Film festivals

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Recount your film festival experiences - as an audience member, participant, or judge, even. And what about film festivals you would love to attend/enter? My top two for this category are the Midnight Sun film festival in Lapland (24 hr sunlight and movies, kayaking and fishing!) and the Taos, New Mexico festival. The winners in the Taos festival are given land in order to encourage a filmmaking community there.

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Monday, 28 April 2003 22:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I've only ever been to the Chicago International Film Festival and sundry smaller festivals in Chicago, but I'm hoping to attend the Giornate del cinema muto ("Days of the silent cinema") in Pordenone in October. Midnight Sun is another one I'd love to attend. I can't imagine the madness that is Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto. . . .

― amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 28 April 2003 22:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Ugh, Montreal's world film festival has gone right down the crapper.

― slutsky (slutsky), Monday, 28 April 2003 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah the glory days of Lifetime Achievement Awards for Sandra Bullock are sadly long gone

― jones (actual), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 01:24 (twenty-two years ago)

That was the best thing ever. The guy who runs the fest is such a charlatan.

― slutsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 04:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Pierce Brosnan won the lifetime achievement award at the last CIFF. I suppose that makes a bit more sense. A bit.

I actually feel for the directors of these less-renowned festivals. They need something to attract media attention and commercial sponsors. Giving awards to popular actors is one way to do this. And for all its problems, I don't think I would have seen The Uncertainty Principle, Unknown Pleasures, My Life as McDull--none of which have been widely distributed in America yet, even if they've been picked up--without the CIFF. I'm very grateful for it. Now if they'd only replace that terrible computer-animated intro (with a voiceover by Ken Nordine). . . .

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I wouldn't feel any pity for Mr. World Montreal guy; the Bullock thing is only a small part of his unpleasantness. Corrupt festival impresarios run this city.

― slutsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 04:24 (twenty-two years ago)

FESPACO is number one on my want list. Ougadougou here I come.

I got a free pass to the otherwise pretty lousy Dublin Film Festival a couple of years ago. I pretended to be a jounro and got invited to all the parties. I can still remember the pissed Cork guy pitching me the worlds first proper Hurling movie (replete with comedy team has one chance at the big shot cliche plot). Fun.

I am generally rather suspicious of film festivals though.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 10:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Pete, are you in Soas now? (Hey neighbour!)

― Nordicskillz (Nordicskillz), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 10:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh yes. I work in SOAS and study at BBK. (A little ILE search would tell you more).

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 29 April 2003 10:56 (twenty-two years ago)

A link to the silents festival at Pordenone. I'm very jealous of the conservator at the Harvard Film Archive, who has this beautiful poster in her office:

http://cinetecadelfriuli.org/gcm/gcm_img/newimgs/cartolina2000.jpg

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I have seen the traveling component of the Ann Arbor Film Festival every year for the last five or six years. It is hit and miss, but I really enjoy the creativity both in writing, and especially in technique (drawing/painting directly on to the film stock, novel use of sound, splicing together of different formats, processing film in the "wrong" chemicals, etc).

I have also been to part of the Portland International Film Festival, which is usually suprisingly good, but always too expensive....and the San Francisco Independent Film Festival which was OK but nothing special.

I'm moving to L.A. so hopefully there will be some unusual/rare film festivals there to partake in.

Though I hate the focus on celebrity, I wouldn't mind going to Sundance or Cannes at least once.

― Ryan McKay (Ryan McKay), Wednesday, 30 April 2003 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

I love the San Sebastián Film Festival, apart from the queueing.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Sunday, 18 May 2003 09:06 (twenty-two years ago)

thirteen years pass...

The recent Murnau thread revive made me realize what I miss most about Bonn - Internationale Stummfilmtage. How did I ever take this for granted.

― Wes Brodicus, Sunday, 13 November 2016 18:39 (nine years ago)

nine years pass...

I love the San Sebastián Film Festival, apart from the queueing.

Noted. Any other recommended festivals in Europe? Have been looking at Lyon which looks pretty amazing, but also huge. Gothenburg also looks pretty dope. Riga too. La Rochelle.

Any tips?

― corrs unplugged, Thursday, 26 March 2026 08:27 (one week ago)

Gothenburg is amazing, absolutely recommended. CPH:DOX is good if you like documentaries. Berlin is a shitshow, but is really good for press. Still won't go anymore.

― Frederik B, Thursday, 26 March 2026 11:37 (one week ago)

thanks! I think I'll try Gothenburg next year

― corrs unplugged, Monday, 30 March 2026 18:50 (five days ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.