"I want to know what's your strategy to ensure that our theatrical screenings are part of the continuum of our film [industry] and not seen as a sunset technology," asked one member of the audience. "Particularly outside of the big six cities, I’m seeing it's virtually impossible for Canadian film to get onto Canadian theatrical screens."
This very good question came out of a discussion with Minister of Canadian Heritage Mélanie Joly at an event during the 2017 Vancouver International Film Festival.
Tyler Hagan, producer of Never Steady, Never Still, said in a Q&A for that film that there are 10 major Canadian cities that would play an art film.
The Big 3 would be Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver. Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax would be serious contenders for the other major cities.
A film could run in a smaller city if there was some connection to the film, either from a star being from there, filming locations, or the film was set there. English-Canadian films are less likely to be significant in Quebec City while French-Canadian films are less likely outside French-speaking areas.
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
Joly did address this during the talk in Vancouver. "It's funny to be the Heritage Minister and inherit a system that is … not necessarily in line with how people consume information and content."
Like the automobile industry, Canada is treated as an extension of the American market. American films are marketed to Canada. These films are easy to find in suburban theatres. CBC film critic Eli Glasner reviews virtually all American films.
Canada Screens uses Internet to showcase Canadian film
Canada Screens is a way to get films into Canadian homes. The site's library is not deep and certainly doesn't have films when they are relatively new.
Even with the innovation of the Internet and online sources, there is a disconnect between Canadians seeing films in theatres and seeing Canadian films in those theatres.
Canadians in cities, towns, and villages should have access to Canadian film, art films or otherwise. We've seen too many stories from cynics of Canadian film who talk about award-winning films where most Canadians have limited or zero access.
TIFF runs a Top 10 festival each year. We saw the #SeeTheNorth experiment of showing Canadian films in New York City and New Orleans in 2016. Why not have a similar traveling Canadian film festival concept in Regina and Charlottetown?
Creative Canada sounds promising but so much is still unknown
"We want to hear from Canadians and interested parties from all regions of the country on these important questions referred to the Commission by the Government. This will ensure we have the necessary information and evidence to prepare a report that will help inform the upcoming review of the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Acts." — Ian Scott, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the CRTC
The CRTC is inviting Canadians to share their views until November 24 on how they will access audio and video content in the coming years.
Here are 3 ways Canadians can participate:
- filling out the online form
- writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A ON2
- sending a fax to (819) 994-0218
Canadians: user your collective voices and speak up loud.
2017 Windsor International Film Festival preview
Speaking of art films, the 2017 Windsor International Film Festival starts this morning and runs through to Sunday night. This is about Canadian film but also a chance to see films within a community. People will talk and tell you what they like and what they don't.
Windsor is not one of the top 6 or top 10 cities in size. But people will flock to see films that truly qualify as art films. There are Canadians who want to see these kind of films and not just in the big cities.
photo credit: TIFF
Comments