The Annapolis Film Festival has unveiled the complete film lineup for its 2026 festival, taking place March 26–29, 2026. Featuring more than 70 films, the slate includes spotlight screenings, curated showcases, and audience favorites fresh from major international festivals and distributors.

The festival will open with POWER BALLAD, a 2026 musical comedy directed and co-written by John Carney. Opening Night will include an elegant pre-reception for select passholders, followed by a red-carpet event and culinary offerings by The Palate Pleasers.

The festival will close on Sunday with a celebratory final screening of RUN AMOK, a dark comedy written and directed by NB Mager that premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The closing event will also feature the Audience and Juried Awards celebration, culminating with the popular Best of Fest, where audiences can learn about the winners and watch encore screenings of their favorite films.

Programming highlights include THE EYES OF GHANA — The Black Experience; ELIJAH PEEL — The Faith Experience, featuring a special appearance by actor Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) and members of the cast; THIS IS NOT A DRILL — The Environmental Showcase; AMERICAN PACHUCO — The Latine Experience; EXPEDITION ANTARCTICA: A Journey with Gary Jobson — The Sailing Showcase; and The Jewish Experience, featuring the documentary TOVAH, followed by a special Q&A with Tovah Feldshuh (Nobody Wants This, Netflix).

The 2026 lineup reflects the Annapolis Film Festival’s commitment to presenting bold new voices, award-winning films, fresh narratives, and timely documentaries that inspire conversation and connection. The festival will showcase a diverse program of narrative and documentary features, along with an exceptional collection of short films from around the globe.

Over four days, historic downtown Annapolis will transform into a vibrant hub for filmmakers, cinephiles, and cultural tastemakers, bringing filmmakers, artists, and audiences together for cinema, conversation, and community.

Screenings and events will take place at venues throughout Annapolis, including Maryland Hall, St. John’s College, Asbury United Methodist Church, and locations across the Historic Arts District. Additional festival experiences will include industry panels, filmmaker Q&A sessions, Coffee Talks at Rams Head OnStage, student programs, and late-night parties.

“We are so thrilled to kick off this year’s festival with a feel-good, music-driven film like POWER BALLAD, which really fits our vibe,” say Festival Directors & Cofounders Patti White and Lee Anderson

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People have called for free speech at the Berlinale. Free speech is happening at the Berlinale. But increasingly, filmmakers are expected to answer any question put to them. They are criticised if they do not answer. They are criticised if they answer and we do not like what they say. They are criticised if they cannot compress complex thoughts into a brief sound bite when a microphone is placed in front of them when they thought they were speaking about something else.

It is hard to see the Berlinale and so many hundreds of filmmakers and people who work on this festival distilled into something we do not always recognise in the online and media discourse. Over the next ten days at the Berlinale, filmmakers are speaking constantly. They are speaking through their work. They are speaking about their work. They are speaking, at times, about geopolitics that may or may not be related to their films. It is a large, complex festival. A festival that people value in so many different ways and for so many reasons.

There are 278 films in this year’s programme. They carry many perspectives. There are films about genocide, about sexual violence in war, about corruption, about patriarchal violence, about colonialism or abusive state power. There are filmmakers here who have faced violence and genocide in their lives, who may face prison, exile, and even death for the work they have made or the positions they have taken. They come to Berlin and share their work with courage. This is happening now. Are we amplifying those voices enough?

There are also filmmakers who come to the Berlinale with different political aims: to ask how we can talk about art as art, and how we can keep cinemas alive so that independent films still have a place to be seen and discussed. In a media environment dominated by crisis, there is less oxygen left for serious conversation about film or culture at all, unless it can be folded as well into a news agenda.

Some films express a politics with a small “p”: they examine power in daily life, who and what is seen or unseen, included or excluded. Others engage with Politics with a capital “P”: governments, state policy, institutions of power and justice. This is a choice. Speaking to power happens in visible ways, and sometimes in quieter personal ones. Across the history of the Berlinale, many artists have made human rights central to their work. Others have made films which we see as quietly radical political acts which focus on small, fragile moments of care, beauty, love, or on people who are invisible to most of us, people who are alone. They help us make connections to our shared humanity through their movies. And in a broken world this is precious.

