2023-2025 RBC Emerging Artist, Alicia K. Harris recently premiered her latest short film, On a Sunday at Eleven, at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This powerful narrative short follows a young Black ballerina as she navigates the challenges of adhering to Eurocentric beauty standards while discovering a source of pride and confidence in her own identity.
Screened as part of TIFF’s Short Cuts 2024 Programme 4, On a Sunday at Eleven not only showcases Harris’s artistic visual style but also highlights her dedication to celebrating the Black experience in her work. The film has garnered attention and praise, further solidifying Harris’s reputation as a rising star in the industry. That Shelf called it, “magnetic and visually captivating,” and CTV Your Morning declared it “beautiful.”
Alicia K. Harris is no stranger to leaving her mark in the Canadian film industry. Earlier this year, she earned a CSA nomination for her directorial work on CBC’s Black Life: Untold Stories
As On a Sunday at Eleven continues its festival run, including the Atlantic Film Festival and the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, Harris stands out as a powerful voice in contemporary cinema, inspiring the next generation of filmmakers across Canada. Learn more about RBC emerging artist Alicia K. Harris by watching her video profile here, and you can find more information about REEL CANADA’s RBC Emerging Artists In Our Schools here.
TORONTO, May 29, 2024 – REEL CANADA, in partnership with Ontario Creates, is excited to announce the launch of all-new career resources in French and English targeted at youth looking to enter the Canadian film industry.
Expanding on REEL CANADA’s popular online Career Zone (part of its Reel Opportunities programme), online resources for youth will now feature even more educational video content, including new interviews with Ontario-based talent explaining their jobs and career pathways.
“We are thrilled to expand the reach of our educational initiatives in partnership with Ontario Creates,” said Jack Blum, Executive Director of REEL CANADA. “These video resources will empower youth across Canada to discover the richness of our national film and television industry and encourage exploration of potential career paths within it.”
The quick, captivating videos expand REEL CANADA’s job information catalogue with new positions such as Screenwriter and Line Producer. Other new videos explain everything you need to know about unions and other associations that serve the film industry in Canada, including the Writers Guild of Canada, IATSE, and the Canadian Media Producers Association. Online job profiles will also feature the latest information on the guilds, unions and associations that are key in supporting the Canadian film and TV industry, searchable by province or territory.
REEL CANADA is a non-profit organization that celebrates Canada through film. We serve millions of Canadians each year through school programming for K-12 and adult ESL, and National Canadian Film Day, which is celebrated worldwide each April.
ABOUT ONTARIO CREATES
Ontario Creates is an agency of the Government of Ontario that facilitates economic development, investment and collaboration in Ontario’s creative industries including the music, book, magazine, film, television and interactive digital media sectors.
For press inquiries or interview requests, please contact: Rebecca Poier | Communications Manager, REEL CANADA [email protected]
TORONTO – April 2, 2024 – Returning on April 17th, 2024, National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay), presented by REEL CANADA, will shine a Spotlight on Canadian films so distinct, delightful, eccentric, and profoundly human that even the most advanced Artificial Intelligence couldn’t conceive them!
The 2024 programming spotlight, Films That A.I. Could Never Make, reaffirms that no algorithm can embody the essence, or conjure the creativity inherent in a Canadian film.
The beating heart of CanFilmDay celebrations are the more than 1,000 screenings, in every province and territory, and in more than 39 countries around the world and hundreds of offerings on broadcast and streaming services for every human to enjoy. As previously announced, we are honoured that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada is once again the viceregal patron of National Canadian Film Day.
“With more and more of our lives governed by algorithms, it seems more important than ever to highlight the originality, passion and, well, humanity that infuses the best of Canadian cinema,” said Artistic Director Sharon Corder.
Programming highlights across the country include:
Premieres & Sneak Peeks
Ally Pankiw’s debut feature, I Used to Be Funny, in a cross-Canada sneak preview ahead of its June 7th release date on more than 20 screens thanks to the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE).
The red carpet premiere of The King Tide in St. John’s, NL, featuring members of the cast and director Christian Sparkes.
In Toronto, the World premiere of Caitlin Cronenberg’s film Humane, with special guest stars Jay Baruchel and Emily Hampshire.
A sneak preview of the new Highball. TV film Mother of All Shows at the Stirling Festival Theatre in Stirling, ON, where the film was shot. With director Melissa D’Agostino.
In Vancouver, a sneak of The Great Salish Heist,Darrell Dennis’ hilarious new no-budget Indigenous caper flick.
In Memoriam
Three major figures have sadly passed since our last CanFilmDay. They will be honoured with tributes spotlighting their indelible legacies.
To honour the passing of acclaimed filmmaker Charles Officer, also a CanFilmDay board member and beloved friend, join us for a special screening of Akilla’s Escape, and a discussion with filmmakers he inspired, hosted in Toronto by Regent Park Film Festival and BIPOC Film & TV.
VIFF will host a rare presentation of the biographic documentary The Life & Times of Norman Jewison to honour the passing of the legendary director.
Two major events – by the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Canadian Film Institute in Ottawa in partnership with the Director’s Guild of Canada in Ontario – will pay tribute to the late pioneer Don Shebib, with screenings of his groundbreaking feature, Goin’ Down the Road. A live Q&A with Jayne Eastwood and DGC Ontario chair Annie Bradley, his friend and colleague, will follow the CFI screening in Ottawa.
Film Festival Partner Screenings
In Toronto, writer/director Matt Johnson joins The Canadian Film Festival for a special screening of his smash-hit comedy Blackberry, which recently earned a record-setting 17 Canadian Screen Award nominations.
The Vancouver International Film Festival is going all out for CanFilmDay! Programming includes a special 30th-anniversary screening of Double Happiness with director Mina Shum, a tribute to the late iconic director Norman Jewison, and more.
The Oakville Festival of Film and Art presents Barney’s Version, the adaptation of the beloved Mordecai Richler novel, featuring a discussion of the film with producer Robert Lantos hosted by Daniel Richler.
Reelworld Screen Institute presents a special 25th-anniversary screening of the landmark film Another Planet, the first Canadian feature film directed by a Black woman, followed by a Q&A with the film’s director, Christene Browne. This screening is proudly supported by Ontario Creates.
imagineNATIVE presents a special screening of their 2023 Audience Choice Award winner, Café Daughter, followed by a Q&A with director Shelley Niro (Mohawk), all happening in her home community.
35th-anniversary screening of ROADKILL by Bruce McDonald, followed by a Q&A with co-writer & star Don McKellar, at the recently opened Redwood Theatre in Toronto.
TIFF presents a special screening of Philippe Falardeau’s breakout hit, La moitié gauche du frigo (The Left-Hand Side of the Fridge). The screening will be followed by a virtual Q&A with Philippe Falardeau about the film.
Calgary Underground Film Festival presents a rare 35mm presentation of the classic Alberta-shot horror film Ghostkeeper, with a Q&A with director Jim Makichuk, screenwriter Doug Macleod, story consultant Dave Makichuk and the lead of the film, Murray Ord.
Plus, these highlights:
A partnership with Global Affairs Canada will bring Canadian films to 39 countries worldwide! Special events range in size from the Argentinian premiere of Intercepted at the Buenos Aires International Film Festival with the director in attendance to a charity screening of Tu te souviendras de moi benefiting the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
An estimated 20,000 high school students from more than 200 schools from every province and territory will engage in RCtv, our annual interactive livestream event. This year, journalist Kelly Boutsalis (Mohawk) will host a discussion with Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki) to discuss her film, Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair, and will facilitate a nationwide student conversation reflecting on Canada’s legacy of Indian Residential Schools and pathways towards reconciliation.
Friends of Canadian Media presents a virtual screening of Sarah Polley’s documentary Stories We Tell, followed by a conversation between REEL CANADA Executive Director, Jack Blum, and Marla Boltman, Executive Director of Friends of Canadian Media.
