How to Mountainfilm

MAY 21 - 25, 2026

Mountainfilm 2026 Passes: 

Patron Pass: $5,000

This is Mountainfilm's highest level pass. Benefits include:
– Includes a $4,600 tax-deductible donation
– Priority entry to all ticketed programs and events (no reservations needed). Arrive 30 minutes before showtime for guaranteed seating.
– Invitation-only Filmmakers Dinner
– Closing Picnic & Awards Ceremony

Ama Dablam Pass: $2,000

This pass is named after one of the Himalaya's most picturesque peaks. Benefits include:
– Includes a $1,600 tax-deductible donation
– Unlimited access to all ticketed programs and events
– Invitation-only Filmmakers Dinner
– Closing Picnic & Awards Ceremony
– Early program reservations starting May 6 (two days before Palmyra passholders)

Palmyra Pass: $400

This pass is named for Telluride's beloved Palmyra Peak. Benefits include:
– Unlimited access to all ticketed programs and events
– Closing Picnic & Awards Ceremony
– Early program reservations starting May 8 (four days before Wasatch and High Camp passholders)
– Take advantage of the BOGO (buy one, get one free) special offer on Palmyra passes before they sell out.

Industry Palmyra Pass: $300

Mountainfilm offers industry members a discounted Palmyra Pass. Industry-accredited members include those working in the documentary film industry, outdoor industry professionals, and Mountainfilm alumni filmmakers, among others. Visit the passes page to complete the application form and Mountainfilm will review all pass requests. Approved industry members will receive a code by email.

High Camp Pass: $250

A great pass for those looking to streamline their festival experience and enjoy the High Camp Theater. Benefits include: 
– Unlimited access to ticketed programs at the High Camp Theater (Telluride Conference Center) only
– Program reservations starting May 12
– Closing Picnic & Awards Ceremony
– High Camp passholders can use the standby line at other venues to purchase $20 tickets per program (subject to availability)

Wasatch Pass: $210

Named for Telluride's iconic Wasatch Mountain. Benefits include:
– Access to six ticketed programs for one person
– Program reservations starting May 12
– Standby access after using your six tickets (purchase additional tickets for $20 per program, subject to availability)
– Does not include the Closing Picnic & Awards Ceremony (tickets available at the gate for $30, space permitting)

Student Pass: $100

Open to all K-12 students and offers the same benefits as a Palmyra pass. Benefits include: 
– Access to all films and programs
– Closing Picnic & Awards Ceremony
– Early program reservations starting May 8 (four days before Wasatch and High Camp passholders)

Volunteer Pass

To volunteer, submit an application (applications open early December). Once approved, reserve your pass and enter the code provided. There is a $5 non-refundable fee for the pass. Benefits include:
– Access to all films and programs
– Closing Picnic & Awards Ceremony
– Program reservations starting May 12 (once volunteer schedule is confirmed)

Senior Pass: FREE

This pass is open to all seniors 80+ years of age and offers the same benefits as a Wasatch pass. Benefits include: 
– Access to six ticketed programs for one person
– Program reservations starting May 12
– Standby access after using your six tickets (purchase additional tickets for $20 per program, subject to availability)
– Does not include the Closing Picnic & Awards Ceremony (tickets available at the gate for $30, space permitting)

To claim this pass, email

Individual Tickets & Events

Individual Program Tickets: $20 (Standby Only)
– Passholders without a reservation must line up in the standby line for admission.
– Wasatch passholders who have used all six of their tickets may also wait in the standby line for entry, space permitting. The fee is $20 per program.
– High Camp passholders may use the standby line at other theaters as well, with a $20 fee per program if space is available.
– All passholders receive priority entry in the standby line.
– Members of the public are also welcome to wait in the standby line. Individual tickets are $20 per program. Credit cards only.

Kids Kino
Kids and all passholders are free. Adults without a pass may purchase tickets for $10.

Closing Picnic Tickets: $30
If space is available, Wasatch passholders and the public can purchase tickets at the gate. 

Mountainfilm 2026 passes go on sale December 11, 2025. In the meantime, explore pass types and see what fits your weekend.

