Red Deer Polytechnic student films reach Edmonton International Film Festival
Published 2:43 pm Friday, September 18, 2026
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Films by three Red Deer Polytechnic students will hit the screen at the 40th Edmonton International Film Festival, that runs from Sept. 24 to Oct. 3.
The 2026 Edmonton International Film Festival will include more than 160 films from over 40 countries. Award winners will be announced by October 1.
Everything I Know, by Brendan Shaw, fourth-year Bachelor of Applied Arts in Film Production student, takes the viewer on an emotional journey, highlighting how the support and mentorship from family members can help individuals navigate life’s challenges.
“My film is about a young boy receiving advice from his grandfather who helps him stand up to bullies. Several people had emotional reactions when watching the film, thinking about their own relationships, especially with their grandfathers,” Shaw said.
“My hope is that audiences are able to sink into the film and really feel the sincerity behind the story that was so carefully crafted by an incredible cast and crew,” Shaw added.
The Black Square, by Luke Cloarec and Emma Ljunggren, who are also fourth-year Bachelor of Applied Arts in Film Production students, is about a grieving father who is trying to understand the changing world around him.
“I hope the viewers take away the heartfelt nature of this film that is enveloped in a sci-fi/horror world, the relationships between the characters and a meaningful message of dealing with emotions,” Ljunggren said.
Cloarec said he appreciates the sense of community within RDP’s Film Production program, including the support provided by instructors. Even though The Black Square was filmed an hour and a half from Red Deer, several of Cloarec and Ljunggren’s peers and the cast were eager to contribute to their creative venture.
“With the help of our professors and their networking, we were also able to lock down what seemed like an impossible cast to assemble,” said Cloarec, adding they received very helpful feedback from them at all stages of the film.
In 2025, Cloarec and Ljunggren, along with Shaw, won the Fil Fraser Best Student Production award for their short film Specular, marking the third consecutive year that RDP students have been recognized by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA).
Cloarec is also involved in two of the four RDP films that have been nominated for the 2026 Fil Fraser Best Student Production award. In addition to The Black Square being recognized by AMPIA, Cloarec’s Menagerie, which was co-produced by Ljunggren and Shaw, has also been nominated for the organization’s 52nd Rosie Awards, which will take place on Nov. 7 in Calgary.
Shaw, who plans to pursue a Master of Fine Arts and a career as an independent filmmaker, said he is grateful for the opportunities at RDP to advance his film knowledge and skills.
“RDP has given me the foundation for my film career, offering four years of creative space to learn and grow alongside incredible, like-minded filmmakers. I still have a lot of learning and growing to do, but RDP has served as the perfect launching pad. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
For information about RDP’s programming, visit: rdpolytech.ca/programs.