Royal Gorge Film Festival

Royal Gorge Film Festival The Royal Gorge Film Festival was born out of a shared passion for storytelling, community, and a deep respect for the cinematic history of Fremont County.

To celebrate and amplify the cinematic heritage and vibrant culture of the Royal Gorge Region by creating a film festival that inspires, entertains, and unites our community while promoting storytelling that reflects the spirit of the American West. In 2021, Benjamin Black, Sage Goodwin, and John Kinsner—three visionaries from different backgrounds—came together with a simple idea: to revitalize t

he film presence in the Royal Gorge Region. Benjamin, a lifelong resident of Canon City, spotted an Instagram account promoting the region’s film heritage and reached out to Sage, who had been brainstorming with John, a film and events expert from California. What started as a casual collaboration quickly evolved into a mission-driven project, rooted in a love for film and the region’s history. Through monthly meetings, creative brainstorming sessions, and a shared dedication, the Royal Gorge Film Festival took shape as a 501c3 nonprofit. Their goal was clear: to honor the cinematic legacy of the region while building a festival that would inspire generations to come. The Royal Gorge Film Festival is more than an event—it’s a movement to keep storytelling alive, to preserve history, and to celebrate the community where it all began.

Congratulations to Jessie Rodriguez (.art) and her stop motion short that won our Best Music Video award! A stop-motion ...
02/26/2026

Congratulations to Jessie Rodriguez (.art) and her stop motion short that won our Best Music Video award!

A stop-motion animation created entirely by hand, Swing for the Fences is a music video created by Jessie Rodriguez combining printmaking with cut out animation to original music by Shadow Animal (). It features several animated characters facing down the choice of the reality they live in vs. pursuing their dreams.

When we opened up submissions for RGFF we had no idea what to expect, and we could only dream of getting one stop motion project, let alone 3! Jessie’s music video beautifully highlights the art of stop motion and also its versatility in how that medium can be leveraged!

Thank you Jessie for submitting your artful film and for joining us in person from Denver! And thank you to the musician Shadow Animal for coming in person and accepting the award!

Congratulations to Kailey Aponte () and her documentary that won our Best Media Composition award! Riot Grrrl: Denver’s ...
02/25/2026

Congratulations to Kailey Aponte () and her documentary that won our Best Media Composition award!

Riot Grrrl: Denver’s Punk Rebellion spotlights Denver’s female-led punk movement, tracing Riot Grrrl from its 1990s roots to today’s anti-patriarchal punk scene. Through personal stories from artists, it explores how feminism in music continues to evolve in a genre that remains popular and largely male-dominated.

When we saw this film we knew we wanted to highlight and introduce this very interesting part of Denver and Colorado’s culture and bring forward an exciting piece of film to Fremont County

Thank you Kailey for submitting your exciting film and for joining us in person from Denver!

Congratulations to Cameron Kirkegaard () and his documentary that won our Audience Choice award! Cameron Kirkegaard’s Li...
02/24/2026

Congratulations to Cameron Kirkegaard () and his documentary that won our Audience Choice award!

Cameron Kirkegaard’s Line of Fire is a short documentary that follows Olympian Joanne Reid and Joan Wilder, exposing decades of abuse and silence in American women’s biathlon.

All throughout the festival we heard conversation after conversation talking about how well done this film was, and when we all met Cameron we were so impressed with the skill showcased!

Thank you Cameron for submitting your amazing film and for joining us in person all the way from Grand Junction!

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION 🧊🏗️Building on the EdgeWhat does it take to design and build in one of th...
02/13/2026

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION 🧊🏗️
Building on the Edge

What does it take to design and build in one of the least hospitable places on Earth?

Building on the Edge follows a team of architecture students on an epic, real-world expedition as they set out to design and construct a research station in Antarctica—where every decision matters, the environment calls the shots, and teamwork is the difference between success and failure.

This documentary is a celebration of human ingenuity, resilience, and purpose-built collaboration—between students and mentors, design and science, and people and the planet.

Don’t miss this at RGFF Valentine’s Day. 💘🎬

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION 🤠🩸No Dollars for the Dead (Canada)On the run and wounded, a young man sta...
02/13/2026

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION 🤠🩸
No Dollars for the Dead (Canada)

On the run and wounded, a young man staggers across an unforgiving landscape—dragging two heavy leather bags and a past that won’t stay buried. Every step is a test of endurance, secrecy, and survival.

