The DocuWest Film Festival is dedicated to showing insightful, thought provoking, and awe-inspiring documentary films from around the world.

We hold all screenings at the Alamo Drafthouse Denver. This amazing partnership allows us to screen all films in state-of-the-art theaters, that provide the ultimate viewing experiences.

DocuWest Film Festival - "We have issues."
Looks to explore the world of our people, our politics, our societies, our history and ourselves through the lens of filmmakers from around the globe. We embrace the idea that cinematic truth revealed in a non-narrative manner can allow the filmmaker to make choices that presents life either surreptitiously or purposely based on the choices they make.

DocuWest’s objective is to present our audiences with the stories that are not only astonishing and jarring, but awe-inspiring, and thought provoking enough to enable more dialogue and discourse to take place over the people, events or subjects presented in each film. It is our goal to see the DocuWest Film Festival become the premier documentary film festival in the West.

We look forward to receiving your submission to the DocuWest Film and Music Festival.

Awards & Prizes

Selected documentary features, Medium length and short films participate in the Festival’s three competitive sections, the winners of which are chosen by special juries.

We present the "Women Who Doc" award, presented by Barbara Bridges, to one filmmaker in each of our three categories. We are proud to have Barbara, who heads, "Women + Film", in Denver, be a part of the festival.

We present $250 cash prize as part of the "Focus on The Environment Award" presented by Joseph Cantwell to one film whose story shines a light on the environment.

All submissions are eligible for our Audience Award. They are chosen based on ballots submitted by festival audiences, and are presented in the following categories: Documentary feature, medium length, and short Film.

Rules & Terms

All films must have been completed after January 1, 2021.

Films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for Festival presentation.

Short films up to 30 minutes. Medium length films must have a running time between 31 and 60 minutes. Feature length films are more than 61 minutes.

Films that have been submitted for consideration in previous years are eligible for re-submission only if significant changes have been made to the film. A detailed list of the changes must be included in the submission packet.

For submission purposes, previews may be works-in-progress, films with temporary soundtracks or digital outputs.

Filmmakers must deliver final format (as indicated) for Festival screenings. No exceptions will be permitted.
3 Reviews
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  • Lightning N Mitchell

    Due to COVID-19 it has been very difficult for film festivals of all to function properly. But because of the preparation that was put forth by these festivals to make it a enjoyable event for all film makers. I solute them for their hard work and efforts in what they and their staff did to prepare these festivals for us. I give them all 5 stars and would give them more for their efforts. Now we look for a new and better journey for film making in 2021. May GOD BLESS and be with us all.

    December 2020
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  • Lofty Sky Entertainment

    It's unfortunate that Docuwest was cancelled this year due to the pandemic, but we're still very honoured to have our film 'Ask No Questions' be officially selected for this great festival!

    November 2020
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  • Caroline Clark

    Responded quickly to emails; were very excited and accommodating!

    May 2016
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