Winter Park Film Festival is dedicated to celebrating the art of filmmaking in the unique and picturesque setting of Winter Park. Our mission is to spotlight filmmakers and their experiences, fostering a platform for creative expression. Our festival aims to bring a high-end cinema experience directly to the local community, enriching cultural engagement and appreciation for the cinematic arts.

Winter Park is a world-renowned ski resort community with a bustling ski town located 70 miles west of Denver.

• Best Narrative:
• Best Narrative Short:
• Best Documentary:
• Best Documentary Short:
• Best Disability Films:
• Best Action Sports Film:
• Best Youth Film:
• Best Student Film:

Winter Park Film Festival aims to generate a community that embraces the inclusion of different cultures and rural communities.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
• All films must be submitted electronically through filmfreeway.com.
• Foreign-language films must supply English subtitles.
• Any film that has been screened theatrically or on television is not eligible for awards.
• Filmmakers can only submit to one category.
• All films must have the ability to play with captions.
• WPFF uses DCP as its screening format. If your film is selected you will be required to send in a DCP format of your film.
•Filmmakers must have the rights to their films and are responsible for clearing all rights to the material in their films.

• Winter Park Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes as well as on their social media.

• The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless Winter Park Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court), which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

• No responsibility or liability is assumed by the Challenge Parties or affiliated entities or persons for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Contest: hardware or software failures or errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any e-mail transmissions to be sent or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted email transmissions; inaccessibility of any web site in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the internet or any web site; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Contest, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bug, worm; or destruction of any aspect of the Contest, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the Contest. The Challenge Parties and affiliated entities or persons are not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on any website. Use of any affiliated web site is at user’s own risk. The Challenge Parties and affiliated entities or persons are not responsible for any personal injury, death, harm, property damage or loss of any kind which may be sustained to any Entrant or any other person’s person or property resulting from participation in the Contest, use of any affiliated website or the download of any information.

Narrative: The following films must be 50 minutes or longer.
Narrative Short: The following films must be 50 min or shorter.
Documentary: The following films must be 50 minutes or longer.
Documentary Short: The films must be 50 min or shorter.
Action Sports: Any length film that has to do with action sports.
Disability Films: please explain the person with disability’s connection to the film and their creative roll. If the film is only about disability, please state that. All films in this category must have captions.
Student Film: Films must have been created while in active enrollment. Films must be under 30 minutes.
Youth: All films must be made by someone under 18 with legal consent.

• If selected, entrant agrees to provide a copy of the film in an approved format for public exhibition

• Animation films are encouraged to submit their work in any category!

*********** Alive Film Challenge*************

• Each person submitting a solo film/video for the Contest, or a team comprising multiple members submitting a joint film/video, is considered an "Entrant." The film/video they submit is referred to as the "Entry." Each Entrant, whether individual or part of a team, is restricted to one Entry.

• By submitting an Entry, Entrant expressly agrees to release, indemnify and hold the Challenge Parties and their affiliates, officers, directors, agents, partners, insurance carriers, and any of their employees (collectively, the "Contest Indemnities”) harmless from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted by any third party against any of the Contest Indemnities due to or arising out of the Entrant’s Entry in the Contest, or the Entrant’s conduct during and in connection with this Contest.
The Contest Indemnitees are not liable for any disputes between collaborators, members, vendors, talent or any other persons arising out of or related to the Entry or the Contest. As a condition for any Entry, each member hereby warrants and represents that they will hold the Contest Indemnitees fully indemnified and harmless from any dispute with respect thereto.

• No responsibility or liability is assumed by the Challenge Parties or affiliated entities or persons for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Contest: hardware or software failures or errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any e-mail transmissions to be sent or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted email transmissions; inaccessibility of any web site in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestion on the internet or any web site; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Contest, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bug, worm; or destruction of any aspect of the Contest, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the Contest. The Challenge Parties and affiliated entities or persons are not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on any website. Use of any affiliated web site is at user’s own risk. The Challenge Parties and affiliated entities or persons are not responsible for any personal injury, death, harm, property damage or loss of any kind which may be sustained to any Entrant or any other person’s person or property resulting from participation in the Contest, use of any affiliated website or the download of any information.

*****Challenge Dates. NOW until August 11th. ••••••

• Your film must be a documentary, narrative, or animation film

• Your film must seamlessly weave in a narrative about mental health and/or addiction. Alive Film Challenge judges reserve the right to disqualify films that do not reach this mark.

• The end credits of your film must say this film was created for "The Alive Film Challenge."

• Before the finished film begins, the file must include a title card, which can be downloaded at "https://www.alivefilmchallenge.com/rules"

• Must have the rights to all music used within your film.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Luke J. Salewski

    Winter Park is absolutely one of those hidden gem film festivals. Here's a bunch of disjointed thoughts: The festival team is on the ground with the filmmakers and go out of their way to make sure filmmakers feel welcomed, appreciated, and taken care of. Genuinely some of the coolest and nicest people we've met at any festival ever were here in Winter Park. The location is insane - Colorado is absolutely beautiful this time of year, but without the insane crowds and prices. There's group hikes/events- a must visit fest for any outdoorsy filmmakers. The closing night dinner/awards show on top of the mountain via chairlift in the lodge with stunning views is not to be missed. The programming is excellent and varied. I appreciate how much emphasis is put on mental health, disabilities, and the outdoors- areas which I don't often see covered at many film festivals (especially seeing them interact organically rather than being forced into films/programming) but for anyone interested in filmmaking in those categories, this is a must-attend festival. I look forward to seeing WPFF continue to grow as a respected festival amongst locals, Hollywood, and filmmakers alike while retaining its small town, down-to-earth, hospitable charm.

    April 2026
  • Great festival of like-minded creators. Enthusiastic audience interaction. Passionate, considerate festival organizers. Huge fan of the event.

    September 2025
  • Katheryn Svaldi

    This was my first time at the Winter Park Film Festival and it did not disappoint. This is truly a festival for those who love films and are there to connect over stories.
    Parks and Connor and their team create such an amazing atmosphere and have a collection of films that showcase diverse talents.
    I made some great connections and had a wonderful time at both the viewings and social events organized for filmmakers and viewers alike.
    I can’t recommend this festival enough, especially as it’s held in the beautiful Rocky Mountains!

    September 2025
  • Adam Seidel

    Great Colorado festival. On par with Crested Butte and Breckenridge. Excited to see this festival grow and flourish.

    September 2025
  • Sam Piccolotti

    The team at The Winter Park Film Festival were simply awesome. This is a class act festival. I heard repeatedly from other film makers how incredibly welcoming the entire team was. This was a great festival and I hope to be back.

    September 2025