One of the best ways to keep on top of the different movies that are being made, and who is doing what in the movie world, is to go along to any of the many movie festivals that are held every year. Obviously some are easier than others to attend, but there are a number of festivals that are open to film enthusiasts and they actually welcome and encourage their attendance so they can get more open reviews on their movie creations.

The agendas and purposes of the many different festivals will vary significantly, so if you have a certain taste in films that is away from the mainstream, you should always be able to find a festival the focuses on your requirements.

Here are some of the most popular film festivals from different places around the world:

Europe

British Urban Film Festival: Held in London in September each year, the British Urban Film Festival was established in 2005 and focuses on independent films from up and coming writers and producers.

Cannes Film Festival: Established in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival is one of the oldest and most recognized in the world. It is also one of the most prestigious and if you want to see the biggest movie stars in the world, this is where you should be

Giffoni Film Festival: Established in 1971, and held in Giffoni Valle Piana every year, the Giffoni Film Festival is one of the largest festivals for children’s movies and short films

North America

Sundance Film Festival: The largest independent film festival in the US is the Sundance Film Festival. Held every January, this festival attracts a wide range of film-buffs and critics as they screen movies from upcoming writers and producers, and well as the latest work from those more established in the industry

Toronto International Film Festival: Another of the ‘biggies’ for the film festival calendar is the Toronto International Film Festival. Held every year in September, this festival is extremely prestigious and will attract the biggest names in the industry

Moondance International Film Festival: This is a festival the looks at the work of those that create awareness for varied social issues. The films are often uncensored and hard-hitting in many cases, and provide writers and producers a platform to showcase their work

These are just a few of the hundreds of regular film festivals that are held every year. It doesn’t really matter what part of the world you are from, you will be able to find a film festival happening in your country at some stage in the year.