Cinemas, theaters, and film festivals are canceled until further notice but cinephiles won’t have to weep silently in a corner because from May 29, 2020 to June 7, 2020, the world’s most prestigious international film festivals will be screening their films FOR FREE on youtube.com/weareone.
We Are One: A Global Film Festival is a joint venture of Tribeca Enterprises and YouTube. It aims to bring together the world’s best film festivals for 10-days of celebrating film with an international community of storytellers. Although the line-up will be announced close to the festival date, we’re expecting great titles since major film festivals are participating.
This Global Film Festival is also a bid to call on people to support local communities and donate relief efforts for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The online event will benefit the World Health Organization as well as local relief partners in each region.
Here are some of the prestigious film festivals we’re anticipating:
Cannes Film Festival
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This annual film festival held in Cannes, France started in 1946 is an invitation-only event where distinguished names from the film industry attend. Cannes’ coveted Palme d’Or is the highest prize awarded to films and filmmakers. At last year’s festival, Bong Joon-Ho’s film, Parasite, won the Palme d’Or, the most recent in a long line of winners including Taxi Driver (1976) by Martin Scorsese, and Pulp Fiction (1994) by Quentin Tarantino.
Toronto International Film Festival
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A cinephile’s visit to Canada isn’t complete without visiting the Toronto International Film Festival Bell Lightbox and taking an obligatory photo in front of the TIFF sign. The festival is usually held in the first week of September but year-round there are screenings, workshops, discussions, and more. Over the years, TIFF has earned its reputation as the film festival that serves as a springboard for Oscar nominations/wins.
Tribeca Film Festival
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The Tribeca Film Festival was born in 2002 as an outlet for independent filmmakers to get their works of art out there. The festival was founded by Robert de Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff. The American film festival is named after a neighborhood in Manhattan where it is usually held. Although like all events, this year’s Tribeca is canceled, it still gave out awards to independent films with the award for Best U.S. Narrative Feature handed to Alice Wu’s The Half of It which you stream on Netflix.
Venice Film Festival
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The Venice Film Festival is the world’s oldest film festival (founded in 1932) and is usually held annually in Venice in August or September. More than a film festival, it is also a celebration of other forms of art — architecture, dance, music, and theatre. Each year thousands of people flock to Venice’s island of Lido to watch screenings at the historic Palazzo del Cinema. During the most recent Venice Film Festival, Todd Philipps’ Joker took home the highest prize of the Golden Lion award.
Tokyo International Film Festival
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This film festival is the only Japanese film festival accredited by the Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films or (FIAPF). The Tokyo International Film Festival encourages filmmakers — veteran or amateur — to submit their stories for a chance to be screened at a large audience of film buffs. The most recent winner of the Grand Prix or the best film is a Danish film entitled Uncle by director Frelle Petersen.
Sundance Film Festival
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What began as a small independent film festival in 1978 founded by Robert Redford is now the largest independent film festival in the United States. Sundance puts a spotlight on films outside the grandeur and showbiz of Hollywood, although in recent years it has become the springboard for most-loved Hollywood films Jordan Peele’s directorial debut Get Out (2016), Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash (2014), and Marc Webb’s 500 Days of Summer are just some of the films premiered at Sundance.
Berlin International Film Festival
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The Berlin International Film Festival is celebrated its 70th anniversary early this year with more than 300 films from 132 countries and more than 300,000 people in attendance. The sought-after Golden Bear award was given to Iranian Mohammad Rasoulof for his film There is No Evil.
Locarno Film Festival
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The Locarno International Film Festival is was founded in 1946 making it one of the oldest film festivals in the world. Held annually every August in Locarno, Switzerland, the festival is a platform for art-house films and auteur cinema. It is also known for having many sections for screening films including the famous Piazza Grande, one of the world’s largest open-air screening venues which can accommodate up to 8,000 spectators.
Which film festival are you excited about the most?
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