AFM: ‘Blackberry’ Star Jay Baruchel Joins Cast of XYZ’s Rom-Com ‘Mile End Kicks’ (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned movie critic with a penchant for indie films and a soft spot for Canadian cinema, I find myself eagerly anticipating “Mile End Kicks.” Having grown up in Montreal myself, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia upon hearing about this film that captures the essence of the vibrant Mile End music scene.


Jay Baruchel has joined forces once again with the team responsible for the independent success “Blackberry” in the forthcoming romantic comedy, titled “Mile End Kicks.

The movie, penned and helmed by Chandler Levack (“I Like Movies”), has recently completed its shooting in Montreal. It features Barbie Ferreira (“Euphoria”), Devon Bostick (“Oppenheimer”), Stanley Simons (“The Iron Claw”), Juliette Gariépy (“Red Rooms”) among others in the cast. The beloved Montreal rock band TOPS has composed two unique songs for the soundtrack, which are sung by a fictional rock group within the film itself.

The movie, which is a collaboration between Banner House Productions and Zapruder Films, is being produced by Pat Kiely (known for “Three Night Stand”) as well as Matthew Miller (“BlackBerry”). The financial backing for this project comes from XYZ Films through their New Visions program.

In the movie, we follow Grace Pine (Ferreira), a 24-year-old music critic who relocates to Montreal in the summer of 2011. Her objective is to compose a book about Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill.” However, she unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with two musicians from the same struggling indie rock band, deciding to manage their public relations instead. The film showcases the vibrant Mile End music scene, which gave birth to artists such as Mac DeMarco, Arcade Fire, and Grimes, while Grace navigates her romantic fixation and strives to establish herself as a writer.

Todd Brown, head of International Acquisitions at XYZ Films, shared his excitement about working with Jay Baruchel again after their successful collaboration on ‘Blackberry’. Jay is an exceptional talent who skillfully blends character and humor, making him a wonderful addition to our talented cast. Moreover, as a long-time admirer of the real-world music scene portrayed in ‘Mile End Kicks’, it’s a pleasure to have TOPS contributing original songs for the movie. Simply put, it doesn’t get any better than this!

Formed in Montreal, TOPS consists of songwriters David Carriere and Jane Penny, along with drummer Riley Fleck. They’ve been one of the most impactful underground bands over the past ten years, carving out a niche for refined pop music within the indie scene. Their notable albums include “I Feel Alive,” “Sugar at the Gate,” and “Picture You Staring.

The film titled “Mile End Kicks” was made in collaboration with Telefilm Canada and SODEC. Elevation Pictures will distribute it across Canada, while Entract Films takes care of its release in Québec. XYZ Films finances the production together with IPR.VC, and manages international sales (excluding Canada) as part of their New Visions slate, a program that highlights emerging talent alongside established figures, aiming to carve out a new path in the global film industry. The film is primarily a Quebec-Ontario co-production.

Baruchel is represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Thruline Entertainment, and the agency Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Feldman, Rogal, Shikora & Clark.

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2024-11-05 18:16