The World’s Largest Film Festival Celebrates Indigenous Voices on April 20, 2022
Governor General to act as Honorary Patron
TORONTO – April 4, 2022 – After two years of online presentations, REEL CANADA is absolutely delighted to announce that National Canadian Film Day, live and in person, is back! The ninth edition of the annual coast-to-coast-to-coast celebration of Canadian film will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, with more than 1000 events as well as dozens of offerings on broadcast and streaming for everyone to enjoy. In-person screenings will take place in 600 communities across Canada and more than 35 countries around the world.
We are honoured to announce that Canada’s Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, is the Honorary Patron of this year’s National Canadian Film Day. An official video greeting from Her Excellency will precede all NCFD screenings this year.
The 2022 Spotlight, Celebrating Indigenous Voices, presented in association with imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, focuses on Indigenous-made cinema by filmmakers from many diverse nations across Canada, and will also feature panel discussions and appearances by Indigenous film artists. More than 25 Indigenous-made features will be presented throughout the day.
imagineNATIVE Executive Director Naomi Johnson (Mohawk) says, “We are thrilled to be co-presenting works from so many talented Indigenous filmmakers as part of REEL CANADA’s National Canadian Film Day. We hope that new audiences discover and enjoy these marvelous films.”
REEL CANADA Board Member Jason Ryle (Anishinaabe) says, “First Nations, Métis and Inuit filmmakers in Canada have been making incredible and original films for decades. The growth of Indigenous-made cinema in recent years is truly remarkable and will continue for decades to come. It’s wonderful to see REEL CANADA and National Canadian Film Day celebrate these great films.”
Programming highlights across the country include:
- An intimate conversation with filmmakers Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki) and Jeff Barnaby (Mi’qmaw) presented in-person at the opening of the new Alanis Obomsawin Theatre at the National Film Board of Canada in Montreal.
- An in-person discussion in Toronto that will also be streamed online, presented in partnership with APTN and CBC, featuring award-winning filmmakers Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis), Tracey Deer (Mohawk) and hosted by Adam Garnet Jones (Cree/Métis).
- A tribute to the late filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée in partnership with MediaFilm, featuring a special event in Toronto presented by Cinefranco, an event in Vancouver presented by VIFF, and screenings of Vallée’s masterpiece C.R.A.Z.Y. across Canada (in twenty cities) and around the world (in seven countries)
- Over 10,000 high school students from more than 300 schools from every province and territory will engage in RCtv, an interactive livestream event featuring CSA-nominated Night Raiders writer-director Danis Goulet and cast member Brooklyn Letexier-Hart (Cree/Métis).
- A virtual screening of The Grizzlies for New Canadians and English-language learners, presented in partnership with Institute for Canadian Citizenship, followed by a livestream Q&A with one of the stars of the film, Anna Lambe (Inuk), hosted by Ali Hassan.
- The theatrical premiere of the French-language Indigenous-made thriller L’Inhumain will unfold with an in-person gala in Ottawa with director Jason Brennan (Anishinaabe), lead actor Samian (Anishinaabe), and cast members in attendance, as well as screenings in Vancouver and Montreal.
- This year, NCFD and Telefilm are partnering with the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE) to host screenings of Beans, Night Raiders, and C.R.A.Z.Y. in independent cinemas in more than 30 communities across Canada featuring virtual Q&As with cast and crew.
- Participation from national broadcasters, including APTN, Bell Media, Corus and Super Channel, led by Hollywood Suite with a full 24 hours of Indigenous programming.
- Nearly 50 international screenings are taking place in 40 countries across five continents.
- One of the largest is a full-day celebration at Carolina Coastal University in South Carolina, featuring four screenings, a reception with local dignitaries, and “Canadian cuisine” on campus. Indian Horse director Stephen Campanelli will present his film in person, while Colm Feore, star of Bon Cop and The Red Violin will participate virtually. Also in attendance will be NCFD mascot, Maurice the Moose, visiting his friend, CCU mascot Chauncey the Chanticleer.
- Participation from a wide array of streaming partners such as Netflix, Encore+ and CBC Gem, highlighted by the National Film Board, who will be featuring NCFD on their homepage for the entire day on April 20.
Other events across Canada will feature appearances from special guests, including Shane Belcourt (Métis), Sonia Bonspille Boileau (Mohawk), Jolene Commanda (Anishinaabe), Philippe Commanda (Anishinaabe), Andy Dewache (Anishinaabe), Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk), Phillip Lewitski (Mohawk), Moze Mossanen, Joshua Odjick (Algonquin/Anishinaabe), Juanita Peters, Dakota Ray Hebert (Dene), Odeshkun Thusky (Anishinaabe), Loretta Todd (Cree/Métis), Rhayne Vermette (Métis), Anne Wheeler, Hank White, Alan Zweig.
If you’d like to host a free NCFD event for your community, visit canfilmday.ca/register and sign up today.
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. We’re thrilled that so many of our sponsors are returning in 2022, including Telefilm Canada, Netflix, Encore+, CBC, Bell Media, Hollywood Suite, Cineplex, Landmark Cinemas, CMPA, and more. The complete list can be found on the sponsor page of our website.
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information in the lead-up to April 20. You can also find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @CanFilmDay, TikTok at @nationalcanfilmday and #CanFilmDay.
REEL CANADA Board Member Jason Ryle (Anishinaabe), Night Raiders writer-director Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis), and Beans director Tracey Deer (Mohawk) as well as Jack Blum and Sharon Corder, Executive and Artistic Director of REEL CANADA, are available for interviews.
For high-res images: https://bit.ly/NCFD2022
About REEL CANADA
REEL CANADA is a 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 core programmes — Our Films in Our Schools, Welcome to Canada, Reel Opportunities, and National Canadian Film Day (NCFD) — REEL CANADA has reached millions of students, new Canadians, and general audience members.
For media inquiries,
Ally LaMere-Shedden
Route 504 PR
