CIFF Filmmaker Information
What to expect as a CIFF Filmmaker
We’re a film festival created by filmmakers for filmmakers.
State of the Art Venues. Cash Prizes. Lodging Provided for all Official Selections. Iconic & Emerging Voices Grand & Special Jury (see below). Industry Networking Events, Red Carpet Premieres, Panels, Parties and CIFFNV PITCHFEST! featuring in-kind production and cash prizes
Located in the stunning Reno-Tahoe region of Nevada, the Cordillera Int’l Film Festival prides itself on amazing venues with packed houses – our Friday night screening is the only one that doesn’t take place in a luxury theater because it’s at an outdoor amphitheater, on the water, with an average audience of 1K!
As filmmakers, we understand we are all going through uncertain times, and choosing what festivals are worthwhile can be challenging. Since day one, Cordillera has provided the following to all our Official Selections – yes, all of them:
Lodging
What!? We know - it's awesome – and so is our host hotel!
Filmmakers Lounge
MEALS, SNACKS & DRINKS. The cost of meals can become challenging, so we provide up to 3 meals a day - every day of the festival. The lounge is a perfect place for Filmmakers, VIP Guests and Jury Members to meet-up for great conversations and enjoy drinks and snacks with a Hosted Wine & Beer bar.
5th Day Fun
Film Nevada Initiative VIP Experience - Official Selections are invited on a first-come-first served basis to join us on the Monday after the festival for a day spent on the water and in the mountains, exploring our beautiful region as a VIP.
Exciting Thing to Expect in 2024:
ONE
In-kind production and cash prizes, including an incredible production package for our CIFFNV PITCHFEST! winner courtesy of our Industry Partners and the Film Nevada Initiative as well as select members of our 2024 Grand Jury and Special Jury.
Notable Awards include our Best Female Focus Film, Best Indigenous & LGBTQIA+ Film, and our Innovate award - all of which come with a $500 - $1000 cash prize. Our Impact Award (Formerly the John Singleton Impact Award) celebrating stories that inform & inspire change includes a $1,000 cash prize.
TWO
Our Grand Jury & Special Jury! Led by our Chairman of the Board, Disney Legend and beloved voice of Goofy for the last 35+ years, Bill Farmer, we look forward to a prestigious Grand & Special Jury joining us in 2024! Past members include Brian Currie the Oscar wining writer of Green Book; Actor Wes Studi of Dances with Wolves and Last of the Mohicans; Actor, Writer & Director Kristoffer Polaha who was most recently seen in DC's Wonder Women: 1984 and Jurassic World: Dominion. For a complete list of past members, please head to the Grand Jury Archives.
THREE
CIFFNV PITCHFEST! - Pitch your project to an incredible Line-up of Cordillera Grand & Special Jury Members for a chance to win an impressive Prize Package courtesy of our Industry Partners, the Film Nevada Initiative as well as select members of our 2024 Grand Jury and Special Jury. Our CIFFNV PITCHFEST! Panelists consist of our 2024 Grand & Special Jury members and will be announced at least 24 hours in advance.
FOUR
Panels, Filmmaker Q&As & Table Readings of our Finalist Screenplays!
At Cordillera, we love what we do and we can't wait to see what the 2024 season brings to us. We look forward to getting to know you and your projects and hope to celebrate your project in July!
Submission Categories
Come experience an amazing 5-Days filled with great films, impressive programming, hosted lodging, great parties, Q&A sessions, educational panels and networking events with fellow filmmakers!
Please note, in addition to the yearly festival, with your permission, films have an option to be screened again as part of the following special programs:
Movies in the Park - continuing a 29 year tradition as an Artown Legacy event, Cordillera is proud to present movies under the stars. Classics, Festival Favorites and the best in up-and-coming films from the Festival Circuit are seen by an audience of almost 2k, every Friday in July.
Fright Night - Spend Halloween in Virginia City - named by USA Today as one of the nation's most haunted towns. We'll screen spooky short films at the infamous...and scary Piper's Opera House!
Here are the Categories:
FILMS
Narrative & Documentary Features
All Narrative Features, 41 minutes or longer, are invited to submit. Our programming encompasses a broad range of themes. We're looking for films that engage and entertain in ALL genres.
