Weekend Highlights
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
Opening Night
DOORS OPEN: 6:30PM
FILM: 7:45PM
Join us for an enchanting evening as we kick off the festival! Starting at 6:30 pm enjoy the the rhythm of live music from Patchwork Jack, sip on our signature cocktail, and indulge in sweet bite sensations before the feature film.
The kick-off to our festival weekend is generously sponsored by Colorado Springs Dermatology.
Sponsored By
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
After Dark
One hot ticket, two screenings to choose between
AFTER DARK PARTY: 6:30PM
FILMS: 8PM
The hottest ticket of the festival, with your choice between two screenings. Grab dinner from the food trucks on site, then head into Cornerstone Arts Center at 6:30pm for live music, complimentary popcorn, and a cash bar, before films begin at 8pm across two screening venues. It’s the perfect night out, and a great way to introduce friends to the Festival.
Party Sponsored By
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
behind the lens
Filmmaker Forums, Gaylord Hall
OPEN TO ALL PASS HOLDERS
Filmmakers make the festival! Take advantage of one or both of our FILMMAKER FORUMS during lunch on Saturday and Sunday. If you pre-purchased a box lunch they will be available to pick-up at Gaylord Hall just before the forum.
Saturday Topic
OCTOBER 18, 1:15PM
Cinematic Truth Tellers: Challenging Failing Systems
Film has the power to expose hidden realities, amplify unheard voices, and hold institutions accountable. In this forum, filmmakers explore how their work confronts systemic failures — from public health and reproductive justice, to school safety and institutional abuse — while honoring the resilience of those most affected. Together, they reveal how cinema not only documents injustice but also sparks dialogue, empathy, and the possibility of change.
Sunday Topic
OCTOBER 19, 1:15 PM
Art as Resistance, Art as Legacy
Film, like all art, is an act of resistance against forgetting. This forum will explore how filmmakers use cinema to preserve memory, challenge injustice, and reimagine cultural touchstones for new generations. Whether chronicling stolen children seeking truth, an artist’s magnum opus, families redefining belonging, or Dorothy’s enduring symbolism, these stories remind us that art leaves legacies that outlive us. This forum explores how film transforms struggle into beauty, silence into testimony, and individual vision into collective memory.
THE MINING EXCHANGE
Host Hotel
We’re thrilled to partner with The Mining Exchange as our official host hotel for the Festival, offering attendees discounted room rates. The Mining Exchange is a significant historic hotel that exudes all things Colorado Springs. Built in 1902 as the city’s gold and silver stock exchange, the building has hosted generations of guests seeking the quintessential Colorado experience. Now completely reimagined, The Mining Exchange pairs its historic 1902 architecture with modern, chic luxury — 128 guest rooms, on-site dining and drinks, a full-service spa, and event space in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs.
Free Military Pass
Sponsored by
In appreciation of your service, all active duty and retired military and their spouse, qualify to receive a FREE SUNDAY PASS to our in-person Festival, with discounts available for other pass types. Passes can be picked up at Will Call; military ID required for pickup.
