Everyday Activist - Documentary Film Festivals in Calgary 2015-16

Posted on Saturday, September 05, 2015 at 08:00 PM

Documentary Film Festivals in Calgary 2015-16

Written by Everyday Activist X CalgaryMovies.com

Now that summer feels officially over, it’s time to look at some of the ways we can hide indoors watching documentaries.

Starting September 23 to October 4th, 2015 we have the Calgary International Film Festival. Not all the movies shown are documentaries; however, they have a good selection of them. I’m looking forward to Fractured Land, a Canadian documentary about fracking and its social and environmental implications.

Partnering with CIFF is Hot docs to create Doc Soup. Hot docs Calgary will have 6 different documentaries featured the first Wednesday of every month starting in November 4, 2015. Then December 2, 2015, January 6, 2016, February 3, 2016, March 2, 2016, April 6, 2016. These have a tendency to sell out so purchase tickets early or buy a subscription.

With Art! Flicks only two documentaries are on the list. On Thursday, November 19, 2015 is We’re Still Here: Johnny Cash’s Bitter Tears Revisited (North American premiere). I’ll be going to the February one for sure given how much time I spend in the Yukon. I even attended a Peel Appeal event this summer. Mark down Monday, February 29, 2016 for The Peel.

Next up we have Calgary Underground Film Festival's documentaries, aka CUFF.DOCS. I have never been to this festival, because well, I’m an activist and it’s on the exact same weekend at the Marda Loop Justice Film Festival. Sometimes the Globe Cinema will screen the more popular ones after the festival. I never seem to make those.

Marda Loop Social Justice Film Festival This festival is my favorite one in Calgary, because you not only get to watch socially conscious films with likeminded people, but you get to talk about the issues surrounding the film with a knowledgeable conversation leader, sometimes it’s even the filmmaker. There is also an NGO village where you can interact with different groups. I’m going to Peru with Light Up the World, which I met at the festival. During the year they have monthly screenings. September 13th they have Antarctic Edge: 70° South.

Movies That Matter usually starts up in September, but I haven’t heard anything about it this year. Their website is down and the MTM Facebook pagehasn’t been updated since June, which is too bad, because this monthly series also showed social conscious films.

Green Sanctuary at the Calgary Unitarian Church also has documentary screenings and pizza night. So far nothing has been scheduled yet.

The Plaza Theatre and Globe Cinema often have great documentaries available throughout the year. The Esker Foundation also screens films from time to time. I do my best to stay on top of it.

In January and February the wildly popular Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour comes to Calgary. If you’re impatient you can just see them in Banff in November for the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. I usually do both. They always have great guests at the festival that don’t come on tour and you can’t possibly watch ALL the films, though I might try this year.

These are all the documentary festivals and series that have come to mind. I’m sure I’ve missed a few. I might have to do a part 2. Until then stay warm!

For more on Calgary's upcoming Film Festivals & Events, visit CalgaryMovies.com's Local Scene >