Posted on September 20, 2017

Let the 18th annual festival begin! This morning the Calgary International Film Festival, presented by ATB Financial, announced that the Opening Gala, being held this evening at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, is sold out.

“Even with a seating capacity of 1600 at the Jack Singer, both VIP and regular tickets to the event were sold out by Tuesday afternoon,” said Steve Schroeder, Executive Director of the Calgary International Film Festival. “It is wonderful to see Calgary film fans embrace our opening film.”

The opening film, WHEN THEY AWAKE, co-directed by PJ Marcellino and Hermon Farahi, is a vibrant celebration of Indigenous Canadian musicians. Many of the musicians featured in the opening film will be walking the red carpet and performing after the screening. In partnership with Movie Nights Across Canada and along with other festival filmmakers and celebrities in attendance, this evening’s party will the festival’s most exciting yet.

NEW BUZZ FILMS ADDED TO OUR SCHEDULE
The film world was saddened by the death of Harry Dean Stanton last week. However, we are honoured to announce we will be screening LUCKY, one of his last roles. In it, he portrays an aging atheistic cowboy with a strong independent streak, facing the end of his life with his own particular brand of sardonic humour and insight.

We are also adding Greta Gerwig's solo directorial feature debut, which received a standing ovation at TIFF. LADY BIRD IS A California coming-of-age story, starring Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf, is making a major impact. 

And award-winning French drama BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE) is based on the real experiences of director Robin Campillo and his co-writer Philippe Mangeot. As AIDS activists In the early 1990s, they pushed the limits of civil disobedience in order to make their voices - and those of AIDS sufferers around the world - heard. 

RED CARPET ROLLOUTS
It’s not just the opening gala that has a red carpet. We’ll be rolling out a VIP welcome for multiple movies throughout the festival, including INDIAN HORSE, a saga about an Ojibway boy, raised in a residential school, who grows up to be a hockey player. Check the Guests in Attendance at this year's festival.

SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES! THE SELLOUTS SO FAR:
EVERFALL 
MADE IN VIETNAM 
MARJORIE PRIME 
NO ROADS IN (NMC screening) 
LA LA LAND (no encore)
LIVING PROOF
SHORTS: BEST OF SHORTS (no encore)
WYNONNA EARP SPFX TOUR (no encore)
FILM LOCATION ROAD TRIP AND BARBECUE (no encore)

ENCORE SCREENINGS ADDED FOR MANY OTHERS:
WHEN THEY AWAKE
BORG/MCENROE
LIVING PROOF

PROGRAM & SCHEDULE
Find the program and schedule online at calgaryfilm.com. Check back often – we will continue to add films and encore screenings for the festival’s most popular titles.

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For more information or to book interviews contact:
Nadine bibi, Marketing Director, The Calgary International Film Festival
nadine.bibi@calgaryfilm.com
403.452.4845

About the Calgary International Film Festival

The Calgary International Film Festival (Calgary Film) is a 12-day showcase of up to 200 multi-genre feature and short films from Canada and over 40 other countries. The festival hosts gala events, screenings, special presentations, and a Behind the Screen series that emphasizes unique and exciting ways for filmmakers and fans to interact.

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