Instagram Story Viewer

CUFF Named Top 50 Film Festival by MovieMaker Magazine ♥️🥂 CUFF has made the 2026 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee List.

“A festival by film fans, for film fans, CUFF curates every moment of the fest, earning boundless loyalties from attendees who come back year after year. The team works hard to ensure packed houses, on-theme extras, and DJ sets before the movies. There’s also a famed CUFFcade featuring indie video games. In a nice touch, all filmmakers are given a free merch voucher — but some choose to remember the festival with tattoos. The fest also creates lasting memories with vouchers for a ride up the Calgary Tower and day trips to majestic Banff, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. CUFF draws great distributors like XYZ Films, Dark Star Pictures, and Music Box Films, and is generous with travel costs and accommodations. The latest edition just wrapped, which gives you plenty of time to plan for next year’s festival — and ink.” – @moviemakermag

Each year, MovieMaker Magazine releases the list of Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee and this year CUFF has earned a spot on the coveted list from the industry publication. 

Thank you MovieMaker Magazine, CUFF audiences, alumni filmmakers, industry associates, supporters and the community that makes CUFF so special. Here’s to you, CUFF Fans 🥂

CUFF Named Top 50 Film Festival by MovieMaker Magazine ♥️🥂 CUFF has made the 2026 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee List.

“A festival by film fans, for film fans, CUFF curates every moment of the fest, earning boundless loyalties from attendees who come back year after year. The team works hard to ensure packed houses, on-theme extras, and DJ sets before the movies. There’s also a famed CUFFcade featuring indie video games. In a nice touch, all filmmakers are given a free merch voucher — but some choose to remember the festival with tattoos. The fest also creates lasting memories with vouchers for a ride up the Calgary Tower and day trips to majestic Banff, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. CUFF draws great distributors like XYZ Films, Dark Star Pictures, and Music Box Films, and is generous with travel costs and accommodations. The latest edition just wrapped, which gives you plenty of time to plan for next year’s festival — and ink.” – @moviemakermag

Each year, MovieMaker Magazine releases the list of Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee and this year CUFF has earned a spot on the coveted list from the industry publication. 

Thank you MovieMaker Magazine, CUFF audiences, alumni filmmakers, industry associates, supporters and the community that makes CUFF so special. Here’s to you, CUFF Fans 🥂

CUFF Never Stops! In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING, join CUFF for an Off the CUFF screening on June 3 at @globecinema_yyc. When it becomes clear that his solo album is a failure, a former boy band member does everything in his power to maintain his celebrity status.

Tickets are on sale now! See link in bio or head to calgaryundergroundfilm.org to buy now.

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

The numbers are in and we are feeling incredibly grateful.
🎬 CUFF 2026 by the numbers:

🎟️ 15,511 tickets sold
🎬 86 feature and short films screened
🌍 20 countries represented
🎤 172 filmmakers and industry guests in attendance
🌭 1,457 glizzies (hot dogs) consumed

Every number tells a story, and behind every ticket, every screening and every Q&A is a person who chose to spend their time with us. 23 years of showing up for each other: That's the real number, told in a whole lot of hot dogs and even more great cinema.

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor @lukesdrugmart for making CUFF 2026 possible. Thank you to everyone who was part of this year's fest.

See you soon for Off the CUFF screenings and CUFF.DOCS in November! ♥️

Photos by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

Call for Volunteers: CUFF Casino July 10 & 11 📣🎬 CUFF Volunteers are truly the best. There is no way that we could run our festival operations without the support and dedication of our volunteer base. Looking to join our volunteer team or get some more hours in? On July 10 & 11, CUFF has a casino at the Elbow River Casino. Email brenda@calgaryundergroundfilm.org for more information or to sign up for a shift.

Photo by Mike Tan (@miketanphoto)

Thank you POPSTAR fans for coming out to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING! We love watching our favourite films on the big screen with CUFF audiences. Keep an eye on our socials for upcoming summer Off the CUFF announcements.

CUFF COMMUNITY PICK: Panel One Calgary 💛 This Saturday, June 6, shop original comics, graphic novels, handcrafted zines, stickers, prints and so much more at the 10th anniversary Panel One Comic Arts Festival!Over 50 local Canadian creators will participate in the event from 11 am to 6 pm at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association. For lovers of all things local, creative and underground. Follow @panel_one to learn more.

As I work through my 2026 @tribeca Festival preview, it felt right to talk more about THE SCOUT – a film that had its world premiere at last years' festival, and which I was able to see as part of the 2026 @calgaryundergroundfilm Festival.

---
full article on pointsofreview.com
---

When I asked Paula @p.a.gn to describe The Scout in her own words, she began with structure.

