Check out the full list below of the film and television content coming to CBC Gem in September 2024.
CBC’s fall season continues with Season 8 of THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW (Oct. 6), featuring 10 new bakers from across the country; the 50th anniversary season of flagship investigative program THE FIFTH ESTATE (Oct. 11); Season 52 of consumer watchdog show MARKETPLACE (Oct. 11); and Season 10 of STILL STANDING (Oct. 8) with host Jonny Harris, kicking off in Rama, Ontario
Acclaimed series from around the world include the exclusive Canadian premieres of JOAN (Oct. 11), starring Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) as a real-life London jewel thief, and AUSTIN (Oct. 18), an Australian comedy featuring Love on the Spectrum’s Michael Theo; International Emmy Award-winning investigative drama VIGIL (Oct. 4); seasons 1 (Oct. 11) and 2 (Oct. 25) of CATASTROPHE, written by and starring comedian Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters); and season 2 of crime drama D.I. RAY (Oct. 25) starring Parminder Nagra (ER)
Celebrate the spooky season with new films added to the CHILLS AND THRILLS COLLECTION every Friday in October, including award-winning THE BABADOOK (Oct. 4); Brandon Cronenberg’s POSSESSOR (Oct. 11) starring Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott and Jennifer Jason Leigh; Canadian Screen Award-nominated THE RIGHTEOUS (Oct. 18); and critically acclaimed IT FOLLOWS (Oct. 25)
New episodes of CBC MUSIC LIVE AT MASSEY HALL (Oct. 2) include performances recorded from the iconic Massey Hall stage from Leif Vollebekk, JJ Wilde, Broken Social Scene and highlights from the 2024 Polaris Music Prize
New documentaries include the exclusive Canadian premiere of THE SWAP (Oct. 2), about an Australian school swap to bridge cross-cultural divides; SO YOU WANT TO BE A MUSLIM? (Oct. 23), following individuals who choose to experience life as a Muslim; and IT’S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE: VICE TO PROUD BOYS (Oct. 25), a look at the origins of right-wing extremist group the Proud Boys
The new season of doc series The Passionate Eye continues with ETERNAL YOU (Oct. 2), about the development of “digital doppelgangers” and their promise of eternal life; THE LONELIEST RACE (Oct. 9), exploring the emotional and physical trials of the Golden Globe solo sailing race; AN UNFINISHED JOURNEY (Oct. 16), following the struggles of four Afghan women leaders after the Taliban takeover in 2021; HARDER BETTER FASTER STRONGER (Oct. 23), investigating the world of toxic male wellness culture; and NO WAY TO DIE (Oct. 30), providing extraordinary access to individuals struggling with the single biggest decision of their life: whether to live or die
CBC Gem is Canada’s streaming service, offering more than 6500 hours of live and on-demand Canadian programming and a curated selection of acclaimed, best-in-class content from around the world, including more than 800 documentaries, 500 hours of ad-free content for kids and tweens, and a collection of over 200 Canadian feature films. CBC Gem is available free as an app for iOS and Android devices and online at CBCGem.ca, and on TV screens via Roku, Samsung, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, LG, Google Chromecast, Android TV and Xbox.
Note: This schedule is subject to change.
ACCLAIMED INTERNATIONAL SERIES
VIGIL Season 1 (6×60, Drama, World Productions, UK)
Begins streaming Friday, October 4
When a crew member is found dead on board Trident nuclear submarine HMS Vigil, Detective Amy Silva (Suranne Jones, Doctor Foster, Coronation Street) is called to investigate. The catch? The UK’s nuclear deterrent must remain unbroken, so the submarine stays on patrol and Amy must join the crew to investigate. When Detective Kirsten Longacre’s (Rose Lesliem, Game of Thrones, Honeymoon) investigation on land leads to tragedy, it becomes clear that these two deaths are part of a coordinated attack. Kirsten makes powerful enemies when she unearths a top-secret cover up, but, when a significant arrest reveals a grave threat to Vigil, the forces must work together to save Vigil and her crew.
***** “The BBC’s new six-part drama has all the ingredients to be an absolute humdinger of a series, and it is.”
CATASTROPHE Seasons 1 & 2 (12×30, Comedy, Avalon Television with Birdbath Productions and Merman Films, UK)
Season 1 begins streaming Friday, October 11
Season 2 begins streaming Friday, October 25
Comedian Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters) write and star in CATASTROPHE, a comedy following an Irish woman and an American man who make a bloody mess as they struggle to fall in love in London. Clumsy lust, instant pregnancy, and genuine disaster provide the foundation for this flaming hovel of a relationship.
In a mess of events always in danger of slipping out of their grasp, Rob and Sharon must also learn to deal with her largely awful friend (Ashley Jensen, Extras and Ugly Betty); his eccentric Bostonian mother (Carrie Fisher, Star Wars); and attempt to navigate the choppy waters of their ever-more-complicating lives. Can Sharon, “an extraordinarily good-smelling woman,” and Rob, “a sturdy love-maker,” steer through the increasingly thorny situations they find themselves in and still find time for an emergency shag in a stairwell? Prepare to find out.