Communities across the country that are going all-out for CanFilmDay include:
The First Ontario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines, ON, is screening Anne of Green Gables with raspberry cordial-themed mocktails, PEI photo props and musical enhancements.
La Maison des artistes visuels in Winnipeg, MB, is screening Ru with a local professor of Vietnamese history.
In Slocan, BC, the local Legion is screening two films and holding a silent auction.
The Milton Public Library in Milton, ON is screening Canadian films throughout the week of April 15 – 19.
In Annapolis Royal NS, the King’s Theatre Society is showing five films on April 17, with refreshments available.
A companion workshop on Indigenous traditional arts will run before a screening of Bones of Crows in the Jasper, AB Community Habitat for the Arts.
More than two dozen major broadcast and streaming partners will be scheduling Canadian programming in honour of CanFilmDay. Click on these links for a complete list of broadcast and streaming partners.
Founding Sponsor Cineplex is providing over two dozen cinema screens across the country. The Landmark Cinema chain is also contributing venues in several communities. Both partners will screen the CanFilmDay promo PSA as part of their pre-show presentations.
Events across Canada and worldwide will feature appearances by special guests including Barry Avrich, Kelly Boutsalis, Christene Brown, Caitlin Cronenberg, Renee Courchene (Anicinabe), Melissa D’Agostino, Atom Egoyan, Philippe Falardeau, Tareq Hadhad, Emily Hampshire, Matt Johnson, Robert Lantos, Jason Loftus, Jim Makichuk, Dave Makichuk, Don McKellar, Doug Macleod, Alison Murray, Murray Ord, Alanis Obomsawin, Matthew Rankin, Mina Shum, Gail Singer, Christian Sparkes, Éric Tessier and Vinay Virmani.
If you’d like to host a free CanFilmDay event for your community, visit canfilmday.ca/register and sign up today.
CanFilmDay is a huge endeavour that’s made possible through the efforts of dedicated sponsors and partners who continue to support us year after year, including Telefilm Canada, CBC, Hollywood Suite, Cineplex, Landmark Cinemas, Ontario Arts Council, RBC Foundation, DGC Ontario, Ontario Creates, CMPA, ACTRA, AFBS and more. The complete list can be found on the sponsor page of our website.
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 17. You can also find us on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram: @CanFilmDay and #CanFilmDay.
Jack Blum and Sharon Corder, Executive and Artistic Director of REEL CANADA, are available for interviews, as well as Mina Shum, Colm Feore, Veronica Tennant, Jayne Eastwood, and Jake (Akilla’s Escape) Yanowski.
REEL CANADA is a charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
TORONTO – February 8, 2024 – REEL CANADA is delighted to continue its partnership with the RBC Foundation to raise the profile of young Canadian filmmakers.
Entering into the organization’s 8th year participating in this unique initiative, REEL CANADA is excited to announce its newest RBC Emerging Artists, filmmaker Alicia K. Harris and actor Joshua Odjick (Algonquin-Anishinabe/Cree).
The RBC Foundation is proud to support arts organizations that provide the best opportunities to advance an artist’s career trajectory in genres like visual arts, music, film, theatre, and dance. With support from the RBC Foundation, REEL CANADA will be championing the past and upcoming achievements of these Emerging Artists to thousands of young people across Canada at in-school film festivals, virtual events and workshops, and with special events on National Canadian Film Day (April 17, 2024)!
Learn more about the selected artists:
Alicia K. Harris is a filmmaker from Scarborough, Ontario. She is best known for her short film Pick, which won Best Live Action Short at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards. Alicia’s directorial credits include the TIFF-selected web series Lido TV and CBC’s Black Life: Untold Stories. She also directed and co-executive produced episodes of Amazon’s upcoming series Beyond Black Beauty. Her latest short film, Only Light Will Touch Us, was commissioned by REEL CANADA and Netflix. Watch Alicia’s video profile here.
Joshua Odjick (Algonquin-Anishinabe/Cree) is an award-winning actor from Ottawa, Ontario. Joshua landed his first series regular role in Unsettled and has since appeared in the award-winning features Bootlegger and Wildhood, which won him a CSA for Best Supporting Actor in 2022. His television credits include Little Bird, Three Pines, Pour Toi Flora, Bones of Crows, The Swarm and Warrior Up! Joshua also portrays Tom Longboat in the Canadian historical series of shorts Heritage Minutes. Watch Joshua’s video profile here.
About REEL CANADA REEL CANADA is a charitable organization whose mission is to introduce audiences to the power and diversity of Canadian film, and engage them in a conversation about what it means to be Canadian. Through our core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
For press inquiries or interview requests, please contact: Rebecca Poier | Communications Manager, REEL CANADA [email protected]
TORONTO – January 31, 2024 – National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay) will be back on April 17, with a Spotlight on Canadian movies that are so unique, joyous, quirky, and, well…human, that they couldn’t have been dreamt up by even the most sophisticated Artificial Intelligence. The 2024 programming spotlight – Films That A.I. Could Never Make – proves that no algorithm can replace the passion, soul, and personal vision at the heart of these 50 incredible films made by Canadian humans for Canadian humans. And you get to choose! See the full list at canfilmday.ca/spotlight.
We are honoured to announce that Canada’s Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, is returning as the Honorary Patron of this year’s National Canadian Film Day. An address from Her Excellency will precede CanFilmDay screenings.
Once again, hundreds of screening partners across the country will host free in-person events in communities big and small. The major broadcasters and streaming services are also joining the fun with Canadian films to enjoy at home.
As usual, there will be a wealth of programming for all audiences:
Screenings at film festivals, cinemas, libraries, community centres, schools, friendship centres, retirement residences, art galleries, military bases and more
Events for new Canadians and English-language learners
Events around the world in partnership with Global Affairs Canada
Our annual livestream for 15,000+ high school students
A wealth of great Canadian films to watch from home, thanks to our many broadcast and streaming partners
And much more – so look out for more announcements in the coming weeks
If you’d like to host a free event for your community, visit canfilmday.ca/register and sign up today.
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 17. You can also find us on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram: @CanFilmDay and #CanFilmDay.
REEL CANADA is a charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
REEL CANADA study reveals two thirds of Canadian students say that watching Canadian films in class provides them with a sense of Canadian pride
TORONTO, June 2023 – Research commissioned by REEL CANADA, a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting Canadian films in schools (in partnership with Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, and Creative BC) and conducted by VICE Media Group, reveals significant positive cultural impact when students are exposed to Canadian film in class.
Findings reveal that two-thirds of Canadian students who see Canadian films in class say that they make them feel a sense of pride in Canada, compared with only half of students who are not so exposed. Other data highlight a clear correlation between student exposure to Canadian film in the classroom and greater tolerance for other points of view, better understanding of other Canadian communities, and more insight into other lifestyles.
Further, students who are shown Canadian film in schools express a richer engagement with culture in general, including greater interest in a wider range of content, in how the content is created, and in discussing content with peers.
“It’s imperative now more than ever to give our youth tools that help them feel a greater sense of connection and togetherness,” says Jack Blum, co-founder of REEL CANADA. “In a fractious time, a stronger sense of Canadian identity can be a unifying force.”
According to the study, students who watch Canadian films in the classroom agree that they contribute to:
Increased tolerance for other points of view
Greater awareness and understanding of other cultures in Canada
Greater appreciation of the importance of diversity in Canada
Greater pride in their country
The study, entitled The Power of Canadian Film: Youth Film Consumption and Engagement, was conducted in October 2022 by VICE Media Group, who surveyed 600 high school students (ages 14-19) and 125 K-12 teachers across Canada to evaluate the impact of Canadian film among young people, their general awareness levels of Canadian content, as well as usage of Canadian content by teachers within the classroom.