What links so many of these filmmakers at the Berlinale is a deep respect for human dignity. We do not believe there is a filmmaker screening in this festival who is indifferent to what is happening in this world, who does not take the rights, the lives and the immense suffering of people in Gaza and the West Bank, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Sudan, in Iran, in Ukraine, in Minneapolis, and in a terrifying number of places, seriously.

Artists are free to exercise their right of free speech in whatever way they choose. Artists should not be expected to comment on all broader debates about a festival’s previous or current practices over which they have no control. Nor should they be expected to speak on every political issue raised to them unless they want to.

We continue to do this work because we love cinema but we also hope and believe watching films can change things even if that is the glacial shift of changing people, one heart or mind at a time.

We thank our team, guests, juries, our filmmakers, and the many others engaged with the Berlinale for cool heads in hot times.

February 14, 2026

The above text is published in full as issued by Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle in response to the festival’s politics controversy at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The Berlinale – Berlin International Film Festival has confirmed the full jury line-up for its 76th edition, taking place from 12–22 February 2026. The awards will be presented at the Berlinale Palast on 21 February.

Berlinale 2026: International Jury

German director, author and photographer Wim Wenders will serve as president of the International Jury. Joining him are Nepali director and producer Min Bahadur Bham, a leading figure in Nepal’s cinema industry whose Shambhala competed for the Golden Bear in 2024; South Korean actress Bae Doona, known for collaborations with Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook and Hirokazu Kore-eda, as well as international projects such as Cloud Atlas and Sense8; Indian director, producer and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, founder of the Film Heritage Foundation; US filmmaker Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men, King Richard, Bob Marley: One Love); Japanese director, writer and producer HIKARI, whose Berlinale Panorama title 37 Seconds won the Audience Award in 2019; and Polish producer Ewa Puszczyńska, whose credits include Ida, Cold War and The Zone of Interest.

Berlinale Documentary Award Jury

The Berlinale Documentary Award will be presented to one of 16 nominated documentaries across the Competition, Berlinale Special, Panorama, Forum and Generation sections. The three-member jury consists of Berlin-based filmmaker and visual artist Lemohang Mosese (This Is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection), US scholar and critic B Ruby Rich, a key figure in feminist and queer film theory, and Indian filmmaker Shaunak Sen (All That Breathes). The award carries prize money of €40,000, shared equally between the director and producer.

The Perspectives Jury

The Best First Feature Award will be decided by a three-member jury comprising Moroccan filmmaker Sofia Alaoui (Animalia), German writer-director Frédéric Hambalek (What Marielle Knows), and Polish-Canadian curator Dorota Lech. The same jury will also award the GWFF Best First Feature Award in the Perspectives section, dedicated to debut features. Endowed with €50,000, the prize is split between the director and producer and will be presented at the official awards ceremony on 21 February.

Berlinale Shorts 2026: International Short Film Jury

The International Short Film Jury for Berlinale Shorts includes Syrian director Ameer Fakher Eldin, Austrian cultural journalist and film critic Stefan Grissemann, and German artist and author Gabriele Stötzer. From 21 nominated films, the jury will award the Golden Bear for Best Short Film, the Silver Bear Jury Prize (Short Film), and select the Berlin Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards. In addition, the jury will present the Berlinale Shorts CUPRA Filmmaker Award, endowed with €20,000. CUPRA is an official partner of Berlinale Shorts.

International Jury and Children’s and Youth Jury of Generation

The Generation section has also announced its juries. The Generation International Jury consists of Indonesian filmmaker Khozy Rizal, US programmer Kim Yutani, and German actress Lena Urzendowsky. They will award the Grand Prix for Best Film and the Special Prize for Best Short Film in both the Kplus and 14plus competitions.

In parallel, a Children’s Jury and a Youth Jury will determine the Crystal Bear winners, continuing the Berlinale’s longstanding commitment to young audiences and emerging voices.

The Generation Kplus Children’s Jury, made up of members aged 12 to 14, includes Walter Moritz Arndt, Gustav Arnz, Thabani Dabulamanzi, Rosa Sophie Krasznahorkai, Vera Marsh, Emir Efe Özeren, and Alma Sofia Villanueva Bullemer.

The Generation 14plus Youth Jury, comprising members aged 14 and over, includes Lorin Aktaş, Sherwin Lo-Kuo, Minou Monfared, Elda Pfäfflin, and Curt Willemeit.

