2006 Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) may boast of a varied fare—from Pedro Almovodar's Volver and Half-Nelson, with Ryan Gosling to Journals of Knud Rasmussen - but If you're sitting at home during the Calgary International Film Festival, bemoaning the thought that you'll have to wait until some of the year's most stimulating films hit theatres weeks or months from now, don't panic.

Although the deadline for passes and coupon books has passed and individual screening tickets went on sale yesterday, you haven't missed the CIFF boat. Just take a few deep breaths — and get in line.

The Galas

The Journals of Knud Rasmussen :: Lights Gala :: Alberta Premiere
Canada, Denmark, 2006, 115 min.
Acclaimed filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk return to the screen with The Journals of Knud Rasmussen - which he co-directed with his long-time collaborator, the cinematographer Norman Cohn - is a poetic, elliptical account of the first contact between European explorers and the Inuit. Quite likely the first feature film depiction of this encounter from the Inuit perspective, the film is not only a startling work of art but a cultural and historical event.

Comeback Season :: Camera Gala :: Alberta Premiere
Canada, 2006, 99 min.
A cheating husband and an injured high school football star try to make the most of second chances in Bruce McCulloch's (Kids in the Hall) marital comedy. Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Narc) stars as Walter Pearce, whose confession to infidelity gets him kicked out of his house. Embittered, Ray’s wife rallies her daughters around her, destroys Walter’s possessions and empties the joint-accounts.

The Last Door :: Action Gala :: Western Canadian
Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, 2004, 93 min.
PremiereAfter directing numerous TV episodes and movies, Graham Theakston presents his first feature length motion picture. Andy Garcia (Twisted, Ocean’s Twelve), Frances O’Connor (Windtalkers, AI: Artificial Intelligence), and Angela Basset (Akeelah and the Bee, Mr. 3000) star in this psychological drama which prominently features scenes shot in Alberta.

Volver :: Wrap Gala :: Alberta Premiere
Spain, 2006, 120 min.
For his 16th feature length film, acclaimed director Pedro Almodóvar (Bad Education, Talk to Her) brings together a stellar female ensemble that shared the award for Best Actress at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Penélope Cruz (Sahara, Vanilla Sky, Blow) as a humble cleaner working at the Madrid airport to support her teenage daughter Paula (Yohana Cobo) and her unemployed, alcoholic husband Paco (Antonio de la Torre), who may or may not be Paula’s father.

Snow Cake :: Wrap Gala :: Alberta Premiere
Canada, United Kingdom, 2006, 112 min.
This touching and poignant drama by British director Marc Evans explores the healing power of unexpected friendship. Alan Rickman (Harry Potter,...

Hot Tamale :: Wrap Gala :: Albertan Premiere
United States, 2005, 98 min.
Directed by Michael Damien (The Young and Restless) this hot, independent film boasts a young, all-star cast in a wild maze of psychotic hit men, racy women, jewel thieves and a salsa band.

The Hamster Cage :: Wrap Gala :: Alberta Premiere
Canada, 2005, 92 min.
Lucy and Paul return to their childhood home for a family dinner to honour their father’s upcoming Nobel Prize in physics. It should have been a nice family dinner, until Uncle Stanley arrives with an armful of presents and a "distastefully young" fiancée named Candy.