If you’re a fan of movie films, why not plan your next trip around one of the world’s best film festivals? Some offer the chance to mingle with the stars if you can get a ticket, while others are more low-key. Either way, you’ll not only be able to enjoy some outstanding flicks, but you can also spend the rest of the time exploring the area’s highlights.
Cannes Film Festival - Cannes, France
The Cannes Festival is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France that previews new films of all genres from across the globe. This one is invite-only, with limited public access, but even if you can’t get accredited to attend, there are still some ways to enjoy it as a number of the festivities are open to the public, like the nightly screenings on the beach. If you prefer to view newer films, you can obtain tickets to the Critics’ Week and Directors’ Fortnight sections of the festival, which are two parallel sets of screenings that. showcase a number of new features and shorts. Given the massive media exposure, this festival happens to be attended by many Hollywood stars and is a popular venue for film producers to launch their new films and attempt to sell their works to the distributors who come from all corners of the planet.
Sundance Film Festival - Sundance, Utah
This renowned program of the Sundance Institute takes place annually in Utah and is the largest independent film festival in the U.S. It’s held at the Sundance Resort as well as in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as a showcase for new works from American and international independent filmmakers. Of course, this one also attracts a ton of celebrities, as it’s gone from a rather low-profile venue to a media extravaganza for Hollywood’s elite. Although the public is welcome, if you aren’t an insider, tickets can be a bit hard to come by. Your best bet is to be an early bird and register in September for the January festival the following year. Becoming a member of the nonprofit Sundance Institute can help too. While volunteering doesn’t always get you a ticket, the festival requires nearly 2,000 of them, and it will increase your odds of scoring one.
Edinburgh Film Festival - Edinburgh Scotland
The Edinburgh Film Festival is hosted in one of Europe’s most magnificent cities and has been described by film critic Mark Kermode as “like Cannes – only civilized.” Based in the city’s refined Filmhouse cinema, as well as at the Cameo and Cineworld cinemas, it’s become one of the biggest highlights of the year for the European film industry. Stars who’ve walked the red carpet in the past include Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, and Sean Connery. Before they went on to make their first feature films, dozens of notable directors had their early short works premiered in Edinburgh, including George Lucas back in 1967, whose prize-winning “THX-1138-4EB” was said to “rival Kubrick.” There are a number of special sessions, screenings, and masterclasses that can be attended as well, like “The Walking Dead” Masterclass that was featured in 2016.
Amsterdam Film Festival - Amsterdam, Netherlands
There are many reasons to visit the picturesque city of Amsterdam, especially if you’re a history lover or an enthusiast of the arts with countless areas of fascinating world-class museums and galleries. The city also hosts the Amsterdam Film Festival annually in November, capturing the progress and artistry of world cinema. It’s devoted to filmmakers on a “quest for self-expression and communication,” and offers a unique blend of art and expression. The festival honors films from more than 90 nations across the globe, recognizing everything from feature films and short films to documentaries, animal, music videos, student films, screenplays and more.
Berlin Film Festival - Berlin, Germany
The Berlin International Film Festival, or Berlinale as it’s also referred to, is one of the world’s leading film festivals. Taking place in February each year, it’s considered the largest publicly attended film festival worldwide, selling an average of 300,000 tickets annually. As many as 400 films are shown, with about 20 competing for Golden and Silver Bear awards. At high-profile feature film premieres, Hollywood stars and celebrities of all types can be seen walking the red carpet, and the entire city is flooded with members of the film industry. Some say this is the must-attend cinematic event of the year. It’s also one that the average person can actually visit without having any insider connections.
Telluride Film Festival - Telluride, Colorado
The Telluride Film Festival is a non-profit annual celebration that takes place each fall. Ideal for those that want to enjoy breathtaking mountain scenery and great films, it attracts filmmakers, artists and cinema enthusiasts of all types. The four-day event hosted in this small mountain town is ranked among the world’s best and is even considered a major launching bad for the fall season’s films. In addition to new films, there are many eclectic selections with many classic screenings. More than 80 international films are shown, and there are a variety of festivities, discussion panels and artist tributes – very few know what the actual lineup will be as it’s kept a secret until opening day.
Toronto International Film Festival - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
One of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually, the Toronto International Film Festival screens some 300 films from over 70 countries around the world at 28 screens in downtown Toronto venues. Nearly a half-million attend, including more than 5,000 industry professionals. Considered one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the world, some critics have ranked it as second only to Cannes. Taking place in September each year, if you plan to go, get your tickets early.
Venice Film Festival - Venice, Italy
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world, having been founded back in 1932. It’s also considered to be one of the “Big Three” film festivals, along with the Cannes Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival. Held in late August or early September on the island of Lido, screenings are hosted in the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi and other nearby venues. While you’re here, you can not only take in Venice’s legendary sights and enjoy a ride on the picturesque Grand Canal, this is also a celebrity hotspot, with stars like Johnny Depp, Elizabeth Banks, George Clooney and many others attending in droves.
SXSW Film Festival - Austin, Texas
The SXSW Film Conference is a multi-day event held in the Texas capital of Austin in March each year and welcomes filmmakers of all levels as well as the public. There are workshops, panels, mentor sessions with industry leaders and expert filmmakers, and keynote speakers, which have included the likes of Ryan Gosling, Seth MacFarlane, Matthew McConaughey, Tilda Swinton, and a long list of other notables in the past. It’s also served as a starting point for their studio’s comedies, which use the enthusiastic fans as a barometer of how they might play in wide release. Programming includes everything from Headliners and Special Event to Documentary Competition, Festival Favorites, and Short Films. The awards are hosted on the last day of the conference.
Tribeca Film Festival - New York City, New York
Founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, reportedly in response to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the Tribeca neighborhood in New York City’s Lower Manhattan, the Tribeca Film Festival celebrates the city as a major filmmaking center. Its lineup includes an array of independent films, including shorts, narrative features, and documentaries, along with a program of family-friendly films. There are panel discussions with popular entertainment personalities, a music lounge that serves to showcase artists, and plenty of celebrities in attendance, including some of the most elusive types. It’s held annually in April, attracting some three million every year.
