The Bus

I try to attend a film festival each year, if I can. The only one I've attended more than once is NYFF, and would like to, at some point, hit most of the major ones in North America (I went to TIFF, but didn't see any films).

I just recently got a 30-film pack for the Sydney Film Festival, and a pair of tickets for closing night. I doubt I will see 31 films, but I'd like to at the very least catch Beasts of the Southern Wild and Rampart (which, by the time I got to LA in December of last year, was no longer playing there).

The program hasn't been released yet.

So... what festival(s) will you try and catch this year?

Giles

only caught one film two weekends ago at DC annual's FilmFest - the festival on the whole has really gone downhill IMO in what films they pick and how the festival is actually run.

have liked the Mill Valley Film Festival, but haven't been to it in long time.

UVA's Virgina Film Festival is my fave, since it's a nice four day weekend - they always show the Oscar Best Picture winner - and they get some interesting folk to do Q&A's

AFI's Silverdoc is also a hghlight of the summer for documentary films.

AFI's European Union Film Festival is also excellent, but at nearly a month long, it get's tiring

The Bus

Do you ever drive up for Tribeca or NYFF?

Defiant1

I go to TIFF every year. I live in the same city so it's easy enough to attend.

Osiris3657

I'd like to go to TIFF one year, they screen alot of good films.

I live 2 1/2 hours from Austin, one of the fastest growing film markets in the US. SXSW, Fantastic Fest, and the Austin Film Festival are ones I've attended.

Meanwhile there is a Houston Film Festival, but needless to say it shows nothing interesting to me. Lots of shorts and foreign flicks that'll never see the light of day in the US (theatrical or on home video)

Giles

no, I should go up to NYFF one year. when I go to the city, I take the train - driving (and parking... eeek!)

Dan

What the hell DID you do?

I went to TIFF in 2005, and it was fantastic, although I was a little ill-prepared (I may or may not have fallen asleep in at least 2 screenings... but out of about 25 films total, that's not bad...) The best moment was probably seeing Val Kilmer, Robert Downey Jr., and Shane Black introduce Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

I think I'll plan to do TIFF in 2013 or 2014. There's no way I can make it this year, unfortunately.

This year, I went to one event at the Calgary Underground Film Festival (John Waters doing a monologue, Q&A, and book signing), and I'll likely see a handful of films at the Calgary International Film Festival in Sept/Oct. CIFF is still very young, so I forgive them for their occasional missteps. What they really need is a high-profile exclusive premiere to garner some more interest.

The Bus

I proposed. My fiancee was working.

bcd

What were your thoughts on Fantastic Fest? I have friends coming in from NZ to attend and I am going it check it out with them. I do enjoy the types of films that Fantastic Fest offers, not nearly as much as I am sure they will. But if you had any advice for a first timer that would be most helpful!

The Bus

Here's my schedule:


Wednesday 6 June 2012
8:15 PM Whores' Glory
Thursday 7 June 2012
6:15 PM Caesar Must Die
Friday 8 June 2012
6:30 PM Beasts of the Southern Wild
8:30 PM Moonrise Kingdom
Saturday 9 June 2012
12:00 PM Modest Reception
2:00 PM Where Do We Go Now?
4:00 PM Not Suitable for Children
6:15 PM Lore
8:45 PM My Brother the Devil
Sunday 10 June 2012
1:30 PM Goodbye
4:30 PM Just the Wind
Monday 11 June 2012
11:45 AM Tabu
2:10 PM Alps
4:00 PM The Temple
7:15 PM A Simple Life
Tuesday 12 June 2012
6:30 PM Step Up to the Plate
8:30 PM Twilight Portrait
Wednesday 13 June 2012
6:15 PM Polisse
Thursday 14 June 2012
6:00 PM Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
9:10 PM Killer Joe
Friday 15 June 2012
6:30 PM Paramedico
Saturday 16 June 2012
11:45 AM Neighbouring Sounds
4:00 PM El Gusto
6:45 PM Amour
9:35 PM Jeff, Who Lives at Home
Sunday 17 June 2012
12:15 PM Gangs of Wasseypur Part 1
3:35 PM Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2
8:00 PM Closing Night Gala - Safety Not Guaranteed

Dan

One thing I learned when I attended TIFF was that I cannot personally sit through 4 or 5 movies in a single day. I WANTED to... and I TRIED my damnedest... but ended up skipping a few and as mentioned previously, fell asleep in at least a couple.

Good luck, though! It sounds like the festival you're attending will be a blast.