Posted on August 24, 2020

Chosen by 10 local high schoolers, the Calgary International Film Festival’s Generation Next Section is here. Featuring a diverse range of genres and stories from around the world, these six films - of which five are announced today - reflect the state of indie art cinema curated through a youth perspective for audiences young and old. In response to COVID-19, the program will transition online so that viewing is made easier and more affordable for students, teachers, and parents during the 21st Annual Festival taking place September 24 to October 4, 2020.

Student and teacher views in 2020 will be pay-what-you-can and will be available for streaming in the classroom or from home. A text-to-donate campaign, #ChipinforKids, is also now open to help CIFF support high school students across Alberta. This month, Shaw will match text donations and the matched donation will then be matched again by the Shaw Charity Classic, up to an additional 50%.

Text KIDS040 to 30333 to donate $10 to CIFF and turn $10 into $30!  Deadline to Donate is August 30, 2020. 

Generation Next has had over 3200 student participants in its first two years of the program and has helped CIFF foster youth education, volunteerism and increase Calgary’s cultural vibrancy. 

 The Generation Next Section films are also available for viewing for all CIFF patrons throughout the festival at the regular ticket price. 

 

GENERATION NEXT FEATURES 

CODED BIAS Directed by Shalini Kantayya (UNITED STATES)

MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini makes a startling discovery - most facial recognition software does not see dark-skinned faces or women accurately. Thus begins a journey to uncover other types of bias in machine learning algorithms. CODED BIAS shines a light on the impacts - present and future - of AI on civil rights and democracy around the globe.

DEATH OF NINTENDO Directed by Raya Martyn (PHILIPPINES)

Set in Manila in the 1990s, DEATH OF NINTENDO takes us into the colorful pop culture world of four teenage friends, back in the days when video games were still a novelty. During a summer, Mimaw and her friends Paolo, Kachi, and Gilligan go on a journey of self-discovery together as they try to one-up each other's high scores and face life's obstacles, including puppy love, peer pressure and balancing family tradition with self-identity.

COCOON Directed by Leonie Krippendorff (GERMANY)

It's 2018 and Nora, a shy 14-year-old girl from the neighborhood of Kreuzberg in Berlin, will never forget this hot summer. With an absentee mother and the realization she cannot simply walk in her cool older sister's footsteps, she makes her way into adulthood surrounded by people with disrupted biographies. Nora gets her first period, falls in love with another girl, learns to stand up for herself, and gets her heartbroken for the first time. When summer ends, things will never be the same again.

 US KIDS Directed by Kim A. Snyder (UNITED STATES)

In 2018, an alumnus of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida entered the school and fired upon its students and teachers killing 17 and injuring 14. This riveting documentary chronicles the young survivors and their efforts to build March for Our Lives. From intimate moments where they're just kids to speeches given in front of millions of people worldwide, the camera is there to capture their bravery, their weakness, and - ultimately - their transition into adults determined to change the world.

CHANGFENG TOWN Directed by WANG Jing (CHINA)

Changfeng Town is located in an inconspicuous corner of China. It's a seemingly mundane place where everybody knows one another and the people are content with life. The quirky stories of the townspeople unfold through five intertwining chapters that are filled with joy and sadness, but never without hope. The film is a cinephile's dream that features an expansive sound design inspired by the Coen brothers and is layered with references of the past -from discarded editing techniques to excerpts and film posters from classic Chinese cinema.

Ticket Bundles and CIFF’s Friends with Benefits Membership are all on sale now.

Stay tuned for the Full Festival Lineup Announcement on September 8, 2020 and single tickets on sale September 10. https://www.ciffcalgary.ca

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About the Calgary International Film Festival, Presented by ATB

Founded in 2000, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is a not-for-profit charitable organization that brings films and filmmakers from around the world to Calgary for its annual Fall festival and year-round programming. CIFF is now the largest event of its kind in Alberta and the sixth largest film festival in Canada, bringing audiences together for remarkable and engaging cinematic experiences. 

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For more information or to book interviews contact:
Nadine bibi, Marketing Director, The Calgary International Film Festival
nadine.bibi@calgaryfilm.com
403.452.4845

About the Calgary International Film Festival

The Calgary International Film Festival (Calgary Film) is a 12-day showcase of up to 200 multi-genre feature and short films from Canada and over 40 other countries. The festival hosts gala events, screenings, special presentations, and a Behind the Screen series that emphasizes unique and exciting ways for filmmakers and fans to interact.

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