School Break Films

National Film Board films will be screened on a repeating loop in our theatre through January 4.

Ludovic – The Snow Gift (1998), Co Hoedeman, 14 minutes

In this animated short, Ludovic the bear learns the meaning of friendship while evoking our memories of cherished childhood toys. Often left out of the winter fun because his parents deem him too young, Ludovic finally finds a playmate when a giant snowstorm strands a doll on his front lawn. He spends all his time with his new doll, which miraculously comes to life and provides him with the companionship he’d been longing for.

Christmas Cracker (1963), Norman McLaren, Jeff Hale, Gerald Potterton & Grant Munro, 8 minutes

This short animation consists of three segments that take a playful look at Christmas: a rendition of “Jingle Bells” in which paper cut-out figures dance, a dime-store rodeo of tin toys, and a story of decorating the perfect Christmas tree.

Winter in Canada (1953), Guy L. Coté, 18 minutes

This film shows the influence of winter on the lives of Canadian people generally and, in particular, on the varied activities and experiences of two boys residing in widely separated localities, one in a Québec Laurentian town and the other on a ranch in the Alberta foothills.

Catapult Canada (1985), Bill Maylone, 1 minute

This short stop-motion animation takes a humorous look at the theme of transportation. Forget trains and planes—the best way to get across the country is by catapult!

Snow Cat (1998), Sheldon Cohen, 23 minutes

A grandmother tells her young grandchild the moving tale of a lonely girl and an unforgettable magical cat in this animated short narrated by Oscar®, Emmy and Tony award winner Maureen Stapleton. The film is based on a short story written by Dayal Kaur Khalsa and adapted by two-time Governor General’s award recipient Tim Wynne-Jones.

It’s Snow (1974), Gayle Thomas, 5 minutes

Colour cut-out animation inspired by the shape of snowflakes and touched with the airy magic of these fragile designs. While music tinkles invitingly, snowflakes roll and whirl, pulse and glitter, shining with the many hues of twinkling lights. Made without words, this is a joyous film to please the fancy and captivate eye and ear.