Study the text and do the exercises below.

Anna Posyniak‑Dutka In The Limelight

A) The International Film Festival in Cannes

The French had dreamt of organising a film event that could competecompetecompete with the already popular Venice Film FestivalfestivalFestival. They tried it in 1939. However, because of the difficult relations between many countries in Europe at that time, only 9 countries accepted the invitationaccepted the invitation [accept the invitation]accepted the invitation to propose their films for the competitioncompetitioncompetition. Guestsguests [guest]Guests arrived in August, but because of the war which broke out in September, only one film was shown. The next Cannes Film Festival took placetook place [take place]took place in 1946. Since then many stars and new genresgenres [genre]genres of films have been discovered there. Every year participantsparticipants [participant]participants compete to win the Palme d’Or, the Golden Palm, and the festival attractsattracts [attract]attracts filmmakersfilmmakers [filmmaker]filmmakers and cinema goerscinema goers [cinema goer]cinema goers.

B) The international Venice Film Festival

It’s the oldest and one of the most respectedrespectedrespected film festivals in the world. Initially, the film festival was part of the Venice art exhibitionexhibitionexhibition held every couple of years. However, thanks to the growing popularity of cinema, after only three years, in 1935, it started to be organised as a separate event. Nowadays the awardsawards [award] (noun)awards that filmmakers compete for at this festival are Leone d'Oro, the Golden Lion, for the best film, and Coppa Volpi, for the best actor and actress. However, at the very beginning, there was no prize and the audienceaudienceaudience voted for the best representatives in a few categories. The Golden Lion started to be awardedawarded [award]awarded in 1949. It is believed that whoever wins the Golden Lion, is very likely to win the Oscar.

C) The Berlin International Film Festival

Berlinale, as this festival is also referred to, was first organised in 1951. Initially, it was heldheld [hold]held in the summer, but in the 70s it was moved to winter months, usually February. Every edition sells over 300,000 tickets and it shows over 400 films. It is considered the largest film festival in the world in terms of attendanceattendanceattendance. Many festival’s screeningsscreenings [screening]screenings are open to the public. It also moves away from the Hollywood cinema and gives more space to international, experimentalexperimentalexperimental, and creative filmmakers. As many other festivals, Berlinale has its statuettestatuettestatuette presented to the best picturespictures [picture]pictures and it’s the Golden Bear Award.

D) The Sundance Film Festival

It is the youngest among the most prestigious film festivals. It was inauguratedinaugurated [inaugurate]inaugurated in 1978 and its focus has been independent film production. The future of many films is decided during this festival. Independent filmmakers submitsubmitsubmit their feature filmsfeature films [feature film]feature films or short films, and if they manage to gain recognitiongain recognitiongain recognition from the audience and the juryjuryjury, it opens many doors for them. For many of them, it’s the only way to the silver screensilver screensilver screen. Along with ordinary cinema fans, there are executives and film criticsfilm critics [film critic]film critics, who offer their money and expert advice to beginner filmmakers. The festival is held annually in Salt Lake City in Utah, but it’s not limited to American cinematographycinematographycinematography. Films from all around the world are accepted.

1 Źródło: Anna Posyniak‑Dutka, licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.