The critically acclaimed Boulder International Film Festival (April 9-12) is known as one of the most innovative film festivals in the U.S. and attracts large, enthusiastic audiences from around the country and across the world. With a reputation for artistic excellence and a deep connection to the community, BIFF attracts over 25,000 attendees each year, eager to discover a diverse selection of new films, from groundbreaking indie productions to award-winning projects by A-list filmmakers.

BIFF offers filmmakers a major platform for exposure as their films compete for the coveted Grand Jury Prize and People's Choice Awards. Notably, the festival hosts major industry leaders and film distributors and has included esteemed voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences® as program advisors.

Boulder, Colorado, at the foot of the stunning Rocky Mountains, is rapidly emerging as a major hub for world-class film festivals. The renowned Boulder International Film Festival and the relocation of the Sundance Film Festival to Boulder in January 2027 are driving this growth, marking a significant moment for both film festivals and the city.

Over the past two decades, BIFF has hosted a remarkable lineup of Oscar-winning actors, directors, and special guests, including Jane Lynch, Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg, Oliver Stone, William H. Macy, Javier Bardem, Shirley McClaine and Martin Sheen. Adding to its appeal, BIFF is one of only a few festivals where Scott Feinberg, the distinguished columnist from The Hollywood Reporter, records his acclaimed "Awards Chatter" podcast, featuring the most interesting and accomplished people in the industry.

With impressive attendance, a mix of world-class films from up-and-coming and established filmmakers, star-studded guests, and legendary hospitality, it’s clear why the Boulder International Film Festival stands out as the must-attend event on the film festival calendar. Submit your film today, you'll love it here.

ABOUT BOULDER
“If happiness is a state of mind, Boulder is its capital”, Jim Axelrod, CBS News Sunday Morning.

Easy-going Boulder Colorado is a traditional magnet for the tech-savvy, music & film-loving outdoors-person who also likes to party. Along with a major University film school, we have hundreds of miles of running, skiing and hiking trails, world-class restaurants, hotels, galleries, shops and bars, all surrounded by a scenic 46,000-acre moat of Boulder Open Space. The population of Boulder County is 300,000 and Boulder is just 45 minutes from the Denver International Airport. Boulder was voted “Happiest Town in America” in a Gallup poll, “Smartest Town in the U.S” by Forbes Magazine, “Place you Dream of Living” by Backpacker Magazine, "The Worst-dressed City That Looks Best Naked", by GQ Magazine ,"The Foodiest Town in America" by Bon Appetit, and “#1: Best Place to Live” by Men’s Journal.

Submit to BIFF today, you'll love it here.

Films are eligible for the prestigious "Grand Jury", "Best of the Festival" and "People's Choice" awards.

GENERAL RULES

1. Only one title per entry.

2. Films must have been completed after May 1, 2024.

3. Feature length films should not be commercially available on DVD, Blu-Ray, on-demand service or other format intended for private viewing and will not air on television, via internet streaming service or other public broadcast in the United States prior to April 1, 2026, with the exception of other film festival in-person/virtual screenings OR if given written approval to enter by BIFF Staff. Short films are exempted from this rule.

4. All films must be submitted online through Film Freeway for consideration.

5. DCP is the exhibition format in several of our venues. DCP must be DCI compliant, keys must be open for window as specified by Festival. If we schedule your film in a non-DCP venue, we will require a Digital File Format (ProRes, MP4, Quicktime) for screening. Digital files must be provided as a backup for ALL exhibition copies, including DCP, unless other arrangements are made with the festival.

6. Either an .mp4 or .mov digital file is needed for virtual screenings (we are not able to use DCP or ProRes for virtual) and need to be uploaded by the filmmaker or distributor. We strive to make our offerings as accessible as possible, and request a closed caption file for virtual screenings, whenever possible.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
I hereby represent and warrant that I am the owner or the authorized representative for the owner(s) of the film (the “Film”) being submitted pursuant to this submission agreement (the “Agreement”) for public exhibition and inclusion in the 2026 Boulder International Film Festival (the “Festival”) April 9-12 and that I have all the necessary rights and authority to submit the Film to the Festival and to enter into and obligate the owner(s) of the Film to enter into this Agreement.

