01/08/2026
SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN for The 12th AnnualRidgway Independent Film Fest ~ November 13-15, 2026
Presented by the historic Sherbino Theater and the Town of Ridgway, the Ridgway Independent Film Fest (RIFF) features short films by both emerging and veteran voices in filmmaking. We value storytelling, experimentation, and community-building through film and art.
Ridgway has been a certified Creative District since 2013. Our small community is nestled in a scenic valley between two mountain ranges: the Sneffels Range on the northern edge of the San Juan Mountains and the Cimarron Range. Ridgway is located in SW Colorado between the historic towns of Telluride to the west and Ouray to the south.
Ridgway provides an intimate, genuine, and community-oriented festival experience.Filmmakers join us to make connections with fellow creatives, industry leaders, artists, musicians, athletes, and change-makers—all of the remarkable people who make Ridgway their home and who join us for this unique festival each year.
RIFF also celebrates long-form films that may have flown under the radar during their initial release. The planning committee reserves the right to invite longer-form films to the Fest, although they may not be adjudicated.
Submit your film today, and make your travel arrangements early. You don’t want to miss this one!
Awards and Prizes
Ridgway Independent Film Fest offers a number of cash awards and juried prizes (details coming soon)
Rules and Terms
1) Filmmakers are asked to submit creative, high-quality, independent films. Strong storytelling and inventiveness are encouraged.
2) Films must be submitted with captions in English for accessibility.
3) All fees are nonrefundable.
4) A limited number of fee waivers exist for hardship reasons. They will be granted on a first come, first served basis. Submitters MUST provide RIFF with reasons, in writing, that a hardship exists.
5) By submitting your film to this festival, you allow us to use stills, trailers, and other promotional materials for potential projection on exterior walls of buildings in Ridgway, inclusion in social media, web promotion, and print promotion.
6) Films may be selected for subsequent viewings beyond the festival dates.
RIFF celebrates voices in storytelling from a rich diversity of cultural and personal backgrounds and viewpoints.
Filmmakers are very welcome to attend the festival in person. We will accommodate filmmakers to appear remotely whenever possible.
Categories
Narrative Short
Documentary Short
Animated Short
Experimental/Arthouse Short
Early Bird Deadline
Feb 15, 2026
Regular deadline
Mar 15, 2026
Procrastinators deadline
Apr 4, 2026
Notification date
Jul 22, 2026
Event
Nov 13-15, 2026
https://filmfreeway.com/RidgwayIndependentFilmFest
Contact
Mary Menz, special project coordinator
[email protected]
Looking for our website? https://sherbino.org/event/ridgway-independent-film-festival-2026/ Welcome to 12th Annual Ridgway Independent Film Fest Novembe...
