Babar: King of the Elephants

Director Raymond Jafelice
Year 1999
Run Time 80min
Genre Action/Adventure, Animation, Family
Based on the classic novels and TV series, this feature film tells how Babar came to be the king of the elephants. After losing his mother, Babar finds himself in the big city where a kind stranger offers to raise him and give him an education. When he meets friends from his past, he returns to the forest where he helps solve a series of animal conflicts, and begins to build his amazing kingdom.

First released in 1931, The Babar series is a global phenomenon with millions of fans across multiple generations. Babar: King of the Elephants continues the series’ tradition of teaching important lessons in a fun and smart way.

Director

Raymond Jafelice

Writers

Peter Sauder, Raymond Jafelice

Cast

Philip Williams, Wayne Robson, Ellen-Ray Hennessy

Producers

Hasmi Ferguson, Merle-Anne Ridley

Genres

Action/Adventure, Animation, Family

Interest

Literary Adaptation

Original Languages

English, French

Pippi Longstocking

Directors Michael Schaack, Clive A. Smith
Year 1997
Run Time 75min
Genre Animation, Comedy, Family

Nobody sees the world quite like Pippi Longstocking, an irrepressible and irresistible nine-year-old who also happens to be the strongest girl in the world. After travelling for years with her pirate father, Pippi settles down in a small town with her horse and her monkey, only to be rudely bothered by a meddling socialite and a couple of bumbling thieves out to get her father’s treasure. Throughout everything, Pippi’s boundless energy and wit make this a perfect story for all ages, complete with catchy musical numbers and memorable shenanigans.

Based on Astrid Lindgren’s classic novel series, Pippi Longstocking continues to charm audiences and remains a positive role model for her indomitable spirit.

Directors

Michael Schaack, Clive A. Smith

Writers

Astrid Lindgren, Catharina Stackelberg

Cast

Melissa Altro, Catherine O'Hara, Carole Pope

Producers

Waldemar Bergendahl, Michael Hirsh

Genres

Animation, Comedy, Family

Interests

Classics, Family Relationships, Literary Adaptation, Strong Female Leads

Original Language

English

La course des tuques (Racetime)

Directors François Brisson, Benoit Godbout
Year 2018
Run Time 89min
Genre Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Racetime is the sequel to the highly successful animated film Snowtime!, which was the highest-grossing film in Canada in 2015.

This fun and action-packed sequel is a wild romp through the trials and tribulations, passionate joys and little victories of childhood. Frankie and Sophie are teaming up for a spectacular sled race through the village, and this time they’ve got some new friends along for the ride, including the mysterious Zac and his musical cousin Charly.

Directors

François Brisson

Brisson is a visual artist, animation director, and comic book creator who was instrumental in the early development of Quebec's animation scene, directing the animated films Gene Fusion, La guerre des tuques (Snowtime!), and La course des tuques (Racetime),  as well as episodes of Arthur and The Lost World.

 

Writers

Paul Risacher, Claude Landry, Maxime Landry

Cast

Mariloup Wolfe, Hélène Bourgeois Leclerc, Sophie Cadieux, André Sauvé

Producer

Marie-Claude Beauchamp

Genres

Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family

Interests

Bullying, Sports

Original Languages

English, French

We all know about the terrible “brutality” of the Arctic seal hunt — or do we? Turns out there are other sides to this story: it's the story of families that need to be fed, the story of a hunting practice that began centuries ago and the story of a tradition that is central to the economy and food security of Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic. Angry Inuk contains a story that’s over 4,000 years old.

The seal hunt is not exactly a laughing matter, but humour and technical savvy go a long way to debunk certain claims. Wryly tackling both misinformation and aggressive appeals to emotion, Inuk filmmaker Arnaquq-Baril equips herself and her community with the powers of social media — and yes, #sealfies — to reframe a controversial topic as a cultural issue in this 2016 Audience Award–winning Hot Docs hit.

Angry Inuk delivers important information about an issue we tend to think we know everything about, and delivers a powerful emotional punch.”
—Susan G. Cole, NOW Magazine

Director

Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Inuk)

Arnaquq-Baril is an award-winning filmmaker whose work has screened at festivals like Hot Docs, imagineNATIVE, TIFF and many others. She directed the short Aviliaq: Entwined, which was part of the anthology The Embargo Project, which she also produced. She directed the award-winning feature documentary Angry Inuk, and produced the features The Grizzlies, and Slash/Back, and the documentary Twice Colonized. She also co-created the hit CBC, APTN and Netflix comedy North of North.

