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Submissions

CIFF

Submit your Films

& Screenplays

CIFF

What to expect as

a CIFF Filmmaker.

CIFF

Submission Categories

& Awards

What to Expect

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 – we’re a film festival created by filmmakers for filmmakers.

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.

HERE ARE SOME EXCITING THINGS TO EXPECT IN 2023:

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 2023 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 2023! 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: www.ciffnv.org/grand-jury

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 2023 Grand Jury and Special Jury. Our CIFFNV PITCHFEST! Panelists consist of our 2023 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 2023 season brings to us. We look forward to getting to know you and your projects and hope to celebrate your project in July!

What to expect as a CIFF Filmmaker

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

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

FEATURE FILMS:

Best Documentary Feature Film

Best Narrative Feature Film

Best Performance Feature Film

Best Director Feature Film

SHORT FILMS:
Best Music Video
Best Web series / Pilot
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Family Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Short Film
Best Horror Short Film

Best Thriller Short Film
Best Comedy Short Film
Best Drama Short Film
Best Int'l Short Film
Best Student Short Film
Best Nevada Short 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

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Submissions
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