Latest news with #NationalCanadianFilmDay
CBC
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
White Owl Studios in Wahnapitae First Nation looking for inaugural film project
Film industry professionals in Sudbury are hoping that a new film studio in Wahnapitae First Nation will soon see some activity. White Owl Studios is a 20,000 sq. ft. space, with a 65 foot high ceiling which resembles a huge white Quonset hut, surrounded by a large parking area and cleared area. The project was instigated by Indigenous businessman Roy Roque in collaboration with Los Angeles-based company Volume Global. A year-and-a-half ago, Roque and Volume Global said that once the space was complete, it would be busy with several different film projects. However, current White Owl spokesperson Axel Green said the collaboration with the California company has since fallen through. "I don't want to get into too much detail, but they didn't really follow through on what they agreed to do," said Green. He is optimistic the state-of-the-art soundstage will still be a boon to the area's film industry which he feels has plateaued in recent years. "We hope to be able to foster local stories so local film makers can cater to the existing industry," he said. "Creating this large soundstage, we can now open up the industry in northern Ontario, building larger series that could move in more long-term, eight to 10 months at a time." Green is also working on landing film projects for the studio and says he has some promising leads, although isn't ready to announce anything yet. "I really think this is a turning point for the northern Ontario industry and in our growth and our ability to tell our own stories as well," he said. While the building was finished about a year ago, the public was first invited inside Wednesday to celebrate National Canadian Film Day, with industry types taking in a couple of movies. Janine Oloman, the owner of 46th Parallel Management talent agency, represents more than a hundred actors, mostly in northern Ontario. She began her career as an assistant director and understands the magnitude of what could be achieved with White Owl Studios. "Sets can be built, green screens can be put up, a volume wall could be put in here," said Oloman. "You know, you could do a lot of car shots with a 2D wall in here where it looks like the cars travelling down the road. But it's not. The actors are inside there. Yeah, there's also a lot of area outside the studio where you could build back-lot type things like a western town." As to whether the soundstage could attract big projects with deep pockets for her clients, Oloman hesitates slightly. "Well, that's always the hope, I guess the hope is, right now, that our Canadian dollar will be low and that lots of films will come up here," she said. Steve Schmidt from Chapleau and directed the 2014 crime thriller, The Road to Tophet. He says he does a lot of film editing these days and sees great potential in White Owl Studios, admiring the audacity of its owners. "There's something really special about taking a leap of faith and I felt that about this place," he said.
CBC
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
3 Canadian films to watch on National Canadian Film Day
Founded in 2014, National Canadian Film Day (or CanFilmDay) encourages audiences to "stand up for Canada by sitting down to watch a great Canadian film." This year, CanFilmDay will present almost 2,000 free screenings across every province and territory, as well as more than 43 countries around the world. The movement has seen a surge of support in recent months thanks in large part to the current moment of national pride, with registrations running 60 per cent higher than last year. Today on Commotion, Toronto Metropolitan University's Storyteller in Residence Jesse Wente, film critic Sarah-Tai Black and screenwriter Nathalie Younglai join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to celebrate CanFilmDay, and to discuss the state of Canadian filmmaking in 2025. We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player. WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube: Elamin: Jesse, we were talking before we went live, and you were like, "There used to be a time when I saw 10,000 movies a year." Maybe you see slightly fewer than that now, but seeing as this is National Canadian Film Day, can you give me a home-grown movie that has come out in the last year or so, that you think people should spend some time with? Jesse: Well, sure, but just to quickly correct the misinformation that just occurred, it was 1,500. Elamin: That's a lot, man. That's three a day. Anyway, yes. Continue. Jesse: Yeah, so I was a film critic and programming a couple different film festivals at that time, and that's how you accumulate that. The film I most want to highlight is a fantastic documentary. Canadian cinema is very much rooted in the documentary tradition. That's where our national cinema actually comes from, from the founding of the National Film Board and the early days of the CBC…. And so I want to highlight Wilfred