Ronaldo Nazário, Maestro Júnior, friends, and family, the film offers an intimate look at the man behind the legend, leading to a surprising encounter with the "Spirit of Zico": an identity as fascinating as it is paradoxical, forged in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, yet shaped by values and discipline that found their perfect match in Japan. 🗓️ Film 3 - The Noise of the Night (Oct 9, 4:45 PM) Sônia is a woman who has spent her life burying the wounds of her childhood, feeling unseen and forgotten by her husband
7 days ago
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Verity follows struggling writer Lowen, who is hired to finish the latest book in bestselling author Verity Crawford’s series after an accident leaves her unable to communicate. But while staying at Verity’s home, Lowen discovers a disturbing manuscript that forces her to question everything she knows about the author, her family, and the truth behind what happened. With Anne Hathaway clearly having fun in the title role, Verity embraces the pulpy spirit of ’90s psychological thrillers while balancing darker themes with a playful sense of humour. Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett add strong performances, but it’s Hathaway’s larger-than-life presence and the film’s twists that make this a fun, unpredictable ride. 📝 Full review by Rachel West now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
1 week ago
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Primetime takes a dark look at the rise of To Catch a Predator, following disgraced journalist Chris Hansen and the sensationalist television empire built around his “gotcha” investigations. Through the eyes of the people working behind the scenes, the film explores the blurred lines between journalism, entertainment, morality, and the pursuit of ratings. Robert Pattinson delivers a complex performance as Hansen, capturing both his commanding television persona and the contradictions beneath it. With its gritty late-2000s aesthetic and echoes of Network, Primetime becomes a sharp moral fable about the damage caused when sensationalism, ambition, and the desire for authority take priority over empathy and justice. 📝 Full review by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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Forgotten Island follows best friends Jo and Raissa as their final night together before graduation takes an unexpected turn, transporting them to the mythical island of Nakali. There, they face memory-stealing creatures, magical obstacles, and the possibility that returning home could mean losing the memories of their friendship. Fast, chaotic, and packed with Filipino mythology and pop culture influences, the film embraces its sensory overload rather than slowing down. Its kinetic animation, vibrant visual style, and spirited voice cast make for an exhilarating adventure, while at its heart is a moving story about friendship, growing up, and holding on to the memories that shape us. 📝 Full review by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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TRAILER PREMIERE! Catch the trailer for Toronto filmmaker @ajuniorgabriel s debut doc, #TheSickling. Badejo chronicles his personal and emotional journey with sickle cell disease–one of the world’s most misunderstood genetic diseases. Through intimate family moments, conversations with medical experts and fellow sickle cell warriors, and raw footage of Gabriel himself, the film reveals the massive invisible weight of chronic illness, the prevalence of systemic medical racism, and the personal cost of survival itself. The film opens in Toronto on October 3 @hotdocs_ and in Montreal on October 5 at @cinemadumusee, then airs on CBC later that month. Check out this exclusive look at the trailer now.
2 weeks ago
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Canadian doc GAIL has been a hit with #TIFF26 audiences. Here’s director @michaelmaxxis and Our Lady Peace’s @duncancoutts after today’s screening, talking about this cinematic story on their super fan from the Bronx.
3 weeks ago
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9/9