CAFF 2025 FILMS

Gülbiye, the only woman in the village farming silkworms for the purpose of producing silk thread, teaches her granddaughter Ada about silkworm farming and the oya rituals through tales, while an oya collector embarks on a journey to discover the story behind one of his favorite oya. The story introduces to us oya's, which were once the voice of oppressed women but later became a source of empowerment by allowing women to achieve economic independence.

Following Tigers Skate Club through their 2024 skateboard season and the eventual lead up to their annual year-end event, The Ambush. To dive deeper into the impacts of Tigers, we will be interviewing the founders, and memers.

Alongside this primary narrative, we will hear personal stories of both young and adult newcomers to skateboarding, telling their individual journeys and development over their skateboarding journey.

Homes on the Range takes you into the wide-open landscapes of Canada to explore the surprising role of beef farmers and ranchers in protecting the vital habitats their cattle share with wildlife. Hear from ranchers, conservationists, and wildlife biologists from across the country as they reveal how cattle don’t just coexist with wildlife — they help them thrive. When it comes to habitat for many species in Canada, home truly is on the range.

A new father turns into a baby.

According to the ancient tradition of Kyrgyz people, two families woo their young children. A few years later, the bride's parents die. The boy's parents try to take their daughter-in-law to the city by force, but she strongly resists. By taking her to the city, they create situations that lead to her being raped, the girl thinks about suicide.

After 25 years, one woman spends $800 dollars on an MRI to uncover the cause of her pain and infertility. The MRI reveals her pelvis is a greeting card for Endometriosis and Adenomyosis. Conception: never a possibility. The uterus: damaged beyond repair.

Endometriosis is frequently under-recognized, misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and often goes untreated for years. Affecting at least 1 in 10 girls, women, transgender, and gender diverse people, Endometriosis still requires an average of 6 to 10 years for proper diagnosis in Canada.

"The Wounds Within: An Endometriosis Story" follows the filmmaker’s journey of attaining diagnosis and treatment after 25 years—a journey that ended with infertility and changed the course of her future. From the first signs that something was wrong, to finally receiving proper surgical care, the film explores the physical and emotional toll and aftermath of a disease that ravages the body and alters life plans.

"I Am Gitxsan" follows Phoenix Apperloo, a recent high school graduate reconnecting with his Indigenous heritage in Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada. Inspired by encounters with residential school survivors, he writes a heartfelt letter to Prime Minister Trudeau about the injustices faced by his people.

The documentary highlights the impact of colonialism on the Gitxsan community, featuring insights from experts like Dr Gabor Maté and showcasing their resilience through protests and legal actions. It culminates with a moving message of hope and determination, emphasizing the power of the Gitxsan people's enduring spirit, the beauties of their culture, and their commitment to future generations.

What little survival knowledge Beth has learned from her outdoorsman husband is put to the test after their car wreck leaves her stranded in a forest full of supernatural entities.

Ever wondered what your dog is dreaming about? Vinnie is a dog who perpetually, indefinitely and unshakeably suffers from bad dreams. He sleeps a lot so the line between reality and fiction often blurs. Join us for chapter one of Vinnie's dark and twisted story that lives only behind his eyes... we think.

The fifth chapter in a six-part visual album by Legacy Music, Queen of the Night is a mesmerizing visualizer music video that captures the enchanting, otherworldly nature of love. Presented through the lens of a sci-fi noir drama, it weaves SCI-FI fantasy and a fast paced tempo, crafting an alluring interpretive piece of passion and mystery.

disABLEd is a compelling documentary about redefining disability through art and storytelling. Led by photographer Lionel Migrino and journalist Sarah Harrower, the film dives into their human experiences and journey. Through Lionel’s stunning portraits, everyone’s narrative unfolds, revealing personal strength, resilience, and a unique window into a more personal world of disability in Calgary. Produced and directed by Paolo Oliveros

A student named Crow, with an innate fascination for crows, has to choose between her love of the birds and potential ridicule from peers.

The Artist: A Creative Journey explores the powerful impact of the creative arts on one's well-being and mental health. Narrated by Andrew Phung, the film stars Juno-nominated artist, Tyler Shaw, muralist, Alixandra Jade, folk singer/songwriter, Martin Kerr, and dancer, Paige Elson, as they share stories of overcoming adversity, finding joy, and creating meaningful connections to the Edmonton, and Calgary, AB., community.

A troubled boy realizes his new home is haunted when two girls break into his house ghost hunting, the apparition however is not at all what the trio expect, and yet, exactly what they need.

"Free Words" follows Pulitzer-winner Mosab Abu Toha, a detained poet from Gaza whose art becomes a powerful voice of resistance and hope amid oppression.

Calvin wants nothing more than to fall in love. However, the one major obstacle standing in his way is his severe allergy to love.

