Welcome to RIFF 2024.
Join us in Year 10 for an unforgettable festival.

November 14-17, 2024.

Mountains. Stars. Lifelong connections.

Ridgway is a dark sky community overflowing with natural beauty, creativity and passion for the outdoors. Nestled between two stunning mountain ranges on Colorado's Western Slope, Ridgway has been a certified Creative District since 2013.

Our festival is intimate, unique and exciting. Here you'll make deep, long lasting connections with creatives, community, industry leaders, artists, musicians, athletes, and change-makers.

This year we have a theme running through our exhibition and festival. That theme is Horse. If your work addresses this theme, wonderful. If it doesn’t, thats fine.

Every year is a brand new amazing journey. Take that journey with us this year. Submit your film today, and start making your travel arrangements early.

We are so pleased to be anchored at the historic Sherbino Theater on Clinton Street.

Peter O'Fallon Pro-Juror Award--$400
Taylor Rees Pro-Juror Award--$400
Dylan Howell Pro-Juror Award--$400
Craig Childs Pro-Juror Award--$400
Guest Pro-Juror Award—$400
People’s Choice Award—$300
Director's Choice Award--$200
Kismet Award--$200

1) Filmmakers are asked to submit creative, high-quality, independent films.

2) Films should be submitted with captions in English for accessibility.

3) If you have a film that is horse-related, please make sure to submit it.

Films that are selected for screening will be screened and promoted via RIFF to the public as part of our 2024 festival. This may include VOD and in person screenings. Films may be selected for subsequent viewings beyond the festival dates. Films and stills may be selected for projections on exterior walls of buildings in Ridgway, inclusion in social media, web promotion, and print promotion.

Please submit entries at the festival page on the FilmFreeway website. If an applicant cannot submit their entry online for some reason, they should contact the festival organizers.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Gail Simpson

    Thank you Ridgway for making room for Rejoice Abyssinia in your on-going exhibit hall. In addition to the anticipated joys of watching the curated films, meeting thrilling artists and delighting in Arielle's conversations with the filmmakers, I was overwhelmed by the warmth and intimacy of the Ridgway community. Wonderful event!!

    January 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks so much for your sweet shout out, Gail! We're just gearing up now for this year's festival, and hope you'll consider submitting again!

  • Very honored my ultra short films, GAME OVER and PERFECTION received Honorable Mentions at this excellent festival. Thanks much to selectors and festival producers.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Kate,
    Thank you for your lovely review, and for sharing your vision with us in 2023! We LOVE the ultra short films!!!!

  • Jon Sargent

    Thank you for including my short, Puppet Fire, as a honorable mention in the festival this year. While I was not able to attend in person, I appreciate the opportunity to be included among such outstanding filmmakers!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Jon,
    Thank you for your warm regards. We hope that you will be able to join us in person soon!

  • They are really independent and prestige festival with high quality sensitive in selection

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Many thanks for your kind review! We so appreciate having passionate filmmakers like yourselves submit to our humble little festival. You're helping us grow!

  • Carlo Nasisse

    The Ridgway Independent Film Festival is a special exhibition space that combines a small town atmosphere, quality programming, community experiences, and general care for filmmakers and artists. I have had the pleasure of screening two films at the festival and both experiences were wonderful. The town itself is absolutely beautiful and there is a strong arts community who turns out to support the festival. Submit your films!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you Carlo! We appreciate your kind words, and have very much enjoyed sharing your films with our community and festival visitors. It has been delightful to hear people refer to Direcciones again and again, after seeing it at RIFF. The parallels that people have been drawing to our own rural town with our quirky landmarks is great,. Your film has been seeding lively conversation and introspection. We hope to see you soon in Ridgway and wish you all the best as you go about sharing your works with the world. --Arielle, Director, RIFF