Summer Film Festivals

Posted by Intelligent Travel on June 8, 2009
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Amy McKeever gives us the scoop on the many alternative film festivals taking place in the coming months.

dff_logo.jpgThe Cannes Film Festival, which just wrapped up, is renowned for its star-studded red carpets and its glitzy Palme d’Or. But for those of us not fortunate enough to score tickets to this fest in the south of France, there are plenty of lesser-known film festivals throughout North America worth checking out. Here’s a round-up of five of the most intriguing small American film festivals.

Disposable Film Festival — San Francisco, California
San Francisco’s Disposable Film Festival is the ultimate exercise in filmmaking democracy – this festival, started in 2007, allows anyone with a cell phone, PDA or web cam to make and submit short films to be judged. Even better, the festival charges a very affordable submission fee of $.99. Although the festival premieres in late January, film buffs can also catch screenings of the films throughout the year (the latest is taking place June 12-14 in Paris at the Forum Des Images). Organizers even hosted a free bike-in screening in San Francisco this month which, like DFF itself, is a refreshingly updated version of an old concept.

Moondance International Film Festival – Boulder, Colorado

Some film festivals strive to do more than simply entertain audiences and honor filmmakers. Festivals such as Boulder’s Moondance also aim to improve their community. Through its Columbine Award, this festival emphasizes non-violent conflict resolution and peace-building.

The films screened at Moondance relate human experiences and struggles – from racism to body-image issues – in hopes of sparking dialogue and understanding. Moondance also offers workshops, pitch panels and even a Native American blessing ceremony at sunset. The festival runs from September 15-27.

Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival - Napa and Sonoma, California

The 22nd annual Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival runs from September 17-27 and is known for its “Films al Fresco,” open-air screenings which, coupled with food sampling or even a sit-down meal, make this a top-rated festival for romance and relaxation.

The festival offers several evenings of these al fresco screenings in addition to the 100 international films shown over the course of 10 days as part of its regular program. Eco-friendliness is also a cornerstone of this festival. Several of the films selected highlight environmental issues, and the festival itself strives to be a zero-waste zone – so leave the plastic bottles at home.

Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival – Birmingham, Alabama

Though Birmingham may not have the glamour of Cannes, the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival does have the attention of devout filmmakers.

The two-day festival, which runs from September 25-27, is widely known for its selection of feature-length and short independent films, as well as its many opportunities for mingling among filmmakers and film-goers. In a fitting nod to Birmingham’s history, the festival has partnered with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute on the Life & Liberty Sidebar, a series of documentaries, features and shorts that focus on civil rights issues.

Eerie Horror Film Festival – Erie, Pennsylvania
There are few better places for a horror film festival than a place named Erie. This Pennsylvania city, wisely playing off its sinister-sounding name, has hosted the Eerie Horror Film Festival for five years; this year’s will take place October 8-11.

The international competition showcases short and feature-length horror, suspense and science fiction films, as well as screenplays. One irresistible element of the festival is the foreboding Carnival of Carnage Expo, where fans can buy horror-related paraphernalia such as DVDs, comic books, magazines and more. Sounds like a hell of a good time.

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Comments

  1. American Hotels
    June 8, 2009, 4:23 pm

    The best american film festivals are AFI FEST, SXSW, Tribeca, Seattle, New York, Telluride and San Francisco to name a few…..

  2. OutdoorsMB
    June 29, 2010, 12:21 pm

    An unusual beachfront festival is the 10th annual Gimli International Film Festival, July 21–25, 2010, in the Icelandic community of Gimli on Lake Winnipeg in the central Canadian province of Manitoba (204-642-8846; http://www.gimlifilm.com).
    The festival is known for its free nightly screenings on the beach, where films are projected onto a 35-foot-by-35-foot screen mounted offshore on industrial scaffolding anchored to the sandy lake bed. The family-friendly screenings attract crowds of 500 to 900 moviegoers who sit on blankets, cushions, and low folding chairs.
    The celestial fireworks of the aurora borealis — the northern lights — sometimes appear in the night sky over the lake, competing for spectators’ attention with the entertainment illuminating the screen.
    The festival focuses on new and recent work by Canadian and Icelandic filmmakers, plus those from other Nordic circumpolar nations. Approximately 60 to 80 films are shown at each festival, including full-length features and documentaries and short documentaries and narrative films. The complete 2010 festival lineup will be announced in early July.
    The nonprofit film festival prides itself on its relaxed, egalitarian atmosphere. You don’t have to be a celebrity or show-business insider to attend film-industry events and parties. Anyone can rub shoulders with visiting producers, directors, and actors.
    Ticketed, indoor screenings, are held at three Gimli theaters within walking distance of the town’s center.
    Gimli is about a three-hour drive north of Manitoba’s border with eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota and about an hour’s drive north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg and its international airport.

  3. Inchirieri masini Otopeni
    October 30, 2010, 1:09 pm

    Pretty good post i enjoyed your post i like this video thanks for sharing the article.

  4. seodofollows
    November 3, 2010, 10:07 am

    9. Although the festival premieres in late January, film buffs can also catch screenings of the films throughout the ye shopping bag factory.

  5. Gaveideer
    January 4, 2011, 2:30 pm

    Hello. Marvellous job. I did not have this on a Wednesday. This is a wonderful story. Thanks!