#1 Film & Media Event
The San Francisco International Film Festival, which just celebrated its 60th year, is the longest-running film festival in the Americas. The festival celebrated its diamond anniversary by screening 181 films from 51 countries and awarding nearly $40,000 in prizes to emerging and established filmmakers. Next: Spring 2018
#2 Film & Media Event
The small-town festival has an impressive track record of launching new films and filmmakers. It’s earned a reputation as a filmmakers’ festival by celebrating the best in American independent and foreign films. Each year, the festival welcomes more than 200 filmmakers representing some 50 countries, and more than 60,000 viewers. Next: October 5-15, 2017
#3 Film & Media Event
The nation’s largest festival dedicated to Asian-American media, the 11-day CAAMFest welcomed over 200 filmmakers and showcased some 113 films from 22 different countries in 2017. CAAM also presented 10 world premieres and welcomed an audience of more than 28,000 people. Next: May 2018
#5 Film & Media Event
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, presented by the Jewish Film Institute, is the largest and longest-running festival of its kind, screening 70 films in San Francisco, the East Bay, Palo Alto, and San Rafael over the course of three weeks. Last year, more than 40,000 filmgoers and industry professionals attended the festival. Next: July 20-August 6, 2017
#6 Film & Media Event
Sketchfest debuted in 2002 and has rapidly grown into a nationally recognized comedy festival that mixes national headliners, local favorites, and the best up-and-coming acts from North America. The event features stand-up comedians, improv/sketch groups, solo shows, and musical acts, giving audiences the rare opportunity to see performers like Jeff Goldblum, David Cross, and Maya Rudolph in intimate live performances and discussions. Next: January 11-28, 2018
#7 Film & Media Event (up from #8)
The Arab Film Festival, founded in 1996, is the largest independent annual showcase of Arab films and filmmakers in the country. Festival organizers host events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego each year, selecting contemporary films that “provide insight into the beauty, complexity, and diversity of the Arab world alongside realistic perspectives on Arab people, culture, art, history, and politics.” Next: October 13-22, 2017
#8 Film & Media Event (up from #9)
Bay Area writers created Litquake in 1999 as a weeklong literary spectacle for book lovers, complete with panels, cross-media events, and readings. Now the largest independent literary festival on the West Coast, the festival has presented more than 7,000 author appearances in its celebration of San Francisco's thriving contemporary literary scene. Next: October 6-14, 2017
#9 Film & Media Event (up from #10)
Melissa Chittick and Stephen Salmons started the Silent Film Festival because they believed San Francisco audiences would enjoy viewing silent films on a big screen with live musical accompaniment. Over the last 21 years, their festival has presented more than 250 rare and classic silent film programs, all with live music performed by the accomplished composers and musicians. In addition to screenings, the festival brings authors, archivists, and filmmakers to the stage to help audiences appreciate the history, preservation, and continuing influence of these early works of cinema art. Next: Spring 2017
#11 Film & Media Event
Organizer Jeff Ross launched the documentary festival in 2001 after noting how well documentaries performed at his SF Indie Fest. Sixteen years later, the festival continues to grow. In 2017, it ran for 16 days, with 110 screenings split between the Vogue Theater, Alamo Drafthouse, and the Roxie Theater. Next: Spring 2018
