Up to sixty short films carefully curated into a sampler package of themes that cover everything from animation, to animals, awkward situations, life-changing experiences, and more. This year's inspired collection of shorts is a testament to how big an impact just a few minutes of film can be. Films in this section will compete for a $1000 CAD category prize, and are eligible for a $2500 CAD grand jury prize and Academy Award® consideration.

Presented by Jerilyn Wright & Associates.

Films in this Section are also eligible for the Telus Audience Awards.

100% USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC HOMEMADE TOFU

The only thing standing between a young Korean trans girl and her dreams is money.

ASPIRATIONAL SLUT

A newly heartbroken woman learns to separate love from sex.

Award Winner - Best of Shorts

A compilation of the 2022 jury award-winning films.

AYOUNGMAN

A mother loses her son to a race-related murder and tries to bridge the gap between a suburban city and a First Nations reserve.

BAD JEWISH GIRLS

Two best friends lie to go on a free trip to Israel.

BAGGAGE

A disorganized student must confront the physical manifestation of his problems.

BINGE LOVING

A private detective is taken out of his comfort zone while on a stakeout at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

BLUE MOON MARQUEE

CAI-BER

A final night in Cairo turns into an internal fight to keep a secret.

CELEBRITAS EX MACHINA

Rosa lives happily in the household of celebrity robots she built for companionship. The robots aren't quite so happy.

CENSOR OF DREAMS

Night after night, The Censor and his team mould Yoko’s memories into fantastical dreams. Tonight nothing happens as planned.

CO2

Three friends use a time machine to see how the year 2222 will look.

COLD TEA

A former couple unexpectedly reunites on a night out and attempts to gain closure on their relationship.

CORVINE

A little boy who loves nature, especially crows, struggles to fit in with his schoolmates.

CROW CALL AND RESPONSE

An experimental music video exploring Indigenous land rights.

DEATH RATTLE

In the grand song that is the universe, Death is the great sound mixer.

DREAM JOURNAL

A boy explores the meanings of his dreams.

DRESS A COW

A meditation on cows...in costumes.

FACE RECOGNITION

A long night of drinking becomes a wild night out for Igor-503.

FOUL

A man's sports rage causes his life to spiral out of control.

FREEDOM SWIMMER

The story of a grandfather’s perilous swim from China to Hong Kong.

F^¢K '€M R!GHT B@¢K

A queer, Black, aspiring rapper must outwit his vengeful day-job boss to avoid getting fired after accidentally eating an edible.

GATHERING STORM

A community organization aids the 20,000 people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton.

HALF

Half-Jewish bisexual Jonah Dorman comes out to his girlfriend, launching an exploration of love and religion in New York City.

HARD LABOUR

The experience of a transgender woman working in the oil rigs of Alberta.

HASAATUK

HEARTH OF THE LION

Three brothers juxtapose the powerful movements of the lion and the fire of the wok hearth.

HOLLYWOOD

A failing actress is cast as a victim in training exercises for the local fire department, screaming for her life and career.

HOOP DREAMS

Savannah steals her mother's gold hoop earrings, hoping their "magic" will help her speak in front of her 5th-grade class.

HOT ROD

In the Summer of 2031, after gasoline cars are outlawed, a teenage girl thinks about bringing back horse transportation.

HOT SPOT

When Adèle has to deal with her parents’ funeral, she has an everlasting orgasm.

HOW TO BURY YOUR MOTHER DURING A PANDEMIC

A look at the grieving process, or lack thereof, during a pandemic.

HUELLA

While working a desk job, a curse forces a woman to experience the five stages of grief for her female ancestors.

IS THIS THE PLACE?

A boy searches for a place with his friends while carrying a blue bag.

JAY GILDAY

KIKINO KIDS

Kikino youth explore rebellious friends, star-crossed lovers and explorers.

KILL ME DADDY

Maya's roommates recognize her new boyfriend as the subject of a true-crime podcast.

KLIMAX

A magical transformation creates new aesthetic associations of femininity.

KNIGHTS WHEN WE DREAM

A group of children play-fight with foam swords and experience a real battle.

KYLIE

A ballerina from Los Angeles speaks her truth about passion and pain in the dance industry.

LET ME GO (THE RIGHT WAY)

A psychological thriller about a young veteran and the psychiatrist who treats him.

THE LIFE ARTIST

Allan Morgan's moving poem brings light to the stories and movements that shape him.

LONELY WOODS

A short animated film about a dog living in an abandoned town.

LUCE AND THE ROCK

Two friends, who seemingly have nothing in common, end up facing their fear of the unknown together.

MAMARUDEGYAL MTHC

ME, MAHMOUD AND THE MINT PLANT

Mahmoud has a precious mint plant that he carries everywhere he goes.

MINK!

The story of Patsy Mink, the first woman of colour elected to the U.S. Congress.

MORE THAN HAIR

Sitting in a barbershop, a young black boy will discover the symbolic power of black hair for the first time.

