Sweetness
Followed by a Q&A with Lead Actor Kate Hallett, and Producers Taj Critchlow and Daniel Quinn.
Saturday, November 15th at 2:30pm
93 mins | 2025 | Canada
Dir: Emma Higgins
Language: English
Sweetness
Rylee (Kate Hallet, Women Talking), a lonely and bullied teen grieving her mother’s death, finds solace in the music of Swedish pop star Payton (Herman Tømmeraas, Ragnarok), the charismatic frontman of the band Floorplan. Hoping for one night of escape, Rylee and her best friend Sid (Aya Furukawa, The Fall of the House of Usher) attend his concert, determined to forget her dad Ron (Justin Chatwin, Another Life), a police officer already distracted by a new girlfriend.
After the show, a tragic twist shatters Rylee’s fantasy. When Payton—who’s publicly declared sobriety—drives under the influence and hits her in the parking lot, panic drives his every move. In a bizarre act of misguided devotion, Rylee takes him home, determined to “help” him get clean by chaining him up with her father’s spare handcuffs. What follows is a darkly funny and unsettling story of obsession, grief, and control that spirals far beyond teenage heartbreak.
With standout performances from Hallet and Tømmeraas and strong supporting turns from Amanda Brugel (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Steven Ogg (Dark Match), director Emma Higgins’ debut feature (World Premiere – SXSW) offers a razor-sharp, genre-bending take on celebrity worship and the dangerous side of devotion.
Followed by a Q&A with Lead Actor Kate Hallett, and Producers Taj Critchlow and Daniel Quinn.
Kate Hallett is an actor best known for her breakout role in Sarah Polley’s Oscar-winning film Women Talking. She stars as Rylee Hill in Sweetness, directed by Emma Higgins, which had its world premiere at SXSW 2025. Sweetness marks her first leading role, showcasing her as one of Canada’s emerging young talents.
Taj Critchlow is Founder and Managing Partner of Fela, a culture-defining production company based in Toronto and Los Angeles. With over 30 years of experience, he is an accomplished executive producer, talent manager, and creative consultant whose work spans music videos, film, television, and advertising. Taj has produced iconic videos for artists including Drake, Rihanna, and Rosalía, and his company has collaborated with brands such as Nike, Spotify, and Google. He has executive produced films including Superfly, Underplayed, Motherland, and 40 Acres, and most recently produced Sweetness, the debut feature by Emma Higgins, which premiered at SXSW 2025.
Daniel Quinn is a Toronto-based writer and producer and co-founder of When We Were Kids Entertainment. He has developed and produced film and television projects across a range of genres and collaborates closely with Fela on creative production. Daniel is a producer on Sweetness, directed by Emma Higgins, which had its world premiere at SXSW 2025.
Screening With:
Razor Ruckus
Canadian Showcase
It’s 10pm and Gorbe arrives home from a long, EXHAUSTING day of work. She hears a buzzing noise. It’s an electric razor, left to charge on the counter of the washroom. But, the razor won’t turn off and the buzzin sound seems to be getting louder…
6 Mins 40s
Canada, 2024
Dir. APPI
Language: English