“It was clear from conversations with teachers throughout the study that the ability for students to see themselves reflected in films ultimately opens up opportunities for deeper engagement,” adds Blum. “With this, comes a greater sense of identity, especially when specific Canadian experiences, such as those of immigrants and Indigenous individuals, are highlighted and explored.”
Other findings revealed that the rise of social media hasn’t detracted from the influence of TV and film for today’s teens. Students still heavily consume traditional forms of media, with half (1 in 2) indicating that watching movies and TV is one of their favourite pastimes.
However, despite strong impact findings among young people, awareness continues to be the biggest hurdle in harnessing the power of Canadian film – with only 15 percent of students being aware that a particular film being shown is, in fact, Canadian. Less than half (47 percent) of students say that while they have seen a Canadian film “in the past,” they do not seek them out and almost one in five say they never watch Canadian films or, perhaps more importantly, “don’t know” if they’ve ever seen one.
When asked to consider what might compel them to watch more Canadian films, students’ top three responses included:
Having access to Canadian films on TV or streaming platforms
If they were generally more aware of Canadian films
If their friends/family watched Canadian films
“This study confirms what many of us in film and education have known for some time, that when students are shown Canadian films in school, a spark is lit,” says Sharon Corder, Artistic Director and co-founder of REEL CANADA. “However, lack of awareness has proven to be the biggest hurdle in harnessing the power of Canadian film among young people at scale. It’s clear that our mission to drive better access, emphasis, and visibility for Canadian films will lead to great benefits for young people as they grow into engaged Canadian citizens.”
Survey Methodology
This research was conducted in October 2022 by VICE Media Group in partnership with REEL CANADA, Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates and Creative BC. We began this project by conducting a 10-minute online survey of 600 high school students (ages 14-19) and 125 K-12 Teachers across Canada. Both groups were asked about interest and awareness in Canadian films and organizations. These populations are geographically representative of Canada, including the Quebecois population, with a 50/50 male/female split. All statistics referenced in this report are based on data from students. Phase two of this project included 45-minute in-depth interviews with educators within the REEL CANADA network, which were used to deepen narratives and provide first hand knowledge of current classroom dynamics. Quotes from these interviews are denoted in the report as “INSIGHTS FROM THE CLASSROOM.”
Details of Hundreds of Live Screening Events and Guest Appearances in Every Province and Territory
TORONTO – April 6, 2023 – National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay), presented by REEL CANADA, is back bigger than ever for its tenth anniversary on April 19, 2023, with over 1300 live events taking place from coast-to-coast-to-coast and approximately 120 events in nearly 45 countries around the world.
For our tenth anniversary, there was no way to narrow our programming down to a single theme. So, we threw the doors open and created an All You Can Watch Buffet of 100 enticing films. Canadians responded with a big appetite, and there’s a feast of offerings across the country.
In addition to the national partnerships and tributes that we have already announced, the heart of CanFilmDay celebrations are the more than 1300 events taking place live in hundreds of communities in every province and territory, and around the world. For a full listing of all screenings, visit canfilmday.ca/attend-an-event.
A few programming highlights in Canada:
Nationwide
As part of the previously announced tribute to the late Mi’qmaw filmmaker Jeff Barnaby, CBC GEM will run Barnaby’s brilliant and provocative film Blood Quantum ad-free from 9am until 9pm ET. A video tribute to Barnaby will be available on the REEL CANADA YouTube page.
As part of the previously announced tribute to Gordon Pinsent, and in partnership with the Canadian content advocacy group FRIENDS, his masterwork John and the Missus will stream nationwide on the CanFilmDay platform, courtesy of the producer, Peter O’Brian.
In St. John’s
The St. John’s Women’s International Film Festival will host a virtual presentation of Rosie, preceded by a pre-recorded introduction by director Gail Maurice (Cree/Métis).
In Halifax
Subjects of Desire, followed by a virtual Q&A with director Jennifer Holness will be presented by the Emerging Lens Film Festival.
In Quebec
Screenings of Chien Blanc featuring a pre-recorded interview with director Anaïs Barbeau Lavalette, will be screened in independent cinemas in ten communities across Quebec in partnership with Médiafilm.
In Ottawa
A screening at the ByTowne of John and the Missus, presented by the Canadian Film Institute as part of our Gordon Pinsent Tribute. The screening will be followed by a virtual Q&A with Pinsent’s longtime friend, Canadian screen icon Mary Walsh.
A special screening of The Grizzlies, with star Anna Lambe (Inuk) in attendance, will be hosted by Global Affairs Canada for the international diplomatic corps.
In Toronto, in addition to the Gordon Pinsent and Jeff Barnaby tributes previously announced:
Directing icon Deepa Mehta will present her adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s novel Midnight’s Children in partnership with PEN Canada in support of the recently wounded author, who has long been a champion of freedom of expression. Moderated by Johanna Schneller.
A special 20th anniversary 35mm screening of the award-winning Love, Sex and Eating the Bones with director Sudz Sutherland in attendance will be hosted by the Canadian Film Festival, and supported by DGC Ontario.
A screening for new Canadians and English-language learners of the perennially popular hockey comedy Breakaway will be presented in partnership with TIFF, Ontario Creates, and Uninterrupted Canada, with writer, producer and star Vinay Virmani and several cast members in attendance.
A screening of To Kill A Tiger hosted by Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, with filmmaker Nisha Pahuja in attendance.
A screening of Scarborough with co-directors Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson in attendance, will be presented by Regent Park Film Festival
In Manitoba
The new film The Tomahawk will premiere in The Pas, with director Steven Bignell and producer Sturla Gunnarsson in attendance, at an event presented by the National Screen Institute.
In Calgary
A 35th anniversary screening of Comic Book Confidential with filmmaker Ron Mann in attendance will be co-presented by The Calgary Underground Film Festival and Calgary International Film Festival.
In Yellowknife
A screening of Clement Virgo’s acclaimed new feature Brother, presented by Western Arctic Moving Pictures.
In Vancouver
Home Truths: an exciting month-long programme hosted by the Vancouver International Film Festival that will culminate in special screenings on CanFilmDay of the classic John and the Missus with producer Peter O’Brien in attendance, as well as “The Great Canadian Short Film Show”, a presentation of short films from some of Canada’s greatest filmmakers including Atom Egoyan, David Cronenberg, Denis Villeneuve and more.
The Vancouver Asian Film Festival is presenting Riceboy Sleeps, winner of TIFF’s Best Canadian Film Award, with a pre-recorded interview with director Anthony Shim.
In Victoria
A screening of Victoria native Atom Egoyan’s classic Exotica, with a recorded introduction by the internationally acclaimed director, will be presented by the Victoria Film Festival.
… and hundreds more screenings in every province and territory in Canada.
National Educational Programming:
Thousands of high school students from over 100 schools from every province and territory will engage in RCtv, an interactive livestream event featuring the film Breakaway with Vinay Virmani and cast member Noureen DeWulf.
Other events across Canada and worldwide will feature appearances by special guests including Trevor Anderson (Before I Change My Mind), David Bezmozgis (Charlotte), MarkCritch (Gordon Pinsent Tribute), Tracey Deer (Beans), Danis Goulet (Night Raiders), Zoe Leigh Hopkins (RunWoman Run), Chandler Levack (I Like Movies), Don McKellar (Last Night), Richie Mehta (Siddharth, I’ll Follow You Down), Moze Mossanen (You Are Here: A Come From Away Story),, Tahir Rana (Charlotte), Rich Willamson (Scarborough), Clement Virgo (Brother), and Andrea Warner (Buffy Sainte Marie: Carry it On) .
This year, we lost a beloved, longtime member of the REEL CANADA family. Ravi Srinivasan worked with us from 2011, and was the senior programmer for National Canadian Film Day, as well as a TIFF programmer and founder of the South Western International Film Festival (SWIFF). We are dedicating the 10th CanFilmDay to his memory. His favourite Canadian film, Stories We Tell, will be presented in Toronto by SWIFF, and will be available to watch nationwide on our streaming platform, preceded by a pre-recorded video tribute.