The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is set to take place from 29 January to 8 February 2026, across the vibrant city of Rotterdam. The festival has unveiled its full lineup, including selections for its prestigious Tiger Competition, Big Screen Competition, and Tiger Short Competition, along with the opening and closing films.

According to the festival’s website, approximately 428 feature films and shorts will be screened throughout the event, with screenings and related activities taking place across 16 venues in Rotterdam. The programme includes 211 world premieres, 47 international premieres, and 23 European premieres. IFFR 2026 will open with the world premiere of the Portuguese feature Providence and the Guitar by João Nicolau. Inspired by a short novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, the film follows Leon and Elvira, two performers trying to keep their stage careers afloat.

The festival will close with the world premiere of the crime comedy Bazaar (Murder in the Building), directed by Rémi Bezançon, and starring Laetitia Casta, Gilles Lellouche, and Guillaume Gallienne.

IFFR 2026 will feature 10 award categories, each designed to recognize outstanding achievements in cinema across a range of disciplines. The festival’s most prominent awards include the Big Screen Competition, where the winning filmmaker(s) will be honored with the Big Screen Award and a €15,000 cash prize. In addition, the festival will offer €15,000 to the Dutch distributor who acquires the rights to distribute the winning film in the Netherlands, further encouraging local film distribution.

The Tiger Competition will showcase some of the most exciting global talent, with the Tiger Award going to the winning filmmaker. This award comes with a €40,000 cash prize, which is shared between the director and producer of the film. The competition will also recognize two filmmakers with Special Jury Awards, each worth €10,000, for exceptional artistic achievement.

For short films, the Tiger Short Competition will celebrate films ranging from 1 up to 63 minutes in length. Three Tiger Short Awards, each worth €5,000, will be given to the best shorts from around the world.

In addition to these prestigious categories, the festival will present a variety of other awards, including the Audience Award, FIPRESCI Award, KNF Award, NETPAC Award, Robby Müller Award, Youth Jury Award, and IFFR Pro Awards, highlighting the diversity and creativity of filmmakers from all corners of the globe.

The Sundance Film Festival is set to begin on Thursday, January 22, and will run through Sunday, February 1, 2026. The Festival will take place in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, with an at-home online program available nationwide from January 29 to February 1.

A total of 160 films will be screened during the Festival, including 90 feature films. All films and episodic works will premiere between January 22 and 27 in Park City, with additional screenings held throughout the remainder of the Festival in both Park City and Salt Lake City.

The 2026 Festival will serve as a meaningful tribute to Robert Redford and his visionary leadership, which inspired generations of artists and helped redefine independent cinema worldwide.

As previously announced, Redford will be honored on the second night of the Festival during a gala celebration. The special evening will celebrate the legacy, vision, and enduring mission of the Sundance Institute’s founder. The event will take place on Friday, January 23, 2026, beginning at 6:30 p.m. MT at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah.

In addition to film screenings, the Festival will feature Beyond Film talks, scheduled from January 23 to 30 at the Filmmaker Lodge and the Egyptian Theatre in Park City. The 2026 edition marks the final year of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Beginning in 2027, the Festival will relocate to a new home in Boulder, Colorado.

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival program was selected from 16,201 submissions representing 164 countries and territories, including 4,255 feature-length films. Of those feature submissions, 1,676 came from the United States and 2,579 were international. Seven episodic projects were chosen from 470 submissions.

The Festival will feature films across 13 categories, including:

• U.S. Dramatic Competition: 10

• U.S. Documentary Competition: 10

• World Cinema Dramatic Competition: 10

• World Cinema Documentary Competition: 10

• NEXT (presented by Adobe): 9

• Premieres: 29

• Midnight: 7

• Episodic: 7

• Spotlight: 2

• Family Matinee: 2

• Park City Legacy: 9

• Special Screenings: 1

• Short Film Program: 54

  

Legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, best known for The Godfather trilogy, The Conversation, and numerous other landmark films, is bringing his ambitious film Megalopolis back to the big screen.

The film will screen exclusively at select Alamo Drafthouse locations for one day only on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026.

Coppola announced the re-release on Instagram, sharing his hopes for the film’s long-term cultural impact: “It’s my hope that every New Year’s Day Megalopolis will become a fulcrum of discussion about the betterment of society and humanity.”

