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Lights, camera, action! The ��֦��Ƶ will take centre stage at this year’s ��֦��Ƶ International Film Festival (CIFF), running Sept. 18 to 28.

Through a partnership that blends sustainability, storytelling and alumni engagement, U��֦��Ƶ is supporting CIFF as both a cultural celebration and a unique learning opportunity for students, creating experiences that reach far beyond campus.

CIFF as a sustainability learning lab

���䲹����������’s involvement begins even before a single frame hits the screen. For the first time, the Office of Signature Learning Experiences’ (OSLE) Campus as a Learning Lab initiative embedded a student-led research project directly into CIFF operations.

Over a 10-week period, fourth-year natural sciences student Ocean Andersen has been studying CIFF’s environmental performance, gathering data and building a baseline ahead of the festival. During the 11-day event, Andersen is continuing that work inside the venues, conducting on-site audits to document sustainability practices and audience behaviour.

The research project emphasizes four key themes: 

• waste management
• food-service sustainability
• transportation emissions
• public engagement in sustainable practices

By addressing these areas of focus, Andersen aims to help CIFF build a framework of accountability, ongoing improvement, and commitment to sustainable event management.

The project will provide CIFF with a written report offering tangible strategies to reduce its environmental footprint for future festivals, while giving Andersen real-world experience in sustainability consulting.

In a joint statement, project supervisors Drs. Getachew Assefa, and Marwa Hannouf, all PhD, shared:

“Evaluating the sustainability performance of a major cultural event like CIFF highlights how festivals can take steps to reduce their environmental footprint. The lessons learned through this process strengthen CIFF’s own path toward improvement while offering a model that other events in our community can adapt and build upon." 

Climate conversations on the screen

���䲹����������’s Mobilizing Alberta initiative, led by the Office of Institutional Commitments (OIC) and focused on generating climate change awareness within the province, is sponsoring the . The award-winning documentary explores the impacts of rising sea levels on families in Louisiana.

“We are delighted to sponsor the North American premiere of Lowland Kids,” says Alana-Dawn Eirikson, MSW’18, coordinator of sustainability partnerships and events with OIC. “We are hopeful that the documentary will inspire viewers to consider how climate change has impacted, and will continue to impact, our home province and how they can take climate action.” 

To broaden access to the film, showing Sept. 20 at Contemporary ��֦��Ƶ Dome and Sept. 26 at Scotiabank Theatre Chinook, Mobilizing Alberta is giving away four tickets and providing the first 100 participants with a discount code to Lowland Kids screenings. Winners will be announced on Sept. 18, and you can enter .

As part of the initiative’s efforts to build climate literacy, Mobilizing Alberta is also offering a free e-course to help Albertans prepare for climate change. Learn more about the course.

A love letter to the Saddledome

The festival will host the world premiere of DOME: a short film directed by U��֦��Ƶ alum Mave Ky, BA’21. The film reflects on the ��֦��Ƶ Flames hockey team and the demolition of their iconic arena, the Saddledome, through the eyes of an immigrant family who settled in ��֦��Ƶ 28 years ago.

"DOME is a love letter to the spirit of hockey and the spirit of immigrants,” says Ky. “The intersection of the two is what makes ��֦��Ƶ home to me. The film belongs to be seen in front of a hometown crowd — I’m very excited for the premiere.”  

DOME will be unveiled Sept. 21 at Globe Cinema.

Alumni and student involvement off the screen

is sponsoring a panel discussion during the festival's Industry Week, Hone Your Documentary Pitch, on Sept. 21. The event will feature alum and documentary director Dominique Keller, BSc’00, alongside other filmmakers and producers, and will explore how to craft a compelling story that resonates with funders and potential audiences. Find out more about the session .

CIFF 2025 will also shine a spotlight on ���䲹����������’s alumni community through an engagement booth at the Scotiabank Theatre Chinook on Sept. 26 from 2 to 5 p.m., offering information about alumni programs and prizes for attendees that stop by and check in.

Similarly, the Faculty of Arts’ Department of Communication, Media & Film (CMF) will participate in the CIFF Career Fair on Sept. 27 at Chinook Centre, with an exhibition booth where prospective students can learn more about ���䲹����������’s film-related programs.

As part of the collaboration with CIFF, 24 student industry passes will be provided to CMF students, offering access to industry professionals and networking opportunities to help bridge classroom learning with real-world experience in the film sector.

“This year, we are thrilled to engage and support U��֦��Ƶ alumni, film studies students and the Mobilizing Alberta team,” says Lucia Juliao, CIFF partnerships director. “We are pleased to expand our collaboration with the ��֦��Ƶ, and we look forward to continue growing this partnership in the future.”

To get tickets to CIFF 2025 and access the full schedule to the event, visit