What's Happening
The 4th annual Lethbridge International Film Festival (LIFF) runs April 17–20, 2026, spread across three Lethbridge venues: the Galt Museum & Archives (502 1st Street South), The Movie Mill (1710 Mayor Magrath Drive South), and Sterndale Bennett Theatre (1002 4th Avenue South, inside the Yates Memorial Centre downtown).
This year's lineup includes 77 films from 18 countries, 13 local productions, and 54 premieres. Directors, cast, and crew will be attending screenings, with Q&As scheduled throughout the festival.
The Schedule
April 17 — Opening films and gala
April 18–19 — Full days of screenings across all three venues
April 20 — Closing films and party
The opening gala and closing party both feature red carpet, cocktails, and live music. There will also be live scores performed over locally commissioned LIFF works and sharing circles throughout the four days.
Tickets and the full program go on sale March 27 at 5 p.m. at galtmuseum.com. Out-of-town visitors can access discounted hotel rates at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge through the festival.
A Festival That's Grown Fast
LIFF is only in its fourth year, but it's already become one of the more interesting cultural events in southern Alberta. The festival grew out of a decades-old tradition the original Lethbridge International Film Festival Society dates back to 1985 and was relaunched under new organization through the Friends of the Galt Museum & Archives.
The focus is on films from underrepresented voices alongside local Alberta work, screened on the same program as international submissions. This year that means 77 films arriving from 18 countries, with more than half being premieres.
Awards section
LIFF runs the LIFF Legacy Audience Choice Awards, with cash prizes for winning films across categories: Best Feature ($200), Best Short Documentary ($125), Best Short Narrative ($125), Best Short Experimental ($125), and Best Music Video ($125). These are named after the original Lethbridge International Film Festival Society that ran for decades before closing.
Sources: Galt Museum & Archives — LIFF 2026 galtmuseum.com/liff-2026
