One doesn’t usually think of Calgary in terms of a hot-bed of film activity. Yet if this year’s Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is any indication, all that is about to change. Now in it’s 17th year, CIFF has grown exponentially and saw a record 35,000 attend last year’s festival-almost double the size since 2012. This year’s festival saw 211 films screened from more than 2,100 submissions with hundreds of filmmakers from around the world gathering in our fair city for the 12-day, ATB Financial-presented events.
The who is who in film, politics and media gathered at the Jack Singer Sept 21 to walk the red carpet for the official CIFF opening night gala. The biopic Maudie-which tells the story of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, took the honour of being the first film screened at the festival. Strutting their stuff on the red carpet this night were: festival executive director Steve Schroeder; Calgary filmmaker Robert Cuffley; Heartland star Shaun Johnston; Nomadic Pictures’ Chad Oakes and Mike Frislev with Gael-Anne Hatch and Stacey Frislev; Maudie star Kari Matchett; Maudie director Aisling Walsh and executive producer Mary Young Leckie; CIFF board president James Pettigrew and his wife Alison; Downtown Calgary’s Allison Moore; CANIFFF director Katrina Olson-Mottahed; ATB Financial CEO Dave Mowat with colleagues Sandra Huculak, Sean Garritty and Curtis Stange; Alberta Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ricardo Miranda; Kim’s Kitchen’s Kim Hayden; ACTRA’s Leslie Hucul; Olympian Mark Tewksbury and his partner Rob Mabee; local industry wrangler John Scott; and two of the busiest souls there were throughout CIFF, publicist Tiffany Burns and Herald colleague Eric Volmers.
Pictured at the CIFF red carpet gala kick-off Sept 21 at the Jack Singer are CIFF volunteer Rob Mabee with Calgary Herald arts writer Eric Volmers. The festival was a great success and featured 12 days of film fun.
Looking fashionably fabulous at the CIFF red carpet gala kick-off Sept 21at the Jack Singer Kim’s Kitchen host Kim Hayden (left) and the busiest lady there was during the 12-day festival, publicist Tiffany Burns.
Alberta Minister of Culture and Tourism. Ricardo Miranda, was but one of the VIP’s strutting the CIFF red carpet gala kick-off Sept 21at the Jack Singer.
ACTRA’s Leslie Hucul poses for the lens at the CIFF red carpet gala kick-off Sept 21at the Jack Singer.
Maudie director Aisling Walsh walks the red carpet at the CIFF gala kick-off Sept 21at the Jack Singer. The critically acclaimed Walsh-directed film was screened at the gala.
Maudie executive producer /producer Mary Young Leckie walks the red carpet at the CIFF gala kick-off Sept 21at the Jack Singer. The critically acclaimed film was screened at the gala.
2016 CIFF was an enormous success and featured 12 days of film fineness. Pictured, from left, at the red carpet gala kick-off Sept 21at the Jack Singer, are ATB’s Dave Mowat, Sandra Huculak, Sean Garritty and Curtis Stange. ATB was the festival presenting sponsor.
Kari Matchett, who plays a major role in the biopic Maudie, walks the red carpet at the CIFF gala kick-off Sept 21at the Jack Singer.
Pictured, with reason to smile at the red carpet gala kick-off for CIFF 2016 held at the Jack Singer is CIFF board president James Pettigrew and his wife Alison Pettigrew. The 12-day festival was an enormous success.
Pictured, from left, at the red carpet gala kick-off for CIFF 2016 held at the Jack Singer are CANIFFF director Katrina Olson-Mottahed with VAN HELSING producer Mike Frislev and his wife Stacey Frislev.
Walking the red carpet at the CIFF gala kick off held Sept 21 at the Jack Singer are Nomadic Pictures and Van Helsing producer Chad Oakes with Gael-Anne Hatch.
