We asked CIFF’s artistic team what they are most looking forward to seeing at the festival and these are their responses.
Brian Owens, CIFF Artistic Director
Once Upon a Time in Harlem, Directed by David Greaves and William Greaves
Everyone has played the philosophical game: “If you could have a conversation with any historical figure, who would you choose?” Once Upon a Time in Harlem is the answer to that question in documentary form. One night in August, 1972, filmmaker William Greaves and Ruth Ellington invited the surviving artists and intellectuals of the Harlem Renaissance to a party at Duke Ellington’s townhome. Greaves and his camera crew captured those debates and conversations on film. That footage went unseen for over 50 years until Greaves’ son David unearthed it and edited it into a time capsule that is essential viewing for anyone remotely interested in one of the most vibrant periods in American intellectual history.
Rehearsals for a Revolution, Directed by Pegah Ahangarani
Archival footage also forms the foundation of Pegah Ahangarani’s Rehearsals for a Revolution. Told across five chapters spanning the 1979 Islamic Revolution to the present day, the film is both an intimate memoir and a sweeping portrait of contemporary Iranian history. Each chapter pays tribute to a teacher, mentor or family member who shaped Ahangarani’s life while leaving an indelible mark on a nation in constant upheaval. Winner of the L’Œil d’or (Golden Eye) for Best Documentary at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Rehearsals for a Revolution is a moving reflection on memory, resistance and resilience, offering a poignant reminder that even the smallest acts of courage can echo across generations.
Adam Keresztes, CIFF Canadian Features and Shorts Programmer
The Snake, Directed by Jenna MacMillan
Who doesn’t want to see a 40ish wild child blow up her own life and sleep with her best friend’s husband? This hilarious mid-life coming-of-age set in P.E.I. is sure to charm anyone who lays eyes on it. Susan Kent wrote The Snake, stars as Jamie, and won a Special Jury Award for Performance at the SXSW Film Festival. Directed by Jenna MacMillan and starring Susan Kent and Jonathan Torrens, both from Trailer Park Boys fame.
Smudge the Blades, Directed by Cody Lightning
Cody Lightning is back at CIFF after the 2023 hit, Hey Viktor! This time, he brings his charming humour to the world of youth hockey. A team of U-18 Indigenous teens end up being coached by the arena Zamboni driver (Cody Lightning). Think an Indigenous version of The Mighty Ducks. Starring Ed Helms (The Office), Cody Lightning (Smoke Signals), Paulina Alexis (Reservation Dogs), and David Lawrence (Fubar).
Guy Lavallee, CIFF Programmer for New American Cinema and Music on Screen
Programming for these 2 sections has been an embarrassment of riches this year, making it hard to narrow it down to just two top picks, but I’m going to recommend one from each section that I really encourage people to discover.
In the Music on Screen section, I’m on cloud nine about a sizzling, scintillating film from Brazil called Funk, directed by Aly Muritiba. Unapologetically loud, messy, and profane, with a killer lead performance by Duda Santos as up-and-coming rapper “MC Sabrina,” Director Aly Muritiba has delivered one of the most thrilling moviegoing experiences of 2026.
In the New American Cinema section, I can’t wait for CIFF audiences to experience a mind-bending puzzle box called Sender (directed by Russell Goldman), which is the remarkable feature film debut from writer/director Russell Goldman. This knockout of a thriller features a stacked cast that includes Rhea Seehorn, David Dastmalchian, Jamie Lee Curtis (who also produced), and — holding the whole thing together — Britt Lower, in one of the best performances of the year. This film stuck with me for days after I saw it, and I’m sure this will spark many a post-screening conversation amongst the CIFF faithful!
Celina Vides, CIFF Features Programmer
Big Girls Don’t Cry, Directed by Paloma Schneideman
Feature film debut by Paloma Schneideman, incubated through Jane Campion’s A Wave in the Ocean program and featuring Ani Palmer in her first film role, Big Girls Don’t Cry is a coming-of-age film set in a rural New Zealand town in 2006, an early-internet, MSN-and-dial-up era portrayed with nostalgic texture. The film captures the time in a girl’s life when she has one foot still in childhood and is desperate to plant the other in adulthood. The film premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2026.
