Using the power of film, art and ideas, Mountainfilm inspires audiences to create a better world. Held every Memorial Day weekend (this year May 23–27, 2024), the festival brings together a community of filmmakers and change makers, showcasing documentary films that celebrate adventure, activism, social justice, environment and indomitable spirit. We accept and screen feature and short films on a broad range of subjects. We are always interested in work that focuses on mountains (both symbolic and physical), mountain culture, and mountaineering, but we also showcase films about people who are dedicated to changing the world.

OUR MISSION
Mountainfilm uses the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.

OUR VISION
Mountainfilm is a dynamic organization and festival of films, people, stories, and ideas that celebrates indomitable spirit, educates and inspires audiences, and motivates individuals and communities to advance solutions for a livable world.

OUR VALUES
Embracing adventure
Preserving environments
Connecting cultures
Building community
Inspiring activism
Fostering storytellers
Promoting integrity
Gathering visionaries
Celebrating courage
Enlightening audiences

Mountainfilm promotes and encourages diversity behind the camera.

If you have questions about the submission process, be sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions and detailed Submission Guidelines on the Mountainfilm website.

Best Documentary Feature: $5000
James Balog Creative Vision Award: $5000
Audience Choice Award- Feature: $4000
Audience Choice Award- Short: $1000
Women in Film Award: $3500
Moving Mountains Award (supports a film and non-profit featured in a film): $1500 to the filmmaker(s) + $1000 to the non-profit
Subject Matter Award (supports a film and non-profit featured in a film): $15000 to filmmaker(s) + $15000 to the non-profit
Charlie Fowler Best Adventure Film: $2500
Best Short Film: $1000
Student Choice Award (awarded by a jury of regional students): $2000

Eligibility Requirements

-Mountainfilm is a documentary film festival. If your film is not a documentary, please do not submit.
-Feature documentaries are 40 minutes and longer. Shorts are under 40 minutes, including credits.
-Film entries may be of any length, from any country and on any subject in keeping with our mission. Films should either be in English or include English subtitles.
-At this time, we do not accept VR projects.
-With few exceptions, Mountainfilm requires that films have not screened or been broadcast in Colorado prior to the festival. We take other previous screenings, broadcast and online availability into consideration when making official selections.
-For the 2024 festival, we are seeking films making their premieres after May, 2023.
-We will consider films that have had an online presence, though our preference is to highlight work that has not already reached a large audience.

Submission Guidelines: PLEASE READ!

-Only COMPLETE applications will be considered. This includes full contact information, listing of all directors and producers, film synopsis and specs, hi-res production stills, a trailer (features only), a Vimeo screener link and director headshot and bio.
-Please submit the most recent/updated version of your film. We do not accept rough cuts.
-We prefer Vimeo links over FilmFreeway's video uploads as it helps us in our screener process.
-Your screener link must remain active until June 15, 2024.
-Entry fees are non-refundable.
-If you are from an LMIC, a BIPOC filmmaker or a student, please contact us for a possible submission fee discount waiver.

Due to the number of submissions received, we unfortunately cannot provide feedback on entries.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Pablo Durana

    Mountainfilm is by far my favorite festival. It takes an effort to get there, but totally worth it. Once you're there, everything is accessible by foot or gondola. So many thought-provoking films, panel discussion....and the parties are legendary. Each screening venue is unique and beautiful.
    This is a bucketlist festival and we were so honored to have been a part of it.

    March 2024
  • It was great to screen my short doc SOMOS at MountainFilm. Great location and people working to make the festival exist and thrive!

    July 2023
  • Undoubtedly worth the trek, Mountainfilm festival delivers an exceptional program that is diverse, captivating, and showcases the indomitable human spirit. The festival fosters a warm and welcoming community for filmmakers, I left with more friends than I can count on both hands.

    July 2023
  • Olivia Kuan

    I really didn't know what to expect when we went to Mountainfilm but it was an amazing and fulfilling experience with such a strong sense of community and values. We felt so welcome not only by the festival but also the town. They took great care of us and our screenings went incredibly well.

    June 2023
  • Sam Sanders

    To think - I almost didn't attend the festival because it was hard and expensive to get to, but boy am I glad I decided to go. This was by far one of the best festival experiences I've ever had as a filmmaker. The festival staff creates such a warm, fun (and well organized) environment with wonderful hospitality events for the filmmakers, venues were great, audiences were amazing (both of my screenings were sold out), excellent panels and films and there were so many opportunities to meet the other filmmakers. It was my first time at Mountainfilm and this is definitely a festival I would attend whether or not I have a film playing. It’s easy to see why filmmakers and audiences come back year after year. And as if that's not enough - it's in the most gorgeous location. This one is a must.

    June 2023