If you're looking for a place to stay in Telluride or Mountain Village, please check out our Lodging Sponsors who graciously support our organization and offer special discounts for Mountainfilm attendees.

Festival Camping
We're also excited to offer five nights of camping at the Mary E. Ilium campground during Mountainfilm, exclusively for passholders. A flat fee of $175 covers five nights (May 21-26). Learn More

There are more camping opportunities around Telluride but prepare for spring mountain weather. Please refer to the Telluride Town Park Campground webpage for information regarding additional camping in Telluride.

BOOK NOW

Mountainfilm kicks off with a free Base Camp screening on Thursday evening. If you’re traveling to Telluride, we recommend arriving by Thursday — or earlier — to acclimate, get your bearings and settle in before the full festival launches Friday afternoon and runs through Monday. Our entire festival schedule and lineup will be announced in early May. Check back then, or subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know.

To pick up your festival pass, visit our Hospitality center located at 122 S. Oak Street in downtown Telluride. If you have any questions during the festival, swing by Hospitality and chat with our team, email or call 970-728-4123, option 1. This is also where lost and found will be located.

Hospitality Hours:
Thursday, 8 AM - 8 PM
Friday, 8 AM - 8 PM
Saturday, 9 AM - 7 PM
Sunday, 9 AM - 7 PM
Monday, 9 AM - 1 PM

Mountainfilm Store
Official Mountainfilm apparel, gear and this year's festival poster by Max Romey are available at Christy Sports, 150 W Colorado Ave.

Mountainfilm Store Hours:
Wednesday, 2 - 5 PM
Thursday, 8 AM - 7 PM
Friday, 10 AM - 7 PM
Saturday, 10 AM - 7 PM
Sunday, 10 AM - 6 PM

VENUE & EVENT POLICIES

• All festival programs are non-smoking and drug-free.
• Outside alcohol is prohibited at festival events and venues. For festival events where alcohol is served, attendees are required to follow all laws governing the purchase, possession, and consumption of alcohol.
• Weapons and firearms are prohibited on all festival premises.
• Pets are not allowed at festival events. Exceptions are made for service animals.

Quiet Space
The second floor of Wilkinson Public Library offers multiple quiet areas where you can reset between programs.

For guaranteed access to programs, passholders must reserve programs through the festival schedule on the Mountainfilm app or schedule webpage. You can make reservations up to 45 minutes before the start of a program, space permitting. If you are unable to attend one of your reserved programs, please cancel your reservation.

Patron passholders have walk-up priority access at theaters and do not need a reservation. Please arrive at the theater 30 minutes before showtime to gain priority entry. 

You must wear your pass to be admitted into venues. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the program. For the uninterrupted enjoyment of all, late entry may not be permitted in order to minimize disruptions. If you are not at the theater at least 30 minutes in advance, you may lose your seat reservation as we will begin loading our standby line. 

Passholders can reserve one seat per program in advance as outlined below. Additional information will be provided to these passholders via email.

Passholder Reservation Schedule:

May 6, 2026 – Ama Dablam & Festival Guest
May 8, 2026 – Palmyra, Student & Crew
May 12, 2026 – Wasatch, Volunteer & Senior

Passholders without a reservation must line up and wait in the standby line for admission. The public is also welcome to wait in the standby line. Individual program tickets are $20. Credit cards only.

All venues are accessible by foot, bicycle, bus or gondola.

• The Palm, Base Camp, Library, Ah Haa, Sheridan Opera House, The Bill, Masons, Elks Park, Telluride Arts and The Hotel Telluride are all located in town and are accessible by foot, bicycle or bus. 
• High Camp, Mountain Lodge and Hotel Madeline are located in Mountain Village. The free gondola runs between Telluride and Mountain Village daily from 6:30 AM to 12 AM On Friday and Saturday during the festival, gondola hours are extended until 1 AM. 

Bus Services

• (SMART) San Miguel Regional Transportation offers regional transportation between Telluride, Norwood, Down Valley, Lawson Hill, and Rico. The SMART summer bus schedule will be updated on their website and available in May during the time of the festival. 
• Galloping Goose: The free Galloping Goose shuttle bus runs a loop through Telluride every 15 minutes. (Check street signs for times and stops.) 