Buck. This is a fantastic documentary, sort of a biography of this Cree elder who's very well known in all Indigenous communities as being "the star guy," because he has a deep understanding and knowledge of Cree astronomy and understanding of the stars in a very different way than we understand now. This film melds science and humanity. It takes you through time. It takes you through literal space, Elamin. I think it's just a fantastic film, and the type of film that … gives a window for a lot of the world, and for Canada, it gives a great opportunity to reflect on the knowledge systems that have existed here for thousands of years and that yet remain somewhat of an untapped resource for the Canada of today. WATCH | Official trailer for Wilfred Buck: Elamin: You're such a great salesman of a movie, Jesse, that I'm like, "I'm gonna abandon the rest of the show and go find this movie."... Sarah-Tai, over to you, pal. What do you want to recommend? Sarah-Tai: Something I watched very recently and enjoyed is Sook-Yin Lee's Paying For It, which is an adaptation of cartoonist Chester Brown's graphic novel of the same name. The novel follows his decision to start frequenting sex workers after the break-up of his real-life relationship with Sook-Yin. And Sook-Yin is re-imagined in the film as this character, Sunny. It's this very nostalgic, zeitgeist-y look at late '90s, early 2000s Toronto's arts and culture. You get to see that transition of MuchMusic, which is called MaxMusic in the film, from this kind of zany DIY platform for punky kids into this more mainstream space. It's really funny. It's really cool. I laughed out loud, which is very difficult to do for me for a narrative film. But I think it's really fresh, and I think Sook-Yin and co-writer Joanne Sarazen add a really amazing feminist perspective to Chester's story as well. WATCH | Official trailer for Paying For It: Elamin: Natalie, over to you pal. What do you want to recommend? Natalie: I'd love to highlight Lucky Strikes, which is a film by Darcy Waite. It's this hilarious Indigenous comedy starring Victoria Gwendolyne, Gabriel Daniels and Meegwun Fairbrother. It's about this washed-up Indigenous bowler trying to preserve his father's legacy by buying his late father's bowling alley. But first, [he and his best friend] have to win this national bowling competition. I think these really fun and quirky stories about Indigenous communities are really important for audiences who are Indigenous, but also non-Indigenous too alike.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In the news today: Federal leaders debate in Montreal, interest rate decision due out
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed... Party leaders square off in first debate tonight Liberal Leader Mark Carney's French language skills will be put to the test, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will seek to turn his numbers around, when the five main federal party leaders square off in Montreal tonight in the first of two debates ahead of election day on April 28. The two-hour French-language debate will be moderated by Radio-Canada's Patrice Roy and will focus on five themes: the cost of living, energy and climate, the trade war, identity and sovereignty, and immigration and foreign affairs. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet are the only two leaders with previous federal debate experience, though Carney and Poilievre participated in their respective parties' leadership races. Carney struggled at times during the Liberal leadership race's French debate and was saved by opponent Chrystia Freeland when he tripped up while discussing Hamas. Bank of Canada rate decision expected today The Bank of Canada is set to make an interest rate decision today amid looming trade war impacts to the economy. The central bank cut its policy rate by a quarter point to 2.75 per cent at its most recent decision in March. Market bets were nearly evenly split between a rate hold and a cut heading into Wednesday's meeting. The decision comes a day after Statistics Canada reported the annual rate of inflation cooled to 2.3 per cent last month. Quebec on verge of declaring measles outbreak over Quebec's ministry of health says it's on the verge of declaring its measles outbreak over just as cases reach new heights in other parts of the country. The province says it has not recorded a new measles case since it reached 40 infections on March 18. If no additional cases are reported by Saturday – 32 days after the last contagious case – the ministry says it will signal the end of the outbreak. That's a stark contrast to Ontario, where measles cases have exceeded 800 since an outbreak began in the fall, and Alberta, which has recorded 74 cases since the beginning of March. National Canadian Film Day aims for record turnout As U.S. president Donald Trump ramps up trade and annexation threats, Sharon Corder and Jack Blum are calling on Canadians to clap back — not with picket signs, but popcorn. The husband-and-wife team behind National Canadian Film Day say this Wednesday's 12th annual edition is set to be their biggest yet, with nearly 2,000 free screenings of Canadian films happening across the country, around the world and on TV. They expect about 100,000 people to attend events based on ticket reservations, and more than 2 million to tune in on broadcast and streaming. 