What is the purpose of film festivals?

The purpose of film festivals primarily focuses on showcasing new films and promoting cinema culture. Film festivals serve as platforms where filmmakers can present their works to an audience, offering a space for emerging talents to gain recognition and for established creators to debut their new projects. This helps to cultivate a vibrant cinema culture by encouraging discussions around storytelling, filmmaking techniques, and various social themes explored in contemporary films.

Furthermore, these events often include workshops, panels, and networking opportunities that enhance the overall film community, allowing filmmakers, critics, and audiences to engage with each other. In addition to promoting individual films, festivals play a significant role in highlighting diverse voices and genres, thus enriching the cinematic landscape.

While selling films to distributors is an important aspect of many festivals, it is not their primary purpose. Similarly, though some festivals may screen international films, they typically encompass a broad range of genres and formats rather than focusing on a single category. Lastly, while many festivals include award ceremonies, they are not exclusively dedicated to this aspect but rather to the broader celebration of film and filmmaking.