Major International Film Festivals

Cannes Film Festival — France

Usual dates: Mid-May, normally 12 days
Next announced edition: 11–22 May 2027
Website: festival-cannes.com
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

One of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, presenting major international premieres alongside emerging filmmakers and new cinematic work.

Venice International Film Festival — Italy

Usual dates: Late August to early September
Website: labiennale.org/en/cinema
Email: info@labiennale.org
Social media: Instagram | X

Established in 1932, Venice is the world’s oldest film festival and remains one of the most influential events on the international festival calendar.

Berlin International Film Festival — Germany

Usual dates: February, normally 10–12 days
Next announced edition: 10–21 February 2027
Website: berlinale.de
Contact: Official contact directory
Social media: Instagram | X

Known as the Berlinale, the festival combines major international premieres with a strong commitment to independent, political and socially engaged filmmaking.

Toronto International Film Festival — Canada

Usual dates: Early to mid-September
2026 dates: 10–20 September 2026
Website: tiff.net
Contact: TIFF contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

TIFF is one of the world’s leading public film festivals and an important launch platform for international releases and awards-season contenders.

Sundance Film Festival — USA

Usual dates: Late January
Next announced edition: 21–31 January 2027
Location from 2027: Boulder, Colorado
Website: sundance.org
Email: sundancesupport@sundance.org
Social media: Instagram | X

Sundance is a leading festival for independent cinema. Beginning in 2027, the festival will relocate from Utah to Boulder, Colorado.

Tribeca Festival — USA

Usual dates: June
Next edition: 2027 dates to be announced
Website: tribecafilm.com
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

Founded in New York, Tribeca presents films, television, immersive work, games, audio storytelling and other forms of contemporary entertainment.

Busan International Film Festival — South Korea

2026 dates: 6–15 October 2026
Website: biff.kr
Contact: Official BIFF website
Social media: Instagram | X

Busan is one of Asia’s most important film festivals and a major international showcase for new Asian cinema.

Locarno Film Festival — Switzerland

Usual dates: Early to mid-August
Next announced edition: 4–14 August 2027
Website: locarnofestival.ch
Email: info@locarnofestival.ch
Social media: Instagram | X

Locarno is internationally recognised for adventurous programming, emerging filmmakers and its celebrated open-air screenings in the Piazza Grande.

San Sebastián International Film Festival — Spain

Usual dates: Late September
Website: sansebastianfestival.com
Email: info@sansebastianfestival.com
Social media: Instagram | X

San Sebastián is one of Europe’s principal international film festivals and a major showcase for Spanish-language and international cinema.

Tokyo International Film Festival — Japan

Usual dates: Late October to early November
Website: tiff-jp.net
Contact: Official festival website
Social media: Instagram | X

Tokyo International Film Festival is one of Japan’s largest film events and an important platform for Asian and international cinema.

North American Film Festivals

AFI Fest — USA

2026 dates: 21–25 October 2026
Website: afi.com/afi-fest
Email: AFIContact@afi.com
Social media: Instagram | X

Held in Los Angeles, AFI Fest presents international features, documentaries, short films and work by established and emerging filmmakers.

New York Film Festival — USA

2026 dates: 25 September–12 October 2026
Website: filmlinc.org/nyff
Contact: Film at Lincoln Center contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

Organised by Film at Lincoln Center, NYFF is known for its carefully curated programme of significant new international films.

Chicago International Film Festival — USA

Usual dates: October
Website: chicagofilmfestival.com
Email: info@chicagofilmfestival.com
Social media: Instagram | X

Founded in 1964, Chicago is one of North America’s longest-running competitive international film festivals.

Seattle International Film Festival — USA

Usual dates: May
Website: siff.net
Contact: SIFF contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

Seattle presents an extensive programme of international, independent, documentary and short-form cinema.

Telluride Film Festival — USA

Usual dates: Labor Day weekend in early September
Website: telluridefilmfestival.org
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

Telluride is a highly selective festival known for surprise premieres and films that frequently become prominent during awards season.

European Film Festivals

BFI London Film Festival — UK

2026 dates: 7–18 October 2026
Website: bfi.org.uk/london-film-festival
Contact: BFI contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

The BFI London Film Festival presents new British and international films, series and immersive storytelling in London and across the UK.

