October 30-November 9: AFI Fest spans 11 days each fall, featuring international films from emerging filmmakers, global showcases of the latest work from the great film masters, nightly special screenings and red-carpet gala premieres. The Festival will launch with the World Premieres of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and close with Edward Zwick's Defiance starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber. Other highlights include Steven Soderbergh's controversial Che, Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler, and Last Chance Harvey, with Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson.

Other featured films: Poundcake • Playing Columbine • Two Lovers • Achilles and the Tortoise • Adam Resurrected • Wendy and Lucy

Visit the official site for full schedule and more

New York Film Festival: Changeling Premiere • 2008 Toronto Film Festival

October 2-12: The Mill Valley Film Festival specializes in launching new films and new filmmakers, and has earned a reputation as a filmmakers' festival by offering a high-profile, prestigious, noncompetitive environment for celebrating the best in independent and world cinema. Each year, the 11-day festival welcomes more than 200 filmmakers from around the world.

Featured films: Slumdog Millionaire • RockNRolla • American Violet • Etz Limon ... View full list of films

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October 15-19: The Hamptons International Film Festival was founded to celebrate independent film -- long, short, fiction and documentary -- and to introduce a unique and varied spectrum of international films and filmmakers with fresh voices and differing global perspectives.

Featured films: Two Lovers • Synecdoche, New York • Gospel Hill • Shadows in the Sun ... View full list of films

Visit the official site