"OIFF is a filmmakers dream!" - Linh Tran; Slamdance Grand Jury Prize Winner

Nestled in the the mountains of southwest Colorado, the Ouray International Film Festival is an intimate four-day event showcasing films, panel discussions, workshops, and parties. Organized artist events and informal gatherings at mountain homes, coffee shops, and the occasional rooftop allow for meaningful connections with fellow filmmakers. These friendships and professional connections live well beyond our weekend together, which is clear in the way that artists work together on projects after OIFF and come back to Ouray each year to reconnect with the community.

Our primary venue is the historic Wright Opera House built in 1888. The 4k cinema projector and audio system, coupled with the auditorium's original nineteenth-century wooden beams and theater curtain create a truly memorable viewing experience. Beyond film screenings, we host scholars, activists, and filmmakers that deliver presentations and participate in Q&As. Past examples include Hollywood screenwriting legend Jim Hart (Hook, Contact, Dracula) sharing his unique story mapping tool TheHartChart, Dr. Brian Foster’s keynote presentation on deconstructing storytelling in the Black South, and Peabody Award-winning documentarian Tiffany Hsiung discussing Asian representation in global cinema. When we screen outside the Opera House, we show films in beautiful Fellin Park - a park adjacent to the city hot springs with a view of the San Juan mountain range in the background. Because of the beauty of Ouray and all it has to offer, we have large gaps in our program to allow for hikes, soaks in natural hot springs, Jeep rides, visits to breweries, and local shopping.

"The Ouray Film Festival Creates Encouraging Space for Art" - Brian Tallerico, Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com

https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/the-ouray-film-festival-creates-encouraging-space-for-art

The Grand Jury Prize will receive a cash award of $1,000.

A jury, comprised of the festival's Executive Team and a group of invited guests, determine winners in approximately eight categories. Award-winning films are eligible for our "Awards Retrospective" film series at the Wright Opera House. Winners in each category are awarded a custom medallion handmade by local artisan Cie Hoover.

Previous award recipients include Paul Raci (Sound of Metal), Jim Cummings (Thunder Road, The Wolf of Snow Hollow), Tiffany Hsiung (The Apology, Sing Me a Lullaby), and Alexandria Bombach (On Her Shoulders, It's Only Life After All).

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES (please read all of these):

* All submissions must have been completed no earlier than January 1, 2023.
* Each submitter may only submit one entry per category.
* We rarely screen films that have been released online. Online presence also can factor into your awards eligibility. If your film will be released online before the festival, please reach out and explain the circumstances.
* While we enjoy hosting premiers, we welcome submissions from films that have screened at other film festivals.
* Films that have screened theatrically, on television, or online are not eligible for submission, unless under special circumstances.
* Films that were not selected in previous years are not eligible to resubmit this year.
* Foreign-language films must supply English subtitles.
* We do accept works in progress. Notes are helpful to let us know what stage the project is in. We MUST have a final cut of the project before our final deadline to be accepted.

CATEGORIES

We encourage submissions in the following five categories:

Narrative Feature Films (40 minutes or more)
Documentaries Feature Films (40 minutes or more)
Short Films (40 minutes or less)
Student Short Films (40 minutes or less)
International Cinema (40 minutes or less; the majority of the film must be in a language other than English)
Music Videos (music videos may be available online as long as their production and posting occurred after Jan. 1, 2022. Original video file must be submitted via FilmFreeway).

We encourage animators to submit their work in any category!

USE AGREEMENTS

* By submitting your film to the Ouray International Film Festival, you grant permission to the festival to screen your film at the festival if your film is selected.

* Accepted films grant that they have secured all the necessary permissions to enter this film to the Ouray International Film Festival and that the film does not infringe the rights, including copyright, of any third party. This includes use of music and literary material.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Hannah Schierbeek

    OIFF is such a special festival with a welcoming and thoughtful curation of events and activities that make it a must attend fest. I'm forever grateful to this festival team for connecting me with many wonderful filmmakers and for creating a festival experience that leaves me inspired and encouraged to continue making films.

    July 2024
  • Richard Wiebe

    Love this thoughtfully curated festival and the personal and hospitable vibe of the entire team!

    July 2024
  • A film festival that feels like summer camp. I love OIFF.

    July 2024
  • James Choi

    One of the best film festivals in the country. A true connective experience full of inspiration and amazing people. A must submit and attend festival that must get on your submissions list!!

    July 2024
  • Emma Pillsbury

    WOW! What an amazing festival full of nature, filmmakers, and art. The folks running the festival (Jared, Jake, Ben, etc.), were always so accommodating; always on top of ensuring a positive experience & everyone was taken care of.
    The films were amazing, the filmmakers were incredible, and having such a beautiful location as the backdrop made it a week I will never forget. Hope to be back next year!

    July 2024