Canadian Crossing: Celebrating National Canadian Film Day 2019

THE A to Zs of #CanFilmDay 📚 🇨🇦 — April 17

ANGRY INUK
BACK TO GOD'S COUNTRY
C.R.A.Z.Y.
DEAD RINGERS
EDGE OF THE KNIFE
FALLS AROUND HER
GINGER SNAPS
HURT
INDIAN HORSE
KAYAK TO KLEMTU
LÉOLO
MAUDIE
NELLY
LES ORDRES
POUR LA SUITE DU MONDE
REMEMBER
SABAH
THE TROTSKY
VIDEODROME
WATER
— Canadian Film Day (@canfilmday) April 4, 2019

An alphabetical list is a great way to think about Canadian film as we celebrate National Canadian Film Day today. I decided to come up with my own list in the spirit of the exercise.

These are Canadian films that I have seen. I didn't necessarily pick the best film that started with the letter but compiled a list with a cross-section of Canadian film. I could not come up with X or Z (or Zed). I would love to do a documentary on Zed called Zed or Z in American.

I also picked different films from the @CanFilmDay list. My list isn't better or worse than their list or other lists.

All the Wrong Reasons
Better Than Chocolate
Cafe de Flore
The Decline of the American Empire
Empire of Dirt
The Five Senses
Goin’ Down the Road
Hard Core Logo
Into the Forest
Jesus of Montreal
Kissed
Last Night
Marion Bridge
New Waterford Girl
One Week
Polytechnique
Quebec-Montreal
The Red Violin
Stardom
Trigger
Unarmed Verses
Vic and Flo Saw a Bear
waydowntown
x
The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom
z

Those who live or are in Canada can celebrate at Canadian film gatherings across the country. You can celebrate in an more intimate setting with online streaming, films on cable channels, and films in Canadian theatres.

While CBC Gem is mostly for television, the service has quite a few Canadian film titles. A relative new trend is checking out Canadian films from your local library. You can support Canadian film and your local library at the same time. Canada Screens is another great option within Canada where you can rent individual films one at a time.

The necessity of Canadian films that don't seem Canadian

You can even explore Canadian films that don't look Canadian with subtitles in languages other than English or French or an indigenous language. They count, too.

Made Nous and other ways to promote Canadian content

Dream of a Starlight Canadian film channel should shift to a streaming service

Made | Nous has been a wonderful campaign to bring a spotlight to Canadian content. You can use your love of Canadian television to find films that have the same actor. Emily Hampshire just won a Canadian Screen Award for her portrayal of Stevie Budd on Schitt's Creek. You can see Hampshire in Canadian films such as The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, All the Wrong Reasons, My Awkward Sexual Adventure, Cosmopolis, Good Neighbours, and The Trotsky.

Kevin Hanchard has done a lot of Canadian television, including Orphan Black. Hanchard also played Dizzy Gillespie in Born to Be Blue.

Caroline Dhavernas is known for her TV work but has been in a number of Canadian films in English and French: Hochelaga, Land of Souls; The Forbidden Room; Mars et Avril; Passchendaele; and Niagara Motel.

This year's edition of the National Canadian Film Day has the theme of 100 years of Canadian film. Reel Canada points out the oldest surviving feature film from 1919: Nell Shipman's silent film Back to God’s Country.

I know I've seen a couple of shorter films from the 1960s. Goin' Down the Road (1970) and Mon Oncle Antoine (1971) are the caretakers to the shift to the modern era of Canadian film. You might choose a more recent Canadian film but you do have more options.