Calgary International Film Festival: Films to look out for

With the line-up for the 25th annual Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) officially announced, and with the festival underway, cinema lovers are gearing up for a week’s worth of entertainment to look forward to.

Ranging from directors making their debut in the festival space to films coming directly from Cannes, this year’s line-up of films has something for everyone.

This year’s festivities will be held in 19 different locations across the city, ranging from film screenings to industry conferences and competitions.

The festival kicks off on September 18 with a screening of The Mastermind at the Globe Cinema and will be capped on September 28 with The Baltimorons at Chinook 15.

With international debuts and homegrown talent, the CIFF will feature stories that range from family drama, futuristic adventures, to maybe murder.

For 10 days, Calgary will host a number of films from fresh talent to seasoned storytellers, and aims to spark dialogue and bridge cultures.

Consessions

This film marks the last appearance of the late actor Michael Madsen and the debut of 23 year old writer and director, Mas Bouzidi’s. This 90 minute film takes place on the closing day of the Royal Alamo cinema with a combination of outcasts, employees and oddballs intersecting and entangling with fate, rejection and redemption.

Screening date and time	Screening location
Friday, September 19th, 2025 @ 6:15 p.m.	The Plaza Theatre.

Bif Naked

One of the most anticipated films to be screened during the fest is the world premiere of Bif Naked. Following the life of the Canadian alt-rock star that dives into a male-dominated environment, the film explores a tumultuous journey through addictions, assaults, cancer and identity. Seemingly beating every odd while also breaking free of expectations, Bif Naked is a documentary that seeks to tell a story of utter Canadian resilience.

Screening date and time	Screening location
Thursday, September 18, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m.	The Globe Theatre Down.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 @ 9 p.m.	Chinook Theatres – Theatre 14.

Hedda

A glamorous evening where guests revel in an exorbitant party, Hedda depicts a reimagined version of Norwegian playwrights, Henrik Ibsen’s classical play Hedda Gabler that originally premiered in 1891. Amidst the dazzling abundance of aristocratic life, the tensions between Hedda’s repressed sorrow towards her marriage and the emergence of an old love throw her and everyone around her for quite the loop.

Screening date and time	Screening location
Monday, September 22, 2025 @ 6 p.m.	The Globe Theatre Up.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 @ 8:45 p.m.	Chinook Theatres – Theatre 10.

This Will Never Work

Family and drama — a disastrous combination with a case of pointing fingers of whodunit. This Will Never Work is a story of a black family that calls a family intervention whilst hiring a white therapist for daughter Amanda’s drinking problem. With the anticipation before Amanda’s arrival, secrets, drama and trauma are unleashed in a tight room that will make or break the family members. Can the therapist and her family help Amanda, or is she beyond repair?

Screening date and time	Screening location
Sunday, September 20, 2025 @ 4 p.m.	The Globe Theatre Up.
Sunday, September 28, 2025 @ 11:45 a.m.	Chinook Theatres – Theatre 14.

Queens Of The Dead

Campy, star-studded zombies are just a few ways to describe this new queer horror film debuting at film festivals around the world. Trapped inside a drag show in Brooklyn amidst a zombie outbreak, Queens of the Dead patrons and performers must work together for a chance to make it out alive. The film feature’s queer media stars such as Dominique Jackson from Pose, and Ru-Paul’s Drag Race queen Nina West.

Screening date and time	Screening location
Saturday, September 27, 2025 @ 9:30 p.m.	The Globe Theatre Down.

Peak Everything

Peak Everything is a French-Canadian romantic comedy filled with climate anxiety and a conspiracy. Adam, a kennel owner in Quebec, mistakenly places a call to a tech service representative, Tina, seeking comfort over his fears about the environment. He falls in love with Tina feeling she holds the power to soothe his anxieties. After a natural disaster, Adam embarks on an adventurous journey to find Tina.

Screening date and time	Screening location
Sunday, September 20, 2025 @ 12 p.m.	The Globe Theatre Down.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025 @ 7 p.m.	Chinook Theatres – Theatre 13.

No Other Choice

Korea is coming to Calgary with one of its most well-known actors, Lee Byung-Hun, famous for his role in Squid Games. With No Other Choice he’s desperate to find work and plots a devious plan to eradicate his competition to seal the deal for a job. Like many people worldwide, how far would you go to ensure you have a job when options become scarce?

Screening date and time	Screening location
Friday, September 19, 2025 @ 8:45 p.m.	The Globe Theatre Up.
Friday, September 26, 2025 @ 9 p.m.	Chinook Theatres – Theatre 10.

ARCO

Time-travelling back to 2075, Arco is a 10-year-old boy from a distant future who lands in a world he does not recognize. After discovering that the planet and its future are in danger, Arco sets off on a visually stunning adventure that tells a tale of hope, determination and friendship. Fresh off Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festivals, the story and its animated visuals are an all-ages favourite.

Screening date and time	Screening location
Sunday, September 21, 2025 @ 8:30 p.m.	The Globe Theatre Up.
Sunday, September 27, 2025 @ 11 a.m.	Chinook Theatres – Theatre 10.