Film Festivals Not To Miss in 2017
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The first place that comes to mind when thinking of movies is obviously Hollywood. What many don’t know is that there are many other places where movie aficionados can attend film festivals, enjoy a good movie and even spot a famous face or two.
These are the Film Festivals you shouldn’t miss this year:
1. The Indie Grits Festival (Columbia, SC)
Indie Grits (April 20-23, 2017): Celebrating its 11th anniversary, the Indie Grits Festival is a 4-day food, film, art, culture and music festival extravaganza in Columbia, SC. In response to the explosive growth of the Latino community in South Carolina and across the Southeastern United States, Indie Grits will turn its focus to Latino film, culture and arts in 2017 through its new theme Visiones. Visiones will explore Latino influence on Southern culture and empower Latino artists to re-define their evolving identity through film and art. Favianna Rodriguez will be attending as one of the festival’s visiting artists.
2. Savannah Film Festival (Savannah, GA)
The Savannah College of Art and Design’s Savannah Film Festival (Oct. 28-Nov. 4, 2017): Now in its 20th year, the Savannah Film Festival honors both professional and emerging student filmmakers during an eight-day film celebration in the heart of Savannah, Georgia. The festival, which welcomes more than 50,000 attendees each year, is one of the only in the country uniquely tied to a university (a university that boasts one of the top film and TV programs in the US). The festival is host to a wide variety of competition film screenings, special screenings and workshops, panels, and lectures. Last year’s honored guests included Molly Shannon, Miles Teller, Sam Claflin, Mahershala Ali and David Harbour.
3. Fargo Film Festival (Fargo, ND)
Fargo Film Festival (March 21-25, 2017): Celebrating its 90th year, the Fargo Film Festival in Fargo, North Dakota, honors independent, silent and classic films at the historic Fargo Theatre. The festival provides an extraordinary opportunity for filmmakers’ work to be shown on the big silver screen in a beautifully restored, state of the art, 870-seat Art Deco theatre which was built in 1926 as a vaudeville and cinema house, complete with a Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ. Through the years, film icons including Janet Leigh and Babe Ruth have made guest appearances. The festival awards winners and honorable mentions in seven different categories, as well as Best in Show and other special honors.
4. Cleveland International Film Festival (Cleveland, OH)
The 41st Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF41) will descend on downtown Cleveland March 29 – April 9, 2017, and the official program line-up is set to debut in early March. The festival kicks off with an opening night film and gala and will feature more than 500 film screenings over a 12-day period. The screenings will be exhibited in ten theaters at Tower City Cinemas, as well as select neighborhood screening locations throughout the area. The awards ceremony held on closing night is expected to draw 2,000 people and will once again include the highly coveted Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best Film.
5. Sun Valley Film Festival (Sun Valley, ID)
Sun Valley Film Festival (March 15- 19): Sun Valley, Idaho has been welcoming the film industry since Averell Harriman opened America’s first ski resort in 1936. To celebrate the area’s Hollywood heritage, the Sun Valley Film Festival features focuses on the process of filmmaking with intimate discussions, unique panels and more than 60 films, including world premieres. And, this “behind-the scenes” look at the film industry all takes place in the majestic, yet laid-back town of Ketchum.