As previously announced, more than two dozen major broadcast and streaming partners will be scheduling Canadian programming in honour of CanFilmDay. A complete list of broadcast and streaming partners can be found at canfilmday.ca/films.
CanFilmDay is a huge endeavour that’s made possible through the efforts of dedicated sponsors and partners. The complete list can be found on the sponsor page of our website.
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 19. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram: @CanFilmDay and #CanFilmDay.
Deepa Mehta, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Colm Feore, Vinay Virmani, Clement Virgo, Sudz Sutherland, and Chandler Levack as well as Jack Blum and Sharon Corder, Executive and Artistic Director of REEL CANADA, are available for interviews.
REEL CANADA is a charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
TORONTO – April 3, 2023 – National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay), presented by REEL CANADA, is bigger than ever for its tenth anniversary on April 19, 2023, with over 1300 live events taking place from coast-to-coast-to-coast, and approximately 120 events in nearly 45 countries around the world.
We are honoured to announce that Canada’s Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, is again the Honorary Patron of this year’s National Canadian Film Day.
A detailed announcement about our programming and special guest participation will follow in the coming days, but here are a few highlights:
Canadian cinema suffered two important losses since our last CanFilmDay and both will be honoured with nationwide tributes spotlighting their indelible legacies.
Canadian screen legend Gordon Pinsent will be celebrated with multiple screenings of John and the Missus, the award-winning 1987 feature that he wrote, directed and graced with a Genie Award-winning performance:
in Vancouver with the Vancouver International Film Festival with producer Peter O’Brian in attendance,
in Toronto as part of an all-day Gordon Pinsent marathon, hosted by fellow Governor General Award Winners Colm Feore and Mary Walsh in attendance,
in Ottawa by the Canadian Film Institute followed by an online Q&A with Mary Walsh.
John and the Missus will also be streaming for free across Canada, courtesy of the producer.
The groundbreaking Mi’kmaw filmmaker Jeff Barnaby, who died last October following a year-long battle with cancer, will also be honoured with a tribute supported by Netflix. Programming will include a video of remembrances by close friends and colleagues, and a special screening of Barnaby’s brilliant 2019 horror movie, Blood Quantum, in Toronto, followed by a live Q&A with star Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Blackfoot/Sámi). Additional screenings of the film will take place in Halifax, Thunder Bay, Calgary, and Vancouver, and it too will be available for free streaming nationwide.
Founding Sponsor Cineplex is providing cinema screens across the country. The Landmark Cinema chain is also contributing venues in several communities.
CanFilmDay is also partnering with the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE) for the second year. 50+ NICE members are showing a variety of anniversary titles and new releases, some of which include introductions from filmmakers and special guests.
We are also once again joining forces with Quebec-based MediaFilm (mediafilm.ca) to activate cinemas across Quebec, with screenings of Chien Blanc, followed by a pre-recorded interview with director Anaïs Barbeau Lavalette.
Making great Canadian films available to virtually every Canadian could not be accomplished without the participation of nearly every broadcaster and streaming platform in the country.
Canadians who want to enjoy a great Canadian film from their living rooms will have a vast array to choose from, thanks once again to the enthusiastic participation of broadcasters Hollywood Suite, APTN, Bell Media, Corus, Superchannel, CBC, APTN, Cinépop, CHCH, Out TV, Blue Ant Media, Wild Brain, VisionTV, Uvagut TV and Game TV, as well as streaming services Netflix, CBC Gem, Crave, The Roku Channel, the National Film Board, and others.
In our sixth year of partnership with Global Affairs Canada, (inter)National Canadian Film Day is bigger than ever before, with over 120 screenings in 45 countries.
Highlights include:
Beans director Tracey Deer (Mohawk) visiting South Carolina for a Q&A and panel discussion with representatives from local Indigenous nations
Writer-director Chandler Levack attending the BAFICI (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente in Argentina) for a screening of her film I Like Movies.
Hundreds of other organizations and networks will be part of the celebrations on April 19, including TIFF Film Circuit, Royal Canadian Legions, Canadian Armed Forces bases, Canadian Parents for French, ARCA (Artist Run Centres and Collectives), film festivals, public library associations, retirement residences, schools, and many others.
REEL CANADA Artistic Director, Sharon Corder, says, “National Canadian Film Day is about connecting our great national cinema with audiences everywhere. Its success is based on the enthusiasm and engagement of literally hundreds and hundreds of partners in every corner of the country. CanFilmDay is something the whole country can agree on.”
CanFilmDay is made possible through the efforts of dedicated sponsors and partners who continue to support us year after year, including Telefilm Canada, Netflix, CBC, Canada Media Fund, Hollywood Suite, Cineplex, Landmark Cinemas, Bell Media, Ontario Arts Council, DGC Ontario, and more. The complete list can be found on the sponsor page of our website.
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 19. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram: @CanFilmDay and #CanFilmDay.
Deepa Mehta, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Vinay Virmani, Clement Virgo, Chandler Levack, Sudz Sutherland and Colm Feore as well as Jack Blum and Sharon Corder, Executive and Artistic Director of REEL CANADA, are available for interviews.
REEL CANADA is a charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
TORONTO – January 19, 2023 –On April 19, National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay) is turning ten! So we’re throwing a big party. A really big party. A coast-to-coast-to-coast party. And for refreshments? A buffet, of course. A giant, mouth-watering All You Can Watch Buffet of Canadian film. This year’s programming spotlight will showcase one hundred titles: a broad and diverse cross-section of Canadian films, with ten enticing categories, each featuring ten delectable films. Categories include “Champagne and Caviar” (critically acclaimed award winners), “Jello Salads” (movies to make you smile), “Food for Thought” (a selection of worldview-changing films), “Freshly Picked” (hot new releases) and much more. You can check out all the categories and all 100 films at canfilmday.ca/spotlight/2023-spotlight.
Hundreds of screening partners across the country will once again host free in-person events in communities big and small, with lots of broadcast and streaming options as well.
As usual, there will be a wealth of programming for all audiences:
Screenings at film festivals, cinemas, libraries, community centres, schools, friendship centres, retirement residences, art galleries, military bases and more
Our annual event for new Canadians and English-language learners will be back in person this year in Toronto
A tribute to groundbreaking Mi’kmaw filmmaker Jeff Barnaby, whose passing in 2022 shook the film community in Canada and beyond
Events around the world in partnership with Global Affairs Canada
Our annual livestream for 15,000+ high school students
A wealth of great Canadian films to watch from home, thanks to our many broadcast and streaming partners
And much more – so look out for more announcements in the coming weeks
If you’d like to host a free event for your community, visit canfilmday.ca/register and sign up today.
CanFilmDay is a massive endeavour that’s made possible through the efforts of dedicated sponsors and partners who continue to support us year after year. We’re thrilled that so many of our sponsors are returning in 2023, including Telefilm Canada, RBC Foundation, CBC, Ontario Arts Council, Cineplex, Landmark Cinemas, CMPA and more. The complete list can be found on the sponsor page of our website.
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 19. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @CanFilmDay and #CanFilmDay.
REEL CANADA is a charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (CanFilmDay) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
This year from September 8 – 11, we shared our love of Canadian film on the Toronto International Film Festival’s Festival Street. We were blown away by the response. Thousands of people participated by playing our game, meeting our mascot, Maurice the Moose, and chatting with us about Canadian film. We made sure everyone heard that NCFD’s tenthanniversary is coming on April 19, 2023!
There was an ever-present line for our game – Test Your Knowledge of Canadian Film
NCFD swag galore!
Maurice the Moose Visits TIFF!
Our beloved NCFD mascot, Maurice the Moose, was a hit on Festival Street as he explored the sights of King St., watched for celebrities on the red carpet and even got a touch-up, all in between taking selfies with hundreds of people!
