Film festivals

Film festivals are the best way to see previews of the latest releases, hunt down the next big thing or watch classics on the big screen, but tickets always sell out quickly. We've put together a list of our favourite film festivals taking place across the globe to help members plan ahead. Let us know which ones you're interested in attending and we'll send you programmes as soon as they're available, book tickets, arrange transport and organise accommodation.

Sundance Film Festival

Park City, US

January

Founded by Robert Redford – and named after his character in seminal Western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – the Sundance festival is renowned for launching fresh talent. Reservoir Dogs, The Blair Witch Project and Precious all soared to success after positive receptions at the festival.

The 2011 festival saw the directorial debut of acclaimed British actor Paddy Considine with Tyrannosaur – the story of a violent man who finds love in the form of a charity shop worker. Other films in the competition included a tale of a Buddhist monk who returns to his punk-rock roots, a documentary following a year inside the New York Times and Kevin Smith’s first attempt at a horror movie.

Berlin International Film Festival

Berlin, Germany

February

The largest publicly attended film festival in the world shows around 400 films each February, representing the best filmmakers from across the globe. Twenty features compete for the Golden Bear award.

2011 saw a screening of new Irish comedy, The Guard, starring Brendan Gleeson as a sergeant who finds his work disrupted by the arrival of an American cop in his town, played by Don Cheadle. It featured the directing debut of Ralph Fiennes who also stars in his adaptation of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus, and was opened by the Coen brothers’ remake of True Grit, starring Jeff Bridges.

Cannes Film Festival

Cannes, France

May

Cannes has been running since 1946 and is among the world's oldest and most prestigious film festivals. It's also one of the most glamorous, drawing Hollywood royalty to the French Riviera for a fortnight of red carpets, paparazzi and parties. The focus of the festival is the Palme d'Or, one of cinema's most sought-after awards, whose previous recipients have included Quentin Tarantino, Francis Ford Coppola and the Coen brothers.

We can arrange tickets to the premieres – and, more importantly, the celeb-packed after-parties – but there's plenty to see beyond the red carpet too. Ask your lifestyle manager for a full programme of events and details of accommodation and tickets.

Cambridge Film Festival

Cambridge, UK

September

The Cambridge Film Festival is a favourite among cinema fans as it eschews glitz and glamour to focus instead on the screen. Each year it shows new features, documentaries and shorts – as well as previews of forthcoming blockbusters – at the Arts Picturehouse and outdoor locations throughout the city. Filmmakers are often invited to discuss their work at selected screenings, and there's usually a handful of beautifully restored classic films to watch on the big screen too.

The highlight of the festival is the ‘Surprise Film', kept secret until the screening. Previous surprises have included previews of Pirates of the Caribbean, Burn After Reading and the premiere of A Cock and Bull Story. Tickets sell out fast, so call us to let you know when they go on sale.

New York Film Festival

New York, USA

September

New York is the globe's greatest cinematic city – a giant movie set whose streets and skyline are instantly familiar to anyone who's ever watched a film – and it's no surprise that the home town of Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen has a world-class cinema festival. Its programme features new films from established and emerging directors, retrospectives of filmmakers and genres, in-depth lectures and seminars. It also has a strong avant-garde section, which since 1997 has celebrated the best in experimental, non-narrative film.

Call your lifestyle manager to book a trip to New York based around the festival. We'll arrange flights, accommodation and tickets, as well as restaurant bookings and transport while you're there.

London Film Festival

London, UK

October

The British Film Institute's huge festival is a city-wide celebration of cinema that takes place across London, with the focus on the BFI's headquarters at South Bank. As well as premieres of the latest star-studded movies from Hollywood, there are short films, documentaries, animations, homegrown features and lectures from top filmmakers.

Tickets for the big screenings sell out fast. Call your lifestyle manager and we'll set up a reminder for you to book as soon as the programme is announced later in the year.