In 2013, there were 3,000 active film festivals throughout the world.
They took place on every continent (yep, there’s a film festival in Antarctica). Some were star-studded celebrations of major filmmakers, while others took a more scrappy, indie approach. Our favorite, of course, was a hometown treasure: The Maryland Film Festival.
We’re not the only ones who are fond of the MFF, it turns out. Yesterday, Moviemaker Magazine featured the festival on its list of the 25 coolest film festivals in the world in 2014, which also features perennial favorites like Austin’s South by Southwest and cosmopolitan affairs like the Hong Kong Film Fest. Here’s what the judges had to say about the MFF:
More and more, we will find this fest world-premiering the best of indie cinema, because they are regularly drawing filmmakers in for a one-of-a-kind weekend of parties and delicious food. Plus, filmmakers can attend their Filmmaker Conference and get confidential inside information on the industry, directly from other filmmakers. A priceless resource.
We’re thrilled to see the MFF get props for its careful cultivation of the best indie filmmakers out there. It’s fun to go to MFF shorts screenings, because you’re almost guaranteed to see at least one of the selected filmmakers show up a few years later with a feature film that makes a big splash. The MFF selection committee has a great eye, and they throw a great event. They deserve every kudo they get!
