A great big thanks is in order to Kids Up Front, who donated two General Admission tickets to YouthAreAwesome.com so we could tell you all about the Calgary Internatinal Film Festival (CIFF)!
To start off, let me say CIFF is huge. Maybe not comparable to Cannes or the LA Film Fest, but there’s still so much to see! These films, which come in as many genres as you could possibly imagine, come from all over the world. This is the type of film making you don’t see in theatres, simply because… well, I don’t know why; they’re awesome! The festival runs until Oct. 3 this year.
The movie I went to see is called “Where We Live,” and it’s not really a movie at all. It’s actually a compilation of seven different short films from all over the world. The coolest thing was that most of them were in languages other than English, and I found that I was so engrossed in the story that my eyes didn’t even register that they were reading subtitles. Without further ado, here are the short films:
Fard
French with English subtitles – Animated
DIRECTOR: David Alapont & Luis Briceno, France, 2009, 13 MIN
In the near future, the world seems to work in a perfect and controlled way… but what lies just beneath the surface?
Multiple Award Winner
(Odd, but we never saw this one. Maybe they just forgot to play it?)
Ella
Norwegian with English subtitles
DIRECTOR: Hanne Larsen, Norway, 2009, 24 MIN
Ella has tucked herself away in her own world, refusing to co-operate with those around her. Based on real events.Bicycle (Jitensha)
Japanese with English subtitles
DIRECTOR: Dean Yamada, Japan/US, 2009, 21 MIN
Follow a man’s journey to resurrect and reassemble his most beloved possession—a bicycle. In finding each piece he is able to find himself.The Cave
DIRECTOR: Helen Haig-Brown, Canada (BC), 2009, 12 MIN
A hunter on horseback accidentally discovers a portal to the afterlife in this fantastical version of a true Tsilhqot’in story.Wagah
Documentary – Hindi, Farsi, Urdu, with English subtitles
DIRECTOR: Supriyo Sen, Germany, 2009, 14 MIN
Each night, the only border crossing between India and Pakistan becomes the site of an extraordinary event.
Winner, 2010 Berlin Today Award, Berlinale, GermanyLaredo, Texas
DIRECTOR: Topaz Adizes, USA, 2010, 11 MIN
In Laredo, Texas, a simple training day turns into something more when suspicions arise on whether Juan is an undocumented immigrant.
Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2010Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns
DIRECTOR: Pardis Parker, Canada (NS), 2010, 7 MIN
An unexpected visitor interrupts a family’s quiet day at the farmhouse, sending it spiralling into a chaotic whirlwind of unfortunate misunderstandings.
My favourites? Jitensha and Two Men, Two Cows, Two Guns. The best part of Jitensha is simply that this man is finding meaning in his life by giving up his dignity to reassemble his beloved bicycle. The best part of Two Men? That is simply makes no sense whatsoever.
Please, if you get the chance to go to any of these films, go for it! Whether you love or hate the movie, it’ll still be an experience (though you’ll probably like it). Tickets are only $12 each, and you can get them online at www.calgaryfilm.com or at Eau Claire Market.