Last night I was invited to celebrate the National Film Board of Canada's (NFB) 70th anniversary shindig being hosted by the NFB, The Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles, Canadians Abroad, and the Canadian California Business Council in Los Angeles. That's a whole lotta Canadian goin' on.

I was actually excited to do something Canadian. The last Canadian thing I did in LA was attend an LA Kings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game (we won), so I was due for another Canadian celebration. Further, all anyone is talking about down here right now is the upcoming American Thanksgiving. It makes me feel all alone. This is not my holiday. I already had my Thanksgiving, when it's supposed to be, in October. All my friends in Los Angeles are returning to their hometowns this week to spend time with their families. I will be the only person left in LA holding down the fort. I figured that, while I had the chance, I had better jump on the opportunity to go and party with Canadians and, specifically, the Consul General of Canada. Surely, a wild bunch, no?

Last night I was invited to celebrate the National Film Board of Canada's (NFB) 70th anniversary shindig being hosted by the NFB, The Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles, Canadians Abroad, and the Canadian California Business Council in Los Angeles. That's a whole lotta Canadian goin' on.

I was actually excited to do something Canadian. The last Canadian thing I did in LA was attend an LA Kings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game (we won), so I was due for another Canadian celebration. Further, all anyone is talking about down here right now is the upcoming American Thanksgiving. It makes me feel all alone. This is not my holiday. I already had my Thanksgiving, when it's supposed to be, in October. All my friends in Los Angeles are returning to their hometowns this week to spend time with their families. I will be the only person left in LA holding down the fort. I figured that, while I had the chance, I had better jump on the opportunity to go and party with Canadians and, specifically, the Consul General of Canada. Surely, a wild bunch, no?

The reception was held at the ArcLight theatre in Hollywood. I thought, being Canadian, that I would know somebody at the Canuck-themed party. I walked around and around and around and around the event. Unfortunately, I didn't know a soul. After half an hour of wandering around alone, I finally went up to groups of people saying, "Hi, are you Canadian?" It was a wee bit pathetic. I was coming across like the baby bird in the children's book 'Are You My Mother?' Most people looked at me as if the question was an accusation. But, I am a nice girl. I meant no harm. I was just trying to make friends.

Despite that it was an open bar (my favourite kind of bar) reception, I had driven to the event and I don't drink and drive. That may sound responsible, but I rarely ever drive, so you do the math. At least I could eat, so I indulged in the roasted vegetable skewers and spring rolls. The skewers were difficult for me, though. For the first few vegetables placed on the skewer, I could pull them easily right off the stick with my teeth. But, for the vegetables placed in the middle, I'd have cut my throat open on the edge of the sharp wooden skewer if I put it far back enough into my mouth to be able to reach the vegetables. I didn't know if it was polite to use my fingers to get to the vegetables. I was perplexed. I looked around the party hoping to find a solution. But, no. Everyone seemed to be eating spring rolls. In retrospect, clearly I should have pushed the vegetables up to the top of the skewer from the bottom, but I didn't think of that at the time. I am not very cocktail party savvy. It is something I will have to work on as a New Year's resolution.


When I was done eating, I found Chris Landreth and Cordell Barker, two of the three filmmakers whose short films were going to be shown as part of this 70th anniversary event. Oh, we had a grand ol' time talking about Canada and marvelling over the wonderful Los Angeles weather. Cordell was excited by the recent announcement that he was just short-listed for a potential 2010 Oscar nomination. He had been nominated twice in the past ('Cat in the Hat' and 'Stranger Invaders'), but he lost both times. Chris Landreth, however, won an Oscar for 'Ryan' (2004). He didn't brag about that. though. That wouldn't be very Canadian. I found out about his win all by myself.

Next, I caught up with Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB. He was excited about the new free NFB iPhone app, which he proudly showed me on his phone. He boasted that it was the top downloaded free app in Canada when it was announced. He said the other free apps which placed after the NFB's had to do with sex. I wonder how he knew that. Tsk tsk, Tom.

I can't download the NFB app, because I don't have an iPhone. Is there an app for that? I was actually happy to run into Tom, because I had a burning question for the NFB. I had recently seen and loved the hysterical short film 'Spiders on Drugs' and I asked Tom if it really was an NFB production. It turns out that he had been asked this question before and that it was just a spoof. Damn. I had been proud that my country had produced this film. I had shown it to all my American friends beaming with Canadian pride. Now, I hang my head in shame. I am nothing but a liar.

Once Tom began to chat with CBC journalist Keith Boag, I began to drift around the party once again. Everyone looked as if they were caught up in conversations, so I went outside to a patio where I saw a group of men laughing. A few of them work at the Consul General of Canada, so I was happy to meet them. I am delighted when government people get wasted. Plus, I had a few questions about renewing my passport and applying for a new birth certificate which were answered for me. I love having connections in high places.

After the reception, there was a screening of 4 NFB short films. The first was an homage to the NFB. The second short, Newfoundland-born director Bruce Alcock's 'Vive La Rose', was a tragic love story comprised of stop motion and paint animation. Based on a devastatingly sad song by Newfoundland musician Emile Benoit, the film made me want to rip out my heart. The third short film, 'The Spine' , by the American-born, but Toronto-living writer/director Chris Landreth was completely captivating. Done with CGI, it was a poignant story about a co-dependency help group with a focus upon a 26-year-long destructive marriage. It was a beautiful and redemptive tale. As much as I enjoyed it, I longed for there to be humour in the last short.

Thank goodness, Winnipeg's writer/director/animator Cordell Barker's animated short 'Runaway' provided the necessary comic relief I craved. Set on a train, the whimsical but thoughtful film depicted a humourous, unforgiving class struggle on a runaway train. It ends with everyone, but a cow, getting killed. It took Cordell seven years to make this 9-minute film. Thank goodness he's not working on a full-length movie. Given his track record, it could take him 154 years to complete.

After the screening and a short Q&A session with the filmmakers, I drove home, blasting Neil Young in my car, bursting with Canadian glory. I had met some wonderfully talented Canadians and I learned a lot that I didn't know. The NFB has garnered 5000 international awards, 70 Oscar nominations, 12 Oscar wins and, recently, they won a gold medal in Cannes for their contribution to television and cinema. That's enough to make me want to crack open a Molson Export and toast the NFB. However, despite its name, you can't get Molson Export down here. What is up with that?