Sane Inside Insanity: Ottawa Screening Celebrates 90 Years of the CFI and 50 Years of Rocky Horror
Ottawa, ON, July 31, 2025 — On August 15, 1975, the Canadian Film Institute (CFI) introduced audiences to an independent film that would later become one of the world’s most legendary cult classics. Fifty years later to the day, the CFI invites film fans to celebrate the enduring legacy of The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a special screening of Sane Inside Insanity – The Phenomenon of Rocky Horror (dir. Andreas Zerr). This revealing documentary explores the remarkable, unlikely story of how Rocky Horror became—and remains—a global pop culture sensation.
The event will be held as a fundraising screening in support of the CFI, as the nonprofit marks its 90th anniversary as the oldest film institution in Canada and the second oldest in the world. The screening takes place on August 15, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the ByTowne Cinema.
“When the CFI created one of Canada’s first international film festivals, called Film Expo, back in the early 1970s, who could have predicted that the international phenomenon that became Rocky Horror would have its North American premiere in Ottawa? But it did”, says CFI Executive Director, Tom McSorley. “The CFI programmers at the time decided that this unknown, campy, low-budget film deserved a chance and boy, were they right! It’s an incredible story, and we are thrilled to be celebrating that programming choice 50 years to the day the film was unleashed on this continent right here in Ottawa.”
McSorley continues, “As in the case of our premiering The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the CFI has for nine decades been introducing Ottawa and Canadian audiences to bold new cinematic experiences. We’re proud of those 90 years of cinematic celebration and look forward to 90 more!”
Sane Inside Insanity – The Phenomenon of Rocky Horror chronicles the evolution of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the bold, irreverent drag musical, from its controversial arrival on London’s independent theatre scene in 1973 to its transformation into a global sensation. The documentary features rare footage of early theatrical productions of the show, interviews with cast members past and present, and testimonials from fans whose passion continues to fuel the phenomenon decades later.
Since its founding in 1935, the CFI has brought bold, boundary-pushing cinema to audiences in Ottawa and beyond. From the world-renowned Ottawa International Animation Festival to the International Film Festival of Ottawa and the beloved European Union Film Festival, the CFI’s events foster cinematic artistry, cultural insight, and a strong sense of community connection.
In 2024 alone, the CFI presented:
- 148 screenings featuring more than 340 films from around the world
- 41 artist talks and professional development events
- Welcomed more than 40,000 attendees
In 2025, the CFI continues to evolve, showcasing Canadian and international films, delivering innovative programming, and fostering connections within the film industry. The non-profit marks its 90-year milestone on August 25, 2025, and will host several initiatives throughout the year to celebrate its lasting impact as a cultural institution in Canada’s capital.
