What better way to celebrate our inaugural issue than to kick off with a nationwide celebration of Canadian film and its creators? While we can’t take credit for Canadian Film Day, we can appreciate the perfect timing of the annual event, landing the day after our launch.
On April 15, film lovers across the country will celebrate Canadian artists at thousands of free screenings and events, as well as through broadcasts and streaming at home, thanks to the team at REEL CANADA.
THE ORIGIN STORY
What began in 2014 has grown into a much-anticipated day of celebration for the Canadian film community, one that filmmakers and arts supporters look forward to as the snow starts to melt.
Beginning with an ambitious 70 screenings across the country in its first year, the event exploded to over 1,000 free screenings in year two. REEL CANADA Executive and Artistic Directors Jack Blum and Sharon Corder, the duo behind CanFilmDay, had clearly tapped into a widespread desire for a national fête.
“In 2013, REEL CANADA was busy growing our schools’ program across the country, and one day in April, we realized that we had school screenings in Victoria, Saskatoon, and Charlottetown all on the same day. I joked, ‘Hey, look, National Canadian Film Day.’ We all laughed.”
Blum shared that initially, a coincidence, then a joke, became a passion project for him and Sharon, and within a few months, the inaugural event took place.
The 2026 edition will feature over 2,000 free screenings in every province and territory, with an incredible lineup of special guests. “…clearly there is a great appetite for Canadian film, but also, I think, for this kind of celebration.”
While the scale of Canadian Film Day has grown immensely, Blum says its core mission remains unchanged
“…everything we do at REEL CANADA has the same mission at heart: to celebrate Canadian film and bring it to Canadians. When we celebrate our stories, we celebrate ourselves—and our country. More than ever these days, we need that.”
A charitable organization committed to promoting diversity in Canadian film, REEL CANADA was founded in 2004 by a group of educators and industry members. It began by bringing a travelling film festival into schools, introducing young people to the wealth of Canadian cinema and its power to spark meaningful conversations about Canadian identity (reelcanada.ca).
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
This year, #CanFilmDay has taken on a new global energy, with partnerships popping up globally in celebration of Canada’s cinematic legacy. You can watch R.T. Thorne’s apocalyptic thriller 40 Acres in Maputo, Mozambique, or catch Blue Heron, the sensitive, semi-autobiographical film by Sophy Romvari, in Montevideo, Uruguay. This international embrace represents a 62% increase over past years.
“The international presence is seeing a huge increase from 93 screenings in 40 countries last year to 155 screenings in 46 countries this year. The thing has turned into a real monster! 1,800+ live screenings with 80,000+ Canadians attending, plus a huge broadcast and streaming presence (an estimated 2M+ watching at home).”
With this growth, distributors are also taking advantage of the event and surrounding programming, using it to support April premieres with red carpets or early launches. “This year, Mile End Kicks opens on April 17, and on April 15, we have it on 37 screens across the country.”
With REEL CANADA’s roots in education, it’s no surprise that their high school program has continued to be a pillar of #CanFilmDay. RCtv, a livestream for high school students, reaches between 10,000 and 15,000 youth each year and allows them to interact with peers across the country.
This year, students will watch Youngblood, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last fall. Director Hubert Davis and breakout star Ashton James will be on hand to discuss the film. “[It’s] one of our favourite events.”
CANADIAN CINEMA IN 2026
We asked Blum about the challenges facing Canadian cinema today and how #CanFilmDay helps address them. While streaming has transformed how audiences consume film, he believes the biggest obstacle remains unchanged: “…we simply don’t have the massive budgets that foreign films have.”
Canadian film is often conflated with that of our neighbours to the South, but artists across the country know our national identity is distinct and our perspectives are uniquely our own. The success of CanFilmDay is a testament to that.
“We’re not naïve enough to believe that we can turn all this around single-handedly. But I think we can make a difference—and I think we already have. Even if it’s just one day a year, Canadians come together to enjoy our films. On one hand, that’s a big turnout. On the other hand, it’s exactly the kind of thing Canada needs right now, as we try to become stronger and more resilient in a challenging political climate. Culture is one of the best ways to understand ourselves and each other, and CanFilmDay is a great demonstration of that.”
This year’s theme, Let’s Dream Together, sees REEL CANADA tapping 51 guest programmers to share their love of Canadian film. Participants include Sarah Polley, Anna Lambe, Neve Campbell, and TIFF’s Cameron Bailey, among others.
- Sarah Polley — I Like Movies
- Anna Lambe — Angry Inuk
- Neve Campbell — Away From Her
- Cameron Bailey — Stories We Tell
What should Canadians look out for this year?
We have some terrific anniversary screenings:
- Hard Core Logo turns 30, with a major tribute at the Calgary Underground Film Festival.
- Bon Cop Bad Cop turns 20, with a special event in Ottawa featuring Colm Feore.
- Atanarjuat—one of the greatest Canadian films ever—turns 25.
- My Bloody Valentine, one of the scariest, turns 45.
What excites you about the Canadian film community?
“Amazing talent—young, old, diverse, skilled. Our filmmakers do a great job of expressing who we are as a nation. In particular, I’m blown away by the explosion of work from the Indigenous community, which has produced some of the strongest films of the past few years.”
Visit canfilmday.ca for more information ahead of April 15. You can also find @CanFilmDay on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
Photo Credits: Canadian Film Day Press Package, REEL Canada Website, Blue Fox Entertainment Canada.
