our mission
We bring a community together with independent filmmakers for the unique opportunity to experience and discuss global, innovative, and diverse films. We are committed to promoting film production in the Four Corners and serving as a liaison between the production crew and the community, thereby creating positive socio-economic impact.
How it all began
2005
DIFF registers with the State of Colorado as a new nonprofit corporation on August 24, 2005.
2006
DIFF launched its inaugural film festival March 1-5, 2006.
2012
In 2012, Chimera Communications updated our brand to Durango Film, and added our new escape, expand, and explore tagline, describing independent film and Durango. Durango Film reflects a year-round presence.
2013
We begin successful collaborations with other non-profit organizations and business partners, such as SKA Brewing Company and The Palace Restaurant for Beer Dinner & A Movie.
2019
In 2019 we brought the Four Corners Film Office into our organization to continue Region 9’s legacy of promoting film production in the area, creating positive socio-economic impact.
2021
Like many festivals, we pivoted to a virtual platform for 2021, partnering with Eventive. We worked to keep filmmakers and the audience involved by pre-recording Q&A sessions and hosting Zoom Quarantini Happy Hours and Coffee Talks throughout the festival. We also began a new program, “Profiles of Independent Film”, which was created to view and discuss the bodies of work of up-and-coming independent filmmakers past, present, and future. Through interviews and viewing films we discover the different paths of being an independent filmmaker.
We strive to showcase all genres of independent film for you and our community
Our goal is to connect our community with independent filmmakers, engaging the audience in a unique viewing and interactive experience. Bringing the Four Corners Film Office into our organization reinforces our commitment to filmmakers to share their art with the community and to encourage them to film in our geologically diverse landscape. Direct networking opportunities are abundant during our five day festival, helping to create strong brand awareness.
Showcasing all genres of independent film is what the festival is all about. We proudly spotlight the best of Native Cinema, indulge the adventurous who live and play in Durango with a spotlight on adventure films, and focus on family films especially for the young and young at heart. We enjoy taking films and filmmakers to area schools for our REEL Learning School Program. In 2023, over 1,800 students and teachers participated in the program. 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. When Lindsay Wagner attended the festival, we learned she was the first woman to burst through the glass ceiling in television.
Direct networking opportunities are abundant during our 5-day festival, helping to create strong brand awareness. Event sponsorship opportunities in print, on-screen and online provide participation engagement with our loyal audience.
FOUR CORNERS FILM OFFICE
We are committed to promoting film production in the Four Corners and serving as a liaison between production crews and the community, thereby creating positive socio-economic impact.
REEL LEARNING
Durango Film has been bringing educational and creative films to students and teachers in the Ignacio and Durango school districts for the past 18 years as part of our Public Schools Program. In 2013, we rebranded the program to the REEL Learning school program. The 2020 program reached a record 2,505 students and teachers in the Ignacio JT school district, Durango 9-R school district, Animas High School, Juniper, Big Picture, and Bayfield school district. The 2021 program was shown virtually to 1,400 students in Durango and Ignacio. We presented a hybrid program (both in schools and virtually) for 2022 and 2023, reaching 1,799 students in 2022 and 1,884 students in 2023.
