Durango Independent Film Festival
Celebrating 20 Years: March 5-9, 2025
Durango, Colorado
Durango Independent Film Festival
We Celebrate All Genres of Independent Film
The Durango Independent Film Festival brings independent films and filmmakers to Colorado’s Four Corners via both an annual international festival and a film commission office that facilitates storytelling production throughout our region. We share films and filmmaking opportunities to build both community and our local economy. Won’t you join us in a charming Colorado mountain town for film and filmmaking?
Our festival meets at the confluence of film and community – along the banks of the Animas River in Southwest Colorado. Please join us for our 20th Anniversary Celebration March 5–9, 2025 in Durango, Colorado.
Endless networking opportunities with the filmmakers foster amazing conversations, professional connections and some friendly arguments at the many parties.
Showcasing all genres of independent film is at the heart of the Durango Independent Film Festival (DIFF). We proudly spotlight the best of Native Cinema, vicariously indulge the undaunted with adventure films, plus we feature independent music, nature, comedy, shorts, documentaries, and feature films.
DIFF filmmakers also visit area schools (K–12) as part of our REEL Learning School Program. In 2023, over 1,800 students and teachers participated in REEL.
Panels and workshops, coffee talks with filmmakers, and nightly parties round out the week. Most of our special guests over the years have contributed much more than sharing a film. Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts performed live in concert. Mackenzie Astin ventured to Animas High School to help students with filmmaking. Lindsay Wagner shared that she was the first woman to burst through television’s glass ceiling.
Event sponsorship opportunities on-screen, in print and online provide great brand connections with our loyal audience.
Notes From the Director's Chair:
“As DIFF is about to celebrate our 20th Anniversary, we are more excited than ever about sharing films and creating opportunities in our region. This year, we are inviting new genres and platforms to submit to DIFF – including content creators – arguably the future of the international filmmaking industry. Short, long, animated, dramatic, comedic, adventure are all warmly welcomed here where filmmakers make the DIFFerence. We’ve also just launched a new 4 Corners Film Office website to attract producers to film in our area and to let local professionals promote their skills. As we enter our third decade, we feel like we are just getting started! Join us. We’re saving a seat for you!”
Carol L. Fleisher
Executive Director
Submit Your Film
The Durango Independet Film Festival is now accepting submissions for our 20th Anniversary; March 5-9, 2025. Submissions are due before October 31st, 2024.
Testimonials
“This is the best festival with the best folks! Engaged audiences-- fantastic hospitality-- amazing panels/parties. A true love of film and filmmakers. I cannot say enough good things about this festival. Truly, DO NOT MISS."
— Kristina Kendall
“Fantastic festival!! One of the best ones I have ever been to! Theaters were great and there were lots of activities for filmmakers to attend.”
— Chris Ward
“The Durango Film Festival is located in a wonderful small mountain town where the community really supports the festival. Filmmakers will have a wonderful experience meeting each other at the various events and parties. The theaters have great attendance and Q&A. We were honored with the audience award for our film "Remember the Children". Durango has a terrific film festival!!! Pilámaya!”
— Jim Warne
“Join us along the Animas River - at the confluence of films, filmmakers and community - where stories make the DIFFerence.”
Be the DIFF, See the DIFF, Make the DIFF!
Our organization creates economic impact through working with film productions coming to this area and the annual film festival. Other areas of impact are the Reel Learning school program for La Plata County students and free programs such as Coffee Talk with Filmmakers and Filmmaker Panels, which take place during the festival. Your gift reinforces our efforts to draw visitors to La Plata County, to inspire and educate audiences and students in our community, and to support the independent filmmaker.
