Ouray International Film Festival jobs and careers

About Ouray International Film Festival

An intimate festival for filmmakers and audiences alike, the Ouray International Film Festival (OIFF) is a four-day event nestled in the San Juan mountains, giving Ouray its nickname the “Little Switzerland of America.” Organized artist events and informal gatherings at mountain homes, coffee shops, and the occasional rooftop allow for meaningful connections with fellow filmmakers. These friendships and professional connections live well beyond our weekend together, which is clear in the way that artists work together on projects after OIFF and come back to Ouray each year to reconnect with the community. Our primary venue is the historic Wright Opera House built in 1888. The 4k cinema projector and audio system, coupled with the auditorium's original nineteenth-century wooden beams and theater curtain create a truly memorable viewing experience. Beyond film screenings, we host scholars, activists, and filmmakers that deliver presentations and participate in Q&As. Past examples include Hollywood screenwriting legend Jim Hart (Hook, Contact, Dracula) sharing his unique story mapping tool TheHartChart, Dr. Brian Foster’s keynote presentation on deconstructing storytelling in the Black South, and Peabody Award-winning documentarian Tiffany Hsiung discussing Asian representation in global cinema. When we screen outside the Opera House, we show a film in beautiful Fellin Park - a park adjacent to the city hot springs with a view of the San Juan mountain range in the background. Because of the beauty of Ouray and all it has to offer, we have large gaps in our program to allow for hikes, soaks in natural hot springs, Jeep rides, visits to breweries, and local shopping. We are a group of filmmakers and movie lovers, and as our co-founder Terry Kiser (Weekend at Bernies; Rachel, Rachel) says, “this is a festival by artists for artists and the people who love their work.” OIFF is a program of the San Juan Film Institute 501(c)(3).