Founded: 2014 | Annual
About this festival
The Ridgway Independent Film Festival is an intimate, grassroots celebration of independent short film set in a small historic ranching town in southwest Colorado, between Telluride and Ouray. Born from a volunteer-led effort shortly after Ridgway became one of Colorado’s first Certified Creative Districts, RIFF has grown into an immersive festival that punches far above its weight, anchored at the 1915 Sherbino Theater — known locally as “Ridgway’s Living Room.” Short films take center stage, with a focus on fresh voices and inventive storytelling, alongside a curated slate of longer-form hidden gems, rounded out by panels, filmmaker Q&As, and community events. For its 12th year in 2026, the festival adopts a refreshed structure and, in a new twist, organizes all selections around a single unified theme chosen by a community committee.