In Venice, Italy in 1932, the world was treated to the first ever film festival. Since then, film festivals have proliferated around the world and can be found in most major cities and can be dedicated to certain genres of cinema. With the production of movies no longer the domain of the big studios, more and more films are produced every year and film festivals help to promote the work of lesser known or unknown artists and introduce viewers to films they might never be exposed to. Let's take a look at some of the most prominent film festivals today.

Tribeca Film Festival

A relatively young festival, Tribeca - a New York abbreviation for the 'triangle below Canal St.' - was started in 2002 by Robert de Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff as a way to rejuvinate the lower Manhattan neighborhood in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. It immediately became a success and is now one of the most prestigious festivals in the world for international makers of independent and documentary film 

New York heavyweights. Source: Facebook

Sundance Film Festival

Set in the scenic Rocky Mountains in Utah, Sundance was founded by, among others, Robert Redford in 1978 to promote American films, particularly independents, as well as documentaries and shorts. The festival has a storied history and is seen by many as the place where directors like Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh and Jim Jarmusch. The success of Sundance has led to off-shoot festivals in London, Hong Kong and Brooklyn.

Toronto International Film Festival

The TIFF was begun in 1976 under the format of screening the most popular movies from other festivals. Despite a blueprint that seemed destined to succeed, the festival struggled in its early years but with persistence became the second largest festival in the world and is now considered one of the most important events in the movie-making world. Some of the more notable movies to premier at the TIFF are American Beauty, Slumdog Millionaire and Black Swan.

Cannes Film Festival

The most well known film festival in the world is not the largest by attendance but is definitely the most well-attended by movie industry insiders from around the world. Set in the small town of Cannes on the French Riviera, Cannes is the hallmark of movie glamour and glitz. Movies are bought and sold, the paparazzi are out in full force, and cinematic A-listers wear the highest fashion and attend the most exclusive parties and hitting the casinos. As one of the most prominent film festivals out there, Cannes attracts many prestigious sponsors, including Nestle, Air France and Mastercard. Such brands look to associate themselves with luxury and high-end events, and tend to be already well-established, with Mastercard, for instance, being a go-to option for a number of financial institutions and companies, including online shops and businesses.. Cannes is long on style but not short on substance; the prestigious Palme d'Or award for best film has gone to M*A*S*H, Taxi Driver and Pulp Fiction.  

If you're a movie fan, casual or rabid, you should definitely plan to attend a film festival. Chances are there's one in your town or a town near you. If you're really devoted to a specific genre like horror, comedy, animation, sci-fi, etc. you can find festivals just for movies you prefer. These festivals are a great way to introduce yourself to up and coming talents as well as catch a great little film that might never make the big screen. Bring your sunglasses because the paparazzi will be looking for you.