March 19, 2020 — This week we had hoped to be announcing that once again, National Canadian Film Day would feature more than 1000 screening events scheduled all across the country and around the world. We were excited that Canadians everywhere would gather to celebrate our national cinema, through the lens of this year’s spotlight theme of “World on Fire”. But when we first devised that theme back in August, to reflect on the volatile and unpredictable world we saw around us, we never could have imagined where we would be today.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking the unavoidable decision of canceling all live NCFD events.
However, National Canadian Film Day will still take place on April 22.
In the coming days and weeks, we will be announcing online programming and offering a whole variety of ways to participate remotely. With the support of our broadcast and online partners, and social media platforms, we will make it possible for every Canadian to enjoy a great Canadian film, and connect with one another in a moment of sincere appreciation of our stories and our shared values.
We will also be working with our 120+ retirement residence and long term care facility partners to ensure that special programming is accessible to their residents on April 22. We hope that these offerings will bring some comfort and much-needed cheer to our most vulnerable citizens, who are in isolation and away from their families and loved ones.
We want to give ourselves, each other, and all of Canada a warm (virtual) hug, and express our immense gratitude for being here for one another in the face of a global crisis.
We hope that NCFD can be a way to boost our spirits and make us all feel closer to each other during our difficult but necessary self-isolation.
So on April 22, please join us. Watch a Canadian film, join the conversation online, and let the world know how you feel about this incredible country.
Stay safe and take care of each other,