CIFF 2025: A Celebration of Film from Around the World and Across the Street The 27th Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) returns September 24 to October 4, featuring acclaimed films, major premieres, homegrown talent and stories from around the world. The festival opens with the North American premiere of The Outrun and closes with The End of the Night, starring Mahershala Ali. Highlights include documentaries on Terry Fox and Rick Hansen, free outdoor movie screenings, and a vibrant shorts program showcasing emerging filmmakers. The 27th Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), presented by Servus Credit Union, returns September 24 to October 4 with acclaimed films, major premieres, homegrown talent and stories from around the world. From opening night to the final screening, CIFF invites audiences to experience some of the year's most exciting cinema on the big screen, together. CIFF opens with the North American premiere of The Outrun (2024), directed by Andrew Haigh and filmed right here in Alberta. Based on a short story by Colm Tóibín, the film features a celebrated cast that includes Fred Hechinger, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Caitriona Balfe, Kit Connor and D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.The festival's closing night film is Hamish Gilden's directorial debut, The End of the Night (2024), starring two-time Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali. Audiences can also discover new work from acclaimed filmmakers Pedro Almodóvar, Ryūsuke Hamaguchi, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Mike Leigh and Jesse Eisenberg.In addition to feature films, CIFF 2025 spotlights documentaries that celebrate Canadian resilience and innovation. The Terry Fox Documentary (2025) features never-before-seen footage of Terry Fox's 1980 Marathon of Hope, offering an intimate portrait of one of Canada's most inspiring figures.Meanwhile, Rick Hansen: The Man Who Moved the World (2025) revisits Hansen's extraordinary 26-month, 40,000-kilometre journey and the lasting change it created in how Canadians think about accessibility. CIFF Outdoors makes its triumphant return to Eau Claire Plaza on Saturday, September 26. Bring a chair and settle in for free screenings of The Garfield Movie (2024) and IF (2024).Food trucks, activities and family fun begin at 2 p.m., making it an easy way to spend the day with friends, family and fellow film fans before the movies light up the outdoor screen. More than 100 short films will screen throughout the festival, including award-winning international titles and a record number of Alberta-made shorts. Two dedicated Alberta Spirit packages put local filmmakers in the spotlight, while Youth by Youth Cinema presents work created by filmmakers under 18.The wider shorts program spans documentary, animation, experimental, family, youth, music, comedy, drama and after-dark horror genre selections. Whether you have a few minutes or a full evening, the shorts program offers plenty of opportunities to discover emerging filmmakers and unexpected stories. The festival also pays homage to Canada's rich cultural heritage with films like Lightning in a Bottle (2024), a spirited underdog hockey story about the Treaty 6 Blades fighting their way back into the league.Lightning returns to CIFF after presenting its teaser during an industry workshop in 2022. With international award winners, Canadian premieres, Alberta stories, free outdoor movies and more than 100 shorts, CIFF 2026 has something for every kind of film fan