"Contemporary World Cinema" is not a distinct film festival, but rather a widely used programming category or series within various international film festivals and cinematic institutions. It typically showcases a curated selection of recent and critically acclaimed films from around the globe, highlighting diverse artistic voices, cinematic trends, and storytelling approaches that define the current landscape of global cinema. For instance, the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) often features a line-up that includes striking contemporary voices in world cinema, and institutions like Cornell Cinema organize "Contemporary World Cinema" series. This designation allows festivals to present films that have shaped or are actively shaping the broader discourse of global filmmaking.