Today CBC Films announced the lineup of exceptional Canadian features that will be available for free to wide audiences across Canada on CBC TV and CBC Gem each weekend from July to October, with several acclaimed titles having their Canadian network or broadcast premieres. The series will kick off on Saturday, July 2 and showcases a diverse array of creative talent from across the country with over 30 features from emerging and established filmmakers, reinforcing CBC’s continued investment in Canadian film.
Representing distinct and authentic perspectives from across the country, the following standout titles supported by CBC Films will air over the coming months: AKILLA’S ESCAPE directed by Charles Officer and starring musician and poet Saul Williams and Thamela Mpumlwana (produced by Canesugar Filmworks); FALLS AROUND HER directed by Darlene Naponse and featuring Tantoo Cardinal and Tina Keeper (produced by Baswewe Films and The Film Farm); GIANT LITTLE ONES directed by Keith Behrman and starring Kyle MacLachlan and Maria Bello; MONKEY BEACH directed by Loretta Todd and starring Grace Dove and Adam Beach (produced by Mama-oo Productions and Reunion Pacific Entertainment); and THE SONG OF NAMES directed by François Girard, and starring Clive Owen and Tim Roth (produced by Serendipity Point Films).
The following titles will air on CBC TV and the free CBC Gem streaming service as listed below, with select titles available now to stream. With a rich library of more than 200 Canadian features, CBC Gem offers an unparalleled destination for audiences across the country to discover homegrown film.
Saturday, July 2 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) – FALLS AROUND HER (2018, drama, directed by Darlene Naponse) *Canadian Network Premiere*
FALLS AROUND HER follows Mary Birchbark (Tantoo Cardinal), a legendary singer who returns to the vast wilderness of her reserve to reconnect with the land and her community. Mary begins to sense that someone might be watching her. Unsure of what is real and what is imagined, Mary embraces isolation as she explores the psychological impact of her past and present.
Saturday, July 23 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 3 a.m. PT (July 24)) – AKILLA’S ESCAPE (2020, drama, directed by Charles Officer)
*Exclusive Canadian Broadcast Premiere*
When a routine deal goes bad, a drug trader tries to set things right while unexpected circumstances force him to confront his traumatic origins. During what is supposed to be a simple, routine handoff, 40-year-old drug trader Akilla Brown (Saul Williams) is suddenly caught in the middle of a violent robbery. Narrowly making it out alive, he captures one of the thieves, a teenaged Jamaican boy named Sheppard. Under the pressure of the criminals who hired him, Akilla must set things right and retrieve the stolen goods over the course of one arduous night. When Akilla discovers that Sheppard’s gang has ties to the Garrison Army, the same crime organization he fell into as a child, he has to confront his own traumatic origins and becomes compelled to help the boy survive — and possibly even make the escape that he never could.
Saturday, July 30 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) – THE SONG OF NAMES (2019, drama, directed by François Girard) *Canadian Network Premiere*
Martin Simmonds (Tim Roth) has been haunted throughout his life by the mysterious disappearance of his “brother” and extraordinary best friend, a Polish Jewish virtuoso violinist, Dovidl Rapaport, who vanished shortly before the 1951 London debut concert that would have launched his brilliant career. Thirty-five years later, Martin discovers that Dovidl (Clive Owen) may still be alive, and sets out on an obsessive intercontinental search to find him and learn why he left.
Saturday, August 6 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) – GIANT LITTLE ONES (2018, drama, directed by Keith Behrman) *Canadian Network TV Premiere* *Available now on CBC Gem*
Franky Winter (Josh Wiggins) and Ballas Kohl (Darren Mann) have been best friends since childhood. They are high school royalty: handsome, stars of the swim team and popular with girls. They live a perfect teenage life – until the night of Franky’s epic 17th birthday party, when Franky and Ballas are involved in an unexpected incident that changes their lives forever.
Saturday, August 13 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) – MONKEY BEACH (2020, drama, directed by Loretta Todd)
Lisa Hill (Grace Dove) has supernatural powers that foretell death and allow her to see mythical creatures and talk to dead people. But of course, she’d rather be “normal” so tries to party the visions away. At Monkey Beach, Lisa goes on a journey to the Land of the Dead where she realizes her powers are actually a gift. This is a story of both joy and tragedy, grief and survival, and a family on the edge of heartbreak. It is a rich celebration of life in the Native settlement of Kitamaat, on the coast of British Columbia.
Saturday, September 3 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) – SLEEPING GIANT (2015, drama, directed by Andrew Cividino) *Canadian Network TV Premiere* *Available now on CBC Gem*
Teenager Adam Hudson (Jackson Martin) is spending his summer vacation with his parents on rugged Lake Superior. His dull routine is shattered when he befriends Riley and Nate, smart aleck cousins who pass their ample free time with debauchery and reckless cliff jumping. The revelation of a hurtful secret triggers Adam to set in motion a series of irreversible events that test the bonds of friendship and change the boys forever.