'Most of us feel that our culture is threatened. And I think everybody steps up when they think that,' says Corder. Project Runway Canada returning for third season The Canadian version of the fashion competition series "Project Runway" is set to return after more than 15 years off the air. Crave has announced that Season 3 of "Project Runway Canada" will consist of 10 episodes, with production set to begin this summer at Toronto Metropolitan University. The show features designers taking part in challenges as they compete to impress a panel of experts. Supermodel Coco Rocha and TV personality Jeanne Beker have been announced as judges, with Rocha also serving as host. Countrywide casting is now open for the show, which last aired in 2009. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2025 The Canadian Press
CBC
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
National Canadian Film Day returns with record-breaking number of free screenings
Buy Canadian. As the U.S. trade war persists, that simple phrase has become a rallying cry at the checkout line. But are Canadians applying the same nationalistic fervour to all of their consumer habits? What about movies, for example? Is it time to watch Canadian too? Wednesday is National Canadian Film Day, an initiative that aims to make homegrown cinema easier to access than usual. And according to organizers, this year's edition will boast a record-breaking number of free in-person screenings. Nearly 2,000 community events are scheduled for Wednesday, and no province or territory has been left behind. Interest from new presenting partners saw an uptick this year, increasing by 60 per cent, and artistic director Sharon Corder says the recent wave of patriotic sentiment may account for the excitement. "I think in general there's a quiet pride in Canada, but this year it's a lot noisier," she says. "People want to join in and celebrate being Canadian." On that front, approximately 100,000 audience members are expected to attend CanFilmDay events. Cineplex and Landmark Cinemas (both of whom are sponsors) have donated screens, and a plethora of public watch parties will be taking place in community venues including libraries and schools. But the celebration isn't limited to Canada. CanFilmDay screenings are also booked for 40 other countries (including the United States), and a searchable program guide is available on the event's website. Ticketed entertainment is also on the schedule. New films will debut with key talent in attendance. CanCon classics such as Rude, C.R.A.Z.Y., Ginger Snaps and Waydowntown will be celebrated at special anniversary presentations. And a panel of stars (including Don McKellar and Mary Walsh) will appear on stage in Toronto for a town-hall discussion: Elbows Up for Canadian Culture. For those who'd prefer to stay on the couch with a bag of all-dressed chips, the options are similarly plentiful thanks to partnerships with major broadcasters and streaming services, and according to organizers, approximately 2.5 million viewers sampled a Canadian film from home during last year's edition. A collection of 60 movies has been highlighted by CanFilmDay organizers. This year's theme is "something to believe in," and among the dozens of titles is Universal Language, Matthew Rankin's absurdist comedy set in an alternate Winnipeg. (The film made a splash at Cannes last year.) Other contemporary offerings include Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (2024), BlackBerry (2023) and Hey, Viktor (2023). Corder co-founded National Canadian Film Day in 2014 with her husband and fellow filmmaker Jack Blum, and the initiative sprung out of their non-profit, Reel Canada. "It started with a desire for people to actually see the films we make," she says, and in Reel Canada's early days, Corder would meet students at school screenings across the country. "We were talking to young people and they didn't know the difference, in lots of ways, between us and the U.S., and that seemed dangerous and strange," she says. When CanFilmDay launched, she wanted to show audiences that Canada does, in fact, have a film culture of its own. "Here are our films, they reflect us," she says. "They reflect where we live, they reflect our geography, they reflect our differences, they reflect our our samenesses, and so it just became more and more urgent for us — for people to take a look." That mission hasn't changed, but CanFilmDay has welcomed the "elbows up" enthusiasm of the moment. "We're not saying never watch anything from another country, specifically a place south of us," says Corder. "But it's important to take a look at who we are and what we're about and to see what our values might be. To see what we look like, to see who we are. Just to reflect on us."
