CEFF 2019 program
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019
All movies throughout the festival have English subtitles.
The Resistance Banker
2018, 2h 3m, The Netherlands
Director: Joram Lürsen
Starts: 17:00 hrs, Theater 2
Writers: Marieke van der Pol, Thomas van der Ree, Matthijs Bockting. Michael Leendertse, Joost Reijmers, Pieter van den Berg.
In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, banker brothers Walraven and Gijs van Hall face their greatest challenge yet when they decide to help fund the Dutch resistance.
Presented by the Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Little White Lies 2
2019, 2h 15m, France
Director: Guillaume Canet
Starts: 17:30 hrs, Theater 1
Writers: Guillaume Canet (dialogue), Guillaume Canet (screenplay), Rodolphe Lauga (dialogue), Rodolphe Lauga (screenplay).
The result of the small handkerchiefs “Petits mouchoirs”, 7 years later. The band, which erupted, is found on the occasion of the anniversary surprise organized for Max.
Presented by La Cité des Rocheuses, Alliance Francaise de Calgary, and Calgary International FIlm Festival.
A Cat with A Dog
2018, 1h 42m, Poland
Director: Janusz Kondratiuk
Starts: 19:30 hrs, Theater 2
Writers: Anna Gronowska (screenplay associate), Janusz Kondratiuk, Dominik W. Rettinger.
Estranged brothers Andrzej and Janusz are both acclaimed film directors. When older Andrzej gets paralyzed after the stroke, Janusz and his wife decide to take care of him.
Presented by the Polish Canadian Cultural Centre.
A Shelter Among the Clouds
2018, 1h 25m, Albania
Director: Robert Budina
Starts: 20:15 hrs, Theater 1
Writers: Robert Budina (screenplay), Sabina Kodra (story).
Besnik is a lonely shepherd and devoted Muslim, haunted by unfulfilled love. He is the son of a Catholic mother and formerly Communist father whom he takes care of in an Albanian village in the mountains. Up here, Christians and Muslims have found a way to co-exist peacefully. Even after the discovery that the old mosque used to be a church and that the building was actually shared by the two religions in the past, the calm of daily life can be preserved – with Besnik’s help. After the death of his father, however, drastic changes threaten Besnik’s multi-faith family and the shepherd is forced to seek his own path. – Robert Budina
Presented by the Albanian-Canadian Association of Calgary.
Sunday, November 3rd, 2019
Freedom Under Load
2016, 1h 01m, Slovakia
Director: Pavol Barabas
Starts: 15:00 hrs, Theater 1
Writer: Pavol Barabas (as Pavol Barabás)
With hundred kilos on their backs they are facing storms, blizzards and deep snow. Their craft is not only a profession, but also their way to the calmness. In the documentary Freedom under Load we get to know the oldest generation of the porters in the High Tatras, who climb with supplies to the mountain huts every day. We discover why they have chosen this way of life and why they remain the last of the Mohicans on the European continent. And maybe we find out something about our own load that we carry.
Presented by the Honorary Consulate of the Slovak Republic in Calgary, and Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Ottawa.
Bad Poems
2018, 1h 37m, Hungary
Director: Gábor Reisz
Starts: 18:00 hrs, Theater 2
Writer: Gábor Reisz
33-years old Tamás Merthner is heartbroken, after his girlfriend Anna, who is on a scholarship in Paris, breaks up with him. While wallowing in self-pity, Tamás takes a trip down memory lane to figure out if love only exists when it’s practically gone. As he’s trying to pick up the pieces, he begins to realize what makes this current society so confused, which gives us a highly subjective view of Hungary’s present.
Presented by the Hungarian Canadian Cultural Association of Calgary.
Twin Flower
2018, 1h 36m, Italy
Director: Laura Luchetti
Starts: 16:00 hrs, Theater 2
Writer: Laura Luchetti.
In a South of Italy full of beauty and hidden dangers, two adolescents, abused and damaged by life, Anna, whose father has been murdered and Basim, an immigrant orphan, escape together towards a new start.
Presented by the Calgary Italian Cultural Centre.
Octav
2017, 1h 40m, Romania
Director: Serge Ioan Celebidachi
Starts: 19:30 hrs, Theater 1
Trailer on Youtube, and more on IMDB
Writers: Serge Ioan Celebidachi, James Olivier
When an elderly man returns to his family home after decades of absence, the apparition of his childhood sweetheart triggers a rewind to the life-changing events from his youth.
Presented by the Romanian Canadian Cultural Association of Calgary, and the Honorary Consulate of Romania in Alberta.
Becoming Astrid
2018, 2h 03m, Sweden
Director: Pernille Fischer Christensen
Starts: 17:00 hrs, Theater 1
Writers: Kim Fupz Aakeson, Pernille Fischer Christensen.
Biopic of Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren, the author of numerous children’s books and creator of Pippi Longstocking.
Presented by the Swedish Society of Calgary.
The Eighth Commissioner
2018, 2h 19m, Croatia
Director: Ivan Salaj
Starts: 20:00 hrs, Theater 2
Writers: Renato Baretic (novel), Ivan Salaj
Sinisa Mesjak is an ambitious politician who gets involved in a scandal. In order to keep him away from the public eye, the government sends him to Trecic, an isolated Croatian island with no telephone or internet signal.
