Canadian Films in the Spotlight at The Woodlands School

from reel canada

“Canadian Films . . . Coming To a High School Near You!”

In classrooms and gymnasiums transformed by big screens and big sound, over 1,400 students from schools – the entire population of The Woodlands School – will attend their own Canadian film festival through the REEL CANADA “Our Films In Our Schools” program.

Now in its sixth season, REEL CANADA has presented over 300 screenings of Canadian features, documentaries and animated films to almost 40,000 students across Ontario, B.C. and beyond.

Films to be screened on December 7th, chosen by participating students include One Week (2008), The Trotsky (2010), Khaled (2002), Pontypool (2008), Sharkwater (2006) and Citizen Duane (2006).

In attendance to present their work will be Liane Balaban, star of One Week, Stephen McHattie and Lisa Houle, stars of Pontypool, Michael Kanev, star of Khaled, Matt Hopkins, star of the short film Chili & Cheese and short filmmakers and comedians Adam Brodie and Dave Derewlany.

Liane Balaban

Created by a committee of passionate filmmakers and dedicated educators in 2005, REEL CANADA is designed to foster greater awareness of, and pride in, Canadian films, by bringing the excitement of a film festival experience directly into high schools. It is an immersive, dynamic learning experience that introduces teenage audiences to home-grown films and filmmakers.

Academy Award nominated director and REEL CANADA Board member Atom Egoyan is one of the many celebrated filmmakers who have presented their work to students through REEL CANADA, noting “It’s the dream of any filmmaker to engage in a dialogue with an audience. [The teenage] audience is the most difficult to reach, so the experience of such an intimate response is a career highlight for me.”

Canada faces unique challenges in creating and maintaining a viable cultural identity. Movies and television from the U.S. are ubiquitous and overwhelming. By engaging future audiences and inspiring filmmakers at home, REEL CANADA helps to foster a sense of pride for Canadian culture among high school students and helps build future audiences for Canadian film.

A recent study by YOUTHOGRAPHY, Canada’s leading youth research organization, shows that REEL CANADA participants respond much more enthusiastically to Canadian film than non-participating teens surveyed nationally. In fact, positive responses rose an average of ten percentage points above the national average across a wide variety of attitudes, and when asked if they wanted to learn more about Canadian movies and the people who make them, affirmative responses rose from 39% to an astonishing 90%.

For more info check out Reel Canada

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