First things first, you'll have had to have kept your admission ticket. If you don't have an account with our website - Calgary Film.com, sign up for one, it's real quick and once you do you can vote. In order for your vote to count, the ticket stub you got from the venue has a code on it. The filmmakers with the most votes receive a prize courtesy of American Express.
This seems like a good segway to remind you that the festival is also a competition. CIFF presents over 10 awards that are judged by industry professionals - including our newest one, the Mavericks Award. A $25,000 grand prize from American Express awaits the winner and it's been getting buzz around the film community. It's been promoted at many other major festivals and it's shaping up to make a good last few days of the festival.
Another important award is the Citytv Best Canadian Feature Film award up for grabs, criteria for this award is that it must have been submitted by a Canadian. Our friends over at City have been proud supporters of ours, we are glad to have them on board with us and we thank them for their support. Before you head out for the gala's, catch The City Show this weekend on Citytv and they will have a look back at the 2009 Calgary International Film Festival.
Alberta is a hotbed of film activity - thanks in part to Alberta Film, AMPIA and so many other national groups such as NFB and Telefilm Canada. Short Films are being displayed prominently this year as the Closing Gala on Saturday is dedicated to short films, 10 of them - all of which are from Alberta and are up for the Best of Alberta award.
Not to leave anybody out but we also award the Best International Feature. I have my favourite choice for that one but since I'm not on a jury or anything, Peoples Choice here I come!
We also have awards for Best Documentary, Best Short Live Action Film, Best Animated Short Film, Best Documentary Short and the YYC Awards (Youth by Youth Cinema). A big hand to Juan Delgado for helping to coordinate that series. A big thanks to all the jurors for their time and expertise.
Once again, our friends at Bullfrog Power are helping to power the festival! We would like to thank Bullfrog Power for their continuing support. CIFF is proud to go green and if you are receiving the Festival Insider email - as part of being a member of Calgary Film.com, we are showing more ways that the festival has gone green this year.
