Starwalker, the dramatic musical feature film from award-winning Indigenous writer, director and composer Corey Payette (Les Filles du Roi) will have its world premiere at the 35th edition of the Inside Out Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival on May 23, 2025. The film, which screens on the festival’s opening night, was adapted from a musical production of the same name.
Star (Dilan Chiblow), an Indigi-Queer Two-Spirit call boy, becomes newly entranced by the world of drag when they are introduced to The House of Borealis, a popular drag house led by their charming matriarch, Mother (Stewart Adam McKensy). Star’s newfound passion propels them to face a cultural past once neglected, but when painful memories re-emerge, their love for drag and their new family is put to the test. Alongside Levi (Jeffrey Follis) and the rest of their sisters in drag, Star journeys through the realization of who they are, leading to the creation of a persona that blends their grounded cultural spirit with a unique take on drag: Starwalker. Director Corey Payette infuses Starwalker with deep authenticity and personal connection, making every frame resonate with heart and purpose. This charming musical is a testament to the life changing moments that come when we embrace who we are without looking back.
The cast includes Dillan Chiblow (Run the Burbs), Jeffrey Follis (Kinky Boots), Stewart Adam McKensy (Beauty and the Beast), Jesse Alvarez, Jason Sakaki, Connor Parnall and Ralph Escamillan all of whom are well-known for their work on stage.
“We are so thrilled to have our world premiere of Starwalker at Inside Out. I started writing this musical as a way to celebrate joy, self-acceptance, and the power of chosen family, and to see its first screening at an 2SLGBTQIA+ festival feels full circle,” says Payette. “In a world that continues to challenge our right to exist fully and freely, Starwalker is a reminder that our joy, our beauty, and our love are at the heart of who we have always been and that telling our stories is an act of rebellion.”
Starwalker is directed, written, composed and produced by Corey Payette, produced by Fabian Aspell Morales, Ian Mrozewski and Parham Banafsheh are the Directors of Photography, Melissa Tsang is executive producer, production design by Anna Shearing, the film was edited by Christian Díaz Durán, costume designer is Alaia Hamer and the film is choreographed is Ralph Escamillan.
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