The Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) is a celebration of the power of film to inspire, educate, and motivate audiences to protect and preserve their environment. CEFF presents thought-provoking films and dialogue that raise awareness of a wide variety of interconnected ecological, social, and economic themes. Providing an experience for the audience that goes beyond simply viewing a film, CEFF inspires audiences to act!

*Information Regarding COVID-19 and Our 2021 Festival*

During this challenging time of uncertainty, CEFF is more committed than ever to the power of film to inspire, educate, and motivate people to act and make an impact in protecting and preserving their local and global environments. It is essential to continue to provide the opportunity to share important environmental stories of resilience and hope, while keeping everyone as safe as possible. We are excited to announce the temporary one year format for the 2021 Colorado Environmental Film Festival. With an abundance of caution and the intent to allow our filmmakers and audiences to plan accordingly, the Colorado Environmental Film Festival is planning to host the majority of our 2021 Festival with online screenings and other great interactive festival opportunities from February 18-21, 2021. Additionally, we are planning a single day live, in-person event in Golden, Colorado if local government and public health recommendations allow. We are closely monitoring public health and safety recommendations and will adhere to official federal and state mandates. We will post potential pertinent updates regarding our festival both here and on our website (www.ceff.net/submit) as information becomes available and in the case of policy updates or changes. Filmmakers who have already submitted will receive notice of any changes by email directly. We look forward to reviewing your films! (Updated June 1, 2020)

Awards & Prizes

If selected to screen at the annual festival your film will be considered for a unique festival award available for the following categories:
o Best of Festival
o Best Short Film
o Best Feature Film
o Best Youth Film
o Spirit of Activism

Rules & Terms

The Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) is primarily a platform for showcasing the best new environmental films. While the Festival does not exclude films with prior screenings, World, US, and Colorado Premiere submissions are strongly encouraged.

Eligibility
• CEFF accepts films in any genre with themes related to the natural and built environment completed within the last 2 calendar years.
• Please let us know if shorter versions of your film are available – our audiences appreciate films that convey their storyline in an engaging and concise way.
• Films with non-English soundtracks must be submitted with embedded subtitles.
• If available, open captioning for all films is encouraged.

Screener Format
• Our preferred method of submission is by secure online screener via CEFF’s FilmFreeway account. If unable to submit this way, please contact us.

Selection
• A panel of filmmakers, educators, media and conservation professionals chooses the films that are selected by CEFF. The quality of storytelling, production value, aesthetics, topic and being solution-oriented are principle factors in the selection of films for CEFF.
• All officially selected films and solicited materials by CEFF will be programmed into the Festival and will be screened online with the possible opportunity to screen in public venues if public safety and health allows in February 2021. Most venues will have an admission fee.
• CEFF does not provide screening fees or honorariums for submitted work — or for any film screening as part of the festival’s juried competition.
• If accepted, final screening copies must be delivered to CEFF no later than January 15, 2021, or the entry will not be included in the festival. Filmmakers are responsible for any shipping costs to the festival. All copies of the films become CEFF’s property unless otherwise directed.
• We ask that you let us know whether any filmmakers, actors or screenwriters may be available to attend CEFF screenings should your submission be selected for screening. CEFF makes no guarantee regarding travel expenses – we’ll do our best to help and we hope you’ll do your best to join us!
• Official selections will receive two (2) All-Access VIP Festival Passes.
• Your film will be considered for inclusion in the Colorado Environmental Film Fest touring package - CEFF Caravan.

Entry Fees
• Entry fees are non-refundable. CEFF may deny acceptance of any film at its sole discretion.

Rights & Releases:
• By submitting your project, you acknowledge that:
-Your film is not subject to any litigation nor is it threatened by any litigation
-You are duly authorized to have this film be screened at the festival
-You have secured the rights to any and all music and/or footage used in the film
-You will fully indemnify and hold CEFF and its partners and agents completely
harmless from any and all claims whatsoever that may arise as a result of usage of
submitted materials and that you will bear the cost of all reasonable legal fees
incurred as a result of the defense of any such a claim.
• You grant CEFF a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free right and license to use, copy, and display the film and any submitted publicity materials (including without limitation, graphics/images, trailers and film segments up to 3 minutes) from the film (collectively the "Content") for the purpose of (i) showing the film one or more times over the course of the Festival, and (ii) promoting CEFF on its website, in marketing and promotional materials, and in its social media, and (iii) helping with outreach activities outside of the Festival; and (iv) for archival purposes. Our use of your content in this manner does not grant CEFF any ownership of your copyright or intellectual property.

4 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
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Networking
  • Erika Christensen

    This festival was absolutely amazing. I had never been to the area before and interacting with the folks who ran the event, made me feel so welcomed! To start, Colorado is a beautiful place and filled with incredible people, views and things to do. I was very fortunate to have traveled there in February of 2020 and I hope to go back at some point, as it really is a destination worth going to. The festival itself was very well run. It was constant communication, networking and observing/engaging with all the beings who want to make their area and the world, a better place to live in for all involved. Being a director/film producer, we were allowed to attend special events and had a private area to leave our belongings while we explored the area.

    One of my favorite things was the Q&A after the viewing of our film. It was something so surreal as there was a constant flux of questions and banter between the audience and my coworker. That is irreplaceable. If anyone is interested in submitting their film to this festival, I highly recommend it and hope to do it again in the future.

    July 2020
    Helpful
  • Max Baring

    I wasn't able to attend but the festival managed to get our film onto local community television which was a really great opportunity to reach a wider audience. It was also really well managed by everyone. Oh.. yes ... and we won the Spirit of Activism Award and are absolutely totally thrilled! Thank so very much Colorado. Being seen and recognised means a lot to us!

    April 2020
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  • Rose Madrone

    Thank you CEFF. This was the best festival! Everyone was so welcoming and supportive. The audience was deeply engaged and asked great questions at the Q&A. And I am really grateful for the mission and intention that you carry for to educate and bring folks into the importance of the environment and how we are all an important part of making sure it stays healthy and intact. For without that, we would be in much more difficult straits. I recommend this festival to any filmmaker or audience member!

    April 2020
    Helpful
  • Amy Giaquinto

    What an amazing, incredibly well-organized film festival full of excellent and inspiring films! We were so incredibly impressed with everything this small festival offered and highly recommend it! Everyone was so nice and accommodating and went above and beyond to make us feel right at home. We also met a lot of wonderful filmmakers and really enjoyed the downtown Golden location. It was also extremely convenient that all of the screenings were held in one location and all of the events were within walking distance (as in a super short walking distance) of the screenings. We can't say enough positive things about the CEFF and we really look forward to attending again next year!

    February 2020
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