CBC
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Now, more than ever, let's come together as a country and hold space for Canadian movies
Holding Space is a joint column by Anne T. Donahue and Peter Knegt that "holds space" for something or someone in popular culture. This is its second edition. Peter: Anne, we're back for a second round! Anne: This the truest thing I've ever read in my life. We are indeed back, and this time we're holding space for — pause for dramatic effect — Canadian film! In part because, on April 16, it's National Canadian Film Day. I'm not going to lie to you, Peter: I've absolutely been a part of the problem in terms of the way we talk about Canadian film. Growing up, "Canadian film" wasn't really a genre I considered outside of the National Film Board's animated short about the guy avoiding his piano practice (also known as my life story). Then, as a kid in the '90s, the only "real" Canadians in the arts I learned about were the ones who broke through in the U.S. Like, I knew about Michael J. Fox and Mike Myers and Alex Trebek and William Shatner -- the roster you tend to flip through to add a "did you know?" period on a pop cultural-oriented conversation. But I think that's because "Canadian film" was framed as less-than compared to American blockbusters. The teachers in school weren't concerned about Cancon, my parents weren't film buffs in any capacity. Also, I was a literal child: if it wasn't by Disney, I probably wasn't watching it. It was easier to consume what everybody else was, especially since I could only go on the internet for an hour a day at the library. Peter: I could really go for a life where I can only go on the internet for an hour a day at the library. I guess that's available to me… in prison? But I don't want to go to prison. And I'm also getting off topic, because we are not holding space for my dreams of an internet-limited prison existence are we? We're holding space for Canadian cinema! Which sometimes does take place in prison, like in one of my all-time favourite Canadian films, John Greyson's Lilies. But seriously, I too am guilty of being part of the problem when it comes to properly appreciating Canadian movies. I suspect 95 per cent of people in this country are. And we have a reasonable excuse: we've spent our lives next to a country that is pretty much inarguably the world's leading exporter of popular movies, which makes it really hard to pay proper attention to what we're creating up here, especially during our often Disney-fied formative years. But that country I speak of is kinda imploding right now, and doing so via a government that is expressing some pretty unhinged vitriol towards us. So maybe we can view this as an opportunity to not just buy Canadian, but also watch Canadian? Anne: Or even just de-centre Hollywood as the pinnacle of cinematic culture. Is it even the pinnacle anymore? I don't think it's been for a long time! Especially since the internet — our dear friend, our most ruthless enemy — has kicked open the door via Mubi and Criterion and made movies made from all over the world accessible to anybody who wants to watch them. Which challenges the idea that the U.S. star and studio systems are the only ones worth paying attention to. Like, not to hate on Daredevil —but I will happily hate on it—and I will also say that yes, it stars a Canadian actor, but "starring a Canadian actor" does not a Canadian film make. I guess this is where I ask you the question: what makes "Canadian film" Canadian? Movies made in Canada? Movies starring only Canadian actors? Movies made by Canadian directors and producers? I mean, technically Anne of Green Gables from the 1980s was a TV miniseries, but goddamn: it is cinema to me! What do you look for when designating a film as "Canadian"? Outside the obviousness of funding and locale, of course. I don't want to hold space for fiscally-based discussions now or ever. Peter: I mean, if we're going by the standard of the recent Canadian Screen Award nominations, the D*****d T****p biopic The Apprentice (which they nominated for best picture) is apparently Canadian, so definitions can certainly be murky. But I say keep it simple and don't overthink it? If the 1980s Anne of Green Gables miniseries feels like Canadian cinema to you, then it's Canadian cinema! Personally, I've been holding space for much more contemporary examples in the last few months. I do genuinely think that besides the whole America situation presenting an impetus to "watch Canadian," there's another really great reason in the fact that Canadian film is going through a really interesting, perhaps even exciting, moment right now. The most obvious example is Matthew Rankin's Universal Language, a wildly original absurdist comedy that was one of my favourite films of 2024 from any country. So if you haven't seen that (or his wonderful 2019 debut film The Twentieth Century), I highly advise it as a great place to start. But there's also Sook-Yin Lee's Paying For It, Karen Knox's We Forgot To Break Up, Naomi Jaye's Darkest Miriam and Karen Chapman's Village Keeper, which are all fantastic and all playing in movie theatres across this country right now. I am a huge proponent of seeing these or any movie in theatres if you can, not just because it's the best way to support them but also just because movie theatres are wonderful places we must protect! This all said, not every Canadian film you want to see is playing in a movie theatre (particularly older ones), and movie theatres aren't always an