 

Writer

Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Inuk)

Producers

Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Inuk), Bonnie Thompson

Genre

Documentary

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Environment, ESL, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads

Original Languages

English, Inuktitut

A Bear Named Winnie

Director John Harrison
Year 2004
Run Time 90min
Genre Comedy, Family

Based on the true story behind author A.A. Milne's beloved character, Winnie the Pooh, this is a tale of the remarkable friendship between a Canadian soldier and the cub that stood as a symbol of friendship and hope in a world plagued by war.


It was during the early days of World War I that veterinarian Lieutenant Harry Colebourn (Michael Fassbender) purchased a small bear cub and named her Winnie after his hometown of Winnipeg. As the specter of war looms heavy in the conscience of the citizens and children of London, Winnie becomes the star attraction at the zoo. When a man named A.A. Milne brings his young son to visit the zoo, the story of the bear and her friendship with a far away soldier inspires him to create one of the most beloved characters in the history of children's literature.

Director

John Harrison

Writers

Simon Vaughn, John Goldsmith, John Harrison

Cast

Michael Fassbender, Gil Bellows, David Suchet, Stephen Fry, Jonathon Young

Producers

Simon Vaughn, Kim Todd

Genres

Comedy, Family

Interest

History

Original Language

English

Mighty Jerome

Director Charles Officer
Year 2010
Run Time 84min
Genre Documentary
In 1959, at just 19 years of age, African-Canadian Harry Jerome was Canada’s most promising track and field star, on his way to the Olympics. By 1962, after a terrible leg injury, everyone feared his career was over. But Jerome was determined not to quit, starting what his coach called “the greatest comeback in track and field history.” A truly inspiring Canadian hero, Jerome kept running through years of personal, racial and political challenges, with a strength of character as impressive as his athletic ability. A deeply insightful documentary that tells the runner’s story from his early days through his sudden, tragic death, Mighty Jerome will electrify all those who appreciate stories of courage and passion.

Director

Charles Officer

Actor, writer and filmmaker Officer’s first feature, Nurse.Fighter.Boy, was nominated for 10 Genies, winning one. Officer also directed the docs Mighty Jerome, The Skin We're In, Unarmed Verses, and Invisible Essence: The Little Prince, as well as the feature Akilla's Escape, which won five CSAs. He directed episodes of Coroner, and executive produced and co-directed The Porter, which was nominated for an Emmy. Officer passed away in 2023. He changed the Canadian film and television landscape with his fierce dedication to portraying Black perspectives and experiences, and is greatly missed.  

Writer

Charles Officer

Cast

Nykeem Provo

Producers

Tracey Friesen, Selwyn Jacob

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination, History, Social Justice & Politics, Sports

Original Language

English

Anne of Green Gables

Director Kevin Sullivan
Year 1985
Run Time 199min
Genre Drama, Family
On turn-of-the-20th-century Prince Edward Island, siblings Matthew (Farnsworth) and Marilla Cuthbert (Dewhurst) decide to take in an orphaned boy to help them on their farm. Instead, they get freckle-faced, red-haired Anne Shirley (Follows). The stubborn and outspoken 11-year-old girl’s fiery spirit and imagination are sure to turn life upside down on the peaceful island, and add a lot of love into the Cuthberts’ lives.

So begins Anne of Green Gables, one of the most beloved stories in Canadian literature for readers of all ages. This mini-series adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s series of novels — one of the highest-rated broadcasts in Canadian television history — features Megan Follows in the title role, who has since gone on to become one of Canada’s most critically acclaimed actors.

This trophy-sweeping Genie Award-winner is a charming, family-friendly affair that is sure to delight.

Director

Kevin Sullivan

Writers

Joe Wiesenfeld, Kevin Sullivan

Cast

Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Farnsworth, Jonathan Crombie

Producers

Ian McDougall, Kevin Sullivan, Trudy Grant

Genres

Drama, Family

Interests

Classics, Family Relationships, Literary Adaptation, Strong Female Leads

Original Language

English

A funny and fresh English-language adaptation of the 2003 Quebecois comedy La grande séduction, this film tells the tale of a small fishing village in Newfoundland that must secure a new doctor in order to keep the community alive.

