Many people think the 2025 film festival season starts and ends with Cannes. While it’s definitely the most famous, it’s not the only one worth checking out. All around the world, there are amazing international film festivals ready to welcome filmmakers, industry pros, students, and movie lovers alike. From Boston to Busan, the top film festivals 2025 will highlight the best in international cinema and documentaries. They’ll also feature cutting-edge animation and powerful stories that give voice to marginalised communities.
International Film Festivals 2025
We’ve compiled a month-by-month guide to help you navigate this year’s must-see festivals. From iconic red carpets to rising indie gems, film festivals 2025 are shaping up to be some of the most exciting yet. Keep reading to discover where and when it’s all happening.
April 2025
- 49th Hong Kong International Film Festival—Hong Kong, April 10–21
- Istanbul Film Festival—Istanbul, Turkey, April 11–22
- San Francisco International Film Festival—San Francisco, USA, April 17–27
- Sunny Bunny LGBTQIA+ Film Festival—Kyiv, Ukraine, April 18–25
- Atlanta Film Festival—Atlanta, USA, April 24–May 4
- BCN Film Fest– Barcelona, Spain, April 24–May 2
- Canneseries– Cannes, France, April 24–29
- JFilm Festival– Pittsburgh, USA, April 24–May 4
- Milwaukee Film Festival– Milwaukee, USA, April 24–May 8
- San Luis Obispo International Film Festival– San Luis Obispo, USA, April 24–29
- Sands: International Film Festival of St Andrews– St Andrews, Scotland, UK, April 25–27
- Screen Forever online market– Australia (Online), April 29–30
- Jeonju International Film Festival– Jeonju, South Korea, April 30–May 9
May 2025
- Screen Forever—Australia, May 6-8
- Cine International Film Festival—London, UK, May 7-10
- DocsBarcelona—Barcelona, Spain, May 8-18
- Cannes Film Festival– Cannes, France, May 13–24
- 51st Seattle International Film Festival,— Seattle, USA, May 15–25
- Krakow Film Festival—Krakow, Poland, May 25–June 1
- Los Angeles Greek Film Festival,—Los Angeles, USA, May 27–June 1
- Nippon Connection Film Festival—Frankfurt, Germany — May 27–June 1
June 2025
- SXSW London, June 2-7
- Lighthouse International Film Festival—New Jersey, US, June 4-8
- Sydney Film Festival—Australia, June 4-15
- Tribeca Film Festival—New York, US, June 4-15
- Guadalajara International Film Festival—Mexico, June 6-14
- Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market—Annecy, France – June 8-14
- American Black Film Festival—Miami, US, June 11-15
- 27th Shanghai International Film Festival – Shanghai, China, June 13–22
- Transilvania International Film Festival—Romania, June 13-22
- CineEurope—Barcelona, Spain, June 16-19
- Doc Edge Film Festival—New Zealand, June 18-July 31
- Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival—US, June 18-28
- Sheffield DocFest—England, UK – June 18-23
- Brussels International Film Festival—Belgium, June 20-28
- Kimolos International Film Festival—Greece, June 21-25
- Biarritz Film Festival Nouvelles Vagues—France, June 24-29
- Docs Ireland—Belfast, Northern Ireland, June 24-29
- FilmFest Munich—Germany, June 27-July 6
- Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival — June 25 – 2 July
July 2025
- Karlovy Vary International Film Festival—Czechia, July 4-12
- FID Marseille,—France,July 8-13
- Galway Film Fleadh—Ireland, July 8-13
- New York Asian Film Festival—US, July 11-27
- Golden Apricot International Film Festival—Armenia,July 13-20
- Fantasia International Film Festival—Canada, July 17-August 3
- Jerusalem Film Festival—Israel, July 17-27
- New Horizons International Film Festival—Poland,July 17-27
- Burgas International Film Festival—Bulgaria,July 19-25
- Malaysia International Film Festival—Malaysia, July 19-27
August 2025
- Festival Of Cinema NYC, US – August 1-10
- Locarno Film Festival, Locarno, Switzerland – August 6-16
- Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia – August 7-24
- Gramado Film Festival, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil – August 13-23
- 78th Edinburgh International Film Festival – Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, August 14–20
- Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia & Herzegovina – August 15-22
- Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund, Norway – August 16-22
- 82nd Venice International Film Festival – Venice, Italy, August 27–September 6
