International Film Fest: April 12 -22 http://diff2012.dallasfilm.org/ (formerly the AFI festival)
USA Film Festival: April 25-29 http://www.usafilmfestival.com/ (at Angelika)
Asian Film Festival of Dallas (usually in July) 2011.affd.org
Dallas Video Festival Sept. 27-30 http://www.videofest.org/ (at the Dallas Museum of Art)
USA Film Fest is the oldest in Dallas, since it started in 1971. Well rounded programming with both the accessible bigger names as well as the esoteric limited release films.
Second oldest is Dallas Vid Fest which began in 1986. The majority of its films are artsy, experimental or documentary, but there are some real gems each year.
The Asian Film Festival started humbly in smaller theatres but their fans are ardent for good reason. Amazing selection of films from quiet documentaries to japanese shock are delivered annually. This fest gets the least amount of press but it has been going on for over a decade.
Dallas Intl. Film Fest is the youngest kid on the block starting in 2006 as AFI Dallas sponsored by the Dallas Film Society. This festival gets the most attention by the media & actually brings performers & directors to town. It has the largest number of films being screened & most expensive VIP passes. Excellent selection of films ranging the gamut of genres. Day passes are a blessing.
Now then, its time for you to make plans to see a flick in a THEATRE, something that you chose not something that just happened to be on when you flipped the channel. A limited release movie at a festival lets you see movies that may NEVER get released or are not typical of wide release studio films (both are rare treats). Go watch a movie on the big screen & enjoy the public interaction with a crowd.
