Overview
This year, in Vancouver, we’re excited to collaborate with the BC Environmental Film Festival to present the 2024’s best Canadian documentary, “The Spirit Who Swims.” Both the director and producer will be there to answer your questions, and we’ll have some surprise special guests, all moderated by Dr. Jennifer Jackson, Co-Founder and Science Adviser. This event is completely free with RSVP, and as the BC Environmental Film Festival holds charity status, any donations will receive a tax receipt from Canada Helps immediately upon contributing to our upcoming project. For more information, please visit www.BCEFF.org.
This year’s programming spotlight, “Something to Believe In,” is a reminder that our stories matter, and our diversity and creativity are worth showing up for. Canada is worth showing up for. So grab some popcorn and settle in. A glance at any news feed will tell you that our country is facing an unprecedented level of uncertainty. More than ever before, Canadians want to come together and stand united. National Canadian Film Day provides a unique opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate our stories… your stories. On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, over two million Canadians will gather in theatres, community halls, classrooms, and living rooms, as well as across the globe, to enjoy the films that make us proud to call this place home. Stand up for Canada – by sitting down to a great Canadian film.
Details
Event Host: BC Environmental Film Festival Society
Date: April 16, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Location: Cineplex Odeon International Village Auditorium 1
Screening: “The Spirit Who Swims”
Category: Documentary
Title: The Spirit Who Swims
Directors: Bev Sellars, Garry Tutte
Country of Origin: Canada 🇨🇦
Runtime: 55:45
Award: Winner of Best Canadian Film at the BC Environmental Film Festival 2024 edition
Special Guests:
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Bev Sellars – Author of “They Called Me Number One,” shares her experiences at St. Joseph’s Residential School. Former chief of Xat’sull First Nation, she advocates for Indigenous rights and environmental protection as founder of the Moccasin Footprint Society.
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Garry Tutte – A Toronto-based creative, is an award-winning director, cinematographer, and editor with work recognized at SxSW, the Canadian Screen Awards, and Banff World Media Festival.
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Dr. Jennifer Jackson – Co-founder and Science Advisor at BC Environmental Film Festival (BCEFF). Jennifer obtained her PhD from UBC in 2011, where she discovered a new layer in the Arctic Ocean that influences sea ice melt. Since then, she has studied the coastal waters of South Africa and British Columbia, focusing on changes in temperature and oxygen and how they influence the marine ecosystem. Jennifer is passionate about sharing science with people through film.
Additional Notes: More surprise guests to be determined (TBD).