The Colorado High School Film Festival provides a venue for young high school filmmakers to showcase their work, networking opportunities, inspire others, and awards. Hosted by the University of Colorado Denver College of Arts &Media, it is our way of bringing together the many excellent high school film programs in the area and around the world. The Colorado High School Film Festival strives to provide a larger audience, industry insiders and peer networking, devoted for young filmmakers.

Before submitting, please make sure to read our rules and terms. All films must be made by someone of high school age (generally 18 or under) and be a run time of 10 minutes or less.

Scholarships for the University of Colorado Denver Lynx National Arts and Media Camps
1st Place: $500 Scholarship
2nd Place: $400 Scholarship
3rd Place: $300 Scholarship
Honorable Mention: $200 Scholarship

Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2023 competition, entries must have been completed between January 31, 2021 and the deadline.

Projects from all over the world are eligible. The film must be made by high school age filmmakers.

Q: Can current seniors in High School submit even though they will have graduated by the time the festival takes place in October?
A: Yes! We welcome submissions from current seniors.

Q: Can Middle School students submit to the Colorado High School Film Festival?
A: No, the films must be made by high school-aged students.

Q: Can I submit more than one film?
A: Yes! Filmmakers can submit multiple entries.

Q: Can films be submitted to more than one category?
A: Yes. If there are multiple categories your film should be considered for, feel free to enter in each category.

Q: Are group projects accepted?
A: Yes! Be sure to indicate all directors on the main project page.

Q: Does the Colorado HS FF accept submissions from outside the United States?
A: Yes! We encourage all young filmmakers to submit their films.

Q: Can I use copyrighted music, video and/or images in my film?
A: No. You must acquire the proper rights from the legal owner of the content.

Q: Are there any restrictions on content submitted to the festival?
A: We respect that every young filmmaker wants to share their own unique voice. However, we do not accept any submissions containing nudity or gratuitous violence or language.

Gratuitous - uncalled for; lacking good reason; unwarranted.
Synonyms: unjustified, uncalled for, unwarratned, unprovoked, undue

Categories
Select the category that most closely relates to your submission's type of program. You may enter the same production or program in multiple categories.

Each entry is, in effect, in competition with itself, and is measured by our international award-winning jury of experts using an industry-accepted standard of excellence. We reserve the right to expand and reduce the number of finalist in each category including, but not limited to, cancelling categories if there are no submissions that meet our standards of excellence.

We reserve the right to change or modify each category as the committee deems appropriate..

Fees for Screening Films
We do not pay screening fees on submitted films. By submitting you waive any screening fees during the run of the festival to a live theater audience.

Award Announcements & Promotion
Finalists will be announced by the notification date and the winners will be notified at the closing award ceremony.

Translation (Required if not in English)
Productions not produced in the English language must have either subtitles or overdubbing in English.

Disposition of Entry / Errors & Omissions
Promotional materials submitted may be displayed or shown, for educational and/or promotional purposes.