JOAN (6×60, Drama, Snowed-in Productions, UK)
Begins streaming Friday, October 11
Exclusive Canadian Premiere
Joan (Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, The Staircase) begins as a fiery and uncompromising woman in her twenties who is deeply scarred and vulnerable. She is a devoted mother to her six-year-old daughter, Kelly, but is trapped in a disastrous relationship with Gary, a violent criminal. When Gary goes on the run, Joan seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her daughter. Adopting new identities and making new acquaintances along the way, Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief. She embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes journey that challenges her every limit, driven by her desire to care for her daughter and create a secure home for them both. Through her sharp intelligence, charm, and talent for impersonation and performance, the series follows the twists and turns in Joan’s life, the ups and downs, the heartache and the joy that makes this story so compelling.
AUSTIN (8×30, Comedy, Lincoln Pictures/Northern Pictures, Australia)
Begins streaming Friday, October 18
Exclusive Canadian Premiere
When beloved children’s author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller, Bridgerton, Death in Paradise) accidentally sparks a social media scandal, his career – and that of his illustrator wife, Ingrid (Sally Phillips, Veep, Bridget Jones’s Diary) – seems doomed. But then Austin (Michael Theo, Love on the Spectrum), the neurodiverse son Julian never knew he had, unexpectedly shows up. Could embracing this modern, blended family be Julian’s way out of “cancellation”? And will Ingrid forgive him for being such a pompous jerk? One thing’s clear: if Julian thinks Austin will be easy to handle, he’s in for a big surprise.
D.I. RAY Season 2 (6×60, Drama, Hat Trick Mercurio, UK)
Begins streaming Friday, October 25
Two months after her suspension from the force, DI Ray (Parminder Nagra, Bend it Like Beckham, ER), returns to homicide to investigate the brutal shooting of a young nurse and the head of a notorious crime syndicate outside a Birmingham hospital. The shooting sends shockwaves throughout the city. All signs point to a gangland turf war, but as DI Ray begins to pull at the threads, new evidence comes to light that suggest a far more complex mystery.
DOCUMENTARIES
ETERNAL YOU (52min, directed by Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck) Part of The Passionate Eye
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 2
ETERNAL YOU examines the story of people who live on as digital replicants in the pockets of their loved ones. With the help of artificial intelligence and Big Data, a dream comes true that is as old as mankind itself: eternal life. It’s probably the biggest business idea of the digital age. Following tech start-ups which use a wealth of data to develop “digital doppelgangers,” which promise to immortalize people on earth. The film raises a number of questions, such as: Can a digital entity compensate for the loss of a loved one? How will human memory be affected? And do we not have the right to forget?
THE SWAP (3×60, Documentary Series, Southern Pictures, Australia)
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 2 Islamic Heritage Month Collection
Exclusive Canadian Premiere
In a bold Australian-first, 12 students and families from very different communities confront and explore their differences – and similarities – in an experimental school swap.
THE CHOICE 2024 (120min, Frontline, USA)
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 9
Frontline’s critically acclaimed series THE CHOICE returns with interwoven investigative biographies of both candidates, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, focusing on their careers and personal lives. The two-hour special from veteran Frontline filmmaker Michael Kirk and his team will include interviews with those who know the candidates best, revealing key moments that shape how they would lead America.
THE LONELIEST RACE (44min, directed by Alexander Craig) Part of The Passionate Eye
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 9
Sailing around the world, alone, THE LONELIEST RACE explores the emotional and physical trials of underdogs in the Golden Globe Race.
AN UNFINISHED JOURNEY (44min, directed by Aeyliya Husain & Amie Williams) Part of The Passionate Eye
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 16
Forced to flee their country after the Taliban take-over in 2021, four Afghan women leaders struggle to keep the world’s attention on the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan, while coming to terms with what it means to have their power usurped and two decades of progress dismantled. From their distant exile-countries, these four female leaders – past parliamentarians, ministers and journalists – watch the Taliban strip women and girls of the right to be educated, to work and to participate in society. No longer in positions of influence, they are forced to reinvent themselves to continue the fight for a free and just Afghanistan. When the world’s attention has turned to the next headline and even the greatest superpower has admitted defeat, can these women succeed?
HARDER BETTER FASTER STRONGER (44min, directed by Brent Hodge) Part of The Passionate Eye
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 23
Misinformation expert Timothy Caulfield investigates the world of toxic male wellness culture, challenging its dangerous mash-up of ideology and archaic gender norms in this documentary directed by Brent Hodge (Pharma Bro, Viagra: The Little Blue Pill).