Presented by the Sounds of Croatia Radio Program Calgary, and the Calgary Cinematheque.
Monday, November 4th, 2019
The Mover
2018, 1h 30m, Latvia
Director: Davis Simanis Jr.
Starts: 18:15 hrs, Theater 1
Writer: Davis Simanis Jr.
Zanis Lipke’s family’s efforts to save the Jews during World War II and the rise of the child in a tragic historical situation.
Presented by the Alberta Latvian Society “Laima” , and the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Canada.
The Resistance Banker
2018, 2h 3m, The Netherlands
Director: Joram Lürsen
Starts: 20:00 hrs, Theater 2
Writers: Marieke van der Pol, Thomas van der Ree, Matthijs Bockting. Michael Leendertse, Joost Reijmers, Pieter van den Berg.
In Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, banker brothers Walraven and Gijs van Hall face their greatest challenge yet when they decide to help fund the Dutch resistance.
Presented by the Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Tuesday, November 5th, 2019
Her Job
2018, 1h 29m, Greece
Director: Nikos Labôt
Starts: 18:15 hrs, Theater 1
Writers: Katerina Kleitsioti (screenwriter), Nikos Labôt (screenwriter).
Panayiota gets for the first time a job as a cleaner in an attempt to support her family. While at her work environment she faces a ruthless system of exploitation, she spends the happiest period of her so far dull life. But this is not to last for long as the first layoffs are to arrive soon.
Presented by the Hellenic Society of Calgary.
A Cat with A Dog
2018, 1h 42m, Poland
Director: Janusz Kondratiuk
Starts: 20:00 hrs, Theater 2
Writers: Anna Gronowska (screenplay associate), Janusz Kondratiuk, Dominik W. Rettinger.
Estranged brothers Andrzej and Janusz are both acclaimed film directors. When older Andrzej gets paralyzed after the stroke, Janusz and his wife decide to take care of him.
Presented by the Polish Canadian Cultural Centre.
Wednesday, November 6th, 2019
Glory
2016, 1h 41m, Bulgaria
Directors: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov
Starts: 18:15 hrs, Theater 1
More on Film Movement, and IMDB
Writers: Kristina Grozeva, Decho Taralezhkov, Petar Valchanov.
A reclusive Bulgarian railway trackman finds millions of cash spilled on the tracks and turns them in to the police. When the transport ministry’s head of PR Julia Staikova decides to use him as a diversion from a corruption scandal, his simple life falls victim to the grinder of bureaucracy. – John Detch
Presented by the Calgary Bulgarian Society.
I Love You Heavenly
2017, 1h 30m, The Czech Republic
Director: Milos Smídmajer
Starts: 20:15 hrs, Theater 2
Writers: Lucie Boksteflová (contribution), Pavel Brycz (contribution), Jaroslav Papousek.
A romantic comedy from Jaroslav Papousek, the creator of the legendary Homolkovy family and the cult films Black Peter and Loves of a Blonde (a coworker of Milos Forman). A story about how he taught her to see the world, and how she taught him to love.
Presented by the Czech Business Association of Canada.
Thursday, November 7th, 2019
Becoming Astrid
2018, 2h 03m, Sweden
Director: Pernille Fischer Christensen
Starts: 18:00 hrs, Theater 1
Writers: Kim Fupz Aakeson, Pernille Fischer Christensen.
Biopic of Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren, the author of numerous children’s books and creator of Pippi Longstocking.
Presented by the Swedish Society of Calgary, and Owl’s Nest Books.
The Other Side of Everything
2017, 1h 40m, Serbia
Director: Mila Turajlic
Starts: 20:15 hrs, Theater 2
Trailer on Youtube, and more on IMDB
Writer: Mila Turajlic
For Serbian filmmaker Mila Turajlic, a locked door in her mother’s apartment in Belgrade provides the gateway to both her remarkable family history and her country’s tumultuous political inheritance.
Presented by the Serbian Fest Calgary, and Serbian Cultural Society Frula.
Friday, November 8th, 2019
Octav
2017, 1h 40m, Romania
Director: Serge Ioan Celebidachi
Starts: 18:00 hrs, Theater 1
Trailer on Youtube, and more on IMDB
Writers: Serge Ioan Celebidachi, James Olivier
When an elderly man returns to his family home after decades of absence, the apparition of his childhood sweetheart triggers a rewind to the life-changing events from his youth.
Presented by the Romanian Canadian Cultural Association of Calgary, and the Honorary Consulate of Romania in Alberta.
Beautiful Corruption
2018, 1h 48m, Moldova
Director: Eugen Damaschin
Starts: 20:00 hrs, Theater 2
Trailer on Youtube, and more on IMDB
Writer: Eugen Damaschin
In his fight for justice, Andrei resorts to some methods that are not exactly legal. What will be the price he has to pay in order to get what he wants?
Presented by the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Canada, and Asociatia Comunitatii Moldovenilor din Calgary.
