– Full lineup for the world’s largest all-Canadian filmfest to be announced Jan. 28 –
KINGSTON, ON (January 21, 2026) – In a city long recognized for its foundational role in the history of hockey, a reimagined hockey story takes centre ice at the 2026 Kingston Canadian Film Festival (KCFF). YOUNGBLOOD has been selected as the Gala Opening Night presentation at Canada’s premier festival devoted exclusively to Canadian film and culture, it was announced today. Screening Wednesday, February 25 at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, YOUNGBLOOD kicks off the 26th edition of the festival, running through Sunday, March 1. KCFF’s full festival lineup will be announced on January 28.
Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Hubert Davis and starring Ashton James and Blair Underwood, YOUNGBLOOD is a spirited reframing of the classic 1980s hockey drama that featured Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe and Keanu Reeves. James plays Dean Youngblood, a young, Black Canadian hockey prodigy navigating elite competition on the road to the NHL, alongside the racial and cultural pressures existing within the sport. In an era when conversations around inclusion, representation, and access in hockey are increasingly prominent, YOUNGBLOOD feels both timely and necessary—re-examining a familiar Canadian tale through a new lens.
“To premiere YOUNGBLOOD in Kingston, a city so deeply connected to the origins of the game, is incredibly meaningful,” said Davis. “It’s about hockey, but also about identity, pressure, and finding your own path. Ultimately, it honours hockey’s legacy while questioning it at the same time.”
“YOUNGBLOOD is much more than a remake – it’s a powerful reinvention,” said Marc Garniss, Executive Director, KCFF. “Under Davis’ direction, the film blends high-stakes on-ice action with quieter, emotionally resonant moments that explore ambition, masculinity, and what it truly means to succeed. It also stands as a meaningful tribute to the late Charles Officer, whose screenwriting adds depth and purpose to the story.”
YOUNGBLOOD resonates profoundly in Kingston, a city with deep ties to hockey. As one of the earliest communities where organized hockey took shape in the 19th century, Kingston helped forge the rules and culture of the game long before the creation of the NHL. The city’s long-standing relationship with the sport —from early games on Lake Ontario to the creation of what became the Hockey Hall of Fame —makes it a fitting stage to present a film that re-examines hockey’s significance in Canadian life and identity. As Kingston prepares to welcome this new chapter of a classic hockey story, YOUNGBLOOD arrives not just as a nostalgic revival, but as a meaningful reflection on where the game has been—and where it still needs to go.
The 2026 Kingston Canadian Film Festival is presented by TD Bank Group. Premier partners are the Slaight Family Foundation, Amherst Island Radio, and Cogeco. Major supporters are ACFOMI, Delta Hotels Kingston Waterfront, Downtown Kingston BIA, Kingston Community Credit Union, Homestead, Marriott Kingston, Pattison Outdoor Advertising, Shaftesbury, and Tourism Kingston. KCFF benefits from the patronage of Diane Blake & Stephen Smith, the Norman & Margaret Jewison Charitable Foundation, the McLean Smits Family Foundation, and the Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation. Join the KCFF Circle of Supporters here or learn about sponsorship opportunities here.