Not that the state will suffer from a severe shortage of cinema-oriented shindigs in the meantime. By our count, Colorado is currently home to at least forty ongoing film festivals of various shapes, sizes and scopes, with a majority taking place outside the Denver-Boulder area.
The fests are listed below in chronological order, followed by those that have yet to finalize a 2026 date. Some are large, sprawling and multi-faceted, while others zero in on specific subjects or creators. But all of them pay tribute to the power of the moving image as a tool for action, education, insight or pure and simple fun.
August is packed with cinematic offerings; check out the Mimesis Documentary Festival, After the Fest virtual fundraiser, CinemaQ, Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema and the Telluride Film Festival.
2025 Film Festivals in Colorado
Mimesis Documentary FestivalAugust 5-10
Center for Documentary and Ethnographic Media, 2085 Colorado Avenue, Boulder
The Mimesis crew calls their festival "an artist-focused, community-oriented celebration of documentary media," and members try to put up as few obstacles as possible between filmmakers and audiences. They boast that "80 percent of Mimesis is programmed from the open-submission process" and add that "we are committed to providing a platform for artists focusing on personal, underrepresented and culturally specific subjects that offer the most profound experiences of art made from life."
After the Fest
August 5-14
Virtual Screening/Fundraiser
Mountainfilm presents "After the Fest," a virtual screening of three films from its 2025 festival. Films will be available to stream for $20 each, and all proceeds will benefit filmmakers and Mountainfilm. The featured movies are Snow Leopard Sisters, Old Man Lighting and The Age of Water.
CinemaQ
August 8-10
Sie FilmCenter, 2510 East Colfax Avenue, Denver
A feature of Denver Film, CinemaQ characterizes itself as the city's "only LGBTQ+ film festival," devoted to recognizing the vibrancy and diversity of the community by way of movies, panel discussions and associated happenings such as the SaturGAY morning cartoons + cereal. This year's opening night presentation is Twinless, an offering from director/screenwriter James Sweeney in which two men in a bereavement support group find solace in each other.
Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema
August 29-31
Boulder
For 22 years, the Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema has sought to broaden the definition in its name. The fest's creatives use the term "dance cinema" because they feel it's broad enough to encompass sixty-to-ninety-minute screenings "plus multimedia live performance, dance documentaries and even new forms we haven't yet come to know and love."
Telluride Film Festival
August 29 through September 1
Telluride
The Telluride Film Festival unquestionably rivals Sundance when it comes to international renown, prestige and influence. Plenty of pictures that went on to earn major Academy Awards premiered at Telluride; Slumdog Millionaire, The King's Speech, Argo, 12 Years a Slave, Spotlight and Moonlight are a half-dozen examples. Directors, producers and actors know that generating wows at Telluride can lead directly to cinematic glory.
Colorado Short Circuit
September 5-7
Ivywild School Event Center, 1604 South Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs
It's no coincidence that "Colorado" is part of this film fest's moniker. An Indie Spirit Film Festival specialty program, Short Circuit is expressly concentrated on giving a boost to Colorado filmmakers, whose participation forms encourage them to document "your relationship with our beautiful state." The word "short" is also more than a broad definition of the form: Most submissions are limited to a maximum of 25 minutes, with the exception of animation (twenty minutes tops) and music video (ten minutes).
Winter Park Film Festival
September 5-7
Winter Park
One of the unique aspects of the Winter Park Film Festival, based in a ski-resort town readily accessible from Denver, is its Alive Film Challenge, which delves into "compelling narratives that explore mental health and addiction with depth and creativity." After the screenings, a panel consisting of filmmakers and experts discuss these themes and more — and audience participation is definitely encouraged.
Buddhist Arts and Film Festival
September 11-14
Boulder
Laura England Weiss, who conceived of the Buddhist Arts and Film Festival, has a background that could hardly be more eclectic. In addition to being a filmmaker, she's a psychiatric nurse and the founder of CompassionRocks, a nonprofit that made over 600 mani stones for use in the construction of Crestone's Sangdo Palri Temple. The fest's theme in 2025 is "ground," defined as "the primordial state of any sentient being" — a rich topic expected to be underscored on screen and in accompanying musical performances.
Denver Silent Film Festival
September 12-14
Denver
Who needs all that gab? Birthed in 2010, the Denver Silent Film Festival, another wing of Denver Film, has a mission of "celebrating the extraordinary body of silent film and inviting contemporary audiences to immerse themselves in the foundation of film history." The programmers pride themselves on presenting the best available prints of American and foreign classics, as well as rarer efforts or newly restored masterpieces from the period before Hollywood learned to talk.
