2. ïĄ The three most prestigious film festivals are commonly regarded to be that of
Cannes, Berlin and Venice; these festivals are sometimes called the "Big Threeâ.
Polish director Krzysztof KieĆlowski's âThe Three ColorsTrilogyâ were each made
for these festivals; with a colour to help signify the different locations (with Blue
for Venice, White for Berlin, and Red for Cannes).
ïĄ The âToronto International Film Festivalâ is North America's most popular festival.
Time wrote it had "grown from its place as the most influential fall film festival to the
most influential film festival, period.
The âSeattle International Film Festivalâ is credited as being the largest film festival in
America, regularly showing over 400 films in a month across the city. The âSundance
Film Festivalâ, âTribeca Film Festivalâ, âNew York City International Film Festival -
NYCIFF-â, âMontreal World Film Festivalâ and âGimli Film Festivalâ are also major
festivals in North America, as is the âVancouver International Film Festivalâ,
the fifth largest film festival in North America.
4. âą Latin American significance: The âCartagena Film Festivalâ, founded by Victor Nieto in 1960. It
is the oldest film festival in Latin America. The âFestival de Gramadoâ (or Gramado Film Festival)
âGramado, Brazilâ along with the âGuadalajara International Film Festivalâ in Guadalajara,
Mexico are considered to be the most important film festivals of Latin America. It was first
held in 1973, awarding Latin American films. The âHuelva Ibero-American Film Festivalâ has been
held since 1975 in the Spanish city (Huelva Ibero). While the âExpresiĂłn en Corto International
Film Festivalâ is the largest competitive film festival in Mexico, which specializes in emerging
talents, and is held each year during the last week of July in the two colonial cities of San
Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. Among Spanish speaking countries the âDominican
International Film Festivalâ which is held annually in Puerto Plata, DR, the âValdivia International
Film Festivalâ is held annually in the city of Valdivia. It is arguable the most important film
festival in Chile.
âą Animation: Founded in 1960, the âAnnecy International Animated Film Festivalâ is the oldest
international film festival dedicated exclusively to animation. The others are: Zagreb (f. 1972)
Ottawa (f. 1976), Hiroshima (f. 1985), KROK (f. 1989), and Anima Mundi (f. 1992). There are also
a variety of regional festivals in various countries.
âą Asian Film Festival: Most notable amongst the Asian Film Festivals are the âOsian's-Cinefan
Film Festivalâ, which was recently expanded to include Arab Cinema as well, and the âHong
Kong International Film Festivalâ (HKIFF) and âBusan International Film Festivalâ (BIFF).
âą African festivals Significant African festivals based on the continent include the biannual
âPanafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougouâ FESPACO in Burkina Faso, the annual
âDurban International Film Festivalâ which has grown in importance for industry with the
addition of a co-production forum and Talent Campus.
5. ïĄ European festivals The biggest European festival is the âCannes film festivalâ in
France along with Berlin and Venice.
ïĄ Art and Technology: The âPalo Alto International Film Festivalâ, a program of the
Palo Alto Institute, which is the only film festival in the United States to celebrate
the convergence of art and technology, it does this by focusing on the influence
of emerging technologies on cinema.
ïĄ Emerging Filmmakers: The âKahBang Film Festivalâ, part of the âKahBang Music-
Art-Film Festivalâ in Bangor, Maine, is one of the newest film festivals in the
United States to discover and showcase the work from Emerging Filmmakers
throughout the world. Their programming continues to be unique by also
showcasing the best new Comedy features, Music Documentaries, and Maine
made films. Each year they honour one notable actor, actress, or filmmaker with
the "Kevin Norwood Bacon Award for Achievement in Cinema", acknowledging
the success the recipient of the award has achieved in being so closely connected
to Kevin Bacon. One of their films is screened in the KahBang Off Screen
Category, "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" which connects the honoured back to the
man himself.
6. I then decided to have a look at two of the main
independent film festivals, that seemed to
apply themselves with the type of film that my
partner and I had created, this included:
ï§ Zero Film Festival
ï§ Raindance Film Festival
7. Zero Film Festival is the first (and only independent)
film festival exclusive to self-financed filmmakers. It
was founded by Brad Bores, Richard Hooban and
Mallia Sherzai in 2007; the film festival holds annual
festival events in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles,
London and Miami Beach, with the American Buffalo
as the symbol for the festival, which is representing
the independent spirit.
The festival presents feature length narrative and
documentary films, shorts, animations, experiments
and music videos.
Each year the festival features filmmakers and films
from a different conflict region, past countries include
Georgia, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Another
component of the festival is the "made for zero"
series, in which established filmmakers and artists are
asked to create unique works with no budget.
8. The mission statement of the festival
is to provide a platform in key cultural
centres for self-financed films from
the global independent film
community. Zero Film Festival
focuses on community, inclusivity and
a general positive atmosphere.
The festival is typically held in non-
traditional cinema venues such as
warehouses, film studios, art galleries,
museums and open spaces. Often
there is a live music component
coinciding with the film screenings.
9. The origins of the Zero Film Festival emerged from underground screenings
held in downtown Los Angeles for the local DIY film community.
Following positive responses, the festival opened its doors for international
participation.
The first official Zero Film Festival was held at the Flower St. Warehouse in
December 2008. In 2009 they saw the expansion to New York as well as the
first West Coast Tour with screenings in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco,
Hollywood and Orange County.
In the Spring of 2010, Zero Film Festival held its first international screening
at the Cinecycle in Toronto, ON. 2010 Miami Beach was added, holding a
screening at the Raleigh Hotel in conjunction with the Miami Beach
Cinematheque and the French Consulate during the Art Basel Fair.
10. ïĄ Raindance is an independent film festival and film
school that operates from various cities including:
London, New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal,
Budapest, Berlin and Brussels [1]. The festival was
established in 1992 by Elliot Grove to extend the
normal film school activities of Raindance. The
Raindance Film School alumni list includes the notable
names of: Sacha Baron Cohen, David Yates, Edgar
Wright, Matthew Vaughn, Alison Owen, Guy Ritchie, ïĄ Jury members have included Lou Reed, actresses
Ben Miller, Christopher Nolan, Kirk Jones, Mark Judi Dench and Kerry Fox, Tom Waits, Iggy Pop,
Mahon, Emily Lloyd, Vadim Jean, Nick Hornby, Roland Dutch photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn,
Mick Jones of The Clash, Andrea Arnold, Marky
Gift, Julian Fellowes, Paul Brooks, Clive Bradley and Ramone, and American filmmaker Jonathan
Jeremy Bolt. Caouette. Patrons of Raindance include Ewan
ïĄ Awards at the festival include Best International McGregor, Terry Gilliam, Mike Figgis, Ken Loach,
Feature and Short, Best UK Feature and Short, Best and Marky Ramone. The festival attracts key
industry figures including notable appearances by
Documentary Feature, and Best Debut. In its time the Alan Rickman, Mike Figgis, Ken Loach, Don Letts,
festival has premiered The Blair Witch Project, Marky Ramone, Trudie Styler, Vanessa Redgrave,
Capturing the Friedmans, Memento, Oldboy, Firecracker, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mick Jones, Anton Corbijn and
Karosta: Life After the USSR, Girlfriend in a Kimono, Jonny Lee Miller.
ïĄ Elliot Grove is also the founder of the British
Ex_Drummer and War Games: At the End of the Day. Independent Film Awards