Nosotros, Directed by Joaquín Ruano
A Spanish-language story of love and refuge, Nosotros follows Romero, who leaves his family behind in the Guatemalan highlands to work as a security guard in Guatemala City, and Nubia, a trans woman who owns a small shop in the mall he patrols. The exploration of their love and connection is set against the culture of surveillance, machismo and prejudice in Guatemala’s society, where the two carve out a fragile and fleeting romance. Featuring Lola Vásquez, Józef Coxaj and Mayra Salvador, the drama offers an intimate portrait of longing and survival. Nosotros is world premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival 2026 as part of their Discovery programme.
Eman Safadi, CIFF Shorts Programmer
The Baddest Speechwriter of All, Directed by Ben Proudfoot and Stephen Curry
The Baddest Speechwriter of All is a short documentary about U.S. activist and lawyer Clarence B. Jones. Throughout the film, Jones offers a deep and personal insight into his relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King, as well as a first hand account of the Civil Rights Movement. He also helped Dr. King write part of his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. Co-directed by two-time Academy Award-winning director Ben Proudfoot and four-time NBA legend Steph Curry, The Baddest Speechwriter is an intimate and honest portrait of a man whose impact continues to resonate today.
A Wolf in the Suburbs, Directed by Amélie Hardy
Have you ever wanted to go against the establishment? A Wolf in the Suburbs is a David-and-Goliath short documentary about Wolf Ruck, a former Olympian turned suburban resident, who took the City of Mississauga to court to not mow his lawn. It may sound like an inane premise, but you will be thrown into a beautiful and frustrating world of strict by-laws, unnecessary bureaucracy, and a man who never, ever gives up. Directed by Canadian filmmaker Amélie Hardy, A Wolf in the Suburbs premiered at 2026 SXSW and won the Canadian Grand Prize at the 2026 Festival Regard Short Film Festival. This film will leave you feeling inspired to stand up for what’s right.
How’s Archie?, Directed by Jessie Posthumus
There’s nothing better than watching a movie where the star…is a dog! How’s Archie? is a short film that explores the hard realities and miscommunications of an ex-couple through the lens of co-parenting their beagle, Archie.
Through their frustrations and awkwardness, this film feels like a window into these people’s lives, but make sure you stay until the end, as you’ll be in for a treat! Directed by Jessie Posthumus and produced by Nancy Pettinicchio and Rebeca Ortiz, How’s Archie? is a slice-of-life film you won’t want to miss!
Renderfamily, Directed by Tyler Longmire
Renderfamily is filmmaker Tyler Longmire’s short animated tribute to his beloved Grandmother. Mimicking an RPG video game, Tyler returns to his family home, where photos and forgotten keepsakes become powerful reminders of the loss of his grandmother, while finding ways to honour her life and preserve her memory. Renderfamily is an honest and raw reflection on grief and commemoration.
A Few More Highlights
Apart
Co-written by Spike Lee and produced by his company 40 Acres and a Mule, this animated short tells the story of two boys, one white and one Black, who form a forbidden friendship in the waning years of South Africa’s apartheid system. The directorial debut of Pola Maneli features dialogue in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. CIFF hosts the film’s international premiere after its debut at Tribeca.
As the Bannock Burns
Calgary-based musician Shane Ghostkeeper co-stars alongside Marty Wildman in this locally produced short about three “reservation renegades” making a life-changing delivery in the form of a brown paper bag. Directed by Nathaniel Arcand, known for his roles in North of 60, Heartland and Killers of the Flower Moon.
Coward
A Franco-Belgian period romantic drama about two gay soldiers in the trenches of World War I’s Western Front who decide to improve morale among their comrades by putting on a theatre show. Winner of the Prix du Cinéma Positif and Best Actor at Cannes.
CIFF runs September 24 to October 4. Find schedules and ticket information at ciffcalgary.ca.