Aspen Filmfest
September 16-21
Aspen
In 1979, Aspen Film founder Ellen Kohner Hunt passed a handwritten note to a member of the Aspen Arts Council that asked a simple question: "How about having a film festival?" For the 46 years since then, Kohner Hunt's idea has been made real on an annual basis. The 2025 version can be experienced at the Aspen Film Isis Theatre, which has been up and running since 1915, with the schedule expected to include movies with the imprimatur of the planet's top film festivals — Cannes, Venice, Toronto and, of course, Telluride and Sundance.
Breck Film Fest
September 18-21
The Eclipse Theater, 103 South Harris Street, Breckenridge
Offering "more film" and "less air," the Breck Film Fest was chosen by USA Today as one of the top American film festivals to attend thanks to its blend of "world-class independent film amid a naturally scenic high-country backdrop." The numbers back up this assertion: 92 films, eighteen awards, 3,416 tickets and 44 years. Family friendliness is a priority, as are the food and frolic that are an important part of the Breckenridge brand.
Crested Butte Film Festival
September 24-28
Crested Butte
Here's a testimonial about the Crested Butte Film Festival from one recent attendee: "Community integration is perhaps what elevates (no pun intended at 9,000 feet above sea level) Crested Butte apart from some of the larger legacy festivals in the region. As an attendee, it took a mere 24 hours to get on a first-name basis with the festival staff, local sponsors, and filmmakers. After all, nothing solidifies bonding like an altitude acclimating kickoff bike-a-thon through a sea of golden aspens."
Pikes Peak docuFEST
October 3-4
Colorado Springs
Now entering its third year, the Pikes Peak docuFEST is committed to "the transformative power of storytelling through film," in order to "inspire, ignite positive change and captivate audiences with exceptional entertainment" that goes beyond movies to encompass live music and assorted panels. Prizes are available to filmmakers, and so are networking opportunities that could lead to future partnerships or even actual paying assignments.
The Junktown Film Festival
October 10
Avalon Theater, 45 Main Street, Grand Junction
When people refer to Grand Junction as "Junktown," they're not typically trying to be complimentary. But the men and women behind the Junktown Film Festival have chosen to make a positive out of a negative. Staged at the historic Avalon Theater, whose entryway is graced by a statue of Western Slope native and screenwriting icon Dalton Trumbo in a bathtub, JFF juxtaposes films 22 minutes or less in length that cover the subject-matter spectrum.
Telluride Horror Show
October 10-12
Telluride
The sixteenth edition of the Telluride Horror Show promises "three packed days" in which audiences will "experience an exciting mix of horror, suspense, thriller, dark fantasy and sci-fi, and dark comedy in Telluride’s unique theaters, with most of the films having one of their first U.S. showings." Colorado's first and longest-running horror-film showcase made the list of MovieMaker Magazine's twenty coolest film festivals.
DocuWest
October 16-18
Holiday Theater, 2644 West 32nd Avenue, Denver
"We have something for your mind," note the folks behind DocuWest, bundled by the Denver Documentary Society. DocuWest selects works "that may confront, confirm or disrupt viewpoints with stories about civil rights, music, the environment, democracy and myriads of other issues." Glitz and glamour aren't the watch words: The fest hopes to reach those who care more about the search for justice than what celeb they might see on a red carpet.
Ridgway Independent Film Fest
October 16-19, 2025
Ridgway
Ridgway is known for at least one showbiz link: The town north of Ouray was once home to Dennis Weaver, star of the NBC series McCloud, whose onetime property has been turned into a memorial park. But for eleven years, Ridgway has also hosted a film festival that puts a premium on shorts, although longer-form productions are on the bill, too. The RIFF decision-makers are drawn mainly to "films that may have flown under the radar during their release, or are undiscovered. We value storytelling, experimentation and community building through art."
Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival
October 17-19
Colorado Springs
On the way back from the 1987 Telluride Film Festival, Jere E. Martin and Donna Guthrie thought about the need for a cinematic conclave that puts women first. Their idea eventually became the RMWFF, which is honored to be the longest-running women's film festival on this particular continent. The fest salutes "films and filmmakers that present the world as women experience it, showcasing documentary, narrative, shorts, and animated films that are thought-provoking, enriching, and encourage both global awareness and personal growth."
Post-screening interviews with filmmakers are among the highlights of the Denver Film Festival.
