2024 AIFF Film and Event Updates

REEL EAST COAST Shorts Gala - now screening at 8:00 PM

Please note that the REEL EAST COAST Shorts Gala, formerly scheduled to screen at 7:00 PM, will now screen one hour later, at 8:00 PM. We apologize for any inconvenience.

UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE - Friday screening with Director Matthew Rankin SOLD OUT

No more tickets available for the Friday, Sept. 13, 6:45 PM screening of UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.

For those still looking to purchase a ticket, a limited quantity of rush tickets may be available in person at the Box Office at Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane starting at 6:15 PM on the night of the screening, Friday, September 13. 

We kindly ask ticket holders to arrive early in order to confirm their attendance. AIFF reserves the right to release unfilled seats to screenings 15 minutes prior to the screening start time.

Tickets still available for the Encore Screening on Monday, Sept. 16, 8:00 PM here.

SHOOK - New screening added

Tuesday, Sept. 17, 5:45 PM - Theatre 2

Shook, the debut feature from Mumbai-born/Toronto-based filmmaker Amar Wala, follows MFA-grad Ashish through the liminal space of early adulthood, painting an authentic portrait of the trials one must face to figure out how to be in the world. Gorgeously shot in Scarborough, the film features a breakthrough performance from Saamer Usmani, matched by an ensemble cast that grounds Shook deep in its community. Expanding on Wala's short film of the same name, Shook is a film that pulls no punches about the challenges of family life and city living, and one that's wise enough to offer us new ways of seeing them.

Content advisory: mature themes, sexually suggestive scenes, coarse language

Black Screen Office Roundtable CANCELLED

Previously scheduled for September 17th at the AIFF Offices at 1888 Brunswick Street.

HOW TO BE ALONE short (5 min) - added to HEARTBEATS screening

FREE SCREENING (IN FOCUS Program): Sunday, Sept. 15, 3:00 PM - Theatre 5

ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY - accessible screening

Monday, Sept. 16, 5:15 PM - Theatre 3

Screening with captioning, described video, and ASL interpretation for the film, intro, and Q&A.

Fidelio, a described narration system for the blind and visually impaired created by Doremi Cinema, is available at Cineplex theaters. The system includes a small hand-held unit and plug-in headset. With Fidelio, guests can enjoy described services in any seat. Personal headsets are recommended. 9 units, 5 with headsets, available.

Presented by NS Human Rights Commission

MOTHER TONGUE (LEA TUPU’ANGA) short (17 min) - added to NEVER LOOK AWAY screenings

Thursday, Sept. 12, 7:00 PM - Theatre 7 | Monday, Sept. 16, 4:45 PM - Theatre 6

Opening Night Gala Screening of SHARP CORNER - SOLD OUT

For those still looking to purchase a ticket, a limited quantity of rush tickets may be available in person at the Box Office at Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane starting at 6:30 PM on the night of the screening, Wednesday, September 11. 

We kindly ask ticket holders to arrive early in order to confirm their attendance. AIFF reserves the right to release unfilled seats to screenings 15 minutes prior to the screening start time.

THE APPRENTICE

Sunday, Sept. 15, 9:00 PM - Theatre 4 | Tuesday, Sept. 17, 8:15 PM - Theatre 7 | Wednesday, Sept. 18, 7:30 PM - Theatre 3

The Apprentice is a dive into the underbelly of the American empire. It charts a young Donald Trump's ascent to power in 1970s and '80s New York through a Faustian deal with the influential right-wing lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn. After a hotly anticipated Cannes premiere, the film has since been under threat of a lawsuit from Trump’s team, and there has been much speculation as to whether it would be available at all to North American audiences. So, AIFF is pleased to present the Canadian premiere of the film, and what could become a rare opportunity to see this film in theatres. With bold performances from Sebastian Stan (Avengers: Endgame) and Jeremy Strong (Succession), this controversial new work from director Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider) will have people talking long after election day.

Content advisory: mature themes, coarse language, drug use, sexual content including themes of sexual violence

In Conversation with Matt Rankin 

Park Lane - Theatre 3 

Saturday, Sept. 14, 1:00 - 2:00 PM 

CBC journalist Nicola Seguin sits down for an in-depth conversation with Matt Rankin - one of Canada’s most original filmmakers and director of THE 20TH CENTURY and UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, selected as the Canadian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards and the winner of the Director’s Fortnight program First Audience Award at the Cannes Film Festival. 

$15 tickets or free for Passholder.

*Replaces ‘In Conversation with Chad Michael Murray’

Central Public Library Events moved to Cineplex

Representation in Genre
Was: Saturday September 14, 11AM, Halifax Central Library Room 301
Now: Saturday September 14, 11AM, Cineplex Park Lane Cinema Theatre 2

Artist to Artist
Was: Sunday September 15, 1PM - 2PM, Halifax Central Library Room 301
Now: Sunday September 15, 1PM - 2PM, Cineplex Park Lane Cinema Theatre 2

National Film Board of Canada: Work With Us!
Was: Sunday September 15, 2:15PM - 3PM, Halifax Central Library Room 301
Now: Sunday September 15, 2:15PM - 3PM, Cineplex Park Lane Cinema Theatre 2

CBC: Create With Us!
Was: Sunday September 15, 3:15PM - 4:45PM, Halifax Central Library Room 301
Now: Sunday September 15, 3:15PM - 4:45PM, Cineplex Park Lane Cinema Theatre 2

Creating Sustainable Productions in Atlantic Canada’s Screen Industries  
Was: Monday September 16, 2:30PM - 3:30PM, Halifax Central Library Room 301
Now:  Monday September 16, 2:30PM - 3:30PM,  Cineplex Park Lane Cinema Theatre 2

FREE Family Film Fun
Was: Friday September 13, 2:30PM - 5:30PM,  Halifax Central Library BMO Room
Now: TBC

Added Screenings

JULIE KEEPS QUIET (JULIE ZWIJGT)

Sunday, Sept. 15, 12:00 PM – Theatre 5

As the star player at an elite tennis academy, Julie’s life revolves around the game she loves. But when players are urged to speak up after her coach falls under investigation, she decides to keep quiet. Julie Keeps Quiet is the stunning debut from Leonardo van Dijl, and it homes in on sports-world toxicity with an ace serve’s precision.

BOB TREVINO LIKES IT

Friday, Sept. 13th, 8:15 PM - Theatre 5 | Tuesday, Sept. 17th, 7:45 PM - Theatre 3

While attempting to track down her estranged father, Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira of Euphoria) inadvertently strikes up a correspondence with a different man who shares her father’s name. Tracing the tender journeys of grief and healing through both characters, this emotionally wrenching film—based on a true story—co-stars John Leguizamo as the “other” Bob Trevino and received both the Jury and Audience Award at SXSW Film & TV Festival.