A made-in-Alberta hockey dramedy that includes a goalie fight was announced as the closing night feature of the Calgary International Film Festival. Smudge the Blades from director and writer Cody Lightning, whose film Hey Viktor! closed the 2023 fest, will close the festival on Sunday, Oct. 4. The complete festival lineup was announced Wednesday, including new films from Oscar-winner Peter Farrelly, Martin McDonagh, James Gray, Pedro Almovodar, Sophia Takai and Jesse Eisenberg. “These are some of the most exciting directors working anywhere in the world,” said CIFF artistic director Brian Owens, in a media release. “And then there are the stars,” Owens added. “Oscar winners and nominees, including Rinko Kikuchi, Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Julianne Moore, Adam Driver, John Malkovich, Sandra Hüller, Renate Reinsve, Sophie Okonedo, Sebastian Stan, Kenneth Branagh, and Christopher Walken, will all be lighting up CIFF screens this year. “We’re also incredibly proud to welcome back Indigenous filmmakers Banchi Hanuse, Joséphine Bacon, Kim O’Bomsawin, and Cody Lightning, all returning to CIFF with new work. “And, of course, there’s the incredible depth of Alberta-grown talent throughout the lineup,” Owens added, giving the CIFF lineup a blend of the best new films from around the world in addition to showcasing and celebrating western Canadian filmmakers. Free movies from Servus Credit Union In addition to 10 nights of screenings, seminars and schmoozing, there will be a night of free movies on Sept. 28, which is Servus Free Movie Monday, when 1,000 free tickets will be distributed to Calgary movie lovers. “Film has a unique ability to bring people together, introduce us to new perspectives, and create connections that last long after the credits roll. That’s what makes CIFF such an important part of Calgary’s cultural community, and why we’re proud to continue our support as presenting sponsor,” said Servus Credit Union president and CEO Ian Burns in a release. “This year, we’re especially excited to introduce Servus Free Movie Monday, giving 1,000 people the opportunity to experience the festival at no cost and making great storytelling accessible to even more Calgarians.” Some of those films include I Play Rocky, from Greenbook director Farrelly, Wild Horse Nine, with Sam Rockwell and Malkovich, from Oscar winner McDonagh, Paper Tiger featuring Johannson and Driver in a drama about the Russian mob and The Debut from Eisenberg, set in the world of community musical theatre. International films include Almovodar’s Bitter Christmas, the Cannes Film Festival’s 2026 Palm d’Or winning drama The Fjord from director Christian Mungiu and Look Back, from acclaimed Japanese director Hirakazu Kore-eda. As far as those free Servus Monday movie tickets go, codes will be distributed Friday, Aug. 28, on a first-come, first-serve basis starting at 10 a.m. MST here.