Made as a self-taught “film school in the field,” filmmaker Kyle Brisebois leans into classic Western tension—then strips it down into something raw, patient, and personal.

We’re proud to welcome this Canadian Western to the Royal Gorge Region.

Don’t miss this at RGFF Valentine’s Day. 💘🎬

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION 🤠⚰️Dusty, Damned, & DeadA crumbling saloon. An old partner turned traitor...
02/13/2026

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION 🤠⚰️
Dusty, Damned, & Dead

A crumbling saloon. An old partner turned traitor. A gunslinger with something to prove. And a man who walks into town with one purpose: revenge.

Dusty, Damned, & Dead is a modern, intimate Western where the silence is heavy, the stares last too long, and the past comes due in the harsh light of day. Filmmaker Jordan Buanno pays homage to classic Westerns while carving her own path—restrained, character-driven, and loaded with moral weight.

If you love Westerns that feel timeless (and tense enough to cut with a knife)… this one’s for you.

Don’t miss this at RGFF Valentine’s Day. 💘🎬

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION 🪨🔥The Way of the StoneStep out of convenience—and back into something anc...
02/12/2026

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION 🪨🔥
The Way of the Stone

Step out of convenience—and back into something ancient.

The Way of the Stone follows Donny Dust—primitive skills expert, master flint knapper, author, and Marine Corps combat veteran—as he guides students through an unforgettable, hands-on tradition: butchering an American bison using handcrafted stone tools.

More than a film about skills, this is a meditation on our enduring connection to the land—and a provocation to rediscover the resilience, spirit, and primal knowledge that shaped humanity.

Don’t miss this at RGFF Valentine’s Day. 💘🎬

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION ✨🎶Swing for the FencesHandmade. Frame-by-frame. Pure Colorado creativity....
02/12/2026

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION ✨🎶
Swing for the Fences

Handmade. Frame-by-frame. Pure Colorado creativity.

Swing for the Fences is a stop-motion music video by Denver artist Jessie Rodriguez, created entirely by hand using linocut printmaking + cut-out animation to original music by Shadow Animal. Every character, texture, and background is carved, printed, cut, arranged, and photographed—one frame at a time—bringing a world to life where animated characters face the choice between accepting reality… or chasing the dream anyway.

A beautiful collaboration between two Colorado artists, and a perfect reminder to protect the creative state at all costs.

Follow the artists: .art +
Learn more: JessieRodriguezArt.com

Don’t miss this at RGFF Valentine’s Day. 💘🎬

02/07/2026

ROYAL GORGE FILM FESTIVAL — OFFICIAL SELECTION 🏁🔥
Race/America

Full throttle, full season, full heart. Race/America follows Colorado’s own Robb Holland—one of the few Black professional race car drivers in the U.S.—as he chases the GT America Championship behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang… and builds his own team, Rotek Racing, with a multicultural crew that reflects the change he wants to see in motorsports.

This documentary takes you beyond the track and into the pressure, the setbacks, the wins, and the drive to make history—without preaching, just racing.

Director Chris Barron will be in attendance at the historic Skyline Theatre!

Don’t miss this at RGFF Valentine’s Day. 💘🎬

We’re bringing a hometown classic back to the big screen at the Royal Gorge Film Festival 2026:The Duchess and the Dirtw...
02/07/2026

We’re bringing a hometown classic back to the big screen at the Royal Gorge Film Festival 2026:
The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox (1976) — starring Goldie Hawn and George Segal.

🎬 TENTPOLE FEATURE + AWARDS 🎬

Here’s the Fremont County connection: scenes were filmed right here in Colorado, including at Buckskin Joe Frontier Town near Cañon City — one of our region’s most legendary Western backlots.

Join us Valentine’s Day Weekend (Feb 14) at the Skyline Theater for a night of Awards + Feature.
🎟️ Tickets + schedule: royalgorgefilmfest.com/tickets

Fremont County’s Film Festival. Where LEGENDS come to LIFE.

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Canon City, CO
81212

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