IN HONOR OF ORANGE SHIRT DAY, SUGARCANE COMES TO 27 CINEMAS ACROSS CANADA INCLUDING ALBERTA, ONTARIO AND QUEBEC THIS FRIDAY, SEPT 27
Hailed by The New York Times as “A Must-See Film” and “Breathtaking”, the Documentary From Directors Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie and Oscar-Nominated Producer Kellen Quinn Follows An Investigation into Abuse and Missing Children at an Indian Residential School in Canada
“Sears the mind and haunts the soul” (Toronto Star)
Toronto, Sept 24, 2024 – Sugarcane, a powerful tribute to the resilience of First Nations people and their way of life, opens in 27 cinemas across Canada, including in Quebec, starting on Friday, September 27, 2024. The release of the film coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a national movement in Canada that honors the survivors of residential schools and recognizes the lasting impact of this dark chapter in Canadian history.
The debut feature documentary from first-time director and TIME100 Next honoree Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emmy®- and Peabody-nominated investigative journalist, director, producer and cinematographer Emily Kassie, Sugarcane is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning.
In 2021, evidence of unmarked graves was discovered on the grounds of an Indian residential school run by the Catholic Church in Canada. After years of silence, the forced separation, assimilation, and abuse endured by children at these segregated boarding schools was brought to light, sparking a national outcry against a system designed to destroy Indigenous communities. Set amidst a groundbreaking investigation, SUGARCANE illuminates the beauty of a community breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and finding the strength to persevere.
“Sugarcane” is urgent and necessary viewing”, said Ron Mann, co-founder of Films We Like, the film's distributor. “We thank our partners at Cineplex for bringing this powerful film to audiences across Canada on Truth and Reconciliation Day, with the hope that it inspires reflection and action”.
About Sugarcane:
A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people, Sugarcane, the debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, tells the story of a community enduring and surviving through the legacy of residential schools. With intimate interviews and breathtaking visuals, the film is an emotional and powerful account of heartbreak, resilience, and survival.
Technical Information:
2024 – 107 minutes – USA/Canada – In English and Secwepemctsín
A film by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie
About Orange Shirt Day:
Orange Shirt Day is observed annually on September 30th in recognition of the survivors of residential schools in Canada. It is a day to honor those affected by these institutions and a call for reconciliation and healing across the country.
For more information about Sugarcane, including screening locations and showtimes, visit https://filmswelike.com or follow us on social media at X, Facebook, and Instagram.
The following theatres will be showing SUGARCANE:
Alberta
Calgary, AB – Landmark Cinemas 16 Country Hills
Edmonton, AB – Cineplex Odeon South Edmonton Cinemas
Grande Prairie, AB – Cineplex Odeon Grande Prairie Cinemas
Lethbridge, AB – Galaxy Cinemas Lethbridge
Medicine Hat, AB – Galaxy Cinemas Medicine Hat
Red Deer, AB – Galaxy Cinemas Red Deer
British Columbia
Kamloops, BC – Kamloops Film Festival
Sidney, BC – Star Cinema
Powell River, BC – Patricia Theatre
Vancouver, BC – Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas
Victoria, BC – Cinecenta
Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB – Scotiabank Theatre Winnipeg
New Brunswick
Moncton, NB – Cineplex Cinemas Trinity Drive
Nova Scotia
Chester, NS – Chester Playhouse - Film Circuit
Sydney, NS – Cineplex Cinemas Sydney
Ontario
Barrie, ON – Galaxy Cinemas Barrie
Brantford, ON – Galaxy Cinemas Brantford
Elora, ON – Gorge Cinema
Etobicoke, ON – Cineplex Cinemas Queensway & VIP
North York, ON – Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk
Ottawa, ON – Scotiabank Theatre Ottawa
Toronto, ON – Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP
Waterloo, ON – Galaxy Cinemas Waterloo
Quebec
Montréal, QC – Cinéma du Musée
Montréal, QC – Cinéma Public
Montréal, QC – Cinéma du Musée
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK – Scotiabank Theatre Saskatoon and VIP
About National Geographic Films
National Geographic Documentary Films, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, is committed to bringing the world premium, feature documentaries that cover timely, provocative and globally relevant stories from the very best documentary filmmakers. Its award-winning and critically acclaimed films reach 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages across the global National Geographic channels and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Recent films include Oscar® nominated Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Oscar®- and BAFTA nominated Fire of Love, three-time Emmy-award winner The First Wave, two-time Sundance-award winner The Territory, BAFTA nominees The Rescue and Becoming Cousteau, and Oscar®- and BAFTA winner Free Solo. For more information visit films.nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Films We Like
Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Carmine Street Guitars) Films We Like is a boutique distributor of documentary, independent, and international films in Canada. Recent releases include Last Summer, Return to Reason and Academy Award winning director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist..
Media Contacts
Mercy Lam mercy@filmswelike.com