Originally released in fall 2024, Megalopolis marked the culmination of a decades-long passion project for Coppola. Despite significant anticipation, the film received a limited theatrical run and grossed just over $14 million worldwide.

The story explores themes of power, society, and humanity, drawing inspiration from Roman history while presenting a near-future, alternate-reality New York City. Coppola reportedly financed the film himself, investing approximately $120 million into the production.

Following the film’s release, news reports indicated that Coppola sold personal property in an effort to offset financial losses. The director has since confirmed that his next film is in pre-production. While he previously stated plans to make two more movies, the upcoming project is expected to differ significantly from Megalopolis in scale and ambition.

Coppola is currently developing an adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel The Glimpses of the Moon, which he has described as a much smaller project financially.

Megalopolis will return to theaters on January 1, 2026, offering audiences a rare opportunity to revisit one of Coppola’s most daring and personal films.

The Academy Awards, the world’s most-watched awards show, will move to YouTube beginning in 2029, marking a major shift for Hollywood’s premier honors and a longtime staple of network television.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed a multi-year agreement with YouTube granting the platform exclusive global rights to the Oscars®, starting with the 101st ceremony in 2029 and running through 2033. The telecast has aired live on ABC since the 1970s.

Under the deal, the Oscars—including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, Governors Ball access, and more—will be streamed live and free to more than 2 billion viewers worldwide on YouTube, as well as to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States. YouTube will support the Academy’s expanding global audience with accessibility features such as closed captioning and multiple-language audio tracks.

The partnership also provides worldwide access to additional Academy events and programming exclusively on the Oscars YouTube channel. These offerings will include the Governors Awards, Oscars nominations announcements, the Nominees Luncheon, the Student Academy Awards, the Scientific and Technical Awards, interviews with Academy members and filmmakers, film education programs, podcasts, and more.

“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor. “ We will be able to celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers and provide access to our film history on an unprecedented global scale.”

“The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” said Neal Mohan, CEO, YouTube. “Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”

La Biennale di Venezia announces the Sala Web for the 82^nd Venice International Film Festival, an online theatre that will stream the four films of the Biennale College Cinema along with thirteen short films, twelve from the Orizzonti section and one Out of Competition (the shorts will be available for viewing free of charge).

These are world premiere films from the Official Selection of the 82^nd Venice International Film Festival (27 August – 6 September 2025) that will be streamed concurrently with the official premieres of the films on the Lido, for a limited number of viewers. Each film will be streamed at a specific time thus simulating a traditional screening, after which the title will be available for 5 more days through the end of the available online screenings.

The lineup of thirteen shorts presents twelve films from the Orizzonti section and one Out of Competition, available to be viewed free of charge around the world in screenings hosted on behalf of the Venice Film Festival on the website operated by Festival Scope www.festivalscope.com. Each film (in the original language version with subtitles) will be available for viewing in streaming starting at 6 pm on the day of the official premiere, and will remain available until 11:59 pm on 30 September 2025, for the maximum number of viewers allowed.

The four feature films by Biennale College Cinema, La Biennale di Venezia’s international workshop for the production of micro-budget movies, are the Italian film Agnus Dei by Massimiliano Camaiti (sophomore film), Chiet Chea Manusa (Becoming Human) by Polen Ly (Cambodia, USA, sophomore film), One Woman One Bra by Vincho Nchogu (Kenya, Nigeria, debut film) and Secret of a Mountain Serpent by Nidhi Saxena (India, Sri Lanka, sophomore film). They may be viewed on the website operated by MYmovies at www.mymovies.it/ondemand/biennalecinema/ on the Biennale Cinema Channel streaming platform, which already includes a library of films from the Competition, Out of Competition and Orizzonti sections of the Venice Film Festivals between 2007 and 2024.

The Locarno International Film Festival has officially revealed the lineup for its highly anticipated 78ᵗʰ edition, set to run from August 6 to 16, 2025. As one of the world’s most prestigious celebrations of global cinema, the festival will showcase more than 220 carefully curated films across 11 sections and 3 main competitions, with 20 awards to be presented.

This year’s edition brings a star-studded lineup of international guests. Among those set to appear in Locarno are legendary action icon Jackie Chan, Oscar-winning actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson, critically acclaimed director Alexander Payne, versatile star Lucy Liu, and four-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Milena Canonero.

