AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN to open the festival 

15 years after the Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) first launched, Western Canada's biggest genre festival presents its boldest and most eclectic lineup yet. 

“I remember the day we started this festival and our vision was to grow within our means, screen provocative, boundary-pushing independent film, build a solid community, and to really make sure we were creating a festival as fans, for fans," said Co-Founder & Festival Director Brenda Lieberman.  

With humble beginnings using fold-out chairs at The Venue (now called HiFi Club) attended by a few hundred fans over three-days; today, CUFF is a seven-day internationally-recognized festival presenting 55 films to nearly 7,000 attendees. 

"I’m excited we’ve reached 15 years, continually growing, and achieving what we set out to do! I love this festival, and what we’ve become so far!”

Highlights of this year's festival include: 

• AN EVENING WITH BEVERLY LUFF LINN starring Aubrey Plaza, Jemaine Clement, Emile Hirsch and Craig Robinson will open the festival on Monday, April 16. Director Jim Hosking in attendance. 
• The psychological thriller KNUCKLEBALL from local director Mike Peterson with director, cast & crew in attendance. 
• The international premiere of FREAKS & GEEKS: THE DOCUMENTARY from Alberta filmmaker Brent Hodge, just days after it premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival. 
• Three more world premieres including THE SECRET POPO from CUFF alumnus Sean Pierce (MEATHEAD GOES HOGWILD); PAPER YEAR, the feature directorial debut from Canadian Rebecca Addelman, a prominent Hollywood screenwriter of the hit TV shows NEW GIRL and LOVE; and SLAVE TO THE GRIND, a documentary about grindcore from DIY filmmaker Doug Brown featuring the local band Wake.  
• The return of the FOUND FOOTAGE FESTIVAL: VOLUME 8, a one-of-a-kind CUFF-favourite event that showcases footage from videos that were found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters across the country. Curators Nick and Joe will be back at CUFF for the first time in four years.
• A highlight every year, the SATURDAY MORNING ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT CEREAL CARTOON PARTY featuring retro cartoons and hundreds of sugary cereals not available in Canada
• For the fourth consecutive year, we'll launch 5 new classic arcade games as part of CUFFcade, Calgary's first independent arcade, available to play for free during the fest. 
• 5 Alberta-made shorts: G.E.M. (Dir. Mike Hooves), PENNY WHISTLE (Dir. Robert Cuffley), POOLSIDE (Dir. Morgan Ermter), REARVIEW (Dir. Daelan Wood) and TROPE (Dir. Sara Hughes).
• Our highest number of projects directed by women. This year 43% of the festival's feature films are by female filmmakers.  
• Big hits fresh off their premieres on the film festival circuit including the French-thriller REVENGE (Dir. Coralie Fargeat), a documentary about the history of roller-dancing in Venice Beach ROLLER DREAMS (Dir. Kate Hickey), and Lynne Ramsay’s latest YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE will be presented alongside a retrospective of her past work. 

The Calgary Underground Film Festival runs April 16-22, 2018 at Globe Cinema. Tickets to all films will be available on Wednesday at calgaryundergroundfilm.com

All screenings at CUFF are licensed, with the festival bar serving beer, wine and mixed drinks. Before all screenings DJs are set up in the theatre, performing music inspired by the theme of the film.  

About CUFF 

Elevating Calgary’s cultural landscape with the best in international independent cinema, CUFF is Western Canada’s premiere genre festival. Throughout our 7-day festival you will discover unique films, lively Q&A’s with visiting guests, and be swept into the fun atmosphere CUFF has created. This year we will be showcasing 40 feature films, 20+ short films, retro-Saturday Morning Cartoons, National Canadian Film Day event, parties and CUFFcade  – custom arcade cabinets with new independent video games!