“The Scout came about as a collection of stories,” she told me. “I wanted to follow a character through a one-day journey in New York City.”

That character is Sofia, played by Mimi Davila, a location scout trying to secure spaces for a television pilot that is about to shoot in New York. Over the course of a single day, she moves through homes, businesses, and streets, meeting strangers and old acquaintances, trying to persuade them to allow a production into their spaces. On paper, this could sound almost procedural. A woman has a job. She goes from place to place. She tries to complete that job.

But The Scout is not really about the mechanics of location scouting, even though it pays close attention to them. It is about what that job reveals. Sofia is always entering spaces, but rarely belonging to them. She is welcomed in, sort of, but only for a purpose. She is expected to observe, photograph, assess, negotiate, and move on. She is intimately present and fundamentally temporary.

That contradiction gives the film its shape. The job requires connection, but it also produces distance. It asks Sofia to move through the lives of others, gathering fragments, while her own sense of equilibrium quietly erodes. She speaks to people in their homes, sees their furniture, their artwork, their routines, their loneliness, their pretensions, their private rituals. And then she leaves.

---
full article on pointsofreview.com
---

@5thfloorpictures
@greenwichentertainment
@alina__pictures
@fairoaksentertainment

@mimiluisadavila
@nicola__newton
@_byronleon
@ryanmartinbrown
@ghostboats

@bagwormfilm

#thescout
#interview

As I work through my 2026 @tribeca Festival preview, it felt right to talk more about THE SCOUT – a film that had its world premiere at last years' festival, and which I was able to see as part of the 2026 @calgaryundergroundfilm Festival.

---
full article on pointsofreview.com
---

When I asked Paula @p.a.gn to describe The Scout in her own words, she began with structure.

“The Scout came about as a collection of stories,” she told me. “I wanted to follow a character through a one-day journey in New York City.”

That character is Sofia, played by Mimi Davila, a location scout trying to secure spaces for a television pilot that is about to shoot in New York. Over the course of a single day, she moves through homes, businesses, and streets, meeting strangers and old acquaintances, trying to persuade them to allow a production into their spaces. On paper, this could sound almost procedural. A woman has a job. She goes from place to place. She tries to complete that job.

But The Scout is not really about the mechanics of location scouting, even though it pays close attention to them. It is about what that job reveals. Sofia is always entering spaces, but rarely belonging to them. She is welcomed in, sort of, but only for a purpose. She is expected to observe, photograph, assess, negotiate, and move on. She is intimately present and fundamentally temporary.

That contradiction gives the film its shape. The job requires connection, but it also produces distance. It asks Sofia to move through the lives of others, gathering fragments, while her own sense of equilibrium quietly erodes. She speaks to people in their homes, sees their furniture, their artwork, their routines, their loneliness, their pretensions, their private rituals. And then she leaves.

---
full article on pointsofreview.com
---

@5thfloorpictures
@greenwichentertainment
@alina__pictures
@fairoaksentertainment

@mimiluisadavila
@nicola__newton
@_byronleon
@ryanmartinbrown
@ghostboats

@bagwormfilm

#thescout
#interview

As I work through my 2026 @tribeca Festival preview, it felt right to talk more about THE SCOUT – a film that had its world premiere at last years' festival, and which I was able to see as part of the 2026 @calgaryundergroundfilm Festival.

---
full article on pointsofreview.com
---

When I asked Paula @p.a.gn to describe The Scout in her own words, she began with structure.

“The Scout came about as a collection of stories,” she told me. “I wanted to follow a character through a one-day journey in New York City.”

That character is Sofia, played by Mimi Davila, a location scout trying to secure spaces for a television pilot that is about to shoot in New York. Over the course of a single day, she moves through homes, businesses, and streets, meeting strangers and old acquaintances, trying to persuade them to allow a production into their spaces. On paper, this could sound almost procedural. A woman has a job. She goes from place to place. She tries to complete that job.

But The Scout is not really about the mechanics of location scouting, even though it pays close attention to them. It is about what that job reveals. Sofia is always entering spaces, but rarely belonging to them. She is welcomed in, sort of, but only for a purpose. She is expected to observe, photograph, assess, negotiate, and move on. She is intimately present and fundamentally temporary.

That contradiction gives the film its shape. The job requires connection, but it also produces distance. It asks Sofia to move through the lives of others, gathering fragments, while her own sense of equilibrium quietly erodes. She speaks to people in their homes, sees their furniture, their artwork, their routines, their loneliness, their pretensions, their private rituals. And then she leaves.

