For National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2026, Telefilm Canada, the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) and the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE) are joining forces for an initiative aimed at strengthening audience engagement with Indigenous stories.
This first edition, developed as a pilot project, will take place in participating cinemas across Canada on September 30. By bringing Indigenous films directly to audiences in theatres across the country, the initiative seeks to foster dialogue, deepen understanding and strengthen community connections with Indigenous storytelling.
Thirteen members of NICE will receive financial support to deliver audience engagement activities through enriching in-theatre experiences that reinforce the role of independent cinemas as vital gathering places. A collaborative effort bringing together exhibitors, distributors, Telefilm and the ISO to grow audiences for Indigenous cinema through theatrical experiences.
This initiative builds on ongoing efforts by Telefilm and the ISO to support, showcase and promote Indigenous creators and stories. It also directly advances the priorities outlined in Telefilm’s Indigenous Reconciliation Plan by creating new opportunities for Indigenous voices to be seen, heard and watched. Through concrete actions that improve access, visibility and audience engagement, the initiative contributes to a more inclusive and representative screen-based ecosystem while supporting meaningful reconciliation through storytelling.
| Venue | Film | City | Province / Territory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Whittle Theatre | Night Raiders | Wolfville | Nova Scotia |
| ByTowne Cinema | Ever Deadly Clearcut | Ottawa | Ontario |
| Cinecenta | AKI | Victoria | British Columbia |
| Cinéma Public | Nitassinan | Montreal | Quebec |
| Orpheum Theatre | Nika & Madison Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At The Place of Ghosts) | Estevan | Saskatchewan |
| qathet Film Society | təm kʷaθ nan (Namesake) | qathet Regional District | British Columbia |
| Revue Cinema | SLASH/BACK | Toronto | Ontario |
| Sudbury Indie Cinema | AKI | Sudbury | Ontario |
| The Cinematheque | Endless Sunlight What We Carry | Vancouver | British Columbia |
| The Grand Theatre | Singing Back the Buffalo | Indian Head | Saskatchewan |
| The Vernon Towne Theatre | Singing Back the Buffalo Blood Lines | Vernon | British Columbia |
| Westdale Theatre | AKI Blood Lines | Hamilton | Ontario |
| Yukon Theatre | Rhymes for Young Ghouls Siksikakowan: The Blackfoot Man | Whitehorse | Yukon |
Additionally, many more independent theatres across the country will be screening Indigenous films on September 30, offering audiences even more opportunities to experience these stories on the big screen.
Visit Telefilm’s See It All website to discover participating theatres and find out which Indigenous films are playing on September 30.
An initiative by participating cinemas supported by Telefilm Canada, the Indigenous Screen Office, and the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE).