"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).