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival — Czech Republic

Usual dates: Late June to early July
Website: kviff.com
Email: info@kviff.com
Social media: Instagram | X

Karlovy Vary is one of Central and Eastern Europe’s most significant film festivals, with an emphasis on international discoveries and auteur cinema.

CINEMANIA Francophone Film Festival — Canada

Location: Montréal, Quebec
Usual dates: November
Website: festivalcinemania.com
Contact: Official festival website
Social media: Instagram | Facebook

CINEMANIA is a Montréal-based festival devoted to French-language cinema from around the world.

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam — Netherlands

2026 dates: 12–22 November 2026
Website: idfa.nl
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

IDFA is one of the world’s leading documentary festivals, presenting international documentary films alongside industry and professional programmes.

Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival — France

Usual dates: Late January to early February
Website: clermont-filmfest.org
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | Facebook

Clermont-Ferrand is one of the world’s most important festivals devoted to short films and includes a major international short-film market.

Annecy International Animation Film Festival — France

Usual dates: June
Website: annecyfestival.com
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

Annecy is a leading international animation festival, presenting animated features, short films, television productions, commissioned films and student work.

Raindance Film Festival — UK

Usual dates: June
Website: raindance.org/festival
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

Raindance is a major independent film festival with a particular interest in emerging filmmakers, low-budget production and innovative storytelling.

Asian Film Festivals

Shanghai International Film Festival — China

Usual dates: June
Website: siff.com
Contact: See the current festival contact information on the official website.
Social media: Official international social-media availability may vary.

Shanghai is one of China’s principal international film festivals and is accredited as a competitive feature-film festival by FIAPF.

Hong Kong International Film Festival — Hong Kong

Usual dates: March or April
Website: hkiff.org.hk
Email: info@hkiff.org.hk
Social media: Instagram | Facebook

HKIFF is one of Asia’s longest-established international film festivals and an important platform for Asian and global cinema.

MAMI Mumbai Film Festival — India

Dates: Dates and arrangements vary; check the official website for the next confirmed edition.
Website: mumbaifilmfestival.com
Contact: See the official website for current departmental contacts.
Social media: Instagram | X

The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival promotes Indian and international independent cinema and connects filmmakers with audiences and industry professionals.

Latin American Film Festivals

Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival — Brazil

Usual dates: Late September or October
Website: festivaldorio.com.br
Email: atendimento@festivaldorio.com.br
Social media: Instagram | X

Festival do Rio presents Brazilian and international films across a broad programme of premieres, retrospectives and industry activities.

Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival — Argentina

Usual dates: April
Website: bafici.org
Contact: Consult the current festival website or the City of Buenos Aires cultural portal.
Social media: Instagram | X

Known as BAFICI, the festival is one of Latin America’s leading events for independent and innovative cinema.

Morelia International Film Festival — Mexico

2026 dates: 16–25 October 2026
Website: moreliafilmfest.com
Contact: Official festival website
Social media: Instagram | X

Morelia is one of Mexico’s leading film festivals and an important platform for contemporary Mexican filmmakers.

Specialist Film Festivals

Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival — USA

Dates: Check the organiser’s website for confirmation of the next edition.
Website: outfest.org
Social media: Instagram | Facebook

Outfest supports LGBTQ+ cinema, filmmakers and media preservation. Festival sche

ules should be confirmed directly because the organisation has experienced recent operational changes.

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival — Canada

Usual dates: November
Website: reelasian.com
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

Toronto Reel Asian presents films by Asian and Asian-diaspora filmmakers from Canada and around the world.

Palm Springs International Film Festival — USA

Next announced edition: 7–18 January 2027
Website: psfilmfest.org
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | X

Palm Springs is a prominent early-year festival known for international cinema and its strong connection with the annual awards season.

Berlin & Beyond Film Festival — USA

Usual dates: January or February
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Website: berlinbeyond.com
Contact: Official festival website
Social media: Instagram | Facebook

Berlin & Beyond presents contemporary German-language cinema from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

New York African Film Festival — USA

Usual dates: May
Website: africanfilmny.org
Contact: Official contact page
Social media: Instagram | Facebook

The New York African Film Festival presents cinema from Africa and the global African diaspora through screenings and cultural programmes across New York.

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