The Ottawa Canadian Film Festival is back at the Bytowne Cinema from Nov. 7-9 for its 8th annual festival.
This year’s festival will feature 16 films by Canadian filmmakers, including three from Ottawa:
<Bridge the Gap> by Luca Fiore
<Bridge the Gap> follows the day-to-day mundane life of Dan behind the lens of a documentary crew that only he can see and hear. What kind of trouble will Dan get into, and what will his subconscious voice tell him about it?
The film will be screened at the Ottawa Canadian Film Festival on Nov. 7 at 9pm.
A Good Day Will Come by Amir Zargara
Running 26-minutes long in Farsi, this film is about Arash—a professional wrestler with dreams of representing his country. Amid the country’s turmoil, Arash faces an impossible dilemma of standing up to tyranny or remaining silent while he goes for the gold.
“A Good Day Will Come was inspired by the story of Navid Afkari, an Iranian wrestler unjustly executed in 2020 during a time of widespread unrest and human rights abuses in Iran. Born just a few months apart, Navid and I led very different lives after I moved to Canada, where I gained the freedom to express myself—a stark contrast to the oppressive environment back home, where people risk imprisonment for challenging the status quo,” Zargara writes on his website.
“Through this film, I aim to shed light on the endurance and spirit of the Iranian people, fostering empathy and understanding across global audiences. A Good Day Will Come strives to distinguish between the Iranian government and its people, advocating for human rights and unity through storytelling.”
A Good Day Will Come is screening at the film festival on Nov. 8 at 7pm.
Ayam Zaman (The Old Days) by Hassib Hani
Hassib Hani explores young love, conflict and resolution in this seven-minute short film, which depicts the reunion of two young men at one of their engagement parties. The pair must face the events that tore them apart as old memories resurface.
The film won a Best Film Award at Digi60 last year and will be screening at the film festival on Nov. 8 at 7pm.
A Good Day Will Come. Photo from Amir Zargara’s website.
In addition to the annual screenings, OCan hosts various activities throughout the year, all aimed at fostering a vibrant film culture in Ottawa and beyond. The festival has become a much-anticipated event in the local arts calendar, drawing film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and members of the community together to celebrate Canadian film on the big screen.
“Opportunities for established and aspiring filmmakers to engage in discussions about films, and fielding questions from an audience is an essential part of the film festival experience,” says OCan co-founder Jith Paul. “I’m excited that we have a record number of producers, directors, cast, and crew from featured films planning to attend this year, including at least a half dozen travelling to Ottawa from other parts of the country.”
As a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization, OCan is dedicated to promoting Canadian film as a vital and distinctive element of our country’s culture.
The OCan Film Festival is committed to showcasing Canadian film as an essential and influential part of our national identity. Through its annual festival and year-round programming, OCan supports Canadian filmmakers and promotes film as a significant cultural and economic driver in Ottawa and across the country.
Learn more about the organization and the film festival here.
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