The Festivus Film Festival is a Denver, Colorado-based annual film festival held in November. It features independent films at historical venues in the Denver Highlands, including the Bug Theatre and the Oriental Theater. The Festivus Film Festival was founded in 2008, suspended operation in 2013 due to budget constraints and relaunched in 2019 after getting support from the Denver art centre and other NGOs. The festival lasts for five days and plays a variety of films including features, short films, animation and music videos. It is the largest independent film festival in Denver.

History

The festival was named after Festivus, a holiday celebrated on December 23 which was introduced in the 1997 Seinfeld episode The Strike. The festival founders liked and adapted the Festivus motto: "Festivus for the rest of us". The Festivus Film Festival was started to promote high-quality independent films in Denver, and provide an intelligent, "indie-friendly" audience for filmmakers. The Festivus Film Festival expanded considerably since its inaugural year in 2008. In 2009 it expanded to a four-day event and added a filmmaker/VIP lounge at each venue. In 2010 the festival featured 12 world premieres, and had filmmakers from as far as Turkey and Australia attend to present their works. The subsidiary Laugh Track Comedy Festival was created in 2010 as a spin-off from Festivus' comedy shorts block (also called Laugh Track.) Also in 2012, MovieMaker Magazine named the Festivus Film Festival one of the "20 Coolest Film Festivals" in the country.

Previous winners

2020

Best Editing: I will be back Best Cinematography: The Web Best Animation: Kitchen Duties Best Music Video: Twice as Tall Best Short Short: Hibiscus Best Experimental: Renege Best Documentary Short: I am just Black Best Documentary Feature: Soldiers In the Artic Best Narrative Short: Why Best Narrative Feature: Fly Away

2012

Best Editing: A Finger, Two Dots, Then Me Best Cinematography: Ghosts of Old Highways Best Animation: 999.999.999 Best Music Video: 100 Monkeys for Modern Times Best Short Short: Halbschlaf Best Experimental: Self-Sabotage Best Documentary Short: The Forgotten Fruit Best Documentary Feature: Facets of Winter Best Narrative Short: Science of Death Best Narrative Feature: Searching for Sonny

2011

Best Editing: Calling on Others (Scott LeDuc & Andrew Matthews) Best Cinematography: Brant Hadfield for The Last Legend Best Animation: Noella Borie's The Face Shop Best Music Video: Evan Nix for Tour Life (Total Ghost) Best Short Short: Joe Petrilla's THE LINE Best Experimental: Adam Badlotto's Only in Dreams Best Documentary Short: Robert Sickels' Walla Walla Wiffle Best Documentary Feature: Awakening the Skeena Best Narrative Short: Marisa Brown's Rain for Morgan Best Narrative Feature: Boy Wonder

2010

Best Editing: The Ballad of Angel Face Best Cinematography: Stoney Best Animation: Little Old Ladies Best Music Video: The Atro-City Sleepers Best Short Short: Black Ops Arabesque Best Experimental: The Magnitude of the Continental Divides Best Documentary Short: Between the Lip and Nasal Passageway; A Modern Account of the Moustache Best Documentary Feature: Rouge Ciel Best Narrative Short: The Godmother Best Narrative Feature: Racewalker

2009

Best Editing: And What Remains Best Cinematography: Placebo Best Music Video: Mr. Bungle - Retrovertigo Best Experimental: Railed Best Animation: Gerald's Last Day Best Short Short: Interpretation Best Doc Short: Reefer Madness Best Documentary: The Cost of Oil Best Narrative Short: Compact Only Best Narrative Feature: The Project

2008

Best Narrative Short: Partially True Tales of High Adventure! Best Short Short: The Seed Best Experimental: Standing on a Whale Best Music Video: DeNardo Best Animation: Hope Springs Eternal Best Documentary Short: In Times of War: Ray Parker's Story Best Feature Documentary: Beauty24 Best Narrative feature: Wasting Away