I have seen more movies than I could ever count or remember. If I wasn’t consumed with piles of reading and papers, I would spend a good portion of my time watching more. There’s something about how they engage me and tell a story that keeps me wanting more.

But I often watch films that a number of people haven’t seen — works from many different genres — and I greatly admire each of them. Not to say I’ve loved every film, but I like variety.

I enjoy Hollywood movies as much as the next person, but we seem to disregard the other film options out there. On the weekends do you search for foreign, independent, experimental, short or documentary films with good ratings to rent or watch on Netflix? Maybe some of us do, but most would head to the AMC movie theater down the street out of convenience.

Hollywood is not the only industry toward which we should direct an eager eye. I know it’s the most tempting, and we always see Hollywood trailers on TV during commercials. We scramble online or through the newspaper for the local Regal listings when making last-minute plans to see a movie with friends.

Ask people their favorite movies and what do they say? “Avatar,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Gladiator,” “The Hangover,” “Sex and the City” and the like. These movies are obviously all Hollywood — they have big names and huge profits.

It’s rare that you hear someone say their favorite film is a title like “El Bola,” a beautiful foreign film directed by Achero Ma√É.√±as Amyach, or “Broken English,” an interesting romantic production directed by Zoe R. Cassavetes.

Ever heard of Goran Dukic? He is the director of the film “Wristcutters: A Love Story” — a unique spin on romance and death with actors you’d probably recognize. For lovers of the movie “Crash,” the Norwegian film “Hawaii, Oslo” directed by Erik Poppe would catch your attention with its similar style of twists and connections.

Try the independent film “Keith” by Todd Kessler, which brought me to tears with its performances. Or perhaps you’ve heard of Roberto Benigni’s “La Vita e Bella” — an amazing Italian film about love, parenthood and life during World War II that is both heartfelt and comic.

We tend to focus our attention on the nominees and winners of Academy Awards and Golden Globes that have been talked about all year. I’m sure we’ve heard of the movies during the year before their ceremonies, but could we so easily recognize the foreign film nominees or other films celebrated at international film festivals? It’s less likely.

We should direct this attention elsewhere. Take the initiative to watch a movie that you’ve never heard of before; maybe one in another language. I promise subtitles won’t kill you. Or maybe try your local independent theater for films you can’t find at Regal.

Try not to look for the faces you’ll be watching in the film, but read the plot summaries and determine whether you think you’d enjoy it. Allow yourself the opportunity to understand that there’s more to the film industry than Hollywood, and that credit should be given across the board.

It’s not about the box office and the labels. It’s about the art.