CUFF Announces 2021 Dates and Festival Format

The 18th annual festival will take place online from April 23rd to May 2nd. A weekend with drive-ins will take place from June 3rd to 5th

The Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) will take place this spring with two different events that will make up the 18th edition of the festival. Most of the programs can be streamed online for 10 days from April 23 to May 2, followed by three days of drive-ins from June 3 to 5, 2021.

The online part of the festival includes around 30 features and three short packages as well as online panels and industry events. Due to the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 restrictions and the temporary closure of the CUFF venue Globe Cinema, the festival will take place entirely online.

“Despite all the uncertainty in 2021, we are now accepting the new industry normally. We have attended some great online festivals over the past few months and we really look forward to continuing to showcase groundbreaking filmmakers and indie gems that our audiences will look forward to! “Said festival director and main programmer Brenda Lieberman.

“Both our festival in June 2020 and the CUFF.Docs documentary film festival in November were really successful online events with great feedback on the streaming process and the opportunity for our audience to watch a lot of films. We may miss the experience of going to the cinema together – and can’t wait to come back – but we’re really working on creating unique experiences from the comfort of our own home. We encourage household cards, watch parties and CUFF will continue to provide an accessible festival experience with subtitles, diverse voices and unique events. “

Most films can be viewed on demand. Special events – such as the CUFF opening film, panels and other initiatives – can be broadcast live at set times. Filmmakers will continue to participate in audience questions and answers and conversations with CUFF programmers. This year the festival has expanded from seven to ten days, giving the audience an additional weekend to watch films.

All selections can be streamed across Alberta, giving attendees from all regions of the province access to CUFF’s standalone brand of independent international cinema. Named one of the Top 50 Genre Film Festivals in the World by MovieMaker Magazine in 2021, CUFF continues to draw audiences by programming films that appeal to the audience and defy convention.

After successful drive-in events last spring and summer, CUFF will again host a drive-in series from June 3rd to 5th, in which Calgarians can safely gather in a common room and watch films together on the big screen.

“We loved being able to build the drive-in last year and creating a personal experience that we’d all missed. We know there will be movies that are must-see on the big screen and are especially great in a safe drive-through environment. So we’re really looking forward to this part of the festival when the weather is better for an outdoor event, “Lieberman said.

CUFF will also begin production of a podcast called CUFFcast, which will focus on in-depth interviews with alumni filmmakers and other industry creatives. The first episode is moderated by main programmer Cameron Macgowan and published in mid-March.

Today, CUFF also unveiled the artist and animator of the 2021 Festival – Trey Madsen (Artist) and Tank Standing Buffalo (Animator), two indigenous creatives from Calgary who have brought their unique flair to CUFF’s artwork.

Trey Madsen (Festival Artist) is a Yellowknife, NWT born creative artist who lives in Calgary, AB after graduating from the Alberta College of Art & Design. Irregular and unconventional, the things that get him right for this job can sometimes mean wrong for everything else. Open-minded and with a variety of inspiring “everyday” materials like movies, art, music, popular vibes, current trends – all the way to music they play in grocery stores that you admire – and every other virulent influence we have Everyday experience. Life is beautiful and the world around us is overwhelming. Find Trey on Instagram at @coolguymadsen #FLOZ and see more of his work here.

Armor of standing buffalo (Festival animator) was raised by wolves. Knowing that explains why Tank is working with the subject that he is doing. Compulsively doing art like a wild animal is the only life he knows. Contact Tank by email standingbuffalo13@gmail.com. Tank’s animation is accompanied by original music created by Sammy Jean, a Calgary born singer-songwriter who performs with her band Sammy Jean & the Samsonites.

Tank’s animation is released during the week of the festival and is played before each film stream.

The 18th Calgary Underground Film Festival will be announced in early April and tickets will go on sale then.