2026 Highlights - National Canadian Film Day

The 2026 version of National Canadian Film Day was bigger than ever!

🍁2190 events worldwide
🍁 45 countries
🍁 2.5 million viewers who enjoyed a Canadian film at home

Read the Complete Report

Movie DAY in Canada!

Prominent Canadians and politicians came together to celebrate CanFilmDay this year!

Prime Minister Mark Carney was the second PM in a row to acknowledge CanFilmDay.

The Honourable Leslie Church, M.P., rose in the House of Commons to extol the virtues of CanFilmDay.

The Honourable Jean Yip, M.P., rose in the House of Commons on CanFilmDay to remind Canadians to celebrate.

Her Worship Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto, proclaimed April 15, 2026 to be National Canadian Film Day.

2190 Events Worldwide

213 special guests – 45 countries – every province and territory

🎉 Biggest CanFilmDay Ever! 🎉

100,000+ audience members

I’m overwhelmed by how great
National Canadian Film Day is. You’ve truly got something amazing on your hands. PLEASE KEEP IT UP! Canada needs you!
Guy Maddin, Filmmaker

2.5 million TUNED IN ON broadcast and streaming!

14 broadcasters and 26 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?

200+ special guests

This was the most fun we have had with our audience in the theatre all year!
Okotoks Film Festival, Okotoks, AB

Filmmaker **Bruce McDonald** answers questions at the Calgary Underground Film Festival’s 30th anniversary screening of his classic *Hard Core Logo*.

REEL CANADA Executive Director Jack Blum and filmmakers **R.T. Thorne**, **Alison Reid**, and **Glenn Taylor** can’t contain their excitement.

Director **Guy Maddin** and filmmaker **Don McKellar** in conversation at a screening of Maddin’s film *My Winnipeg* at the Fox Theatre in Toronto.

REEL CANADA Artistic Director Sharon Corder, **Maurice the Moose**, and filmmaker **Philippe Falardeau** enjoy the festivities at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre.

Toronto Pan-Afrikan Film Festival host **LA Wade** and **Ashton James**, star of *Youngblood*, at the Carlton Cinema.

*Cette Maison* writer-director **Miryam Charles** at a screening of her film presented by the Mirror Mountain Film Festival in Ottawa. (Photo credit: Mirror Mountain Film Festival)

Star **Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs** (Mohawk) and writer-director **D.W. Waterson** relax before a screening of their film *Backspot* at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto.

Writer and actor **Jay McCarrol** at the Revue Cinema screening of his hit film *Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie*.

*The Girl Who Cried Pearls* narrator **Colm Feore**, director **Chris Lavis**, and Planet Fantastic host **Powys Dewhurst** at Canadian Animated Shorts: Fables, Myths, & Modern Legends at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre. Lavis’ Oscar-winning film screened as part of the programme.

See More Events

(inter)national canadian film day

45 different countries celebrated CanFilmDay with 153 events taking place outside of Canada, encompassing every single continent with a movie screen.

It was the most international participation ever!

CanFilmDay is far more than just a film festival, it is a grand portal to the heart of Canada.
Michael Martinez, Embassy of Canada to Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua

Celebrating Canada at the Alliance française in Philadelphia

Actress **Micheline Lanctôt** at a screening of *La vraie nature de Bernadette* in France.

Getting ready for the screening in Trinidad and Tobago.

Director **Miranda de Pencier** at a screening of her film *The Grizzlies* in Denmark.

Pakistan celebrates National Canadian Film Day.

An excited Canadian film fan in Bangladesh.

community events

Canadians in every province and territory celebrated Canadian culture through film on April 15. Many of them featured special guests, events, or other ways to make the day special. From a BBQ in Saskatchewan to Canadiana in Belleville, Canadians gathered to share stories and have fun.

A great opportunity to highlight Canadian cinema, celebrate our films, and remind audiences that seeing a film in a theatre is a unique experience.
Christian Roy, Association des Propriétaires de Cinémas du Québec

Glen Rouge Sienna Senior Living in Scarborough built their own *Peace By Chocolate* store!

Belleville shows off their Canadian pride.

Weston Terrace Community Sienna Senior Living in Toronto is ready for some fun!

A crowd at the Côte Saint-Luc Public Library.

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?

A Dream Team of Programmers

For the 2026 Spotlight, we assembled a group of 51 Canadians who have played a major role in shaping our film culture. They love Canadian stories and understand how they bring us together. We invited each of them to recommend one film that all Canadians should see. And what a list they came up with!

See the Spotlight Films

See the Contributors

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 14, 2027!

Check Out the Full 2026 Report

This event is a perfect example of how to strengthen Canada’s unity by sharing our stories with each other, that are rooted in our unique geographies and cultures.
Canadian Parents For French, Cochrane, AB

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.