2025 Highlights - National Canadian Film Day

The 2025 version of National Canadian Film Day was the biggest yet!

🍁1878 events worldwide
🍁 41 countries
🍁 2.5 million viewers who enjoyed a Canadian film at home

Read the Complete Report

stand up for canada by sitting down

Marg Delahunty, Princess Warrior, returned to remind Canadians about the importance of Canadian culture, while Canadian celebrities including Shawn Ashmore, Vinessa Antoine, Colm Feore, Sugith Varughese, and others spread the word about standing up for Canada by sitting down to watch a Canadian film.

1878 Events Worldwide

181 special guests – 41 countries – every province and territory

Click on the map below to explore where it all happened.

83,000+ audience members

Crowd of people at Ginger Snaps film screening in Toronto on National Canadian Film Day.

Suddenly, Canadians are waking up to the realization that homegrown culture is worth fighting for.
Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail

2.5 million TUNED IN ON broadcast and streaming!

13 broadcasters and 27 streaming services featured Canadian films on the day so you could join the fun of CanFilmDay from the comfort of your home.

Who Were Our Broadcast and Streaming Partners?

181 special guests

Host **Jacob Crepeault** speaks with *The Art of Woo* director **Helen Lee** at the Paradise theatre in Toronto.

“What a thrill to watch a movie we made 24 years ago in Toronto — a romantic comedy set in our very own city — with a local crowd rediscovering the film. Lovely screening and lively Q&A where it felt like the film was embraced by a new generation of BIPOC filmgoers eager to watch a Canadian film meant for them.”
Helen Lee, Director, The art of woo

**Mélanie Bray**, **Keris Hope Hill** (Mohawk), and **Gail Maurice** (Cree/Métis) at a Q&A for *ROSIE* at Toronto’s Carlton Cinema.

**Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers** (Blackfoot/Sámi), **Mary Walsh**, **Ali Hassan**, **Yannick Bisson**, and **Don McKellar** backstage at the Elbows Up for Canadian Culture event at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto.

**Cari Green** and **Velcrow Ripper** with Programmer **Tom Charity** at the Vancouver International Film Festival’s screening of *ScaredSacred*.

Director **Barry Avrich** and producer **Mark Selby** at a screening of their film *Without Precedent: The Supreme Life of Rosalie Abella* at the Côte Saint-Luc Public Library.

*Vinyl* director **Alan Zweig** at the Riverdale Public Library in Toronto.

**Piers Handling** and **Deepa Mehta** on stage at the TIFF Lightbox screening of Mehta’s debut feature, *Sam & Me*.

Writer-director **Sophie Deraspe** at Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto speaking to an audience for her film *Bergers (Shepherds)*.

Actor **Shawn Ashmore**, director **Chad Archibald**, and actress **Ashley Greene** at the red carpet premiere of *It Feeds* in Toronto at the Scotiabank Theatre.

Actor **Pierre-Luc Brillant** answers a question at the Carlton Cinema screening of *C.R.A.Z.Y.* in Toronto.

See More Events

(inter)national canadian film day

40 different countries celebrated CanFilmDay with 93 events taking place outside of Canada, encompassing every single continent with a movie screen.

Greenland and Panama joined the day in cultural solidarity with Canada, with two film screenings in each country.

Thank you to REEL CANADA for allowing us to show Canada’s story-telling, cultures and values to the Brunei’s audience.
Maznah Badarudin, High Commission of Canada in Brunei Darussalam

CanFilmDay attendees in Peru show off their creativity.

A film introduction in Sydney, Australia.

Director **Tasha Hubbard** addresses the crowd in Singapore.

community events

Canadians came out with their elbows up and ready to celebrate Canadian culture. Across the country, people gathered to watch a Canadian film on April 16. Many of them featured special guests, treats, or other ways to make the day special.

It was the best CanFilmDay we have had ever, the audience laughed throughout the film and the spirit was high. Can’t wait for next year!!
Wendy Donnan, Oakville Festivals of Film and Art, Oakville, ON

Sienna Living’s Villa Santa Maria Community home in Vaughan got into the CanFilmDay spirit.

An enthusiastic audience at the Barrie Film Festival.

Elbows were up at Tillicum Twin Theatres in Terrace, BC.

Two young men in CanFilmDay toques stand with a mascot and a cardboard moose. — Cubby the Bear from the Owen Sound Attack visits the Meaford Public Libary in Ontario for CanFilmDay.

Having fun at a screening of *The Rocket* in Bonnyville, Alberta.

all the moving pieces

CanFilmDay is a massive, worldwide event that can be hard to wrap your head around. Zoom into the image above for a visual guide to just how many people and organizations it takes to make this day such a success.

Who All is Involved?

2025 Spotlight

Something To Believe In

What inspires you to keep going? To stand up for what matters? These days, we need that more than ever, and Canadian filmmakers have an incredible way of giving us a sense of connection, strength, and hope. The 60 films in our spotlight remind us what it means to dream, to fight for your beliefs, and to find strength in community. Click below for the full list.

Spotlight List

“By spotlighting certain Canadian films each year, CanFilmDay can provide the magical opportunity of watching a film that people otherwise may never even have heard about, let alone watched … we screened Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, a terrific life-changing documentary that people in the community have been talking about ever since.”
Vic Thiessen, St. Andrews Film Society, St. Andrews, NB

There’s much more to explore this year, you can find more information in the full report – and we’ll see you again on Wednesday, April 15, 2026!

Check Out the Full 2025 Report

LOVED IT. It was a fantastic event from start to finish.
Maggie Turner, Final Girls Film Club, Toronto, ON

Finally, we want to give a shout-out to our loyal partners who have supported us. Sincere appreciation and gratitude to Telefilm, The Government of Canada, Cineplex, Branded Cities, Landmark Cinemas, Ontario Arts Council, Extreme Reach, Deluxe Media Entertainment, The Government of Ontario, Canada Council for the Arts and The RBC Foundation.