Festivals offer a chance to discover films that bring fresh voices and rising talent, all driven by a shared love for storytelling on screen across every genre.
Among the many showings our events have to offer, you’ll find entries that lean into horror, while others spark conversation about stories drawn from real life. From personal documentaries and animated shorts to environmental deep dives and silent-era treasures, whatever piques your interest, there’s a screen for that at a Colorado film festival.
Inspiring Change
Colorado Environmental Film Festival
The Colorado Environmental Film Festival happens over a weekend in late February, filling screens with more than 60 films focused on the planet. From full-length features to shorts by local and international storytellers, topics range from carbon-free living to the flaws in our food system. At the Eco-Expo, you’ll chat with groups like Mountain Mamas, who fight for the protection of public lands, and organizations such as Colorado School of Mines, which runs a sustainability program focused on improving campus practices. If you can’t make it, you’ll have one week to catch the films on the festival’s website through early March.
ACT Human Rights Film Festival
Stories that challenge, stir and stay with you — that’s what you’ll find at the ACT Human Rights Film Festival in Fort Collins each spring, running from late March to early April. Filmmakers, advocacy groups and curious minds come together for powerful screenings that explore human rights and social justice from around the world. Past selections include “Projecting Protest,” which followed activists using light projections as free speech, and “Separated,” a gripping look at the impact of family separation and government policy. You can also look forward to Q&A sessions with filmmakers, insightful panel discussions, receptions and workshops.
Mountainfilm
Adventure, activism and environmental themes come together in May at Mountainfilm, one of America’s longest-running film festivals. Since 1979, it’s brought filmmakers and change-makers to Telluride for multi-day itineraries packed with screenings, speaker series, photography exhibits and book signings. The festival has featured titles such as “Saving Superman,” which tells the story of a beloved man with autism whose community rallies to support him when his way of life is threatened. Works like this fill indoor venues and beam onto outdoor screens under the stars in the evening. Between morning coffee chats, an ice-cream social, and a closing picnic and awards ceremony, you’ll walk away inspired by what you’ve seen and heard.
Cultural Film Festivals
Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival
First launched in 2016, the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival welcomes stories to the screen and flavor to your plate. Taking place in March, this showcase features films by Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) filmmakers. Between screenings, experience rich tastes from the Denver area’s top AANHPI vendors, with dishes ranging from Indian specialties by Spice Room to Nepalese flavors from Rocky Mountain Momo. The lineup ranges from playful tales like “Pigsy,” a kid-friendly adventure, to bold shorts from emerging student voices. You’ll leave with a fuller view of AANHPI cultures and maybe even a new favorite dish.
Indigenous Film & Arts Festival
Denver
At the Indigenous Film & Arts Festival, you’ll experience culture and storytelling through the lens of Indigenous creators. Held from September through January, the festival features films made by and about Indigenous peoples, with stories centered on the land, animals, ancestors and the shared connection to it all. Program highlights have included the likes of “Button Blanket,” a short documentary which captures the creative process of sewing a ceremonial blanket studded with pearlescent buttons, typically worn in rituals or celebrations. These films reveal lived experiences, cultural knowledge and traditions passed down through generations.
Denver Jewish Film Festival
Denver
Hosted by the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, the Denver Jewish Film Festival returns annually from late January to early February with stories that resonate. The mix includes short films, feature-length narratives and documentaries that inform and entertain, with past titles like “This is My Mother,” a funny, heartfelt look at a mother-daughter reunion, or films that dig into identity, history and community. Many come from Israeli and Jewish actors and producers who contribute a range of perspectives to the screen. The festival begins with an opening-night reception and wraps up with a closing ceremony with appetizers and drinks.
Red-Carpet Feel
Aspen Shortsfest
In April, Aspen Shortsfest draws filmmakers and cinephiles from around the world for a week of short film screenings inside the Wheeler Opera House and the BTM Isis Theatre. It’s an Oscar-qualifying festival where breakout talent make their mark in comedy, drama, animation and documentary. Thousands of works are submitted, but only a select few hit the screen — and sometimes launch careers, like “The Only Girl in the Orchestra,” which won Best Documentary Short at the 2025 Academy Awards. Beyond the screening, the festival hosts buzzing workshops and other events celebrating the art of short-form storytelling.
Vail Film Festival
Come December, the Vail Film Festival lights up venues like the stylish Chasing Rabbits restaurant with a selection of independent narratives, shorts and TV pilots. Over the years, the gathering has attracted filmmakers and actors such as Zach Braff, Olivia Wilde and Jesse Eisenberg, who were honored with awards. Showings have included films like “Voodoo Valentinos,” a quirky comedy about two friends who hop in a taxi for a strange, unexpected night out. In addition to the films, the festival features engaging panel discussions, cozy lounges and networking events where you can mingle with other film lovers. When the credits finish rolling, evening parties with music offer a fun way to swap stories with a celebratory atmosphere.
Women in Film
Women + Film Festival
Denver
Female filmmakers take center stage during April or May at the Women + Film Festival in Denver. The lineup introduces a standout collection of bold shorts and documentaries, with fresh takes from rising voices and seasoned storytellers alike. Past screenings have included titles like “On a Sunday at Eleven,” a story of a Black ballerina finding confidence while defying Eurocentric beauty standards. Off-screen, grab a drink at a social event, pick up something unique from a local, women-owned pop-up or attend the festival’s annual luncheon, which in 2025 honored actress and director Julia Stiles with the Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award.
Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
October brings the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival. Hundreds of submissions are considered at this longest-running women’s film festival in America, with selections spanning documentaries, narratives, shorts and animated films — all created by women. The works explore their stories, struggles and triumphs, offering a range of viewpoints often left out of mainstream media. One previous highlight is “Love, Chaos, Kin,” which looks at cross-cultural adoption and the ways families navigate identity and belonging. Stick around after the films for Q&As with creators, or drop into panels and workshops that share honest conversations about women in the industry.
Niche Films
Denver Silent Film Festival
Denver
For a blend of live music and cinema, the Denver Silent Film Festival offers a one-of-a-kind experience. This three-day event in September features restored and sometimes rarely seen silent-era American and foreign classics on the big screen, all accompanied by live performances from groups like the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. Older programs have included titles such as “The Dumb Girl of Portici,” a romance that touches on class divides and the broader social tensions of its time. With any screening, you never know what forgotten treasure might flicker to life. Plus, you’ll find special events such as panel discussions featuring film historians and archivists.
Telluride Horror Show
Telluride
Set the tone for spooky season at the Telluride Horror Show, a three-day genre film fest in October that celebrates all things eerie and strange. Settle into the cozy Elk’s Lodge or the charming Sheridan Opera House for jumpy thrillers, slow-burn suspense and twisted comedies that make you laugh, then squirm. Expect chills from the likes of “Demon,” a gory flick about strangers trapped inside a movie theater as evil creatures turn a complimentary screening into a nightmare. Look forward to special events, guest appearances and programming tailored for horror fans who like their scares with a side of fun.
More Must-See Colorado Film Festivals
- Sundance Film Festival in Boulder
- Ridgway Independent Film Festival in Ridgway
- Crested Butte Film Festival in Crested Butte
- Castle Rock Film Festival in Castle Rock
- Grand Mesa Short Film Festival in Cedaredge
- Go West Film Fest in Greeley
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