Ottawa Canadian Film Festival

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Ottawa Canadian Film Festival

The Ottawa Canadian Film Festival (OCanFilmFest) is a registered charity cultural organization whose mission is to celebrate Canadian films and filmmakers.

OCan is a Film Festival in Ottawa that celebrates Canadian film. Through annual festival screenings at the Bytowne Cinema in November and activities throughout the year, we work to promote Canadian film as distinctive and vital to our country’s culture and the local economy. OCanFilmFest is a registered charity that is artist and volunteer-run, and is strongly committed to fostering diversity in o

ur approach to programming. We strive to achieve this by encouraging film submissions from under-represented independent artists including those who identify as women, non-binary, Black, Indigenous, Persons of Colour (BIPoC), persons from the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and persons with disabilities. We recruit diverse members and voices to our Board of Directors and film selection jury. Donations accepted through Canada Helps. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ottawa-independent-film-festival/

06/01/2026

📽️ Heads up, Ottawa film lovers: our monthly newsletter lands in inboxes tomorrow morning, and you'll want to be on the list!

Every month, we serve up a curated mix of what's happening in Ottawa's film scene: upcoming screenings and festivals, a spotlight on a local filmmaker making waves, standout student films, our team's must-watch picks, and plenty more to keep your watchlist (and weekend) full.

Not subscribed yet? Hop on the list here 👉 https://mailchi.mp/c15377d23da2/ocan-newsletter

Are you a filmmaker with a project to share, or hosting an event we should know about? We'd love to feature you! Send the details our way at [email protected] and you could be in next month's edition.

05/04/2026

Hey Ottawa Film Lovers!

Our monthly newsletter goes out tomorrow morning, and if you're not already a subscriber, join the list! 📸

Each month, we put together a round-up of film events in Ottawa, showcase a local filmmaker, highlight student films, give our team's film recommendations, and more!

Subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/c15377d23da2/ocan-newsletter

If you'd love to contribute to our newsletter, submit your film to be featured or highlight your event! Email us at [email protected] with the details.

04/29/2026

Calling all Canadian student filmmakers! 🎬 We're passionate about championing the next generation of storytellers, and we want to see what you've been creating.

Recently wrapped a project? Send it our way at [email protected] for a chance to be featured in our monthly newsletter. Let's get your work in front of the audience it deserves. ♥️

04/21/2026

🎬 Big news for It Comes In Waves!

This Ottawa-made film is now streaming on Crave—bringing a powerful local story to audiences across the country.

🏆 After being named OCAN’s Audience Favourite last year, the film continues to build momentum.

👏 Congratulations to lead actor Adrian Walters on his ACTRA Award nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role—a well-deserved honour for an outstanding performance.

We’re proud to have screened It Comes In Waves and to support incredible filmmaking coming out of Ottawa.

📺 Watch it now on Crave.

03/31/2026

LAST CHANCE!

Late Submissions for OCan26 close TONIGHT!

The countdown is on—this is your last opportunity to have your film considered for this year’s festival. Let’s celebrate Canadian cinema together! Submit before midnight tonight!

Submit Now: https://filmfreeway.com/ocanfilmfest

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03/26/2026

🎬 Juror Announcement | OCAN 2026 🎬
We’re excited to welcome back Daniel Perras as a juror for the 2026 OCAN Festival — marking his third consecutive year on our jury! 🎉

Daniel is a seasoned broadcast professional based in Ottawa with a deep passion for film and television. A proud member of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Ottawa and brings a sharp, thoughtful perspective to our jury discussions.

We’re grateful to have Daniel’s continued insight and commitment to Canadian cinema.

03/25/2026

🎬 We’re excited to see It Comes In Waves—a film previously screened at OCAN—heading to Canadian Film Fest in Toronto at 3:30pm today!

It’s always incredible to watch films continue their journey beyond our screen, connecting with new audiences and gaining well-deserved recognition.

If you’re in Toronto, don’t miss your chance to catch this powerful film as part of this year’s festival lineup.

👏 Congratulations to the entire team behind It Comes In Waves—we’re proud to have been part of its journey!

🎟️ Check out the Canadian Film Fest schedule for screening details and tickets.

03/24/2026

We’re thrilled to support the 20th anniversary of Canadian Film Fest, celebrating homegrown stories and cinematic talent! This year’s festival features a spectacular lineup of 16 feature films, 40+ short films, and daily industry events, all taking place March 24 - 29, at Cineplex’s Scotiabank Theatre Toronto.

A full lineup of films and industry events, as well as links to acquire tickets and passes can be found at www.canfilmfest.ca.

03/18/2026

🎬 OCAN is thrilled to be a co-presenter of the 2026 edition of the !

Join us for the festival’s Short Film Block on Saturday, March 21 at 1:00 PM.

Featured Films:

🎥 Two Suns
A biracial man confronts buried childhood trauma when the forest saves him from a hunter’s gun—revealing that predator and prey share the same fear.

🎥 I Am Pleased
When a teenage girl dreams of studying abroad, her father’s rejection threatens to derail her plans, forcing her to confront her family’s troubled past and find the strength within herself to pursue her future.

🎥 Not Dead (Morto Não)
The birth of a young Black couple’s first child brings both profound happiness—and unexpected agony.

🎥 Out of Tune
Derek, an immigrant composer who tunes pianos for a living, encounters a runaway pop star in distress and sees her heartbreak as a chance for his long-awaited breakthrough.

🎥 To… or Not To
In a quiet moment of unraveling, a couple long bound by love must face what remains when certainty fades—for the truest questions come not at the altar, but long after the vows.

🎥 Chicken
A young boy’s reckless attempt to assimilate into an all-boys prep school leads to a devastating event with irreversible consequences for him and his twin brother.

🎥 The Sands of Time
Anaya, an international student living alone in a new city, discovers healing and learns that home is built through love, memories, and connection.

✨ Visit the Ottawa Black Film Festival website for information on additional screenings and events throughout this incredible festival!

03/17/2026

🎬 Juror Announcement | OCAN 2026 🎬

We’re proud to welcome back Sébastien Cimpaye as a returning juror for the 2026 OCAN Festival! ✨
Now an actor in TV series and films, Sébastien Cimpaye began his career at the age of four and a half. In 2017, at the age of nine, he played Tiny Tim in the NAC English Theatre production of A Christmas Carol, and has twice been a BIG BANG FESTIVAL Ambassador (in 2019 and 2021). The teenager of Rwandan-Burundian heritage studied drama in high school, and it’s not unusual to come across him at the NAC, as he regularly attends French Theatre plays.

Sébastien was also nominated for “Meilleur premier rôle masculin : Jeunesse” at the 2024 Gémeaux awards for his performance as Merlin in the TV series “Famille magique.” Sébastien has been part of the 100 Watt youth ensemble (a group of young resident artists at the Great Canadian Theatre Company) since 2022 and continues to participate in their productions to this day. The aforementioned productions have included plays such as “Twelve” and “Stuff,” both on the subject of the environmental crisis. He will soon partake in his second year at John Abbott College in the Professional Theatre program.

Address

325 Rideau Street
Ottawa, ON
K1N5Y4

Website

https://ocanfilmfest.ca/

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