Arts

Calgary Underground Film Festival unveils an impressive lineup

The awesome psychopaths at the Calgary Underground Film Festival have announced this year’s lineup of films and events that will be taking over the Globe from April 17-23, and it’s looking pretty amazing.

Here’s a small sample of what to expect:

• The fest kicks off with nuns-gone-wild comedy The Little Hours, an 18+ flick that sounds like a real treat. Star Aubrey Plaza will be in attendance (!) 7pm on April 17th , followed by an after party across the street at The Derrick (620 8 Ave. S.W.).

• The now-famous Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat Cereal Cartoon Party happens on Earth Day (April 22 at 10 a.m.), so the nice people at CUFF, feeling guilty about all the Styrofoam that the event goes through, have promised to supply viewers with biodegradable cereal bowls this year! Of course, you probably only care about stuffing your face full of Cookie Crisp while binge-watching three hours of carefully curated Saturday Morning cartoons from the ’60s through the ’80s. 

• I love the fact that the title of My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea (April 18 and 23) is also literally the plot synopsis. The homemade-looking markers-and-pencil-crayons animation style contrasts with the impressive lineup of voice talent (Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham, Reggie Watts, Maya Rudolph and Susan Sarandon), and the story looks like a teen comedy that suddenly turns into The Poseidon Adventure with laughs. 

• Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire (April 18) looks like it gets right to the good stuff (B-movie style) with an arms deal that turns into a free-for-all shoot-’em-up. Sharlto Copley, Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy and Armie Hammer are among the heavily-armed folk exchanging bullets, witticisms and bad language while sporting ugly 1970s clothes. 

• We all still love FUBAR, so why not celebrate it’s 15th anniversary with a screening at CUFF on April 20? Get on the bus for this “Show up and Ship out” event, with an after-party at the Ship and Anchor.

• Have you seen the trailer for Colossal? Because I really think you need to see the trailer for Colossal. Here:

See that? Anne Hathaway discovering that she’s accidentally controlling the movements of the giant monster that’s rampaging through Seoul, Korea? Good Lord. See it April 19.

• Say, CUFF, what’s the title of this last midnight movie on April 22? Assholes? That’s uh, that’s really the title? I take it that this one’s not scheduled for a wide theatrical release. Or Netflix. Or … well, anyplace outside of a film festival, I suppose. What’s it about? Huh? You can’t tell me without spoiling the surprise? Surely that will make it a tough sell, won’t it? Isn’t there anything you can say about it? “One of the most disgusting movies every made,” you say? Well, then.

For a complete list of films as well as ticket and festival pass information check out CUFF’s website.

The Calgary Underground Film Festival goes from April 17-23, 2017 at the Globe Cinema. (617, 8 Ave. S.W.) More details can be found at www.calgaryundergroundfilm.org 

Tags: