It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year! If you’re a lover of Film Festivals that is.

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time for everyone to relax and settle in for a nice quiet and long winter, right? Well, if you know anything about film festivals you know that this is one of the most exciting times of the year. Not only does a new year mean new films, it means a new festival season!

Rooftop Films collaborates with several film festivals in the U.S. and around the world. These festivals share in our passion of showcasing diverse independent film.

Sundance Film Festival  and Slamdance Film Festival are a great start to the festival season, beginning next week. Followed by the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival and True/False Film Festival. Just naming a few of the great festivals that start the year.

Sundance starts on the 17th, and from what I’ve read it looks  like a spectacular line up of not only films, but panels and live performances. You read more about the festival and the full lineup here.

Slamdance, a festival by filmmakers, for filmmakers, kicks off a day later. Held at the Treasure Mountain Inn, Slamdance is a one of a kind festival experience. For more info check out their site.

If these festivals aren’t enough and you crave more, especially when it comes to amazing programming and locations, check out The International Film Festival  Rotterdam in the Netherlands, which has some of the most diverse programming around. And, if you happen to be in Europe, why not swing by the Berlin International Film Festival, one of the world’s oldest festivals, founded in 1951. If you find yourself unable to travel outside the country you can check out two amazing festivals located in U.S. Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is held in Montana and looks to have a pretty stellar line up. And if you feel like planning a trip to the Midwest, you should definitely swing by True/False. True/False begins at the end of February in Columbia, Missouri and this year’s line up looks incredible.

These festivals are a great way to start the year, but it doesn’t end there. SXSW, Tribeca, Full Frame, and even our own Summer Series is just around the corner.