April 17, 2024, marks the 11th anniversary of National Canadian Film Day. Presented by REEL CANADA, CanFilmDay brings together hundreds of thousands of Canadians from coast-to-coast to celebrate our stories and the incredible achievements of Canadian filmmakers.
With more than 1,000 screenings in every province and territory, the 2024 programming spotlight is ‘Films that A.I. Could Never Make’, reaffirming that no algorithm can embody the essence, or conjure the creativity inherent in a Canadian film. “With more and more of our lives governed by algorithms, it seems more important than ever to highlight the originality, passion and, well, humanity that infuses the best of Canadian cinema,” said Artistic Director Sharon Corder.
Here are a few screenings to look out for in British Columbia:
Screenings at the VIFF Centre:
The VIFF Centre in Vancouver will be celebrating National Canadian Day with three select and free screenings. DOUBLE HAPPINESS (1994, dir. Mina Shum) follows Jade Li, a feisty 20-something Chinese Canadian, trying to achieve that happy medium between giving in to her parents’ wishes and fulfilling her own needs and desires. As a tribute to Norman Jewison, VIFF Centre will be showing his 1996 CBC profile for the Life & Times series shows, directed by Bruce Macdonald. Lastly, in GOIN’ DOWN THE ROAD (1970, dir. Donald Shebib), two friends travel from Nova Scotia to Toronto in hope of finding a better life.
Slocan Valley Legion Screening and Silent Auction
For CanFilmDay, the Slocan Valley Royal Canadian Legion Branch #276 will host a screening of THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (2019, dir. Matthew Rankin). This delightfully insane look at the early political career of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King (Dan Beirne) is director Matthew Rankin’s first feature but demonstrates a unique and fully formed vision. The legion is also planning a silent auction of paintings and gifts donated by local businesses.
Image from LAST NIGHT (1998)
Celebrate CanFilmDay in Victoria with two free screenings. LAST NIGHT (1998, dir. Don McKellar), featuring an award-winning performance by Sandra Oh, is a dark comedy set in the final hours before an impending apocalypse. I USED TO BE FUNNY (2024, dir. Ally Pankiw), which is set to release officially in June, follows Sam, a young stand-up comedian and au pair struggling with PTSD.
Find a local event, explore the 2024 Spotlight Films, and discover ways to celebrate from home on the National Canadian Film Day website.
