Watch a Canadian film (or two, or three!) for free next week! With 1,700+ screenings planned nationwide, celebrate National Canadian Film Day on April 16 by supporting a film made close to home.
There is a Canadian film for everyone in this cross-country lineup of screenings—including recent releases and festival favourites spanning every genre. Not sure where to start? Reel Canada has spotlighted 60 films under the timely theme “Something to Believe In”—which includes stories of big dreams, community, resilience, the power of art, and fighting for your beliefs.
In the midst of a trade war and rising tensions with the U.S., supporting our country’s film industry is more important than ever. If you’re unfamiliar with the incredible talent Canada has to offer, both on and off screen, CanFilmDay is an excellent opportunity to watch some of the best films made by Canadians.
“In this time, our culture matters and our stories matter – more than ever. They show us who we are, who our neighbours are, what we care about. CanFilmDay gives us all the opportunity to celebrate our country, and our shared values,” says Sharon Corder, Artistic Director of Reel Canada.
More than 100,000 people across the country are estimated to attend a live event for National Canadian Film Day on April 16. And there’s more than just the movies—a ton of special events are planned for CanFilmDay, including Q&As, premieres, and appearances from special guests like Jann Arden, Deepa Mehta, Sook-Yin Lee, Anna Lambe, and Liane Balaban.
Don’t miss this massive celebration of Canadian film! For all of our Toronto readers, here are 10 films you can watch for FREE on April 16:
- Antigone: 6:30pm | The Carlton
- Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story: 6:15pm | Carlton Cinema
- Bergers (Shepherds): 3:00pm | Toronto Public Library – Maria A. Shchuka Branch
- Firecrackers: 4:00pm | Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
- Ginger Snaps:9:30pm | Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
- It Feeds: 9:00pm | Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
- Night Raiders: 6:30pm | Small World Centre
- Sam & Me: 6:30pm | TIFF Lightbox
- The Queen of My Dreams: 7:00pm | Cineplex Scarborough Town Centre
- Yintah: 6:30pm | Carlton Cinema
If you aren’t able to make it out on the 16th, CanFilmDay has some incredible resources for finding Canadian content to watch all year long.
- Find which Canadian films are available to stream on Netflix, Prime Video, and other streaming services (including some free options).
- Check out a list of recent Canadian films in theatres now (like Darkest Miriam and Village Keeper), and where to watch them.
- Browse through a huge collection of recommended Canadian films—filter by your interests!
Visit the CanFilmDay website for more information and a full schedule of screenings happening across Canada on April 16.