Calgary Underground Film Festival 2015 - 2015 CUFF Programming Committee MUST SEES + TOP PICKS

Posted on Wednesday, April 01, 2015 at 06:00 PM

2015 Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) Programming Committee MUST SEES + TOP PICKS

2015 CUFF Preview by Christopher Lee, CalgaryMovies.com

Behold the latest edition of the Calgary Underground Film Festival. The annual routine of bringing exciting and unique programming to the big screen for over a decade, the 2015 version of the CUFF marks the incredible 12th year for the existence of this distinctive and chronically underrated film festival.

Do us a favor and don’t sleep on this festival this year. Although, it is certain there are numerous Calgarians that still haven’t heard of the CUFF, which is a mad shame, because this film festival prides itself on their programming talent and unique selection of films that are created by the local and international independent film scene. For fans of the festival, they already know there is a big distinction in what the CUFF brings for audience engagement. CUFF events and screenings are casual, wickedly entertaining, and a shitload of fun.

Showcasing films across all genres, with an emphasis on boundary breaking and innovative films relative to your traditional slow moving art-house style films screened at international film festivals around the world. The beauty of the CUFF is that the programming committee is able to bring a fresh mind each year, in their procurement of the many rare gems and exclusives that likely will never grace the big screens in Calgary, outside of this 7-day event. CUFF challenges Calgary film goers to explore film without judgement, and let loose of the constraints that bind the mainstream film industry.

What to expect this year? A mixture of old classic events such as the OPENING GALA and AFTERPARTY, the 48-HOUR MOVIE CHALLENGE SHORTS SHOWCASE, SHOW UP & SHIP OUT w/ The Ship & Anchor Pub, SATURDAY MORNING ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT-CEREAL CARTOON PARTY!, and new for 2015, the introduction of CUFFCADE! (yay, video games), I AM THOR documentary + THOR LIVE IN CONCERT, and a CRONENBERG RETROSPECTIVE (THE BROOD, THE FLY, SCANNERS, VIDEODROME from Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg). Also, film buffs be sure to keep an eye out for the multitude of special guests that are attending some of the premieres and screenings. And as always, all screenings after 3PM are licensed, which means you can booze during the film screenings (18+, Sorry NO MINORS).

So as is tradition, we at CalgaryMovies.com wanted to get an exclusive peep into the insane asylum brain trust of the CUFF Programming Committee and we coerced them to reveal their own personal top picks and must see films for this year’s festival. Here we go!!

Laura Carlson - Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Preferred Genre: Mumblecore
Must See's: I'm a sucker for indie rom-coms and dramedies that defy conventional narratives, which is probably why I loved NIGHT OWLS and ADULT BEGINNERS.

Top Pick: THE LOOK OF SILENCE. If this follow-up is anything like 2012's The Act of Killing it's a documentary that's going to stick with you for a while.

Cody Cook - Programming Committee

Preferred Genre: I love horror, exploitation and schlock cinema! I'm a huge Troma nerd and love really weird and messed up movies!
Must See's: REDEEMER, I AM A KNIFE WITH LEGS, WORLD OF KANAKO (KAWAKI)

Top Pick: BLOOD SUCKING BASTARDS! This is a great film for all you gore-hounds out there. It's super funny and there's enough blood and violence to satisfy any horror / comedy fan.

Amy Darling, CUFF Audience Development

Preferred Genre: I can't get enough offbeat documentaries…. Okay, okay, and films that end with people kissing.
Must See's: EX MACHINA, which wowed at SXSW a few weeks ago, and UNCERTAIN TERMS, which continues to rack up the awards all over the place. Super proud that both of these films chose CUFF to present their Canadian premiere!

Top Pick: THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, all the way. Holy moly, one of the naughtiest films I have ever seen, and also one of the most breathlessly cinematic films I have ever seen. You ain't never seen no fifty shades of ANYTHING like this. Meow! Hold me.

Bryn Evans – Programming Committee

Preferred Genre: Horror (80s all the way)
Must See's: I'm a huge repertory cinema fan, and there's tons to choose from this year, from the CRONENBERG RETROSPECTIVE (with special guest Mark Irwin!), Drafthouse's recently-restored ROAR, and every 80's Canadian kid's favourite childhood trauma-inducing classic, PEANUT BUTTER SOLUTION.

Top Pick: I'll give a shout-out to my two favourites: for a truly underground, art house cinema experience, don't miss the utterly mind-bending HARD TO BE A GOD; and for bone-crushing, old school martial arts action fun, treat yourself to the wonderfully over-the-top REDEEMER.

Andrew Eyck – Programmer

Preferred Genre: Documentary
Must See's: I AM THOR - A stranger than fiction story about a little known Canadian music legend. SALT OF THE EARTH - Academy Award nominated film about a most amazing photographer and his life's journey.

Top Pick: RESURRECTION OF JAKE THE SNAKE - A riches to rags to riches story of fighting personal battles in a most public life.

Christian Kelley - Programming Committee

Preferred Genre: All of them. Every single one. All the time.
Must See's: UNCERTAIN TERMS for sure. Nathan Silver's films effortlessly breakneck between hilarious and heartbreaking. HARD TO BE A GOD is impossible to miss. Aleksei German's film took 13 years to make and the word 'singular' comes to mind. And I can't forget MANGLEHORN because I'll follow David Gordon Green wherever he goes.

