OTTAWA – Canadian feature films will receive star treatment this summer courtesy of Governor General David Johnston.
The first-ever Rideau Hall Movie Nights will debut this August, featuring outdoor screenings of acclaimed English and French Canadian films, screened on alternate nights, on the grounds of the official residence of the Governor General at 1 Sussex Drive in Ottawa.
The public will be invited to bring their blankets and settle in to watch these films under the stars. Official dates and film selection will be announced soon.
“Enjoyed by millions of people here at home and around the world, Canada’s vibrant film industry and its many achievements deserve to be celebrated,” said the Governor General on Monday. “I am pleased to invite you to join me at Rideau Hall this August for a taste of our homegrown talent and a memorable evening among friends.”
The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) was quick to applaud the initiative and promised to actively promote the free event over the coming months. Industry partners working with the CMPA on this initiative include Cineplex Entertainment, Bell Media, Entertainment One, Air Canada, Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund, Deluxe, the Canadian Film Institute and the Association québecoise de la production médiatique.
“The unique partnership of Rideau Hall Movie Nights for me clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when key industry partners come together in pursuit of a common goal,” said CMPA president and CEO Michael Hennessy, in a statement. “Supporting, promoting and celebrating Canadian content in all its forms is critical for all industry partners in the changing media world, and feature film enhances our cultural brand abroad.”
