Festival Dates: April 18-23, 2026
Virtual IWFF program offered April 25-May 1.

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 25-May 1, 2026.

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.

Awards & Prizes

The IWFF makes its film selections 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.

Rules & Terms

Films eligible for the International Wildlife Film Festival's juried competition must demonstrate exemplary film craft. They must also have a central focus on non-domesticated wildlife species, natural habitats, or conservation. The jury prioritizes scientific accuracy, ethical decision-making made during production, and demonstrated efforts toward the betterment of our natural world. IWFF highlights both the best of this long-lasting genre as well as alternative approaches to storytelling within the wildlife film genre. The jury prioritizes new voices and stories that have been excluded from this industry in the past as well.

Film entries must also match the following criteria:
Entries must have a release date, copyright date, or air date after 2024.
Entries must be permitted to stream virtually - at the very least to a Montana audience, Geo-restrictions and audience caps are negotiable.
Due to the robust Youth Matinee program, some selections submitted in other categories may also be considered for the Youth Program category and screening program.
The IWFF jury reserves the right to make the final decision on the category of any film entered.
Filmmakers must submit 1 viewing copy per entry, preferably online.
Non-English language productions must include an English voice over or subtitles.
The submitter of the film entry is responsible for all copyrights.
The applicant must be legally authorized to enter the film in the festival and, if selected for the festival, authorized to give screening permission.

Please preview your entries before submitting them. Programs with time code, broken links, or other defects may be disqualified.
No refunds.
27 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Elizabeth Crowl

    IWFF is the best festival! The most wonderful organizers and staff, a welcoming communal atmosphere and phenomenal programming... Missoula is such a special place for wildlife film. We were blown away and so honored to see our feature, Shenandoah, included alongside such incredible films. Thank you so much for having us!!! We hope to come back soon!

    May 2026
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  • JinYoung Jayson

    IWFF has the best vibe! This was our second time attending. It has quickly become of our favorite film festivals, and we were incredibly honored to have our short film, Speaking Eep! included in this year's selections! Communication and hospitality are always top notch at this fest. They take excellent care of attending filmmakers, and we were able focus on enjoying the festival and meeting fellow filmmakers and other members of the local community. Can't wait to return!

    April 2026
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  • Austin Geiger

    This film festival was outstanding. We came to support our short film and were amazed by the quality and diversity of all of the other films exhibited. And the programmers of the festival did a fantastic job of supporting the film makers. We loved how much the local town of Missoula supports the film festival as well. I would highly recommend attending and submitting a film. We hope to be back again in the future.

    April 2026
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  • Trish Neufeld

    An incredible festival, complete with amazing programming and coordination staff, multiple venues and set amongst the incredibly scenic cool Montana town of Missoula. The festival felt intimate, with a good amount of filmmakers present and a dynamic slate of films showcased. On behalf of the crew of The Rewilders, thanks so much for the invitation and the hospitality!!! Definitely shall return with the next project!!!

    April 2026
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  • Kristin Tieche

    We had a great experience at this festival, especially the opportunity to connect with other wildlife filmmakers!

    May 2025
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