Drama, comedy, horror or animation: everyone has a favorite kind of film, and film festivals are where the most talked about of them are first seen. The world’s first international film festival was held in Venice in 1932. Today there are thousands of festivals around the globe, but a small group of them has the prestige to launch careers, shape awards season and decide which films the world will be talking about for the next year.
This guide covers the most famous and prestigious film festivals: where and when they take place, what each is known for, the top prize, whether ordinary film fans can attend, and how submissions generally work. If you make short films, our separate guide to the best film festivals for shorts goes deeper into that circuit.
The “Big Three”: Cannes, Venice and Berlin
In the film industry, Cannes, Venice and Berlin are often called the “Big Three” European festivals. They are the oldest and most prestigious competitive festivals in the world, and a prize from any of them is among the highest honors in cinema.
Cannes Film Festival
Where and when: Cannes, on the French Riviera, usually in May.
Cannes is the most famous film festival in the world and a byword for red carpet glamour. It was first planned for September 1939, but the outbreak of the Second World War stopped it, and the first edition was finally held in 1946. The Official Selection includes the main Competition, Un Certain Regard and out of competition screenings, while independent sections such as the Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week run alongside it. The Marché du Film, held at the same time, is one of the largest film markets in the world, where films are bought and sold.
Top prize: the Palme d’Or. Winners over the decades include Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now (shared), Pulp Fiction and Parasite, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Can the public attend? Cannes is primarily a professional festival: most screenings in the Palais are for accredited industry members and press. It is not strictly invitation only for everyone, though. The festival runs a program for film lovers, called Cannes Cinéphiles, and free open air screenings on the beach, and the atmosphere around the Croisette is open to anyone who visits.
Venice International Film Festival
Where and when: Venice Lido, Italy, from late August into early September.
Founded in 1932 as part of the Venice Biennale, Venice is the oldest film festival in the world. Its Italian name is the Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica. In recent decades it has become a key launch pad for awards season: many films that premiere on the Lido go on to Oscar campaigns months later.
Top prize: the Golden Lion. The festival also awards the Volpi Cup for the best actor and actress.
Can the public attend? Yes. Tickets for many screenings are sold to the public, alongside accreditation for industry and press.
Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)
Where and when: Berlin, Germany, usually in February.
The Berlinale was founded in 1951 and is known for its political engagement, its wide international program and its strong public character. It is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, and its European Film Market is a major business event.
Top prize: the Golden Bear, with Silver Bears for other categories.
Can the public attend? Yes, very much so. Tickets are sold to the public and many screenings sell out quickly.
North America’s most influential festivals
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
Where and when: Toronto, Canada, usually in September.
Founded in 1976, TIFF is one of the largest and most influential public film festivals in the world. It is less about juries and more about audiences, and it has become one of the most important stops in the awards season calendar.
Top prize: the People’s Choice Award, voted by festival audiences. Many winners have gone on to Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards.
Can the public attend? Yes. TIFF is built around public screenings, with tickets and packages on sale to everyone.
Sundance Film Festival
Where and when: Traditionally Park City, Utah, in January. The festival has announced that it is moving to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027.
Sundance is the most important festival for American independent film. Its roots go back to a Utah film festival founded in 1978; Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute took it over in the 1980s and it later took the Sundance name. Films that premiered or were discovered at Sundance include Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Reservoir Dogs, Little Miss Sunshine, Whiplash, Get Out and CODA.
Top prizes: Grand Jury Prizes and Audience Awards in its U.S. and World Cinema dramatic and documentary competitions.
Can the public attend? Yes. Passes and individual tickets are sold to the public, and the festival also offers online screenings for some films.
Telluride Film Festival
Where and when: Telluride, Colorado, over the Labor Day weekend at the start of September.
Telluride is small, remote and unusually influential. It is non competitive, and its lineup is kept secret until the festival opens. Many of the year’s major awards contenders have their first screenings there.
Can the public attend? Yes, through festival passes, which are limited and sell out.
Tribeca Festival
Where and when: New York City, usually in June.
Tribeca was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, partly to help revitalize Lower Manhattan after September 11. It now presents film alongside television, games and immersive storytelling.
Can the public attend? Yes, with tickets on sale to the public.
SXSW Film and TV Festival
Where and when: Austin, Texas, usually in March, as part of the wider South by Southwest festival of music, film and technology.
SXSW is known for independent films, genre movies, comedies and a lively, informal atmosphere, and several major studio films have used it for premieres.
Other prestigious international festivals
Locarno Film Festival
Where and when: Locarno, Switzerland, usually in August.
Locarno is famous for its screenings in the Piazza Grande, one of the largest open air cinemas in Europe, and for its commitment to auteur and discovery cinema. Its top prize is the Golden Leopard.
San Sebastián International Film Festival
Where and when: San Sebastián, Spain, usually in September.
The most important film festival in the Spanish speaking world, San Sebastián combines a strong competition with a relaxed seaside setting. Its top prize is the Golden Shell.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
Where and when: Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, usually in late June or early July.
Karlovy Vary is one of the oldest film festivals in Europe and a key showcase for Central and Eastern European cinema, with a famously young and enthusiastic audience. Its top prize is the Crystal Globe.
Quick comparison
| Festival | City | Usual timing | Top prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes | Cannes, France | May | Palme d’Or |
| Venice | Venice, Italy | Late August to early September | Golden Lion |
| Berlinale | Berlin, Germany | February | Golden Bear |
| TIFF | Toronto, Canada | September | People’s Choice Award |
| Sundance | Park City, Utah (Boulder, Colorado from 2027) | January | Grand Jury Prize |
| Telluride | Telluride, Colorado | Labor Day weekend | Non competitive |
| Tribeca | New York City | June | Juried awards by section |
| SXSW | Austin, Texas | March | Juried and audience awards |
| Locarno | Locarno, Switzerland | August | Golden Leopard |
| San Sebastián | San Sebastián, Spain | September | Golden Shell |
| Karlovy Vary | Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic | Late June or early July | Crystal Globe |
How submissions to major festivals work
Most of these festivals accept submissions from filmmakers, but they differ in the details, so always read the official regulations for the current edition.
- Timing: submission windows typically open several months before the festival and close a few months before it starts. Many festivals offer early and late deadlines, with fees that increase closer to the final date.
- Premiere status: the most prestigious festivals usually want world or international premieres, especially in their main competitions. Screening your film elsewhere first can make it ineligible.
- Sales agents and distributors: many films in the top competitions arrive through sales agents, distributors or producers with festival relationships, rather than through open submission alone.
- Fees: entry fees vary by festival, category and deadline. Budget for them as part of your film’s costs.
- Short films: most of these festivals have short film sections, which are extremely competitive.
Attending as a film fan
If you simply love movies, the Berlinale, TIFF, Venice, Sundance, Locarno and San Sebastián are all excellent choices, because tickets are sold to the public. Buy early, be flexible about which films you see, and consider the smaller sidebar sections, which often contain the most surprising discoveries. Even at Cannes, visitors can soak up the atmosphere and catch the free open air screenings on the beach.
Whether you are hoping to premiere your own film or just want to be in the room when the next great movie is revealed, these festivals are where cinema’s biggest moments begin.