Top Pick: SHORT FILM PACKAGE gives you a bit of everything. This year we have a bunch of great stuff including Sol Friedman's profane DAY 40 and a new Don Hertzfeldt joint! What's not to love? Do you not like enjoyment?!

Brenda Lieberman – Festival Director/ Lead Programmer

Preferred Genre: Horror-comedy, or dark-comedy tend to be my fav’s but I also love quirky romances if I can find something unique/quirky or mixed-genre.
Must See's: This is so hard to narrow down. SPRING is just that perfect mixed genre romance that I look for, with an edge! I love the uniqueness of the story, and its mix with the supernatural/fantasy genre. Plus you never really know which way the romance will go. THE MIDNIGHT SWIM is a directorial debut, and our only narrative directed by a female, with Sarah Adina Smith in attendance for a Q&A. This film is more of suspense/thriller and is a found footage style film. The actors have a great on screen chemistry though, the story is creepy, and there are some super nostalgic elements added into this film between the sisters, and music, that stuck with me.

Top Pick: A HARD DAY. I was completely in the mood for this when I first saw it, and loved it. We haven’t screened a South Korean film in a few years for sure, and it’s suspenseful, action packed, and fast paced.

Cameron Macgowan – Lead Programmer

Preferred Genre: I’ll watch anything.
Must See's: FELT - Charming, raw and unnerving “horror” film. A true original. ENTERTAINMENT - We feel extremely honoured to have secured the international premiere of this hit from the Sundance Film Festival. Another winner from the team behind 2012’s anti-comedy The Comedy.

Top Pick: HARD TO BE A GOD - A decades-in-the-making epic medieval sci-fi film that will change your brain forever.

Brennan Tilley – Programmer & Administrative Manager

Preferred Genre: I gravitate towards films that defy convention in any genre. I particularly love comedies.
Must See’s: SATURDAY MORNING ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT-CEREAL CARTOON PARTY! – The perennial favourite is back as big as ever. A new set of 3 hours of retro cartoons has been curated. Fellow cereal enthusiasts and I have compiled the best and most varied selection of cereals to date. We have cereals for every taste and cartoons that are sure to entertain audience members young and old. I AM A KNIFE WITH LEGS – International rockstar Bené must flee from an assassin after her girlfriend is killed by a suicide bomber. This is definitely not the typical set-up for an absurd, madcap comedy. Living under fatwa and constantly clad in an ab-hole shirt exposing his abs, Bené must explore a world he does not understand. This a film that seems destined for cult status, particularly appealing to fans of Flight of the Conchords.

Top Pick: NIGHT OWLS – A man awakes after a one-night stand to find he is in his boss/mentor’s home with his boss’ spurned mistress. Following her suicide attempt, they must stay up together all night. The chemistry and between Adam Pally and Rose Salazar is undeniable. Their repartee is on par with the best romantic comedies of the past. Pally exudes a charm akin to an everyman’s George Clooney. With some A-list comedic talent thrown in, NIGHT OWLS is a true gem.

Special Mention: This year was a bumper crop of short films. In addition to the shorts package, we have shorts screening before 14 feature films. Be sure to check out some of the shorts with feature pairings we have put together, when considering what to see. BRONTOSAURUS with ADULT BEGINNERS is 100 minutes of densely-packed laughs.

Jeff Wright - Programmer

Preferred Genre: Is "Made in Hong Kong" a genre?
Must See's: The Safdie Brothers' new film, HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT is another incredibly unique piece of filmmaking. Adapted from the personal journals of a young homeless woman (who also stars in the film), HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT is one of the most authentic and emotionally charged films about homelessness and drug addiction ever made. We're also presenting a great selection of classic David Cronenberg films, including one of my favourites, THE BROOD. Cinematographer, Mark Irwin will be in attendance on April 18th, 2015 for Q&A after screenings of VIDEODROME and THE FLY.

Top Pick: If you only see one film this year, make it ROAR. A rediscovered gem of a family drama-come-thriller made with the intention of raising wildlife preservation awareness; its every frame is filled with unintentional dread and danger as writer/director/star, Noel Marshall (also an executive producer of The Exorcist) puts his real life family including Tippi Hedren and a teenaged Melanie Griffith though over 4 years of filming and living among untrained wild cats. Behind the scenes, over 70 members of the cast and crew were badly injured during filming. Hedren suffered a fractured leg and deep scalp wounds, Griffith needed 100 stitches and reconstructive surgery after being mauled by a lion, and cinematographer, Jan de Bont required over 200 stitches after being SCALPED by a lion. ROAR is unlike anything you have ever seen. Don't miss it!

About CUFF 2015

The Calgary Underground Film Festival is committed to showcasing ground breaking, provocative independent film with an emphasis on emerging genres. We strive to show works that defy convention in form, style and content, screening a wide spectrum of contemporary works in a variety of categories including narrative, documentary, animation and shorts.

The 12th edition Calgary Underground Film Festival presents multiple screenings daily between April 13 to 19, 2015 exclusively at The Globe Cinema (617 - 8 Avenue SW, Calgary).

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