- 52nd Telluride Film Festival – Telluride, USA, August 28–September 1
September 2025
- Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival,—Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, US, September 2-7
- Toronto International Film Festival—Canada, September 4-14
- Camden International Film Festival—Maine, US, September 11-14
- DMZ International Documentary Film Festival—South Korea, September 11-17
- Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival—Canada, September 13-21
- Women Over 50 Film Festival—UK, September 13 (in-person)
- Women Over 50 Film Festival—UK, September 14-October 12 (online)
- Busan International Film Festival—Busan, South Korea, September 17-26
- Harlem International Film Festival—US,September 17-21
- Prague Independent Film Festival—Czechia – September 19-21
- San Sebastian International Film Festival—Spain, September 19-27
- Encounters Film Festival—UK, September 24-28
- Filmfest Hamburg—Germany, September 25-October 4
- Reykjavik International Film Festival—Iceland, September 25-October 5
- Zurich Film Festival—Switzerland, September 25-October 5
- Women X Film Festival—Darlington, England, UK —September 26-28
October 2025
- Innsbruck Nature Film Festival—Austria, October 8-12
- Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montreal —Canada ,October 8-19
- Sitges Film Festival—Catalonia, Spain , 9-10 October
- MIPCOM—Cannes, France, October 13-16
- Adelaide Film Festival—Australia, October 15-26
- Bergen International Film Festival—Norway, October 15-23
- Chelsea Film Festival—US, October 15-19
- Santa Fe International Film Festival—US, October 15-19
- Woodstock Film Festival—New York State, US, October 15-19
- Austin Film Festival— Texas, US, October 23-30
November 2025
- Stockholm International Film Festival—Stockholm, Sweden, November 5–16
- Cork International Film Festival —Cork, Ireland, November 6–16
- Leeds International Film Festival—Leeds, UK, November 6–23
- DOC NYC—New York City, USA, November 12–30
- Doha Film Festival—Doha, Qatar, November 20–28
- Marrakech International Film Festival—Marrakech, Morocco, November 28–December 6
- JAFF Market—Indonesia, November 29-December 1
December 2025
- Athens Avant-Garde Film Festival, Greece – December 3-15
- Dances With Films: NY, US – December 4-7
- Red Sea International Film Festival, Saudi Arabia – December 4-13
- Sun Valley Film Festival, US – December 5-8
🎬 Major International Film Festivals to Watch in 2025
Whether you’re a filmmaker ready to submit your next masterpiece or a film lover planning your next big cultural trip, 2025 is packed with unmissable cinema events across the globe. From legendary red carpets in Cannes and Venice to exciting indie showcases in Edinburgh and Busan, here are some of the top film festivals lighting up the big screen this year.
77th Cannes Film Festival | Cannes, France
Dates: May 13–24
As mentioned earlier, the Cannes Film Festival in the south of France is known for premiering top international films, including arthouse movies, director-led projects, and big-name debuts.
Filmmakers hoping to screen their work at this high-profile event must submit their films through the festival’s online portal. The submission fee depends on the category and format of the film. All that said, the Cannes Film Festival submission deadline for 2025 has already passed.
Tickets for main competition screenings usually cost between €250 and €500, with premiere events costing more.
If you don’t have accreditation, you can still attend some screenings like Directors’ Fortnight and Cinema de la Plage, which are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you want to bag tickets and accreditations for this year’s event, head to the official Cannes Film Festival website toute de suite. Filming in France allows you to work in one of the world’s most visually rich and culturally supportive environments.
78th Edinburgh International Film Festival Edinburgh, UK
Dates: August 14–20
Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, may have a small population (only a little over 500,000 according to the 2022 census), but it has big ambitions. Why else would it plan five festivals—including the biggest theatre fringe festival on the planet—all in the same month?
Among them is the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Established in 1947, it is one of the world’s longest-running film festivals.
