Darren Zakus Archives

Darren Zakus

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 326: 2026 Oscar Draft

by Contra Zoom | March 3, 2026

Contra Zoom Pod is back with their fourth annual Oscar Draft. Each player selects 5 films nominated at this year's Oscars ceremony!

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 315: 2025 Vancouver International Film Festival

by Contra Zoom | October 22, 2025

The 44th edition of VIFF just concluded, and Contra Zoom Pod talked about some of their favourite films! Joining the guys is Darren Zakus.

Contra Zoom Pod: 2025 Toronto International Film Festival

by Contra Zoom | September 25, 2025

With the conclusion of TIFF 2025, Contra Zoom Pod, along with guests Thomas Stoneham-Judge and Darren Zakus, recap the festival, naming their faves.

Contra Zoom Pod Episode 286: 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

by Contra Zoom | September 24, 2024

With TIFF now behind us, ContraZoomPod discuss some of our favourite films that played and the award winners.

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#Neverman director Rodrigo Barriuso, along with cast members (from right to left) Justin Vivian Bond (far right), Zaiba Baig and Eva Everett Irving, take to the stage at the world premiere of the Canadian drama at #TIFF26! Head to the link in our bio for our review! 🎥 @rachel_is_here
10 hours ago
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CONTEST ALERT! "Your best friendship is worth fighting for. " We're giving away passes to the VANCOUVER preview screening of Universal Pictures' upcoming title, FORGOTTEN ISLAND, a new original film from DreamWorks Animation (How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek, Puss in Boots). The film opens in theatres on September 25, but Universal is hosting an exclusive advance screening in Vancouver on Wednesday, September 23. To enter, just: 🫶 Like this post. 🫶 Follow That Shelf 🫶 Tag your best friend (the one who you'd like to go to the Vancouver screening with)! Grammy- and Academy Award®-winning supernova H.E.R. and Liza Soberano (Lisa Frankenstein, Alone/Together) star as best friends and high school graduates Jo and Raissa, who are about to embark on separate life paths. While celebrating their last night together, they stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with creatures they grew up hearing stories about in their Filipino families. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever. Forgotten Island opens in theatres September 25. The contest closes Sunday at 12 noon PT. One entry per person. Canada only. Winners will be contacted by DMs. #contest #vancouver #advancescreening
2 days ago
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ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN! ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN RUN-OF-ENGAGEMENT TICKETS TO SEE #ResidentEvil. To enter: 🔴 Follow us. 🔴 Like this post. 🔴 Tag the friend you'd bring to see RESIDENT EVIL. You'll be entered to win passes to see the film during its theatrical engagement beginning September 18! From the mind of visionary filmmaker Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian) comes a thrilling — and terrifying — reinvention of the Resident Evil franchise. In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos. @ResidentEvil opens exclusively in movie theatres on September 18, 2026. Giveaway closes on Sunday, September 20. Open to Canadian residents only. Winners will be notified by DM. One entry per account, please. @SonyPicturesCanada @thetarogroup
5 days ago
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We're almost at the halfway point of #TIFF26 already (we can't believe it either) and we're already hit some incredible cinematic highs and some equally incredible lows... Here is a second batch of quotes from our critics on some of the films they've seen: The Debut (@mullenpat) Elsinore (@emmathedame) Love of Your Life (@rachel_is_here) Faith (@rachel_is_here) IDDA (@haileypassmore) Ancestors (@mullenpat) Krux (@rachel_is_here) L'AUTRE (@smallmind1978) Smudge the Blades (@mullenpat) Nobody's Violence (@smallmind1978) The Betrayers (@rachel_is_here) Nosotros (@smallmind1978) Read the full reviews at the link in our bio! What's topped your list at the fest so far?
7 days ago
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Love these faux playbills from the premiere of #TheDebut at #TIFF26. What’s the coolest piece of film marketing you’ve encountered?
7 days ago
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@tiff_net outdid themselves with this afternoon’s In Conversation with…Andrew Scott. Standing ovations, laughs and cheers galore. From Moriarty to Hot Priest to Tom Ripley and more, the chat covered his career highlights (with shout outs to Pride, All of Us Strangers, Wake Up Dead Man, and Blue Moon), to what it feels like to break the internet every 6 months (see the viral clip from his new series It Gets Worse), to taking on one of his most personal projects yet with #Elsinore. Stay tuned for our review of that last, which screens at #TIFF26 tomorrow. It is already generating some Oscar buzz for Scott. Other things we found out: His favourite Meryl Streep role: Postcards from the Edge. Runner up: Adaptation. Shakespeare roles he’d love to tackle: Iago or Benedick. (He’s excited for the Broadway transfer of @twhiddleston and @wellhayley’s Much Ado About Nothing, btw)
1 week ago
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No big deal. Just hanging out with @airbudofficial at #TIFF26.
1 week ago
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@taron.egerton and filmmaker Jonathan Schey answer questions after the world premiere of Everybody Wants to F*ck me at #TIFF26. The film: “Egerton gives a gleefully committed performance as a man determined to be viewed by potential paramours as the ideal catch in director Jonathan Schey’s darkly comic appraisal of modern dating and how some men signal virtues they don’t possess.” Via @tiff_net Stay tuned for our review! Head to the link in our bio for all our TIFF coverage. 🎥 @rachel_is_here
1 week ago
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CONTEST: ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN PASSES TO THE ADVANCE SCREENING OF RESIDENT EVIL That Shelf, @SonyPicturesCanada, and @thetarogroup want to send you and a friend to see #ResidentEvil on September 16, 2026, in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal (in FR or EN) before it hits theatres! From the mind of visionary filmmaker Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian) comes a thrilling — and terrifying — reinvention of the Resident Evil franchise. In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos. Here's how to enter: 🦠 Follow us 🦠 Like this post 🦠 Tell us which city's screening you'd like to attend, and 🦠 Tag a friend RESIDENT EVIL opens exclusively in movie theatres on September 18, 2026 Giveaway closes at 8pm ET on September 14. Open to Canadian residents only. Winners will be contacted via DM.
1 week ago
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film

Club Kid Review: TIFF 2026

Club Kid kicks off like a cocaine-infused glitter bomb before transforming into a tender story about sacrifice, growing up, and finding your calling.
TV

3 Things You Need to Know About Chad Powers Season 2

Season 2 of Chad Powers is here! Glen Powell, Steve Zahn, and the cast of the series give us a sneak peek at what to expect.
music

La Bola Negra Review: TIFF 2026

La Bola Negra is a sweeping epic pays tribute to lost lives and loves by connecting the stories of gay men across generations.
podcasts

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.

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