10 Must-Watch Films at the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF)
Despite what you might see in the news, indie film festivals are still alive. That being said, they do need your help. The Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) has been serving up great indie films for Calgarians since 2003, and they plan to continue doing so for years to come. Last year was their largest festival, and the organization hopes that 2024 can surpass that.
If you’re a CUFF first-timer, you can expect a range of great indie projects, from documentaries to dramas, comedies, and, most notably, horror (CUFF’s bread and butter). Beyond the core feature films offered, there are other great films/events to check out, including…
- A range of shorts packages
- An all-you-can-eat-cereal cartoon party (pyjamas encouraged)
- A 48-hour movie-making showcase
- A live script reading
- A free screening of Ghostkeeper on 35mm
- Even a spoken word special from the legendary John Waters.
Below are 10 “Must-Watch” Films from the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) This Year.
10. The Last Video Store
Calgary Premiere | Fantastic Fest 2023
What to Expect:
A magical VHS tape holds the power to connect the real world to a dimension where movie fantasy exists as reality. Nyla and the video store owner (played by Kevin Martin, owner of Edmonton’s cult video store, The Lobby) unwittingly awaken a long-dormant curse that unleashes a series of classic cinematic villains plucked from the bowels of the B-movies themselves. A true celebration B-movie glory, THE LAST VIDEO STORE is a charming homage to videostores, slashers, and film nerds. With a story honouring Canuxploitation and showcasing Alberta talent, this is a crowd-pleaser with loads of gore, and character parodies offering a blast of nostalgic fun.
Directors: Cody Kennedy, Tim Rutherford
Starring: Yaayaa Adams, Matthew Kennedy, Josh Lenner
Thoughts:
Albertan filmmakers, please stand up. This project from Albertan filmmakers Cody Kennedy and Tim Rutherford is their first feature film after working on several shorts together in years past. In fact, this feature is based on their short film of the same name from 2013. The response from critics and fans alike has been positive, touting the film as a “treasure trove for genre fans” (The Hollywood News). If you are open to B-movie nostalgia, this one will be up your alley.
Tickets HERE
9. Off Ramp
Canadian Premiere | Boston Underground Film Festival 2023
What to Expect:
Trey and Silas are reunited after Trey spent the last year in prison for some dumb shit. To celebrate his freedom and to peddle their rap demo, the pair embark on their perennial trip to The Gathering of the Juggalos. On the way, they are detoured by a psychotic powerful Sheriff, a violent blood ritual, a trailer park princess, a back woods gang, and a country cop tripping on LSD. And then things start to get really crazy. Along their way they discover their destiny, identity, and the true meaning of family while getting themselves into, and out of, a lot of trouble. It all leads to an unforgettable, gore-soaked climax in the backwoods of a highway offramp. The feature film debut from Nathan Tape, OFF RAMP, was written by Edmonton’s Tim Cairo.
Director: Nathan Tape
Starring: Jon Oswald, Scott Turner, Schofield, Ashley Smith
Thoughts:
Here we have another Albertan-led project. I’ll be the first to admit that I had never heard of Off Ramp when the CUFF programmers first mentioned it, but all it took was 10 seconds of the trailer (above) to have me hooked. From what we can see, the performances, while obviously comedic, are rooted in something genuine. This might just be the little indie film that makes you laugh while also creating a deep-rooted emotional to connection to this one-of-a-kind Juggalo “found family”.
Tickets HERE
8. Babes
Canadian Premiere | SXSW 2024
What to Expect:
Eden, played by the film’s co-writer Illana Glazer best known for her work on BROAD CITY, is a yoga instructor living in New York, who, despite their lifestyle differences, has remained best friends with Dawn (stand-up comedian Michelle Buteau) for nearly 30 years. After a chance subway encounter and one-night stand with a charming actor, Eden finds herself pregnant. A buddy comedy with women at the centre, the film, which had its world premiere at SXSW, explores the pains and joys of new motherhood. It isn’t afraid to go raunchy with some gross-out moments, while still focusing on the importance and meaning of female friendship in a heartfelt way.
Director: Pamela Adlon
Starring: Chloe Pirrie Jeff Gladstone Jason Deline
Thoughts:
Is indie horror not your cup of tea? Well, Babes is one of the more “accessible” films for the masses playing at CUFF this year. It is a female-driven comedy that has drawn praise after its premiere at SXSW as an “unapologetically crude homage to motherhood” (Variety), ultimately highlighting director Pamela Adlon’s ability to balance jokes with serious topics.