At REEL CANADA, we love TIFF for so many reasons: We get to discover tonnes of great new films, it’s a chance to support our industry, and it’s just lots of fun! Our team got to scope out all the Canadian films playing this year, and we can’t wait to share them with you soon.
Our sincere thanks to TIFF for welcoming us to celebrate on Festival Street – we had a blast.
Nearly 1300 events celebrate Canadian film on April 20, 2022
TORONTO – June 30, 2022 – the ninth annual National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) was back – live and in person! Over the past nine years NCFD has proven to be a massive platform for Canadian films, and for Indigenous-made films from Canada. The 2022 numbers speak for themselves:
1230 events across Canada
59 international screenings in 43 countries around the world
65,000+ people attended live NCFD events
An estimated 2.5 million people watched a Canadian film on broadcast or streaming
In partnership with Telefilm Canada and with generous support from Netflix Canada, NCFD 2022 marked a major return to cinemas after two years of virtual events.
REEL CANADA Artistic Director Sharon Corder says, “We are thrilled and gratified to see so many of our partners excited to celebrate with us again and to see audiences return to the collective experience of watching a Canadian film as part of a live audience.”
Full details are contained in the NCFD 2022 Report, which can be viewed here. Some highlights can be found below.
This year, we are honoured that Canada’s Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, served as the Honorary Patron of National Canadian Film Day. An official video greeting from Her Excellency preceded all NCFD screenings this year.
The 2022 Spotlight, Celebrating Indigenous Voices, presented in association with imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, was embraced by audiences, with over 900 screenings of Indigenous-made films across Canada and internationally.
Capping the Spotlight were two intimate panel discussions – one in Toronto with directors Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis) and Tracey Deer (Mohawk), moderated by APTN broadcaster Adam Garnet Jones (Cree/Métis), which streamed live on CBC Gem, and one in Montreal with Indigenous film pioneer Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki) and trailblazing filmmaker Jeff Barnaby (Mi’qmaw), inaugurating the NFB’s new screening room, the Alanis Obamsawin Theatre.
Over 50 filmmakers, stars and other special guests participated,, including Shane Belcourt (Métis), Sonia Bonspille Boileau (Mohawk), Pierre-Luc Brillant, Stephen Campanelli,Atom Egoyan, Colm Feore, Marc-André Grondin, Dakota Ray Hebert (Dene), Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk), Anna Lambe (Inuk), Brooklyn Letexier-Hart (Cree/Métis), Phillip Lewitski (Mohawk), Moze Mossanen, Joshua Odjick (Algonquin/Anishinaabe), Loretta Todd (Cree/Métis), Anne Wheeler, Alan Zweig, and more.
NCFD was also celebrated online and on the air with participation from all major broadcasters and streamers.
Canadian broadcasters were all-in, with both Hollywood Suite and Super Channel running 24 hours of Canadian films and new broadcast partner Uvagut TV and streaming partners The Roku Channel and Game TV joining the party.
Netflix kicked off NCFD with an announcement of 21 new Canadian films debuting on Netflix Canada as part of a new collection, Celebrating Canadian Films.
Join us on April 19, 2023, for NCFD’s special Tenth Anniversary edition!
NCFD is a huge endeavour made possible through the efforts of dedicated sponsors and partners who continue to support us year after year. We’re thrilled that so many of our sponsors returned in 2022, including Telefilm Canada, Netflix, Encore+, CBC, Bell Media, Hollywood Suite, Cineplex, Landmark Cinemas, CMPA, and more. The complete list can be found on the sponsor page of our website.
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @CanFilmDay, TikTok at @canfilmday and #CanFilmDay.
About REEL CANADA
REEL CANADA is a charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
The World’s Largest Film Festival Celebrates Indigenous Voices on April 20, 2022
Governor General to act as Honorary Patron
TORONTO – April 4, 2022 – After two years of online presentations, REEL CANADA is absolutely delighted to announce that National Canadian Film Day, live and in person, is back! The ninth edition of the annual coast-to-coast-to-coast celebration of Canadian film will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, with more than 1000 events as well as dozens of offerings on broadcast and streaming for everyone to enjoy. In-person screenings will take place in 600 communities across Canada and more than 35 countries around the world.
We are honoured to announce that Canada’s Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, is the Honorary Patron of this year’s National Canadian Film Day. An official video greeting from Her Excellency will precede all NCFD screenings this year.
The 2022 Spotlight, Celebrating Indigenous Voices, presented in association with imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, focuses on Indigenous-made cinema by filmmakers from many diverse nations across Canada, and will also feature panel discussions and appearances by Indigenous film artists. More than 25 Indigenous-made features will be presented throughout the day.
imagineNATIVE Executive Director Naomi Johnson (Mohawk) says, “We are thrilled to be co-presenting works from so many talented Indigenous filmmakers as part of REEL CANADA’s National Canadian Film Day. We hope that new audiences discover and enjoy these marvelous films.”
REEL CANADA Board Member Jason Ryle (Anishinaabe) says, “First Nations, Métis and Inuit filmmakers in Canada have been making incredible and original films for decades. The growth of Indigenous-made cinema in recent years is truly remarkable and will continue for decades to come. It’s wonderful to see REEL CANADA and National Canadian Film Day celebrate these great films.”
Programming highlights across the country include:
An intimate conversation with filmmakers Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki) and Jeff Barnaby (Mi’qmaw) presented in-person at the opening of the new Alanis Obomsawin Theatre at the National Film Board of Canada in Montreal.
An in-person discussion in Toronto that will also be streamed online, presented in partnership with APTN and CBC, featuring award-winning filmmakers Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis), Tracey Deer (Mohawk) and hosted by Adam Garnet Jones (Cree/Métis).
A tribute to the late filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée in partnership with MediaFilm, featuring a special event in Toronto presented by Cinefranco, an event in Vancouver presented by VIFF, and screenings of Vallée’s masterpiece C.R.A.Z.Y. across Canada (in twenty cities) and around the world (in seven countries)
Over 10,000 high school students from more than 300 schools from every province and territory will engage in RCtv, an interactive livestream event featuring CSA-nominated Night Raiders writer-director Danis Goulet and cast member Brooklyn Letexier-Hart (Cree/Métis).
A virtual screening of The Grizzlies for New Canadians and English-language learners, presented in partnership with Institute for Canadian Citizenship, followed by a livestream Q&A with one of the stars of the film, Anna Lambe (Inuk), hosted by Ali Hassan.
The theatrical premiere of the French-language Indigenous-made thriller L’Inhumain will unfold with an in-person gala in Ottawa with director Jason Brennan (Anishinaabe), lead actor Samian (Anishinaabe), and cast members in attendance, as well as screenings in Vancouver and Montreal.
This year, NCFD and Telefilm are partnering with the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE) to host screenings of Beans, Night Raiders, and C.R.A.Z.Y. in independent cinemas in more than 30 communities across Canada featuring virtual Q&As with cast and crew.
Participation from national broadcasters, including APTN, Bell Media, Corus and Super Channel, led by Hollywood Suite with a full 24 hours of Indigenous programming.
Nearly 50 international screenings are taking place in 40 countries across five continents.
One of the largest is a full-day celebration at Carolina Coastal University in South Carolina, featuring four screenings, a reception with local dignitaries, and “Canadian cuisine” on campus. Indian Horse director Stephen Campanelli will present his film in person, while Colm Feore, star of Bon Cop and The Red Violin will participate virtually. Also in attendance will be NCFD mascot, Maurice the Moose, visiting his friend, CCU mascot Chauncey the Chanticleer.
Participation from a wide array of streaming partners such as Netflix, Encore+ and CBC Gem, highlighted by the National Film Board, who will be featuring NCFD on their homepage for the entire day on April 20.
