Film Festivals Guide: Cannes to Sundance
Film festivals are where new films premiere, where distributors buy them and where awards campaigns begin. Here are the major ones, in calendar order.
The red carpet at Cannes: tangi_bertin, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sundance Film Festival
The leading showcase for American independent film, run by the Sundance Institute. Held in Park City, Utah, through 2026 and in Boulder, Colorado, from 2027.
- Founded
- 1978
- Known for
- Indie breakouts
Check dates and ticket rules before you go
Berlinale
Berlin's huge public festival with the Golden Bear as its top prize and gender-neutral acting awards.
- Founded
- 1951
- Top prize
- Golden Bear
SXSW Film and TV Festival
Part of the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, mixing film premieres with music and tech.
- City
- Austin, Texas
Cannes Film Festival
The most famous festival of all, with the Palme d'Or, strict red carpet dress codes and the huge Marche du Film.
- Founded
- 1946
- Top prize
- Palme d'Or
Tribeca Festival
Founded in New York in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff to help revive Lower Manhattan.
- Founded
- 2002
Locarno Film Festival
Swiss festival famous for open-air screenings for thousands of people in the Piazza Grande.
- Top prize
- Golden Leopard
Venice Film Festival
The oldest film festival, on the Lido, with the Golden Lion and the Volpi Cup for acting.
- Founded
- 1932
- Top prize
- Golden Lion
Telluride Film Festival
A small festival in the Colorado mountains that does not announce its lineup in advance and often hosts early awards-season premieres.
Toronto International Film Festival
A giant public festival whose People's Choice Award is voted by audiences and often predicts the Oscars.
- Founded
- 1976
- Top prize
- People's Choice Award
Busan International Film Festival
South Korea's major festival and one of the most important in Asia, launched in 1996.
- Founded
- 1996
Quick comparison
| Festival | Public tickets? | Main prize decided by |
|---|---|---|
| Cannes | Mostly industry and press; free beach screenings | Jury |
| Venice | Yes, many screenings | Jury |
| Berlinale | Yes, a public festival | Jury |
| Sundance | Yes, passes and tickets | Juries plus audience awards |
| TIFF | Yes, most screenings | Audience vote |
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- Festival de Cannes
- La Biennale di Venezia: Cinema
- Berlinale: Berlin International Film Festival
- Sundance Institute
- TIFF: Toronto International Film Festival
Facts on this page were checked against these sources (updated Oct 12, 2026). Spot an error? Email hello@fireempireshop.com.