Blog: Film festivals

Lucca Film Festival is an annual event that celebrates and promotes cinematographic culture. Through screenings, exhibitions, conferences and performances, the Festival has been able to captivate an ever-increasing audience with a program that ranges from experimental to mainstream films. Through the years, Lucca Film Festival has carved out a niche for itself, standing apart from the many other festivals thanks to its bold yet carefully studied programming. Over the years, great names of international filmmakers and well-known celebrities have attended Lucca Film Festival as invited guests; David Lynch, Oliver Stone, Jeremy Irons, Willem Dafoe, George Romero, Terry Gilliam, William Friedkin, Alfonso Cuarón, John Boorman, Rutger Hauer, Joe Dante and Peter Greenaway, just to name a few. At the same time, the Festival has offered retrospectives of “old” glories while unearthing new talents. To top it all off, breathtaking Lucca serve as a stunning backdrop to an event that has now firmly established itself, becoming a highly anticipated and not-to-be-missed appointment in Italy and in Europe: the Lucca Film Festival.

Since its creation, the festival has always been committed to promoting contemporary films.
Therefore, directors from all over the world can submit their films to the competitive section of the festival through the dedicated call for entries. The 2022 edition of Lucca Film Festival will be held from 23 Semptember to 1 October, both in cinemas and online.

The 2023 will be the 8th edition of the Lucca Film Festival International Feature Film Competition. In the previous editions important personalities of cinema like Cristi Puiu, Rutger Hauer, Philip Groening and Claudio Giovannesi had been part of the international jury.

The films shown during this competition are Italian premieres and last edition was won by "Yamabuki" di Juichiro Yamasaki.

There are three awards: Best feature film prize (3000€), awarded by a jury of renowned guests from both the cinematographic and academic worlds; and Best feature film – university jury prize (awarded by an university jury), Best feature film - Popular jury and the Marcello Petrozziello Award.

For those who are interested in this competition, the last day for submissions is July 14 2023, until midnight.

There are no limitations to the genre or topic of the films. The only requirements are the following: the films must be at least 60 minutes long and must have been produced in 2022. Moreover, they must be Italian premieres, so they cannot have been presented in any other Italian festival, shown on any online open platform or distributed in any other way in Italy.

For the 18th year in a row, it will take place the historic short films competition, whose winner will receive a 500€ prize. Every year, the selection committee of this competition receives more than 300 films to evaluate. Among the directors who took part in earlier editions, there are celebrities like Adan Jodorowsky, son of the famous Chilean filmmaker.
Even though the “free experimentation” is the fil rouge of this year's edition, the films have no limitations in genre and topic. The only requirement is that they cannot last more than 29 minutes. For the short films competition, the last day for submissions is July 28, 2023, until midnight.

Lucca Film Festival launches, for the 2023 edition, a new short film competition, "Lucca Film Festival for Future", which was born thanks to the collaboration with the Sofidel Group, 2nd producer in Europe and 7th in the world for production capacity in the sector of paper for hygienic and domestic use (known in particular for the Regina brand), which has made sustainability a strategic lever of development and responsible growth to reduce its impact on natural capital and favour the transition towards a low carbon impact economy. The prize is 1000€.

List of the selected films will be published on the festival’s website within September 15, 2023. During the festival the movies will be shown in the cinemas taking part in the event and on demand online.

The Lucca Film Festival, coordinated by Nicola Borrelli, is one of the key events organized and sponsored by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca.

