The Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) will hold its 23rd festival April 8-11, 2027, in Boulder. The call for entries opened July 17, 2026, and the last deadline is December 11, 2026. BIFF announced the dates on May 7, 2026 and confirmed them on July 21, 2026.
What to Send, and by When
The call covers features, documentaries, short films, student films, animation and adventure films. BIFF set four deadlines:
- August 21, 2026: early deadline
- October 2, 2026: regular deadline
- November 6, 2026: late deadline
- December 11, 2026: extended deadline
BIFF’s filmmakers page has the link to submit. It names the Grand Jury Prize and the People’s Choice Awards as the prizes filmmakers compete for, and it lists what BIFF offers them: a festival pass, a filmmaker liaison and, for those from out of state, complimentary lodging.
Why BIFF Moved to April
Until 2026, BIFF was usually held in early March. It moved to April with the 2026 festival, a change BIFF tied to the Sundance Film Festival coming to Boulder in January 2027. The 2026 festival ran April 9-12 with 69 films from 29 countries. In its May 7, 2026 recap, BIFF reported record revenue, 20 screenings and events that sold out, and a record 75 filmmakers and film subjects attending.
Two of the 2026 awards have Boulder County connections: the Jonny Copp Adventure Film Award went to “The Dark Wizard”, the four-part HBO series from Boulder’s Sender Films, directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen, and Best CineCHEF went to Rainbow Shultz, chef and owner of The Jamestown Mercantile Cafe in Jamestown.
For filmmakers in Boulder County, BIFF is a hometown festival with an international program. In 2027, Boulder’s film calendar includes the Sundance Film Festival in January and BIFF in April. For our own Schmoozers, classes and workshops, see the Events page.
Read the full story at Yellow Scene Magazine.
