As U.S. president Donald Trump ramps up trade and annexation threats, Sharon Corder and Jack Blum are calling on Canadians to clap back 鈥� not with picket signs, but popcorn.
The husband-and-wife team behind National Canadian Film Day say this Wednesday鈥檚 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.
鈥淢ost of us feel that our culture is threatened. And I think everybody steps up when they think that,鈥� says Corder.
鈥淎s I've seen on social media, just because we're polite, don't think we're not mean. So this is a statement that we exist.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 also a statement of our values,鈥� adds Blum, who co-founded the non-profit Reel Canada with Corder to screen Canadian films in schools across the country.
鈥淢ovies and stories convey values and this is how we tell each other who we are. And Canadians aren't necessarily used to watching their own stories 鈥� there鈥檚 massive competition from our neighbours to the south and it's very hard to find them.鈥�
He explains that Canadian films don't have nearly as much money for promotion as Hollywood blockbusters.
Several films will premiere on National Canadian Film Day, including Chad Archibald鈥檚 slasher 鈥淚t Feeds鈥� starring Ashley Greene and Shawn Ashmore, which will screen at more than 20 cinemas. The National Screen Institute will also debut the short "The Difference Between Us" in a virtual event, followed by an interview with director Dabi Anele.
Launched in 2014, National Canadian Film Day celebrates the country鈥檚 film industry with events hosted in venues ranging from theatres and libraries to embassies and consulates worldwide. Exhibitors sign up and co-ordinate events at the local level, while Reel Canada supplies a curated selection of homegrown films.
Blum and Corder expect to surpass their 2017 milestone, when they received extra federal funding for Canada's 150th birthday and delivered 1,800 screenings. They say Telefilm and various industry sponsors have provided 鈥渨ell-timed鈥� funding this year, and they鈥檝e seen a 25 per cent increase in partners showing films. Cineplex has donated 30 screens in 20 different theatres across the country.
Blum says this year鈥檚 event feels timely as a wave of renewed patriotism sweeps the country. He believes that while the 鈥渂uy Canadian鈥� movement is gaining traction, more Canadians are also challenging the grip of U.S. culture on their screens and making a conscious shift to 鈥渨atch Canadian.鈥�
鈥淏ecause we're doing it in the grocery store, I think a lot of people are thinking, 鈥榃ell, maybe I should not be watching Netflix all the time. Maybe I should get a little Canada in the diet.'鈥�
In addition to theatrical premieres, there are anniversary screenings of Canadian classics. The Vancouver International Film Festival will hold a special screening of 鈥淢y American Cousin,鈥� which turns 40 this year, followed by a Q&A with the film鈥檚 director Sandy Wilson.
Another highlight is 鈥淓lbows Up for Canadian Culture,鈥� a fundraising event in Toronto featuring a town hall discussion with Mary Walsh, Don McKellar, Yannick Bisson and Elle-M谩ij谩 Tailfeathers.
Sixty films are being showcased this year, with the theme of 鈥渟omething to believe in.鈥� They also include Matthew Rankin鈥檚 2024 absurdist comedy 鈥淯niversal Language,鈥� 2018鈥檚 Indigenous sports drama 鈥淭he Grizzlies鈥� and 2017鈥檚 Tragically Hip documentary 鈥淟ong Time Running.鈥�
Blum believes Canada鈥檚 film industry needs to find ways to capitalize on the revived nationalism around the country.
鈥淥ften we've had to really go out of our way to find people and get their attention for (Canadian films). I think there's a moment now where people are hungry for it, where their appetite is heightened. Producers, the agencies that fund films and distributors have to recognize that and take advantage of it and reach out to those audiences,鈥� he says.
鈥淲e've been able to prove that there is an audience out there, not just in Hipsterville, Toronto, but everywhere, for these films,鈥� adds Corder.
鈥淭here are people all over this country who want to see a Canadian film if they can get a chance.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2025.
Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
