Breckenridge Film Festival

Overview

The Breckenridge Film Festival is one of Colorado's most beloved and scenic film festivals. Founded in 1981 and held annually in September in Breckenridge, a historic mountain mining town turned ski resort at 9,600 feet elevation in the Colorado Rockies, the festival presents independent and international cinema in one of the most spectacular natural settings of any film festival in the world.

The combination of quality independent film programming with Breckenridge's stunning mountain environment creates a festival experience that filmmakers and audiences describe as among the most memorable available. The September timing, between the summer tourist season and the ski season, provides ideal conditions for concentrated film engagement.

The festival is Academy Award-qualifying in its short film categories and has maintained consistent programming quality over four decades.

Key Sections

• Feature Film Competition -- independent narrative and documentary features
• Short Film Competition -- Academy Award-qualifying programs
• Colorado Film Competition -- films by Colorado filmmakers
• Documentary Competition -- nonfiction features
• Special Screenings -- outdoor and special venue screenings

What Filmmakers Should Know

Breckenridge accepts open submissions. The Academy Award-qualifying short film competition is the most strategically important element. The mountain setting creates a particularly memorable premiere experience for filmmakers attending in person.

Major Awards

• Best Feature -- jury prize
• Best Short Film -- Academy Award-qualifying
• Best Colorado Film
• Audience Award

Festival History

Breckenridge Film Festival was founded in 1981 and has operated continuously for over four decades, making it one of Colorado's oldest film festivals.

See Also

For Colorado film culture, see Film Locations. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.