by Annecy, France
June 13-18
The annual animation festival in France is ideally timed to combine sunny visits to the lake and castles of this beautiful French mountain town with film screenings. At night, they show new and classic movies outdoors. This year, the opening film is Minions: The Rise of Gru and special screenings include Disney and Pixar’s Lightyear and Netflix’s animated title The Sea Beast.
Festival pass: from £63. Stay: Ibis Annecy Center Vieille Ville, doubles from £175 or check the official website for camping options
Mediterranean Film Festival, Split, Croatia
June 16-25, 2022
Croatia’s second largest city has plenty of historical sights, museums, and nightlife, and its stunning coastal setting makes for a particularly picturesque film festival. During the day, screenings take place in a cinema within the walls of the 1,700-year-old Diocletian’s Palace, a perfect base for sightseeing. As the name suggests, they focus on Mediterranean films that might be difficult to access elsewhere. This is a festival that prides itself on its positive and friendly atmosphere and its parties, many of which take place in the open-air cinema on Bačvice beach.
Festival Pass: TBC. Stay: the sustainable Hotel Eslava near the boardwalk, doubles from £145
Transylvania international film festival, romania
June 17-26
Nicknamed the “Treasure City”, historic Cluj-Napoca has a creative buzz throughout the year, but it really comes alive when the film festival is in town. Screenings take place in a variety of stunning locations, from castles to open-air museums and churches. On June 21, the 1972 documentary Moonwalk One is screened, with live musical accompaniment by the French band Invaders. It will also support Ukrainian filmmakers with special screenings of films, including Valentyn Vasyanovych’s powerful Reflection.
Festival pass: from £29. Stick around – one of the many good value options is the funky hotel lol and loladoubles from £6
Munich Film Festival/Filmfest München, German
June 23-July 2
Berlin may be Germany’s best-known film festival, but for sunnier weather, head to Munich in June. First held in 1983, it shows around 200 films and attracts star guests such as Melanie Griffith, Michael Caine, Emma Thompson, Ralph Fiennes and Antonio Banderas. The Kinderfest chapter welcomes youngsters to special screenings. As a city, Munich has more than enough to keep you busy, from over 80 museums to famous beer gardens, perfect for talking about watching movies during the day.
Festival Pass – Details to be announced soon. Stay: Hotel Buddy, in the city center, double from £129
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic
July 1-9
This beautiful city in the Czech Republic hosts one of the oldest festivals in the world and is a favorite among film fans. The festival pass offers discounts at selected tourist sites in the Karlovy Vary region until the end of 2022, plus free transportation on the festival buses and free bike rental, so you can explore the surrounding area. It shows around 200 feature films from all over the world and supports new talent. This year’s schedule has yet to be announced; last year he premiered the excellent Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham.
Festival pass: from £27. Stay: Pupp Grand Hotel was the inspiration for Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel; from £130or camp in the “Shopping Village” in it rolava Recreational area
Locarno film festival, Switzerland
August 3-13
Situated between the lake and the mountains, the Swiss-Italian city celebrates international cinema in stunning locations every August. The open-air Piazza Grande has a capacity of 8,000 people: it is the largest open-air projection venue in Europe and can be an impressive experience. Locarno has a great reputation for quality auteur films: this year it will honor the excellent independent director Kelly Reichardt (First Cow) and has numerous special events for her 75th anniversary.
Festival pass: from £30 up to date, keep an eye on the website. Stay: Casa Elisabetta, doubles from £103or search for nearby B&Bs Ascona, Losonaless, Tender or Gordola
Venice Film Festival, Italy
August 31-September 10
One of the most accessible and stylish of the world’s major film festivals, Venice is the one to book if you’re getting serious about Cannes Fomo. The main screenings actually take place on the small island of Lido, where many people from the industry also stay, but those based in Venice enjoy a beautiful boat trip to see high-quality films, most of which are available to the public. . Last year’s guests included Penelope Cruz, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst.
Festival Pass: TBC.
Stay: Hotel Villa Orio at the Lido, doubles from £83either Hotel Marin in Venicefrom £86
Saint Sebastian film festival, spain
September 16-24
Held in the Spanish city of San Sebastián (Donostia), the international festival is known for its wide range of film screenings, stunning beach views and incredible food scene. You can also see the likes of Al Pacino and Tarantino setting up bars, and movie fans love to hang out at the Maria Cristina Hotel, where the stars stay. The exhibition “Imagine a Film Festival” will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the event.
Tickets: 2022 prices tba, on sale from September 11; (in 2021 prices ranged from £1.50 for children’s screenings to £80 for opening and closing galas). September. Stay: Affordable options include Hotel Avenida, doubles from £100
zurich film festival, switzerland
September 22-October 2
If Cannes and Venice are the grandmothers of the European festival scene, ZFF is the fashionable teenager. It appeared in 2005 and quickly became established, with thousands of people from the industry visiting the Swiss city to see the work of emerging filmmakers. Zurich is attractive, sophisticated and easy to explore, with many art corners and trendy bars. Visit the Kunsthaus and Rietberg museums, and don’t miss Chagall’s stained glass windows in the Fraumünster. Festival pass: from £30 for a day pass, for up to four screenings per day. Individual tickets go on sale in September. Stay: the elegant Hotel Marta in the old town, from £112
Evolution International Film Festival of Mallorca, Spain
October 26-November 1
One of the fastest growing film festivals in Europe, showcasing a culturally diverse mix of feature films, short films and VR projects, EMIFF has been one of MovieMaker’s “TOP 50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry fee” for five years in a row. Everything is centrally located so you can easily explore cultural sights like the cathedral. This year’s festival will include a drive-in cinema showing contemporary classics, a ‘made in the Balearics’ program highlighting local talent from the islands, and recordings of live podcasts such as Girls on Film. Day trip options include the coastal port of Sóller, the sleepy mountain town of Fornalutx and the Ses Rotes winery in Esporles.
Festival pass: from £85which includes all movies except closing night. Stay: Hotel Saratoga, in the heart of Palma, from €112
