Getting out of the February funk
SUNDAY
á Landscape Artist of the Year Canada
Watch this if: You want to see our country through the eyes of artists. In another format borrowed from British TV, à la “The Great Canadian Baking Show,” contestants cook up paintings — and they get just four hours to create masterpieces. Different artists and locations are introduced in each episode, with former National Gallery director Marc Mayer and artist Joanne Tod deciding the $10,000 winner. (Makeful TV at 9 p.m.) (For another view of Canada and Canadians, follow Mi’kmaq medium Shawn Leonard, a.k.a. “Spirit Talker,” as he helps the living via the dead, while reconnecting with his own Indigenous heritage, on APTN, Wednesday at 8 p.m.)
—Debra Yeo
TUESDAY
á How to Fail as a Popstar
Watch this if: You love pop stars and wannabe pop stars alike. Artist Vivek Shraya is hard to categorize; she’s a solo musician as well as one half of the band Too Attached (with her brother Shamik Bilgi); she’s a photographer and visual artist; she’s a novelist and essayist and creative writing professor; she’s a publisher and an activist. What she’s not, if you ask her, is a pop star, though she tried. And that’s what she explores in her first play. If you’re tired of success stories, relish this one that celebrates failure, too. (Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre, 26 Berkeley St., 8 p.m., through March 1)
—Carly Maga
á AF
Watch this if: You want a contemporary performance that mixes George Orwell with Indigenous prophecy. The title “AF” brings to mind the George Orwell dystopian fable “Animal Farm.” It also represents an acronym for “Anishnaabe Fire,” as in the seven fires prophecy of the Anishnaabe people. Red Sky Performance, a multidisciplinary Indigenous company led by artistic director Sandra Laronde, is known for acclaimed shows like “Backbone” and “Trace.” Now Red Sky explores possible Indigenous futures for the human race, as a more inspiring antidote to Orwellian cynicism. (Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St., 8 p.m., through March 1)
—CM
FRIDAY
á Sisters Watch this if: You don’t know this classic piece of scary cinema by Brian De Palma. Given the gloom and darkness that fill most days at this time of year, it’s all too fitting for TIFF Bell Lightbox’s winter program to include a generous serving of horror flicks new and old. They’re all presented as part of The New American Nightmare, an update on the groundbreaking program of innovative and provocative genre films presented at TIFF (then known as the Festival of Festivals) back in 1979. Talks by local critics and programmers accompany many screenings: next up is Midnight Madness programmer Peter Kuplowsky giving his take on De Palma’s lurid 1973 tale of murders most foul. So why not pretend it’s Halloween already? (TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 9 p.m.) —Jason Anderson á Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Watch this for: A lesson in musical chemistry. Some one-off this has turned out to be. A match of blues, folk and rock guitarists that formed out of Hamilton for a Willie P. Bennett tribute album is now celebrating 25 years and 10 albums — the most recent, “King of This Town,” is just out and, rather unbelievably, the major-label debut for the trio of Colin Linden, Tom Wilson and Stephen Fearing. All three maintain active and thriving solo careers — Linden just scored a Grammy for his production work on Keb’ Mo’s latest — and with a couple of regular mates in drummer Gary Craig and bass player John Dymond, they’re among the most engaging live acts going. (Danforth Music Hall, 143 Danforth Ave., doors 7 p.m.) —Chris Young á Hunters
Watch this if: You have an appetite for stylishly made revenge fantasies. In 1970s New York, a diverse group of vigilantes led by Holocaust survivor Meyer Offerman (Al Pacino) and his protégé Jonah Heidelbaum (Logan Lerman) hunt Nazis who are plotting to establish a fourth reich in the U.S. The series, executive produced by Jordan
Peele, is personal for creator David Weil, whose grandmother lived through the Holocaust. Its cast includes Canadian actor Saul Rubinek, the son of Holocaust survivors. (Amazon Prime Video) —DY
SATURDAY
á CatVideoFest 2020
Watch this if: Feline-themed viral videos just won’t sate your addiction to cuteness. Can you ever get enough cute cats? If you hesitated upon answering that question, you may already have plans to see the latest edition of this touring compilation of feline-centric screen spectaculars, which has been variously culled from unique submissions, the worlds of music video and animation and, of course, the almighty internet. Patrons for this bounty of fluffiness — which screens on Sunday, too — will also be helping creatures in need since 10 per cent of ticket sales will be donated to Toronto Cat Rescue. And no need to worry: none of the cat videos here include disturbing images of James Corden or Dame Judi Dench in CGI fur. (Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W., 2 p.m.) —JA á Bat for Lashes
Watch this to: Catch a pop auteur before she chucks concerts for moviemaking. At least, that’s what she’s suggesting. Natasha Khan returns after some time away, bringing in fifth LP “Lost Girls,” followup to 2016’s “The Bride,” which itself followed “The Haunted Man” (2012). The titles hint at her storyteller’s POV and goth-y trappings, and the oeuvre has long earned her acclaim and comparisons to forebears Kate Bush and Bjork. But off a move to L.A. to pursue filmmaking opportunities, “Lost Girls” is her Hollywood record and a bit of a departure, a rich sonic trip to ’80s synthpop and movies that, by her standards, is pretty sunny going, though still foregrounding that voice of hers, able to channel hope and despair in finely calibrated measures. She flies solo for her first headlining show here in nearly 11 years — given the time away, there’s no little anticipation, as well as no telling when she’ll be back next, if at all. (Phoenix, 410 Sherbourne St., doors 8 p.m.) —CY