NATIONAL CANADIAN FILM DAY Returns To Live Events

National Canadian Film Day is back, live and in person.

The ninth edition of the country wide celebration of Canadian film takes place on Wednesday 20 April 2022. There are over 1000 events planned for the day with dozens of broadcast and streaming offerings. 600 communities across Canada and the world can enjoy in-person screenings.

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.

Celebrating Indigenous Voices

The 2022 Spotlight, Celebrating Indigenous Voices, presented in association with imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival. It focuses on Indigenous-made cinema by filmmakers from many diverse nations across Canada. Celebrating Indigenous Voices 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 copresenting 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. There will be 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.

TV and Film Events

• This year, NCFD and Telefilm are partnering with the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE). They’ll host screenings of Beans, Night Raiders, and C.R.A.Z.Y. in independent cinemas. This takes place 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. This features 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, Bad 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 on April 20.
  

SOURCE: canfilmday.ca