The event's main sponsors are Banca Generali and Banca Pictet, whereas the exhibits are produced with the support of Banca Société Générale. The organization of the Lucca Film Festival has also been possible thanks to the funding from Funder35 and the support of Gesam Gas & Luce S.p.A Istituto Luce Cinecittà S.r.l., Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca, Baldini Vernici, Lucar S.p.A Lions Club Lucca Le Mura, Alleanza Assicurazioni S.p.A, Luccaorganizza, Il Ciocco S.p.A, MiBACT (the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism), the Region of Tuscany, the City of Lucca, the Province of Lucca with the collaboration and co-production of the Giglio Theatre in Lucca, Consociazione Nazionale donatori di sangue Fratres, Fondazione Giacomo Puccini e Museo Puccini – Casa Natale, Fondazione Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti, Fondazione Mario Tobino, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Martinelli Luce, CG Entertainment, Fondazione Centro Arti Visive e Fondazione UIBI. Thanks also to Lucca Comics & Games, Trenitalia Regional Management, Unicoop Firenze and to the Degree Course in Performing Arts and Civilization Department of Communication and Forms of Knowledge at the University of Pisa, Photolux Festival and App18 for their collaboration.

Come to the Lucca Film Festival and experience a full 360° immersion in both the cinema and the heart of Tuscany.

DokuFest, International Documentary and Short Film Festival, is the largest film festival in Kosovo. Recognized as one of the top film and music event in SouthEast Europe, festival fills the cinemas and improvised screening venues around historic city center of Prizren with a selection of more than 200 hand picked films from around the world, whileat the same time bringing top international and local music acts to perform at DokuNights music festival. Documentary photo exhibitions, debates, master classes and lively atmosphere in the city all add to the charm of the festival.

The FIRE!! Mostra is the first LGBT film festival in Spain: established in 1995 by Casal Lambda, in Barcelona, it addresses affective diversity in its broadest sense through a careful selection of feature films, documentaries and short films. A selection of art-house cinema and an educational approach are its main characteristics.

Throughout two weeks at the beginning of June - mainly at the French Institute but also at other different indoor or open-air venues in the city -, a wide range of public is invited to enjoy this Barcelona cultural landmark, with stories and testimonials of free people, creators who break barriers and fighters for human rights, all of whom help with love to build a fairer and freer world.

The festival's name is a tribute to the late 20s New York magazine of the same name, FIRE!!, led by the black gay writer Richard Bruce Nugent, portrayed in one of the most iconic films of the festival, Brother to Brother, which we screened a few years ago.

The Film World Cup is an original concept of festival.
Each selected film will be the only representant of his country, and will represent the country for the World Cup.

LATIUM emerges as a festival that has the task of bringing together the best independent cinema in Latin America with the intention of promoting change towards a responsible lifestyle, promote the arts, education and social activism, by sensitizing the public for reasons social world. It also works as a forum for expression, dissemination and promotion of a genuine representative of our culture and Latin American cinema, catapulting new talent and consolidating it as a viable option for the creation of independent audiovisual productions. And the creation of a network of organizations and institutions that share and promote activities for solving social and environmental issues.



OBJECTIVE
The Festival proposes to convene and disseminating films that contribute, from its significance and its artistic values, the enrichment and reaffirmation of Latin American cultural identity; and catapult new talent as a viable option for the creation and enlargement of the Latin American audiovisual market.

L.A. NEO NOIR NEWS ALERT: NEW TOP FIVE IMPORTANT REASONS TO ENTER THIS FESTIVAL:

1. THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR YOUR SCRIPT: Carey Westbrook himself will be a part of this year's script consultation team. Carey Westbrook has served as a script consultant for Derek Cianfrance, TWO TIME 2021 Academy Award winner, and George Tillman Jr., an Academy Award nominee. His radio show is also featured in FOUR other film festivals THIS YEAR. Enter your script in The V.I.P. Neo-Noir Writing category and Carey Westbrook will personally consult with YOU!

2. THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR YOUR FILM: THREE prominent film distribution companies will be partnering with our festival this year to offer distribution contracts to our film winners and runner-ups. We have secured distribution deals for dozens of filmmakers through the years and we expect to secure the most we've ever secured THIS YEAR!

3. THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU: Our 2019 audience was over 200 people in a sold-out crowd at L.A.'s Downtown Independent Theater. This year's online festival has OVER ONE THOUSAND artists, producers, and distribution entities who have expressed interest in this year's online festival: that's FIVE TIMES more eyes on your work than two years ago.

