THE CHILLIWACK INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL RAISES THE CURTAIN ON ITS
TENTH ANNIVERSARY SEASON STARTING OCTOBER 21ST
Annual Celebration of Independent Cinema Showcases 110 Films, Networking Events,
Mixers and More at Galaxy Cinema, Cowork Chilliwack & The Grand Hall
The film world is set to descends on the Fraser Valley this month as the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival (CIFF)celebrates its tenth anniversary with exclusive movie premieres, industry events and workshops taking place from Oct. 21st to 25th.
The tenth anniversary edition of the CIFF showcases 110 short and feature-length independent films from the Fraser Valley, Canada and around the world including 16 world and 14 Canadian premieres as well as mixers, networking events, Q&As with filmmakers and more at Galaxy Cinemas, The Grand Hall and Cowork Chilliwack.
The five-day festival closes with a gala awards ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 25that The Grand Hall that will also announce the inaugural winners of CIFF’s New Wave Collective — a new feature film grant and mentorship program created by CIFF that is designed to help Canadian filmmakers create micro-budget feature films.
Winners will receive $10K in cash, $10K of in-kind camera equipment provided by Keslow Camera and Sunbelt Rentals; development and production mentorship by industry professionals including industry icon and writer/producer/director Mark Duplass (Baghead, Cyrus, Jeff, Who Lives at Home), director Patrick Brice (Creep) and editor Graham Fortin (Longlegs); meetings with Canadian distributors Elevation Pictures and Game Theory Films; and a pathway towards exhibiting completed films at CIFF’s 11th edition in the fall of 2027.
“Looking back at the past ten years and also looking forward, we’ve got a lot to celebrate,” says CIFF Director and Founder Taras Demian Groves. “CIFF has grown into a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival focused on bringing independent filmmakers and audiences together, and our 10th anniversary year continues that mission while expanding our role in filmmaker development and offering opportunities for attendees to connect directly with the people behind the films.”
Groves also announced that CIFF has partnered with CEPCO and the City of Chilliwack to acquire the lease for a new building to creating an independent cinema called Basement Cinema that offers two small theatres and a hosting/event space in downtown Chilliwack at 9232 Young Road.
“After losing the Cottonwood Cinema, our longtime venue and home for the last nine years, we acquired two projectors, seats and gear via donations and the help of the Chilliwack Foundation, and plan to put this all to good use in this new home,” says Groves. “Basement Cinema will be a creative hub and platform for independent film across BC and Canada that ensures artists from all communities have a place to showcase their work while putting Canadian voices first.”
The Festival’s 10th anniversary lineup includes the following events:
WEDS., OCT. 21ST:
The CIFF opens with a special Fraser Valley Films shorts program at 6:30 p.m. at The Grand Hall dedicated to filmmakers from the Fraser Valley that brings together a selection of short films from the region and highlights the filmmakers and stories being created in CIFF’s own backyard.
THURS., OCT. 22ND:
Three events take centre stage on Day 2 of the event, including the world premiere of One More Song: A Tractorgrease Documentary examining the story behind Tractorgrease and the people and music surrounding it at 6 p.m. at the Cultural Centre; an Alumni Spotlight: 10 Years of CIFF Shorts Program that looks back through the history of the CIFF with a special short-film program celebrating filmmakers who have been part of the festival’s journey at 6:30 p.m., and the Fraser Valley premiere of Wicker at 9 p.m. at Galaxy Cinemas.
FRI., OCT. 23RD:
The third day of the festival begins at 11 a.m. with the BC premiere of the Sundance-winning documentary Jane Elliott Against the World at Galaxy Cinemas; and continues at 1 p.m. with two shorts programs premieres: the BC premiere of 5 Minute Short Films, a short-film program dedicated to films that show filmmakers can tell a complete story in five minutes or less, and Double Exposure: BC Spotlight at 3:30 p.m. showcasing a curated short-film program that shines a spotlight on independent filmmakers from BC and features two world and one Canadian premieres. Both events take place at Galaxy Cinemas.
