Festival director Brenda Lieberman describes the lineup as a “wild mix” of films, with selections covering a range of genres and topics. Opening night kicks off with The Donn of Tiki, an engaging dive into the story of Donn Beach, a pioneer of tiki bar culture and modern cocktail aesthetics. Fans can get in the spirit at CUFF’s own tiki bar, serving specialty cocktails inspired by Beach’s legacy.

True to its roots, CUFF.Docs will spotlight Alberta filmmakers, including Peter Hays’ Flashback, an exploration of Edmonton’s trailblazing queer disco scene in the 1980s, and Horse Warriors, an APTN series documenting Indigenous Relay Racing by Alberta-based teams. These works, alongside the Canadian premiere of Slice of Life: The American Dream in Former Pizza Huts and other intriguing films, promise to spark conversation and celebrate diverse voices.

For lighter moments, CatVideoFest returns with a fresh slate of feline internet favorites, while cinephiles can enjoy retrospectives like Kung Fu Elliot’s 10th anniversary and Chain Reactions, a deep dive into the cultural impact of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

And a personal RANGE favourite appearing at CUFF.Docs this year is Pavements, a prismatic, narrative, scripted, documentary, musical, metatextual hybrid, that highlights the iconic 90s indie band Pavement. The film is a blend of formats and genres starring Joe Keery, Jason Schwartzman and Tim Heidecker. You can watch a clip here.

Tickets, including individual screenings, festival passes, and discount packs, are available now at calgaryundergroundfilm.org