Other events across Canada will feature appearances from special guests, including Shane Belcourt (Métis), Sonia Bonspille Boileau (Mohawk), Jolene Commanda (Anishinaabe), Philippe Commanda (Anishinaabe), AndyDewache (Anishinaabe), Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk), Phillip Lewitski (Mohawk), Moze Mossanen, Joshua Odjick (Algonquin/Anishinaabe), Juanita Peters, Dakota Ray Hebert (Dene), Odeshkun Thusky (Anishinaabe),Loretta Todd (Cree/Métis), Rhayne Vermette (Métis), Anne Wheeler, Hank White, Alan Zweig.
If you’d like to host a free NCFD event for your community, visit canfilmday.ca/register and sign up today.
NCFD is a huge endeavour that’s made possible through the efforts of dedicated sponsors and partners who continue to support us year after year. We’re thrilled that so many of our sponsors are returning in 2022, including Telefilm Canada, Netflix, Encore+, CBC, Bell Media, Hollywood Suite, Cineplex, Landmark Cinemas, CMPA, and more. The complete list can be found on the sponsor page of our website.
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 20. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @CanFilmDay, TikTok at @nationalcanfilmday and #CanFilmDay.
REEL CANADA Board Member Jason Ryle (Anishinaabe), Night Raiders writer-director Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis), and Beans director Tracey Deer (Mohawk) as well as Jack Blum and Sharon Corder, Executive and Artistic Director of REEL CANADA, are available for interviews.
REEL CANADA is a charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
National Canadian Film Day Returns on April 20, 2022 to Celebrate Indigenous Voices
Free movies all day. Everywhere.
TORONTO – Feb 14, 2022 – REEL CANADA is pleased to announce that the ninth annual National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) will take place coast to coast to coast on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. With fingers and toes crossed, we have invited our hundreds of screening partners across the country to once again host live in-person events wherever local public health guidelines permit. And for those who are not yet at ease out in public (or who just prefer the couch) there will be plenty of online and broadcast events as well.
For this year’s programming Spotlight, we are excited to highlight the explosion of remarkable cinema by Indigenous filmmakers working in Canada. “Celebrating Indigenous Voices” will be presented in association with imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, the world’s largest presenter of Indigenous screen content. The spotlight will reflect a broad spectrum of styles and genres including: dramas, comedies, documentaries, coming-of-age stories, horror, and science fiction. NCFD activities will also include a live-streamed panel featuring high profile Indigenous film professionals, providing audiences with insight into this profusion of talent and storytelling, and what it takes to bring these stories to the screen.
“We at imagineNATIVE firmly believe that Indigenous stories are meant for all, and to that end, we are excited to co-present a selection of compelling films, told from an Indigenous lens. Support of Indigenous narrative sovereignty is at the core of the work we do. imagineNATIVE is proud to be a part of this initiative with REEL CANADA as we continue to reaffirm the importance of showcasing this work and as we work toward a future of authentic representation on our screens,” said Naomi Johnson (Kanyen’kehà:ka/Mohawk), Executive Director, imagineNATIVE
“The level of filmmaking from Indigenous artists has absolutely soared in recent years and we are honoured to have the opportunity to bring this work to our grassroots National Canadian Film Day audiences,” said Sharon Corder, Artistic Director of REEL CANADA and National Canadian Film Day.
As usual, there will also be a wealth of programming for all audiences:
Our annual streaming event for new Canadians and English-language learners
A tribute to the late Jean-Marc Vallée
Events around the world in partnership with Global Affairs Canada
Our annual livestream for 15,000+ high school students
Screenings at film festivals, cinemas, libraries, community centres, schools, friendship centres, retirement residences, art galleries, military bases and more
A wealth of great Canadian films to watch from home, thanks to our many broadcast and streaming partners
And much more – so look out for more announcements in the coming weeks
NCFD is a huge endeavour that’s made possible through the efforts of dedicated sponsors and partners who continue to support us year after year. We’re thrilled that so many of our sponsors are returning in 2022, including Telefilm Canada, Netflix, Encore+, CBC, Bell Media, Cineplex, Landmark Cinemas, CMPA and more. The complete list can be found on the sponsor page of our website.
Visit www.canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 20. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @CanFilmDay, and #CanFilmDay.
REEL CANADA is a charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
How about a shot of hope? In order to capture a timely snapshot of the moment we are all living through, we asked some of the nation’s talented rising stars to interpret this year’s #CanFilmDay theme: Light at the End of the Tunnel. These 15 emerging filmmakers have created eleven brand new original short films, commissioned by REEL CANADA and Netflix. The films range from one to eight minutes in length and include documentaries, animation and live action, in both English and French, by filmmakers from across the country.
The filmmakers were given only nine weeks from green light to delivery, with each project receiving $10,000 and some production support generously provided by William F. White International across the country (and MELS for Quebec-based projects).
The world premiere of these eleven shorts took place on April 21, 2021, with a special event featuring the films, discussions with the filmmakers, and more.
About the films
5:1
Director: Sara Ben-Saud | Documentary
Filmmaker Ben-Saud takes us into her family home, where she was confined with her parents and adult brother and sister during the early months of the lockdown, to experience the sometimes funny and sometimes challenging realities of pandemic coexistence.
Sara Ben-Saud is a Montreal-based director and screenwriter whose credits include the documentary series Skindigenous, among others. She is currently studying at L’inis in a new program supporting ethnic minorities created with the financial support of Netflix, and developing the documentary À toi Jeddi, about her Libyan heritage, produced by Nish Media and financed by SODEC.
7:59pm, Mile-End
Director: Mattias Graham | Documentary
A docufiction portrait of residents of the Mile-End neighbourhood in Montreal, QC, pairing reflections on the subjects’ changing relationships to their community with stories from the historic 8pm – 5am curfew.
Mattias Graham is a settler filmmaker from Regina, Saskatchewan (Treaty 4), currently based in Montreal. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University, and his work focuses on prairie stories, masculinity, and helping others tell their own stories. His short Gas Can (2017) won the SIFA for Best Short Film and the Ruth Shaw – Best of Saskatchewan Award at the Yorkton Film Festival. His upcoming short film Bleach won the WGC English-language script prize at the Cours écrire ton court and will be released in 2021.
Divinations
Directors: Simon “Paul M” Mutabazi & Dan Boos | documentary
Six clairvoyants guide a young filmmaker through an unexpected journey of self-discovery.
Simon “Paul M” Mutabazi is an award-winning actor from Halifax, NS who got his start as David on the hit Canadian sitcom Mr. D and has since gone on to work with names such as Director X, Cory Bowles and Thom Fitzgerald, and rising stars such as Dan Boos and Seth Smith. Simon is an RBC Emerging Artist in Our Schools for 2020-21.
Dan Boos‘ shorts have screened at many international festivals. His latest film, Thug, won Best Atlantic Short and Outstanding Performance by an Actor (for Simon Mutabazi) at the 37th Atlantic Film Festival, followed by an online premiere with Issa Rae Presents. Originally from Halifax, Dan is now based in Toronto.
The tenacious Bobby-Yves is pushed to his limits during a journey in an unexpected snowstorm.
Bogdan Anifrani is a Montreal-based filmmaker and animator of Togolese and Ukrainian descent whose credits include DiM and Temporary Comfort. He worked on a vast array of short film projects, commercials, and feature films such as Ville Neuve and Archipel.
Ranee Inez is a queer multimedia artist and soon-to-be graduate of Concordia’s BFA in film animation. Her work includes installation pieces and illustrations exhibited in the Montreal art scene. Le givre de Bobby-Yves will be among her first works as an independent filmmaker and animator.
I’ve Got Blisters on My Fingers
Director: Ryan Steel | live-action
Jesse is a socially awkward loner who has a hard time getting home, after he loses his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ryan Steel is an independent filmmaker and animator from Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg). His work plays in the intersections of experimental, documentary and narrative filmmaking. His credits include the short films Cease & Desist and The Birdwatc
Namid
Directors: Victoria Anderson-Gardner & Sagi Kahane-Rapport | live-action / animation
Struggling with a tragic loss in her family, Namid finds new meaning in her Grandfather’s teachings and is inspired to reconnect with those who have passed through fancy shawl dancing.
