DINNER AND A MOVIE

Recipes help mark national film day

Envision if you will a massive movie screen that blankets the whole country.

Why? To commemorate National Canadian Film Day — taking place Wednesday.

Considered the world’s largest film festival ever, National Canadian Film Day 150 (NCFD 150) is a massive, one-day, coast-to-coast celebration of Canadian cinema in honour of our nation’s sesquicentennial.

Wednesday’s the day that great Canadian movies will be available across the nation on air, online and on foot at more than 1,700 screenings in cinemas, libraries, public squares and anywhere you can show a film.

With free events happening across every province and territory, many involving Canadian film talent, NCFD 150 — a Canada 150 Signature Project — promises to be the largest film festival in the world.

Presented by Reel Canada, an organization that has been introducing Canadian film to high school students and new Canadians since 2005, NCFD 150 is a wonderful opportunity for Canadians of all ages and backgrounds to come together and just enjoy the wealth of work by our nation’s storytellers.

“It will be a party like no other,” says Sharon Corder, artistic director of Reel Canada. Jack Blum, executive director adds “thanks to the support of (our) partners, people of all ages and backgrounds ... will be proudly celebrating our history, our stories, our talent, our industry and our culture.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a movie without popcorn. But in this case, Reel Canada asked Canadian filmloving chefs and notable foodies from across the country to contribute recipes inspired by Canadian films.

The result? More than 20 recipes of all types.

From Debbie Travis’s Thirty Two Short Films about Spicy Pasta inspired by the Canadian film Thirty Two Short Films about Glenn Gould (1993) to Paula Coop McCrory’s Trailer Park Pops inspired by Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006), Canadians can use these recipes as a way of getting to know their country’s cinematic legacy.

The dishes are not only hilarious, but delicious! You can view all the recipes at cdn.canadianfilmday.ca.

These three dishes will help with the celebrations.