September 2025
justNEWS
Greetings from your CJFF team! Fall is in the air, which signals our shifting into high gear for our fast-approaching 2025 20th annual film festival at The Confluence:
Thursday, November 6
Friday, November 7
Saturday, November 8
The exciting line-up of top-notch film screenings will soon be published on our website.
SUPPORT AND VISIT THE CONFLUENCE
150 Years Later: Reflecting on Fort Calgary’s Legacy, learn more here.
MULTICULTURALISM DATES FOR SEPTEMBER
Hispanic Heritage Month: Month-long observance
Mennonite Heritage Week - September 8-15: an opportunity to learn more about Mennonite Canadians, their history and vibrant culture, as well as their contributions to our country.
International Day of Peace - September 21: UN promotes a 24-hour global ceasefire and non-violence to encourage people worldwide to unite in support of peace and unity.
Rosh Hashanah - September 22-24: marks the start of the 10 days leading to Yom Kippur, when many Jews seek forgiveness, make amends, and commit to better actions in the year ahead.
National Truth and Reconciliation Day - September 30: highlights the impact of the Canadian residential school system on Indigenous communities while seeking an ongoing path toward reconciliation.
ORANGE SHIRT DAY
Wear an orange shirt on September 30 to signify National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day. On this day, we honour the children who never returned home, Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. It is a day to reflect on an ongoing path toward reconciliation.
CALGARY FOOD BANK
We’re pleased to announce that during our upcoming film festival, the Calgary Food Bank will be on site at The Confluence to collect nonperishable food and monetary donations. In the meantime, you can contribute to the September 20th city-wide food drive, learn more here.
CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF)
The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), presented by Servus Credit Union, is back for its 26th year, running from September 18 to 28, 2025, at various venues across the city. Over the course of the ten days, CIFF will screen over 200 films and host events, parties, Q&As, panels and more. Whether you’re a cinephile or a casual movie-goer, there’s something for everyone at CIFF this year.
CIFF is the largest film festival in Alberta and among the largest in Canada. CIFF has nearly quadrupled in size since the first festival in 2000, now seeing approximately 30,000 attendees for the expanded 10-day festival.
Our new All-Access Passes get you into unlimited regular screenings, Industry events, and parties you’ll never forget.
Ticket bundles and passes are on sale now at ciffcalgary.ca
CJFF has partnered with CIFF on two film screenings! The Pitch and COMPARSA, read on to learn how you can get $3 off your tickets with our discount code.
DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO CIFF
The strength and value of our CJFF-CIFF partnership is exemplified by two film screenings at this year's film festival: COMPARSA screening on Saturday, September 20, and The Pitch screening on Tuesday, September 23.
Making its Alberta premiere at CIFF, The Pitch documents the Canadian Olympic soccer player, Diana Matheson and her successful post-retirement efforts to launch the Northern Super League for women's soccer.
From the shadows of a Guatemalan neighbourhood and scared into silence, COMPARSA tells the story of how two sisters lead a luminous rebellion to unleash joy, art, and radical truth in a fight for survival. (CONTENT ADVISORY: Discussions of violence against women)
Use our code: CIFF2025_YYCJFF_Comparsa3 and get $3 off your tickets to COMPARSA!
TICKET CODE INSTRUCTIONS
1. Visit https://www.ciffcalgary.ca/festival/2025-films/
2. Find COMPARSA and add tickets to your cart
3. At checkout, click "Have a discount code?" and input our code. Your total will now be $3 less.
4. Proceed with checkout.
YOU’RE INVITED!
The United Nations Association of Canada, Calgary Branch, invites the public to join its upcoming AGM.
To get involved:
💙 Become a member to vote at the AGM: unaccal.com/donate
📩 RSVP: https://www.jotform.com/build/252151782773057
📅 Sunday, September 21, 1–4 PM
Join us for an inspiring afternoon that begins with our Annual General Meeting (AGM)—a moment to reflect on our impact and help shape the future of UNAC-Calgary. Following the AGM, we’ll host a thought-provoking panel discussion in celebration of the International Day of Peace, featuring bold ideas, meaningful dialogue, and opportunities to connect with changemakers in our community.
This is more than just a meeting—it’s a chance to be part of a movement for peace, purpose, and progress. We’d be honoured to have your voice in the room.
With peace and anticipation,
🌿 The UNAC-Calgary Team
OUR FILM FESTIVAL PARTNERS
Calgary International Film Festival: Get Tickets Now!
GET INVOLVED!
As a volunteer, not-for-profit organization, we need you! We need volunteers to contribute their time and skills.
If you have some time and are interested in using your talents, we invite you—or someone you know—to become part of our team. Here are some of the roles that need to be filled:
Board Secretary (Year-round)
Programming Director (Year-round)
Event and Volunteer Coordinator (September to November)
Grant Researcher and Writer (Year-round)
Website Manager (Year-round)
For more information, please reach out to social@justicefilmfestival.ca
DONATE
Our sponsors and partners are hugely important to our operation, whether through monetary donations, in-kind contributions, or partnering with other organizations—all of it helps make CJFF the best it can be. Find a full list of our sponsors here.
CJFF celebrates the arts and culture through the film-making lens of social justice. A donation to our organization promotes the work of our organization. Donations also help support the filmmakers who rely on film festivals like ours to showcase the vital stories they tell.
To donate to CJFF, visit here.
At CJFF, there’s something for everyone interested in being involved as a volunteer, partner, sponsor, supporter, donor, or part of the audience.