The best way to get Canadians to better appreciate this country’s film industry is to gather them up in one big room and show them a great flick. That was the good old-fashioned advice shared by Canadian actor, writer and filmmaker Don McKellar at Tuesday’s massive screening in Ottawa of the Iqaluit-shot Arctic drama Two Lovers and a Bear.
French Canadian actress Karine Vanasse and Canadian actor, writer and filmmaker Don McKellar were on hand for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
“I know that sounds barbaric but, believe it or not, before people were watching movies on their phones and their computers it was a very common social experience,” he told his amused audience in the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall, while on stage with French Canadian actress Karine Vanasse. “People would go on dates to the movies.
“When people see a good Canadian film – despite what they’ve read in the press – they enjoy it and want to see more.”
The award-winning celebs were at the screening to, as McKellar humourously put it, “introduce the people who are going to introduce the film.
“That’s the way they do it here in Ottawa; they love introductions.”
Event organizer Susan Smith, principal at Bluesky Strategy Group, with Orléans MP and Chief Government Whip Andrew Leslie at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear.
The evening helped to launch Movie Nights Across Canada, a year-long event that will bring premiere screenings of homegrown feature films on a cross-country tour. It’s being held in conjunction with the Canada 150 celebrations.
Seen arriving on the red carpet were Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, with her movie star-good looks, and the film’s director, Kim Nguyen, and producer, Roger Frappier. Attendees included Parliamentarians, sponsors, film industry types and members of Canada’s culturati.
From left, seen on the red carpet were producer Roger Frappier, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, director Kim Nguyen and Jonathan Bronfman of JoBro Productions and Film Finance, for the screening of the Canadian movie Two Lovers and a Bear, shown at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, as part of the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.
Two Lovers and a Bear stars Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany and American actor Dane DeHaan, as well as legendary thespian Gordon Pinsent as the voice of the talking polar bear.
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![Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, centre, on the red carpet with French Canadian actress Karine Vanasse and Canadian actor, writer and filmmaker Don McKellar at the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)]()
Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, centre, on the red carpet with French Canadian actress Karine Vanasse and Canadian actor, writer and filmmaker Don McKellar at the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen)
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![Susan Smith, principal at Bluesky Strategy Group, with Orléans MP and Chief Government Whip Andrew Leslie at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear]()
Susan Smith, principal at Bluesky Strategy Group, with Orléans MP and Chief Government Whip Andrew Leslie at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear
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![From left, Carolle Brabant, executive director of Telefilm Canada, with Jayne Watson, CEO of the NAC Foundation, and Serge Sasseville, senior vice president with Quebecor Media, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear.]()
From left, Carolle Brabant, executive director of Telefilm Canada, with Jayne Watson, CEO of the NAC Foundation, and Serge Sasseville, senior vice president with Quebecor Media, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear.
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![From left, ByWard Market restaurateur Peter Boole (Social, e18hteen, etc.) with Henrietta Southam and a very well-dressed Paul Jackson at the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, held at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.]()
From left, ByWard Market restaurateur Peter Boole (Social, e18hteen, etc.) with Henrietta Southam and a very well-dressed Paul Jackson at the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, held at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
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![Ottawa-based producer Catherine Clark and her husband, Chad Schella, director of government affairs at Canada Post, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear.]()
Ottawa-based producer Catherine Clark and her husband, Chad Schella, director of government affairs at Canada Post, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear.
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![Phil Fontaine, former three-term national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, at the National Arts Centre with his partner, law professor Kathleen Mahoney, on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the Movie Nights Across Canada launch, featuring the Iqaluit-filmed Two Lovers and a Bear.]()
Phil Fontaine, former three-term national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, at the National Arts Centre with his partner, law professor Kathleen Mahoney, on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the Movie Nights Across Canada launch, featuring the Iqaluit-filmed Two Lovers and a Bear.
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![Elizabeth Gray-Smith, senior content strategiest with Bluesky Strategy Group, on the red carpet with independent Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo at the screening for the Iqaluit-filmed Two Lovers and a Bear, shown at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, as part of the Movie Nights Across Canada launch.]()
Elizabeth Gray-Smith, senior content strategiest with Bluesky Strategy Group, on the red carpet with independent Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo at the screening for the Iqaluit-filmed Two Lovers and a Bear, shown at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, as part of the Movie Nights Across Canada launch.
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![French Canadian actress Karine Vanasse and Canadian actor, writer and filmmaker Don McKellar were on hand for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. (]()
French Canadian actress Karine Vanasse and Canadian actor, writer and filmmaker Don McKellar were on hand for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016. (
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![From left, Bruce Bowser, president and CEO of AMJ Campbell Van Lines, with Talent Fund advisory board members Sheila O'Gorman, Sandi Treliving, Carol Hill and David Aisenstat at the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, held at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.]()
From left, Bruce Bowser, president and CEO of AMJ Campbell Van Lines, with Talent Fund advisory board members Sheila O'Gorman, Sandi Treliving, Carol Hill and David Aisenstat at the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, held at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
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![From left, Robin Mirsky, executive director of the Rogers Group of Funds, with Heidi Bonnell, vice president of federal government affairs at Rogers Communications, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the screening of the Canadian movie Two Lovers and a Bear as part of the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.]()
From left, Robin Mirsky, executive director of the Rogers Group of Funds, with Heidi Bonnell, vice president of federal government affairs at Rogers Communications, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the screening of the Canadian movie Two Lovers and a Bear as part of the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.
