Three venues in the Town of Minto will be part of the “largest film festival ever in the world,” according to one of the local organizers.
April 19 is National Canadian Film Day (NCFD).
Last year, National Canadian Film Day inspired over 400 events in communities across the country.
This year, building on the Canada 150 anniversary celebration theme, organizers have confirmed over 1,700 NCFD events across Canada, and abroad. The numbers include 30 Canadian embassies and consulates as well as over 50 military bases participating worldwide.
Locally, the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Harriston is hosting a viewing of Passchendaele, a 2008 Canadian war film written, co-produced and directed by, and starring Paul Gross.
The film focuses on the experiences of a Canadian soldier, Michael Dunne, at the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres.
The film is being shown at 7pm at the Crown Theatre in Harriston.
Harriston Legion member Terry Fisk said the operators of the downtown movie house have offered the venue free of charge for the event.
NCFD events must be offered free of charge to the public and the film is being supplied at no cost by Reel Canada.
“It’s a great, great location, perfect for what we want to do, and we’re hoping to fill it up,” said Fisk.
Fisk noted the Crown, located on Elora Street, regularly offers a free screening of a National Film Board offering on Wednesday nights, so the NCFD event fits in well with its program. For more information on the Crown Theatre and Cultural Centre go to www.facebook.com/thecrowntheater.
In addition to the Legion-sponsored event, the Harriston library is also offering a NCFD film, the 2015 coming of age story Sleeping Giant, beginning at 6pm.
Also on April 19, the Norgan Theatre in Palmerston is showing the 1985 classic My American Cousin at 7:15pm. The Norgan event is part of the Canada on Screen project and is also free.
“There are actually three venues in our little community that are participating in this world-record-breaking event,” said Fisk.
“We’re kind of excited about being part of a world’s largest ever event.”