I represent and warrant that:

• I have obtained all necessary releases, licenses, authorization and permission from the owner(s) of any and all content and rights owned by third parties included in the Film, including without limitation all copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy and publicity, and contract rights, and nothing in the Film shall infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party. The Colorado Film Society (“CFS”) disclaims any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible for, any unauthorized inclusion of any third-party content or materials within or relating to the submitted Film, including any content or materials that are or may become the basis for any third party claims.

• There is no legal action presently pending, threatened or reasonably anticipated in connection with the Film.

I acknowledge and agree that in the event of any disagreement or dispute in connection with this Agreement or submission of the Film to the Festival, the parties will first attempt to resolve such disputes through good-faith negotiation. In the event such dispute is not promptly resolved, the parties agree that any legal action shall be brought only in arbitration before a mutually agreed-upon arbitrator in Boulder or Denver, Colorado, and I hereby submit to venue and personal jurisdiction in connection with the same. The arbitrator shall have the power to award, and shall be required to award, to the substantially prevailing party in any such arbitration, its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the arbitration.

In the event that the Film is selected by the Festival, I further grant the CFS the right to utilize the Film; the names, likenesses and biographical information of the producer(s), director(s), performer(s) and others associated with the Film; and images, stills, and excerpts from the Film for promotional and outreach purposes.

I agree that I will not enter into or permit any agreement or arrangement concerning the Film, including without limitation a distribution agreement, sales representation agreement, third party marketing agreement or similar, unless such agreement explicitly permits the rights granted in this Agreement, including without limitation the public exhibition of the film at the Festival.

I agree to indemnify and hold CFS, its directors, employees and agents, and the Festival harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any type of claim whatsoever in connection with the Film or its submission, acceptance or exhibition at the Festival, including without limitation breach of any representation, warranty or obligation set forth in this Agreement.

I have read and accept the terms and conditions described on this Agreement and I understand that acceptance of the Film to the Festival shall be in the sole discretion of the CFS. If the film is selected for the Festival, I grant permission for public exhibition of the Film during the Festival from April 9-12, 2026 and I agree to comply with all rules and reasonable requests of the CFS in connection with the same, including without limitation providing the exhibition copy of the film requested in good condition (DCP, Digital Media File), a digital version of the film for virtual screenings if applicable, and a backup version of the Film (Digital Media File) at least six weeks prior to the Festival.

By entering through FilmFreeway, on behalf of myself and the owner(s) of the Film, I freely and voluntarily give and express full and complete acceptance of all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Vickie Curtis

    Big thanks from the COMPARSA team to all the staff and volunteers that make BIFF such a fun festival. It's a hometown fest for some members of our team. This year, we were able to forge some deep connections with audience members excited about COMPARSA's impact campaign, lining up future community screenings and support for our protagonist's growing youth movement.

    April 2026
  • Allison Argo

    The BEST Festival!! Everything is topnotch. The staff is caring and warm, the film curation is phenomenal, and the screenings are almost always full to capacity. The locals really turn out for the films (and the parties are really fun, too). BIFF is a truly exceptional festival!

    April 2026
  • Jeremy Power Regimbal

    We had a great time at BIFF. Three sold out screenings. One beautiful church venue and the others in a proper theatre. The audiences were incredible and the team so kind and helpful. Had a great Q&A and panel there. AND BOULDER IS BEAUTIFUL! Hiking paradise.

    March 2025
  • Christine La Monte

    VIVA VERDI! brought the house down at the Boulder International Film Festival with three sold-out premiere screenings. Demand was so overwhelming, the Century Theatre had to open a second screening room just to accommodate the overflowing audience. BIFF delivered an unforgettable experience—an inspiring fusion of world-class filmmakers, trailblazing changemakers in the entertainment industry, and a radiant atmosphere buzzing with cinematic brilliance.

    March 2025
  • Darwin Shaw

    We had an amazing time in Boulder. The team set us up with huge support, great screenings with great sell-out audiences, fun events and accommodation. We highly recommend applying to this wonderful festival.

    April 2024