Calgary Underground Film Festival (CUFF) presents Crime Wave

Globe Cinema

Calgary

April 16, 2025

7:00 PM

$0.00

English

The Calgary Underground Film Festival is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the postmodern cult classic Crime Wave, featuring a special post-screening Q&A with the film’s writer-director John Paisz.

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Film Playing

Crime Wave

Director John Paizs

Run Time 80min

Genre Comedy, Drama

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Summary

One of the quirkiest and funniest films ever made in Canada, Crime Wave follows neophyte screenwriter Steven Penny (Paizs), a strangely silent young man who aspires to make the best "colour crime films" imaginable. But Steven has one major problem: He's only good at writing the beginnings and endings of movies. With the help of a young neighbour (Kovacs) and the mysterious "Dr. Jolly," Steven struggles to beat his writer's block.

Set in a 1950s fantasy world, this wryly humorous combination of post-modernism, surrealism and genuine affection for old Hollywood films is irresistible for anyone who likes unusual movies with an inventive take on storytelling.

Cast John Paizs, Eva Kovacs, Darrell Baran

Ratings by Province or Territory

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British Columbia

Manitoba

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Yukon

Guest

John Paizs

Show Bio

Since filming the widely-praised Crime Wave in his native Winnipeg, Paizs has directed Top of the Food Chain and Marker, and has worked on such TV series as Kids in the Hall, The Adventures of Shirley Holmes and John Woo’s Once a Thief. He is currently writing and illustrating a graphic novel and working as the director in residence at the Canadian Film Centre.

Event Primary Language

English

Event Details

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Address

Globe Cinema, 617 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB, T2P 1H1
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