Cities/YYC

Chad VanGaalen performing as Black Mold

Calgary International Film Festival
Thurs., Sept. 22, to Sun., Oct. 2
$14 – $233
Various Venues and Online
ciffcalgary.ca

One of our favourite film festivals returns with a packed lineup as CIFF showcases over 200 feature-length and short films in multiple genres with over 20 films from Alberta. You can view in person or online, and there’s a solid slate of music-based films too, including: Buffy Saint-Marie: Carry It On, a Chumbawumba frontman doc I Get Knocked Down, The Return of Tanya Tucker: featuring Brandi Carlyle, a doc on first the Middle Eastern all-female metal band and Sirens and Revival 69: The Concert that Rocked the World that features John and Yoko headlining epic Toronto gig.

Pokaiks Orange Shirt Day Commemoration
Fri., Sept. 30
9:30 am – 2:30 pm
Fort Calgary, 750 9 Ave. SE

CIF Reconciliation Society and others from Indigenous communities host a day to commemorate survivors of residential schools and the Sixties Scoop and to remember the children who were lost. Elders, survivors and activists will speak. There’ll be honour songs, traditional dancing and food too. Organizers encourage families to attend.

Iliza Shlesinger
Sun., Sept. 18, 4 pm and 7 pm
$58 – $185 plus VIP packages
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 1415 14 Ave. NW
jubileeauditorium.com

The red-hot comedian, TV game show host, Netflix sketch comedy star and youngest winner ever of Last Comic Standing will have ’em howling at the Jube.

John Mulaney posing

John Mulaney
Sat., Oct. 15, & Sun., Oct. 16, 8 pm
$71 – $262
Scotiabank Saddledome, 555 Saddledome Rise SE
ticketmaster.ca

One of world’s hottest comedians wryly wrings the comedy from his life, including his ongoing battles with substance abuse. The comic recently masterfully voiced Chip in the hilarious Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers film. Trust us — he’s funny!

Royal Winnipeg Ballet In The Handmaid’s Tale
Wed., Sept. 14 – Sat., Sept. 17
$65 – $190
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 1415 14 Ave. NW
jubileeauditorium.com

As a forced-birth movement gains traction in the U.S. and women’s rights remain under threat, this powerful adaption of Margaret Atwood’s disturbing novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, choregraphed by Lila York, is especially timely. An Alberta Ballet presentation.

Imaginarium
Thurs., Sept. 29 – Thurs., Oct. 6
Free – $20, passes $100 – $600
Various locations
wordfest.com

Multi-venue, multi-day authors and “thinkers” festival offers low-cost readings in Beltline and Victoria Park neighbourhoods. Authors include: Sarah Kendzior (Sat., Oct. 1), Omar El Akkad (Thurs., Sept. 29) and Debra Thompsn (Sun., Oct. 2).