The ABC of film festivals

Who made it to the top 10?

NEW YORK:

With the Sundance Film Festival starting today and the Oscars not too far off, movie buffs have compiled a top 10 list of their favourite film festivals across the globe. 

(with additional information from www.cheapflights.com)

Sundance Film Festival — Utah, US - 1

Sundance Film Festival started out in 1978 as an event designed to attract more film-makers to Utah. Thirty-four years later, Sundance is the largest independent film festival in the US, exhibiting feature-length films, documentaries, shorts, and animation. This year, the festival will run from January 19 to 29.

International Film Festival Rotterdam — the Netherlands - 2

Rotterdam is a modern representation of Dutch culture, and its annual film festival is paving way for all genres of cinema. This year’s event will run from January 25 to February 5 with more than 350,000 viewers are expected to attend.

Cannes International Film Festival — Cannes, France - 3

The highly esteemed Cannes Film Festival sets the trend for up-and-coming cinema every year while boosting the film industry’s calibre worldwide. Cannes is the place for big names in cinema to show their latest work. This year’s festival will run from May 16-27.

Guadalajara Film Festival — Guadalajara, Mexico - 4

Considered the most significant film affair in Latin America, Guadalajara Film Festival is an important cultural event, showcasing Mexican and Latino talent alongside other international works of cinematic art. From March 2-12, over 100,000 film lovers are expected to flood Guadalajara, viewing close to 200 films.

Rooftop Films — New York, US - 5

One popular New York festival is the Rooftop Films which started out in 1997. The festival has matured since then as film screenings on the roof of a newly graduated film student’s apartment has now expanded across Manhattan and Brooklyn. The festival runs annually on weekends from May to September.

Toronto International Film Festival — Toronto, Canada - 6

The Toronto International Film Festival, which premiered in 1976 as an independent film festival, has grown to become one of the most important festivals in North America. Year after year, works from the Toronto festival have gone on to become Academy Award winners. This year, it takes place from September 6 to 16

Venice International Film Festival — Venice, Italy - 7

The Venice Film Festival started in 1932, making it the oldest film festival in the world. Unlike similarly large film festivals, public attendees can purchase passes in advance to the screenings. This year’s festival will run from August 29 till September 8 and screen more than 275 projects.

Hong Kong International Film Festival — Hong Kong - 8

The Hong Kong International Film Festival has become one of the largest in the world and has bridged the gap between Asian cinema and the global film industry. This year’s event will take place from March 21 to April 5, showcasing more than 330 titles from 50 countries to an expected 600,000 viewers.

Berlin International Film Festival- Berlin, Germany - 9

One of the most renowned film festivals in the world, the Berlin International Film Festival (aka Berlinale) combines the glamour of film-making — parties, red carpet, high fashion — with the appreciation of cinematic art in a variety of genres. This year’s festival will kick off on February 9 and last 10 days.

East End Film Festival — East London, UK  - 10

As one of the largest film festivals in London, East End continues to grow in the industry as a high-profile event for film-makers. This coming July 3-8, dozens of venues will open in East London to screen the latest works from both seasoned and up-and-coming film professionals.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2012.