4. WE MAKE YOUR VISION GO VIRAL: Carey Westbrook and his top notch L.A. Neo Noir associates have co-produced numerous webisode series, including the highly successful RATE MY WEEKNIGHT and two radio shows that are appearing in FOUR film festivals this year. Enter the V.I.P. Neo-Noir Writing category this year and we may fully produce your writing into a webisode series too!

5. EVERY screenplay submission that is a screenplay will receive a trailer. Visit lanneff.com/entertainment to see the trailers we have produced. If your work is a screenplay, short story, or novel we can make it a trailer / comic book / or webisode series in the V.I.P. Neo Noir Writing category. No other festival IN THE ENTIRE WORLD offers these options. WE DO!!

Due to ongoing safety issues and crowd restraints, LANNEFF has decided to hold this year's festival online. We have secured the premiere technological apparatus and we're more ready than ever to produce the best film festival online. That being said...

CONGRATULATIONS TO US FOR BEING A TOP 100 BEST REVIEWED FESTIVAL OUT OF OVER 10,000 FESTIVALS! WE ARE NOT GREAT BECAUSE WE SAY WE ARE. WE ARE GREAT BECAUSE YOU, NEO NOIR CREATORS AND FANS, SAY WE ARE, AND YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME! QUITE WELCOME INDEED!

"DOWN THESE MEAN STREETS A MAN MUST GO...WHO IS NEITHER TARNISHED NOR AFRAID." - RAYMOND CHANDLER

It has been hailed by L.A. Weekly as the festival with "THE WORLD'S SEXIEST DARKEST CRIME SHORT FILMS." Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, November 26th to Sunday, November 28th, lanneff.com will be screening THE 2021 L.A. NEO NOIR, NOVEL, FILM, AND SCRIPT FESTIVAL 9 (LANNEFF)!

This festival is brought to you by Carey Westbrook and Associates, whose students include TWO TIME Academy Award winner, Derek Cianfrance, and Academy Award nominee George Tillman Jr. Westbrook has also worked with numerous Academy Award-nominated actors, including Ryan Gosling, Joaquin Phoenix, and Michelle Williams.

This year's festival once again features our favorite sponsor: SMG Films, the premiere online / airline distributor of neo-noir full-length and short films, as well as a launching pad for the world's best neo noir actors, actresses, and screenwriters. SMG is once again interested in our select group of winners from this year's festival and, based on our recommendations, they will be approaching that select few with online distribution opportunities!

We have also added TWO more distribution companies to our roster of interested purchasers. When you win a LANNEFF award, we will be sure to introduce them to you!

This year, we will also premiere TWO exciting webisode series produced by lanneff.com, and many other social media sites. These webisodes will star recent Best Femme Fatale winners, Miss Russian L.A. Katherine Pegova and Tracy Ann Chapel.

These two amazing starlets were discovered in our past festivals, and with many PAID leading roles still available in our series, it is our hope that we will bring to the neo-noir world even more great femme fatales and handsome P.I.'s, that is, actors and actresses like YOU!!

See one of many short webisode series co-produced by Westbrook on Facebook right now, like the hit webisode game show RATE MY WEEKNIGHT at lanneff.com:

L.A. Neo Noir also boasts the same old people coming back for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th time! How is that a good thing? L.A. Neo Noir has the highest number of return screenwriters, more than any other festival, because most of our festival screenwriters come back the very next year with fully produced films based on their previously recognized screenplays. Amazing screenwriters, like Diana Lee Woody and David J. Schroeder, have returned with their neo-noir masterpiece fully produced films featuring well-known stars. See Woody's "A Menacing Proposal" and Schroeder's "This Modern Man is Beat." Look at the exhaustively long list of previous winners on lanneff.com to see the point being made here: L.A. Neo Noir Festival is so good you have to do it again and again and again...and again!!

