Breckenridge Film Festival is one of the oldest festivals in the country, originating in 1981.

Film-lovers gather for unprecedented access to independent films, special screenings and premieres exclusive to Breckenridge - and the film-makers behind them!

The festival occurs as the leaves turn brilliant shades during the best time of the year in Summit County, in the town that earned the No. 1 spot in 2017's Arts Vibrancy Index for Small Cities by SMU's National Center for Arts Research. Breckenridge was also named the best small town in Colorado by Country Living Magazine in 2017.

The Breckenridge Film Festival provides an opportunity for filmmakers in many genres to express themselves and interact with audiences in a laid back casual atmosphere and to mingle with and make contacts with industry professionals. Films are presented alongside educational workshops and events. Writers, directors, producers and performing artists attend to discuss their work with audiences in informal sessions following film screenings, at receptions and film forums. We welcome and appreciate the creative talents of all the filmmakers we've met over the years and look forward to meeting more.

Breck Film Fest is "the filmmaker's film festival," proven by selections by USA Today as a Top 20 Film Festival and by FilmFreeway as a Top 100 Reviewed Film Festival.

To learn more about our history and offerings, visit www.breckfilm.org.

Awards & Prizes

Best of Fest awards are given in each of the categories. In addition, other awards are given during the festival, including the coveted Audience Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place.

Rules & Terms

Films must be completed after January 1, 2022. Films made before that date will not be considered for the 2023 festival. Films must be complete, not a work in progress, before you submit.

You will be required to sign a notice of consent upon acceptance to the festival.

NO press materials will be accepted until films have been announced.

If your film is accepted, you will receive a notification email from the festival. Your acceptance will be conditional on meeting promotional/press kit, informational, and exhibition copy requirements and specifications. Selected filmmakers will receive requirements in their acceptance email.
NOTE: If exhibition films are not submitted in the required format, the festival reserves the right to convert it to an approved format.

The Breckenridge Film Festival reserves the right to use any additional clip or clips from accepted entries, up to three minutes in length, for publicity purposes.

Breckenridge Film Festival does not pay to screen submitted films.

All submission fees are non-refundable.

BRECKENRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL ARCHIVE:
Filmmakers of accepted productions will provide a physical and digital copy of their film for permanent retention by the Breck Film Fest.

ACCEPTANCE OF RULES:
Submitting a signed entry form constitutes full acceptance of the BFF rules outlined herein and on the entry form. BFF reserves the right to decide all questions not specifically addressed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Dianna Nilsson
Programming Director
Breckenridge Film Festival
400 N. Park Avenue, #10-B
Breckenridge, CO 80424
dianna@breckfilm.org
Phone: 970-453-6200

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MAY 20, 2023.

Contact us with deadline questions or concerns.

74 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Roma Sur

    Hands down one of the BEST film festivals I have attended. This was the second time I attended it, as a selected filmmaker. The staff is responsive, prompt and personable. The best touch, was the filmmaker liaison. Phyl Rubenstein was simply amazing, and so accessible! I was invited to be on three panels - the Remote Filming panel, the Women and Film panel and the High school films reviewing committee. It was an honor, and I was fortunate to be part of rich and meaningful discussions. I plan to attend every year, if I can.

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Roma, it was an honor to have you with us! Thanks for all your participation and for sharing your film with BFF. We look forward to seeing more in the future.
    Best, Dianna

  • Marny Eng

    Extraordinary in every way possible...from the organizers to the volunteers to the filmmakers in attendance...and beyond! It was so comfortable and we met so many epic humans that we will stay in touch with for days/years to come! For the World Premiere of our film GRINGA and our first film festival ever, we felt completely spoiled by the entire community. Winning 1st Place Audience Award was an incredible honor! Thank you to everyone who was a part of making this so special for us! Much Aloha, Marny and EJ

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Marny & EJ, it was a joy to have both of you and your film premiere in Breckenridge! And the audience award was well deserved. Thank you for being willing participants in the Opening Night Q&A of Drinkwater and making it so much fun!! We can't wait to see what you have to share in the future cause we are counting on seeing you again in Breckenridge.
    All the best, Dianna

  • Aaron Hughes

    Had so much fun- everyone was so warm and accommodating ..and passionate about film. Such a beautiful little town and great vibes all around.

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Aaron! We're very proud of what you have produced and wish you all the best in future projects! You are a very talented filmmaker. Thank you for sharing your film with us.
    Best, Dianna

  • Victor Stabin


    Startling.
    Imagine a gorgeous town surrounded by breathtaking mountainscapes; add 150 kind local volunteers, three beautifully appointed theaters with superb sound systems, all located within walking distance of each other, centrally connected with a filmmaker's community center hub stocked with free coffee, fruit, sandwiches, and snacks, going to a party every night meeting brilliant colleagues, seeing the best in tastefully curated films. I had one of the times of my life. Victor Stabin/Animation E=MC3

    September 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Victor! We're so glad you attended and shared your film with our audience!
    All the best, Dianna

  • Brent Deal

    The Breck Film Fest specializes in the lost art of making film makers feel special. I've been honored to have 3 films at the festival, and cannot give the festival or the town high enough praise. Brent Deal, "Doc vs Parkinson's".

    September 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Brent- we absolutely loved having your film in Breckenridge and it totally deserved an audience award- congrats again! Dianna