You Had To Be There
Monday November 16, 2:00 and 7:15 p.m.
You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way)
Monday November 16, 2:00 and 7:15 p.m.
98 min
Proceeds to the Hamilton Out of the Cold
Season Sponsor: Rastins PharmaChoice Pharmacy
Film Date Sponsor: John Crusoe, CPA, CMA, john.crusoe@ig.ca, Ihttps://www.ig.ca/en/advisor/john_crusoe
Tickets: 2:00 p.m.: https://www.memorialarts.ca/films/ancaster-film-festival-november-16th-matinee
Tickets: 7:15 p.m.: https://www.memorialarts.ca/films/ancaster-film-festival-november-16th-evening
In 1972, a remarkable group of young performers came together in Toronto for a production of the hit musical Godspell. Among them were Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Paul Shaffer and Jayne Eastwood. Nobody could have imagined that this extraordinary gathering of talent would help shape the future of North American comedy.
You Had to Be There is a funny, nostalgic and heartwarming documentary that takes audiences behind the scenes of this unlikely cultural phenomenon. Through revealing interviews, rare recordings, archival material and wonderful personal memories, director Nick Davis captures the friendships, creativity and youthful energy that helped launch legendary careers.
What the Critics Are Saying
"An exuberant and essential doc" — Variety
"An Irresistible Documentary" — The New York Times, Critics' Pick
"Comes closest to fulfilling comedy fans' ultimate time-machine fantasy." — RogerEbert.com, 4/4 stars
"A crowd-pleaser." — Live for Films
Awards and Recognition
2025 Toronto International Film Festival — Second Runner-Up, People's Choice Award for Documentaries
Special Guest — Jayne Eastwood for the 2:00 p.m. screening
We are delighted to welcome acclaimed Canadian actress Jayne Eastwood, an original member of the 1972 Toronto production of Godspell, for a special Q&A following our 2:00 p.m. screening.
With a remarkable career spanning more than five decades in film and television, Jayne has become one of Canada's most recognizable and beloved character actresses. As someone who experienced this extraordinary moment in Canadian entertainment history firsthand, she will share her memories of Godspell, her fellow performers and her remarkable career.
Other Items of Interest
AFF Library of Some of Our Past Films
About 170 titles of past Ancaster Film Fest selections are available for loan at Rastin's Pharmacy.
AFF Season 21 - 2026
Screenings will be at 2:00 and 7:15 p.m.
Dates
January 26 Sentimental Value, 2:00 p.m.
January 26 It Was Just An Accident, 7:15 p.m.
February 23: DJ Ahmet, 2:00 p.m.
February 23: Marty Supreme, 7:15 p.m.
March 30: The Choral, 2:00 p.m.
March 30: The Secret Agent 7:15 p.m.
April 20: The President's Cake, 2:00 p.m.
April 20: H Is For Hawk, 7:15 p.m.
May 11: All That's Left of You, 2:00 p.m.
May 11: Palestine 36, 7:15 p.m,
May 25: Holy Days, 2:00 p.m.
May 25: Tow, 7:15 p.m.
June 8: A Poet, 2:00 p.m.
June 8: The Christophers, 7:15 p.m.
September 14: Peter Asher: Everywhere Man 2:00 p.m.
September 14: Tuner, 7:15 p.m.
October 5: Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty, 2:00 p.m.
October 5: Nika and Madison, 7:15 p.m.
October 27: Dancing on the Elephant, 2:00 p.m.
October 27: Once Upon a Time in Cinema, 7:15 p.m.
November 16: You Had To Be There, 2:00 p.m. with Jayne Eastwood
November 16: You Had To Be There, 2:00 p.m. with
December 14: TBA
Guests on our email list will also be informed via email. To contact us email ancasterfilmfest@cogeco.ca.
AFF Library of Some of Our Past Films
About 170 titles are available at Rastin's Pharmacy. Check out our Archive.
AFF Season 20 - 2025
Screenings were at 2:00 and 7:15 p.m. 12 Screening Dates, 22 Films. Approximately 5000 paid attendan
Dates
January 20: Lee, 2:00 p.m.
January 20: Goodrich, 7:15 p.m.
February 24: I'm Still Here, 2:00 p.m.
February 24: Emilia Pérez, 7:15 p.m.
March 17: Small Things Like These, 2:00 p.m.
March 17: No Other Land, 7:15 p.m.
April 7; Bob Trevino Likes It, 2:00 p.m.
April 7: There's Still Tomorrow, 7:15 p.m.
April 28, The Penguin Letters, 2:00 p.m.
April 28: Shepherds, 7:15 p.m.
May 12: Maria Montessori: Une Nouvelle Femme, 2:00 p.m.
May 12: Bad Shabbos, 7:15 p.m.
May 26: So Surreal: Behind the Masks, 2:00 p.m.
May 26: Santosh, 7:15 p.m.
June 9:Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, 2:00 p.m.
June 9: White Bird, 7:15 p.m.
September 22: The Life of Chuck, 2:00 p.m., 7:15 p.m.
October 6: The Marching Band, 2:00 p.m.
October 6: Exhibiting Forgiveness, 7:15 p.m.
November 3: Eleanor the Great, 2:00 p.m.
December 8: Blue Moon, 2:00 p.m.
December 8: The Baltimorons, 7:15 p.m.
Guests on our email list will also be informed via email. To contact us email ancasterfilmfest@cogeco.ca.
AFF Library of Some of Our Past Films
About 170 titles are available at Rastin's Pharmacy. Check out our Archive.