The 9 Best Film Festivals in Calgary That All the Local Cinephiles Go To
A few years ago, some of my friends started getting into making short films. They even roped me into doing a bit of acting for their projects. And although it wasn’t really for me, what I did gain was an appreciation for indie and lower-budget movies.
Since then, I’ve made it my mission to support passionate up-and-coming filmmakers as much as I can. And I’ve found that the best way to do this is by going to film festivals.
Luckily, there are a good number of them held in the city throughout the year. So if you’re looking to discover the next Martin Scorsese or just want to watch as many movies as possible, this guide has all the Calgary film festivals you should check out.
1. Calgary International Film Festival
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Website
Address: 999 8 Street SW, Suite 260
Email: [email protected]
Contact details: +1 587 393 3730
When: 2nd or 3rd week of September
The Calgary International Film Festival is every Calgarian cinephile’s most-awaited event. This 11-day affair showcases some of the best local and international voices in the filmmaking industry today.
Every year, they screen around 200 films from different genres, so there’s definitely something in here for everyone. I especially love that there’s an ‘Alberta Spotlight’ category, which allows people to support homegrown Canadian talents.
Another category that people always look forward to is the ‘First Look’ series. This is where highly anticipated movies are screened first before the rest of the world gets to see them. You won’t have to worry about spoilers anymore.
There’s a variety of passes to choose from, depending on how many movies you want to watch. Some opt for just 3, while the more dedicated film buffs go for the unlimited pass and watch as many as they can.
Pro tip:
The Calgary International Film Festival doesn’t offer assigned seating, but some ticket passes get to line up first. If you don’t have an All-Access+ pass, it’s highly recommended to line up at least 15 minutes before a movie starts.
2. Calgary Underground Film Festival
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Website
Address: Globe Cinema, 617 8 Ave SW
Email: [email protected]
Contact details: +1 403 444 9315
When: 3rd or 4th week of April
As you can probably tell from its name, the Calgary Underground Film Festival is for those who prefer movies that are indie and with a little more edge. It’s actually been recognized by MovieMaker as one of the 50 Best Genre Festivals worldwide.
One thing it’s especially known for is its love for horror. This is one of the most popular genres at the festival, attracting so many fans all over the world. Even outside of the event, they regularly hold scary screenings for moviegoers.
However, they also spotlight other amazing categories such as animation, offbeat comedies, documentaries, short films, and others that aren’t as popular in mainstream cinema.
For me and many film enthusiasts, this is one of the most important festivals in the city. It’s a breath of fresh air, showcasing unconventional and challenging art that we don’t normally see in theatres. For 7 days a year, we get to see a whole new world.
Pro tip:
You can get a CUFF membership for discounted ticket prices on all of their events. They only cost a one-time payment of $10, and they’re good for a lifetime.
3. Calgary European Film Festival
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Website
Address: Globe Cinema, 617 8 Ave SW
Email: [email protected]
Contact details: +1 587 572 5018
When: 1st or 2nd week of November
Thanks to the European Cultural Society of Calgary (ECSC), you don’t have to leave the city to see what life is like overseas. Every year, they arrange the Calgary European Film Festival and screen stories from different parts of the European continent.
Historically, around 25 countries participate, sending in films of all genres and for all ages. In the past, there have been entries from Italy, France, Germany, and Norway.
Luckily, they have a 5-ticket bundle that I always get for the discount. I’ve learned that it’s impossible to find some of these movies anywhere else, so I try not to miss any of the ones I find interesting.
And at the end of the 10-day event, the organizers host a closing gala where you can meet some of the filmmakers featured in the festival. It’s a great way to celebrate foreign cultures and learn more about the films you saw in the past few days.
Pro tip:
In case you miss any of the movies from the festival, you can keep your eyes peeled for an announcement from the Calgary Public Library. Every month, the ECSC partners with the library to screen a film from their previous lineup for free.
4. Calgary Justice Film Festival
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Website
Email: [email protected]
When: 3rd or 4th week of November
The Calgary Justice Film Festival is focused on bringing real stories to the forefront. They shed light on many of the issues that the world is currently facing.
By carefully selecting over 20 documentaries each year, they’ve spread awareness of environmental, social, and economic justice concerns everywhere. They’ve been doing this for 2 decades and have been supported by more than 30,000 festivalgoers.
What makes each screening even more worthwhile is that they’re always followed by a discussion, usually led by the filmmakers. This is a thought-provoking dialogue that opens your eyes to conflicts you may not have known about otherwise.
Along with many others, I appreciate that the entire festival is free. You can just go in and watch any movie, as long as there are still seats. I think it just goes to show that the organizers really care about their cause.
Pro tip:
Throughout the Calgary Justice Film Festival, the organizers also host a ‘Peace Market’. This is a pop-up event with vendors from NGOs, often related to some of the films being screened. It’s one of the ways you can support their missions.
