In advance of Canada’s 150th anniversary next year, Canadian Heritage has launched Movie Nights Across Canada.

The year-long initiative kicked off in Ottawa on Nov. 1 at the National Arts Centre, with a screening of Kim Nguyen’s Two Lovers and a Bear. The film, which is distributed in Canada by eOne and Les Films Seville, was produced by Max Films’ Roger Frappier in coproduction with Jonathan Bronfman and Ellen Hamilton. Nguyen, Frappier and Bronfman were all on hand at the event, and were joined by eOne president of film in North America Patrick Roy, actor John Ralston, executive producer Vinay Virmani, as well as Minister of Canadian Heritage Melanie Joly and Telefilm Canada executive director Carolle Brabant.

The goal of the events is to turn a spotlight on Canadian film and talent, who Minister Joly, described as the “frontlines of  [Canada’s] creative economy” in a release announcing the launch.

The movie nights will take place in various Canadian cities over the course of next year, with each city presenting a different Canadian film. The events will be presented in partnership with the host province and cultural agencies, regional film festivals, as well as private sector sponsors.

The tentative dates for the cross-Canada movie nights are:

• Toronto: Jan. 26, 2017
• Winnipeg (National Canadian Film Day): Apr. 19
• Iqaluit: June 28
• Halifax (Atlantic Film Festival): Sept. 14
• Calgary (Calgary International Film Festival): Sept. 20
• Quebec City (Festival de cinéma de la Ville de Québec): Sept. 23
• Vancouver (Vancouver International Film Festival): Sept. 28

Image (from L to R): John Ralston, Patrick Roy, Roger Frappier, Kim Nguyen, Minister Joly, Jonathan Bronfman, Carolle Brabant, Vinay Virmani.