Colorado film festival

Denver Film Festival

Oct. 22-Nov. 1, 2026

Denver

Founded: 1978 | Annual

About this festival

The Denver Film Festival is the largest and most prominent film festival in the Rocky Mountain region, founded in 1978 and produced each fall by Denver Film, the nonprofit that operates the year-round Sie FilmCenter. Over ten days it showcases more than 140 new films from around the world, with over 50 visiting filmmakers, directors, and actors — many of the titles otherwise unavailable in the region.

Anchored at the Sie FilmCenter with red-carpet premieres at the Buell Theatre and Ellie Caulkins Opera House, the festival spans independent and commercial work, international discoveries, and awards-season contenders, and serves as the capstone of Denver Film’s year. As Sundance arrives in Boulder, the Denver Film Festival remains the established anchor of the state’s fall festival calendar.

Latest coverage

Denver Film Festival | Features & Columns | Festivals | News
Denver Film Festival 2026 adds more honorees
John Leguizamo, Indya Moore and D'Arcy Carden will be honored at the 2026 Denver Film Festival, Oct. 22-Nov. 1.
October 14, 2026
Denver Film Festival | Features & Columns | Festivals | News
Denver Film looks toward its 50th year as Colorado’s festival landscape grows
Denver Film leaders discuss its history, Sundance, local filmmakers and the future of Colorado’s growing film festival scene.
October 5, 2026
Denver Film Festival | Features & Columns | Festivals | Guides | News
Denver Film Festival 2026 schedule: Every movie, date and time
Plan for DFF49 with the complete Denver Film Festival 2026 schedule, including every movie, screening time and venue.
October 4, 2026
Denver Film Festival | Features & Columns | Festivals | News
Denver Film Festival 2026 announces 129-film lineup packed with awards hopefuls
See the full Denver Film Festival 2026 lineup, from ‘I Play Rocky’ and the Pedro Pascal-led 'Behemoth' to all the docs, shorts and more.
October 3, 2026
Denver Film Festival | Features & Columns | Festivals | News
Denver Film Festival unveils 2026 Colorado Spotlight lineup
DFF49 will showcase 19 Colorado-connected films, restore its True Grit Award and offer free screenings to 1,600 area students.
September 16, 2026
Denver Film Festival | Film | Reviews
‘Elway’ a standard sports doc, but a winner for Broncos fans
Denver Film Festival closes out with premiere of documentary about the Colorado sports icon.
November 9, 2025
Denver Film Festival | Film | Reviews
Time travel drama Rose of Nevada haunts with atmosphere, drags with pacing
Mark Jenkin's moody tale follows fishermen aboard a mysteriously returned trawler who find themselves trapped 30 years in the past.
November 8, 2025
Denver Film Festival | Film | Reviews
‘Creede U.S.A.’ Review: A small town’s big conversations echo across America
Kahane Corn Cooperman’s documentary captures a tiny Colorado mountain town where miners and theatre artists share the same main street.
November 5, 2025
Denver Film Festival | Film | Reviews
‘Is This Thing On?’ Review: Bradley Cooper trades bombast for bittersweet honesty
Is This Thing On? is a sharp, soulful dramedy about finding yourself through stand-up comedy, featuring a vulnerable leading performance by Will Arnett.
November 4, 2025
Denver Film Festival | Film | Reviews
‘Train Dreams’ Review: Clint Bentley finds quiet grandeur in loss and landscape
Clint Bentley’s adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella, Train Dreams, depicts a logger’s lonely life through Joel Edgerton’s understated, soulful performance.
November 3, 2025