The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) showcases amazing new films from both local and international filmmakers, providing a great opportunity for emerging talent to get exposure. We caught up with Calgary filmmaker Benjamin Ross Hayden to discuss his entry into this year’s Fest.
At 23, Hayden is already on his way to having a promising career in the film business. He attended film studies at the University of Calgary and SAIT Polytechnic and divides his time working between union (national) and independent (Calgary-based) cinema projects. Hayden is excited about the current state of film in Alberta, with a burgeoning independent film scene as well as a ‘Hollywood Connection’ – referring to some of the bigger commercial films that use the Alberta foothills as their backdrop. Take for instance Christopher Nolan’s latest project, Interstellar, which has just begun shooting in locations like Nanton and Okotoks. Interstellar is set to be a blockbuster sci-fi movie starring big names like Matthew McConaughey, Michael Caine and Casey Affleck and is sure to draw big crowds.
While there are certainly challenges associated with being a filmmaker in Alberta, Hayden thinks the province is a great place to make movies and spoke of the inspiration that sometimes comes out of being isolated from some of the bigger city centres. The province has this amazingly diverse landscape of skies, rolling hills and mountains, which is so inspirational to the films that are shot here. In many ways the landscape becomes part of the local filmmaker’s identity. Take the hoodoos, for instance, which Hayden called “nature’s tombstone.” These prehistoric rock formations that populate the badlands and appear in so many films have this other-worldliness quality to them and were once used as a setting for vision quests. Originally, local indigenous tribes would use the hoodoos to record their experiences by carving images into the rock walls. In many ways, filmmakers who work in the badlands today are doing the same thing these tribes have been doing for centuries: telling their story.
Hayden wrote, produced and directed the short film Agophobia, which will be playing at CIFF this week. The film wrapped in April of this year and the team spent the summer touring the Cannes film festival and made a few stops at other international film festivals in Mexico City and Monterrey. Agophobia is a trans-human adventure that will appeal to any fans of science fiction. Apparently refurbished computers and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey were big inspirations in the film’s development. The story follows a character known as ‘The Ram’, an avatar who is trying to escape from his digital existence. Agophobia explores our relationship to technology and makes us question the role of humanity in the future. The make-up and costumes are all highly imaginative and were created by Samantha Huskisson, who is a local Calgary artist. To view the trailer for Agophobia, visit the Manifold Picture Company site here.
The CIFF website lists all the show times and information on getting to the venues. Single tickets are $13 and a 10 pack of tickets is $120. To view all films visit, click here. The festival box office will be located at Eau Claire Market and is open from noon to 7pm daily.