5. Calgary Black Film Festival
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Website
Address: 500 4 Ave SW
Email: [email protected]
When: 3rd or 4th week of May
The Calgary Black Film Festival is all about giving a platform to distinctly black-centered stories from all over the world. Through the power of cinema, you can gain new perspectives on the lived realities of this community.
At its core, this event celebrates diversity and strives to connect audiences of all colors. But also, it’s meant to give opportunities for up-and-coming filmmakers and have their work reach a wider audience.
One of the ways they accomplish this is by prioritizing movies that have never been released before. So most of the time, you’ll be getting an exclusive look at these films.
As a whole, this festival is always such a rollercoaster. They normally have around 35 movies in their lineup, and I can guarantee that some will make you laugh, others will make you cry, but each one will teach you something new.
Pro tip:
The Calgary Black Film Festival offers two types of all-access ticket passes: online and in person. You can either opt to watch the films you want in a cinema or via the festival’s streaming service on the web.
6. FascinAsian Film Festival
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Website
Address: 2219 2nd Street SW
Email: [email protected]
Contact details: +1 403 700 4532
When: 1st week of May
Asians make up a significant portion of Northern Canada’s population, and the FascinAsian Film Festival celebrates their contributions to film and local culture. Fittingly, it’s always scheduled during Asian Heritage Month.
Held in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Calgary, this event focuses on the unique experiences of Asian-Canadian and Asian-American filmmakers. And although there are common films, each of these cities gets to select its own lineup.
It’s not all just Canadian movies, though. From time to time, they also include movies from Asian distributors that weren’t widely released here.
Whichever screening you go to, you can expect a Q&A session at the end. My favorite thing about this is that the organizers always involve the filmmakers, even if it’s through an online meeting, if they can’t be there in person.
It’s always just so special learning about a new culture and hearing firsthand what it takes to create these films from script to screen.
Pro tip:
If you can, try to attend the FascinAsian Film Festival’s opening night. There are usually fun and vibrant cultural performances that you shouldn’t miss.
7. GIRAF International Animation Festival
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When: 2nd or 3rd week of November
Website
Address: 2011 10 Ave SW
Email: [email protected]
Contact details: +1 403 261 5767
If you ask me if there’s a genre that I think deserves more love, I would answer animation in a heartbeat. Fortunately, the GIRAF International Animation Festival has been converting more and more people into fans.
It’s no secret that plenty of people think animation is just for kids. However, the films in this festival’s lineup are proof that that’s nothing but a misconception.
In fact, the movies they screen typically push boundaries and take advantage of the medium to show things you can’t easily depict in real life. I can’t count the number of moving stories I’ve seen that were creatively expressed in claymation or CG.
It’s also particularly nice to see the diversity in the selection, with the chosen filmmakers ranging from industry titans to young students. I think many would agree when I say that this event is inspirational in many ways.
Pro tip:
Although the GIRAF International Animation Festival is also screened online, it’s much more engaging to participate in person. The event organizers tend to arrange workshops and panels with the filmmakers as well.
8. Artifact Small Format Film Festival
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Website
Address: #100, 1725 – 10 Ave SW
Email: [email protected]
Contact details: +1 403 205 4747
When: 1st or 2nd week of April
You’ll definitely find the most passionate film enthusiasts at the Artifact Small Format Film Festival. Not only is it one of the most unique art events in the city, but it’s also Calgary’s oldest film festival.
Initially called the $100 film festival, this event only screens celluloid-based films. Its original name comes from the challenge to produce a film while only using four rolls of Super 8 (which added up to a total of $100).
Over the years, though, the budget was dropped, and 16mm film was allowed. This prompted the organizers to change the title.
Either way, it still remains that the whole affair celebrates the art of traditional filmmaking. If you’re sentimental like me, you might get teary-eyed at the thought that this is one of the last few avenues keeping the celluloid format alive.
Pro tip:
The Artifact Small Format Film Festival is usually screened in several venues: Festival Hall YYC, the CSIF, and Globe Cinema. Out of the 3, the Festival Hall YYC is the most inclusive by being wheelchair-accessible and having gender neutral bathrooms.
9. Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival
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Website
Address: #343 6433a Bowness Road NW
Email: [email protected]
Contact details: +1 403 244 1956
When: 1st or 2nd week of June
In 1999, activists and independent filmmakers started the Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival as a way to celebrate Pride Month. At the time, it was met with protests and threats, resulting in festivalgoers having to wear masks and paper bags.
Today, this event is Alberta’s longest running LGBT focused film festival, and it has attracted more than 35,000 attendees in total.
Unlike its very first iteration, it’s such a delight to see how queer people dress for this event now. Instead of hiding, participants are no longer afraid to show up loud and proud.
Similarly, the movies they screen are just as vibrant and engaging. Regardless of your identity, I believe this is a festival everyone should join at least once in their lives. It’s an essential part of Calgarian history, and it continues to make waves to this day.
Pro tip:
Those who want to learn more about Calgary’s LGBT past can watch the documentary Outliers: Calgary’s Queer History (2018). It was produced by the same organization that hosts the Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival.