The Calgary International Film Festival is Back for Its 26th Year

Over the course of 10 days, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) will screen over 200 films and host events, parties, Q&As, panels and more. Whether you’re a cinephile or a casual movie-goer, there’s something for everyone at CIFF this year.

CIFF is the largest film festival in Alberta and among the largest in Canada, and this year, it will run from September 18 to 28. The festival has nearly quadrupled in size since the first festival in 2000, now seeing approximately 30,000 attendees for the expanded 10-day festival. 

For 2025, the budget-friendly ticket bundles get you in on the action, with the option to purchase three-, eight- or 16-ticket bundles, with a long lineup of films to choose from. However, true movie buffs should check out the All-Access Passes, which not only include unlimited tickets, but also access to parties, Industry Week events, exclusive retail and food discounts and priority line access.

Day one includes the world premiere of the documentary Bif Naked, featuring never-before-seen insight and access to a Canadian music icon. The ticket includes a post-screening performance by Bif herself and access to the Day One Afterparty at Contemporary Calgary. 

2025 introduces Industry Conference events open to the public! If you’re interested in breaking into the industry, advancing your career or learning new skills from professionals, CIFF is one of the biggest events on the calendar for the Alberta film industry. 

CIFF hosts a large number of local and international filmmakers, and the 26th annual showcase will feature everything from the most buzzed-about movies in the festival circuit to diverse films from Canadian storytellers. This year, the festival will feature new movies from Charlie Kaufman, Joachim Trier, Luca Guadagnino and more. 

Challengers director Guadagnino shares the Canadian premiere of his new film, After the Hunt, at CIFF on September 27 — a deep psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield about a college professor (Roberts) who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student (Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues. 

The festival wraps up with its closing night film, Trier’s Sentimental Value, starring the legendary Stellan Skarsgard and festival circuit favourites Renate Reinsve and Elle Fanning. Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he’s given her part to an eager young Hollywood star. As tensions rise, the sisters are forced to navigate their complicated relationship with their father while dealing with an American outsider dropped into the heart of their fragile family dynamic.

With dozens of world, Canadian and North American premieres, you can see all the biggest movies of the year before anyone else!

If you’re looking to expand your film horizons, support Canadian film festivals at CIFF this September.

Learn more and get tickets at www.ciffcalgary.ca.

The post The Calgary International Film Festival is Back for Its 26th Year appeared first on Avenue Calgary.