Spatial filters with steep switching between wide ranges of total transmission and total reflection can be obtained by using two-dimensional dielectric photonic crystals, which are a few wavelengths thick. The guidelines for engineering bandpass and bandstop filters are given. The flatness of isofrequency contours that are localized around a periphery point of the first Brillouin zone is a necessary but insufficient condition for the existence of wide angle ranges of total transmission at intermediate and large angles of incidence. Such ranges that are wider than 20° are demonstrated. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.