AIFF 2026: 113 films at Cineplex Park Lane

The Atlantic International Film Festival is back in Halifax for its 46th edition, and it's the biggest film festival in Canada east of Montreal. This year it runs from Wednesday, September 16 to Wednesday, September 23, with 113 feature and short films spread across fiction, documentary, drama, animation and experimental cinema. The whole thing takes place at one main venue, Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane at 5657 Spring Garden Road, so you won't be chasing screenings across town.

The opening night gala on Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30 p.m. is the world premiere of 111 ECHOES FROM HALIFAX, a Swiss-Canadian co-production about Swissair Flight 111, with a celebration at Bearly's House of Blues afterwards. The Atlantic Gala on Saturday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m. brings the Canadian premiere of THE SNAKE, the debut from Prince Edward Island director Jenna MacMillan, starring Susan Kent. On Sunday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m., the Reel East Coast Shorts Gala premieres BILLY GAUTHIER: CARVING THE FUTURE and MARGOT, plus the Atlantic Canadian premiere of THE FLAMES OF ME. Beyond the galas, there's BACK IN BLACK with Christopher Walken, JOSEPHINE with Channing Tatum, THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK with John Turturro, and THE STUNT DRIVER with Jay Baruchel. The documentary slate includes CAPTAIN NEWFOUNDLAND, THE ULTRA RUNNER, and Sundance Grand Jury winner TO HOLD A MOUNTAIN, while the shorts program has grown to seven programs and 49 films, with 44% coming from Atlantic Canada. A free screening marks the 40th anniversary of THE ADVENTURE OF FAUSTUS BIDGOOD.

Tickets have been on sale to the general public since August 14, with the physical box office opening on September 14 at 10:00 a.m. A Festival Pass gives you unlimited access to screenings, panels and talks, plus AIFF Online, which streams Atlantic Canada films from Wednesday, September 23 to Sunday, September 27. The Weekender covers all weekend screenings from 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 18, and ticket packs come in groups of 4, 6 and 12 for non-Gala screenings. There's a Family 4 Pack with two general admission and two junior cinephile tickets, and student and senior discounts apply to eligible tickets and passes. All ticket holders get 15% off concessions at Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane, and Festival Pass holders get 15% off at Antojo Tacos + Tequila throughout the festival. The box office runs 10:00 to 17:00 on September 14 and 15, then 10:00 to 22:00 from the 16th to the 23rd.

There's plenty going on off-screen too. AIFF Partners, the international co-production market, runs September 16 to 18. A free panel moderated by the author of the festival's 10-film list lands on Saturday, September 19, and the Docs from the Rock panel profiles Newfoundland's comedy and arts pioneers. The NFB and Telefilm open house is Friday, September 18 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., followed by the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Atlantic Gala party is Saturday night at Stardust, and the AIFF Filmmaker Lab wraps with a free screening of works in progress at Carbon Arc Cinema on Sunday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. The awards ceremony is Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at 'Gus' Garden' of the Museum of Natural History, with the Linda Joy Awards and a new award honouring James MacSwain. The festival closes on Wednesday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m. with HA-CHAN, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY! by Josef Kubota Wladyka.