This is a list of existing major film festivals, sorted by continent.
The world's oldest film festival is the Mostra internazionale d'arte cinematografica (Venice Film Festival), while the most prestigious film festivals in the world, known as the "Big Three", are (listed chronologically according to the date of foundation): Venice, Cannes and Berlin. The most prestigious film festivals in North America are Sundance and Toronto.
Africa
NameEst.LocationCountryTypeNotesAfrica International Film Festival2010CalabarInternationalAfro-Asian Film Festival1958TashkentCairoJakartaInternationalHeld during 1958, 1960, and 1964Alexandria Mediterranean Film Festival1979 AlexandriaInternationalAmakula International Film Festival2004KampalaInternationalAswan International Women's Film Festival2017AswanInternationalBlack Star International Film Festival2015AccraInternationalCabo Verde International Film Festival2010SalNationalCairo International Film Festival1976CairoInternationalCairo International Women's Film Festival2008CairoInternationalIntroducing the works of female filmmakers.Carthage Film Festival1966CarthageRegionalFeatures films directed by those of African or Middle Eastern nationality.Cinekambiya International Film Festival2015Banjul and Brikama RegionalFeatures films made in indigenous languages.Dockanema2006MaputoSpecial interestAnnual documentary film festival.Durban International Film Festival1979DurbanInternationalLargest film festival in Southern Africa. Most of the screenings are African premieres.Egyptian Catholic Center for Cinema Festival1952CairoNationalEl Gouna Film Festival2017El GounaInternationalEncounters South African International Documentary Festival1999Cape TownInternationalAnnual documentary film festival.Festival International du Film Espoir 2022 Abidjan International Annual festival promoting African filmsFestival International du Film Amateur de Kélibia (FIFAK) 1964 Kélibia International Annual festival for amateur filmmakers.Île Courts 2007 Mauritius International Annual short film festival.International Arab Film Festival1976OranInternationalInternational Festival of Cinema and Audiovisual of Burundi2009BujumburaInternationalMarrakech International Film Festival2001MarrakeshInternationalJoburg Film Festival 2016 Johannesburg International Kigali Cine Junction2023KigaliInternationalNon-competitiveLights, Camera, Africa!2011LagosInternational Lola Kenya Children's Screen 2005 Nairobi International East Africa children's course in filmmakingLuxor African Film Festival2012LuxorInternationalOut In Africa South African Gay and Lesbian Film Festival1994Cape Town and JohannesburgInternationalGay and lesbian film festival.Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou1969OuagadougouinternationalThe largest African film festival.Pearl International Film Festival2011KampalaInternationalRencontres du Film Court Madagascar2006AntananarivoPan-African/regionalThe only film festival in Madagascar.Rwanda Film Festival2005KigaliInternationalLast edition 2019Sahara International Film Festival2003Sahrawi refugee campsInternationalThe only film festival in the world held in a refugee camp.Silwerskerm Film Festival2010Camps BayNationalThe only Afrikaans film festival in the world.South African Horrorfest2005Cape TownInternationalFestival for horror and genre films; the longest running and only event of its kind in South Africa and the African continentTri Continental Film Festival (TCFF)2002/5Cape TownInternationalThe 3 Continents Film Festival was held in 2002. The Tri Continental Film Festival was first held in 2005. Still going as of 2017. Uganda Film Festival Awards2013KampalaNationalZanzibar International Film Festival1997Zanzibar CityInternational An annual film, music and arts festival.Zimbabwe International Film Festival1997HarareInternational
Asia