Photo by Michael Roberts
October 31 through November 9
Denver
The Denver Film Festival has been around as long as Sundance; both flickered to life in 1978. But while Sundance is all about independent cinema, DFF takes a broader view, incorporating everything from student films to Oscar wannabes and future Hollywood blockbusters. Unspooling over ten days at locations such as the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, the fest is among the nation's largest regional festivals, and artistic director Matt Campbell has a knack for selecting those attractions most likely to turn heads and start conversations.
Go West Film Festival
November 10-15, 2025
Greeley
The western is no longer the ubiquitous genre it was during much of the 20th century. But at Greeley's Go West Film Festival, what were once known as oaters once again lead the stampede. "We ride the range of cinema history, from the early years to feature films and documentaries about the modern West," the fest's wranglers state. "Whether we reminisce about timeless classics or view a movie for the first time, westerns always set the screen ablaze!"
Iris Global Health Film Festival
November 12-15
Boulder
The Iris Global Health Film Festival seeks to produce "a unique fusion of entertainment and enlightenment, fostering an active pursuit of a healthier world." Its program is crowded with narrative short films, documentaries that take on social, health and/or environmental issues and more. The conceptualists at its center have a straightforward aim: "We want to amplify films that bring light into the world."
Vail Film Festival
December 4-7
Vail
The Vail Film Festival's timing isn't a matter of coincidence. Getting the rich and famous to take a side trip to Vail during December isn't exactly a big lift, and as a result, VFF regularly attracts starry someones. Kate Bosworth, Kevin Smith, Allison Janney, Zach Braff, Olivia Wilde and Alicia Silverstone have all enjoyed the festivities in person, along with thousands of film lovers who also like to shush down mountains.
2026 Film Festivals in Colorado
Denver Jewish Film FestivalJanuary 24 through February 1
JCC Denver, 350 South Dahlia Street, Denver
The upcoming Denver Jewish Film Festival, slated for next January, will be its 30th — testimony to the strength and resilience of the Jewish Community Center Denver, its parent organization, and the wide-ranging appeal of storytelling in the Jewish tradition. But many of the festival's most important contributions take place off-screen. According to its website, DJFF "provides our audience with unique opportunities to connect about our films even after the credits roll and the house lights come up."
Colorado Environmental Film Festival
February 20-22, 2026
Green Center, 924 16th Street, Golden
A Colorado School of Mines production, the Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) dubs itself "an exciting, inspiring and energizing event that includes world-class environmental films with representatives from local and national organizations." The screenings include shorts and feature-length efforts from filmmakers who don't fit a single mold, and programmers try their best to stay true to what they see as "the spirit of Colorado."
Durango Independent Film Festival
March 4-8, 2026
Durango
All genres of indie film are welcome at the Durango Independent Film Festival: adventure, music, nature, comedy, shorts, documentaries, Native stories, feature films and all-ages fare cheekily characterized as "K-12." Executive director Carol L. Fleisher hopes participation at DIFF will lead to filming in the area. One movie that shot nearby was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which leant part of its name to another film festival of note.
Aspen Shortsfest
April 7-12, 2026
Aspen
Aspen Shortsfest is among the film events that provide Oscar qualification to filmmakers who are able to make their points in forty minutes or less — the time limit set by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for consideration under the animated or live-action short-film umbrellas. Cash prizes of up to $2,500 are another lure for filmmakers who dream of grabbing a golden statuette.
Boulder International Film Festival
April 9-12, 2026
Boulder
The Boulder International Film Festival has an impressive track record. BIFF was launched in 2005 and annually attracts around 25,000 attendees, as well as A-list talent; past guests have included Martin Sheen, Shirley McLaine, Alan Arkin and Oliver Stone. Over four days, the fest offers a look at new pieces by gifted unknowns trying to break into the movie industry and major works by established artists. And that's not expected to change despite the arrival of Sundance on the scene.
The Castle Rock Film Festival
April 9-12, 2026
Castle Rock
The Castle Rock Film Festival, which will be entering its third year in 2026, is about doing good in addition to having an entertaining time at the movies. Supported by the Castle Rock Artist Alliance (CRAA), the fest's profits and any attendant donations go to the CRAA Veterans and First Responders Art Therapy Program, a series of free art programs intended to help vets build community. A bonus: Winners of awards in various categories receive a handcrafted trophy christened "The Rock," with no apologies to Dwayne Johnson.
5Point Film Festival
April 23-26, 2026
Carbondale
Carbondale, a community roughly midway between Glenwood Springs and Aspen, is a haven for lovers of the great outdoors. So it makes perfect sense that the 5Point Film Festival, invented by Julie Kennedy and Yvon Chouinard in 2008, would specialize in "impactful stories of adventure." The fest is also notably artist-friendly, offering grants to creators who fantasize about trekking into unexplored territories of the cinematic world.
