The appreciation of art through filmmaking is presented and showcased in all aspects, and not just in a typical Hollywood-like fashion, but also in smaller filmmaking communities like Calgary.
Calgarians can appreciate film as an art form to discuss all matters in cinema, ranging from the history to the impact of film in a local cinema club created by the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF).
The Cinema Club
Members of the CSIF wanted to create a cinema club to watch and discuss films. The Cinema club launched last summer.
Kyle Marshall is the head of programming at the CSIF, overseeing events, including screenings and workshops. He thought the Cinema Club was a great idea to engage fellow filmmakers and film enthusiasts in gathering to watch and talk about the films shown in different series.
The CSIF this year is showcasing a series of films with a twist —International Flavours features films in a six-part series from each continent, except the frozen one way down under, Antarctica.
The six-part series happened by accident. There was no reasoning behind showcasing six different films from six continents.
“I didn’t necessarily have a specific reason behind this [International flavours], but each series we’ve done has been six films, and I realized, ‘Oh, six films would fit really nicely with the six continents, only because Antarctica does not make films,’” said Marshall.
After the decision for international flavours, Marshall began looking at which countries would be chosen, the films with the most captivating backgrounds and the origins of filmmaking in the countries chosen.
What goes on behind the scenes of the screenings
Before a film is shown, a brief introduction is presented by Marshall to the members of the CSIF Cinema club. He explains the background of each film, the era it was filmed in, to understand the background of each country and the period it was created in.
“I like to set that scene and be like, ‘This is what is happening in the country. This is what was going on in the film industry,’” said Marshall
The synopsis
The series made its first stop in Germany on March 10, 2025, with a classic film called M — a 1931 film that is about a child murderer and the moral order of society and is one of the earliest sound films.
The club featured Japan as the next film in April, called High and Low, which dealt with income inequality and the different hierarchy of Japanese society after World War II.
Senegal was next on the list and showcased Black Girl, a movie that tackles Racism and inequality. Marshall described this movie as having a great impact on the audience because Africa didn’t create films due to colonialism. Countries in Africa gained their independence in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and films from that era and region garnered different perspectives from the Cinema Club.
“It’s very late into the 1900s before film really starts to become a thing within those countries. But again, dealing with… colonial powers that fight against that, trying to… find your own voice, even though you have been occupied for so long,” said Marshall, “It’s been an interesting conversation with the people who have come and interacted with these films.”
The fourth stop featured Australia and is the only English-language film shown in the entire six-part series. It is also the only comedy played in the entire series so far. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert tells the story of two drag queens and a transgender woman navigating the Australian desert while facing challenges and celebrating identity.
What is playing next?
The next film showcase takes place on Monday, July 21. The Children of God, a Brazilian film that tackles the issue of homelessness in the streets of Brazil.
Canada is the last stop in the entire series on August 18. I Killed My Mother is a film created by a 16-year-old in Quebec and follows the difficult relationship between a mother and her son.
“Another…goal I’ve had for the last few series has always been to include a Canadian film within our output or… our collection of films, mostly to prove that there’s a vibrancy to Canada,” said Marshall
Future series
Although Marshall is still unsure whether International Flavours will have a second season, the turnout for the films showcased this year has been great. He does, however, offer a sneak peek into what a new series could focus on and says potentially the Cinema Club might delve into an era of film for a single region or a director’s growth in six different movies.
It is unknown what the next series will be, but there are two more films to be shown soon. You will just have to stay tuned to the CSIF for their next series.
Children of God will screen this Monday, July 21. Followed by the film I Killed My Mother, on Monday, August 18. CSIF will hold both the screenings at its head office at 6 p.m., 1725 10th Ave. S.W., Suite 100, Calgary.