MORE THAN I WANT TO REMEMBER

14-year-old Congolese refugee Mugeni sets out on a solo journey across the globe to reunite with lost loved ones.

A MOTORCYCLE SAVED MY LIFE

The open road presents a point of departure for director Lori Lozinski to process deep-seated grief.

MUNICIPAL RELAXATION MODULE

Ken has a great idea for a bench.

MY CULTURE

Inuit youth speak about what their culture means to them in this portrait of life in Kugluktuk, Nunavut.

MY DUDUŚ

An empty-nesting mother finds comfort in a newfound pet: a baby squirrel.

MY NEIGHBOUR IS A BEAR

Villalago is a charming village in the Italian Apennines that doubles as a home to a family of rare Marsican bears.

NICHOLAS BROTHERS: STORMY WEATHER

Contemporary hip hop dancers, Les Twins, pay homage to the famed Nicholas Brothers.

NIGHT RIDE

As Ebba waits for the tram, an unexpected turn of events transforms her ride home.

NO GHOST IN THE MORGUE

Medical student Keity begrudgingly accepts an internship at the morgue after her first operation takes a dramatic turn.

THE NORTH SOUND

NOT THAT DEEP

A woman’s memory of an unresolved romance finds closure at a drugstore store.

NUISANCE BEAR

A polar bear roams its way through the town of Churchill, Manitoba.

OBSCURUS

A young girl stumbles upon an ancient cave housing terrifying creatures.

OLDTIMERS

Two old friends get together for a holiday dinner.

THE ONE WHO NEVER WATCHED FRIENDS

Could you marry someone who has never seen FRIENDS?

THE ORIGINALS

Childhood friends, the Union Street Boys, talk about growing up in South Brooklyn where money was tight but friendships were tighter.

PATTERNS IN OUR LIVES

Patterns are everywhere, from what we see to what we feel and experience.

PIITA AAPASSKAAN

An indigenous boy raised in Calgary reclaims his culture through Fancy Feather Dancing.

QUINN

An intimate story about changing identity shot over four seasons and four years.

REBECCA'S ROOM

After Rebecca dies by suicide, her three best friends try to reach her through a seance.

THE RECORD

An antique dealer finds a magical vinyl record that can read your mind and play your lost memories.

ROOMMATES

Two disabled girls are forced to live together in their first days of college.

RUN TOTTI RUN

A young Cambodian boy and his dog encounter an unmoving obstacle.

SANDSTORM

Zara tries to reject a patriarchal society after being manipulated by her virtual boyfriend.

SAVJ

Tank, the eldest of eight siblings, grapples with the memory of the moment his family was torn apart.

THE SENTENCE OF MICHAEL THOMPSON

Michael Thompson, the longest-serving non-violent offender in the history of Michigan, is finally up for clemency.

SHAWNEE KISH

SIERRA

A boy turns himself into a car tire.

SNOTTY NOSE REZ KIDS

STEAKHOUSE

Will Liza make it home on time to eat a perfectly cooked steak?

TANK FAIRY

The magical TANK FAIRY sassily delivers gas tanks to the home of a lonely dreamer in need of a glittery godmother.

THIS IS HOW I KNOW YOU

The official music video for THIS IS HOW I KNOW YOU by Ghostkeeper.

TIGRESS

When she encounters an alternate version of herself, a young woman questions her rebellion.

TIL IT BLOOMS

An emotionally-constipated father suppresses a "grief flower" sprouting from his face before speaking at his father's funeral.

TORTURE GARDEN

The official music video for the song TORTURE GARDEN by Kula Ferrier and Sarah Houston.

TROLEIBUSAS

An unconventional marriage of dance and public transportation in Lithuania.

TROY

Troy has loud sex 24/7. Troy shares a wall with Thea and Charlie. Troy is ruining their lives.

TUNNEL HUNTERS

A ragtag documentary team seeks to debunk the rumours of what lies beneath their high school.

UNLIMITED WORLD

A codependent relationship is stretched to its limits after a few too many nights of partying.

A WORLD BEYOND THE SCREEN

15 years old and already numb to the world. Nature has the answer.

YELLOW

A love story between a photographer and an architect that might just happen at the wrong time.

YOU'VE NEVER BEEN COMPLETELY HONEST

A never before heard interview recounting physical torture and brainwashing at a business seminar in 1970.

ZOON

A two-legged forest dweller and his friends snack on small, shimmering animals.
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HOW TO PARTICIPATE

BUY A TICKET BUNDLE 

These flexible packages are the best way to catch your most anticipated films and save a few bucks. If you're seeing more than one film, or want to share your experience with friends, a bundle is definitely the way to go!

BUY SINGLE TICKETS

Single tickets are just $13.50 for in cinema or streaming.

HOW DO I WATCH

Starting September 23 through October 3, films will be available to stream on-demand via CIFFcalgary.ca. You can watch on your phone, laptop, computer, or your TV with your AppleTV, Roku, or Chromecast Device.  Learn about technical requirements for at-home cinema or test your device.