The Great Digital Film Festival, which runs Feb. 1 to 7, is a collection of 18 films that have been grouped into themes: a day of Indiana Jones movies, for instance, or a quadruple-header of crime films that includes Goodfellas, Casino, Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.

It’s put together by Cineplex, which started the festival four years ago at one theatre in Toronto and has now expanded it to 19 theatres from British Columbia to Quebec. “A lot of people have never seen these movies on the big screen,” says Cineplex spokeswoman Pat Marshall. “And for baby boomers, some of us haven’t seen them since we were teenagers or in our early 20s, on the dating scene.”

The films include fan favourites such as The Matrix and Gremlins, and some edgier fare. On Feb. 5, theatres will screen Battle Royale, a 2000 Japanese movie that is similar to The Hunger Games — a group of schoolchildren is set loose in the woods with instructions to kill one another — followed by Oldboy, a violent 2003 Korean movie about a man who is mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years and vows revenge when he is finally released. A remake of that movie, directed by Spike Lee and starring Josh Brolin, is due in October.

The one newcomer on the list — and the first time a new film has been shown at the festival — is Cockneys vs Zombies, a 2012 British release getting its Canadian premiere at a midnight show on Feb. 2. It’s about a group of robbers who accidentally open a zombie tomb in London, and have to lurch their way to safety while being slowly chased.

Tickets cost $6 each, with discounts for multiple films. For a list of participating theatres and showtimes, visit cineplex.com/digitalfilmfest.

This joyous play, filled with music and song, will première in select Cineplex Entertainment theatres across Canada on March 10 at 12:45 p.m. local time with an encore performance on March 21 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at participating theatre box offices and online at www.cineplex.com/events or through the Cineplex mobile site m.cineplex.com.

The production features Stephen Ouimette as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Brian Dennehy as Sir Toby Belch, Ben Carlson as Feste, Trent Pardy as Sebastian, Cara Ricketts as Maria, Tom Rooney as Malvolio, Andrea Runge as Viola, Mike Shara as Orsino, and Sara Topham as Olivia.

Mr. McAnuff’s production of Twelfth Night thrilled Festival audiences during the 2011 season and was one of the most successful Shakespeare productions of his tenure so far as Artistic Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. It features an eclectic score reflecting the history of rock and roll, composed by Michael Roth and Mr. McAnuff.

“Films are important to us not just because they preserve great performances for posterity,” says Mr. McAnuff. “They enable us to extend the Festival experience far beyond Stratford itself. Last season’s production of Twelfth Night was a huge hit with our patrons, and now we can share this comedic and musical feast with a much wider audience, spreading the joy of live theatre across the country.”

“Since 2008 we have filmed three of our productions for release through Cineplex and have been thrilled with the response from audiences,” says General Director Antoni Cimolino. “It has been most rewarding to be part of Cineplex’s commitment to share classical theatre, ballet and opera with Canadians who might otherwise not be able to attend such performances.”

Twelfth Night is the story of Viola, a young woman shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, who adopts a male disguise to enter the service of Duke Orsino, only to find herself part of a triangle of unrequited love. Meanwhile in the household of Orsino’s love interest, the Countess Olivia, Sir Toby Belch and his unruly companions trick Olivia’s strict and disapproving steward, Malvolio, into believing that she loves him.

“This film is a virtual kaleidoscope of colour, music and performance,” says Mr. Avrich, who also produced the Festival’s recent films of The Tempest and Caesar and Cleopatra. “Des McAnuff takes Shakespeare and gives it the musical inspiration of The Beatles and the theatricality of Cirque du Soleil.”

“Cineplex Entertainment is celebrating 100 years of movie memories in 2012,” says Pat Marshall, Vice President Communications and Investor Relations for Cineplex Entertainment. “We are so proud to add Twelfth Night and all the other incredible Stratford Festival productions to the entertainment we offer our theatre guests across Canada. Not everyone can make it to Stratford so capturing these live productions on film, and playing them on our big screens, makes it the next best thing to actually being there.”

Production sponsors include the Slaight Family Foundation, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership, Violet Productions and Richard Rooney.

Support for the original stage production was provided by Scotiabank Group, Dr. M.L. Myers and Dr. W.P. Hayman.

The music of Twelfth Night has been released on CD and is also available for download on CD Baby. The CD, along with DVDs of The Tempest and Caesar and Cleopatra, are available to purchase through the Festival’s website: stratfordshakespearefestival.com.

This year, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 60^th season, with 14 productions presented from April 12 to October 28:  Much Ado About Nothing; 42nd Street; The Matchmaker; Henry V; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The Pirates of Penzance; A Word or Two; Cymbeline; Wanderlust; Elektra; MacHomer; The Best Brothers; Hirsch; and The War of 1812. .

