The Calgary International Film Festival has unveiled a showcase for cinematic groundbreakers that it hopes will boost its profile when it returns in 2009.

Movie Mavericks will be a festival program that, according to a CIFF release, celebrates filmmakers known for ‘challenging traditional boundaries of technology, business models, fine arts and literature, as well as normative or narrow societal views.’

Organizers cite the likes of Guy Maddin and David Cronenberg alongside international names such as Martin Scorsese and Ang Lee as examples.

The announcement came at a red-carpet event ahead of the close of the 2008 fest (Sept. 19-28), with filmmakers Deepa Mehta (Heaven on Earth) and Michael McGowan (One Week) speaking of being ‘mavericks.’

A cash prize of $25,000 will be given to the winner of a Movie Mavericks award. CIFF also announced a $50,000 scholarship program for up-and-coming filmmakers enrolled in film studies at SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary.

While the new program will represent just one item on the festival menu, organizers say the maverick spirit will extend across all programming. They believe this re-imagining of the festival will ‘significantly enhance and uplevel [Calgary’s] cultural offering and quality of living.’

CIFF is now reaching out to community organizations and corporations to support its Movie Mavericks initiative.