Mountainfilm
May 21-25, 2026
Telluride
Circa 1979, Mountainfilm planted its piton into the edifice of documentary-centric movie festivals and started climbing — and it's been peaking ever since. A Memorial Day weekend staple, Mountainfilm annually assembles "a community of filmmakers and change makers, showcasing documentary films that celebrate adventure, activism, social justice, environment and indomitable spirit."
Ouray International Film Festival
June 18-21, 2026
Ouray
The slogan of the Ouray International Film Festival underscores the beauty of its location: "Because movies and mountains can change your life." OIFF's primary venue is the Wright Opera House, built in 1888 but upgraded with a 4k cinema projector and audio system. But intimacy is also emphasized, since artist events and informal gatherings connected to the festival take place at "mountain homes, coffee shops and the occasional rooftop."
Dates TBA Film Festivals in Colorado
After Telluride Film Festival (ATFF)September 2025/TBA
Telluride
One fact about major film festivals: It's impossible to get into every screening that seems interesting, and especially the buzziest, most high-profile tickets. The After Telluride Film Festival provides an alternative to those who've been shut out by screening many of the must-see flicks from the Telluride Film Festival after all the big shots have gone home. In 2024, for instance, locals and visitors got a chance to eyeball September 5, Saturday Night and Nickel Boys before the rest of America.
ACT Human Rights Film Festival
2026/TBA
Fort Collins
There are plenty of impressive numbers associated with the 2025 version of the ACT Human Rights Film Festival, a Colorado State University forum that was staged in April — over 20,000 audience members, 228 films, 155 special guests, 48 countries, six continents and one purpose. The latter? "Elevating human rights and democracy through film and conversations."
Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival
2026/TBA
Denver
The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival will mark its 25th anniversary September 6 and 7; the largest event of its type in the United States, the spectacle is expected to draw a crowd of 200,000. The organization's film festival, which staged its tenth edition in March 2025, isn't quite as venerable. But the collab with Denver Film stands as the Mile High City's only Asian and Asian-American cinema extravaganza, and it traditionally includes an array of screenings, plus community conversations and access to culinary experiences at many of Denver's most prominent AAPI restaurants.
Grand Mesa Short Film Festival
2026/TBA
Cedaredge
Cedaredge, a quaint, bucolic burg on Colorado's Western Slope near the planet's largest flat-topped mountain, is the home of the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center, a venue that hosts a variety of performing and visual artists. Since 2022, this mix has included the Grand Mesa Short Film Festival, which delivers awards in categories such as comedy, drama, animation, documentary, sci-fi/fantasy and even best film poster.
Pueblo Film Fest
2026/TBA
Pueblo
The brain-trusters behind the Pueblo Film Fest have their eyes on the future. Their purpose, they explain, is "to ignite a passion for storytelling through the art of cinema as we build the next generation of filmmakers. We celebrate the diverse voices of filmmakers from around the world, from budding talents to seasoned auteurs" while "shining a spotlight on the vibrant film culture of Pueblo, Colorado."
72 Hour KickAss Film Fest
2026/TBA
Pueblo
The 72 Hour KickAss Film Fest gives filmmakers of every experience level a task worthy of a reality television series: "Create a 5-7 minute short film in just 72 hours. Each team will be given a required line, prop, and character to include, along with a randomly assigned genre. Then, watch your work come to life on the big screen at our public showcase and awards ceremony. Don’t miss out — this year is set to be our most spectacular yet!"
Women+Film Festival
2026/TBA
Denver
The Women+Film Festival began as a panel staged at the Denver Film Festival in 2006 masterminded by philanthropist and movie lover Barbara Bridges. Five years of conversations later, the discussions morphed into a full-fledged standalone festival that provides a platform for female filmmakers and productions that put women at the center of screens instead of forcing them to the margins. Whether they're in front of or behind the camera, women are the stars at the Women+Film Festival.
XicanIndie FilmFest
2026/TBA
Denver
The XicanIndie FilmFest has long roots. Back in the late 1970s, the closure of Denver's Holiday and Santa Fe theaters shrunk residents' access to Spanish-language films, and the situation didn't improve over the next couple of decades. Su Teatro responded in 1999 by starting the Chicano Independent Filmmaker's Festival, XicanIndie's precursor. More than a quarter-century later, the FilmFest is still going strong by way of programming that falls under four basic categories: Chicano Independent Filmmakers, Latino World Cinema, El Epoca de Oro (Golden Age of Mexican Cinema), and Cine Mejicano (contemporary Mexican films).
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