Festival Highlights:

The 78ᵗʰ Locarno Film Festival will feature a rich and dynamic program across the following sections:

• Retrospettiva 2025 – 44 films exploring a key figure or movement in film history

• Piazza Grande – 14 films screened in Locarno’s iconic open-air venue, under the stars

• Concorso Internazionale – 17 films vying for the prestigious Golden Leopard

• Concorso Cineasti del Presente – 15 feature debuts and second works from emerging filmmakers

• Pardi di Domani – A platform for short and medium-length films by rising talents

• Fuori Concorso – 14 distinctive works presented out of competition

• Open Doors Screenings – 13 films spotlighting voices from underrepresented regions

• Histoire(s) du Cinéma – 15 films engaging with cinema's past and legacy

• Locarno Kids Screenings – 8 films tailored for young audiences

• Semaine de la Critique – 7 films curated by the Swiss Association of Film Journalists

• Panorama Suisse – 10 standout works from contemporary Swiss cinema

Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, commented on this year’s selection:

“The films of the 78th edition represent what is alive, necessary, and daring in contemporary cinema today. A cinema entirely in the present tense, devoid of any nostalgia and projected forward towards an open, dynamic, inclusive future that is to be imagined together, once again.”

For more information, visit www.locarnofestival.ch

MARYLAND | NAIFF — The Nepal America International Film Festival, hosted annually by the Nepal America Film Society, is set to kick off its 2025 edition next week, bringing a global spotlight to South Asian and international cinema in Maryland.

NAIFF 2025 is scheduled to take place from June 26 to June 29 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, and the Greenbelt Cinema in Greenbelt, Maryland. This year’s edition will screen a total of 30 films from 14 countries, including both shorts and feature-length works. The films were selected from submissions by the selection committee comprising filmmakers and film scholars from Nepal, the United States, and South Africa.

The Festival includes acclaimed Nepali features — Shambhala (Berlin Main Competition title 2024) directed by Min Bahadur Bham, Pooja, Sir (Venice-premiered 2024) by Deepak Rauniyar, and The World’s Happiest Man (a Nepali film made in the USA, 2025) by director Binod Paudel — along with a host of other remarkable features, documentaries, and shorts from countries across the globe.

As in previous years, this year’s festival will include two films as part of the Global Peace Film Festival sidebar — War Tails by director Olha Byrledianu, and Lithium Rising: The Race for Critical Minerals by director Samuel George. The DMV Close-Up section will feature A Christmas Bonus, directed by Prince George’s County-based filmmaker Chaka Balamani, along with a selection of other short films from the region. The acclaimed documentary Devi, directed by Subina Shrestha, and We Are Inside by Farah Kassem will also be screened during the festival.

Shambhala is slated to open NAIFF 2025 on June 26 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, following a red-carpet event featuring special guests and attending filmmakers. The festival will close at the same venue on June 29 with a screening of Pooja, Sir, followed by a red-carpet event and an awards ceremony. The World’s Happiest Man (Bhuthan) will also be showcased with a red-carpet screening, featuring cast and crew members from the United States and Nepal.

Besides the film exhibition, the NAIFF 2025 program will also include a roundtable discussion, a master class, and other events at the Brentwood Arts Exchange in Brentwood, supported by the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission. The festival is supported by the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council and other valued partners.

For the full schedule and updates, visi

The Movies that Matter Festival, set to take place from March 21 to 29, 2025, in The Hague, Netherlands, has announced its opening film. The 17th edition of the festival will open on Friday, March 21, with The Promise by Daan Veldhuizen. The film uses personal stories and historical research to reveal how the oppression of the Papuan people remains deeply connected to a largely erased chapter of Dutch history, and how colonialism continues to shape the present.  

The festival will present a total of nine awards across various competitions. The Activist Lens Competition showcases documentaries about the work and lives of human rights defenders. The Justice Frame competition focuses on the importance of the rule of law and the fight against impunity. The third competition programme, Dutch Focus, highlights Dutch feature films and documentaries that broaden perspectives on human rights.  

The winners will be selected by international juries, with the Grand Jury Documentary and Grand Jury Fiction awards recognizing the best documentary and fiction films, each accompanied by a €5,000 cash prize. The festival has also introduced the Shorts Award for the best short film in recent years. In collaboration with The Hague-based film club Film070, an award is presented for the best film suitable for young adults. Additionally, all festival visitors can vote for the films they attend, with the highest-rated film winning the Audience Award, made possible by ASN Bank. The Education Award, given to the film with the greatest educational value, is chosen by a jury of high school and vocational students.  