When city doctor Paul Lewis (Kitsch) arrives for a court-ordered trial residence, the townsfolk rally to charm and hoodwink him into staying. Under the guidance of an unemployed fisherman (Gleeson), they go to hilarious lengths to fabricate all the amenities of the big city and make it seem as though their sleepy town has everything Dr. Lewis could possibly want. Will the good doc fall for their tricks, or will he see through them to the truth about small town life?

Director

Don McKellar

A Member of the Order of Canada, McKellar is a prolific writer, filmmaker and actor whose work has garnered numerous awards. He wrote Highway 61, The Red Violin and Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, and he wrote, directed and starred in Childstar and Last Night (which won the Prix de la jeunesse at the Cannes film festival). As an actor, he has starred in films such as Meditation Park and David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future. McKellar has also worked extensively in television, directing the series Sensitive Skin, as well as creating and showrunning The Sympathizer with Park Chan-wook.

Writers

Michael Dowse, Ken Scott

Cast

Taylor Kitsch, Brendan Gleeson, Gordon Pinsent, Liane Balaban

Producers

Barbara Doran, Roger Frappier

Genres

Comedy, Drama

Interest

ESL

Original Language

English

Corner Gas: The Movie

Director David Storey
Year 2014
Run Time 95min
Genre Comedy, Family
Times get tough in Dog River, Saskatchewan when Mayor Fitzy (Cunningham) blows the town’s budget on a risky investment. With no electricity, no water and local businesses dropping like flies, the town’s residents have no choice but to pull together to keep their beloved hometown from going under.

Suddenly, the normally apathetic Brent (Butt) is spurred into action, buying the shuttered town pub and entering Dog River into the “Quaintest Town in Canada” competition. With a chance to win $75,000, the townsfolk make one last rally to best their arch-rival town of Wullerton, head off big corporate investors and “quaintify” the town. Will their efforts be enough?

Based on the Canadian Comedy Award–winning TV series — with all of your favourite characters returning for this big-screen reunion — the latest tale of Dog River is sure to charm, amuse and delight.

Director

David Storey

Storey began his career as a musician, then moved into directing music videos and eventually television. He served as an executive producer, director and writer on the Corner Gas television series, which garnered him four Gemini Awards and two Canadian Comedy Awards. He is currently producing and directing the Corner Gas animated series.

Writers

Andrew Carr, Andrew Wreggitt, Brent Butt

Cast

Brent Butt, Gabrielle Miller, Fred Ewanuick, Eric Peterson, Janet Wright

Producers

Brent Butt, David Storey, Virginia Thompson

Genres

Comedy, Family

Interests

ESL, Social Justice & Politics

Original Language

English

Kayak to Klemtu

Director Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk)
Year 2018
Run Time 90min
Genre Action/Adventure, Family

When a prominent Kitasoo/Xai’Xais activist passes away, his 14-year-old niece Ella (Blaney) embarks on a kayak journey to take his ashes home to Klemtu. It’s a race against the clock as Ella tries to make it back in time to give a speech protesting a proposed pipeline that would cross Indigenous land.

Ella is joined by her aunt, cousin and grumpy uncle (Cardinal), as the four paddle with all their might through the Inside Passage and past the shores of the Great Bear Rainforest. Join this family on the adventure of a lifetime that reflects on the importance of protecting our lands for future generations.

Winner of the 2017 imagineNATIVE Audience Choice Award.

Director

Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk)

Hopkins is an alumna of the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, and has directed numerous shorts, including Button Blanket, Mohawk Midnight Runners, Impossible to Contain and a segment of The Embargo Project. She has directed the features Kayak to Klemtu and Run Woman Run, which won the Audience Choice award at imagineNATIVE 2021. She is currently writing and directing the series Little Bird. 

Writers

Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk), Michael Sparaga

Cast

Lorne Cardinal (Cree), Ta’kaiya Blaney (Tla'amin), Evan Leslie Adams (Tla’amin)

Producer

Daniel Bekerman

Genres

Action/Adventure, Family

Interests

Environment, ESL, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

English