2006 Calgary International Film Festival Begins Tomorrow

7th Annual Calgary International Film Festival to kick off Friday, September 22, 2006

Calgary, AB – Canada’s fourth largest film festival, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), will kick off on Friday, September 22, 2006, and run until Sunday, October 1, 2006.

The 2006 Festival officially begins with the Gala presentation of The Journals of Knud Rasmussen on Friday, September 22 at 7:00pm at the Uptown Stage & Screen. The Journals of Knud Rasmussen is written and directed by Norman Cohn and Zacharias Kunuk, the same filmmaking team known for their critically acclaimed, multi-award winning feature film, Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner).

With a record number of almost 1,000 submissions, CIFF boasts a line-up of 412 titles including features, documentaries and shorts. Films screening at CIFF fall under 19 separate categories including Canadian FilmWorks, American Independent, Contemporary World Cinema, and the Films for Family series. Special series also include a Spotlight on India and a celebration of Québécois filmmaking, with the Québec Spotlight.

This year’s festival brings several new initiatives such as the debut of Cowboy Cool: a special series of talks and events designed to pay homage to the Western genre and the Alberta film industry. In conjunction with the Cowboy Cool initiative, CIFF inaugurates Into the Western, a yearly retrospective screening series designed to showcase the rich cinematic heritage of the Western genre.

The Gala events begin on the Festival’s opening night, Friday, September 22, with the LIGHTS Gala featuring The Journals of Knud Rasmussen by filmmakers Norman Cohn and Zacharias Kunuk . On Saturday, September 23, the CAMERA Gala will focus on Comeback Season, directed by Bruce McCulloch and starring Ray Liotta. CIFF’s ACTION Gala on Wednesday, September 27, will be a presentation of The Last Door starring Andy Garcia, Frances O’Connor, and Angela Bassett in a psychological drama that prominently features scenes shot in Alberta. Saturday, September 30 will see the party to end all parties with CIFF’s Closing Ceremonies event and the WRAP PARTY Gala. Four films will make up the WRAP PARTY Gala including Volver, acclaimed director Pedro Almodóvar’s newest film starring Penélope Cruz; Snow Cake, a Marc Evans’ drama starring Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver and Carrie-Anne Moss; Hot Tamale, directed by Michael Damian, featuring Randy Spelling, Diora Baird, Jason Priestley, Carmen Electra, and Mike Starr; and The Hamster Cage by legendary Canadian director, Larry Kent.

The Galas are not the only parties that will occur over the 10-day, two weekend festival. There will also be upwards of twenty parties and receptions involving sponsors, special guests, VIPs and over 150 delegates from Canada and around the world.

With an ongoing schedule of great films, many of which screen at the same time, CIFF is pleased to announce that Sunday, October 1, will be dedicated to The Best of the Fest, with a line-up featuring encore presentations of many festival favourites.

LOCATION/TIME:
September 22 to October 1, 2006
Select theatres
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

TICKETS/CONTACT:
www.calgaryfilm.com
Program Guide: $5.00 at CIFF Box Office at Eau Claire Market and participating Calgary Starbucks' locations
(403) 422-CIFF