For the past 11 years Canadians have gathered to celebrate their country's contribution to cinema with National Canadian Film Day. This year's celebration is set to kick off on April 16, 2025.
Presented by Reel Canada, CanFilmDay, as it is otherwise referred to as, reaches across Canada to provide free in-person events in communities big and small. For those who prefer to watch at home or are joining from around the world, Reel Canada is providing broadcast and streaming options that will allow for the enjoyment of Canadian cinema to reach a wider audience.
In 2024, CanFilmDay had 1,740 screenings conducted across Canada, including 63 international screenings in 33 countries around the world, including Australia, India, and Iceland. This year, amidst the current swelling of Canadian pride, that number is expected to exceed 2,000 screenings. An estimated 100,000 people will attend live events with more than 2 million people watching at home on broadcasts or through streaming.
Every year there is a CanFilmDay spotlight, a theme that connects all of the films being showcased. The 2024 Spotlight was "Films that A.I. could not make," which sought to promote the creativity, diversity, and originality of Canadian filmmakers. This year, the 2025 Spotlight is "Something to believe in," which will include stories that capture the power of art, community, dreams, and fighting for what you believe in.
This year's spotlight will feature a crop of 60 films that range from old to new and span a wide variety of genres. Some of the films include 2024 festival participants like Universal Language (2024), which is Canada's submission to the 2025 Academy Awards, and Yintah (2024), which won the Best Canadian Documentary Award at the 2024 Hot Docs Festival. There will also be a number of Canadian classics such as Sunshine (1999) starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz and C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005), the popular coming-of-age drama from Jean-Marc Vallée. It's safe to say there will be something for everyone.
In addition, this year will see hundreds of screenings of Indigenous-made films that will also include a tribute to the late former senator Murray Sinclair. There will be filmmaker and special guest Q&As following many of the films and a variety of French-language offerings will be screened for both French and English-speaking audiences. Several schools will also take part in CanFilmDay through the celebration's annual live stream that reaches over 15,000 high school students.
There will be a number of special events, including Town Hall-style event in Toronto, featuring Yannick Bisson, Don McKellar, Mary Walsh and more. They'll talk about the Canadian films that shaped them and engage in a conversation with audience members about Canadian culture.
For all the details about National Canadian Film Day, including the full list of films that will be screened, visit the CanFilmDay website. ~Ryan Donahue