Page is a short, stop-motion animated film that redefines the boundaries of corporate storytelling. The video transports audiences to Calgary’s Central Library where Page, our hero, discovers a magical world exists where books come to life after the Library closes. A small, but mighty, paper doll, Page encounters everything from race cars to owls and a feisty dragon.

A runaway undertakes a visceral journey through various worlds, as they reflect on both their actions and the events that will decide their fate.

A woman walks into a lively bar with her friends, laughing and determined to enjoy a carefree night. As she orders a drink, she suddenly locks eyes with him - the one she thought she left behind. Across the room, he hesitates, then smirks, as if fate had played its hand once again. Despite her friends’ whispered warnings and exchanged glances, the attraction is undeniable. Through stolen glances, playful banter, and slow-burning tension, the two find themselves drawn back together- just like old times. The jukebox plays their song, the neon lights blur, and memories come rushing back. One drink turns into two, a flirtatious dance turns into a deep, knowing gaze, and before they know it, they’re lost in each other again. As the night fades into the early hours, they leave the bar together with the same reckless passion that always brings them back. They know how this ends, but tonight, they don’t care. One last round … or maybe more.

A young Caribbean-Canadian woman enters a jazz club, she sits at the bar and listens to the pianist. The music brings back memories of her father, who was a pianist, and of her visits to his apartment to help him when he was frail. This short music film is based on a piano piece by Montreal-born jazz legend Oscar Peterson.

A hard and fast micro documentary about the power of art and music featuring the legendary Alberta painter Stickman.

A chance meeting at a coffee shop changes the course of Mia and Oliver’s lives forever. At 18 and 19, they abandon their separate plans for the future and forge a new path together. Years later, after five years of marriage, their struggle with infertility begins to weigh on them, especially as their closest friends prepare for their third child. As Mia wrestles with her deep longing for motherhood, she uncovers a painful truth—her desire is rooted in an attempt to rewrite her own troubled relationship with her mother.

A young married couple find themselves drifting apart after they discover the husband's doppelgänger lurking the streets of their neighbourhood.

The emotional journey of an angry young man struggling with his place in society, his sobriety, and the forming of healthy relationships. Presented with moments of his life in three separate vignettes, whether alone or around others, "The Hermit" is a peep hole into Miguel's helplessness, isolation, his way of thinking and its effects on his life and the ones around him.

An uplifting documentary that tells the extraordinary story of the 40,000 young women who volunteered on Canadian farms and helped win the Second World War.

Principles of Resistance: The Gordon Hirabayashi Story explores the life and legacy of Gordon Hirabayashi, an influential civil rights advocate who challenged the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Set against the backdrop of his decades-long career in Edmonton, this short documentary delves into Hirabayashi's enduring commitment to justice, his contributions to human rights, and his role in establishing the sociology department at the University of Alberta. Through interviews, archival footage, and a powerful narrative, the film celebrates a remarkable man whose principles of resistance continue to inspire new generations.

After losing his incredible son, Jesse Short-Gershman, at age 22 to suicide, Dr. Stu Gershman made a decision: to talk openly about mental health in an unlikely place — the locker room.

Through Buddy Check for Jesse, Stu encourages coaches to raise mental health awareness through the power of sport. Today, Jesse's impact stretches across the country, changing the lives of countless young athletes from Victoria to Manitoba and sparking a national dialogue on Hockey Day in Canada.

Separated by war and distance, she holds onto her dreams. A fragile longing for the future.

A short film/ music video, based on a true story: A woman and her young son search for a better life, and end up camped out with their upright grand piano. Filmed at location of actual events.

Kam Theatre Lab explores an experimental theatre collective based in a remote northern town in the 1970s-80s. The group combined clown and mask performance with the social commentary embodied in the back-to-the-land movement. The struggles Kam Theatre Lab faced when balancing the motivations of individual artists, the ideals of the collective, and the attempt to earn a living in a marginal town, led to schisms in the troupe. All the exhilaration and tension that come from close personal and creative relationships—while striving for uncompromising artistic and political vision—were manifest in Kam Theatre Lab.

An affluent young woman becomes fixated on an unhoused man outside her luxury condo.

An isolated Woodsman discovers a calico cat in his forest, leading him to treasures that seduce him into the life that he has always dreamed of.

An isolated Woodsman lives in his forest in peace, he cares nothing for the outside world and keeps to himself in a steady routine. This is interrupted by a Calico Cat, who ushers the Woodsman to follow her deep into the heart of the woods. The Woodsman chases the Cat and stumbles upon a half dead tree in a middle of a clearing, this tree's hollow contains solid gold nuggets. At first the Woodsman thinks nothing of this commodity, however after a nightmare grips him, his identity takes an unexpected turn from which he may never come back.