The full schedule of Canadian feature films available on CBC TV and CBC Gem in the coming months is as follows:
*Schedule is subject to change
FALLS AROUND HER (2018, drama, directed by Darlene Naponse) – Saturday, July 2 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) *Canadian Network Premiere*
CLOSET MONSTER (2015, drama, directed by Stephen Dunn) – Saturday, July 2 and Saturday, August 6 at 11 p.m. (12 AT, 12:30 NT, 1 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
MEAN DREAMS (2016, drama, directed by Nathan Morlando) – Sunday, July 3 at 1 a.m. (2 AT, 2:30 NT, 3am PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN (2019, drama, directed by Kathleen Hepburn and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers) – Saturday, July 9 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) and Sunday, September 18 at 12 a.m. (1 AT, 1:30 NT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
MOUTHPIECE (2018, drama, directed by Patricia Rozema) – Saturday, July 9 at 11:30 p.m. (4:30 a.m. PT (July 10)) *Available now on CBC Gem*
LEVEL 16 (2018, sci-fi/drama, directed by Danishka Esterhazy) – Sunday, July 10 at 1:30 a.m. (3:30 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
CLARA (2018, sci-fi/drama, directed by Akash Sherman) – Saturday, July 16 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 2am PT) *Canadian Network TV Premiere* *Available now on CBC Gem*
AKILLA’S ESCAPE (2020, crime/drama, directed by Charles Officer) – Saturday, July 23 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 3 a.m. PT (July 24)) *Exclusive Canadian Broadcast Premiere*
THE SONG OF NAMES (2019, drama, directed by François Girard) – Saturday, July 30 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) *Canadian Network Premiere*
INTO INVISIBLE LIGHT (2018, drama, directed by Shelagh Carter) – Saturday, July 30 at 11:30 p.m. (12:30 AT, 1am NT, 1:30am PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
BROOKLYN (2015, drama, directed by John Crowley) – Sunday, July 31 at 1:30 a.m. (2:30 AT,3 am, NT), 3:30 am PT *Available now on CBC Gem*
GIANT LITTLE ONES (2018, drama, directed by Keith Behrman) – Saturday, August 6 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) *Canadian Network TV Premiere* *Available now on CBC Gem*
OCTAVIO IS DEAD! (2018, drama, directed by Sook-Yin Lee) – Sunday, August 7 at 1 a.m. (2 AT, 2:30 NT, 3 am PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
MONKEY BEACH (2020, drama, directed by Loretta Todd) – Saturday, August 13 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT)
MAN RUNNING (2018, drama, directed by Gary Burns) – Saturday, August 13 at 11 p.m. (12 AT, 12:30 NT, 1 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
BEEBA BOYS (2015, crime/drama, directed by Deepa Mehta) – Sunday, August 14 at 1 a.m. (2 AT, 2:30 NT, 3am PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
THROUGH BLACK SPRUCE (2018, drama, directed by Don McKellar) – Saturday, August 20 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) *Canadian Network Premiere*
AMERICAN WOMAN (2019, drama, directed by Semi Chellas) – Saturday, August 20 at 11 p.m. (12 AT, 12:30 NT, 1 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
THE RIVER OF MY DREAMS: A PORTRAIT OF GORDON PINSENT (2016, documentary, directed by Brigitte Berman) – Sunday, August 21 at 1 a.m. (2 AT, 2:30 NT, 3 PT)
SPLINTERS (2018, drama, directed by Thom Fitzgerald ) – Saturday, August 27 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) *Canadian Network Premiere*
TROUBLE IN THE GARDEN (2018, drama, directed by Roz Owen) – Saturday, August 27 at 11 p.m. (12 AT, 12:30 NT, 1 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
JEAN OF THE JONES (2016, comedy, directed by Stella Meghie) – Sunday, August 28 at 1 a.m. (2 AT, 2:30 NT, 3 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
SLEEPING GIANT (2015, drama, directed by Andrew Cividino) – Saturday, September 3 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) *Canadian Network TV Premiere* *Available now on CBC Gem*
MILTON’S SECRET (2016, drama, directed by Barnet Bain) – Saturday, September 3 at 11 p.m. (12 AT, 12:30 NT, 1 PT)
AN AUDIENCE OF CHAIRS (2018, drama, directed by Deanne Foley) – Sunday, September 4 at 1 a.m. (2 AT, 2:30 NT, 3 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
RED SNOW (2019, drama, directed by Marie Clements) – Saturday, September 10 at 10 p.m. (11 AT, 11:30 NT, 11 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
WINDOW HORSES (2016, animation, directed by Ann Marie Fleming) – Sunday, September 11 at 12 a.m. (1 AT, 1:30 NT, 1 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
HONEY BEE (2018, drama, directed by Rama Rau) – Saturday, September 17 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT)
ANGELIQUE’S ISLE (2018, thriller, directed by Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Michelle Derosier) – Saturday, September 24 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
TWO LOVERS AND A BEAR (2016, adventure/drama, directed by Kim Nguyen) – Saturday, September 24 at 11 p.m. (12 AT, 12:30 NT, 1 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
PAPER YEAR (2018, drama, directed by Rebecca Addelman) – Sunday, September 25 at 1 a.m. (2 AT, 2:30 NT, 3 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
SOUL ON ICE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE (2015, documentary, directed by Damon Kwame Mason) – Saturday, October 1 at 9 p.m. (10 AT, 10:30 NT, 11 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
INDIAN HORSE (2017, drama, directed by Stephen S. Campanelli) – Saturday, October 1 at 11 p.m. (12 AT, 12:30 NT, 1 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*
GOALIE (2019, drama, directed by Adriana Maggs) – Sunday, October 2 at 1 a.m. (2 AT, 2:30 NT, 3 PT) *Available now on CBC Gem*