What connects New York’s notorious gay leather scene of the 1970s with Calgary’s Central Memorial Park? A surprising history of cruising, violence, and police surveillance.
The Calgary Gay History Project is proud to be a community partner for Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders, screening at the 14th Annual CUFF.Docs Film Festival running Nov. 18-22, 2026.
Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 9:45 PM
Globe Cinema, 617 8 Avenue SW, Calgary
Buy Tickets Here
Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz, the documentary revisits William Friedkin’s controversial 1980 thriller Cruising, starring Al Pacino. Inspired by real murders, the film provoked fierce protests from 2SLGBTQ+ activists who feared its portrayal of gay men would fuel prejudice and violence.
Meanwhile, Calgary had its own troubling cruising history.
On September 22, 1979, 22-year-old Thomas Earl Nash was fatally stabbed near the Memorial Park Library. Subsequent investigations revealed that Nash had been among three straight men harassing gay men cruising in Central Memorial Park. A confrontation escalated into deadly violence. Ironically, the alley where Nash was attacked had recently been illuminated by floodlights installed at police request to discourage homosexual activity.
The incident reveals the complicated realities of Calgary’s gay cruising culture, where public spaces offered opportunities for connection but also exposed men to harassment, violence, and police scrutiny. Like Cruising, Calgary’s story challenges simplistic narratives about victims, perpetrators, sexuality, and violence.
Schwarz, whose acclaimed documentaries include Vito and I Am Divine, explores how sensational crime stories intersect with queer history and representation.
Join us at CUFF.Docs for this provocative exploration of 2SLGBTQ+ history, and support Calgary’s independent film community!
Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders (2026)
85 minutes | Alberta Premiere
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