Accessibility information can be found on our accessibility webpage and on the Mountainfilm app. If you have questions, email or call 970-728-4123, option 1.

ADA accessible venues are indicated with an "ADA" icon. Films available with closed and open captions are listed on the Accessibility pages. To use CaptiView devices for closed captions or hearing assist headphones, please email in advance of the screenings you plan to attend.

Please be considerate of your fellow festival goers. Here are the top protocols all attendees should follow: 

1. Arrive at theaters 30 minutes in advance of screenings
2. Do not save seats for people arriving late
3. Do not arrive late, talk, shush others or otherwise disrupt screenings
4. No unauthorized protests or signs
5. Silence your cell phone and watch, and refrain from using devices with lit screens
6. Remove any hats or caps that may block another's view
7. Do not take unauthorized photographs or recordings during screenings
8. Pets are not allowed, except for service animals
9. Please remove fidgety or crying children from the theater
10. Stay for the entirety of programs and Q&As when possible
11. Please clean up after yourself and take all of your belongings
12. Remember to vote

The free Mountainfilm app is your festival guide. It contains your reserved programs, the festival schedule, film descriptions, event details and real-time festival updates — including TBAs and program changes. 

The Mountainfilm smartphone app is available for download in the Apple app store and Google Play. Search for “Mountainfilm” in the app store to download the app onto your device. Once you download the app, sign in to your Eventive account to manage your pass and make reservations. 

The Audience Choice Award gives the power to the people, allowing audiences to vote for their favorite feature and short films of Mountainfilm 2026. The two winners of the Audience Choice Award will receive a cash prize and a one-of-a-kind cairn sculpture from renowned artist, R. Nelson Parrish. The Audience Choice Award is generously funded in part by Tully and Elise Friedman.

VOTING RULES

1. Only Mountainfilm passholders can vote for Audience Choice.
2. You can vote on all the films you have viewed, but can only vote once per film.
3. Voting closes at 2 PM MDT on Monday, May 25. The winners will be announced at the Closing Picnic and Awards Ceremony.

HOW TO VOTE

Use the Mountainfilm app or your Eventive account to cast your vote for the Audience Choice Award, available for both feature and short films. Make sure you are signed into your account. Click on My Tickets and then follow the steps to vote.

Films are ranked on a starred scale from one to five. Five is the highest. You must cast a vote on each individual film contained within a program block for your vote to be recorded. If you are a passholder and would like to vote for films screened at the Base Camp Theater, please visit Hospitality to submit your vote.

At Mountainfilm, we celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment for everyone. We embrace all genders, ages, identities, orientations, abilities, races, religions and countries of origin.

We value the power of bold, independent voices and creative expression. Sharing diverse ideas and perspectives strengthens our community, and we encourage thoughtful dialogue grounded in mutual respect. We are committed to maintaining a space that is inclusive, supportive and free from harassment, discrimination and harmful behavior of any kind.

Community Expectations
To ensure a positive and inspiring experience for all, participants are expected to:

• Respect the safety, boundaries, health and well-being of others.
• Be inclusive and respectful of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, religion, age, physical appearance, body size, language, or immigration or economic status.
• Hate speech, harassment, discrimination or demeaning behavior of any kind is not tolerated.
• Be mindful of personal space and boundaries; avoid unwelcome sexual attention, stalking or inappropriate physical contact.
• Use language thoughtfully and avoid intimidation or abuse of power in any form.
• Respect moderators, artists and fellow attendees by not disrupting screenings, talks, lines or events.
• Follow all festival policies, including: No firearms or weapons permitted, no unauthorized photo, audio or video recording, no unauthorized protests and no amplified sound or signage at venues.
• Be considerate of personal and public health by staying home if unwell.
• Be kind and respectful of Telluride residents and the local community.

