High Country Film Season Returns With Breck Film Fest’s 46th Year

Film fest fever is catching in Colorado, especially with the Sundance Film Festival headed to Boulder come January. Thankfully, people who are new to the cinephile world can spend time in the High Country this month experiencing independent film set against the backdrop of golden aspens. 

Photo by Elaine Collins

The Breck Film Fest, set for Sept. 17-20, 2026, celebrates 46 years as one of the oldest continuing film festivals in the country. They’ve perfected a vibe they call “more films and less air”— an antidote to the exclusive, velvet-rope culture often found at tier-one festivals. It’s an accessible entry point for casual viewers wanting to experience a diverse lineup without a hefty price tag; individual films are $16-$20 and there are four pass options available for those who want to binge movies, panels and parties for four days. 

The full schedule just dropped September 1; in total, the festival is bringing 91 independent films to town, along with intriguing industry panels and popular mountain parties during the historical peak of Colorado's fall colors. The 2026 Festival opens with the touching drama See You When I See You, directed by Jay Duplass. Based on the book by Denver-based writer Adam Cayton-Holland (who wrote the screenplay and will be in attendance), the film follows a family navigating grief and mental health struggles and stars Cooper Raiff, David Duchovny, Kaitlyn Dever and others.  

On Friday evening, the much-acclaimed documentary Nuisance Bear is being co-presented with The Sundance Film Festival. The film, which nabbed the U.S. Grand Jury Prize in Documentary at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, captures a polar bear’s migration path through human settlements, highlighting the stark conflict between wildlife survival and human expansion. Director Jack Weisman is set to attend the festival, along with special guests from the Sundance Film Festival.   

“When you look at films like Nuisance Bear, you see stories that directly resonate with mountain communities — dealing with wildlife, growth and environment,” says Cait McCluskie, programming and operations director. “That shared relevance is what makes a collaboration like this meaningful.”

Saturday’s headline film, Sender, is a psychological thriller starring Britt Lower and Jamie Lee Curtis with the director Russell Goldman in attendance. Finally, the festival closes with a dose of laughter. Sunday evening’s “Christmas in September” celebration features a special Colorado 150 screening of the cult classic holiday comedy National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, which was partially filmed in Breckenridge. The evening doubles as a community party complete with an ugly Christmas sweater contest and invitations to local community members who served as crew or extras on the film.

September undoubtedly offers a mountain film festival smorgasbord, each as unique as its location. The following festivals are also on tap:  

• Winter Park Film Festival – Sept. 10-13, 2026

• Breck Film Festival – Sept. 17-20, 2026

• Crested Butte Film Festival – Sept. 24-27, 2026

• Aspen Film Filmfest – Sept. 29-Oct. 4, 2026