The Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) has announced its 2026 lineup. The festival will show 113 feature and short films at Halifax’s Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane from Sept. 16 to 23. Titles include the noir fever dream “Permanent Damage,” by Seth Smith, the world premiere of “Smash & Grab: The Rebel Lens of Mike Jones,” directed by Justin Simms, and the Cannes’ Palme d’Or winner “Fjord,” directed by Cristian Mungiu. “We are thrilled to continue to bring exciting Atlantic and World Cinema to Halifax for our 46th edition of the Atlantic International Film Festival,” says Lisa Haller, the festival’s director of programming, in a news release. The lineup includes international filmmakers from Haiti to Chad, China and Norway. The AIFF is also hosting Canadian talent, including the national premiere of “The Snake,” directed by Prince Edward Islander Jenna MacMillan. “We’ve curated a program that reflects the extraordinary range of contemporary cinema: films that take risks, challenge perspectives, and remind us why the shared experience of watching a great story on the big screen matters,” says Haller. The festival’s opening night gala takes place Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. with the world premiere of “111 Echoes from Halifax,” a drama rooted in the true story of the Swissair Flight 111 tragedy and its lasting impact on Nova Scotia. The AIFF is set to run documentaries, cartoons, short and feature films along with a series of events, panels and talks. Tickets go on sale Friday at 11 a.m., with more information available about the screenings on the festival’s website. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
