Festival Dates: April 19-24, 2025
Virtual IWFF program offered April 27-May 2.
The mission of the International Wildlife Film Festival is to promote awareness, knowledge, and understanding of wildlife, habitat, people, and nature through excellence in film. The long-standing festival champions wildlife filmmakers and challenges conventional expectations about how we conserve wildlife and habitat.
Films screen to packed theaters full of sharp audiences that want to learn more about themselves and the world we live in. Filmmakers can expect lively Q&As, engaging panel discussions, and a casual, jovial atmosphere. Guests range from top-notch filmmakers and producers, cutting-edge conservationists or biologists, to the Roxy Theater audience members that sometimes see every IWFF selection. IWFF’s collaborative spirit offers opportunities for many national conservation partners to be involved in post-film screening discussions and day trips throughout western Montana.
Due to the success of past virtual programs, the festival will continue to offer our international audience the chance to view films. An IWFF virtual catalog will be offered post-festival from April 27-May 2, 2025.
IWFF & The Roxy Theater History
Founded in 1977 at the University of Montana IWFF is the first and longest-running event of its kind. Founder, Chuck Jonkel sought to highlight films that demonstrated ethical filmmaking when he founded the festival. In 2013 The Roxy Theater - home to IWFF - began operating as a year-round art-house theater and began an extensive collaboration with the university, businesses, and community, serving a diverse, all-ages population with broad programming. A unique, historic venue with incredible resources, The Roxy houses three cinema screens, a micro-cinema, the Roxy Lounge, an outdoor movie garden, 35mm projection, state-of-the-art sound systems, and two stages. IWFF embraces its home inside The Roxy Theater and as the heart of the Missoula community.
The IWFF makes its film selections & announces category finalists in mid-February. Category winners, Best of Festival, and an Audience Award are announced during the festival.
An anonymous preliminary jury made up of highly trained conservationists, biologists, and filmmakers view every submission. This team takes care to have three screeners view each submission and the festival's program is based on the feedback of this initial jury. The preliminary jury prioritizes exemplary film making craft, accurate representations of science, ethical approaches to filming and presenting wildlife, and successful visual storytelling.
Two to three films are selected in each category as Finalist film selections. The festival program consists of about 50-60 film selections. Some films may not be finalists within a category yet are chosen to screen as general selections outside of the film competition.
IWFF CATEGORY & FESTIVAL WINNERS
The winner in each category is chosen by a FINAL JURY of three esteemed and highly qualified individuals. These awards are presented during the festival. Winners are selected for each category, plus Best of Festival, and the Audience Award.
