April 20-30, 2023
20th Calgary Underground Film Festival
Globe Cinema, 617 8th Ave. S.W.
Screenings:
Wednesday: 7:00 p.m.
Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
Friday: 5:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8:45 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 7:45 p.m. 9:45 p.m., 10:15 p.m., 11:59 p.m.
Sunday: 12:15 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:15 p.m.
Monday: 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:15 p.m., 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 4:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:15 p.m., 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 8:45 p.m., 9:15 p.m.
Thursday: 4:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m.
Friday: 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 11:59 p.m.
Saturday: 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m.
see full schedule here:
Admission Prices:
$10/$8 Regular Screenings
$15/$13 Found Footage Festival (live performance)
$10/$8 The 48-Hour Movie Challenge
$12/$10 Saturday Morning Cartoons ($6 Kids age 6 and Under)
$139 Festival Pass
$40 Five Film Flex Pass
Special Events:
Cuffcade
Each April, the Calgary Underground Film Festival launches five new indie video games that are free to play, and they remain accessible at Globe Cinema throughout the year. These arcade cabinets feature five new, independent video games. CUFFcade is the only curated arcade of its type in Canada. CUFFcade will remain at Globe Cinema throughout the year, and will be free to play.
Comic Book Confidential - National Canadian Film Day Free Screening
April 19, 7:00 p.m.
Free Admission
Hey Kids! CUFF is hosting the 35th anniversary screening of Ron Mann’s award-wining essential classic film COMIC BOOK CONFIDENTIAL, a definitive history of the graphic arts medium, profiling 24 legendary artists writers and artists featuring Lynda Barry, Charles Burns, Sue Coe, Robert Crumb, Will Eisner, Al Feldstein, Shary Flenniken, William M. Gaines, Bill Griffith, Jaime Hernadez, Jack Kirby, Harvey Kurtzman, Stan Lee, Paul Mavrides, Frank Miller, Victor Moscoso, Francaise Mouly, Dan O'Neill, Harvey Pekar, Gilbert Shelton, Spain, and Art Spiegelman.
Wait, theres more! Maverick filmmaker Ron Mann Live! To celebrate National Canadian Film Day, they’ve invited Ron to nerd out on comix and share stories from the front line of indie filmmaking.
Opening Night Film! Onyx The Fortuitous And The Talisman Of Souls
April 20, 7:00 p.m.
$15/$13 Opening Gala Screening & Party
Featuring terrifying monsters and dark and silly laughs, this year's Opening Night Film is a creative and joyful celebration of weirdos of all kinds.
Amateur occultist Marcus J. Trillbury, aka Onyx the Fortuitous, is struggling. He’s misunderstood at home and work, but his dreams for a new life seem to be answered when he lands a coveted invitation to the mansion of his idol Bartok the Great for a ritual to raise the spirit of an ancient demon. He excitedly joins Bartok and his fellow eclectic group of devotees as they prepare for the ceremony, but pretty quickly it becomes apparent everything is not as it seems. As Onyx and his new friends fight to keep their souls, he must decide what he’s willing to truly sacrifice in order to meet his destiny. Based on his viral internet character of the same name, writer, director, and star Andrew Bowser takes us on a wild ride of magic and fun with just the right mix of Satanic worship and friendship.
Opening Night Afterparty
Join in after the screening for drinks, food and music at The Derrick (620 8 Ave. S.W.). Musical offerings coutesy of DJ Adam Kamis. Tickets are $15 and include entry to the screening and afterparty.
Indie Game Bash
April 21, 5:00 p.m.
Viewing Tickets & Tournament Registration go on sale Thursday April 6
Indie Game Bash, an exhilarating indie game fighting tournament, is coming to the iconic Globe Cinema in Calgary for one night only during the Calgary Underground Film Festival. Get ready for an evening of non-stop action featuring one of the best indie fighting games: TOWERFALL ASCENSION.
Join fellow gamers, indie game enthusiasts, and talented developers as participants battle it out on a massive theatre screen, showcasing their skills and tactics in these fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled games. Feel the energy and excitement as the crowd cheers on their favorites, with every arrow, sword strike, and epic showdown. Expect some surprises! After the tournament, continue the celebration at The Palomino for an unforgettable afterparty. Mingle with fellow gamers, meet local developers, and enjoy live DJ music inspired by video games.
Panel: Film Strategy, Distribution, Sales & Publicity!
April 22, 2:00 p.m.
Free Admission
If you’re at the great Calgary Underground Film Festival, you either know how to make a movie or how to watch a movie (or maybe both!). But do you know how to distribute a movie? We do and we want to share our knowledge with you. The world’s leading minds have gathered in the great state of Alberta to talk about how to distribute a film in 2023. It’s both hard and fun and the panel will be less hard and more fun!
Now, I Am A Bear
April 29, 1:00 p.m.
Free Admission
Join a cast of actors for a live script reading of the absurdist comedy NOW, I AM A BEAR. The feature is a bittersweet exploration of nostalgia, regret, and the drive we all feel to get back to nature, whether nature likes it or not. This is a FREE event, open to the public, and a great opportunity to experience a film in the early stages of development. There will be a Q&A following the reading and the production team are open to script feedback.
From April 20-30, the Calgary Underground Film Festival will host the biggest, boldest, most rad festival in its 20-year history. Experience the world of weird, underground, and fantastic movies, at Western Canada’s top genre festival. From horror and sci-fi to comedies, thrillers and documentaries, CUFF showcases the best new independent films. Explore the lineup of 42 feature films and 38 shorts showing over 11 days at Globe Cinema, view the schedule & buy tickets to all films.
For over 20 years, the Calgary Underground Film Festival has been dedicated to elevating Calgary’s cultural landscape with the best in international independent cinema. It's now Western Canada’s premiere genre festival, and one of Calgary’s most anticipated events for film fans. Recently, CUFF was named one of the Best Horror Festivals in the World, 2022 by Dread Central, and one of the World’s 50 Best Genre Festivals and one of 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee in 2021 by MovieMaker Magazine. CUFF continues to attract audiences with its programming of films that engage audiences and defy convention.
Founded in 2003, CUFF is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to programming films that defy convention. Through the screening of contemporary works in various categories that include: feature, documentary, animation, and shorts - bringing Calgarians a unique roster of films rarely seen in North American theatres. CUFF showcases titles in all genres, from horror, sci-fi and fantasy to comedies, thrillers and music-related films. In addition to finding great films, CUFF is committed to introducing you to the people behind the lens, by showcasing local and international indie filmmakers.
CUFF elevates Calgary's cultural landscape with the best in local and international independent cinema. They challenge and entertain audiences with boundary breaking films, compelling artist showcases and engaging events. CUFF is proud to contribute to Calgary's thriving arts community and are thrilled to bring innovative and challenging selections to all film enthusiasts.