---
full article on pointsofreview.com
---

@5thfloorpictures
@greenwichentertainment
@alina__pictures
@fairoaksentertainment

@mimiluisadavila
@nicola__newton
@_byronleon
@ryanmartinbrown
@ghostboats

@bagwormfilm

#thescout
#interview

As I work through my 2026 @tribeca Festival preview, it felt right to talk more about THE SCOUT – a film that had its world premiere at last years' festival, and which I was able to see as part of the 2026 @calgaryundergroundfilm Festival.

---
full article on pointsofreview.com
---

When I asked Paula @p.a.gn to describe The Scout in her own words, she began with structure.

“The Scout came about as a collection of stories,” she told me. “I wanted to follow a character through a one-day journey in New York City.”

That character is Sofia, played by Mimi Davila, a location scout trying to secure spaces for a television pilot that is about to shoot in New York. Over the course of a single day, she moves through homes, businesses, and streets, meeting strangers and old acquaintances, trying to persuade them to allow a production into their spaces. On paper, this could sound almost procedural. A woman has a job. She goes from place to place. She tries to complete that job.

But The Scout is not really about the mechanics of location scouting, even though it pays close attention to them. It is about what that job reveals. Sofia is always entering spaces, but rarely belonging to them. She is welcomed in, sort of, but only for a purpose. She is expected to observe, photograph, assess, negotiate, and move on. She is intimately present and fundamentally temporary.

That contradiction gives the film its shape. The job requires connection, but it also produces distance. It asks Sofia to move through the lives of others, gathering fragments, while her own sense of equilibrium quietly erodes. She speaks to people in their homes, sees their furniture, their artwork, their routines, their loneliness, their pretensions, their private rituals. And then she leaves.

---
full article on pointsofreview.com
---

@5thfloorpictures
@greenwichentertainment
@alina__pictures
@fairoaksentertainment

@mimiluisadavila
@nicola__newton
@_byronleon
@ryanmartinbrown
@ghostboats

@bagwormfilm

#thescout
#interview

Happy @dogdaysyyc, Calgary 🌭♥️ For all you hot dog enthusiasts, today Calgary’s first ever hot dog festival kicks off! From May 23 to June 6, 45+ Calgary restaurants are offering special hot dog creations for “Dog Days” with $1 from every hot dog sold going to charity.

So while you’ll have to wait until November for the CUFF Dog to be back at Globe Cinema for CUFF.Docs (Nov 18-22), over the next 2 weeks you can chow down on all the glizzies your stomach can handle.

Comment with where you find the best dog 🌭🌭🌭🌭🌭Though as Nenshi (@nenshi) says, we all know it’s at @globecinema_yyc during CUFF!

CUFF PICK: I LOVE BOOSTERS 🎬 After the International Premiere at CUFF, the 2026 Closing Night Film @iloveboostersmovie is in cinemas now. From CUFF Favourite @bootsriley, the comedy tells the story of professional shoplifters that take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven. From @neonrated and @elevation_pics, I LOVE BOOSTERS is playing theatrically now. Drop a heart to help spread the word 🧡

Get in the mood for POPSTAR with this playlist created by CJSW host Ben Goodman. Ben (aka @grandpashampoo) is a big fan of this cult classic; let Ben take you through a pre-POPSTAR journey. Listen to the playlist on Tidal and get tickets for the 10th Anniversary, June 3 Off the CUFF screening now.

See link in bio or visit calgaryundergroundfilm.org to purchase and listen.

Photos by Caitlind R.C. Brown (@incandescentcloud)

Get in the mood for POPSTAR with this playlist created by CJSW host Ben Goodman. Ben (aka @grandpashampoo) is a big fan of this cult classic; let Ben take you through a pre-POPSTAR journey. Listen to the playlist on Tidal and get tickets for the 10th Anniversary, June 3 Off the CUFF screening now.

See link in bio or visit calgaryundergroundfilm.org to purchase and listen.

Photos by Caitlind R.C. Brown (@incandescentcloud)

Celebrating cinema culture in Calgary 📽️🖤 The @calgaryblackfilmfest takes place at @globe this weekend. Explore the program of films dedicated to showcasing unique voices in cinema.

Tickets are on sale now at calgaryblackfilm.com

Contest Alert 📣 If you missed out on getting tickets to the sold out international premiere of I LOVE BOOSTERS, CUFF 2026 Closing Night Film, now is your chance to win a pair! Courtesy of @elevation_pics and @thetarogroup, tag a CUFF pal in the comments for your chance to win tickets to see the latest film from @bootsriley at any Cineplex location when it opens on Friday.

🎬 ABOUT THE FILM 🎬
A surrealist comedy-satire following a group of shoplifters - the "Velvet Gang," led by Keke Palmer - who target a high-fashion maven.
Starring: Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, Eiza González, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter, with Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore.

Contest closes Friday, May 22.