Alberta talent shines on the big screen at upcoming Calgary Film Festival

Even when you can't recognize the scenery, there will be plenty of Alberta on screen at the upcoming 2017 Calgary International Film Festival.

That's because the festival rolled out a slate of films (and someTV) with Alberta connections on Thursday,which they will screen at the 2017 edition of the Calgary International Film Festival,kicking off Sept. 20.

There will be films directed by Albertans, such as Tragedy Girls, which was also co-written by Albertan Tyler MacIntyre. Some are written by Albertans, such as Buckout Road, by CalgarianMatthew CurrieHolmes, which is actually set in upstate rural New York.

Calgary TV series to be screened

Some are shot in Alberta, such as Tin Star, a British TV series featuringTim Roth that was the first show shot at the Calgary Film Centre. The festival will screen anepisode, as well as featuring the cast and producers ofWynonna Earp, the Calgary-shot sci-fi Western, at a special Showcase Alberta event.

Suck It Up, a road trip comedypartially shot in Calgary and starringEdmonton actors Erin Carter and Grace Glowicki, will be featured at the Closing Night Gala on Sept. 30.A Swingers Weekendfeatures Calgary actor Erin Karplunk, along with Calgary Film Festival alumnus Jonas Chernick, who appeared previously in the filmsMy Awkward Sexual AdventureandHow to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town.Wall, by Calgary director Cam Christensen and British playwright David Hare, will have its world premiere inCalgary.

• 15 Reasons to watch WynonnaEarp

Local productions showcased

Birth of a Family tells of the story of a family of four childrenseparated by residential school who reuniteoutside Banff National Park. Entanglement, from Calgary screenwriter Jason Filiatraut, is a dark comedy thattakes a closer look at one family's deep, dark secrets. Ice Blue is a thriller from Calgary screenwriter Jason Long, who has written three features(Turning Paige, Walk All Over Me and Chokeslam) forCalgary director Robert Cuffley.

Made in Vietnam traces the journey of Vietnamese-Calgarian Thi Vo as he searches for his long lost father, while Everfall, from Calgary director John Kissackis a supernatural thriller that tells the story of a former figure skating phenomenon who must skate for her life. Gregoire from Alberta filmmaker Cody Brown, is a made-in-Fort-McMurray feature that takes a deep dive into the coming of ageoffour young Fort Mac residents.

No Roads In, which will be featured in a special screening Sept. 27 at the National Music Centre, promises to take viewers on a musical journey across Alberta.

• Local director Thi Vo searches for father in Made in Vietnam

"It amazes me how many local productions there are for us to consider,"said Brenda Lieberman, programming manager of the Calgary International Film Festival. "This year the genre diversity stands out, as well as the number of films not only by Albertans who live and work here, but also by those who have moved away, who still have solid roots in Calgary. We're really proud of this year's line up."

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS| Fire bans in effect for southern Alberta this weekend
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS| Video game industry mourns loss of Winnipeg born video game designer Corey Gaspur