Huge documentary film festival returns to Calgary this fall
The Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) is back for the 14th edition of the fan-favourite documentary film festival, and it’s bringing a massive lineup of works from around Canada and the world to town.
CUFF.Docs is taking over the Globe Cinema from Wednesday, Nov. 18 to Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026.
This year’s festival will showcase 15 features, 17 shorts, and the popular CATVIDEOFEST over five days in downtown Calgary.
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“The recent success of films like You Can See Everything and The History of Concrete (CUFF 2026 Selection) reflects a passionate appetite for documentaries that challenge expectations of the genre,” said CUFF Lead Programmer Brennan Tilley in a statement.
“Since its inception, CUFF.Docs has championed a different kind of documentary filmmaking. We showcase films that push the boundaries of the form through inventive storytelling and unconventional subjects. As interest in these alternative perspectives grows, festivals like CUFF.Docs play an important role in connecting bold filmmakers with engaged audiences.”
Documentary enthusiasts can kick things off with Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney, screening on Wednesday, Nov. 18, as the opening night film.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney / CUFF
“Through Matthew Rankin’s uniquely irreverent lens, a turning point in Canadian political history becomes a hallucinatory vision of how we got to where we are today,” added Tilley. “This examination of an era when progressive traditions still had a place in conservatism feels particularly relevant as we continue to see provincial and federal parties navigate internal divisions.
“We are excited to welcome Rankin to the festival as we highlight how documentary filmmaking can challenge our perspectives and spark dialogue on our past and present.”
CUFF is highlighting Canadian content including Captain Newfoundland, exploring how strange tycoon Geoff Stirling was the first in the world to take his local TV station 24 hours, and More Miles Than Money: The Story Of Jr. Gone Wild, featuring the rise, fall and rise again of an Albertan country punk band
You’ll also want to get your seats for the world premiere of the made-in-Calgary Starry Night, about the artistic and personal triumphs of a remarkable local troupe of performers and their work on a play centred around schizophrenia (which they themselves grapple with), and Turtle Island Rap, a celebration of Indigenous youth culture through the lens of three rappers on the rise.
CUFF.DOCs
There will be nine new Canadian shorts, including three from Alberta filmmakers. Whether you’re into Olympic sports (Concrete Nature), independent bookstores (The Bookstore That Never Sleeps), roller derby (Find Your Pack), and more, there’s something for everyone at CUFF.
Of course, there are lots for cat lovers to look forward to with the return of CUFF.Docs most popular event, CATVIDEOFEST. The screening is back for its fourth year and includes 75 minutes of newly curated cat videos.
Ten per cent of CATVIDEOFEST ticket sales will go to the Meow Foundation, and donations of both cash and pet supplies are also being accepted. There will also be a Meow Foundation market at Globe Cinema on Saturday, Nov. 21, with all proceeds supporting pets in need.
A full lineup of CUFF.docs and tickets can be found online.
CUFF.Docs 2026
When: Wednesday, Nov. 18 to Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026
Time: Various times
Where: Globe Cinema – 617 8th Ave. SW, Calgary
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
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