For its 25th edition this year, the Calgary International Film Festival has to evolve.
“We’re going through the single largest operational shift in festival space in well over a decade,” says Katherine Penhale, who has been acting executive director of CIFF since last December. With the shuttering of Eau Claire Market last May — and the retro Cineplex that resided on the mall’s top floor — the festival lost one of its long-time venues, and downtown Calgary’s cinema space has been cut down to just the Globe Cinema supported by Kensington’s Plaza Theatre. “This is not just a large shift in terms of where we watch movies,” Penhale says, “But [also] the partnership component of what we have to develop to be able to be in these spaces and acquire funds to purchase projectors.”
The projectors she refers to are crucial to what CIFF calls its new “Constellation of venues” in downtown Calgary. At a press conference earlier this year, the festival committed to buying six industry-level digital cinema projectors and related equipment by 2026 to convert unconventional venues across Calgary into moviegoing experiences. “They’re not inexpensive, at about $60,000 a pop,” says Penhale. “So we’re super grateful to the Calgary Foundation, who came through with $125,000 in funding [this year].” That funding will allow CIFF to acquire two of the projectors by October.
“People want to watch movies in these unique spaces,” says Penhale. “You see film programming popping up at many of these venues, and being able to offer them the opportunity to use true cinematic equipment and also allow them to expand their programming scope beyond just retrospective stuff… is exciting.”
When they arrive this fall, CIFF plans to use these new projectors for off-season programming throughout the year. For this year’s festival, however, Constellation will activate Contemporary Calgary alongside The Plaza for screenings while the good old Globe Cinema soldiers on. Just down Macleod Trail, the Chinook Cineplex will also host CIFF screenings for the first time, shifting the festival experience from the downtown core to a more accessible space — with easy parking.
All this evolution on a landmark anniversary isn’t lost on the festival organizers. “What’s changed is what audiences need to be offered,” says Penhale. “If they can go watch the same movie they can get at home on streaming, they have no motivation to be here. So we have to do more. It’s bringing in filmmakers and additional special experiences, as well as what we can do to make it feel special inside and outside the theatre. Those things must come into play because otherwise, the value statement is not as high.”
In other words, you might want a specific reason to check out a film festival rather than crush your recommended cue on Netflix. CIFF’s first-ever artistic director, Brian Owens, makes the case by pointing toward the curated aspect. “If we had the space, we could just throw all 4,000 movies submitted to us on the screen,” he says. “But that’s not really what people want… We bring that expertise to the table, saying, ‘Hey, we recommend these.’ I know not everyone is going to like everything. We don’t expect that. But if you’d like a certain style or a certain type of movie, then it’s here waiting for you.” He even recommends chatting with festival staff at the theatres if you’re feeling aimless and unsure what to watch: they all try to learn as much as possible about the movies.
Owens, who joined the CIFF team in 2018, also feels that CIFF’s regional aspect sets it apart from other festivals like the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) or Cannes. “We’re the preeminent place for films made in the prairies,” he says. “We try to support our filmmakers from here in Alberta, but also in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, because we’re the largest festival in the region, [while] also working with the city and our reputation trying to grow.”
This year’s Industry Week at CIFF takes place from September 20 to 23 and, according to the CIFF website, is centred on three themes: “Persevering in the Film & TV Industries,” “Essential Skills for Emerging Creators,” and “Honest Paths to Representation.” The Alberta Spirit package of short film selections is focused on Alberta filmmakers (more on that below). As Penhale puts it, the festival is not just about what’s “made in Alberta” but what’s “made by Alberta.”
If nothing else, a film festival can offer a place to connect with others. And in today’s isolated digital age, that makes it more relevant than ever, according to CIFF’s industry specialist and features programmer in residence, Celina Vides. “Film is a medium that is so accessible to everyone, anywhere: on your phone, in an independent theatre, in a Cineplex,” she says. “Film festivals are a showcase… We’re pointing you to things that you may not be familiar with. And going to the movies is a beautiful, communal experience.”
The Calgary International Film Festival takes place from September 19 to 29. Check out the lineup and get tickets at ciffcalgary.ca.
