The Castle Rock Artist Alliance is proud to announce our fifth annual Castle Rock Film Festival, taking place in April in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Our festival is supported by the Castle Rock Artist Alliance or CRAA. We are proud to say that all profits and donation from the Castle Rock Film Festival goes to the CRAA Veterans and First Responders Art Therapy Program. Where we offer free art classes to Veterans to build community and give back to those who give everything to keep us safe.

When you submit to CRAA- you help Veterans and First Responders new skills, community and an entrance to a new world of art.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS

There will be four categories of films — documentary, short film, experimental and music videos. From each category, one winner will be chosen. The winners will receive an opportunity for a short, filmed Q&A either filmed onstage at the festival venue or in one of our professional recording studios. This video will be posted on the festival's YouTube page. The filmmakers will also receive THE ROCK AWARD for their category. THE ROCK is a custom-made trophy that will have the winner's names engraved on them as well as the name of their film.

As stated, each category will receive THE ROCK award. The categories are as follows:

• THE ROCK for Outstanding Documentary (no longer than 30 minutes)
• THE ROCK for Outstanding Short Film (no longer than 30 minutes)
• THE ROCK for Outstanding Music Video
• THE ROCK for BEST PICTURE
* In 2026, we will be adding a new award for Best Animation and BEST Feature

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT, MAKE SURE YOUR FILM IS LABELED AND IF YOU ARE A CASTLE ROCK STUDENT- MAKE SURE TO LIST ON THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE YOUR FILM IN CASTLE ROCK SO WE CAN ENTER YOUR FILM IN THE RISING STARS COMPETITION.

A SPECIAL RECOGNITION WILL BE GIVEN TO THE WINNER OF OUR NEWEST SHOW-
THE MIDNIGHT CLUB

AND THE CASTLE ROCK AWARD FOR WINNER OF THE CASTLE ROCK FILM FESTIVAL

* There is no minimum time requirement for music videos and experimental films, but we emphasize quality in submissions and in selections. With the programming of our festival, we currently do not accept movies longer than 30 minutes.
** For the documentary and short film categories, we do not accept films longer than 30 minutes and emphasize quality in these submissions.
*** A filmmaker can submit one film per category, but can only win in one category.

The finalists will be announced before the festival and winners will be notified prior to the screening date and invited for their Q&A either at a prescheduled time or during the festival.

Rules & Terms

The 5th annual Castle Rock Film Festival will have the following terms and conditions for all submissions for the 2026 festival year.

1.SUBMISSIONS LENGTH AND CATEGORIES
In all categories, all films must be at 30 minutes or less. We will not accept any film that is more than 30 minutes in short film competitions. There will be four categories for films, and the following categories are the ones filmmakers can submit to:
A. Documentary Films (short)
B. Short Narrative Films
C. Music Videos
D. Experimental Films

2. ALL-INCLUSIVE SPACES (ALL STORIES WELCOME)
Castle Rock is a town where everyone comes to truly live. For this reason we accept films (inside of our length parameters) including LGBTQ, BiPOC, LatinX, Asian, and all themes and characters. We do not accept films that portray hatred, sexism, or racism in a positive light. The determination of a violation of our terms for submission will be determined by our panel of judges. All films will be judged on a basis of fairness by our panel for their quality.

3. SCREENINGS/USE OF IMAGES
To be selected for this festival is to give full rights to the Castle Rock Film Festival to use images, shots, sound, and music from the film in order to promote the festival and its screenings. We reserve the right to use images, shots, sound and music from the movie pre- and post-festival in order to promote subsequent festival screenings.
* We also reserve the right to use the film in future screenings, pop-up events, Q&A sessions with the filmmaker, interviews with the filmmaker, and in video promotion for the festival including but not limited to social media, tv, internet ads, or traditional media.

All films selected for the festival will have a screening in our venue, THE THEATRE OF DREAMS in beautiful Castle Rock, Colorado. Selection in the festival gives the filmmaker one ticket for the festival screening to the night their screening will commence.

4. ATTENDANCE
This festival is open to submissions from all over the world, and attendance is not mandatory for filmmakers to be eligible to become finalists or receive any award. Each filmmaker will be given the chance (if they cannot attend physically) to attend virtually for the Q&A.

5. LAURELS AND OFFICIAL SELECTION
Upon official selection to the festival the festival will send you an official Logo for Official selection for the Castle Rock Film Festival. Please feel free to use whichever laurel is more fitting for your film. However, we will only release our custom festival laurel for winners and finalists.

6. SOCIAL MEDIA
We use social media to share all updates of your selection to the Castle Rock Film Festival.

Please note, we take all films based on their quality and social media, connections to the festival, critical reception, or any other metric other than the film's overall storytelling and technical expertise will have any bearing on the film's selection, becoming a finalist or award winner.

7. CASTLE ROCK CITIZENS

In order to encourage youth participation and local creation, the Castle Rock Film Festival will have no fee for Castle Rock Artist Alliance Members. To learn more about the CRAA and what it does for our community, please see this link: https://castlerockartistalliance.com/

The Castle Rock Film Festival reserves the right to at any time to disqualify the filmmaker or film for any violation of the rules or terms above at any time.

This festival is sponsored by the Castle Rock Arts Alliance, a Colorado 501c3 nonprofit.

8. Resubmissions- please note, if your film wasn’t chosen for one season, we are happy to accept your film again the next season. However we cannot promise a festival slot based on a filmmakers decision to submit twice. We also must caution that no film completed before 2023 can be submitted. We do however allow Animated films made after 2021.
17 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Amy Bates-Nelson

    Our short documentary High Roller screened in the Rock the Word program, and I couldn't have asked for a more engaged, enthusiastic audience. The turnout was incredible - friends, family, and fans who showed up filled the space with love and energy.

    Having Matt Armbruster (the subject of the film) there with his actual High Roller trikes made the night feel like a celebration, and the festival created exactly the right atmosphere for that moment.

    What stands out most is the genuine vibe the Castle Rock Film Festival brings. The Festival Team puts their whole heart into everything they do, and knowing that proceeds benefit the Castle Rock Artist Alliance Veterans and First Responders Art Therapy Program made participation feel meaningful beyond just the screening itself. This community is the real deal.

    If you're an independent filmmaker looking for a festival that takes your work seriously and makes you feel like part of a community, Castle Rock belongs on your list. I'll be submitting again without hesitation.

    April 2026
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  • Jon Sargent

    Thank you for the opportunity to screen my film, Painting the Way to Machu Picchu. I so appreciate this festival's heart in supporting art programs for veterans and first responders. The mixer was fun where we got to meet the other filmmakers. There was good communication before and during the festival. This event is truly a community treasure.

    April 2026
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  • Linken Ryan

    Absolutely amazing in every aspect. They were kind, welcoming, and respected everyone's work. There was always a roar of applause for each and every film. I also loved the small town and everything it had to offer. Restaurants and hot tubs were the highlight after the showings. Thank you to everyone who made this film festival possible!

    April 2026
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  • Aline Viens

    We’re very grateful to have screened Face-Off at the Castle Rock Film Festival. A warm, well-curated event with a meaningful mission supporting the artistic community and beyond. Thank you for the invitation!

    April 2026
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  • Adam Ansorge

    Wonderful hosts many miles away from where I was in New Jersey. Wish I could have been there. Would recommend for sure 💯

    April 2026
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