Over 800 Medicine Hat High School students will spend a day immersed in Canadian films on Thursday, April 5, 2012 as the travelling REEL CANADA film festival screens a variety of films and gives students a chance to meet either the filmmakers or the actors who brought the films to life.

The films, programmed by the students themselves, include How She Move, Wild Life, The Rocket, Fido, Passchendaele, and Inside Hana’s Suitcase. Wherever possible, actors or filmmakers will conduct Q+A sessions with students via Skype.

In addition, a special animation program will be conducted by Oscar-nominated Alberta filmmakers Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis, creators of Wild Life, nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2012.

“We can’t wait to show these films to Medicine Hat students,” says REEL CANADA’s executive director Jack Blum. “The students chose some outstanding movies to watch, and we know they will be totally inspired by the quality of the filmmakers and the stories they are telling – right here in Canada.” Blum will also be in attendance in Medicine Hat.

REEL CANADA is a traveling film festival that has exposed over 100,000 high school students to the incredible achievements of Canadian filmmakers for the past seven years, enhancing their appreciation of our national culture. This year, the festival also includes a Welcome to Canada program, which brings the immersive, dynamic learning experience of REEL CANADA to new Canadians, introducing them to home-grown films and filmmakers.

In the 2012 spring season, the festival is touring the country with 20 events in eight provinces. Cities include Ottawa, ON, Montague, PEI, Montreal, QC, Medicine Hat, AB, Winnipeg MB, Calgary AB, Stonewall, MB, Brampton, ON, Toronto, ON, Fredericton, NB, Saskatoon, SK and Vancouver, BC.

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.

REEL CANADA is supported by an advisory committee of Canada’s most celebrated film professionals: Hussain Amarshi, Denys Arcand, Carl Bessai, Gary Burns, David Cronenberg, Colm Feore, Niv Fichman, Bryan Gliserman, Paul Gross, Norman Jewison, Robert Lantos, Bruce McDonald, Don McKellar, Deepa Mehta, Charlotte Mickie, Geoff Pevere, Marguerite Pigott, Gordon Pinsent, Sarah Polley, Peter Raymont, Patricia Rozema, Mina Shum, Tara Spencer-Nairn, and Jean Marc Vallée.

REEL CANADA is made possible by the generous support of our Founding Sponsor Telefilm Canada, and Premier Corporate Sponsor Cineplex Entertainment. National expansion is supported by a grant under the Youth Take Charge program of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

REEL CANADA’s Website