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New releases available free online in April at NFB.ca. Films by Jean-François Caissy, Céline Baril, and Ryan Sidhoo.

PRESS RELEASE
01/04/2020

April 1, 2020 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Looking for something new and original? Check out the latest crop of captivating films available for free at NFB.ca in April. Three feature-length documentaries—First Stripes by Jean-François Caissy, 24 Davids by Céline Baril, and True North: Inside the Rise of Toronto Basketball by Ryan Sidhoo—will be added to our already extensive catalogue of over 4,000 titles, not to mention our collection of some 100 innovative works produced by the NFB’s Digital Studios over the past 10 years, most of which is available free online.

  • First Stripes by Jean-François Caissy (starting April 6)
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/first-stripesWorld premiere at the 2018 Berlin International Film Festival

    First Stripes is a touching and humorous depiction of how civilians are transformed into Canadian Armed Forces soldiers. The film is the third in a series of feature-length documentaries by Caissy (after La belle visite and Guidelines) that examine different stages of life—in this case, the transition to adulthood.

  • 24 Davids by Céline Baril (starting April 21)
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/24-davidsOpening film – 20th Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM)

    A refreshingly freewheeling cinematic experience, the film takes us across three continents on a quest driven by a simple yet original idea: to shine a spotlight on the inimitable Davids of this world. The 24 Davids in the film are of varying ages and professions, ranging from cosmologist to recycler; together, they construct a playful “ecosystem” of ideas that touches on every sphere of knowledge.

  • True North: Inside the Rise of Toronto Basketball by Ryan Sidhoo (starting April 28)
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/true-north-the-featureOn the heels of the Toronto Raptors’ historic NBA Championship and the record-setting number of Canadian draft picks, the Toronto hoop dream is more alive than ever. The director shines the spotlight on 12-year-old Elijah Fisher, 15-year-old Keone Davis and 18-year-old Cordell Veira as they navigate today’s youth basketball machine. Produced in association with Red Bull Media House.

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French media alert is here | La note aux médias en français se trouve ici.

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    Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of distinctive, engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 6,500 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.