Why go
Film gives a different lens on the country’s cities and landscapes. Niagara Falls appeared in very early motion pictures, and the National Film Board helped establish a documentary tradition. Filmmakers such as David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan and Denys Arcand show how varied Canadian cinema became across languages and genres.
The full story
Cameras were pointed at Niagara Falls in the 1890s, when moving pictures were still new. Early Canadian filmmaking also included James Freer’s Manitoba documentaries, which were shown abroad to encourage immigration. The National Film Board of Canada emerged in 1939 and became an important home for documentary and animation. Later production grew around Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver. These cities also work as locations for films made elsewhere, which can blur the difference between a Canadian setting and a Canadian film. English- and French-language cinema developed overlapping but distinct audiences and institutions. Directors including David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan, Sarah Polley, Denys Arcand and Xavier Dolan illustrate that range. A film festival, cinema or museum programme can connect a trip to those traditions more directly than a list of streets used as backdrops.
Useful to know
- For a film-focused visit, look at current cinema, festival or National Film Board programmes rather than assuming a production site is open to visitors.