Mountain towns and film festivals seem at odds with each other—after all, why trek to a mountain town if you’re just going to sit in a dark theater all day? But the truth is, after attending the Crested Butte Film Festival last month, we’ve realized that mountain towns and film festivals are actually a match made in heaven.

With compelling programming from dawn to dusk for multiple days in a row, film festivals have the potential to turn into mindless movie marathons. But that’s exactly why a mountain town is a perfect venue for a film festival—it encourages balance. In a locale like Crested Butte, there’s so much more to do than watch movies. You can catch a flick in the morning, grab brunch in town (we’re partial to Butte Bagels), hit nearby trails for a hike or mountain bike ride, and then squeeze another movie in between happy hour and dinner. In fact, during a post-showing Q&A with directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz of Audience Choice-winning film Peanut Butter Falcon, we learned that they actually edited the film in Crested Butte because they could buckle down on work and then go hiking when they needed a break.

What’s more, mountain town film festivals often cater to their adventure-loving audiences and show movies that are about the great outdoors. At the Crested Butte Film Festival, for instance, we caught The Weight of Water, which follows blind kayaker Erik Weihenmayer as he paddles the Grand Canyon’s perilous whitewater. When you watch an epic outdoor film like that, exit the theater, and see mountains in every direction, you can’t help but want to take to the trails and climb the surrounding peaks. At a mountain town film festival, inspiration isn’t just on the silver screen—it’s everywhere you look.

The Weight of Water Trailer from Serac Adventure Films on Vimeo.

Below, you’ll find info on the Crested Butte Film Fest, as well as a few other film festivals that are worth putting on your calendar. Whether you’re a film buff, an outdoor enthusiast, or a bit of both, we highly recommend that you make the trek. 

5 Mountain Town Film Festivals to Check Out in 2019 and 2020

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival

2019 Signature Image of Valentine Fabre, Dent Blanche, Switzerland © Ben Tibbetts

Dates: October 26-November 3, 2019

No conversation about mountain towns and film fests would be complete without mention of Banff—it’s called the “Mountain Film Festival,” after all, and set in Banff, a mecca for climbing, skiing, and more. Banff kicks off on October 26th and runs for a full week, so it’s not too late to make the pilgrimage north this year. If you can’t make it, no worries: after films hit screens in Banff, the festival goes on the road, with tour stops all over the United States, Canada, and beyond, including international destinations like Argentina, Uganda, and Singapore. 

Explore the Banff Mountain Film Fest and check out the tour schedule

Sundance Film Festival

© 2015 Sundance Institute | Photo by Jemal Countess.

Dates: January 23 - February 2, 2020

Sundance was founded by iconic movie star Robert Redford and is up there with Cannes as one of the most famous film festivals in the world. It’s the biggest independent film festival in the United States and is subsequently set in three venues (Park City, Sundance Resort, and Salt Lake City) in order to accommodate the droves of attendees. The festival falls smack dab in the middle of winter, meaning that you can actually go skiing in between films. Be aware: due to the swanky nature of the fest and high demand, tickets run steep and lodging can be hard to come by. 

Explore Sundance

Mountainfilm

Dates: May 22-25, 2020

Not to be confused with the Telluride Film Fest, Mountainfilm takes place on Memorial Day weekend in Telluride and expressly shows documentary films. Outdoor adventure films are often the focus, but Mountainfilm also shines the spotlight on social, environmental, and political documentaries. While you may just want to wait until next year to attend the festival in Telluride, Mountainfilm is also currently on tour all across the United States. 

Explore Mountainfilm and check out the tour schedule

Telluride Film Festival

Dates: Sep 4-7, 2020

Telluride is a tiny mountain town, but it’s also a bona fide festival hub, and big-time events like Telluride Bluegrass and Blues and Brews draw thousands of tourists every summer. At the end of summer, the Telluride Film Fest is not to be missed, as ten venues show films from all over the world. Despite the small-town vibes, the Telluride Film Fest is often mentioned in the same breath as Sundance and Cannes, and it’s been around for nearly 50 years. 

Explore the Telluride Film Fest

Crested Butte Film Festival

Dates: September 24th - 27th, 2020

We love late September in Crested Butte. The summer crowds die down a little bit, the weather is crisp, and turning aspens adorn the mountains in gold. With three venues and films ranging from outdoor shorts and documentaries to independent features, this film fest is a great way to make the most of our favorite season in our favorite mountain town. 

Explore the Crested Butte Film Fest