The Chilliwack Independent Film Festival (CIFF) has announced the full lineup for its milestone 10th anniversary edition, bringing 110 films from around the world to Chilliwack, British Columbia, from October 21–25, 2026.
The five-day festival will feature an international program of feature films, documentaries and short films, alongside filmmaker Q&As, industry programming, networking events and opportunities for audiences to connect directly with the people behind the films. This year’s edition includes 16 World Premieres and 14 Canadian Premieres.
The festival’s 10th anniversary lineup
OPENING NIGHT: FRASER VALLEY FILMS (Shorts Program)
Wednesday, October 21 — 6:30 PM
6 x World Premieres
CIFF opens its 10th anniversary edition with a special showcase dedicated to filmmakers from the Fraser Valley.
The Opening Night: Fraser Valley Films program brings together a selection of short films from the region, highlighting the filmmakers and stories being created in CIFF’s own backyard.
ONE MORE SONG: A TRACTORGREASE DOCUMENTARY
Thursday, October 22 — 6:00 PM
World Premiere
One More Song: A Tractorgrease Documentary is a Fraser Valley documentary feature examining the story behind Tractorgrease and the people and music surrounding it.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: 10 YEARS OF CIFF (Shorts Program)
Thursday, October 22 — 6:30 PM
2 x World Premieres
To mark a decade of CIFF, the festival looks back through its history with Alumni Spotlight: 10 Years of CIFF, a special short-film program celebrating filmmakers who have been part of the festival’s journey.
WICKER
Thursday, October 22 — 9:00 PM
Fraser Valley Premiere
CIFF’s Thursday night feature presentation is Wicker.
5 MINUTE SHORT FILMS (Shorts Program)
Friday, October 23 — 1:00 PM
BC + Fraser Valley Premieres
A short-film program dedicated to films that prove filmmakers can tell a complete story in five minutes or less.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: BC SPOTLIGHT (Shorts Program)
Friday, October 23 — 3:30 PM
2 x World Premieres, 1 x Canadian Premiere
CIFF shines a spotlight on filmmakers from British Columbia with Double Exposure: BC Spotlight, a curated short-film program showcasing the range of independent filmmaking happening throughout the province.
MIHNEA
Friday, October 23 — 6:00 PM
BC Premiere
A Romanian-Canadian only child navigates his final year of university under the strain of his authoritarian father.
CREEP 2: SPECIAL SCREENING WITH DIRECTOR PATRICK BRICE
Friday, October 23 — 6:30 PM
Secret Location
CIFF will present a special screening of Creep 2 featuring an in-person Q&A with director Patrick Brice.
The screening is part of CIFF’s filmmaker-focused programming and provides festival audiences with an opportunity to hear directly from the filmmaker behind one of independent horror’s most distinctive films.
The screening takes place at a secret location, with details provided to ticket holders.
DATE NIGHT FILMS (Shorts Program)
Friday, October 23 — 8:30 PM
1 x Canadian Premiere
Friday night concludes at the cinema with Date Night Films, a collection of short films selected for an evening of independent storytelling.
NEXT WAVE: FIRST TIME FILMMAKERS (Shorts Program)
Saturday, October 24 — 1:00 PM
2 x World Premieres, 1 x Canadian Premiere
CIFF continues its focus on emerging filmmakers with Next Wave: First Time Filmmakers, a showcase of short films from directors at the beginning of their feature-film journeys.
KEEP THE CAMERA RUNNING (Shorts Program)
Saturday, October 24 — 2:30 PM
1 x World Premiere, 3 x Canadian Premieres
Keep the Camera Running brings together another selection of independent short films.
SEND THE RAIN
Saturday, October 24 — 3:30 PM
Fraser Valley Premiere
The Fraser Valley feature Send the Rain screens Saturday afternoon as part of CIFF’s commitment to showcasing local filmmakers alongside its international program.
DOCUMENTARY FILMS (Shorts Program)
Saturday, October 24 — 5:30 PM
1 x Canada Premiere
A collection of documentary shorts exploring real people, places and stories.
NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE — IN-PERSON Q&A
Saturday, October 24 — 6:00 PM
One of the festival’s major Saturday night events will be a special screening of Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie followed by an in-person Q&A with Jay McCarrol and Jared Raab.
The screening gives CIFF audiences an opportunity to experience the feature on the big screen and hear directly from the filmmakers about bringing the cult comedy series to feature-film form.
HORROR SHORT FILMS (Shorts Program)
Saturday, October 24 — 8:30 PM
1 x World Premiere
CIFF turns the lights down for a late-night selection of Horror Short Films, bringing together independent filmmakers working across horror and genre cinema.
THE DEBUT
Saturday, October 24 — 9:00 PM
Fraser Valley Premiere
Saturday night concludes with The Debut, a feature presentation celebrating new voices in independent filmmaking.
THE PROFESSIONAL
Sunday, October 25 — 12:30 PM
World Premiere
The Fraser Valley feature The Professional screens Sunday afternoon.
STUDENT FILM SHOWCASE (Shorts Program)
Sunday, October 25 — 1:00 PM
1 x World Premiere, 1 x Canadian Premiere
CIFF’s annual Student Film Showcase highlights emerging filmmakers and the next generation of independent cinema.
CANADIAN MADE FILMS (Shorts Program)
Sunday, October 25 — 3:30 PM
BC + Fraser Valley Premieres
The Canadian Made Films program celebrates independent filmmakers from across Canada with a collection of Canadian short films and documentary shorts.
FATHERLAND
Sunday, October 25 — 4:00 PM
Fraser Valley Premiere
Fatherland screens Sunday afternoon as part of CIFF’s feature-film program.
IN ALASKA
Sunday, October 25 — 6:00 PM
Fraser Valley Premiere
In Alaska screens Sunday evening.
THE ASCENT
Sunday, October 25 — 6:30 PM
Canadian Premiere
The Ascent brings documentary filmmaking to the Sunday evening program.
ACADEMY AWARD WINNING FILMS (Shorts Program)
Sunday, October 25 — 9:00 PM
BC Premieres
The festival closes its screening program with Academy Award Winning Films, a special presentation of Oscar-winning short and documentary films.
