Calgary Justice Film Festival

#SKODEN 8:30 PM - 10:20 PM | Thursday, November 5, 2026 Upper Barracks | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: The film profiles the late Pernell Bad Arm, an unhoused Kainai Blackfoot man whose photo was circulated online to mock Indigenous peoples. The documentary reclaims his humanity by sharing complex, compassionate stories of his life in Lethbridge. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online.

BREAKPOINT: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE CONSTITUTION EXPRESS 8:45 PM - 11:00 PM | Thursday, November 5, 2026 Burnswest Theatre | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: In 1980, as Canada moved to erase Indigenous rights from its new constitution, thousands of First Nations people boarded trains and traveled nearly 5000 kilometers to Ottawa. Told through the firsthand accounts of three participants in the movement and narrated by Peter Coyote, BreakPoint: The Untold Story of the Constitution Express uncovers the historic grassroots uprising whose legacy continues to shape the fight for Indigenous sovereignty today. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online.

CJFF 2026 Opening Ceremony - Indigenous Lens Join us for the opening of the 21st Calgary Justice Film Festival (CJFF), a special moment honouring Indigenous voices, storytelling, culture, and filmmaking. Gather with community leaders, filmmakers, and other special guests at The Confluence for the launch of a weekend of documentary film, artist exhibits, performances, and important conversations. Thursday, November 5, 2026Doors 5:00pm | Ceremony 5:30pmThe Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary)Free Admission | Registration required PLEASE NOTE: Registration for this CJFF 2026 Opening Ceremony is separate from admission to the festival’s individual film screenings. Separate tickets will be required for each film. Please feel free to browse the CJFF 2026 film lineup HERE and get your tickets to this evening's or other films through out the festival. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk, and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE! BE Early!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films.

NAMESAKE təm kʷaθ nan 6:30 PM - 8:20 PM | Thursday, November 5, 2026 (Time includes a 30 minute community discussion after the film) Burnswest Theatre | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: This film documents an ongoing conversation between the Tla'amin Nation and the city commonly known as Powell River. The city's name honours Israel Wood Powell, a government official whose policies helped establish residential schools, criminalize cultural practices, and remove Tla'amin from its home at tiskʷət. The Tla'amin Nation asks the city to consider changing its name, not to erase history but to build a new future together. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE!

RETURN TO THE FALLS 6:30 PM - 8:10 PM | Thursday, November 5, 2026 (Time includes a 30 minute community discussion after the film) Upper Barracks | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: The harrowing life story of Elder Betty Ross who held the sacred teachings of her father like a torch helping her survive the residential school system. A hybrid of dramatic, cinematic reenactments of Betty's childhood journey of unimaginable hardships and euphoric moments of freedom combined with present day footage of Betty as she returns to the falls for the first time in more than 70 years. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk, and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE!

COHORT ONE 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Friday, November 6, 2026 Upper Barracks | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: Three formerly incarcerated men, transformed through education and restorative justice, journey from prison cells to campus classrooms as they rebuild their lives on the outside while pursuing a college degree. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online.

LOVING KARMA 8:30 PM - 10:25 PM | Saturday, November 7, 2026 (Time includes a 30 minute community discussion after the film) Burnswest Theatre | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: In the remote foothills of the Himalayas, former monk Lobsang Phuntsok has built Jhamtse Gatsal—"The Garden of Love and Compassion"—a community for children who have endured abandonment, neglect, and profound trauma. Once a spiritual teacher in the United States, Lobsang returned to India to create the kind of refuge he never had as a troubled orphan himself. Tashi is the youngest and most volatile arrival. Carrying the pain of an alcoholic father and a fractured early childhood, she pushed against every rule and every adult who tried to help her. Yet Lobsang saw possibility within her turmoil, recognizing the same wounded resilience that once defined him. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk, and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE!