We fully produce animated trailers on all screenplay, novel, short story submissions, and present the best five as film festival selections. We also give you a copy of your trailer to use in any way you see fit. Whether you win or lose, whether you are selected or not, you get a produced trailer for your writing within three months after the festival and we promote your trailer on our website. No other film festival or screenplay/writing festival IN THE ENTIRE WORLD does that. V.I.P. Neo Noir Writing category participants receive their trailers within 30 days after. Best Screenplay category screenplay writers receive their trailers within 90 days after festival's end.

We have exciting neo-noir networking events in place that have reaped benefits for ALL of our past participants. We did the Downtown L.A. Neo Noir premiere of Robin Wright's directorial debut, THE DARK OF NIGHT at L.A.'s very own Downtown Independent Theater. We have many guests you'll recognize from film and TV this year, but the most important celebrity of this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend will be YOU.

Our objective: celebrate, showcase, AND sell the work of the greatest independent unknown neo-noir filmmakers and writers from L.A. and around the world. We have done this successfully EIGHT times. This ninth time plus YOU equals neo-noir magic!

Join us online in the comfort and safety of your own home. Selected winners enjoy a $100 cash prize, a distribution deal, a webisode series deal, and many other prizes. So get that amazing neo-noir work-ready. Get your entry fee, get your best neo-noir screenplay, film, novel, short story, monologue, and get ready to make 2021 the best year of neo-noir ever. If you love L.A. neo-noir, your work MUST be represented here, and you MUST be ready for your close-up with the Mr. DeMille of L.A. neo-noir greatness, L.A. NEO NOIR NOVEL, FILM, & SCRIPT FESTIVAL EIGHT!

Note: There are absolutely no fee waivers of any kind for any reason available for this festival. If your entire film production team cannot raise $25 to enter this festival, we recommend you participate in the plethora of free festivals already. You should enter them in addition to this festival. Why not? They're free! We're not free, nor do we have any waivers...of any kind...for any reason. Best Wishes!

A STEP TOWARD THE OSCARS
for FOX, NBC, CBS and Authority Magazine.

REVIEWS
"My favorite festival" Alex Proyas (I Robot, The Crow, Dark City)

"Other nominees included already famous people! It really was an honor to be nominated alongside such great nominees" Lisa Hurel.

“I truly cannot say enough good things about the Paris Art and Movie Awards. My experience with this event was easily the best and rewarding” - Ev Duran.

"One of the most organized and professionally run festivals I've been to! The official selections were of a high standard and the networking was incredible" - Jami Ramberan.

"One of the best festival experiences I've had. Magnifique!" Warren Paul Glover.

"The Fisherman's Diary" won twice at the PAMA in 2020, and is now selected to the 2021 , to represent its country.

"Game Changer" won an, his director Aviv Mano then worked on Disney’s COCO and TOY STORY 4 (2018).

"The Wishgranter" won an, an EMMY AWARD, and a (2016).

"Legacy of Lies" is distributed by Lionsgate (2020).

"Sgt Stubby", an unlikely hero, got a distribution deal at (2018).

"Curpigeon" got selected to, won the AMAZON VIDEO DIRECT Film Festival Stars (2016).

"Whisper" screened at FILMQUEST (2015).

"None of That" was STAFF PICK by (2015).
through the years included:

