A letter to every filmmaker
Dear
Filmmaker.
We see you. We see your work. We see every late night, every revision, every rejection letter that didn't say what it should have said. Redux was built for this moment — yours.

You made something. That alone puts you in a category most people will never enter.

You had an idea — something that mattered to you, something you believed the world needed to see — and you did the impossible work of bringing it to life. You wrote it, shot it, edited it, fought for the budget, made the calls, lost the sleep, and crossed the finish line.

And then the circuit did what the circuit does. Maybe it moved too fast. Maybe the timing was off. Maybe a pandemic shut it all down before you had a chance. Maybe you submitted to forty festivals and heard from three. Maybe you didn't even know where to start. Maybe no one in the industry had the access you needed to open the right doors.

"Great storytelling doesn't expire. Your film still has life in it. The question was never whether your work was worthy — the question was whether the right room ever got to see it."
— Michelle A. Daniel, Co-Founder, Redux Denver International Film Festival

Redux was built on one belief: that the window closing doesn't mean the story is over.

We are not here to replace the festivals that came before us. We are here for the films that deserve another chapter — whether that's a short that was always meant to become a feature, a documentary that found its audience too late, a POC that never got in front of the buyers who needed to see it, or a film that simply ran out of runway before it found its moment.

The work you put in will never be for nothing. Every frame you shot, every decision you made in the edit, every conversation you had on set — it is all still there, still alive in the film. And that film deserves to be seen again. By new eyes. In a new room. With new possibilities waiting on the other side.

Redux is that room.

We will screen your film. We will put it in front of buyers, distributors, press, and audiences who are specifically here because they believe in what independent cinema can do. We will give your story another chance — not as a consolation, but as a celebration.

Keep going. Keep believing in the project. Keep believing in yourself. The industry has a short memory, but the work never disappears. It waits for its moment.

Your moment is coming. Redux is where it starts.

With respect for every frame you made,
Michelle A. Daniel & Erick McGee
Co-Founders  ·  Redux Denver International Film Festival
What Redux means for you
Concrete benefits.
Real opportunities.
Redux isn't just a screening — it's a platform. Here's what being selected means for your film and your career.
01
A live audience
Your film screened in a real theater, in Denver, to an audience that came specifically to discover films like yours. Not a stream. Not a VOD click. A room.
02
Industry access
Distributors, acquisition executives, buyers, sales agents, and production companies are in the building. Redux brings the industry to Denver so you don't have to chase them.
03
Official selection laurel
The Redux selection mark for your poster, trailer, and press kit. A credential that signals your film has been through a real, curated selection process.
04
Press coverage
Redux actively pursues media coverage. Local, regional, and national press. Your film's name in a review, a recap, a list — that's discoverability that doesn't expire.
05
Filmmaker community
Five days surrounded by filmmakers at every stage of the journey. Connections made at Redux become collaborators, producers, and advocates for years beyond the festival.
06
Awards consideration
Redux presents awards across narrative, documentary, short, animation, series, and POC categories — plus craft, performance, and grand jury honors.
The process
How to submit
your film to Redux.
Simple. Filmmaker-first. Built to make the process as clear and accessible as possible.
1
Submit on FilmFreeway
Redux accepts submissions through FilmFreeway. Select your category, pay the submission fee, and upload your film and supporting materials. Early Bird submissions open September 1, 2026 — the earlier you submit, the lower the fee.
2
Tell us your film's story
Redux asks every filmmaker to include a brief statement about their film's journey — not just what it's about, but what happened. We want to understand the context, the interruptions, the resilience behind the work. This matters to us.
3
Our jury reviews
Every film is reviewed by our programming jury — experienced filmmakers, programmers, and industry professionals. Films are evaluated on craft, story, and the context of their journey. We are looking for work that deserves to be seen.
4
Notifications go out March 1, 2027
Selected filmmakers are notified March 1, 2027. The official lineup announcement is March 15. If selected, you'll receive your official selection materials, screening schedule, and filmmaker credential information.
5
Come to Denver
Tickets go on sale April 1, 2027 — 12 weeks before the festival opens. We recommend booking travel and hotels early. Redux will provide a hotel room block and filmmaker resource guide for all selected filmmakers.
Key dates for filmmakers
Submission &
festival timeline.
Plan your submission and travel around these dates. The earlier you submit, the lower your fee.
DateMilestoneDetails
Sept 1, 2026Submissions open — Early BirdFilmFreeway goes live. Lowest fees available.
Oct 31, 2026Early Bird deadlineShort: $25 · Feature: $45 · Series: $35
Nov 1, 2026Regular submissions openShort: $35 · Feature: $55 · Series: $45
Jan 31, 2027Regular deadline
Feb 28, 2027Late deadlineShort: $45 · Feature: $65 · Series: $55
Mar 1, 2027Filmmaker notificationsAll selected filmmakers contacted.
Mar 15, 2027Official lineup announcedPublic announcement of selected films.
Apr 1, 2027Tickets on sale — book now12 weeks out. Hotel room block opens. Book early.
May 15, 2027Full schedule releasedScreening times, panels, and events published.
June 22, 2027Pre-festival filmmaker mixerInformal. No programming. Community first.
June 23–27, 2027Redux Denver Film FestivalFive days. Screenings, panels, awards, industry.
June 28, 2027Post-festival closing eventSponsor-hosted venue. Reconnect. Close the week.
Questions
Filmmaker FAQ.
The most common questions from filmmakers considering Redux.
Is there a minimum or maximum age for my film?
Redux accepts films completed at any point. There is no minimum year. Whether your film was completed in 2024 or 1985, if it deserves a new audience, Redux wants to see it. The only focus is on the work — not the release date.
Can I submit if my film has already played festivals?
Absolutely. Redux is specifically designed for films that have played other festivals — including major ones. A film that premiered at Sundance five years ago and never found distribution is exactly the kind of film Redux was built for. Previous festival selections are welcome and celebrated.
Can I submit if my film has never played any festivals?
Yes. First-time submitters are a core part of the Redux community. If you made something and didn't know where to start, or couldn't afford a full festival campaign, Redux is for you. We evaluate the work, not the submission history.
What categories can I submit to?
Redux accepts: Short Films (under 40 min) — Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Student. Feature Films (40+ min) — Narrative, Documentary, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Series/Episodic — Drama, Comedy, Documentary, Thriller/Horror, Animation, Pilot. POC/Proof of Concept — Short-to-Feature, Concept-to-Series.
Do you offer fee waivers?
Redux is committed to accessibility. A limited number of fee waivers will be available for filmmakers with demonstrated financial need, student filmmakers, and filmmakers from underrepresented communities. Contact us at contact@reduxfilmfest.com to inquire.
Will Redux help me connect with distributors and buyers?
Yes — this is a core function of Redux. We curate industry attendance specifically so that filmmakers have real access to the people who can move their careers forward. Industry programming includes distribution conversations, financing panels, and structured networking. The POC Showcase offers a dedicated pitch opportunity to buyers from streaming platforms and studios.
When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets go on sale April 1, 2027 — 12 weeks before the festival opens June 23. We strongly recommend booking travel and hotels as soon as tickets are available. Redux will provide a hotel room block and a filmmaker resource guide with recommended accommodations near festival venues.
Where is the festival?
Redux Denver International Film Festival takes place in Denver, Colorado, June 23–27, 2027. Venue details will be announced March 15, 2027 alongside the official lineup. Denver is a film-friendly, accessible city with a growing creative community — and we chose it intentionally as the home for this festival.
Be first to know when
submissions open.
Redux submissions open September 1, 2026. Get notified the moment they do.
    No spam. Just the moment submissions open.