During the festival, over 90 films on human rights will be screened, exploring themes such as human rights, freedom, and activism. The full film programme will be available online starting Wednesday, March 5. Details are available here.

South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & Television Festival has unveiled its lineup for 2025, featuring an exciting array of premieres and screenings. Highlights include the world premiere of Jillian Bell’s directorial debut, Summer of ’69, the U.S. premiere of On Swift Horses, directed by Daniel Minahan, as well as the world premieres of Sweetness, from writer-director Emma Higgins, and Trash Baby, from writer-director Jacy Mairs.

SXSW 2025 will take place from Friday, March 7, to Saturday, March 15, across multiple venues, including Paramount Theatre, ZACH Theatre, SXSW Film & TV Theater at Hyatt Regency, Rollins Theatre at The Long Center, Alamo Lamar, Violet Crown Cinema, AFS Cinema, and Fairmont. The festival will showcase a total of 111 feature films, including 90 world premieres, 3 international premieres, 3 North American premieres, 4 U.S. premieres, and 11 Texas premieres. In addition, there will be 57 short films and 19 music videos.

The TV program will present 17 projects, comprising 6 TV premieres, 4 TV Spotlights, and 7 independent TV pilots. The XR Experience Program will feature 32 projects, with 15 entries in the XR Experience Competition and 17 in the XR Experience Spotlight.

The festival will open with Amazon MGM Studios’ Another Simple Favor, directed by Paul Feig, while On Swift Horses will close the event. The Opening Night TV Premiere will be Apple TV+’s highly anticipated The Studio, starring Seth Rogen, who also serves as writer, director, and executive producer alongside Emmy Award-nominee Evan Goldberg.

“From groundbreaking independent films to unforgettable studio premieres and documentary revelations to genre-defying experiments, this lineup celebrates the fearless storytellers who make SXSW so unique,” said the vice president of film and TV at SXSW in a statement.

Further details on screening sections and full lineup information are available here.

After wrapping up the 2025 edition, the Sundance Institute announced the dates for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which will take place in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, from January 22 to February 1, 2026.

The 2026 festival may be the last year Sundance is hosted in Utah, as Boulder, Colorado, and Cincinnati, Ohio, have placed bids to host the festival starting in 2027.

“The past 11 days of the Festival have been a meaningful opportunity to connect as a community in support of independent storytelling,” said Amanda Kelso, Acting CEO, Sundance Institute. “We look forward to being reunited with audiences, artists, industry, and press next January for another edition of the Festival.”

The Sundance Film Festival also revealed its final award for 2025: Come See Me in the Good Light, in the Premieres category, won the Festival Favorite Award, voted on by audiences from all the new feature films presented at this year’s event.

“Throughout the Festival we saw audiences moved by Andrea Gibson’s and Megan Falley’s journeys in Come See Me in the Good Light. Festival goers embraced the humor and heartbreak of this intimate documentary directed by Ryan White, as it speaks to art and love and reminds us what it means to be alive as we face mortality,” added Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming.

Other award winners were announced during a ceremony at The Ray Theatre in Park City, Utah, on January 31.

The Complete List of 2025 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners.

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, scheduled for May 13-24, 2025, is accepting film submissions, with deadlines approaching in the coming months. Submissions have been open since November 2024.

The deadline for submissions is 25th February for school films for the La Cinef Selection, 3rd March for short films and 14th March for feature films. The festival has announced that the Official Selection will be unveiled in mid-April. Additionally, accreditation for the event will open on February 3. 

In other news, Iris Knobloch, the first female president of the Cannes Film Festival, has been re-elected for a second three-year term by the festival’s board of directors on January 15, 2025. Knobloch’s new mandate, beginning in July 2025, will cover the 2026, 2027, and 2028 editions.

“I am profoundly honored to once again receive the trust of our Board of Directors. I take great pride in the success of the past two editions and I am excited to continue this journey alongside our General Delegate Thierry Frémaux and our dedicated teams in the years to come. Together, we will continue working hand in hand to nurture and enhance this magnificent Festival, a unique platform where all films, voices, and talent find their place,” Knobloch said in a statement.