Tickets HERE
7. Kryptic
Canadian Premiere | SXSW 2024
What to Expect:
Kay is in trouble. A strange encounter in the woods has left her with no memory. Only one thing is certain: she is the spitting image of missing monster hunter, Barb Valentine. When an intruder breaks into her house, she runs, with no idea where she’s going; but she knows her only chance to reconnect is to shed more light onto Barb’s mysterious disappearance. Random encounters seem to point her in the right direction, but what was hoped to be a journey of self-discovery gradually becomes a hunt for the monster itself. Director Kourtney Roy’s visionary debut feature, shot in British Columbia, takes us into the heart of Canadian sasquatch country, which serves as a backdrop for this offbeat psychological thriller.
Director: Kourtney Roy
Starring: Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, John Carroll Lynch, Hasan Minhaj
Thoughts:
Kryptic looks absolutely gorgeous. As mentioned, it is set in the British Columbian woods, perfect for showcasing its eerie nature. As the title may suggest, Kryptic is somewhat twisted and esoteric, which will likely continue to lead to a divided response to the film. For some, its stylization, twists and turns, and ambiguity will work, but for others, it might leave them scratching their head. Regardless, it is a film that is sure to spark conversation.
Tickets HERE
6. Omen
Canadian Premiere | Cannes Un Certain Regard 2023
What to Expect:
Secrecy and sorcery erupt when a nosebleed is mistaken for a curse, and Koffi is shunned from his family. Using magical realism to paint a portrait of “undesirables” and “sorcerers,” OMEN delves into the intricacies of identity, culture, and belief systems through a deeply rich and visually captivating lens. The Cannes Award Winning Film explores the weight of beliefs on one’s destiny through four characters accused of being witches and sorcerers, all of them intertwined and guiding each other into the phantasmagoria of Africa.
Director: Baloji
Starring: Marc Zinga Lucie Debay Eliane Umuhire
Thoughts:
As a recipient of the New Voice Prize at Cannes, it is evident that Baloji and his team have crafted something unique. It appears to bring forward a clear cultural and political perspective while also providing a “constant feel of forward movement coupled with energetic music and intricate costume design”. (Hollywood Reporter). Given that this is Baloji’s first feature, be sure to catch his work in the early stages of his inevitable rise.
Tickets HERE
5. Ghostlight
International Premiere | Sundance Film Festival 2024 | SXSW 2024
What to Expect:
Melancholic construction worker Dan Mueller is a blue-collar father and husband trying to cope with the suicide of his son a year earlier. When an actor named Rita draws Dan into her small community theater’s production of ROMEO AND JULIET, Dan meets a group of small-time thespians whose friendship helps him move forward through grief, despite keeping the role a secret from his wife and daughter. However, as the drama onstage starts to resemble his life, he and his family are forced to confront a personal loss.
Director: Kelly O’Sullivan, Alex Thompson
Starring: Keith Kupferer Dolly de Leon Katherine Mallen Kupferer
Thoughts:
I was hoping to catch this while I was down at Sundance, but alas, it never ended up working out. Hooray for CUFF. From everyone I have spoken to, Ghostlight will likely leave you crying with its raw and honest portrayal of grief. If you are looking to trade in fear for tears, then this would be your best bet.
Tickets HERE
4. In a Violent Nature
Canadian Premiere | Sundance Film Festival 2024
What to Expect:
When a locket is removed from a collapsed fire tower in the woods that entombs the rotting corpse of Johnny, a vengeful spirit who was the victim of a horrific 60-year-old crime, his body is resurrected, and he’s hell-bent on retrieving what’s his. The undead golem hones in on the group of vacationing teens responsible for the theft, and in his mission to get the locket back proceeds to methodically slaughter them one by one, along with anyone in his way. One of the few slasher films to be shot from the killer’s POV, IN A VIOLENT NATURE is a modern Canadian horror classic in the making.