SO YOU WANT TO BE A MUSLIM? (88min, documentary Channel Original, directed by Hoda Elatawi, Canada)
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 23 Islamic Heritage Month Collection
SO YOU WANT TO BE A MUSLIM introduces viewers to five North American individuals who have left their respective faith traditions to embrace Islam. For these five – Barbara, Stephanie, Rima, Johnae and Eli – the transition from one religion to another can be simultaneously enlightening and daunting. Each of the people profiled in the film takes us on a journey that, collectively, illuminates the striking diversity of the Muslim community.
IT’S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE: VICE TO PROUD BOYS (88min, documentary Channel Original, directed by Sébastien Trahan, Canada)
Begins streaming Friday, October 25
Meet Gavin McInnes, the audacious Canadian who birthed two polarizing legacies: the left-leaning, multi-billion-dollar VICE media empire and the notorious Proud Boys, a right-wing militia group that was at the forefront of the storming of the Capitol on January 6th. Once celebrated as a progressive visionary, McInnes’ transformation into a right-wing provocateur stunned the world and left many old colleagues and friends questioning how the, once, coolest man in New York City became the controversial leader of the Proud Boys.
NO WAY TO DIE (44min, directed by Marc de Guerre) Part of The Passionate Eye
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 30
Against the backdrop of expanded access to Canada’s “Medical Assistance in Dying” law, the film provides extraordinary access to individuals struggling with the single biggest decision of their life: whether to live or die.
THE BABADOOK (93min, Thriller/Horror, written and directed by Jennifer Kent, Australia)
Begins streaming Friday, October 4
Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her ‘out of control’ 6 year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel’s dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both. When a disturbing storybook called ‘The Babadook’ turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he’s been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, genuinely frightened by her son’s behaviour, is forced to medicate him. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real.
POSSESSOR (104min, Horror, written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg, Canada)
Begins streaming Friday, October 11
Using brain-implant technology, corporate assassin Tasya Vos takes control of other people’s bodies to execute high profile targets and becomes trapped inside a mind that threatens to obliterate her. Starring Andrea Riseborough (Oblivion, To Leslie), Christopher Abbott (It Comes at Night, Poor Things), and Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight, Single White Female).
**** “thrillingly ingenious tale”
THE RIGHTEOUS (97min, Horror, written and directed by Mark O’Brien, Canada)
Begins streaming Friday, October 18
A burdened man feels the wrath of a vengeful God after he and his wife are visited by a mysterious stranger.
IT FOLLOWS (103min, Horror, written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, USA)
Begins streaming Friday, October 25
For 19-year-old Jay, fall should be about school, boys and weekends at the lake. Yet, after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter she suddenly finds herself plagued by nightmarish visions; she can’t shake the sensation that someone, or something, is following her. As the threat closes in, Jay and her friends must somehow escape the horrors that are only a few steps behind.
MUSIC
CBC MUSIC LIVE AT MASSEY HALL (4 new episodes)
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 2
Recorded live from Massey Hall’s iconic Allan Slaight Stage in Toronto earlier this year, the ongoing music series includes new performances from Leif Vollebekk, JJ Wilde, Broken Social Scene and highlights and performances from the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.
LIFESTYLE
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY Season 31(A) (28×30, Lifestyle, Naked TV/Boundless, UK)
Begins streaming Wednesday, October 2
Canadian Premiere
When homeowners are reviewing their quality of life and questioning the need to live in expensive and polluted urban spaces, ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY’s satisfying journeys of rural property searches and lifestyle changes have never felt more relevant. Having been on screen for twenty years, this heritage brand now focuses on escaping to the countryside in its broadest sense, presenting practical lifestyle content and constructive suggestions for the viewer, all the while capturing the seasonal beauty of the British landscape. A warm and knowledgeable cast of presenters helps a broad range of property hunters with differing budgets and wish lists.
KIDS
GISELE’S MASHUP ADVENTURES Season 2 (10×3, Kids, Headspinner Productions, Canada)
Begins streaming Sunday, October 20
What happens when you mix and mash together a spaceship, a sloth, and a pineapple? A cookie, a deer, and an earring? A whale, Egypt, and a seashell? You get a mashup of wacky, wonderful fun! GISELE’S MASHUP ADVENTURES is an animated preschool series where each three-minute episode takes inspiration from the creative ideas of children.
THE BEST OF CBC
The Canadian streaming home of hit CBC original series including THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW, HEARTLAND, KIM’S CONVENIENCE, MURDOCH MYSTERIES, SCHITT’S CREEK and WORKIN’ MOMS, plus BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW, BLACKBERRY, BONES OF CROWS, MR. D, PRETTY HARD CASES, THE PORTER, RUN THE BURBS, SKYMED, SON OF A CRITCH, SORT OF, STILL STANDING and TALLBOYZ, and classic CBC hits like BEING ERICA.
Source: CBC Gem
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The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.
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