"I also reaffirm my commitment to ensuring that the Festival remains a space of equality and recognition for all, with a special focus on empowering women to showcase their incredible creativity," she added.

The Cannes Film Festival remains one of the most influential and anticipated events on the international film calendar, cementing its place among the "Big Five" major global festivals. The event not only dominates the city’s landscape but also garners global media attention each year.

Cate Blanchett, actor, producer, and global Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, alongside IFFR’s Hubert Bals Fund (HBF), has announced the launch of the Displacement Film Fund, a new short film grant initiative aimed at supporting displaced filmmakers. In its pilot phase, the Fund will provide up to five production grants of €100,000 each to filmmakers with a proven track record in authentic storytelling about the experiences of displaced people.

Backed by a coalition of film industry leaders, creators, and philanthropists, the Fund will be formally introduced at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). Blanchett will participate in a panel on Saturday, February 1, alongside Koji Yanai, Waad Al-Kateab, Jonas Rasmussen, and Tamara Tatishvili, to discuss the Fund’s aims and the urgency of its mission.

With one in every 67 people on earth forcibly displaced due to conflict, war, or persecution, the global community is witnessing an unprecedented crisis. The Displacement Film Fund aligns with the Hubert Bals Fund's commitment to supporting underrepresented voices, particularly from regions with limited filmmaking infrastructure.

The Fund was first announced at UNHCR’s Global Refugee Forum, where Blanchett and other supporters, including Ke Huy Quan and Echo Quan, collaborated to create the initiative. With over 100 million people displaced worldwide, the Fund aims to provide a lasting legacy of support for filmmakers whose work reflects this urgent global crisis.

A longlist of filmmakers will be selected by the Nominations Committee, and the final recipients will be determined by the Selection Committee. The chosen filmmakers will be announced during the Cannes Film Festival 2025, with the completed projects set to have their world premieres at IFFR 2026.

For more information visit

Baltimore, MD — The Producers Club of Maryland has announced that the 26th edition of the Maryland Film Festival (MdFF) will be held from November 5–9, 2025, in Baltimore. Submissions for the festival are now open.

The festival, which used to take place in May in previous years, will shift to November starting in 2025. This change aims to strengthen the connection with students, educational institutions, and filmmakers from Baltimore, Maryland, and beyond.

In an effort to broaden its scope, MdFF is introducing a Student Film category for the first time. This addition will engage Baltimore’s vibrant educational community, including institutions such as MICA, Peabody Institute, and the Baltimore School for the Arts.

The SNF Parkway Theatre will continue to serve as the festival’s home base, hosting screenings, panels, and events that spotlight both local and international talent.

For more information and to submit your film, visit

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards on Thursday, January 23, with Emilia Pérez, The Brutalist, and Wicked leading the pack with multiple nominations.

Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard, topped the nominations with 13 nods, including Best Picture. The Brutalist, directed and produced by Brady Corbet, and Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, each earned 10 nominations, also including Best Picture. A Complete Unknown and Conclave followed closely, each receiving eight nominations.

Comedians Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott announced the nominations in a live broadcast from Beverly Hills.

Due to ongoing wildfires in Southern California, the nominations were delayed twice. However, the 2025 Academy Awards ceremony is still set to take place on Sunday, March 2, hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien at the Dolby Theatre.

The full list of nominees.

The 75th Berlin International Film Festival, taking place from February 13 to 23, 2025, will feature a diverse lineup of 240 films across 10 categories, including the prestigious main competition.

The festival will officially begin on February 13 at the Berlinale Palast with the world premiere of Tom Tykwer's latest feature film, The Light. The Opening Gala and opening film will be simultaneously screened in seven cities across Germany, marking a significant expansion of the festival's reach.

This year’s Berlinale Competition brings together 19 films vying for the prestigious Golden and Silver Bears. The lineup includes works from 26 countries, with 17 world premieres. Among the most anticipated are Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon, Radu Jude’s Continental ’25, Hong Sangsoo’s What Does That Nature Say to You, Michel Franco’s Dreams, and Lucile Hadžihalilović’s The Ice Tower.

Diversity and fresh perspectives are in focus with the Berlinale Perspectives section, which features 14 debut feature films, including 12 world premieres. The Berlinale Special section offers 21 films from 16 countries, including four documentaries and one series. Andreas Prochaska’s Welcome Home Baby leads the Panorama program, which will present 34 films from 28 countries, emphasizing both bold storytelling and thematic exploration.