Saturday, November 9th, 2019
Inner City
2018, 2h 00m, Azerbaijan
Director: Ilgar Safat
Starts: 13:30 hrs, Theater 1
Trailer on Youtube, and more on Azerbaijan Film
Writers: Tahmina Rafaella (screenplay),
Tahmina Rafaella (written by), Ilgar Safat (additional dialogue).
“At some point,” Rafael tells Arzu, “people walk together … and then their ways part … each destined to follow the labyrinth of their own inner city …” Arzu, a young girl growing up in contemporary Azerbaijan, falls in love with Rafael, her piano teacher’s son, a veteran of the Karabakh War. Twice her age and unable to escape from the ravages of war, Rafael is forced to live on the edge of a society that sees him as a ‘cripple.’ Arzu, desperate to escape from the same repressive society which confines women to a strict, narrow path, chooses Rafael over her family and friends – but threatened by Arzu’s mother, and guided by the wisdom born out of his own brokenness, Rafael makes the supreme sacrifice of love ….
Presented by the Alberta Azerbaijani Cultural Society.
Those who are fine
2017, 1h 11m, Switzerland
Director: Cyril Schäublin
Starts: 20:15 hrs, Theater 2
Writer: Cyril Schäublin
Alice works in a call centre in the outskirts of Zurich, selling internet subscriptions and insurance deals to strangers on the other end of the line. Inspired by her job, she calls lonely grandmothers and pretends to be their granddaughter in urgent need of money.
Presented by the Swiss Cultural Society of Calgary.
Blind Spot
2018, 1h 38m, Norway
Director: Tuva Novotny
Starts: 16:00 hrs, Theater 2
Writer: Tuva Novotny
BLIND SPOT is a story about the grey zones in mental illness; the blind spots hard to discover, as experienced by a mother realizing her daughter struggling with far worse issues than she realized.
Presented by the Sons of Norway, Valhalla Lodge, and Centre for Suicide Prevention.
The Balloon
2018, 2h 05m, Germany
Director: Michael Herbig (as Michael Bully Herbig)
Starts: 18:00 hrs, Theater 1
Trailer on Youtube, and more on AZfilms
Writers: Kit Hopkins (screenplay), Thilo Röscheisen (screenplay), Michael Herbig (screenplay) (as Michael Bully Herbig).
Balloon is a German thriller that deals with the crossing of the inner German border of the families Strelzyk and Wetzel from the GDR to West Germany with a homemade hot-air balloon.
Presented by the Association for German Education in Calgary, and the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Calgary.
Sunday, November 10th, 2019
Wild Mouse
2017, 1h 43m, Austria
Director: Josef Hader
Starts: 14:15 hrs, Theater 1
Trailer on Youtube, and more on IMDB
Writer: Josef Hader
When Georg loses his job, he conceals the fact from his younger wife Johanna, who wants a child with him. Instead, he embarks upon a campaign of revenge against his former boss and begins to renovate a roller-coaster with an old school friend.
Presented by the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa, and Austria Cultural Forum.
Glory
2016, 1h 41m, Bulgaria
Directors: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov
Starts: 16:00 hrs, Theater 2
More on Film Movement, and IMDB
Writers: Kristina Grozeva, Decho Taralezhkov, Petar Valchanov.
A reclusive Bulgarian railway trackman finds millions of cash spilled on the tracks and turns them in to the police. When the transport ministry’s head of PR Julia Staikova decides to use him as a diversion from a corruption scandal, his simple life falls victim to the grinder of bureaucracy. – John Detch
Presented by the Calgary Bulgarian Society.
Champions
2018, 2h 04m, Spain
Director: Javier Fesser
Starts: 16:45 hrs, Theater 1
Trailer on Youtube, and more on LatidoFilms
Writers: Writers: David Marqués, Javier Fesser.
A basketball coach is sentenced to community service, forced to work with a team of mentally disabled players.
Presented by the Instituto Cervantes Calgary, Spain Arts & Cultures, Tecnicas Reunidas Canada E&C.
CEFF 2019 program highlights
Oscar Submissions
- “The Mover” is Latvia official submission in Oscars 2020.
- “Champions” was Spain official submission in Oscars 2019.
- “The Eighth Commissioner” was Croatia official submission in Oscars 2019.
- “The Resustance Banker” was Netherland official submission in Oscars 2019.
- “Glory” was Bulgaria official submission in Oscars 2018.
Winners
- “Glory” has won Don Quixote Award in 2016 Locarno International Film Festival.
- “Balloon” has won German Film Award for Peace-The Bridge in 2019.
- “The Eighth Commissioner” has won 5 major prizes in 2018 Pula Film Festival.
- “Those Who Are Fine” has won Best Film Feature Award in 2017 Locarno International Film Festival.
Nominations
- “Wild Mouse” was nominated for Golden Berlin Bear in 2017 Berlin International Film Festival.
- “Her Job” was nominated for Discovety Award in 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.
- “Those Who Are Fine” was nominated for Audience Award in 2018 Rotterdam International Film Festival.
- “The Other Side of Everything” was nominated for Golden Firebird Award in 2018 HKIFF.ngs.