Participating theatres

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Coquitlam

SilverCity Coquitlam and VIP Cinemas, 170 Schoolhouse Street

Kamloops

Cineplex Odeon Aberdeen Mall Cinemas, 700-1320 Trans Canada Highway

Langley

Colossus Langley Cinemas, 20090 91A Avenue

Nanaimo

Galaxy Cinemas Nanaimo, 213-4750 Rutherford Road

Powell River

Max Cameron Theatre, 5400 Marine Avenue

Prince George

Famous Players 6 Cinemas, 172-1600 Fifth Avenue

Richmond

SilverCity Riverport Cinemas, 14211 Entertainment Way

Sechelt

Raven’s Cry Theatre, 5559 Sunshine Coast Highway

Vancouver

Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver, 900 Burrard Street

Victoria

SilverCity Victoria Cinemas, 3130 Tillicum Road

ALBERTA

Calgary

Scotiabank Theatre Chinook, 6455 Macleod Trail SW

Edmonton

Cineplex Odeon South Edmonton Cinemas, 1525-99^th Street NW

Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton, 8882-170 Street

Lethbridge

Galaxy Cinemas Lethbridge, 501-1^st Avenue SW

Red Deer

Galaxy Cinemas Red Deer, 357-37400 Highway #2

MANITOBA

Winnipeg

SilverCity Polo Park Cinemas, 817 St. James Street

SASKATCHEWAN

Moose Jaw

Galaxy Cinemas Moose Jaw, 1235 Main Street N

Regina

Galaxy Cinemas Regina, 420 McCarthy Boulevard N

Saskatoon

Galaxy Cinemas Saskatoon, 347 2^nd Avenue

ONTARIO

Ajax

Cineplex Odeon Ajax Cinemas, 248 Kingston Road

Ancaster

SilverCity Ancaster Cinemas, 771 Golf Links Road

Barrie

Galaxy Cinemas Barrie, 72 Commerce Park Drive

Belleville

Galaxy Cinemas Belleville, 160 Bell Boulevard

Bracebridge

Rene M. Caisse, 100 Clearbrook Trl.

Brampton

SilverCity Brampton Cinemas, 50 Great Lakes Drive

Brantford

Galaxy Cinemas Brantford, 300 King George Road

Brockville

Galaxy Cinemas Brockville, 2399 Parkedale Avenue

Burlington

SilverCity Burlington Cinemas, 1250 Brant Street

Chatham

Galaxy Cinemas Chatham, 760 St Clair Street

Collingwood

Galaxy Cinemas Collingwood, 6 Mountain Road

Cornwall

Galaxy Cinemas Cornwall, 1325 Second Street E

Guelph

Galaxy Cinemas Guelph, 485 Woodlawn Road W

Kingston

Cineplex Odeon Gardiners Road Cinemas, 626 Gardiners Road

London

Cineplex Odeon Westmount and VIP Cinemas, 755 Wonderland Road S

SilverCity London Cinemas, 1680 Richmond Street

Midland

Galaxy Cinemas Midland, 9226 County Road 93

Mississauga

Coliseum Mississauga Cinemas, 309 Rathburn Road W

Newmarket

SilverCity Newmarket Cinemas and XSCAPE Entertainment Centre, 18151 Yonge Street

Niagara Falls

Cineplex Odeon Niagara Square Cinemas, 7555 Montrose Road

North Bay

Galaxy Cinemas North Bay, 300 Lakeshore Drive

Oakville

SilverCity Oakville and VIP Cinemas, 3531 Wyecroft Road

Orangeville

Galaxy Cinemas Orangeville, 85 Fifth Avenue

Orillia

Galaxy Cinemas Orillia, 865 West Ridge Boulevard

Oshawa

Cineplex Odeon Oshawa Cinemas, 1351 Grandview Street N

Ottawa

Cineplex Odeon South Keys Cinemas, 2214 Bank Street

Coliseum Ottawa Cinemas, 3090 Carling Avenue

SilverCity Gloucester Cinemas, 2385 City Park Drive

Owen Sound

Galaxy Cinemas Owen Sound, 1020 10^th Street

Peterborough

Galaxy Cinemas Peterborough, 320 Water Street

Picton

The Regent Theatre, 224 Main Street

Port Hope

Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen Street

Richmond Hill

SilverCity Richmond Hill Cinemas, 8725 Yonge Street

Sarnia

Famous Players Lambton 9 Cinemas, 1450 London Road

Sault Ste. Marie

Galaxy Cinemas Sault Ste. Marie, 293 Bay Street

Sudbury

SilverCity Sudbury Cinemas, 355 Barrydowne Road

Thunder Bay

SilverCity Thunder Bay Cinemas, 850 North May Street

Toronto

Cineplex Odeon Queensway Cinemas, 1025 The Queensway

Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Cinemas, 4861 Yonge Street

Cineplex Odeon Varsity and VIP Cinemas, 55 Bloor Street W

Coliseum Scarborough Cinemas, 300 Borough Drive

Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond Street W

SilverCity Fairview Mall Cinemas, 1800 Sheppard Avenue E

SilverCity Yonge-Eglinton Cinemas, 2300 Yonge Street

Waterloo

Galaxy Cinemas Waterloo, 550 King Street N

Windsor

Cineplex Odeon Devonshire Mall Cinemas, 3100 Howard Avenue

QUEBEC

Brossard

Cineplex Odeon Brossard Cinemas, 9350 boul. Leduc

Kirkland

Coliseum Kirkland Cinemas, 3200 rue Jean Yves

Montreal

Cineplex Odeon Cavendish Mall Cinemas, 5800 boul. Cavendish

Scotiabank Theatre Montreal, 977 rue Ste-Catherine O

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