CA Ongoing

Calgary International Film Festival

Name: Calgary International Film Festival
Start: 2026-09-24
End: 2026-10-04
Location: Calgary

The Calgary International Film Festival is an 11-day celebration of cinema scheduled to run from September 24 to October 4, 2026. The event opens at The Grand with the Alberta premiere of the drama 'A Long Winter,' a production filmed locally in Calgary and southern Alberta. The festival features a wide array of international premieres, music documentaries, and independent Canadian films.

Date: Sep 24 - Oct 4, 2026
Location: Calgary
Status: Ongoing

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Event summary

Highlights

Opening night screening of 'A Long Winter' at The Grand
Canadian premiere of Paweł Pawlikowski’s award-winning 'Fatherland'
Music documentaries featuring Peter Frampton and the 1995 Beastie Boys tour
Alberta-shot action-comedy 'The Stunt Driver' by Michael Dowse

The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) returns in 2026 for its 11-day run, showcasing a diverse selection of regional and global cinema. The festival begins on September 24 at The Grand with the opening night screening of 'A Long Winter,' directed by Andrew Haigh. This period drama, which stars Fred Hechinger and Kit Connor, was filmed extensively in Alberta and serves as a major highlight for the local film community.

The 2026 lineup includes a 'first wave' of 18 films, featuring a mix of high-profile international titles and independent works. Notable Canadian entries include Michael Dowse's action-comedy 'The Stunt Driver' and the horror film 'X-Communicado.' The festival also hosts several Canadian premieres, such as Paweł Pawlikowski’s 'Fatherland' and the comedy-fantasy 'The Incomer' starring Domhnall Gleeson.

Documentary fans can expect significant premieres including 'The Best Summer,' which chronicles a 1995 music tour featuring the Beastie Boys and Sonic Youth, and 'Frampton,' a look at the career of Peter Frampton. The programming spans various genres and countries, including works from Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and Spain, reinforcing the festival's role as a major hub for international film in Western Canada.

Practical details

Location described by the source: the Grand; calgaryherald.com
Area for browsing nearby events: Calgary

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.