Indian Film Festivals over the years, is gaining immense popularity among the people of India and around the world as well.

Foreign people have started to take notice of the films that are made in India and they come in large numbers to be a part of the Indian Film Festivals. Over the years, and especially in the two decades, the Indian Film Industry has grown leaps and bounds.

The industry has tasted exceptional success both in India and around the world. Not only have the Indian Films become extremely deep-rooted within the fashionable culture but the films have become more innovative, bold and most importantly, experimental- both technologically and thematically. Film festivals have become a widespread phenomenon over the last fifty years and are leading events establishing the reputation of film professionals and constitute a well-established field in itself.

Owing to this important renaissance in Indian Film Industry, there has been a momentous increase in the total number of film festivals that are planned, arranged and hosted in India every year. There are many film festivals that take place in various states of India, organized by respective state governments.

Origin of Film Festivals in India
The beginning of the film festivals in India can be traced to the stupendous rise of the cine-clubs and film societies that sprang up at various parts of the country during the 1950`s, mainly in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and few other places in south India. The urge to set up cine clubs was seen as an effect of the rise Hollywood film industry, and over non-commercial movements dedicated to such causes as documentary and avant-garde film.

Such societies and clubs popularized across the country, where they promoted the materialization of the historically important surrealist and impressionist cinemas, where they provided the only regular outlet for domestically produced movies. As such cine clubs grew and spread across India, they went ahead to organize international conclaves where their members, many of whom were aspiring filmmakers, could share thoughts, ideas and inspirations without any regard to national borders. Activities such as these were the prototypes and predecessors of film festivals.

Lists of Film Festivals in India
Indian Movies consists of films produced across the country, which includes the cinematic customs, tradition and cultures of various states like; Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal. Indian movies are now being closely followed throughout Middle East and South Asia, and in parts of Europe. Cinema, as a medium of entertainment, has gained reputation in the India. And now we see as many as 1,000 films in a variety of Indian languages are produced every year.

Mumbai International Film Festival
Mumbai International Film Festival is organized and hosted in Mumbai. The city is heart and soul of Indian Cinema. This festival, started by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) in 1997, thrives to support and promote good quality films. The main goal of this film festival, right from its inception, has been to inspire audiences and inculcate interest in cinema.

Apart from hosting all kinds of films - Indian, foreign, old and new, documentaries and shorts, it also screens many ad films, short film and documentary competitions. The team of organizing committee includes top name from Bollywood industry and is chaired by the world renowned film maker Shyam Benegal. The list of trustees too includes many illustrious names such as Amol Palekar, Shabana Azmi and Farhan Akhtar. The festival is generally organized in October each year.

International Film Festival of Kerala
Kerala Film Festival is arranged by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. It is one of the renowned and most popular film festivals in India, as recognized by the famed Paris based organization International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). The Film Festival also hosts one of the most popular film and documentaries competitions produced in Asia, Africa and Latin America and the festival always attracts celebrated international names in its adjudicators.

Jaipur International Film Festival
Jaipur International Film Festival, held in Jaipur, was launched recently in the year 2009 and since then it has gathered a lot of support and fan base across the country. This festival is mainly organized in the month of January and is held for five days. The main focus of this festival has been stated as to "open a dialogue between various communities and nations of the world through the medium of cinema".

International Film festival of India, Goa
International Film festival of India or IFFI, is organized, arranged and hosted by the Film Division, Government of India. It is the oldest festival of India and is one of the prestigious one at that. The festival, for the first time, was organized under the kind patronage of Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, in 1952 in Delhi. Over the five decades it has moved to several venues including Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, until finally the location was fixed at Goa. In 2004, IFFI finalized its foundation in Goa and since then it has been taking place every year in Goa during the month of November or December.

Ahmedabad International Independent Film Festival
One of the recent additions to the growing list of film festivals in India is the Ahmedabad International Independent Film Festival. This festival came into being in the year 2009 and since then this festival is hosted every year in the month of October. The main focus remains to promote awareness among the public about the concept of independent film making. It also thrives to encourage independent film makers and provide them with the platform to showcase their talent to the audience. Top cinematic brains like Nagesh Kukunoor, Anurag Kashyap and Rahul Bose from the Indian Film Industry throng the festival to add to the intellectual quotient.

Kolkata Film Festival
Kolkata Film Festival or KFF, held in Kolkata, West Bengal, is the 2nd oldest international film festival in India after IFFI. The festival is arranged, organized and hosted by West Bengal Government. It is generally held from 10th November to 17th November every year. Commemorating the magnificent legacy of the Film Society movement, the Government of West Bengal in 1985, made Nandan the West Bengal Film Centre. The centre, unveiled by Satyajit Ray, started functioning from the year of its origin. It has amazed myriad film enthusiasts from all over the world because of its marvellous hanging architecture.