Posted on August 15, 2017

This morning the Calgary International Film Festival, presented by ATB Financial, announced 68 films that will be screened across eight different shorts packages and play before features at this year’s festival.

The number of shorts submissions jumped by almost 500 – from 1,552 in 2016 to 2,012 this year. 24 of the selected films are Canadian, representing 35% of the overall lineup. New this year, instead of playing all of the Alberta shorts in one package, Alberta Spirit, Alberta films will be shown alongside submissions from around the world – 22 countries in total. The 11 Alberta short films selected this year will still vie for a $2,500 cash prize for the Best Alberta Short. The festival has also added a new Audience Award for the Favourite Alberta Short. 

“As the Calgary International Film Festival gains a reputation for showcasing some of the best short films from around the world, the quality of submissions continues to increase,” said Brennan Tilley, Shorts Programmer with the Calgary International Film Festival. “We are faced with tough decisions about which to screen for our audiences. This year Albertan filmmakers have their work shown alongside major award winners and other Oscar hopefuls. We mix in crowd pleasers and under-the-radar gems that are particularly suited to the sensibilities of the attendees of our festival.”

The shorts lineup will include a special Hot Docs package, IN THE NAME OF ALL CANADIANS, commissioned in commemoration of Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation. The package is a compilation of six short documentaries inspired by Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Also new this year is a special 60-minute lunchtime shorts bundle, which will be screened along with a buffet lunch at The Palace Theatre on Thursday, September 27. Tickets are $20, including lunch.

Shorts programming will wind up on the final Sunday of the festival with our Best of Shorts presentation – always a fan favourite. The Best of Shorts package will feature the jury selected awards finalists. The winners of the Best of Shorts, as well as the festival’s jury and audience awards, will be presented at an Awards Party later that night. 

The Calgary International Film Festival is an Oscar-qualifying event for short films. The recipient of Calgary Film’s annual Best of Shorts Award is eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film/Live Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards, without the standard theatrical run that a film typically needs to qualify for an Oscar nomination.

Calgary Film’s Shorts Series is sponsored by Copyseis and Minimax. Click here to see the full list of 68 short films selected for the 2017 festival.

NEXT WEEK
The waves of announcements keep coming, all through August. On Sunday evening, we’ll announce the Late Shows lineup live from the Ship & Anchor, alongside a screening of the cult-classic FEAST. Next Wednesday we will reveal the lineup of documentaries screening at this year’s festival, including music docs from our popular Music on Screen Series.

STAY TUNED FOR OUR FULL LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT
The Calgary International Film Festival will announce the full lineup of films on August 30, 2017. Single tickets to all films will go on sale online at this time, with the Eau Claire Box Office opening on September 5. Meanwhile, early bird festival passes and ticket packages are on sale now at calgaryfilm.com, with special pricing in effect until August 25. This year’s festival runs from September 20 – October 1.

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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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