Youngblood

Event Description

KCFF is thrilled to present YOUNGBLOOD as the official opening night selection of KCFF26! A sports drama that’s thoughtful yet still tough as nails, Hubert Davis’ latest is a less of a remake than a thrilling reinvention of the 1986 hockey flick that inspired it. One big reason why is the fantastic performance by Ashton James, who steps into the skates previously occupied by Rob Lowe as Dean Youngblood, a promising young player who has hard lessons to learn if he wants to make it to the NHL. Blair Underwood and Shawn Doyle also star as Dean’s father and his coach, men with different ideas about the kind of player he ought to be. Besides delving into many of the same themes that the director explored in BLACK ICE (KCFF23), his incisive documentary on the experiences of Black hockey players, Davis uses the story to explore questions about manhood and masculinity; in doing so, he also honours the vision of the late Charles Officer, who was unable to complete the project before his tragic passing in 2023. The result is a rare blend of strengths, where the quieter dramatic moments prove just as gripping as the high-stakes action on the ice.

Your ticket includes the hat trick of apps, drinks, and the glamour of the KCFF Red Carpet. Score! And even though it's a special event, this ticket is available as part of a KCFF Film Pass!