Victoria Anderson-Gardner is an award-winning queer Ojibwe filmmaker from Eagle Lake First Nation, ON, currently based in Thunder Bay. Victoria is focused on creating Indigenous content, showcasing underrepresented communities and using their skills as a filmmaker to educate. Victoria recently won the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize for their work.
Sagi Kahane-Rapport is a Canadian-American film and commercial director based in Toronto, whose award-winning work ranges from feature-length documentary to animation to installation. Sagi is a two-time recipient of the Norman Jewison Filmmaker Award, as well as the Ryan Churchill Promising Filmmaker award, and the Harvey Hart Director’s Award.
On Fire
Director: Dylan Glynn | Animation
The fires of hatred and greed which allow for the greatest atrocities of human suffering, the literal fires of a burning planet rapidly transforming as we race towards climate apocalypse and the fiery passion of movements that work to build a new world for the many and not the few.
Dylan Glynn is a Toronto-based, award-winning animator, painter, and author whose multidisciplinary practice is characterized by its emotion, grace and sense of wild-movement. His work has been recognized and exhibited by Society of Illustrators (Gold Medal SOI 62), American Illustration, Somerset House and
Only Light Will Touch Us
Director: Alicia K. Harris | Live-Action
In the safety of his bedroom sanctuary, a divine light liberates a man’s inner joy, in this celebration of a Black man’s vulnerability and freedom.
Alicia K. Harris is an award-winning filmmaker from Scarborough, ON. Her latest short film, Pick, won Best Live Action Short at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards. Alicia’s work is dedicated to celebrating Black people, especially Black youth.
SARS-CoV-2
Director: Andrew Huculiak | Live-Action
We have been changed in innumerable ways by the historical event of SARS-CoV-2. Ways that we haven’t begun to comprehend. In this short, an individual reflects on the chaos and monotony of the past year.
Andrew Huculiak is a Vancouver-based multi-talented artist known as the animated drummer of We Are The City, a celeb
Shoot Your Shot
Directors: Madison Thomas & Meegwun Fairbrother | live-action
A sci-fi/action comedy that follows Tover, a teenager on the frontlines battling a future alien invasion. However, it’s not the aliens that terrify Tover, it’s the idea of asking out his crush, fellow soldier Savoy!
Madison Thomas is a filmmaker and youth mentor of mixed ancestry (Ojibwe/Saulteux & Russian/Ukrainian settler), based in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Treaty 1) whose nuanced and unique body of work spans multiple genres and formats. Named one of Playback Magazine’s “Five Filmmakers to Watch,” she has won awards worldwide, and her credits include the feature Ruthless Souls, as well as many shorts (Zaasaakwe (Shout with Joy), Fourth Period Burnout, Seven Drinks, and Out of Reach, among others), and television shows (Taken, Burden of Truth, Wolf Joe, and more).
Meegwun Fairbrother is an accomplished theatre and TV actor of Ojibway and Scottish origin, from Grassy Narrows First Nation and Toronto. His theatre credits include the Dora-nominated Isitwendam (Native Earth Performing Arts); Incident at Vichy and Caught among others. His TV credits include CTV’s Carter Files; APTN’s Wynter and Mohawk Girls; CBC’s Burden of Truth; and many more. His directorial debut, the doc Okichitaw –
Tussle
Director: Christopher Grant | animation
Playful forms must merge together in an anxious wrestle for unified harmony, no matter how difficult.
Christopher Grant is a Mi’gmaq filmmaker from Pabineau First Nation, New Brunswick. Inspired by life and death, Chris animates to express the humour and terror of existence. He has directed music videos and animations, and his work is part of the NFB’s Hothouse project. His work has been exhibited at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the Gynocratic Art Gallery, Bathurst Heritage Museum and others, and screened at the Maoriland Film Festival and the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.
Toronto, ON (April 6, 2021) — Everybody loves movies. And who doesn’t like free entertainment? This year, National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) — April 21, 2021 — will offer an exciting world premiere, a wealth of free Canadian movies, nationwide watch parties, and live discussions with Canadian filmmakers from across the country.
“Given the year we’ve all lived through, we are focusing on feel-good films, or films that offer inspiration for a better future, “ says Sharon Corder, Artistic Director of REEL CANADA. “We all certainly need it. I know I do.”
More than 40 film festivals throughout Canada are hosting national screenings and Q&As with filmmakers and stars. An additional 150+ community watch parties are being planned and more than 30 international events in countries around the world will be connected through this cultural event. Most of the nation’s major broadcast and streaming channels are running special programming on the day.
This year’s National Canadian Film Day programming highlights include:
As previously announced, this year’s centerpiece is the world premiere of Light(s) at the End of the Tunnel, a series of eleven original short films. 15 culturally and regionally diverse rising stars (collectively they’ve won more than 50 awards) give us their visions of hope for the future. Commissioned by REEL CANADA and Netflix, the films include animations, docs, and live-action.
A screening of the ultimate feel-good Canadian film, Meatballs, featuring a livestream Q&A with director Ivan Reitman & cast members Kate Lynch (Roxanne) and Jack Blum (Spaz). Presented by Oakville Festivals of Film & Art in partnership with REEL CANADA.
A tribute to Christopher Plummer and his legacy, co-presented by film festivals across the country. Selected titles include The Silent Partner, Remember and Christopher Plummer: A Memoir, with new interviews with Atom Egoyan and The Silent Partner cast member Michael Kirby, reminiscing about the stage and screen legend.
Over a dozen screenings of Indigenous-made films, headlined by multiple screenings of Rustic Oracle (which earned a Canadian Screen Award Best Actress nomination for Carmen Moore) and multiple Q&As across the country with director Sonia Bonspille Boileau (Kanien’kehá:ka).
A screening for new Canadians of You Are Here: A Come From Away Story, in honour of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. This uplifting documentary showcases the town of Gander, NL and the generosity they showed to stranded airline passengers on that fateful day. Followed by a livestream Q&A with director Moze Mossanen.
Other special guests participating in festival screenings across the country include: Patricia Rozema, Philippe Falardeau, Don McKellar, Bruce MacDonald, Anne Émond, Charles Officer, Kathleen Hepburn, Jason Eisner, Rob Cotterill, Matthew Rankin, Jason Ryle (Anishinaabe), Garvia Bailey, Tantoo Cardinal (Cree/Métis), Joyce Wong, and Karen Lam.
Finally, to ensure that great Canadian films are accessible to anyone with a tv, computer, or wireless device, more than a dozen major broadcast and streaming partners are running special Canadian film programming all day on April 21. (Our full broadcast and streaming listings are available to view now).
National Canadian Film Day is also a worldwide event, and we will be bringing Canadian film to over 30 countries, with special programming featuring recent releases as well as Canadian classics.
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 21. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @CanFilmDay, and #CanFilmDay.
About REEL CANADA
REEL CANADA is a non-profit, charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our three core programs —Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, and National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) —REEL CANADA has reached millions of high school students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
Emerging filmmakers to debut inspiring shorts as part ofLight(s) at the End of the Tunnel series
Toronto, ON (March 24, 2021) – REEL CANADA and Netflix Canada have joined forces to create a cinematic snapshot of the country as we emerge from the pandemic, engaging up-and-coming film talent to create eleven short films under the banner of Light(s) at the End of the Tunnel. Set to debut on National Canadian Film Day on April 21st, the eleven films run between one and six minutes and are created by fifteen young filmmakers identified as rising stars by a range of industry leaders.
