The World's Largest Annual Film Festival Celebrates 100 Years of Canadian Cinema!

National Canadian Film Day to feature 1,000 live screenings on April 17

TORONTO, April 2, 2019 /CNW/ - REEL CANADA today announced the sixth annual National Canadian Film Day (NCFD), celebrating 100 years of Canadian cinema, has been met with real Canadian enthusiasm. More than 1,000 screening events will take place in 600 Canadian communities and 25 countries, from the northern tip of Baffin Island to St. John's, NL, to Tofino, BC, and from Paris to Kathmandu. Major broadcasters and online outlets are programming a wide variety of titles supporting the celebratory theme to ensure that everyone who wants to participate in NCFD has access to a great Canadian film. Presented by REEL CANADA with support by the Government of Canada, NCFD is a coast-to-coast-to-coast celebration of Canadian film. Watch our trailer: youtu.be/lCWCSZOs-zw

This year's theme — celebrating 100 years of Canadian cinema — was prompted by the centennial of Canada's first genuine blockbuster, and oldest surviving feature film: Nell Shipman's BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY, a sassy, snowy adventure story that remains Canada's most successful silent film. REEL CANADA's executive team and staff came together to curate the "Spotlight 100", offering a selection of films that are equally chock-full of snow and sass!

Many screenings will feature discussions with special guests such as Colm Feore, Atom Egoyan, Alanis Obomsawin, Denys Arcand, Johanne Marie Tremblay, Don Shebib, Liane Balaban, Lisa Langlois, Deborah Grover and Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs. Other notable participants include: Deborah Ellis, Peter Keleghan, Mary Young Leckie, Charles Officer, Mina Shum, Veronica Tennant and Bobby Shore, among many others. Community partners have invited their mayors, historians, musicians, Indigenous elders, and even professional wrestlers.

NCFD is a one-day celebration of Canadian film that everyone — regardless of where they live in Canada (or worldwide) — can participate in, for free. There are three easy ways to join the fun:

1. Find an event in your community at canfilmday.ca/events
2. Find out what your local broadcasters have programmed at canfilmday.ca/broadcast
3. Find out what your favourite online platform is streaming at canfilmday.ca/stream

"There is no question that Canada produces outstanding, internationally recognized work that reflects our distinct cultural identity," said Sharon Corder, Artistic Director, REEL CANADA. "We really had a lot

of fun this year — as a team, looking back over the past 100 years of Canadian cinema to develop our Spotlight 100 list of films."

"NCFD attracts an audience from a wide-range of ages and backgrounds and I can say without a doubt there is something for everyone to participate in National Canadian Film Day," added Jack Blum, Executive Director, REEL CANADA.

Programming on NCFD, at-a-glance:

• More than 1,000 events across Canada: canfilmday.ca/events
• 50 events in 25 countries around the world: canfilmday.ca/events
• Offerings on major broadcast outlets (on tv and streaming) including Hollywood Suite, CBC, APTN, Bell Media, Blue Ant Media, CORUS, DHX Media, OUTtv, Superchannel, Super Ecran and Cine Pop: canfilmday.ca/broadcast
• Offerings on online platforms with major streaming partners including Encore+ CBC, Bell Media and NFB: canfilmday.ca/stream
• 13,000 students at more than 200  high schools across the country will engage in RCtv, an innovative livestream event featuring REMEMBER and KAYAK TO KLEMTU and an interactive Q&A with Atom Egoyan, director, REMEMBER; Zoe Hopkins, director, KAYAK TO KLEMTU and Jared Ager-Foster, actor, KAYAK TO KLEMTU: canfilmday.ca/live

Major events with special guests and key partnerships will take place in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and St John's, including:

• VANCOUVER: The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), in partnership with Netflix, presents a 45th anniversary screening of THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ, and Indigenous film pioneer Alanis Obomsawin will be in attendance for a day-long spotlight on several of her films, including her 2013 documentary HI-HO MISTAHEY!  
• CALGARY: Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) presents HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME with star Lisa Langlois in attendance
• WINNIPEG: In Winnipeg, the National Screen Institute and Urban Shaman present a screening of ANGELIQUE'S ISLE with director Michelle Derosier in attendance
• TORONTO: In Toronto, Ontario Creates and the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) present the launch of the theatrical release of THE GRIZZLIES with director Miranda De Pencier and members of the cast in attendance;  REEL CANADA and CBC present a special screening of REMEMBER for new Canadians with director Atom Egoyan in attendance; NOW Magazine presents a special screening of RHYMES FOR YOUNG GHOULS with star Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs in attendance and the Revue Cinema presents a 100th anniversary screening of Nell Shipman's BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY, accompanied by a live score by Marilyn Lerner
• MONTREAL: In Montreal, Mediafilm, in partnership with Netflix, presents a 30th anniversary screening of JÉSUS DE MONTRÉAL with star Johanne Marie Tremblay in attendance and Fantasia International Film Festival presents a 40th anniversary screening of MEATBALLS, with legendary producer André Link in attendance
• HALIFAX: In Halifax, the Emerging Lens Film Festival presents Clement Virgo's POOR BOY'S GAME, with screenwriter Chaz Thorne in attendance
• ST JOHN'S: St. John's International Women's Film Festival Presents the 10th anniversary of CRACKIE with star Meghan Greeley in attendance

This year, in a special partnership with Revera Retirement Living, there will be screenings in 136 seniors' residences across the country.  Three of these will feature special guests:

• Revera Green Falls Landing Retirement Residence in Regina, SK, presents THE GRAND SEDUCTION with actor Liane Balaban participating via Skype
• Westney Gardens Retirement Residence in Ajax, ON, presents DON'T TALK TO IRENE with actor Deborah Grover in attendance
• Revera Bradgate Arms in Toronto presents IRON ROAD, with producer Anne Tait in attendance

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, including the Government of Canada, Telefilm Canada, Cineplex, TD, Netflix, Encore+, Bell Media, Landmark Cinemas and CBC. View a full list online of our sponsors and supporters.

Jack Blum and Sharon Corder, Executive and Artistic Director, REEL CANADA, as well as spokespeople Colm Feore, Liane Balaban and Zoe Hopkins, are available for interviews (phone and in-studio).

Visit canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 17. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @REELCANADA, @CanFilmDay, and #CanFilmDay.

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 programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada and National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) — REEL CANADA has reached hundreds of thousands of high school students, new Canadians, and general audience members.

SOURCE REEL CANADA

Cara McCutcheon | [email protected] | mobile: [phone]

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