- John Lunn, 2 times Prime Time Emmy Award Winner, composer of "Downton Abbey"
- Monica Cruz, "Un Paso Adelante"
- Olivia Sandusky, journalist, NBC
- Mark Dacascos, actor, "John Wick III"
- Samuel Arnold, actor, "Emily in Paris"
- Patrick Fabian, actor, Emmy Award Nominee “Better Caul Saul"
- Claire Kopsky, Emmy Award-winning Journalist, CBS
- Jamie Campbell, producer, "Sex Education"
- Cindy Mollo, Eddie Award Winner, 4 time Emmy nominee, editor for "Ozark"
- Rena Owen, actress, "Star Wars Ep II" & "ep. III"
- Fola Evans-Akingbola, actress, "The Night Agent", "Siren", "Game of Thrones'
- Michelle Tesoro, SXSW winner, Eddie Award Winner, editor, "The Queen’s Gambit"
- Paz de la Huerta, actress, Boardwalk Empire
- Brent Huff, director & actor "The Rookie", 'The Rookie Feds", 'The West Wing"
- Max Markson -rep. A. Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, JCVD...
- Cole Sibus, actor "Stumptown', Olympic Gold Medal Athlete
- Mina Sundwall, actress, Netflix’s “Lost in Space”, DC’s “Legends of Tomorrow”

Our line up included through the years: Kirsten Dunst, Sam Rockwell, Vladimir Cosma, Kristanna Loken, Mark Dacascos, Caterina Murino, Andrew J. West, Hugo Becker, Jansen Panettiere, Leslie Bibb, Melanie et Alain Doutey, Macarena Gomez, French Prime Minister Edith Cresson, French Minister Frederic Lefebvre, Emma Bell...


We celebrate filmmakers and we focus on the humans making the movies : each director/attendee gets to talk about his movie.

You meet new audience, screen and show your latest work, connect with fellow professionals, share your passion with screenings and special events all over the city, including red carpets, movie premieres, parties, filmmaker’s networking, numerous Q&A's, international spotlights, industry talks and masterclasses, art performances and exhibitions, live music…


AN INDEPENDENT MOVIE FESTIVAL WITH
- Awards
- Photocall
- Artistic Recognition
- Networking
- award ceremony

Laughter :)

Laughter is the cure and the best means of combating the problems of life, it is also free and does not issue a prescription.
One of the greatest remedies that we have invented, and heal the world, entertaining it too.

Weed to entice and use laughter to achieve happiness and success in life.
Laughter is the art and skill of the world's most powerful habit.

Laughter is the exhaust valve of our soul, but it's a matter of us shell we use it.

It's reflects many virtues such as generosity, selflessness, optimism, altruism, hope, empathy, joy, serenity, happiness ...

These are just some of the thousands of words being sung in his honor, and that is why we, as FIFES's organisers, decided to provide the opportunity for all people of good will who want to express their creative soul, a very unique, funny, lighthearted way, through the art of film as a wonderful way of human expression.

Send us your work and thus force a smile on our faces.

We do not laugh because we're happy, but we are happy because we laugh
Who laughs the last, laughs too late ...

Cachaça Filmes has held the festival since 2009. It always brings in nationally renowned filmmakers and artists from the area, aiming to offer culture and leisure options, and to favor the region's economy. In the short term we intend to bring an “elite” audience to Vila de Paranapiacaba, and in the medium and long term to bring cinematographic productions to the region.

We also have the Short and Feature Films Contest.

Regulation:
https://www.cachacafilmes.com/regulamento-concurso-de-roteiros

Open to all films

Internation Film Festival of Sao Tome and Principe.

15th edition of the International Film Festival for children and teenagers "AniFestROZAFA2024" October 8-12, 2024 in Shkodër, Albania.

The International Jury of the AniFestROZAFA2024 festival will be established in cooperation with the European Children's Film Association ECFA.

The main objectives of the festival organizers will be to stimulate films for children.

The evaluation of the artistic values will be done by an international jury and by a special jury consisting of 23 children aged 8-12 years.

Films to compete in the 14th edition of the Films to compete in the 15th edition of the International Film Festival for Children and Teenagers must have been produced after June 1, 2022.

DEADLINES APRIL 15, 2024

Competitors are notified that online registration, based on the regulation, at FestHome.
A short film not longer than 17 minutes is accepted.

There are no restrictions on the number of movies you record.

Before you fill in the Entry Form, please read the regulation of the " AniFestROZAFA2024 ".

( The Events and Editions of the Festival have been designed, organized, and carried out by the non-profit organization, "AniFest".

