Educational Catalogue: JK to Grade 8 Films
The Whale charts the community’s struggle to deal with Luna, since whales who are separated from their pods rarely survive in the wild. Raising more questions than it can answer, the film is a truly compelling exploration of our relationship with animals.
“The issues surrounding the emotional lives of animals — and the often presumptuous assumption of humans that they comprehend them — are explored in The Whale with a quiet dignity and gorgeous images.” — Andy Webster, New York Times
Directors
Michael Parfit
Parfit co-founded the BC-based Mountainside Films with Suzanne Chisholm, which Realscreen once named among the world’s 100 most influential production companies. Their work has aired on CBC, CNN, PBS, BBC and National Geographic. Their latest film is Call of the Baby Beluga and they recently executive produced the doc Doeville.
Suzanne Chisholm
Chisholm is a documentary filmmaker and producer who produced and co-directed the feature documentaries Saving Luna (which won nine awards internationally) and The Whale, as well as the TV movie Call of the Baby Beluga, all with her partner Michael Parfit. She also produced the BBC documentary series The Natural World, and produced and co-directed numerous news features for National Geographic Channel – US.
Cast
Ryan Reynolds
Producer
Suzanne Chisholm
Genres
Documentary, Family
Interests
Environment, ESL, Female Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Score: A Hockey Musical
He’s led a sheltered life, home-schooled by parents (Olivia Newton-John and Marc Jordan) whose idea of extra-curricular activities are trips to an art gallery or an ashram.
His only real friend is Eve (Allie MacDonald), the girl who’s lived next door nearly his entire life. Much to the dismay of his parents, Farley loves to play shinny with the local rink rats (Dave Bidini and Hawksley Workman, among others). When the coach of a local hockey team (Stephen McHattie) spots him, Farley is drawn into the seductive hockey arena – while trying to stay true to his non-violent principles and juggling an ever-changing relationship with Eve.
Director
Michael McGowan
McGowan made his film debut as a writer, director and producer with My Dog Vincent, and directed Saint Ralph, One Week, Score: A Hockey Musical and Still Mine, which was named by TIFF as one of Canada’s Top 10 films in 2012. He recently directed TV shows Reign and Between and wrote the film The Etruscan Smile. His most recent film, All My Puny Sorrows, premiered at TIFF 2021.
Writer
Michael McGowan
Cast
John McDermott, Noah Reid, Hawksley Workman
Producers
Michael McGowan, Avi Federgreen
Genres
Comedy, Family
Interests
Arts and Culture, Sports
Original Language
English
Le coq de St-Victor (The Rooster of St-Victor)
Initially delighted, the villagers soon come to regret their choice, as St-Victor is thrown into chaos – the baker doesn’t bake, the deliveryman doesn’t deliver, and absolutely nothing is working like clockwork! Now they must come up with a new plan to rescue their trusty rooster and bring balance and prosperity back to St-Victor.
Director
Pierre Greco
Writers
Pierre Greco, Johanne Mercier
Cast
Benoît Brière, Paul Ahmarani, Anne Dorval
Producer
Nancy Savard
Genres
Animation, Comedy, Family
Interest
Family Relationships
Original Language
French
The Grand Seduction
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
Genre
Comedy
Interest
ESL
Original Language
English
Corner Gas: The Movie
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
Butterfly Tale
Determined not to let his disability stop him, Patrick and his best friend, a goofy caterpillar named Marty (Lucinda Davis), stow away in a milkweed trailer to be part of the adventure. Facing challenges and trials along the way, Patrick faces his fear, embraces his uniqueness and overcomes adversity to become an unlikely hero!
Butterfly Tale is an inspiring animated adventure full of humour that reminds us that differences are less important than the bonds we share.
Director
Sophie Roy
Writers
Heidi Foss, Lienne Sawatsky, Michael Solomon
Cast
Tatiana Maslany, Mena Massoud, Nick Julius Schuck
Genres
Animation, Family
Interests
Bullying, Female Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, French
Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure
Based on the popular kids TV series, Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure is a fun and exciting adventure story for young audiences.
Director
Dominique Monfery
Writer
John Van Bruggen
Cast
Louise Cheka, Kevin Sommier, Ariane Aggiage, Isabelle Volpe
Producers
Jérémie Fajner, Cynthia Taylor
Genres
Animation, Family
Interests
Family Relationships, Literary Adaptation
Original Languages
English, French
The Little Bear Movie
While on a camping trip, Little Bear and his father find a lost cub who has been separated from his parents by a storm. The two become fast friends, and after Cub saves Little Bear from a mountain lion named Trouble, the pair return to Little Bear’s house to meet his pals Cat, Owl, Duck and Hen. The group of friends set out on an exciting adventure to find Cub’s parents.
Based on the beloved book series by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, The Little Bear Movie is a rollicking adventure story, full of the joys and responsibilities of friendship and teamwork.
Director
Raymond Jafelice
Writers
Raymond Jafelice, Nancy Barr
Cast
Kristin Fairlie, Dan Hennessey, Janet-Laine Green
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Family
Interest
Literary Adaptation
Original Language
English
Wapos Bay: Long Goodbyes
Maintaining the hilarious and heart-warming tone as well as the unique style of the award-winning Wapos Bay tv series, Long Goodbyes went on to win the Kidscreen award for Best TV Movie.
Director
Dennis Jackson (Cree)
Writers
Dennis Jackson (Cree), Melanie Jackson (Cree)
Cast
Raven Brass (Cree), Trevor Cameron (Métis), Lorne Cardinal, Gordon Tootoosis (Cree)
Genres
Animation, Family
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Night of the Zoopocalypse
After a mysterious meteor crashes at Colepepper Zoo, unlikely friends Dan, a short-tempered mountain lion, and Gracie, a fierce teenage wolf, team up to stop the unleashed virus that is transforming their friends into “zoombies”.
Chock-full of both scares and laughs, this gorgeously animated family-friendly horror-comedy is fun for kids and adults alike.
“In a world dominated by Pixar and Dreamworks, Night of the Zoopocalypse is a fun reminder that other studios produce good work, and there’s never been a better time to go to the movies and support a Canadian production.” – Matthew Simpson, That Shelf
Directors
Ricardo Curtis, Rodrigo Perez-Castro
Writers
James Kee, Steven Hoban
Cast
Pierre Simpson, Gabbi Kosmidis, David Harbour
Producers
Wes Lui, Joe Iacono, Yohann Comte, Steven Hoban, Mark Smith
Genres
Action/Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Horror
Interest
Literary Adaptation
Original Language
English