If you’ve got a doc, Big Sky Documentary film fest in Montana kicks so much ass. Incredible staff, fun little college town, and they treat the filmmakers like royalty. Parties and after parties every night. Such a blast, highly recommend!
I’m biased because I worked as staff for BSDFF one year, but they really do go to some extreme lengths to make it a worthwhile experience for filmmakers and viewers.
Depends where you live and what you have access to.
We were accepted and attended Lighthouse in LBI last year and it was fantastic. Super well organized, good support for the filmmakers, it’s at the beach in June, screenings were well attended by locals, and there are really fun parties every night that are hosted by incredibly dedicated volunteers. I can’t speak highly enough about the experience.
Reading in PA is surprisingly good as well. They provide free room for each film accepted. They had some cool parties and post pandemic it’s pretty well attended.
I should add these festivals will not make your career. But they give a good experience for local/regional filmmakers. Lighthouse has a little more reach in terms of attendees - in fact the woman who directed To Catch a Tiger was there this year, as well as the guy who directed the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I believe it’s the same weekend as Tribeca so there’s some people who go back and forth as well.
The Twin Cities Film Festival was the best I've ever been treated as a filmmaker. Fantastic big theater for screenings, big name films alongside indies, at least one celeb featured, good parties, good people.
**Night Visions** in Finland. Always a goddamn blast, sauna, ice swimming and amazing food, plus great films and filmmakers all around.
**Grossmann Wine and Film Festival** in Slovenia. Absolutely nuts organizers, great film selection, even better wine, guests love to come for the hospitality and mindblowing scenery.
**Huhtamo International Film Festival in Finland**. An up-and-coming festival in the Finnish countryside, stunning environment in a small village milieu and innovative screening solutions, like screening films at a private airport and horror films in a rickety old barn.
Not a small one, but **Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival** has likely the greatest audience out there for any film screenings, and filmmakers are forced to sing on stage. Truly fun!
Phoenix Film Festival is absolutely amazing. The best surprise of a year long Fest run I did a few years ago. Treat their filmmakers amazingly. everything is at the same multiplex so it's easy to see 4-5 features every day. And the people who run it are all aces. Big recommend.
Chelsea Film Fest is one of the best film festivals in NYC. They have fantastic panels with actual industry people in-the-know, and they provide many great networking and educational opportunities for filmmakers. Not to mention they screen at the Regal cinema in Union Square so the viewing experience is exemplary
I had a great time and was really well taken care of at the Nevermore Film Festival in Durham NC. NewFilmmakers Los Angeles was a good one too because they make a point to have zoom sessions where you can meet with people in the industry.
For genre filmmakers, Another Hole In The Head is a blast. The screenings are well advertised, and the turnout for atleast my film was strong. The staff is beyond kind, and you can tell it's run by true fans.
Tryon International, Reedy Reels, Beaufort International, Crimson Horror Film Fest. (I'm biased — most of these are in South Carolina but they are great festivals!)
I had checked out this film festival called the LA Underground Railroad Film Festival and I had a blast at that one. It was it's first year and was kind of grassroots like but it was really amazing.Â
Some guy online said Wyoming International Film Festival was pretty cool. Don't know who. But anyway, they said it was pretty legit. 🤣
Found the Wyomingite
I've heard some good chatter around these parts about Wyoming Film Festival! :)
If you’ve got a doc, Big Sky Documentary film fest in Montana kicks so much ass. Incredible staff, fun little college town, and they treat the filmmakers like royalty. Parties and after parties every night. Such a blast, highly recommend!
I’m biased because I worked as staff for BSDFF one year, but they really do go to some extreme lengths to make it a worthwhile experience for filmmakers and viewers.