At 6 p.m. at Galaxy Cinemas, festival goers can view the BC Premiere of Minhea, which tells the story of a Romanian-Canadian only child navigating his final year of university under the strain of an authoritarian father; while at 6:30 p.m., the festival will host a special screening of independent horror film Creep 2with director Patrick Brice at a secret location with details provided to ticket holders prior to the event; and at 8:30 p.m. at Galaxy, the evening closes with the shorts program Date Night Films, a collection of short films selected for an evening of independent storytelling that features one Canadian premiere.
SAT., OCT. 24TH:
The fourth day of the festival on Sat. Oct. 24th at Galaxy Cinemasfeatures:
- Next Wave: First Time Filmmakers (shorts program) — CIFF continues its focus on emerging filmmakers with this showcase of short films from directors at the beginning of their feature-film journeys including two world premieres and one Canadian premiere at 1 p.m.;
- Keep the Camera Running (shorts program) — this event brings together another selection of independent short films at 2:30 p.m. and showcases one world premiere and three Canadian premieres;
- Send The Rain — the Fraser Valley premiere of this film at 3:30 p.m. continues CIFF’s commitment to showcasing local filmmakers;
- Documentary Films (shorts program) — a collection of documentary shorts exploring real people, places and stories including one Canadian premiere at 5:30 p.m.;
- Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie In-Person Q&A — one of the highlights of the Saturday schedule is a special screening of Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie followed by an in-person Q&A with Jay McCarrol and Jared Raab at 6 p.m. that gives the CIFF audience an opportunity to experience the movie on the big screen and hear directly from the filmmakers about bringing the cult comedy series to feature-film form;
- Horror Short Films — CIFF turns the lights down at 8:30 p.m. for a late-night selection of horror short films that brings together independent filmmakers working across horror and genre cinema and includes a world premiere;
- The Debut — the Saturday evening slate closes at 9 p.m. with the Fraser Valley premiere of this presentation that celebrates new voices in independent cinema.
SUN., OCT. 25TH
The final day of the festival concludes at Galaxy Cinemas with:
- The Professional — the world premiere of this Fraser Valley feature film takes place at 12:30 p.m.;
- Student Film Showcase (shorts program) — CIFF’s annual showcase that highlights emerging filmmakers and the next generation of independent cinema including one world premiere and one Canadian premiere at 1 p.m.;
- Canadian Made Films (shorts program) — this shorts program celebrates independent filmmakers from across the country via a collection of Canadian short films and documentary shorts that includes BC and Fraser Valley premieres at 3:30 p.m.;
- Fatherland — this Fraser Valley premiere screens at 4 p.m.;
- In Alaska — this Canadian premiere and closing BC film screens at 6 p.m.;
- The Ascent — this Canadian documentary premiere shows at 6:30 p.m.;
- Paper Tiger — this closing feature screens at 8:30 p.m.;
- Academy Award Winning Films (shorts program) — the final curtain drops on the tenth anniversary of the CIFF with this special presentation of Oscar-winning short and documentary films that includes BC premieres at 9 p.m.
The curtain will fall on the 10th annual CIFF with a gala Award Ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Grand Hall, where CIFF will recognize filmmakers from more than 15 categories including Best of the Fest, Best Feature Film, Best Live Action Short, Best Director, Best of BC and more.
All-access passes to the 2026 CIFF are $79.99 with tickets to individual screenings, mixers and industry networking events also available at ciff.ca while supplies last.
For more information on the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival, visit ciff.ca, get information on upcoming events at @
ABOUT THE CHILLIWACK INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
Chilliwack is more than just a place on the map — it’s a destination where nature’s beauty and community spirit come together in perfect harmony. Nestled in the eastern Fraser Valley, Chilliwack offers a landscape shaped by majestic mountains, fertile farmland, and mighty lakes and rivers. Its community is rooted in a deep respect for the land, guided by the traditions and wisdom of the Stó:lō people, who have lived in harmony with this region since time immemorial. This connection to the rivers, forests, and valleys shapes not only the environment but the community’s way of life. From outdoor adventures like hiking, fishing, and paddling to local farms offering the freshest bounty of the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack has something for everyone. It is a city where pathways less traveled lead to extraordinary discoveries—a place where moments of peace and adventure meet, and where the beauty of the landscape nourishes both body and soul.