The project is equipped with the Certificate of Registration of Authors’ Rights (Copyright) No. 99, RDA, dated 19. 06. 2013, on the category of works of art, “Projects”, Article 7; Letter b.

It also has the Certificate of Registration of the Activity. Certificate of Registration of the Object of Activity No. 202, RDA, dated 03. 06. 2013.

The project is equipped with the Certificate of Registration of Authors’ Rights (Copyright) No. 99, RDA, dated 19. 06. 2013, on the category of works of art, “Projects”, Article 7; Letter b.

It also has the Certificate of Registration of the Activity. Certificate of Registration of the Object of Activity No. 202, RDA, dated 03. 06. 2013.

SUBMISSIONS START: 15 Apr 2024
SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: 05 Jun 2024

The list of films selected for the final will be published on September 10, 2024, on the official website of the festival: http://anifestrozafa.al

The competition is addressed to filmmakers from all over the world who produce short films and documentaries.

Its purpose is to appraise short films and documentary-films whose goal is expressiveness and cultural disclosure starting a cinematographic event throughout Val d’Intelvi.

Since its foundation, with Michelangelo Antonioni as its godfather, the Capalbio Film Festival has been a showcase for the next generation of cinematic talent from around the world. During its 22nd edition, Capalbio hosted the first Sundance Institute Screenwriters Workshop as an European exclusive.

The Somerville Film Festival is an annual film festival meant to showcase innovative independent cinema from around the world by up-and-coming artists.

The festival hopes to be the voice and representation for films with a unique voice and message, regardless of how low the budget might be.

Aiming to inspire, motivate and award new talent, The Somerville Film Festival is a first-year event that will take place on October 10 - 13, 2016 in the bustling Davis Square neighborhood of Somerville (MA). As a celebration of the cinematic and visual arts, the festival will bring diverse international films to our community (The Somerville Theatre) and showcase the best regional filmmakers.

Somerville Film Festival aims to expand the artistic image of our region, engage new audiences in the world of film, and inspire creativity in all of us.

Do you have a personal vision? Are you a true independent filmmaker? Do you hate making compromises?

The Toronto Arthouse Film Festival welcomes filmmakers who explore and develop new filmmaking conventions in their quest to realise their visions effectively on a limited budget.

The Toronto Arthouse Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing innovative and exciting work by risk-taking filmmakers from around the world. Aesthetically and thematically varied, these films mark the arrival of exciting new directing talents.

All screenings will take place at the Fox, located in Toronto on September 17 and 18, 2016. The Toronto Arthouse Film Festival screenings runs in conjunction with the Toronto Film Week.

The New York Film Week is an annual event showcasing independent films with an edge.

The NYFW focuses on the unconventional, the unusual, the underground, the intuitive, the innovative, the minimalistic and the true artists of our time. Based in New York City the festival aims to screen up to 100 feature and short films.

All screenings will take place at
The Producers Club, 358 W 44th St in New York City.

The New York Film Week is a true arthouse festival in every sense. Aiming to inspire, motivate and award new talent.

Jim Jarmusch, Quentin Tarantino, John Cassavetes, Michel Gondry, Charlie Kaufman, Sofia Coppola are just a few names of established filmmakers who blew up on the indie scene. True artist who focus on the art of filmmaking rather than on the box office. The Manhattan Independent Film Festival discovers, supports and develops new talent in filmmaking, providing a platform for emerging and established filmmakers from around the world, and an unique focus on Manhattan Stories. Recognizing the important role independent films have in the history of filmmaking, storytelling, and culture, MIFF wants to help empower the next generation of artists. The Manhattan Independent Film Festival is an annual event showcasing independent films with an edge.

All screenings will take place at the Producers Club, located in Midtown Manhattan on October 8 and 9, 2016. The Manhattan Independent Film Festival screenings runs in conjunction with the New York Film Week.

Nottingham's First Film Festival Dedicated to Female Film Directors from around the World