The young filmmakers were selected by REEL CANADA staff and advisors, including board members Atom Egoyan and Veronica Tennant; Don McKellar; Tom McSorley (director of the Canadian Film Institute); and NFB animation producers Jelena Popović and Maral Mohammadian. Diverse both culturally and geographically, the film creators hail from Vancouver, Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, and Pabineau First Nation (NB).
The short films include animation (4), live-action (5), and documentaries (2). Each project received $10,000 cash. Production equipment was generously contributed by William F. White International (and MELS for Montreal-based projects).
“By every measure, this has been an unusual year and we wanted to do something special for NCFD. This collection delivers a unique perspective on where we are as a country in this moment, as well as a bit of hope that there truly is some light at the end of the tunnel,” said Jack Blum, Executive Director, REEL CANADA. “With the drastic reduction of production activity during COVID, we wanted to give these young talents a chance to flex their muscles as we all wait for things to return to normal.”
“Canadians from coast to coast have deeply felt the impacts of the last year in all areas of their lives,” said Stéphane Cardin, Director of Policy for Netflix Canada. “This initiative is giving a voice to a broad range of Canadian filmmakers during an important period in our country’s history and we look forward to sharing their stories with the world.”
The Light(s) at the End of the Tunnel short film series will debut as part of National Canadian Film Day programming on April 21st on the NCFD streaming platform.
Information on the Light(s) at the End of the Tunnel short films series can be found at canfilmday.ca/lights.
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About Netflix Canada
Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services with 204 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
About REEL CANADA
REEL CANADA is a non-profit, charitable organization that promotes the diversity of Canadian film and its power to spark important conversations about what it means to be Canadian. Through our three core programs—Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, and National Canadian Film Day (NCFD)—REEL CANADA has reached millions of high school students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
OUR PROGRAMME, REEL OPPORTUNITIES, AIMS TO LET STUDENTS KNOW ALL THE WAYS THEY CAN BECOME PART OF OUR BLOSSOMING FILM INDUSTRY WITH FREE WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSIONS.
Was it the Gaffer with the dolly at the craft table? Or was it the DOP with the boom mic in the makeup trailer? And what is a Best Boy anyway? We’ve got the answers. Reel Opportunities, presented by REEL CANADA and Bell Media, is a new training initiative that we launched in January. We’ve been teaching young people across the country all of that and more.
Reel Opportunities will hold 200 workshops for 4000 youth across Canada through schools and other youth-oriented programmes, focusing on young people from underrepresented communities. These sessions, all hosted completely free of charge, will connect youth with young film industry professionals, many of them BIPOC, through interactive workshops, Q&As, and lively discussion.
We kicked things off this past January, and we’re continuing through May 2021, so there’s a chance for everyone to learn the ropes of the industry. Reel Opportunities was created to reach students who don’t currently see themselves represented in the Canadian film and television industry, and to get them excited about the many real opportunities and pathways there are to making movies in Canada. As new studios open and Canada’s industry continues to grow (yes, even amidst the pandemic), it is predicted that there will soon be an actual workforce shortage – presenting young Canadians with an unbeatable opportunity to find viable careers in this sector.
The film industry caters to a broad range of skills and interests, with some jobs requiring highly specialized post-secondary training while others are accessible straight out of high school through apprenticeship. For many youth facing challenges, it could provide a perfect work environment. REEL CANADA wants to help Canadian youth find a path in this booming industry.
If you’re a teacher or youth leader and want to get your students involved, you can reach us at [email protected]. Or head on over to the Reel Opportunities page, here.
TORONTO — Nov. 17, 2020 — On Nov. 25, REEL CANADA is launching a compelling new programme to help students and teachers across the country discuss inequality and racism in Canada through film. The programme kicks off with a nation-wide interactive livestream on Black realities, featuring award-winning director Charles Officer in discussion of his acclaimed documentary THE SKIN WE’RE IN. Garvia Bailey will moderate the discussion, in which participating students will submit questions and comments online.
A second livestream will be presented on Dec. 1 focusing on Indigenous Realities. Filmmaker and activist Sarain Fox (Anishinaabe) will discuss her experiences as host of Michelle Latimer’s RISE: STANDING ROCK PART II. Indigenous musician, producer, and educator Ronnie Dean Harris (Stō:lo/St’át’mc/Nlaka’pamux) will moderate.
Registration for the programme already tops 20,000 Canadian high school students nationwide.
The programme also offers a third interactive livestream in April that will deal with both Black and Indigenous realities in Canada, as well as access to a curated list of films and lesson plans for teachers, including suggested guidelines for exploring culturally sensitive issues with students in a respectful way.
REEL CANADA believes in the power of films to uplift and inspire, and to give voice to those who have not been heard. Our programme has presented the works of BIPOC filmmakers since our inception in 2005, and demand for this programming has grown each season. This year, as the Black Lives Matter movement has galvanized the continent, educators are contacting us in huge numbers, looking for Canadian film programming that they can use to spark important dialogue with their students about racism as it relates to both Black and Indigenous Canadians.
In our ongoing effort to bring a uniquely Canadian perspective to the issues our filmmakers are addressing, we want to give educators and youth an opportunity to explore these issues, both separately and together.
To that end, the final livestream will focus on the intersection of Black and Indigenous realities and will take place on National Canadian Film Day, April 21, 2021, with special guests to be announced.
If you teach high school or want to get your teenager’s school involved, please write to [email protected].
This programme is made possible through the efforts of dedicated sponsors and partners who continue to support us. We are grateful for the support of the Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, the Government of Ontario, CBC, Bell Media, Royal Bank of Canada, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Creates, the City of Toronto, and Cineplex.
Visit reelcanada.ca for more information on Black and Indigenous Realities: Anti-Racism Programme. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @REELCANADA.
Promoting Canadian film talent sure can be fun! Bright and early, on Saturday, January 13th, the REEL CANADA crew met at the Yonge-Eglinton Cineplex and VIP in Toronto and began setting up for REEL CANADA’s 2018 Emerging Artists in Our Schools video shoot.
With only two hours until the first photoshoot and interview, the theatre was a flurry of activity, as our experienced and talented crew turned a VIP screening room into a TV studio.
One-on-one interviews with our Emerging Artists followed, and artists Irdens Exantus (My Internship in Canada), Roseanne Supernault (Maïna) and Julia Sarah Stone (Weirdos) proceeded to charm us all with their insightful and often humorous takes on their own work, their training, the Canadian film industry and remembering their own high school exploits.
REEL CANADA exists to promote Canadian film talent, and the RBC Emerging Artists Project generously provides funding to arts and cultural organisations to support emerging artists in dance, film, music, theatre, visual arts and literature. The purpose of the day was to shoot a short video profile for each of this year’s amazing Emerging Artists, which we will screen at our school film festivals. (Watch for these soon on our social media platforms!) The videos profiles of our last group of RBC Emerging Artists have already been seen by more than 37,000 students across the country!
After the interviews, we introduced the artists to three incredible film mentors: Colm Feore, Charles Officer and Jennifer Podemski! Providing mentorship opportunities from established film professionals is an important part of the RBC Emerging Artists Project, and our artists connected strongly with them from the get-go. One-on-one discussions between the mentors and artists followed, providing opportunities for the artists to ask questions related to their own unique circumstances, and to forge personal connections with the mentors.
“It’s so cool that I was flown out here and got to talk to these professionals. I’m learning so much,” Irdens said excitedly.
A highly informative and entertaining roundtable ensued, hosted by our very own REEL CANADA staffer Anthony Swan (you might recognize him as last year’s RCtv host). The mentors touched on artists’ experience with theatre and the screen, and elaborated on the difference between the two, as well as on the importance of team-building and surrounding oneself with creative people. The artists expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to meet the mentors and ask them questions in an open and comfortable setting.
Thank you to RBC for once again providing the support needed to run another successful Emerging Artists Project, and thank you to Cineplex for letting us use their incredible facilities. Congratulations once again to the artists, we can’t wait to see where your careers lead you!
