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Sick of commercialized blockbusters? Attend a local film festival!

Today, I saw at least 10 billboards for Sucker Punch and Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son around Paris. I couldn’t help but think, “That’s quite a waste of ad space.” I admit that sometimes I go watch these types of ‘guilty pleasures’; however, it’s a shame that other films that are just as entertaining, often more meaningful and worthwhile, are not getting one-tenth of the publicity these blockbusters receive.

There are times when I just want a break from these business- and corporate-dominated films. Want to know how? Easy! Go to a local film festival!

Many people think that film festivals are only for celebrities and those working in the film industry. This is indeed true for prestigious ones like the Cannes Film Festival or the Berlin Film Festival. These events require an official invitation and often entail designer dresses and the red carpet. However, many film festivals are actually not that fancy. Some festivals are even free!

Fortunately, the European Independent Film Festival was held last week near my apartment in Paris! I brought my friend with me to three screenings, and the first thing she said after the festival was, “Where do all these talented people come from?!” She assumed that the films were going to be amateurish and have the same qualities as a typical YouTube video. Instead, the films were just as (or even more) genuine and evocative. Also, she ended up Facebook-friending one of the actors!

There is a talented world of filmmakers out there who are, unfortunately, often underrepresented and overridden by big businesses and corporations. It is not difficult at all to access these films! These are some of the noteworthy opportunities in/near Rochester:

Rochester International Film Festival

“The world’s oldest continuously held short film festival”
Location: George Eastman House, Dryden Theater
Dates: Mid-April

The 360 | 365 George Eastman House Film Festival

This is another film festival in Rochester, an important city in the history of cinema.
Did you know? George Eastman’s roll film is one of the major inventions that gave birth to motion pictures!
Dates: Late April or early May

Gollin Film Festival

This one is sponsored by the Film and Media Studies Department at the University of Rochester. Think you’ve got talent? Submit your film!

Here are some other film festivals which are extremely prestigious, yet easily accessible. (Relatively close to Rochester, too!):

Toronto International Film Festival

Even though this one is attended by the public, it attracts as much media and celebrity attention as the Cannes Film Festival.
Dates: The Thursday after Labor Day weekend (fall)
Toronto is only a few hours away by car from Rochester!

New York Film Festival

This is probably the most famous film festival within the United States. It brings attention to new talent rising in the film industry.

Tribeca Film Festival (New York City)

In my opinion, this is one of the best independent film festivals in the U.S., along with the Sundance Film Festival. Robert De Niro is one of its founders, and its mission is to bring awareness to the “power of film.”

I hope you’ll check out one of the many film festivals in Rochester or elsewhere, and see for yourself what great talent is out there!

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