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Another year of Cannes film festival intrigue has passed by, with several winners truly making history this time. It is actually pretty hard to decide which achievement is the more remarkable: the fact that Bong Joon-ho’s thriller Parasite became the first-ever Korean film to receive the Palme d’Or or that the runner-up, Mate Diop with her drama Atlantics, became the first black woman to win an award at the festival.
Some films have already been acquired by giants like Netflix and Neon, while others are still awaiting US distribution. Meanwhile, speaking of intrigue – why not spice up your summer with the thrill and excitement of other film festivals yet to come? Whether it’s focused on full-length features, documentaries, horror films, or short movies that you love, there is an event for every taste happening somewhere in the world during the summer months.
Here’s our Top Ten.
When: June 19–24
Where: Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States
What: If it’s great storytelling that you appreciate most, this is a trip worth making. For over 23 years this prestigious festival has been celebrating the art of screenwriting. Don’t miss the Centerpiece screening of Farewell, an autobiographical story directed by Chinese writer Lulu Wang, being shown on June 21 and 22. Aside from an array of feature and documentary films, there are also family-oriented screenings such as Kids Shorts.
Website: http://nantucketfilmfestival.org/
When: June 19–23
Where: Washington, D.C., USA
What: AFI Docs is an annual documentary festival staged by the American Film Institute. This year’s lineup features 72 documentaries from 17 countries. One noteworthy fact: almost half of these films are directed by women. There is still time to book your spot for the Centerpiece – American Factory by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert – being shown on June 21. The film has already received a Sundance Festival Documentary award for directing. The special screenings program also includes Sea of Shadows, Chasing the Moon, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, Ruth: Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words.
Website: http://afi.com/afidocs/
When: June 18–24
Where: Palm Springs, California, USA
What: Let’s talk numbers: 369 films, 60 world premieres, 46 North American Premieres, 22 categories. No wonder this event is one of the largest showcases of short films in North America. Aside from screenings, the festival hosts various panels and masterclasses such as How to Pitch Like a Pro, How to Ruin a Film in 10 Ways, and many more.
Website: https://www.psfilmfest.org/2019-shortfest/
When: June 19–30
Where: Edinburgh, UK
What: Originally founded as a documentary event in 1947, the festival has expanded to include feature films, shorts, animation, and music videos. Many filmmakers, both from Britain and elsewhere around the world, owe their success to Edinburgh. Recent remarkable premieres include Brave, Killer Joe, The Story of WikiLeaks, Knocked Up, The Imposter, Ratatouille, Little Miss Sunshine, An Inconvenient Truth, and more.
Website: https://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/
When: July 17–25
Where: Los Angeles, California, USA
What: One of the most prestigious short film festivals in the world, which attracts 8,000 attendees each year. Many nominees at the Academy Awards subsequently made it to the Oscars, which pretty much says it all about the level of the event. Amongst LA Shorts alumni directors are Tim Burton, Bryan Singer, Shane Black, Paul Haggis, Vin Diesel, and other well-known names.
The lineup is yet to be announced, as the submission deadline has only just passed.
Website: https://www.lashortsfest.com
When: July 24–28
Where: Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
What: The focus of the festival is all about discovering new talents. This event celebrates powerful human stories captured by independent artists, the best of which get the chance to promote their features through Indie Street platform. The festival offers a great source of inspiration for amateur filmmakers who believe that stories should always prevail over budgets.
Website: https://www.indiestreetfilmfestival.org/
When: August 7–17
Where: Locarno, Switzerland
What: One of the oldest film festivals in the world after Cannes and Venice. While you’re waiting for the film selections to be announced, we strongly recommend refreshing some pieces by directors who can thank Locarno for their career trajectory: Claude Chabrol, Stanley Kubrick, Paul Verhoeven, Miloš Forman, and many more names to include on your “Must-watch” list.
Website: https://www.locarnofestival.ch/pardo/festival-del-film-locarno/home.html
When: August 22–26
Where: London, UK
What: If your heart can stand 5 days of non-stop horror, pack your bags for this one. This London-based film event has been happening for twenty years, getting scarier with each season. Some noteworthy pieces at past events include The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot, The Ranger, Death Note, Cult of Chucky and others.
Website: http://www.frightfest.co.uk
When: August 28 – September 7
Where: Venice, Italy
What: One of the “Big Three” along with Cannes and the Berlinale, the Venice Film Festival hardly needs any introduction. The longest-running film event in the world celebrates its 76th anniversary this year. Aside from showing cinematic masterpieces, the city of Venice will simultaneously be hosting the International Art Exhibition, the Festival of Contemporary Music, The Festival of Contemporary Dance, and the Theatre Festival. Planning a trip for such a busy season may be a challenge, but is very much worth it. The lineup for this year’s festival will be unveiled closer to the date.
Website: https://www.labiennale.org/en
When: August 30 – September 2
Where: Telluride, Colorado, USA
What: Another perfect way to round out the summer. Founded in 1974, this festival has long been recognised as one of the top film events in the world. Telluride brings together both well-known masters and aspiring artists of cinematography. Many Oscar potentials have been discovered on its grounds, and many foreign filmmakers have worked their way to world fame thanks to Telluride. While this year’s program is still under wraps, it is worth remembering that we’ve seen Brokeback Mountain, Moonlight and Ladybird emerge as past winners of Telluride.
Website: https://www.telluridefilmfestival.org/