Director: Chris Nash
Starring: Lauren-Marie Taylor Andrea Pavlovic Ry Barrett
Thoughts:
In a Violent Nature subverts traditional slasher flicks, not afraid to steer away from quick cuts and instead emphasize long, slow takes on locked-off cameras, resulting in something wholly unique. Because of this approach, its response has been somewhat polarizing, with some describing it as “more interesting in theory than in execution,” (IndieWire) while others praising it for its ability to “keep us engaged, stirring queasy viewer dread if not much outright terror” (Variety). In the end, Canadian director Chris Nash is willing and able to carve out his own path in this new approach to genre filmmaking.
Tickets HERE
3. Humane
ALBERTA PREMIERE
What to Expect:
In a wealthy enclave, a recently retired newsman has invited his four grown children to dinner to announce his intentions to enlist in the nation’s new euthanasia program. But when the father’s plan goes horribly awry, tensions flare and chaos erupt among his children. Shot on location in Hamilton, ON, the film stars Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, and Peter Gallagher. Following in the footsteps of Canadian icons, her father David and brother Brandon, Caitlin lives up to the type of filmmaking her family is known for: an impressive thriller, with heart, humour, violence, and just the right amount of blood.
Director: Caitlin Cronenberg
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Peter Gallagher
Thoughts:
Another Cronenberg? Seriously, though, this is Caitlin Cronenberg‘s feature debut, following in the footsteps of her esteemed father and newly rising brother. It remains to be seen whether Caitlin can produce the quality of work that others in her family have been able to, but there’s no better way to know than to see for yourself. From the trailer, it looks as though Caitlin’s vision is not too dissimilar to her kin, as Humane includes both sociopolitical messaging while also drawing plenty of blood along the way. Here’s to hoping that the newest Cronenberg feature filmmaker is the greatest yet.
Tickets HERE
2. Thelma
Canadian Premiere | Sundance Film Festival 2024
What to Expect:
A story exploring aging, family, and autonomy (and uniquely inspired by action movies like MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE) – THELMA is based on a real-life experience of writer/director Josh Margolin’s grandmother, and marks June Squibb’s first leading film role of her 70+ year career. Squibb, who did most of her own stunts, plays the feisty grandmother who demonstrates that she is more than capable of taking care of business – despite what her family might believe. The poignant action-comedy is rounded out with an A-list cast including Fred Hechinger (THE WHITE LOTUS), Parker Posey (DAZED AND CONFUSED), Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson in various Marvel movies), and the final performance of trailblazing actor Richard Roundtree (SHAFT).
Director: Josh Margolin
Starring: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree
Thoughts:
All rise for June Squibb. The response after Sundance has been tremendously positive, with the bulk of the praise directed to the 90-year-old Squibb in her first leading role after a lengthy career. This action-comedy is sure to draw laughs and smiles from the audience. Outside of this singular performance, there has been a generally positive consensus regarding Margolin‘s direction, including his “pacing”, “writing”, and “style”, which establishes him as a “skilled comedy filmmaker” (Paste Magazine).
Tickets HERE
1. I Saw the TV Glow
Canadian Premiere | Sundance Film Festival 2024 | SXSW 2024
What to Expect:
Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs. This all changes when a friend shows him a TV program, which offers a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack. Shot on gorgeously hypersaturated 35mm and fuzzed-out VHS with an original soundtrack, Jane Schoenbrun’s evocative and uncanny story of suburban horrors and coming of age in the mid-1990s creates a foreboding feeling that unspools across decades before reaching a breaking point. Starring Justice Smith in a jaw-droppingly authentic performance and featuring bit parts from icons such as Phoebe Bridgers and Fred Durst, I SAW THE TV GLOW is a haunting tale of self-actualization that will not soon be forgotten.
Director: Jane Schoenbrun
Starring: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Fred Durst, Phoebe Bridgers
Tickets HERE
Thoughts:
What an opening night film… I missed the press showing for I Saw the TV Glow, which was a grave error. Many waitlists later, I could never make it into a public showing. Hooray again for CUFF. This is the second feature film from director Jane Schoenbrun, after her incredibly unique first feature, We’re All Going to the Country Fair. Many have appointed this project the best of the Sundance festival, including notoriously harsh critic David Ehrlich of IndieWire, who wrote, “[I Saw the TV Glow is] arresting from the start and only increasingly mesmeric as it begins to map the liminal space between truth and fiction that exists inside both of its lead characters”.
Dang.
Tickets and Passes to the Calgary Underground Film Festival.
See you there!
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