Named as a "Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" by MovieMaker Magazine two years in a row - Cordillera features: State of the Art Venues. Huge PitchFest! Competition. Cash Prizes. Lodging Provided for all Official Selections. Iconic & Emerging Voices Grand & Special Jury (see below). Industry Networking Events, Red Carpet Premieres, Panels, and Parties! CIFF awards both in-kind production and cash prizes – we’re a film festival created by filmmakers for filmmakers.

Located in the stunning Reno Tahoe region of Nevada, the Cordillera Int’l Film Festival prides itself on amazing venues with packed houses - we can't wait to introduce you to our amazing region!

As filmmakers, we understand we are all going through uncertain times, and choosing what festivals are worthwhile can be challenging. Since day one, Cordillera has provided the following to all our Official Selections – yes, all of them:

Lodging – What!? We know - it's awesome – and so is our host hotel!

Filmmakers Lounge – MEALS, SNACKS & DRINKS. The cost of meals can become challenging, so we provide up to 3 complimentary buffet meals a day - every day of the festival. The lounge is a perfect place for Filmmakers, VIP Guests, and Jury Members to meet up for great conversations and enjoy drinks and snacks with a Hosted Wine & Beer bar.

5th Day Fun – Film(N)NV DAY - the Film Northern Nevada Initiative VIP Experience - Official Selections are invited on a first-come-first served basis to join us on the Monday after the festival for a day spent on the water and in the mountains, exploring our beautiful region as a VIP.

In addition to our Annual Film Festival, we also feature 2 additional programming opportunities:

Cordillera in Cannes - as an official Festival Hub partner of Cannes' Marché du Film, we showcase a short film program and provide our filmmakers with next-level networking opportunities with invitations to our Bubbles & Brunch event and our Mixer at the Palais. Note: Filmmakers are responsible for their own accreditations, lodging and transportation, but Cordillera does provide guidance on the process.

Cordillera on the Playa - Burning Man - Cordillera has partnered with TCL Chinese Theater (Hollywood Walk of Fame!) to showcase a short film series in a state of the art theater built on the Playa at Burning Man. Note: Filmmakers are responsible for their own Burning Man tickets, lodging and transportation, but Cordillera does provide guidance on the process.

HERE ARE SOME EXCITING THINGS TO EXPECT IN 2026:

ONE – In-kind production and cash prizes, including an incredible production package for our CIFFNV PitchFest! winner courtesy of our Industry Partners and the Film Northern Nevada Initiative as well as select members of our 2026 Grand Jury and Special Jury.

Notable Awards include our Best Female Focus Film, Best Indigenous & LGBTQIA+ Film, our Innovate award and our Impact Award (Formerly the John Singleton Impact Award) celebrating stories that inform & inspire change. Cash Prizes range from $500 - $1,000.

TWO – Our Grand Jury & Special Jury! Led by our Chairman of the Board, Disney Legend and beloved voice of Goofy for the last 38+ years, Bill Farmer, we look forward to a prestigious Grand & Special Jury joining us in 2026! Past members include Dawn Gilliam (Boyz n the Hood, Black Panther, Star Wars: Episode VII), Bilali Mack (The Whale), Kelly Ward (Grease, Former VP Metro Goldwyn Mayer & Universal Studios), Jeff Arch, writer of Sleepless in Seattle, Brian Currie, the Oscar-winning writer of Green Book; Actor Wes Studi of Dances with Wolves and Last of the Mohicans. For a complete list of past members, please head to: www.ciffnv.org/grand-jury

THREE – CIFFNV PitchFest! - Pitch your project to an incredible Line-up of Cordillera Grand & Special Jury Members for a chance to win an impressive Production Prize Package courtesy of our Industry Partners, the Film Northern Nevada Initiative as well as select members of our 2026 Grand Jury and Special Jury.

FOUR - Panels, Filmmaker Q&As & Table Readings of our Finalist Screenplays!

At Cordillera, we love what we do and we can't wait to see what the 2026 season brings to us. We look forward to getting to know you and your projects and hope to celebrate your project in October!

Awards & Prizes

Thanks to the support of our amazing sponsors, the Cordillera International Film Festival gives out custom, engraved awards and a series of impressive in-kind production and cash prizes.

CASH & IN-KIND PRIZES:

2026 Grand Jury Prizes -
Grand Jury Award - Best of Fest - Feature Film - $1,000 Cash Prize.
Grand Jury Award - Best of Fest - Short Film - $1,000 Cash Prize.

Special Jury:
Impact Award (Formerly the John Singleton Award) - Stories that inform & inspire change. $500 Cash Prize.
Innovate Award - Stories told in bold, refreshing & unexpected ways. $500 Cash Prize.
Best LGBTQIA+ Film
Best Female Focus Film
Best Indigenous Film
Best Nevada Film
Best Music Video
NEW: Best of Burning Man
NEW: Cordillera's Next Gen Award
NEW: Programmer's Choice: An Oscar-Qualifying theatrical run
Best Short Screenplay - Wins option to be produced in Reno, NV by the multiple award-winning Cordillera Films team with an in-kind value up to $10,000 courtesy of the Film Nevada Initiative or a $1,000 cash prize.

