Film festival offers more than just movies this weekend

By Lethbridge Herald on April 11, 2025.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman LIFF director Tess Mitchell and CEO, executive director Sarah Newstead are ready to welcome visitors to the Lethbridge Independent Film Festival throughout the weekend.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Independent Film Festival is ready to showcase exclusive film premieres, with activities such as Q&As with directors and actors, live scores performed over classic silent films, immersive virtual reality experiences and a vibrant gala throughout the weekend. 

The festival celebrates the powerful impact of cinema by highlighting films and voices from marginalized communities. The festival kicks off tonight with a gala at the Galt Museum and Archives, where those in attendance will have a chance to walk a red carpet and network with others. 

LIFF 2025 festival director Tess Mitchell says the festival will feature four screening areas spread over three days.

“We have 44 transformative films this year, including 39 premieres, 15 countries from every corner of the world, and lots of lovely, amazing local productions to support the local film industry. We have 13 productions from right here at home,” says Mitchell. 

Countries represented include Germany, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Nigeria, Turkey, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Palestine, United States, Northern Ireland, Japan, and Iceland. 

Mitchell says the films made in languages other than English will have English subtitles, and closed captioning is available for those who need it. 

One of this year’s standout offerings is the 20-minute short “This Is Not a Ceremony,” directed by Colin Van Loon, presented as a Virtual Reality experience. Thanks to a unique collaboration with the University of Lethbridge’s New Media department, this installation provides hands-on learning opportunities for undergraduate students while offering a vivid, immersive experience for the broader community, bridging technology, and storytelling in a powerful way.

Mitchell says she feels honoured to be the person who brings all the films and everyone involved in them together, to be showcased right here in Lethbridge. Not only because it celebrates the film industry, but also because it provides an opportunity for people from around the world to experience Lethbridge and everything the city has to offer. 

In terms of the films showcased, Mitchell said there is so many genres included, everyone is bound to find something they like. 

“We have something for everybody,” she says. “We have family films, thrillers, documentaries, hard hitting pieces and playful pieces, big Hollywood productions and local short films, we have all genres in the festival. So, whatever everybody’s taste is, there will be something for them.”

Sarah Newstead, CEO and executive director of the Galt Museum and Archives, says it’s important for the Galt Museum, as they are interested in nurturing the creative community in Lethbridge. 

“One of the things that the Film Festival does really well is it gives an audience and a platform for local film makers to interact and have their films seen by a broad range of people,” says Newstead. 

Another important piece for the Galt is being able to provide an opportunity for visitors and members of the community that have not visited the museum before, to attend, take part of the film festival and visit the exhibits.

“We’re hoping that we’re going to be able to get a number of folks who want to visit the museum, who maybe never been here before, so again broadening our audience through film which is really neat,” she says.

The opening gala will take place at the Galt Museum from 7 – 11 p.m. 

The festival continues Saturday from 1 to 11 p.m. and closes on Sunday at the Movie Mill from 10:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. 

Closing the weekend at the Movie Mill is “The Outrun” starring Saoirse Ronan, an emotionally charged film driven by a pounding soundtrack, hallucinatory visuals, and a dynamic storyline. Based on Amy Liptrot’s memoir, it follows Rona’s journey of recovery from alcoholism as she returns to her childhood home in the Orkney Islands after a decade in London. Ronan’s captivating, cathartic performance offers redemption in this masterpiece of sight and sound.

Entrance to the film festival is by donation. 

“We are keeping it by donation because we want to ensure that the Film Festival is accessible to everyone,” says Newstead. 

Organizers were thinking about changing it to an entrance fee last year, but they received so many donations, and so many were able to attend without a set price, that they decided to continue with the entrance by donation model this year.