Sun Valley Film Festival

Overview

The Sun Valley Film Festival is Idaho's most prestigious film festival. Founded in 2012 and held annually in March in Sun Valley -- one of the American West's most celebrated ski and resort destinations -- the festival presents independent American and international cinema in an unusually glamorous setting.

Sun Valley's resort character creates a festival atmosphere reminiscent of early Sundance, with celebrities, industry figures, and film enthusiasts sharing a small, contained village environment. The festival has developed quickly into an important awards season platform, with films screening at Sun Valley sometimes receiving distribution momentum from the festival's industry attention.

The March timing, at the tail end of ski season, fills Sun Valley's accommodation with an unusual combination of winter sports enthusiasts and film industry attendees, creating a festive, high-energy atmosphere.

Key Sections

• Feature Film Program -- independent American and international features
• Documentary Program -- nonfiction features
• Short Film Program -- competitive short films
• Panel Events -- industry discussions with filmmakers and executives
• Special Screenings -- outdoor and mountain venue events

What Filmmakers Should Know

Sun Valley accepts open submissions. The festival's industry connections and its resort location attract distribution executives and press who can create significant momentum for selected films. The intimate Sun Valley Village setting maximizes informal industry networking opportunities.

Major Awards

• Audience Award -- voted by festival audiences
• Best Documentary

Festival History

Sun Valley Film Festival was founded in 2012 and has rapidly grown into one of the American West's most prestigious independent film events.

See Also

For US festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For independent filmmaking, see Independent Filmmaking Strategies.