OUTSIDERNESS 12:00 PM - 1:25 PM | Saturday, November 7, 2026 (Time includes a 30 minute community discussion after the film) Upper Barracks | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: The film is a deeply personal exploration by filmmaker Carlo Alcos, a second-generation Filipino-Canadian whose parents immigrated to British Columbia in the early 1970s. Growing up as a brown kid in a predominantly white suburb, Carlo learned to assimilate to fit in. Through his journey, he begins to question what he lost in the process, and what belonging truly means. Blending family archives, present-day reflections, and candid conversations, Outsiderness unpacks the invisible cost of adaptation and the universal search for identity in multicultural Canada. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk, and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE!

PLEIADES 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Saturday, November 7, 2026 (Time includes a 30 minute community discussion after the film) Upper Barracks | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: This portrait documentary narrates the life of a homeless woman in Iran who faces new challenges every day. She has given up drug use for many years, yet her family—especially her daughter—does not accept her, and she searches for a solution to survive her difficult life. Her constant effort to resist and endure becomes a ground for the film to address the broader struggles of women, who grapple with prevailing traditions, domestic and social violence, and the quest to find their maternal role. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk, and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE!

TRANSCONTINENTAL 1:45 PM - 3:35 PM | Saturday, November 7, 2026 (Time includes a 30 minute community discussion after the film) Upper Barracks | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: Caro, an Argentine trans man, migrated to Canada 25 years ago. He never returned. Today, he decides to face his fears and the loss of rights in order to become whole. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk, and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE!

UNANSWERED: A FAILED CALL TO JUSTICE 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM | Saturday, November 7, 2026 (Time includes a 30 minute community discussion after the film) Upper Barracks | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: A documentary that chronicles the fatal shooting of an Edmonton man by police. The film highlights his family's fight for accountability, exposes systemic failures in police oversight, and emphasizes the power of community organizing. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk, and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE!

WE PUSH - FOR A WORLD WITHOUT BARRIERS 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Saturday, November 7, 2026 (Time includes a 30 minute community discussion after the film) Burnswest Theatre | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSIS: Ugandan Alex loses both his legs and dignity while facing a society that stigmatizes disability and offers little support. Through resilience, he turns his personal tragedy into a mission for justice. His journey from outcast to advocate fuels a groundbreaking movement, empowering fellow amputees and their communities, restoring mobility and dignity and fighting for disability rights in East Africa. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk, and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE!

YOUTH IN ACTION: SHORT FILMS BY AND FOR YOUTH 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Saturday, November 7, 2026 (Time includes a 30 minute community discussion after the film) Burnswest Theatre | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland | 750 9 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta FILM SYNOPSES: This screening showcases short documentaries created by participants in CJFF’s Youth Documentary Film Pilot Project. Over the summer, young filmmakers explored justice topics that matter to them, their families, and their communities, learning to research, interview, film, and edit their own stories. Made by youth and full of heart, these films offer fresh, honest perspectives and a hopeful look at the change the next generation wants to see. Individual film titles and synopses will be shared soon. CULTURE IN ACTION: This year marks the inaugural year of CJFF's Culture in Action initiative, filling The Confluence with art and performance for all three days of the festival. We invite you to arrive early and stay late to experience the full CJFF experience that brings justice stories to life. BE EARLY!: CJFF is entirely free, and so we open a few extra spots to make sure our seats are full. Registration does not guarantee a seat, so please arrive early. Seating is first come, first served. Find all films and times here: https://justicefilmfestival.ca/cjff-2026-films. FILM CONTENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Given the nature of documentary film and CJFF's focus on justice and human rights, some films may contain disturbing, challenging, or sensitive content. CJFF films are presented without edits and are intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. USE OF IMAGES ADVISORY: Photographs, video, and recordings will be taken by CJFF and the public throughout this event and published online. OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER: We are so grateful for our partnership with the Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Downtown and the connected Homewood Suites by Hilton Calgary Downtown. If you are coming into Calgary for CJFF 2026, or are planning a fun stay-cation, snooze well at a lovely hotel just a 15 minute walk, and 3 minute drive, from the doors of The Confluence! Room rates are available November 5th to November 8th, 2026. Explore the hotels' wonderful CJFF 2026 discounts by clicking HERE!