Where Calgary Magazine September / October 2018 | Page 32

PROMOTION
SILVER SCREENS, RED CARPETS:
CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2018
The festival features local
films that were shot in the
heart of western Canada.
T
From the festival’s
Opening Gala to
Alberta-made films,
movie lovers gather
to celebrate film
every September
he 19th iteration of the Calgary International Film
Festival will hit the city streets September 19 - 30,
bringing plenty fans, movie buffs, and filmmakers
out to theatres around the downtown area. Growing
steadily since its inaugural year in 2000, the festival
boasted more than 40,000 attendees in 2017 and
provides an excellent excuse to get together with friends
and see the latest buzzworthy films.
This year, there are definitely some contenders for that
category — including the Closing Gala selection, Making
Coco: The Grant Fuhr Story. It goes without saying that in
Canada, anything involving hockey is bound to get a big
response, and having a film that focuses on the
homegrown goaltending hero Fuhr simply seals the deal.
Making Coco, using archival footage and interviews with
many NHL greats, follows Fuhr’s career from his early days
between the posts and his draft to the Edmonton Oilers at
just 19 years old, through his bitter battles with the league,
his multiple trades and struggles with substance abuse, as
well as his many ups and downs in the net before finally
retiring as one of the best goalies in the game’s history. As
Calgary Film programmer Alex Rogalski puts it, watching
the film “may be the only time Oilers and Flames fans
cheer unanimously.”
Boosting the power of the film even further is the
presence of Fuhr, his family, and the filmmaking team at
the Closing Gala. Slated to answer questions in an
extended Q&A, meet fans, and talk about the process of
making the documentary, the star power is sure to bring
Alberta hockey fans together — even if it is only for one
night in late September.
For those film fans who are looking for something even
more, there’s plenty of other events going on throughout
the 12 days of the Calgary International Film Festival. The
festival promises entertainment for seekers of horror,
drama, foreign art films, music on screen and much more
— there are even dozens of shorts, any of which could gain
Oscar® accreditation with an award win at Calgary Film.
For the full line-up, showtimes, event listings and more
information, visit the festival’s website at
www.calgaryfilm.com.