On Thursday, October 1 artsScene Calgary is presenting Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench at the Calgary International Film Festival and hosting an after party with live jazz at Beat Niq Jazz and Social Club.  Tickets to the film, Beat Niq after party and a free Wild Rose beer are $20. Buy tickets here.  Director Damien Chazelle will be in attendance.  artsScene Calgary is only selling 50 tickets to the event so purchase your ticket quickly.  If you have a film festival pass tickets to the after party are $10 and available at the door.  Film starts at 7:15 p.m. at Eau Claire Cinema and the after party will start at 9:30 with Al Muirhead and guests taking the stage.

On Oct. 1 Calgary International Film Festival will be screening Damien Chazelle’s directorial debut Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench at Eau Claire Cinema at 7:15 p.m.   artsScene Calgary is supporting the screening by buying 50 tickets and then holding a post-screening party at Beat Niq Jazz Club.   Beat Niq is going through some financial problems at the moment and needs the public’s support.  For $20 you’ll get a ticket to the film, entrance into Beat Niq and a free beer courtesy of Wildrose Brewery.  Musicians are being lined up for the evening now and more details are to follow.  Tickets will go on sale the first week of September.

WordFest is bringing in some literary luminaries this year to bookend their 14th annual festival.  Booker Prize winning writer Margaret Atwood along with bestselling authors John Irving and Douglas Coupland will read from their recent novels.  For more info go to the WordFest website.  And go and pick up a good book from your local used bookstore.

Calgary Arts Development is bringing Pecha Kucha Night to Calgary on September 14 at Theatre Junction.  An impressive list of speakers will discuss design and architecture with a focus on creative space in our city.  Tickets are $10 and available at the door.   6:30 – 9:30.  Be there.

Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club will be forced to close their doors unless they raise the necessary funds to pay off mounting debt.  A Calgary institution for over twelve years Beat Niq has fostered and supported countless musicians since the club’s inception.  In a last ditch attempt to remain open Beat Niq will be holding a membership drive on Sept. 10,11 and 12.  For more information visit the Save Beat Niq Facebook page.

The Calgary International Film Festival released its 2009 schedule online this week. The 10th anniversary edition of the festival looks like it could be the best yet. Some of the initial highlights include: The Damned United, written by Peter Morgan who penned The Queen and Frost/Nixon, Trick ‘r Treat, directed by The Usual Suspects’ Bryan Singer and the 2009 Palme d’OR winner White Ribbon directed by the always provocative Michael Haneke.

The Second Annual Spaghetti Western Festival takes place August 22nd 2009. 3pm-10pm Olympic Plaza, 9pm-2am Legion #1 and The Palomino.  Tickets: Olympic Plaza FREE, Legion #1 $15.

We’ve just set up a new group on LinkedIn to connect the artsScene network of young creative and business professionals across Edmonton and Calgary. It’s free to join if you’ve already got a LinkedIn account, so check it out today!