MORE FILM. LESS AIR.

Join us at the highest elevation film festival in the USA!

Since 1981, Breck Film Fest has been "the filmmaker's film festival," proven by selections by USA Today as a Top 20 Film Festival and consistent rankings by FilmFreeway as a Top 100 Reviewed Film Festival. The Breckenridge Film Festival provides an opportunity for filmmakers in many genres to express themselves and interact with audiences in a laid back atmosphere. Film-lovers gather in Breckenridge for unprecedented access to independent films, special screenings and exclusive premieres - and the filmmakers behind them!

The festival occurs as the leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow and gold - the best time of year in Summit County, Colorado. Breckenridge was named the best small town in Colorado by Country Living Magazine in 2017 and earned the No. 1 spot in 2017's Arts Vibrancy Index for Small Cities by SMU's National Center for Arts Research.

Films are presented alongside educational workshops and children's programs. Writers, directors, producers, and performing artists attend to discuss their work with audiences in post-film Q&As, receptions, and panels. We welcome and appreciate the creative talents of all the filmmakers we've met over the years and look forward to meeting more!

To learn more about our history and offerings, visit www.breckfilm.org.

Awards & Prizes

Best of Fest awards are given in each of the categories. In addition, other awards are given during the festival, including the coveted Audience Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place.

Rules & Terms

Films must be completed after January 1, 2025. Films made before that date will not be considered for the 2026 festival. Films must be complete, not a work in progress, before you submit.

You will be required to sign a notice of consent upon acceptance to the festival.

NO press materials will be accepted until films have been notified.

If your film is accepted, you will receive a notification email from the festival. Your acceptance will be conditional on meeting promotional/press kit, informational, and exhibition copy requirements and specifications. Selected filmmakers will receive requirements in their acceptance email.

NOTE: Exhibition films MUST be submitted in the required format.

Breckenridge Film Festival does not pay to screen submitted films.

Any "featured" or "special" programming that requests a licensing fee and we agree to screen, is not eligible for an award.

All submission fees are non-refundable.

BRECKENRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL ARCHIVE:
Filmmakers of accepted productions will provide a digital copy of their film for permanent retention by the Breck Film Fest.

ACCEPTANCE OF RULES:
Submitting a signed entry form constitutes full acceptance of the BFF rules outlined herein and on the entry form. BFF reserves the right to decide all questions not specifically addressed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Dianna Nilsson
Festival Core Programming Director
dianna@breckfilm.org

Breckenridge Film Festival
400 N. Park Avenue, #10-B
Breckenridge, CO 80424

Phone: 970-453-6200

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MAY 25, 2026.

Contact us with deadline questions or concerns.

122 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Simbelle Productions

    We were honored to have our short, "Before You," included in this year's Breckenridge line up. Although we were unfortunately not able to attend in person, the communication from the festival was fantastic, and Cait was extremely kind and accommodating. We felt SO welcome and supported -- thank you to the entire Breck team!

    October 2025
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  • Todd Jones

    We loved the Breckenridge Film Festival. The Riverwalk Center 3as a beautiful venue with amazing AV. The audience was super engaged with our film and the Q and A. Beck this time of year is a wonderful place. I highly recommend this festival.

    October 2025
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  • Tanner Christensen

    Amazingly welcoming and wonderfully organized festival. Breck took great care of the filmmakers with awesome liaisons assigned to each team. We had a wonderful, engaged audience for our screening. And, the fest is in a beautiful setting with staff and volunteers that were kind, considerate and helpful. What more could you ask for?

    October 2025
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  • Ben Tedesco

    What an amazing festival. The mountains were gorgeous, the films were top notch, the parties/mixers were so fun, the audiences were in from ALL OVER the country, the staff and volunteers were SOOO helpful/attentive/kind... Cait went above and beyond over and over again all weekend. It's a hard festival to get into because they program a great but small festival, but sooooo worth and rewarding if you are selected. If I could go back with a film every year I would.

    October 2025
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  • Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears

    Breckenridge Film festival was awesome!

    October 2025
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