Complete List of 1000+ International Film Festivals

There is no better way for any movie-goer to stay in the loop on the newest trends and best movies than to attend annual film festivals.

If you're looking to navigate the top international film festival landscape, you've come to the right place - this is the most comprehensive list out there.

What are film festivals?

In short, a film festival is an annual gathering meant to evaluate new or exceptional motion pictures. The festivals allow filmmakers, distributors, critics, and viewers to attend screenings and review current artistic, business, and tech developments.

Since the first Venice festival in 1932, these events have made huge contributions to movie industries all around the globe.

The list of the top international film festivals is led by yearly events in Venice and Cannes. Other significant occurrences are held in Berlin, Karlovy Vary, Toronto, Ouagadougou, Park City, and Hong Kong.

There are also a variety of festivals dedicated to national cinemas or specific topics. The latter can include documentary films, films about war, films about the underwater world, nature, etc.

Edinburgh, Mannheim and Oberhausen, and Tours festivals specialize in short subjects and documentaries, which are most popular among other niche topics.

The business and tech side of film festivals

Sponsored by governments, industry organizations, or individuals, festivals often serve business purposes by connecting distributors with the most exciting film producers.

Recently, the program of festivals has begun to include round tables that discuss technical innovations as well. Experts are talking about revolutionary generative AI technologies that can change the viewing experience and significantly facilitate the filmmaking process.

The last revolution in film production, most commonly referred to as the Pixar Era, made the use of computer graphics in video production mainstream. The next revolution, which is associated with the rapid development of synthetic media, is what we are witnessing right now, with innovations like voice cloning for the film industry leading the way.

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most notable film events of the year and at the forefront of such discussions.

Reespecher took part in the 2020 Cannes festival panel 'Media Meets Tech 2020: European Film and MediaTech Startups and Investors in Focus'. Here we presented our disruptive voice cloning technology and explained all the benefits it provides to filmmakers. Additionally, we engaged in discussions about AI ethics surrounding such innovations. Watch the full panel:

List of 2021 international film festivals

We have compiled a list of over 1,000 annual film festivals from 2021 and beyond. The list below includes the most high-profile festivals. As the festivals pass, we will update the list. We pay special attention to any news, discussions, or developments about technology that come from film festivals.

If you happen to work in filmmaking or are simply interested in the industry, we encourage you to follow our 2021 film festival calendar below - and contact us if you'd like to contribute any information.