Prohibited Conduct
The following behaviors will result in immediate removal from the festival, pass revocation, and may involve law enforcement:

• Verbal harassment, including profanity directed at staff, partners or attendees
• Physical aggression, violence or any unwanted physical contact
• Sexual harassment, stalking or unwelcome sexual attention
• Intentional disruption of events, venues or lines
• Unauthorized protests or demonstrations 
• Use of unauthorized amplified sound or signage that disrupts the festival experience

Reporting & Enforcement
If you experience or witness inappropriate, suspicious or illegal behavior, please report it to a Mountainfilm staff member as soon as possible and follow up with documentation via email at .

Amid the talks, walks, films and presentations, there are many other free events throughout the festival weekend. For the full listing of events, parties and programs, check out our complete festival announced in early May.

Base Camp Theater

Screenings at Mountainfilm’s Base Camp Theater (Telluride Town Park stage) are free and open to the public. Base Camp screenings are held nightly beginning on Thursday, May 21 through Sunday, May 24 starting at 8:45 PM Attendees are allowed to bring low-backed chairs and blankets. Warm layers are highly recommended. The following items are prohibited in Town Park: glass, shelled nuts, tall-backed chairs and dogs. Please leave your furry friends at home. 

Art Walk

Mountainfilm partners with Telluride Arts to celebrate the work of photographers, activists and artists with the annual Art Walk. The opening reception is Friday from 4-7 PM at Telluride Arts HQ, 224 W. Colorado Avenue. The full list of participating galleries will be announced in May. 

Free Range Programs

In collaboration with The North Face, our Presenting Sponsor, Mountainfilm offers Free Range programs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday featuring The North Face’s world-class athletes. These adventure-focused events are typically held outdoors – rain, snow or shine. If you want to participate, please sign up at Elks Park on the day of the event. Please note that space is limited to eight to ten people per event.

Saturday and Sunday, The North Face will be hosting Happy Hour and Athlete Chats from 3-5 PM in Elks Park, in partnership with Telluride Brewing Company. 

Coffee Talks

Join us for candid conversations between fascinating guests at our festival Coffee Talks. These free events take place from 8 to 9 AM Saturday and Sunday. Please bring a reusable mug. 

Coffee Talks locations will be announced in May.

Ice Cream Social

Because who doesn’t like free ice cream? Our Ice Cream Social takes place Saturday afternoon on Colorado Avenue, between Aspen and Fir streets from 2 to 3:30 PM. Make sure to stop by and say hello to our festival sponsors stationed along Main Street.

Doc Talks

Mountainfilm’s Doc Talks will take place at the Ah Haa School for the Arts in the Launchpad Room on the 3rd floor. Sessions will focus on filmmaker support. Our panels, workshops and peer-to-peer discussions are designed to understand the forces at play, connection and the intersection between what we want and how to get there. 

*DocTalks are intended for filmmakers and Festival Guest passholders only. If space is available, other passholders and the public are welcome to attend. 

Kids Kino

The Kids Kino program consists of short, family-friendly films that are curated by kids. This screening is held at the Palm on Monday at 12 PM and is free for kids and passholders. $10 tickets are available for the general public.

Closing Picnic and Awards Ceremony 

In celebration of the final day of the festival, join us for our Closing Picnic and Awards Ceremony in Town Park from 1-4 PM, where we will announce the festival award winners. The picnic is free for all passholders, except Wasatch. Individual tickets will be for sale at the entrance for $30. Food and drinks are included.

TBA screenings take place on Monday, May 25. TBA programs will be announced Sunday evening, May 24. Tickets can be reserved in advance, and there will also be a standby line. You can find TBA information and updates on the festival schedule.

Mountainfilm is supported by an incredible crew of volunteers whose hard work and dedication bring the festival to life. If you are interested in volunteering, apply now to become a festival volunteer. Volunteers receive a complimentary Volunteer festival pass in exchange for approximately 20 hours of work.

Eventive automatically emails your pass confirmation from with the subject line “Pass order confirmation – 2025 Mountainfilm Festival.” If you don’t see it, check your spam folder.

You can reset your password anytime here.

Documentaries are not formally rated. Most Mountainfilm content would likely be PG or PG-13. Please review film descriptions carefully, as some films include challenging themes such as war, slavery, or gun violence. The descriptions will help you decide what’s right for your household.