Top Five Film Festivals in the World

Cannes Film Festival:

Cannes Film Festival, also known as Festival de Cannes, is the film festival held annually (usually in May) in Cannes, France. Known as the biggest rendezvous for movie buffs, the Cannes provides the stage to preview films and documentaries of all genres across the World. Cannes is known to be one of the ‘Big Three’ major European Film Festivals and one among the ‘Big Five’ major International Film Festivals. It was first held in 1946 and is an invitation-only entry film festival. With its massive fame among the public, it has become a place for producers, filmmakers, and stars to gather, exchange ideas, and sign contracts for new projects. Some of the noteworthy movies in Cannes this year are Top Gun: Maverick, Elvis, Corsage, Aftersun, Close, Decision to Leave, Crimes of the Future, and One Fine Morning.

Sundance Film Festival:

Sundance Film Festival, also known as the Utah Film Festival, is one of the ‘Big Five’ International Film Festivals. It is also considered the most prominent independent Film Festival in the US and is organized by the Sundance Institute annually (usually in January). It was first held in 1978 and is generally conducted in Salt Lake City, Park City, and the Sundance Resort in Utah. The festival has competitive sections for American and International Films and is a quintessential gathering place for filmmakers and audiences alike. Sundance Film Festival is open to anyone, and you can also avail the chance to volunteer for the festival. The upcoming Sundance Festival is set to take place from January 19-29, 2023.

Toronto International Film Festival:

Toronto International Film Festival was founded in 1976 and is unarguably the largest publicly attended film festival in the World and is held in TIFF Bell Lightbox in downtown Toronto. TIFF is a rendezvous for movie lovers across the World that can last up to 11 days of festivities, usually taking place during September. Many iconic personalities across the World agree that TIFF is second only to Cannes and is the most influential Film festival in the World. The festival’s most famous award is the ‘People’s Choice Award,’ based on audience votes and serves as the pre-indicator of success during the Oscar Awards. The mission of TIFF is to “Transform the way people see the world through Film.”

Venice Film Festival:

Venice Film Festival is the World’s oldest film festival and is held annually in Venice, Italy, usually in August or September. It was first held in 1932 and is an official part of the Venice Biennale, an art exhibition conducted by the Venice City Council. The Venice International Film Festival is usually held on the scenic island of Lido in Venice Lagoon, and film screenings are done in the main headquarters of Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi.

Berlin Film Festival:

Berlin International Film Festival, also commonly known as the Berlin Film Festival, is held annually during the month of February in Berlin, Germany. It was first held in 1978 and is one of the biggest three film festivals in Europe. While Cannes Film Festival is reserved for the stars and is an invitation-only entry, Berlin Film Festival has one of the largest public attendances in Europe. The most popular awards given by the festival are Golden Bear and Silver Bear awards.