Located in coastal Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Atlantic Film Festival (September 17-26, 2009) is a celebration of film and video from the Atlantic Provinces, Canada and around the world. Known for its warm and festive atmosphere, the festival is committed to screening an inspiring and engaging collection of films and videos from Canada and the world. AFF is now considered one of the top four film festivals in Canada.

Some of the films showing at the festival this year include Love and Savagery, a Quebec/Newfoundland/Irish collaborative production about a young geologist who falls for a girl set to join the local nunnery and Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day, a sequel to the hit Canadian comedy. Atlantic Film Festival is a sprawling extravaganza that offers something for all lovers of international film and Canadian culture. Investigate the festival’s online schedule.

Other festivals starting this week include:

Chicago United Film Festival (Sept 18-24): Premiering at the Chicago United Film Festival this year is The Shark is Still Working, a captivating documentary about one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters of all time, Jaws. To gear up for the documentary, come out to the special screening of Jaws and see Steven Spielberg’s classic on the big screen. The Chicago United Fest also features 16 other exciting films to choose from, so there’s something for everyone!

Mid Atlantic Black Film Festival (Sept 16-19)

Vistas Film Festival (Sept 17-20)

Estes Park Film Festival (Sept 17-20)

Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival (Sept 17-27)

Independent Film Week (Sept 19-23)

Festivals starting next week include:

Global Peace Film Festival (Sept 22-27): With a mission to educate and inspire through the art of film, the GPFF strives to move people beyond their political, geographic and personal boundaries to embrace peace. The festival opens with The Day After Peace, about the ten-year journey of filmmaker Jeremy Gilley to establish a worldwide ceasefire day, Dear Mr. Gore, a contemplative response to An Inconvenient Truth, and Palestine, Beer and Oktoberfest, which introduces a father/daughter team determined to make Palestine’s first beer.  Many filmmakers will be on hand to answer questions after the screening of their films.

AFI Latin American Film Festival (Sept 23-Oct 12): Now in its 20th year, the AFI Latin American Film Festival showcases the best filmmaking from Latin America and, with the inclusion of films from Spain and Portugal, celebrates Ibero-American cultural connections. This year’s selection of more than 30 films includes multiple award winners, international festival favorites, local box-office hits and debut works by promising new talents.

Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival (Sept 25-27): Since its debut in 1999, filmmakers from across the country and around the world have come to Birmingham to screen their work at Sidewalk and were thrilled to discover fresh, enthusiastic crowds eager to devour new independent cinema. With nine venues in Birmingham’s historic Theatre District, spontaneity rules the schedule of Sidewalk attendees. Low-priced weekend passes provide easy access to Sidewalk venues, encouraging attendees to seek out new films and sample programming they may not otherwise see. The result is a crowd rich in diversity and united in a hunger for new film.

Urbanworld Film Festival (Sept 23-26)

San Diego Film Festival (Sept 23-27)

Fantastic Fest (Sept 23-Oct 1)

Friars Club Comedy Film Festival (Sept 24-27)

Peachtree Village International Film Festival (Sept 24-27)

Port Townsend Film Festival (Sept 24-27)

Edmonton International Film Festival (Sept 25-Oct 3)

TromaDance Indiana (Sept 25-27)

Moondance International Film Festival (Sept 25-27)

B-Movie Celebration (Sept 25-27)