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![From left, Ottawa lawyer Greg Kane with Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser, OrlÈans MP and Chief Government Whip Andrew Leslie and Barbara Uteck at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.]()
From left, Ottawa lawyer Greg Kane with Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser, OrlÈans MP and Chief Government Whip Andrew Leslie and Barbara Uteck at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.
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![From left, seen on the red carpet were producer Roger Frappier, Heritage Minister MÈlanie Joly, director Kim Nguyen and Jonathan Bronfman of JoBro Productions and Film Finance, for the screening of the Canadian movie Two Lovers and a Bear, shown at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, as part of the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.]()
From left, seen on the red carpet were producer Roger Frappier, Heritage Minister MÈlanie Joly, director Kim Nguyen and Jonathan Bronfman of JoBro Productions and Film Finance, for the screening of the Canadian movie Two Lovers and a Bear, shown at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, as part of the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.
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![Canadian actor John Ralston, seen with his Canadian actress wife Karen Waddell, is part of the cast of Two Lovers and a Bear, a Canadian movie screened at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, as part of the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.]()
Canadian actor John Ralston, seen with his Canadian actress wife Karen Waddell, is part of the cast of Two Lovers and a Bear, a Canadian movie screened at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, as part of the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.
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![From left, Dina Renon and Kasia Czarski at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, during the Movie Nights Across Canada reception, inspired by the characters and scenes from the Canadian movie that was screened that night, Two Lovers and a Bear.]()
From left, Dina Renon and Kasia Czarski at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, during the Movie Nights Across Canada reception, inspired by the characters and scenes from the Canadian movie that was screened that night, Two Lovers and a Bear.
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![Ottawa lawyer Hugues Boisvert with Caroline Séguin, director of policy for Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear.]()
Ottawa lawyer Hugues Boisvert with Caroline Séguin, director of policy for Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear.
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![From left, Canadian actor, writer and filmmaker Don McKellar with National Arts Centre president and CEO Peter Herrndorf and Rosemary Thompson, head of corporate communications and public affairs at the NAC, at the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, held at the NAC on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.]()
From left, Canadian actor, writer and filmmaker Don McKellar with National Arts Centre president and CEO Peter Herrndorf and Rosemary Thompson, head of corporate communications and public affairs at the NAC, at the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, held at the NAC on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
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![From left, John Ruddy, executive chairman of Trinity Development Group, and his wife Jennifer, with Toronto philanthropists Linda and Fred Waks at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.]()
From left, John Ruddy, executive chairman of Trinity Development Group, and his wife Jennifer, with Toronto philanthropists Linda and Fred Waks at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
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![Immigration Minister John McCallum in conversation with Two Lovers and a Bear cast member Johnny Issaluk, also a long-time Inuit games athlete, at the screening of the Canadian movie at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, as part of the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.]()
Immigration Minister John McCallum in conversation with Two Lovers and a Bear cast member Johnny Issaluk, also a long-time Inuit games athlete, at the screening of the Canadian movie at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, as part of the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada.
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![Viewers of the Canadian movie Two Lovers and a Bear, shown at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, mingled afterward at a reception that was creatively inspired in its decor by the characters and scenes in the movie.]()
Viewers of the Canadian movie Two Lovers and a Bear, shown at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, mingled afterward at a reception that was creatively inspired in its decor by the characters and scenes in the movie.
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![John Ruddy, executive chairman of Trinity Development Group, and his wife, Jennifer, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear.]()
John Ruddy, executive chairman of Trinity Development Group, and his wife, Jennifer, at the National Arts Centre on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, for the launch of Movie Nights Across Canada, featuring the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear.
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![The Ottawa-based band 20th Century Boys (musicians most visible are, from left, lawyer Richard Mahoney, CPAC's Peter Van Dusen and Warren Everson from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce) played at the post-screening party for the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear .]()
The Ottawa-based band 20th Century Boys (musicians most visible are, from left, lawyer Richard Mahoney, CPAC's Peter Van Dusen and Warren Everson from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce) played at the post-screening party for the Canadian film Two Lovers and a Bear .
The screening was the latest in a popular series of Movie Nights on the Hill aimed at showcasing Canadian cinema. Past films have included Monsieur Lazhar, Barney’s Version, The Grand Seduction and Room.
After the show, everyone headed into the lobby for a reception, with live music from the Ottawa-based band 20th Century Boys.
