A selection of shorts about looking for hope when it might not be so obvious. Sometimes life is all about finding your way home or finding what home means to you. <a href="http://www.jwadesign.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.ciffcalgary.ca/assets/Sponsors/Banners/e65a702925/Jerilyn-Wright-_-Associates_TileAd.jpg" width="302" style="max-width: 100%;"></a>

Modern-day ‘Nakwaxda’xw Elder Colleen Hemphill reflects on her past, and re-enacts the stories she tells of her youth, as a young girl growing up on a float-house in the wild and unpredictable Pacific Northwest and its waters. As she retells her story, Colleen notices how different her way of life was when she was young, and how much more harmonious her community was with nature. The film aims to celebrate the life and identity of Colleen by sharing the gift of her presence and stories with audiences. <a href="https://ciff2023.eventive.org/schedule/64e3e32bc9d3160066419bd5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TINY will be screened as a part of the SHORTS: A BETTER TOMORROW package.</a>

TINY

‘Nakwaxda’xw Elder Colleen Hemphill reflects on her time as a young girl growing up on a float-house in the wild and unpredictable Pacific Northwest and its...

Accompanied by his older brother, Carlos, young Adam is engaged in a perilous journey across the desert on the Mexican-American border. Abandoned by their guide, who was supposed to help them, the brothers risk it all to reach their mother, who is waiting for them in Long Beach, California. Just as the desert is about to swallow them alive, a telephone booth appears like a mirage. <a href="https://ciff2023.eventive.org/schedule/64e3e32bc9d3160066419bd5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PACIFIC BELL will be screened as a part of the SHORTS: A BETTER TOMORROW package.</a>

English

PACIFIC BELL

Two brothers attempt the perilous crossing of a strange desert. Just when they think they won't make it out alive, a phone booth appears.

Kaili Wang, a young female foreigner in the States, is renewing her visa. In order to stay, Kaili decides to apply for a specialty visa issued purely based on looks. Without understanding what it truly means, Kaili attends her interview, only to discover the shocking truth of the immigration process. Director Kate He will be in attendance at the September 21 screening. <a href="https://ciff2023.eventive.org/schedule/64e3e32bc9d3160066419bd5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEAUTY VISA will be screened as a part of the SHORTS: A BETTER TOMORROW package.</a>

BEAUTY VISA

A young female foreigner discovers the ugly truth of the immigration process.

As a girl grows up, her world starts to become more complicated. She notices lines appearing on people's faces that she hadn't noticed before. While trying to see the hidden lives in between her neighbors' facial features, her own face struggles to ignore an unwanted line from her childhood. <a href="https://ciff2023.eventive.org/schedule/64e3e32bc9d3160066419bd5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KOLAJ will be screened as a part of the SHORTS: A BETTER TOMORROW package.</a>

KOLAJ

Identity, how it's formed, and how to deal with the collage it's made of.

In rhythm with the footsteps of her Atikamekws ancestors, Catherine immerses us in the dreamlike universe of her morning runs. 6 MINUTES PER KILOMETER will be screened as a part of the <a href="https://ciff2023.eventive.org/schedule/64e3e32bc9d3160066419bd5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SHORTS: A BETTER TOMORROW</a> package.

6 MINUTES PER KILOMETER

In rhythm with the footsteps of her Atikamekws ancestors, Catherine immerses us in the dreamlike universe of her morning runs.

Maria Luisa is ready to escape immigration limbo, but when her green card interview takes an unexpected turn, she faces the anxiety of losing the life she had planned. Based on Luis Fernando Puente's real-life experiences dealing with US immigration, I HAVE NO TEARS, AND I MUST CRY gives us a dark glimpse into the anxiety and stress that immigrants experience when facing a highly bureaucratic process. <a href="https://ciff2023.eventive.org/schedule/64e3e32bc9d3160066419bd5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">I HAVE NO TEARS, AND I MUST CRY will be screened as a part of the SHORTS: A BETTER TOMORROW package.</a>

I HAVE NO TEARS, AND I MUST CRY

Maria Luisa is ready to escape immigration limbo but when her green card interview takes an unexpected turn, she faces the anxiety of losing the life she had...

As the Hong Kong government gradually eased its border restrictions, many mainland Chinese, who were stuck overseas during the Covid-19 pandemic, opted to enter and quarantine in Hong Kong as a transit point before returning to mainland China. However, Xu is unexpectedly stranded in Hong Kong because the options for re-entry to the mainland are scarce, due to the large influx of visitors. One day, she goes to the China-Hong Kong border to visit her mother whom she has not seen for many years. <a href="https://ciff2023.eventive.org/schedule/64e3e32bc9d3160066419bd5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DETOUR will be screened as a part of the SHORTS: A BETTER TOMORROW package.</a>

DETOUR

As the Hong Kong government is gradually easing its border restrictions, Xu travels from overseas in hopes of making it home to mainland China.

A southern gothic drama about a young Black Caribbean Immigrant who attempts to assimilate into an all-white church in 1970s Raleigh, North Carolina. Inspired by true events. Director Wesley Goodrich will be in attendance at the September 21 screening. <a href="https://ciff2023.eventive.org/schedule/64e3e32bc9d3160066419bd5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PALM SUNDAY will be screened as a part of the SHORTS: A BETTER TOMORROW package.</a>

PALM SUNDAY

A southern gothic drama about a young Black Caribbean immigrant who attempts to assimilate into an all-white church in 1970s Raleigh, North Carolina.

Canada

SHORTS: A BETTER TOMORROW

General Admission

INDUSTRY-Standard

INDUSTRY-Standard + 20 Ticket Bundle

INDUSTRY-Student

INDUSTRY-Student + 20 Ticket Bundle

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These are all the passes and ticket bundles tied to your account. You can use these passes to book tickets to the 2023 festival happening September 21-October 1, 2023.

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Curated Pack - Canadian Film

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The 24th Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) takes place September 21 - October 1 in the city of Calgary, Canada.

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.