Colorado Film Festivals

Boulder International Film Festival

In the historic, beloved Boulder Theater — where dancing, drinking, eating and watching movies are all acceptable behaviors — March's Boulder International Film Festival has earned the reputation as one of the most influential young film festivals in the country. The event invites international filmmakers to show their work for an audience full of aspiring filmmakers. While the event hosts academics, directors, writers, actors, producers and the like, a large part of the festival's goal is to inspire film hopefuls, so that one day they can see their creative dreams projected onto the big screen. If you're a fan of boldly independent cinema, make sure to catch one of the well-hyped Boulder screenings.

Denver Jewish Film Festival

Get ready for 20-plus screenings of top cinematic delights from newly released Israeli and Jewish cinema, actors and producers. At this Denver festival, also in March, you'll get the chance to view films ranging from documentaries and culinary explorations to heart-warming feature films and shorts, many of which aren't always available in your neighborhood theater. In addition to hours of fabulous films, you'll also be treated to Q&A sessions with more than a dozen filmmakers. 

Durango Independent Film Festival

The southwest Colorado town of Durango has earned some indie street cred with its own March festival, which has been held since 2001. Held during the spring, when some of the sunniest and warmest skiing can be had at Purgatory, this film festival lures lovers of both pastimes each year. Many of the festival's events are held at the Durango Arts Center and galleries, where bands (indie ones, of course!) play live music, parties are held and other artsy events happen.

Aspen Shortsfest

This is the film fest of royalty. Keeping in sync with Aspen’s tradition of big names and big fur, this April festival includes major productions, Oscar hopefuls and lavish benefit dinners. But perhaps the most impressive piece to this festival is the variety of genius that can be seen at any of the participating theaters. The festival’s premise of “taking a chance to be taken somewhere new and unexpected,” speaks to the in-depth documentary films and shorts — but also to the town itself. Aspen is like no place you’ve ever been, where Prada opens its doors next to REI, designer dogs run in fields of rugby players and world-renowned art galleries are visited by fully garbed skiers.

5Point Film Festival

With a subtitle of "Inspiring Adventure," you know this Carbondale fest's films will leave you with a dropped jaw at least once each April. But don't expect run-of-the-mill ski shots. Organizers sum it up with this statement: "We avoid films solely about hucking yourself off a cliff and love films with a story and a human element." So there you have it: adventure films that might make your wipe a tear or expel a bit of laughter.

Telluride Film Festival

In the depths of the San Juan Mountains and snuggled between two impressive peaks, the Telluride Film Festival in September is a destination event with an arresting backdrop. A Labor Day weekend ritual, the festival has inspired guest directors like Peter Sellers ("The Pink Panther") and Peter Bogdanovich ("The Sopranos") to make the trek to this southwestern gem. Telluride is known for its exciting and laid-back ambiance, the audience’s good humor, appreciative guests, mouthwatering food and scintillating film discussion. For movie history buffs, it is also the first place that "My Dinner With Andre," "The Civil War," "Twin Peaks" and "The Crying Game" were ever viewed.

Breckenridge Film Festival

Running strong for four decades, Breck's September fest is one of the country's oldest. Hosted of late by film critic Jeffrey Lyons, the more than 51 films screened focus on shorts, independent dramas, comedies and documentaries. The fest's association with the Film Studies Program at the University of Colorado - Boulder ensures there are always fresh voices involved; and for most of the last decade, the festival has hosted a overcoming adversity/spiritual-themed film series within the main program, which showcases works intended to spark meaningful discussion.

Aspen Filmfest

Going strong since 1979, the Aspen Filmfest brings cinema-lovers to the mountains each September to take in the works of directors and actors from around the world. Screenings are held in three unique — but equally charming — historical venues: The Wheeler Opera House and The Isis Theatre (both in Aspen), as well as The Crystal Theater (in nearby Carbondale). Past films have included winners of the Toronto International Film Fest and Cannes Film Festival, such as “Bad Axe” and “Broker,” as well as showings with star-studded casts like “Empire of Light” (Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward and Colin Firth) and “The Banshees of Inisherin” (Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan).

Denver Film Festival

Another film mainstay, Denver's largest film festival (previously called the Starz Denver Film Festival) is in its 45th year and has grown to 12 days in duration each November. With a little more glitz than some of the mountain events, Denver hosts red-carpet premieres and films from dozens of countries and more than 250 filmmakers. Attracting nearly 55,000 film aficionados annually, SDFF is lauded for presenting Academy Award- and Independent Spirit Award-winning films, including “Black Swan,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and "Lady Bird." 

Other Colorado Film Festivals

Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden, Feb./March
Front Range Film Festival in Longmont, Feb.
Colorado Dragon Boat Film Fest, March
ACT Human Rights Film Festival in Fort Collins, March/April
Women + Film Festival in Denver, April
Lyons International Film Festival, April
Mountainfilm in Telluride, May
Crested Butte Film Festival, Sept./Oct.
Indigenous Film & Arts Festival in Denver, TBA
Telluride Horror Show, Oct.
Dickens Horror Film Festival in Longmont, Oct.
Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival, Colorado Springs, Oct.
Nederland Film Festival, Nov.
Ridgway Independent Film Festival, Nov.
Vail Film Festival, Nov./Dec

Photo courtesy of the Telluride Film Festival.