Arts·Interview

The latest Canadian icon to get the biopic treatment? The BlackBerry, of course

There's a new movie about Canadian tech company BlackBerry's fall from grace — and it's called BlackBerry, of course. The film just had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, and director Matt Johnson phones in from Berlin to tell us all about it.

Matt Johnson's film BlackBerry tells the story of the rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone

A man with grey hair and a striped dress shirt slouches and hugs his body while holding a Blackberry phone, in a crowded room.
A still from the film BlackBerry starring Jay Baruchel (Elevation Pictures)

Adapted from the bestselling book Losing the Signal, the film BlackBerry tells the story of the rise and fall of the world's first Smartphone, the BlackBerry, and Canada's former tech darling RIM.

BlackBerry director by Matt Johnson is known for boundary-pushing films like Operation Avalanche and The Dirties. Now, the film has just had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. The director called in from Berlin to tell Elamin all about the film's conception, and reception on the world stage.

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.