Hye’s Picks: National Canadian Film Day

On April 16, Canadians will unite in a massive, celebratory, elbows up explosion of Canadian film, as part of the world’s biggest film festival and Canada’s largest cultural celebration.

An estimated 100,000 Canadians will attend live events in every province and territory, and in more than 40 countries worldwide, while more than two million will enjoy hundreds of offerings at home, on broadcast and streaming.

This year’s CanFilmDay theme is Something To Believe In – a reminder about the power of stories from all points of view across all of Canada.

Hye’s Picks for CanFilmDay 2025 – Toronto Events

It Feeds, a pulse-pounding new horror film, will premiere nationwide at 20+ cinemas thanks to Black Fawn Films and the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE). In Toronto, the screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s cast and crew, including director Chad Archibald, and stars Shawn Ashmore (The Rookie, X-Men) and Ashley Greene (The Twilight Saga, Rogue).

The Toronto Latin American Film Festival presents the new drama about undocumented workers, Sin Papeles (Undocumented), featuring a Q&A with director Christian de la Cortina and producer Vanessa Caceres.

The Planet In Focus International Environmental Film Festival and ImagineNative Film & Media Arts Festival will be hosting a screening of the award-winning documentary YINTAH directed by Brenda Michell (Wet’suwet’en), Jennifer Wickham (Wet’suwet’en) and Michael Toledano. Special guest, co-director Michael Toledano will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening.

BIPOC TV & Film presents ROSIE, an inspiring film about love and finding family. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Gail Maurice and stars of the film Mélanie Bray and Keris Hope-Hill (Mohawk), hosted by actor Tamara Podemski.

ReelWorld Film Festival, Director’s Guild of Canada and the City of Toronto are partnering on a 30th anniversary screening of Rude, with director Clement Virgo and producer Damon D’Oliveira in attendance.

Breakthroughs Film Festival presents a special screening of the dystopian sci-fi thriller Night Raiders, featuring a Q&A with the film’s Canadian Screen Award winning costume designer Kendra Terpenning.

Future of Film Showcase in Toronto celebrates the 20th anniversary of C.R.A.Z.Y. with a screening and Q&A with actor Pierre-Luc Brillant.

Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) presents WINDOW HORSES at the Scotiabank Theatre.

Sean Kelly On Movies hosts a screening of PRESENTS VOUS N’ÊTES PAS SEULS (YOU ARE NOT ALONE) in Toronto’s Small World Centre.

Hye’s Picks for CanFilmDay 2025 – Canada Wide

The National Screen Institute will premiere the short The Difference Between Us, in a virtual event featuring a Q&A with the film’s director Dabi Anele. This film was part of an NSI training programme for refugees and newcomers in Manitoba.

The Bay of Blood Film Festival in North Bay, ON will feature a screening of the hilarious new slasher flick, Massacre at Femur Creek, followed by a post-screening Q&A with the film’s writer-director, Kyle Hytonen.

In Montréal, the Canada China International Film Festival is presenting a double feature with a matinee of the family-friendly fantasy Tia and Piujuq, including a recorded Q&A with director Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk), as well as a screening of the acclaimed drama Nadia, Butterfly with director Pascal Plante in attendance for a Q&A.

The Bibliothèque publique Laval-Goupil Public Library in Shippagan, New Brunswick will host a screening of JE M’APPELLE HUMAIN (CALL ME HUMAN) directed by Kim O’Bomsawin (Abenaki).