DENVER — Will the Sundance Film Festival step on the toes of Colorado’s numerous other film events when it jumps into Boulder in January? We don’t know yet, but the state’s programmers and filmmakers are saying publicly that they expect it to lift Colorado’s general movie culture and profile, given that most of our film fests are small, niche and spread out.

With the signature Telluride Film Festival behind us, and biggies like the Denver Film Festival yet to come, there are plenty to explore, so here’s our handy guide.

(Note: Most events have opening- or closing-night parties, filmmaker panels, VIP passes and other programming, so we left those out.)

Breck Film Festival

Sept. 17-20. With more than 100 films on tap for Breck Film Festival in its 46th year — and a handsome, cozy venue in the Eclipse Theater, among others — there are multiple reasons to head up to this tourist-friendly resort town. Get a jump on titles that you’ll see more widely distributed later this fall, and early next year, which in 2025 included the acclaimed, Colorado-set (and filmed!) “Rebuilding,” starring Josh O’Connor. breckfilm.org/festival

Crested Butte Film Festival

Sept. 24-27: This 16-year-old festival has a surprisingly robust schedule, presenting more than 80 films spread across five days that allow attendees and filmmakers to stretch out in every way. Titles to keep an eye on this year include “The Incomer,” “Hot Water,” “Blue Heron,” “Dreamboats” and the documentary “Jane Elliott Against the World.” Passes and a schedule are available at cbfilmfest.org.

Aspen Filmfest

Sept. 29-Oct. 4: Marking 47 years, Aspen Film’s feature-length event (they also host Shortsfest) retains its modest footprint from last year, hewing close to the Aspen Isis Theatre. Dates (usually in mid-to-late September) and a schedule have not yet been finalized. aspenfilm.org/our-festivals/filmfest

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival

Oct. 16-18: The 39th festival returns to Colorado College in Colorado Springs with an international celebration of women filmmakers (it also happens to be the longest-running women’s film festival in North America). This year, the event will have in-person screenings at Colorado College followed by a virtual encore. The full schedule and tickets are available at rmwfilm.org.

Telluride Horror Show

Oct. 16-18: High and low art are artificial distinctions at this genre celebration, which defines itself not by Telluride’s ski-resort setting but by its passionate fans and expert curation of new and classic horror titles. The 17th iteration this year will include destination-worthy parties and gatherings, along with “an exciting mix of horror, suspense, thriller, dark fantasy & sci-fi and dark comedy in Telluride’s unique theaters, with most of the films having one of their first U.S. showings,” according to programmers. Check the lineup and ticket options at telluridehorrorshow.com

Denver Film Festival

Oct. 22-Nov. 1: The biggest by-title film festival in Colorado may not hold that belt much longer, given Sundance’s January arrival. But it will be fascinating to see how this jam-packed, affordable, multi-venue event plays with Sundance in both programming and audiences. Expect the typically impressive schedule of screenings, parties, panels, themed packages, celebs and awards to again be spread across the Sie FilmCenter, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Botanic Gardens, MCA at the Holiday Theater and other locales. And check out this year’s recently announced Colorado Spotlight, with 19 titles (docs, features, shorts) “demonstrating a powerful range of local stories and those from homegrown filmmakers.” Now that’s homegrown. denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival

Go West Film Festival

Nov. 9-14: Not many film events rustle up Western themes these days, even in Colorado, but Greeley’s 11th Go West Film Festival honors that tradition with titles that confront what it means to live in the West — the good, the bad and the unexpected. “We ride the range of cinema history, from the early years to feature films and documentaries about the modern West,” organizers wrote online. Giddy up! gowestfilmfest.org

Ridgway Independent Film Festival

Nov. 13-15: The otherworldly San Juan Mountains play host to this event, which is marking its 12th year of showcasing indie films and filmmakers, presented by the 115-year-old Sherbino Theater and the Town of Ridgway. Programs often feature fun options such as stargazing trips (it gets really, really dark there at night), an art show and lots of in-person meet-ups alongside the screenings. Several events are free, too. filmfreeway.com/ridgwayindependentfilmfest

Vail Film Festival

Dec. 3-6: This late-season, competitive event in Vail is one of the more prestigious fests in the state (and one of the few that heavily promote screenplay competitions). This year they’re focusing on French cinema, as part of their partnership with the ÉCU-Paris Film Festival (The European Independent Film Festival), with screenings, Franco-American panel discussions, and a French Filmmaker Masterclass. vailfilmfestival.com

Sundance Film Festival

Jan. 21-31, 2027. The world-renowned celebration of, and marketplace for, independent film debuts in Boulder for the first time in January, having left its longtime home of Park City, Utah. Expect lots of buzz, a tone-setter for awards season, and an expected 80,000 or so attendees — mostly regular Coloradans catching individual screenings. The state and Sundance have both invested heavily in one another, and a lot’s at stake in convincing industry types that Boulder is the right place for it. Watch festival.sundance.org for the closely held, late-to-release schedule expected in December.

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