This festival showcases a wide range of cinema, from indie features and documentaries to experimental films. Filmmaker submission fees typically range from £25 to £75.
Those keen to view the films can pick up tickets priced between £10–£15 per screening. Passes and more details are available on the festival’s official website.
82nd Venice International Film Festival Venice, Italy
Dates: August 27–September 6
Filming in Italy adds a timeless visual charm, and there’s no better place to unveil that beauty than Venice. From Black Swan (2010), with Natalie Portman’s stunning Oscar-winning performance, to the visually daring Birdman (2014), and Akira Kurosawa’s groundbreaking Rashomon (1950), which introduced Japanese cinema to the West, Venice has long been the launchpad for cinematic legends. As the world’s oldest film festival, it continues to set the standard.
This year’s lineup is already creating ripples of excitement across the film industry, with highly anticipated titles like Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet and the Leonardo DiCaprio vehicle One Battle After Another on the billing.
Filmmakers hoping to participate in the Venice Film Festival 2025, should expect to pay submission fees of €200 for feature films (rising to €250 after May 31) and €80 for short films (increasing to €100 after April 30). Immersive projects cost €200, increasing to €250 after April 30. World premiere status is required.
If you’re attending as a viewer, individual screening tickets are available through the festival’s official website.
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Toronto, Canada
Dates: September 4–14
TIFF is one of the world’s most important film festivals for a reason: it has launched many careers, especially for indie filmmakers. Notable names include Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows), Rian Johnson (Brick), and Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking, and Juno).
Like many international film festivals, submission fees vary. For Canadian features and documentaries, the fees are CAD $90 (early bird) or CAD $155 (standard). International features cost CAD $120 (early bird) or CAD $155 (standard). Short films and other categories have different fee structures.
If you want to attend as part of the audience, you can get individual tickets or festival passes. Prices depend on the screening and package. For more details on tickets and submissions, visit TIFF’s official website.
Busan International Film Festival | South Korea
Dates: September 17-26
Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) is the biggest festival in Asia. It showcases new Asian films and indie movies from around the world. It also serves as a hub for the film industry, featuring events like the Asian Film Market and the Asian Project Market.
Filmmakers can apply for support programmes, such as the Asian Cinema Fund and Asian Film Academy. Applications typically open in March and April. Submission fees and guidelines vary by programme.
For moviegoers, screening tickets range from KRW 6,000 to KRW 10,000. You can book tickets on the official BIFF website.
International film festivals 2025: FAQs
What are the top 10 International Film Festivals 2025?
- Cannes Film Festival (France)
- Venice Film Festival (Italy)
- Berlin International Film Festival / Berlinale (Germany)
- Toronto International Film Festival / TIFF (Canada)
- Sundance Film Festival (USA)
- Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland)
- Tribeca Film Festival (USA)
- Busan International Film Festival (South Korea)
- Rotterdam International Film Festival (Netherlands)
- BFI London Film Festival (UK)
How much does it cost to submit a film to a film festival?
Entry fees vary depending on the festival and submission deadline.
- Short films: Usually $20–$80
- Feature films: Typically $50–$200. Some of the major festivals like Cannes, Venice, and TIFF can charge up to €250 for late submissions. However, smaller or student-focused festivals often offer free entry.
What is the hardest film festival to get your work into?
The Cannes Film Festival has an extremely selective process, making it the hardest film festival to get into. However, it’s not the only one.
Other highly competitive festivals include the Sundance Film Festival in the US, the Venice Film Festival, and the Berlin Film Festival, which runs in Berlin, Germany, every February.
What are the best film festivals 2025 for students to submit their films to?
BIFF offers strong support for student filmmakers within its programme, while TIFF’s youth initiative showcases films made by and for young people, along with student-focused events.
Students should also consider the Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival, which is the biggest student film festival in the world.
Conclusion
If you are planning to submit to several film festivals 2025, check out the appropriate festival website for submission details. Be aware that many film festival submission deadlines will have already passed or may be imminent.
Also, if you’re a news journalist or media company planning on covering a particular film event, remember that Storytailors can support you with any pre-production requirements you may have.
