9 Alberta-made short films that showcase talent from all around the province. From subtle horror shorts to danceable documentaries this diverse group of films will have something that will surely appeal to everyone.

A former couple unexpectedly reunites on a night out. They experience a mix of emotions as they attempt to gain closure on their relationship.
Asim Overstands (MEAN HAKEEM) is quickly making his name known in the local film community. With experience in music video and commercial work, his narrative short film style taps into the youthful energy bubbling under the surface of Calgary's art scene. His follow-up to 2021's MEAN HAKEEM, COLD TEA is a truly Calgarian project employing predominately local creatives, pushing to raise Calgary's status in the filmmaking world.

COLD TEA

A former couple unexpectedly reunites on a night out and attempts to gain closure on their relationship.

Created by and starring the youth of Tap Root Actors Academy from Kikino Métis Settlement, this film presents a whimsical blend of Wes Anderson's and Taika Waititi's early styles. KIKINO KIDS explores rebellious friends, star-crossed lovers and brave explorers coming together to discover how connected they truly are.

KIKINO KIDS

Kikino youth explore rebellious friends, star-crossed lovers and explorers.

Tank, the eldest of eight siblings, grapples with the memory of the moment his family was torn apart. Foraging for survival alone in a forest, the children fear a dangerous force, unaware that what lurks in the darkness is pure evil. Narrated by Corey Feldman (STAND BY ME, THE GOONIES)Tank Standing Buffalo returns to CIFF with a pseudo-prequel to his previous short film, RKLSS, continuing his auto-biographical story with vibrant animation and raw energy.

SAVJ

Tank, the eldest of eight siblings, grapples with the memory of the moment his family was torn apart.

After Rebecca dies by suicide, her three best friends try to reach her through a seance.
CIFF alumnus Gillian McKercher (CIRCLE OF STEEL, 2018) is back at the festival with this chilling tale of friendship, grief and the afterlife.

REBECCA'S ROOM

After Rebecca dies by suicide, her three best friends try to reach her through a seance.

Death goes about their day gathering auditory bits and pieces of people’s lives. These form a cosmic beat and melody that flow through everything. At the end of one woman’s life, Death is the one to play it back for her so that she can hear the full scope of her contribution to the song.

DEATH RATTLE

In the grand song that is the universe, Death is the great sound mixer.

A middle-aged man's inability to control his temper while playing sports causes his life to spiral out of control.
Basketball is becoming a running theme for local filmmaker Ted Stenson (EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME, 2020). This time, the sport is being used as a plot point to dig into one of the most primal emotions, rage. Starkly designed sets and short-and-sweet vignettes, FOUL wears its Roy Andersson influence proudly and brings pitch-black dark comedy to the bizarre premise.

FOUL

A man's sports rage causes his life to spiral out of control.

HEARTH OF THE LION illustrates three brothers' dedication, discipline and passion as they embody the powerful movements of the lion and the fire of the wok hearth. Images of fried soft-shell crab leave you hungry, but the beauty of the lion's dance keeps your heart full.

HEARTH OF THE LION

Three brothers juxtapose the powerful movements of the lion and the fire of the wok hearth.

Awakened by a dream of the last time an unresolved love oiled her scalp, Lusa, gets ready for a trip to a local grocery store with her two best friends, Fatima and Rose. As Lusa makes her way through Calgary, distinct memories of her first and last meeting with her unresolved lover keep coming to mind. Her true feelings about the relationship unravel as her subconscious expresses itself in movement and poetry. Once inside the store, Lusa and her friends bump into the aforementioned lover, Amir. The couple then attempts to have closure.Multi-disciplinary artist Micha Maseka expertly weaves a tortured tale of love through interpretive dance. NOT THAT DEEP is not only a love story between characters, with Calgary as the backdrop, it's a love letter to the city as well.

NOT THAT DEEP

A woman’s memory of an unresolved romance finds closure at a drugstore store.

Kyle Young Pine grew up skateboarding in Mohkinstsis (AKA Calgary, Alberta). The community and freedom he found through skateboarding shielded him from substance use at home, resulting from pervasive generational trauma. Still, Kyle struggles to find his true identity, having been raised in an urban setting far from the Blood Tribe lands.
When skateboarding stops working, Kyle turns to other means of coping, becoming introduced to Fancy Feather Dancing at a powwow. Kyle now uses the art form to express himself and educate others on the power of Blackfoot traditions.

PIITA AAPASSKAAN

An indigenous boy raised in Calgary reclaims his culture through Fancy Feather Dancing.

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

SHORTS: ALBERTA SPIRIT #1

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Explore our on-demand catalog here, and head over to the {{livestreams|Live Streams}} tab to see what's coming up.

The 23rd Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) takes place September 22 - October 2 in the city of Calgary and in homes across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba with online streaming.

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.