Even though it is summer, traditionally a period when many cultural institutions run a reduced program or shut down altogether, there is no shortage of film festivals. Here is a list of just some of the events coming up in August.
Locarno International Film Festival
Held for 11 days in a small town on the edge of Switzerland’s Lake Maggiore, Locarno International Film Festival offers up an eclectic array of films in all genres and formats across a dozen sections. The diverse programming is designed to reflect the festival’s location at the crossroads of Italian, German and French-speaking cultures in Europe.
The heart of the festival is the Renaissance-style Piazza Grande, an expansive square in the town center that can seat up to 8,000 cinemagoers and hosts nightly open-air screenings.
Films to be shown at the square this year include high-profile Hollywood productions such as Marc Webb’s (500) Days of Summer, an offbeat romantic comedy of one-sided love. Homegrown fare is not excluded, however, and comes in the form of the Swiss/French production Les Yeux de Simone (Simone’s Eyes) from Jean-Louise Porchet and Christoph Schaub’s Giulias Verschwinden, both of which will have their world premieres at the festival.
Locarno International Film Festival runs from August 5-15. Complete program details are available on the festival website.
Globians Doc Fest Berlin
Started in 2005, Globians is a relative baby among film festivals but has been growing fast. Although organizers stress that they do not want it to get too large. Part of what gives the festival its current character, they say, is the fact that it still feels personal; and the no-awards-at-all policy encourages cooperation rather than competition between filmmakers.
The word ‘globian’ is a play on ‘globalization’, and refers to people who have a global view of the world but are still able to live in harmony with the world. Organizers say this does not mean that the festival is anti-globalization, but that the focus is on documentaries (from short up to feature length) covering ‘world and culture’, which could be anything from sub-cultures and world religions to rural life and sustainable lifestyles.
Originally held in the nearby town of Potsdam, Globians is moving to Berlin for the first time this year and runs from August 12-17. Find location and price details online.
São Paulo International Short Film Festival
Now in its 20th year, the São Paulo International Short Film Festival is the leading short film event in Latin America. The festival’s main sections are the Brazilian Program, the Latin American Showcase and the International Program, all of which include an almost overwhelming number of films.
A complete list of selected entries is available on the website. The festival will be held from August 20-28.
Find details of the main film festivals held around the year here.
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