option for everyone. So I also should use this as an opportunity to plug the streaming service run by the very company publishing our words, Anne, because they legitimately have a pretty incredible selection of Canadian films on offer (and for free!). So consider heading to CBC Gem's "Spotlight on Canadian Film" subsection, which includes dozens of recent Canadian films, including the last four films to win best picture at the Canadian Screen Awards (our equivalent of the Oscars): Tracy Deer's Beans, Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson's Scarborough, Clement Virgo's Brother and Matt Johnson's Blackberry. But I don't want to just hold space for Canadian movies that came out in the 2020s. There's over a century of cinema produced by this country for us to dig into, and we're already approaching our word count. I know you have a special place in your heart for Anne, Anne, but what are some other classics that are near and dear to you? Anne: Okay, well you mentioned Blackberry which means I am legally obligated to mention that Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie is coming out which I'm beyond psyched for. And I know it's also a 2020s release, but Shiva Baby by Emma Seligman is funny and thoughtful and sharp, and I think about Rachel Sennott yelling, "It's not a career, it's a lens!" about feminism at least 600 times a semester. And Chandler Levack's I Like Movies really touched my heart. Additionally, under current Canadian legislation, I have to mention David Cronenberg. But my pick might surprise you: I really liked Eastern Promises, which I know is dark and also not considered his best, but this is my column and I say what I want. But going further back in time, and away from everything Eastern Promises is and purports to be, I love The Big Snit and The Cat Came Back — both of which you can stream on NFB's official site, and absolutely should. And Getting Started is the animated short I inhaled as a kid who, like Richard Condie's main character, would rather do absolutely anything else other than practice the piano. And speaking of musical instruments and the NFB, may I remind us all about The Magic Flute! I'm also a documentary-watching nightmare, which I'm sure surprises nobody. Last year's Disco's Revenge is an excellent deep dive into disco and disco culture, which is perfect for me, an insufferable history major (and proud of it). I also recently watched Tasha Hubbard's Birth of a Family for one of my classes, which was beautiful, and I've got to recommend In the Shadow of the Pines, which is thoughtful and poignant -- and under ten minutes, so you have no excuse not to watch it. What directors do you hold space for the most? And is this a safe place to admit I still haven't seen Dune?. Peter: It is absolutely a safe place to admit that. While I have seen the Dunes (they're fine!), I'll use this as an opportunity to admit something perhaps just as controversial: I only recently watched Cronenberg's Dead Ringers for the first time, and I did so because the TV miniseries remake starring Rachel Weisz compelled me to. And while I deeply appreciate Cronenberg's original and Jeremy Irons's wildly committed performance in it, I gotta say I kinda prefer the Weisz version!? Which feels safer to say because multiple episodes were directed by not one but two very talented Canadian filmmakers: Karena Evans and Sean Durkin. (If you haven't seen the latter's film The Nest you are missing a Carrie Coon performance on the same level as what she just did on The White Lotus). As for directors I hold space for the most, I have lots of obvious answers like Cronenberg (I too love Eastern Promises, though my number one is forever The Fly), Sarah Polley (Take This Waltz is deeply underappreciated Toronto-centric cinema!) and Guy Maddin (My Winnipeg forever). But I'd also like to shout out some classics from the history of queer Canadian cinema that I hold very close to my gay heart: Richard Benner's 1977 film Outrageous! (starring the late and legendary female impersonator Craig Russell), Lynne Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman's 1992 documentary Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives (essential viewing for all Canadians!), and John Greyson's wild and wonderful 1993 AIDS musical Zero Patience (which I must now mention features numbers performed by both naked male chorus lines and literal singing buttholes). I could honestly go on and on, but I feel like we are already giving people a hefty viewing list for National Canadian Film Day, Anne! Anne: Peter, your fluency in Canadian cinema is beautiful! I still find myself going back to the Greatest Hits like Strange Brew because it reminds me of being little, and it's so closely tied to SCTV which I obviously have an allegiance to. (I say "obviously" because Catherine O'Hara and Andrea Martin are my two best friends which I intend on informing them about one day.) Also, Wild by the late Jean-Marc Vallee because the book resonated with me so much and I wept audibly in the movie theatre when I saw it. (A rarity!) I think one of the biggest problems with "Canadian film" as a concept is the meaning it's been assigned: instead of celebrating the artistry and talent of Canadian filmmakers, the genre's been framed as an extension of patriotic duty. Like, "You should watch this movie because it's Canadian." But that's nonsense! Watch good, inspired, thoughtful, interesting, creative, funny, fantastic movies. You might just discover that a number of them happen to be Canadian.