Narrative, Documentary, Music Videos & Animated Shorts
All Narrative Shorts, 40 minutes or less, are invited to submit along with all Music Videos that are 5 minutes or less. Our programming encompasses a broad range of themes. We're looking for films and music that engage and entertain in ALL genres.
SCREENPLAYS
Selected Screenplays will have the opportunity to see a selection of their script brought to life during the Festival at a table reading featuring professional actors.
Features
All Feature Length Screenplays, 61 pages or longer, are invited to submit. Our programming encompasses a broad range of themes. We're looking for screenplays that engage and entertain in ALL genres.
Shorts
All Short Length Screenplays, 60 pages or less, are invited to submit. Our programming encompasses a broad range of themes. We're looking for screenplays that engage and entertain in ALL genres.
Selected Screenplays will have the opportunity to see a selection of their script brought to life during the Festival at a table reading featuring professional actors.
Special Award Categories:
Female Focus - Features & Shorts - $500 Cash Prize
All works entered must either be created with a women in a key creative role (writer, producer, or director) or of interest to women. Preference will be given to fictional and non-fictional stories that feature the everyday lives of women and feature three dimensional, well-formed female characters.
Native American / Indigenous Filmmakers - Features, Shorts & Screenplays - $500 Cash Prize
All works entered must either be created by artists that identify as Native American in a key creative role (writer, producer, or director) or contain a strong Native American theme. Preference will be given to fictional and non-fictional stories that feature the everyday lives of the Indigenous community and feature three dimensional, well-formed characters.
LGBTQIA+ Films & Filmmakers - Features & Shorts - $500 Cash Prize
All works entered must either be created by artists that identify as LGBTQ+ in a key creative role (writer, producer, or director) or contain a strong LGBTQ+ theme. Preference will be given to fictional and non-fictional stories that feature the everyday lives of the LGBTQ+ community and feature three dimensional, well-formed LGBTQ+ characters.
Nevada Filmmakers - Features & Shorts - $500 Cash Prize
All Nevada Short Filmmakers with films are invited to submit their film. To qualify as a Nevada Filmmaker Short, the submitted film must have been created while the director or directors were residents of Nevada, or where production primarily took place in Nevada.
Awards Categories
Thanks to the support of our amazing sponsors, the Cordillera International Film Festival
gives out custom, engraved awards and a series of cash and in-kind production packages.
GRAND JURY AWARDS:
Grand Jury Award - Best of Fest - Feature Film - $1,000.00 Cash Prize plus an in-kind production package.
Grand Jury Award - Best of Fest - Short Film - $1,000.00 Cash Prize plus an in-kind production package.
SPECIAL JURY AWARDS:
Impact Award (Formerly the John Singleton Award) - Stories that inform & inspire. - $1000.00 Cash Prize
Innovate Award - Stories told in bold, refreshing & unexpected ways. - $500.00 Cash Prize
Best LGBTQIA+ Film - $500.00 Cash Prize
Best Female Focus Film - $500.00 Cash Prize
Best Indigenous Film - $500.00 Cash Prize
Best Nevada Filmmaker - $500.00 Cash Prize
Best Music Video - $500 Cash Prize
Best Short Screenplay - Wins option to be produced in Reno, NV by the multiple award-winning Cordillera Films team with an in-kind value up to $10,000 courtesy of the Film Nevada Initiative.
FEATURE FILMS:
Best Documentary Feature Film
Best Narrative Feature Film
Best Performance Feature Film
Best Director Feature Film
SHORT FILMS:
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Comedy Short Film
Best Family Short Film
Best Nevada Documentary Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Drama Short Film
Best Thrills & Chills Short Film
Best Sci-Fi Short Film
Best Int'l Short Film
Joanna O'Neal Award for Best Student Film
Best Performance Short Film
Best Director Short Film
SCREENPLAY AWARDS:
Best of Fest Screenplay
Best Short Screenplay - Wins option to be produced in Reno, NV by the multiple award-winning Cordillera Films with an budget with an in-kind value up to $10,000.00
Best Genre Feature Screenplay
Best Comedy Feature Screenplay
Best Dramatic Feature Screenplay
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS:
Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Nevada Film
Best Screenplay
Best of Festival - $500.00 Cash Prize