Short-form content also takes center stage in Berlinale Shorts, which will screen 20 films from 18 countries. The section’s 15 world premieres showcase a mix of classic storytelling, animation, and experimental documentary styles, underscoring the festival’s innovative spirit.

The Forum, renowned for its cutting-edge programming, features 30 films spanning five continents, including seven feature debuts. Meanwhile, the Generation section continues its tradition of celebrating youth-oriented cinema, presenting 39 films that capture the spirit of young audiences.

Festival Sections Overview

Opening Film: The Light

Competition: 19 Films

Berlinale Special (with Galas): 22 Films

Perspectives: 14 Films

Panorama: 34 Films

Generation: 39 Films

Shorts: 26 Films

Forum: 38 Films

Forum Expanded: 24 Works (films, video art, sculptures)

Retrospective: 15 Films

Classics: 8 Films

For more details, visit the official Berlin International Film Festival website

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced updates to the key dates and schedule of events for the 97th Oscars due to the impact of the Los Angeles-area fires. The Academy has also canceled its annual luncheon, originally scheduled for February 10.

According to the Academy's statement, the Oscars nominations voting period has been extended through Friday, January 17, at 5 p.m. PT. The Oscars Nominations Announcement has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 23, at 5:30 a.m. PT. This live announcement will be a virtual event without in-person media coverage.

Additionally, the Scientific and Technical Awards, initially scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, will be postponed to a later date, which has yet to be determined.

“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community. The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship,” the academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang aid in a statement.

In a statement, the Academy confirmed the following updates:

• The Oscars nominations voting period is extended through Friday, January 17, at 5 p.m. PT.

• The Oscars Nominations Announcement is rescheduled for Thursday, January 23, at 5:30 a.m. PT. The live announcement will be a virtual event without in-person media coverage.

• The Oscars Nominees Luncheon, scheduled for Monday, February 10, will not be held this year.

• The Scientific and Technical Awards, scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, will be rescheduled to a later date yet to be determined.

Please note that all dates are subject to change.

The 97th Oscars will still be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC, streamed live on Hulu and air live in more than 200 territories worldwide.

The 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival has announced 96 projects for its 2025 lineup, spanning feature films and episodic programs. The festival is set to begin on January 23 and run through February 2, 2025. It will take place in three locations: Park City, Salt Lake City, Utah, and online.

The 2025 Festival will kick off on Thursday, January 23, with premieres in Park City, continuing daily through Tuesday, January 28. Additional showings will take place in both Park City and Salt Lake City throughout the festival until Sunday, February 2. All competition films, along with additional selections, will be available online from January 30 to February 2, 2025, for audiences across the country. Over the course of 11 days, world premieres in various program categories will highlight fresh voices, compelling stories, and groundbreaking works.

Screenings will take place at several venues, including Broadway Centre Cinemas (operated by Salt Lake Film Society), Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City, and Eccles Theater, Egyptian Theatre, Library Center Theatre, and The Ray Theatre in Park City. Beyond the films, the festival will also feature events such as Cinema Café, Film Church, and Power of Story.

The annual fundraising gala, Celebrating Sundance Institute, presented by Google TV and honoring artists and art supporters, will be held on Friday, January 24, at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Utah. The gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. MT with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and the program at 8:00 p.m. MT.

At the end of the festival, awards in competition categories will be presented. The festival awards ceremony will take place on the final Friday, January 31, with juried awards and audience favorites announced.

The 2025 Sundance Film Festival program was curated from 15,775 submissions across 156 countries and territories, including 4,138 feature-length films. Of these, 1,591 were from U.S. filmmakers and 2,547 from international filmmakers. Six episodic projects were selected from 484 submissions.

The 2025 Festival will also feature short film programs with competition categories. The festival program categories are as follows:

• U.S. Dramatic Competition: 11 films

• U.S. Documentary Competition: 10 films

• World Cinema Dramatic Competition: 10 films

• World Cinema Documentary Competition: 10 films

• NEXT (presented by Adobe): 8 films

• Premieres: 28 films

• Midnight: 7 films

• Episodic: 7 films

• Spotlight: 2 films

• Family Matinee: 1 film

• From the Collection: 2 films

• Short Film Program: 57 films

Explore the details of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival on the official website