The Next Best Picture Podcast – Interview With “Mile End Kicks” Filmmaker Chandler Levack

Key Takeaways

• Mile End Kicks premiered at 2025 TIFF, earning positive reviews
• Barbie Ferreira leads as Grace Pine, a Montreal‑bound aspiring author
• Chandler Levack draws on personal youth, blending music criticism with romance
• Film showcases indie band Bone Patrol, highlighting Montreal’s 2011 music scene
• Distributed by Sumerian, the movie is currently in U.S. theaters

Pulse Analysis

Mile End Kicks arrives as a fresh entry in the Canadian romantic‑comedy catalog, marrying personal memoir with a music‑centric plot. Writer‑director Chandler Levack channels her own early‑twenties, when she juggled music criticism and a yearning to break into film, into the story of Grace Pine (Barbie Ferreira), a young woman who trades a scholarly project on Alan Morit’s Jagged Little Pill for a whirlwind romance and a public‑relations gig with an up‑and‑coming indie band. The film’s blend of humor, nostalgia, and authentic Montreal settings gives it a distinct voice.

The movie debuted at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where critics praised its witty script and vibrant depiction of the 2011 Montreal music scene. By spotlighting the fictional band Bone Patrol, Levack taps into a growing appetite for narratives that celebrate local indie culture, a trend that has helped recent Canadian titles break into U.S. markets. Positive TIFF buzz often translates into stronger distribution deals and award‑season visibility, positioning Mile End Kicks as a contender for both commercial success and festival accolades.

Sumerian Pictures has secured a theatrical rollout across major U.S. cities, expanding the film’s reach beyond its Canadian roots. Early box‑office reports suggest solid per‑screen averages, driven by fans of the cast—Barbie Ferreira, Devon Bostick, and Jay Baruchel—and by music‑enthusiast audiences attracted to the film’s soundtrack. The Next Best Picture podcast’s interview with Levack adds a layer of behind‑the‑scenes insight, helping marketers leverage podcast audiences for word‑of‑mouth promotion. As streaming windows approach, the film is poised to find a second life on digital platforms.