For 25 years, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) has celebrated the art of film with selections from around the world. But, with the recent closure of Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Market Cinemas, a major hub for the festival’s screenings and events, CIFF has some big plans in place for how to move ahead, both geographically and organizationally.
“We’ve got some pretty audacious goals over the next three years,” says Katherine Penhale, CIFF’s acting executive director. “This 25th anniversary is going to be as much about looking forward as it will be about looking at what we’ve done before.”
With the loss of the Eau Claire Market Cinemas, this year will mark the debut of a new “constellation” model that focuses on partnering with multipurpose spaces and organizations to convert theatres, public plazas and other partner spaces into screening venues to activate areas of the city and support cinematic arts. To make the constellation model a reality, CIFF announced this spring that it will acquire six DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives)-compliant projectors and other mobile equipment that can be transported to various indoor and outdoor locations. “We’re one of the few [arts organizations] in the city that doesn’t have a physical home,” says Penhale. “But, we’re one of the most long-standing and so it’s really exciting to be moving into this position.”
The “looking back” element will tap into the festival’s origins at the dawn of the millennium. “We’re going with a Y2K theme, which I think is really fun,” says Penhale. Merch items will include “cool hoodies and shirts and hats [that] have a little bit of vintage flair.”
This year’s festival runs Sept. 19 to 29. The first weekend will have screenings, Q&As, cast talks and other events in venues such as Contemporary Calgary, the University of Calgary Downtown Campus, The Plaza Theatre and the Globe Cinema — “what we call the Western Constellation,” Penhale says. Starting Sept. 23, movie screenings will kick off at Chinook Centre’s Scotiabank Cineplex and continue at the Globe Cinema.
Tickets to CIFF 25 are now on sale at ciffcalgary.ca
5 More Local Film Fests to Check Out This Fall
WildDogs International Screendance Festival
This fifth annual festival showcases international works of dance, movement, image and video, presented online and live, in-theatre from Sept. 13 to 15 at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.
The Motorcycle Film Fest
Established in 2017, this travelling festival showcases stories of motorcycle culture that appeal to riders and non-riders, alike. It returns to Calgary on Oct. 24 at The Plaza Theatre.
Calgary European Film Festival
Now in its 13th year, this festival screens a slate of films representing stories from a range of European nations. The festival runs Nov. 1 to 10 at the Globe Cinema.
calgaryeuropeanfilmfestival.ca
Giant Incandescent Resonating Animation Festival (GIRAF)
Hosted by Quickdraw Animation Society, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the 20th edition of GIRAF screens in-person from Nov. 14 to 17 and online from Nov. 18 to 24.
CUFF.Docs Documentary Film Festival
Presented by the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF), the 15-plus showings at this fest focus on non-fiction films in varying styles and genres. It runs Nov. 20 to 24 at the Globe Cinema.
calgaryundergroundfilm.org/cuffdocs