For actor Sam Krochmal, stepping onto the red carpet at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the world premiere of the new mystery-thriller series Yaga felt entirely “surreal,” like walking right through a “fever dream”. Adapted from Kat Sandler’s acclaimed stage play, Yaga brings a gritty, high-stakes narrative to the screen in a fast-paced 30-minute episode format. Speaking about the premiere, Krochmal admitted that watching the series front-to-back in a packed theater environment,a stark contrast to reviewing isolated clips on a laptop screen, was deeply rewarding.
Bringing Billy Granger to Life
In the series, Krochmal stars as Billy Granger, a character who serves as a vital comedic and affable presence amidst the show’s dark, tension-filled plot. Discussing his approach to the role, Krochmal noted the unique hurdles of a compact 30-minute television format where every single line and moment counts.
“I think that coming into it, knowing that Billy kind of served this levity comedic device in the plot of the show… we wanted to make sure that the earnest, affable, real desperation to do the right thing came through, as opposed to just him cracking jokes,” Krochmal shared, adding that he worked closely with creator Kat Sandler and directors to avoid playing the character too broadly.
Learning From Canadian Royalty and Championing Canadian Talent
Krochmal also spoke warmly about sharing the screen with seasoned Canadian acting royalty, including Clark Backo, Noah Reid, and Carrie-Anne Moss. Watching veterans execute their craft taught him a valuable lesson about his own performance style: learning to “loosen the grip a little bit” and trust that the camera catches subtle nuances without needing to over-act.
Reflecting on the production’s unmistakably Canadian roots, from its shooting locations to its homegrown creative team under Sandler’s vision, Krochmal expressed immense pride in the project’s scrappy, “little train that could” momentum. “I hope that shows like Yaga, shows like Schitt’s Creek, Heated Rivalry… continue to pave the way and force Canadians into the spotlight because I think that we’re making really cool shit up here,” Krochmal said.
