CIFF ANNOUNCES OPENING & CLOSING GALA FILMS: World premiere of Donovan’s Echo to open festival Always one of the most celebrated announcements of the season, CIFF rolled out the carpet today at its brand new Lifestyle Lounge in Chinook Centre and announced its Opening and Closing Gala films to the anticipation of the gathered crowd. Donovan’s Echo will play its world premiere on opening night and Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz will close off the action.  In addition to revealing th...

Hot Docs is excited to open the 2009-10 Doc Soup screening series with the Canadian premiere of THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (D: R.J. Cutler, USA, 88 MIN), which offers both an extraordinary behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the style industry's bible, the September issue of *Vogue* magazine, and an unprecedented gaze into the life of fashion icon Anna Wintour. Touted as "riveting" by the *Los Angeles Times* and "a hurricane of fabulousness!" by *New York Magazine*, THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE screens du...

The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) and American Express confirmed today it will offer a $25,000 cash prize to the winner of its newly created competition, Movie Mavericks. Inspired by the pioneering spirit and can-do attitude of Calgarians, Movie Mavericks will become the flagship of CIFF’s program, and will include a competition adjudicated by a jury of well-known maverick filmmakers, an international marketing campaign and $50,000 in scholarship funding for up-and-coming maverick...