This year marks the 100th anniversary of the landmark—and first-ever—adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre Dame to film, and the Calgary International Film Festival is celebrating that with something special for movie lovers.
CIFF, joined by Calgary’s own Chad VanGaalen under his alias Black Mold, will be showing the film alongside a live musical performance by VanGaalen at the Knox United Church on Sept. 27.
The festival is touting the Gothic Revival location as one of the most unique locations, and appropriate locations, to take in this celebration of cinema’s history.
Even more music is coming this year to CIFF, which is bringing back its popular Music on Screen series for festival goers.
Last year CIFF featured a Music on Screen documentary about legendary outlaw country artist Tanya Tucker, which was followed by her visit to the Calgary Folk Music Festival in July.
“I’m incredibly excited for audiences to experience this year’s Music on Screen series. With films that shed new light on some of our most iconic artists, as well as a number of extraordinarily powerful films exploring the intersection between artistry and activism,” said Guy Lavallee, Features Programmer for CIFF.
“CIFF audiences are in for a powerhouse lineup of films that will provoke, enlighten, inspire, and engage viewers of all ages.”
The lineup features six films, two of which are receiving their Canadian premieres.
Ticket bundles for CIFF are on sale now at www.ciffcalgary.ca, and individual tickets go on sale on Sept. 7. Tickets for The Hunchback of Notre Dame experience are on sale at ciff2023.eventive.org/welcome.
CIFF runs from September 21 to October 1, 2023.
| Film | Director | Description |
|---|---|---|
| COVER YOUR EARS | Sean Patrick Shaul | A fascinating—and wildly entertaining—dissection of the history of music censorship. |
| IMMEDIATE FAMILY | Denny Tedesco | The true story of a group of close friends who became the studio band to the biggest stars of the 1970s and beyond, changing the course of musical history. |
| JOAN BAEZ: I AM A NOISE | Miri Navasky, Maeve O’Boyle, Karen O’Connor | At the end of a storied career, Joan Baez takes an honest look back and a deep look inward as she tries to make sense of her expansive, history-making life. |
| KISS THE FUTURE | Nenad Cicin-Sain | Exploring music’s role as a weapon of resistance, the film follows an underground community that continued working, creating, and thriving throughout the Siege of Sarajevo. |
| PATRIA Y VIDA: THE POWER OF MUSIC | Beatriz Luengo | In an inspiring story about the value of music as a social transformer, six Cuban Afro- descendant rappers spark a lyrical battle for human rights through their song “Patria y Vida.” |
| THE STONES AND BRIAN JONES | Nick Broomfield | Examines the musical creativity of Brian Jones, the secret to the Rolling Stones’ success, through candid interviews with all the essential performers and previously unreleased archives. |
