Rideau Hall, Tuesday, August 19, 2014
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I would like to welcome all of you to Rideau Hall Movie Nights for this special presentation under the night sky!
This is going to be a wonderful gathering. And I can’t think of a better place for an outdoor movie night to screen Canadian films than the grounds of Rideau Hall. Two nights ago, we held the very first screening here and, with more than 1 000 Canadians showing up, I would call that a successful night at the movies!
How many of you are ready for a fantastic show?
We are going to start with three short films to mark the 75th anniversary of the National Film Board.
I’m sure you are certainly in for a treat!
We will then move on to our feature presentation: Louis Cyr: l’homme le plus fort du monde. This film stars many respected Canadian actors, all of whom have come together to tell the story of strongman Louis Cyr.
We will also have a conversation with producer Christian Larouche, director Daniel Roby, and actor Gilbert Sicotte. They will provide us with insight into how they brought the life and battles of Louis Cyr to the big screen in this award-winning film.
Canadians are well-known around the world for their directorial, production, animation and acting talents. We are a creative people who know how to put on an unforgettable show!
And we cannot overlook that Canada itself, and its unique appearance, is often a character unto itself!
I love Canadian films and what they say about our people and our country. I admire Canadian filmmakers for their art and for sharing their stories, which helps us come to know ourselves as Canadians—showing us who we are.
Celebrating Canadian cinema is a natural extension of what Rideau Hall is all about: the celebration of homegrown Canadian talent.
By showcasing Canadian films on these grounds, we are honouring and expanding on that tradition.
Let me thank all of our partners, as well as everyone who helped make this evening possible. To see this event finally come to fruition after so much effort—to see all of you here—is a wonder to behold.
So I now invite you all to sit back, relax, eat some popcorn and enjoy Rideau Hall Movie Night!
