Blackberry

Directed by Matt Johnson // 122 mins // Feature Film

It’s 1996, and Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and his business partner and best friend Douglas Fregin (Matt Johnson) are on the edge of creating the world’s first smartphone. Unfortunately for them, they are less business savvy than they are tech, and struggle to keep their company, Research in Motion, afloat. Everything changes when cunning business man Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton) agrees to join the company, bringing with him the money and experience needed to create and sell a prototype of their invention.

Guest: Matt Johnson. Born in Toronto and directed The Dirties (2013), Operation Avalanche (2016), and BlackBerry (2023). He is also co-creator of the cult comedy series Nirvanna the Band the Show (2017-19). As an actor he has appeared in Anne at 1,300 Feet (2020) and Matt and Mara (2023). He teaches in the film department at York University alongside his producing partner, Matthew Miller (1980).