Well-known Calgary artist featured in CIFF documentary
![Calgary International Film Festival 2023 The Calgary International Film Festival kicked off Thursday night with the premiere screening of Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life.](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2023/9/22/calgary-international-film-festival-2023-1-6573129-1695388201495.jpg)
The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is underway and a documentary from an internationally-recognized local artist is in the spotlight.
The film, Geoff McFetridge: Drawing a Life, premiered at the Eau Claire Market Cinemas Thursday night.
McFetridge, who is known for everything from paintings to drawings to 3D graphics, has had his work have appeared in advertisements, movies and exhibits all over the world.
Dan Covert, the film's director, followed him for four years. He feels it was important to depict how a local artist can have success and bring that back to invest in his community.
"To bring it to his hometown audience is incredible," Covert said. "We sold out the first screening here tonight and we're excited to have another screening on Sunday."
McFetridge said the film is "about creativity."
"It's following my individualistic aspects of my career, but then it's very rooted in (the fact that) I grew up in Calgary," he said.
He said CIFF is a great festival and he's honoured to have been at the forefront.
"Everybody that I've talked to when I've talked about it walk out feeling inspired. That's sort of the ideal."
Mayor Jyoti Gondek says features on Calgarians and Albertans are essential for the province's arts and culture scene.
"The film industry has embraced all that Alberta has to offer. They have allowed us to talk about the things that have been silent for so long and we're finally starting to reveal histories that have been buried and talk about people who are doing such incredible things in the world."
Gondek says the film industry has helped drive Calgary's economy and will continue to do so into the future.
"We just carry forward and do even more great things, appreciating the fact that this industry sees us as a home."
The festival runs until Oct. 1 and more information can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been "successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant."
BREAKING Canadian Olympic Committee removes women soccer team's head coach following drone incident
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman, according to a press release from the organization.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
P.E.I. and New Brunswick among most overworked provinces in Canada, study finds
A study says Prince Edward Island is the second most overworked province in Canada based on average weekly hours worked, while New Brunswick falls in third.
Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have burned in a wildfire.
OPINION Prince Harry: Press intrusion and the family rift explored in new doc
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has once again found himself at the centre of media attention following his recent interview as part of 'Tabloids on Trial,' an ITV documentary on phone hacking and tabloid intrusion.
Tourist suffers 3rd-degree burns to feet after losing flip flops amid soaring temperatures in Death Valley
A tourist was hospitalized after suffering third-degree burns on his feet on Saturday when he lost his flip flops at a national park in California where temperatures soared past 50 C.