Audience Awards:
Best Nevada Film
Best Short Film
Best Feature Film
Best Screenplay

FESTIVAL AWARDS:
Feature Films -
Best Documentary Feature Film
Best Narrative Feature Film
Best Performance Feature Film
Best Director Feature Film

Short Films -
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Comedy Short Film
Best Family Short Film
Best Nevada Documentary Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Drama Short Film
Best Thrills & Chills Short Film
Best Sci-Fi Short Film
Best Int'l Short Film
Joanna O'Neal Award for Best Student Film
Best Performance Short Film
Best Director Short Film

Screenplay Awards -
Best Short Screenplay - Wins option to be produced in Reno, NV by the multiple award-winning Cordillera Films with an in-kind value of up to $10,000.00 courtesy of the Film Nevada Initiative or a $1,000 cash prize.
Best Genre Feature Screenplay
Best Comedy Feature Screenplay
Best Dramatic Feature Screenplay

CIFFNV PITCHFEST! - Pitch your project to an incredible Line-up of Cordillera Grand & Special Jury Members for a chance to win an impressive Prize Package courtesy of our Industry Partners, and the Film Northern Nevada Initiative as well as select members of our 2026 Grand Jury and Special Jury.

Finalists: Up to 10 Projects will be selected to Pitch in-person, on the morning of Sunday, October 4th, 2026 during our annual film festival. If unable to pitch in-person, the project will be disqualified.

Lottery Drawing: Everyone who submits for CIFFNV PitchFest! and attends the festival in-person, will be entered into a Lottery Drawing where up to 6 lucky projects will get selected to Pitch!

Time: This is a 3-minute pitch, followed by 3 minutes of questions/feedback from panelists.

TO SUBMIT:
Email admin@ciffNV.org with the following information:
1. Your Name.
2. Your FilmFreeway Tracking Number - individuals may submit more than one pitch, but each submission must have it's own tracking number. Note: No individual will be allowed to pitch more than one project during the actual event. CIFF will select which of your submitted projects will be pitched.
3. Upon becoming an Offical Selection, you will be emailed a custom link to upload your materials. This will be your opportunity to update your deck, etc.
The link will ask you to provide: Project Name, Project Type (Narrative or Documentary. Feature Film or Short. Web or Television Series.) Project Logline & Synopsis. Optional Materials: Pitch Deck and/or One Sheet. Please do NOT send scripts or treatments.

Rules & Terms

-Cordillera International Film Festival only accepts live-action films and music videos that have been completed after July 2025 and animated films that have been completed by January 2025.
- Our Main Venue is DCP Only. We use Simple DCP. You can use their service to make a DCP for 20% off, or you can upload your own DCP to their service at no cost.
- Online screeners from secure sources are preferred. Include the screener link and password in your submission.
- Press kit is optional - electronic only, please.
- Nevada, World and US Premieres are not required, however premiere status may be one of the factors considered when determining a film's inclusion in the Festival.
-The Festival does not screen Feature films available on VOD or any online streaming portal at the time of the festival. However, the festival reserves the right to make exceptions to this rule. Non-Local Short Films & Music Videos can be available online, but films that are not online will be given preference.
-All films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for festival presentation.
-The festival will consider work-in-progress, films with temporary soundtracks, digital outputs, and work that did not originate on film. Filmmakers must deliver final format (as indicated) for Festival screening.
-Future Filmmaker films MUST be works written, directed, and shot by students actively enrolled in school.

– – – SCREENING/PRESENTATION TERMS OF AGREEMENT – – –
Cordillera International Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes.
The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.
The individual or corporation submitting the film shall indemnify and hold harmless Cordillera International Film Festival 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 claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
Should your film be accepted, we ask permission to keep a copy of the film for our festival library. This request is voluntary and is not conditional. The copy of the film in the CIFF library will not be used for profit. Should we consider re-screening the film for a public paid event, we will notify individuals or corporations representing the film for permission and conditions.

Posters & Marketing Materials - any shipping costs of marketing materials shipped to Cordillera prior to the festival must be borne by the sender and must indicate the title, shipper's name, and FilmFreeway tracking number.
138 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Meezahn Senbetta

    Cordillera is an incredible festival, truly amazing shorts and features, in addition to being an exceptional filmmaker community building retreat! Davis Cameron Chu (my co-director / creative partner) and I are so honored to have received the "Innovation Award" for our short film "Hand Job" and to have been a part of the Pitch Fest. Cordillera was equal parts celebration of art and growing/learning amongst truly lovely artists, volunteers and community members! We love Cordillera!!!

    November 2025
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  • Sunny Bahia

    Terminal was selected at this amazing festival and a big thanks to Paul Sloop and the entire team for their excellent communication throughout the whole process.

    October 2025
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  • Tayebe Babaei

    It was an honor for me that with the very first screenplay I ever wrote for competitions, I became a semifinalist in this festival.

    October 2025
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  • Christian Loubek

    Thank you Paul Sloop and the entire Cordillera IFF team! So grateful for your support of indie film and for including BELIEF in your 2025 program. We are so grateful to have shared the screen with such fine filmmakers. This is an impressive festival, not to be missed!

    October 2025
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  • Heather Atherton

    I have been a volunteer with Cordillera since 2019. The experience of attending Cordillera and the bonds we make with filmmakers during the fest and beyond mean the world to me. I submitted my first screenplay this year, a short I first started discussing with fellow filmmakers at Cordillera in 2019, and was blown away to have been a semifinalist, knowing how fierce this competition is and continues to be each year. The talent it attracts is world-class. To have experienced the festivals from both perspectives is priceless.

    October 2025
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