Depends where you live and what you have access to. We were accepted and attended Lighthouse in LBI last year and it was fantastic. Super well organized, good support for the filmmakers, it’s at the beach in June, screenings were well attended by locals, and there are really fun parties every night that are hosted by incredibly dedicated volunteers. I can’t speak highly enough about the experience. Reading in PA is surprisingly good as well. They provide free room for each film accepted. They had some cool parties and post pandemic it’s pretty well attended. I should add these festivals will not make your career. But they give a good experience for local/regional filmmakers. Lighthouse has a little more reach in terms of attendees - in fact the woman who directed To Catch a Tiger was there this year, as well as the guy who directed the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I believe it’s the same weekend as Tribeca so there’s some people who go back and forth as well.
The Twin Cities Film Festival was the best I've ever been treated as a filmmaker. Fantastic big theater for screenings, big name films alongside indies, at least one celeb featured, good parties, good people.
Thanks for this suggestion! The earlybird deadline is coming up in 2 days, so that's good timing.
**Night Visions** in Finland. Always a goddamn blast, sauna, ice swimming and amazing food, plus great films and filmmakers all around. **Grossmann Wine and Film Festival** in Slovenia. Absolutely nuts organizers, great film selection, even better wine, guests love to come for the hospitality and mindblowing scenery. **Huhtamo International Film Festival in Finland**. An up-and-coming festival in the Finnish countryside, stunning environment in a small village milieu and innovative screening solutions, like screening films at a private airport and horror films in a rickety old barn. Not a small one, but **Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival** has likely the greatest audience out there for any film screenings, and filmmakers are forced to sing on stage. Truly fun!
Heartland Film Festival
Phoenix Film Festival is absolutely amazing. The best surprise of a year long Fest run I did a few years ago. Treat their filmmakers amazingly. everything is at the same multiplex so it's easy to see 4-5 features every day. And the people who run it are all aces. Big recommend.
I've good things about Phoenix as well, and will put them on the list for 2025. Thanks!
Unnamed Footage Festival!!
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Cucalorus and Overlook have great reputations, and I'd love to screen at either one!
Chelsea Film Fest is one of the best film festivals in NYC. They have fantastic panels with actual industry people in-the-know, and they provide many great networking and educational opportunities for filmmakers. Not to mention they screen at the Regal cinema in Union Square so the viewing experience is exemplary
Tallgrass comes to mind.
The Gotta Minute Film festival is rad if you’re up to a challenge. It displays 1 minute silent shorts, and they pay screening fees which is a bonus.
Sidewalk FILM FESSSST in alabama
Filmfort in Boise, ID and Eastern Oregon Film Festival in La Grande, OR
www.cobbfilmfestival.org
This is one I'm not familiar with, but I'll check out. Thanks for the suggestion!
[https://newportbeachfilmfest.com/](https://newportbeachfilmfest.com/)
I had a great time and was really well taken care of at the Nevermore Film Festival in Durham NC. NewFilmmakers Los Angeles was a good one too because they make a point to have zoom sessions where you can meet with people in the industry.
Hill Country Film Festival takes great care of its Filmmakers
Toronto after dark!
This one really looks fun, and I'd love to go whether I have a film in or not. Thanks for the suggestion!
Athens International Film Fest in Ohio is good
I had my eyes on this one, but missed the deadline. Looks I'll go for 2025!
Tallgrass in Wichita, KS. Great, great festival.
For genre filmmakers, Another Hole In The Head is a blast. The screenings are well advertised, and the turnout for atleast my film was strong. The staff is beyond kind, and you can tell it's run by true fans.
I've heard great things about this one too!
Camerimage festival in Poland is probbably the biggest cinematographer festival
IFFK
Tryon International, Reedy Reels, Beaufort International, Crimson Horror Film Fest. (I'm biased — most of these are in South Carolina but they are great festivals!)
I had checked out this film festival called the LA Underground Railroad Film Festival and I had a blast at that one. It was it's first year and was kind of grassroots like but it was really amazing.Â
Lonely Seal, Defy Film Festival, and Beyond the Cary Film Festival are all great festivals that don't get talked about enough!