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CineSource Film Festival List by CineSource Staff and Tom Mayer
Although the world's first film festival was in Venice in 1932 and in America some twenty years later (Columbus, Ohio, of all places), San Francisco still dominates with the first LGBT, or Frameline as it is called (1977), the first Jewish (1980) and the longest continually running, the San Francisco International (1957). One of the top ten film festivals in the world, the International is one of only three to annually host the prestigious international critics association and its FIPRESCI Prize.
To top it off, Northern California must have the most film festivals in the world. There are so many—76, by our most recent count—that you need a scorecard just to know the players, let alone to schedule in some quality viewing.
Here is our compilation and, if we left off any or need any corrects, please let us know:
Newby Big Sur Shorts Festival features reviewers like Laurie Anderson and Phillip Glass and many international entries.
Halfdan Hussey, director of CineQuest, the second largest festival in the US, addressed the press for the 2013 festival.
Festivals (alphabetical, by month below) Dates • Venues • Year Started • Description
Frameline Jun (end) • Castro, SF • 1977 • LGB&T International
Himalayan Film Festival May • SF, Oakland, Berkeley • 1st • Regional Human Rights Film Festival Apr (beg) • USF Presentation Theater, SF • 1976 • Topical & International HeroFest Apr (end) • Delancey Street Theater, SF • 2006 • Topical & Indie