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If you know me, you know that I *never* miss the Telluride Film Festival. The 50th annual festival kicks off one week from today: August 31st in Telluride, CO. The festival not only curates the best films in the world, it’s a celebration of stories. No matter what we do to earn a paycheck, we are all storytellers. Because it’s the stories that connects us all and gives us purpose and meaning.

So… if you’ve ever been curious about attending the Telluride Film Festival… or any film festival, check out my tips and tricks. Every film fest is a little different so do your research.

Why I love the Telluride Film Festival

1. Telluride has premiered 10 of the last 15 Best Pictures. The films are curated from thousands of the best films inthe world, so there’s no guesswork… no matter what you see, it’s going to be pretty great. No stinkers. No Marvel movies.
2. The films do not compete (Cannes, Sundance, Toronto all give prizes) so the art can just be art. There’s no pressure to “be better than another film”. As we know — stories touch all of us in different ways. Comedies hit differently than dramas. At the Telluride Film Festival, the filmmakers can sit back and relax. They are there to be inspired by each other’s work, too. There’s a spirit of celebration instead of competition.
3. Did I mention “the backdrop” — Telluride’s purple mountains majesty!? Even though we spend the majority of our waking hours inside theaters, when we are outside, the mountains are gloriously restorative.
4. Tellurideide is a tiny place. It’s very easy to navigate and get from theater to theater. More times for movies!
5. There are no red carpets. Celebrities like being able to see films and admire the other best films of the year without a glam squad in tow. Also… See #2 – no competition.

The basics: 

How to get to Telluride: 

Fly in/out of Montrose, CO or Durango, CO. Denver is 6+ hour drive to Telluride through the mountains (and if you must fly to into DIA, then take route 285 — the highway takes you through about 100 miles of the Pike and San Isabel National Forest).

Insider tip: Southwest Airlines flies into MTJ from Denver a couple of times/day and often offers the best rates to get to Telluride. 

Huzzah! You made it to Montrose! An epic journey already… For your next challenge: Getting from Montrose to Telluride. Hitch with other airline passengers who are driving up to Tride, take a shuttle, or rent a car, if you wish, but you won’t likely need your car when you get to Telluride. Telluride is a very easy town to walk (and more tricky to park – so walking/biking is fastest). 

Where to stay in Telluride: 

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I got jokes! It’s true… There are less and less places to stay in Telluride on a budget. I am fortunate and have friends who are generous with their sofas. Network with *anybody* you know there – and hey, now you know me! And/or if your wallet allows, find a sweet place on Airbnb – there are places around… be prepared for $1,000+/night. 

Location, location, location… Telluride is where you want to be. Mountain Village requires a gondola ride (FREE) but you might turn into a pumpkin when the gondola stops running at 1AM — and get stuck in town. Look for a place in Telluride.

Ok – you’ve figured out travel + lodging! Good job! Now… onto the SHOW. 

This year is the 50th annual Telluride Film Festival. I’ve been attending the big “SHOW” since 2001 (so this year is #22 for me!) and I’ve learned “how to film fest” over the years. 

Telluride Film Festival’s program is kept secret until the day the festival begins. Passes goes on sale March 1st every year and sell out within about 20 mins based on reputation. You will not know what you’re about to see — but really, that’s part of the fun! No marketing. No celebrity interviews. No trailers. Just art. For art’s sake. Speaking of which… there’s no prizes at the Telluride Film Festival either. No one is competing. This also adds to the specialness of the fest. Everyone is a winner! Because you’re there!

Survival kit: 

• Backpack – durable and lightweight – I have one like this from Patagonia
  • Industrial strength lip balm (you’ll spend 30-90 minutes waiting in line before each program and at 8,750’ —– the sun is blazing hot)
  • Sunscreen (see above)
  • Sun hat (again, above)
  • Water bottle – (again, for real… 8,750’ is no joke! ) You gotta stay hydrated. Drink at least 100+ oz of water daily to stay ahead of altitude sickness.  
  • Hot drink bottle – I put a new tea bag into my Stanley travel mug daily and then refill it with hot water – available for FREE at most theaters. 
  • Your dog-earred TFF Program – sure, it’s fun to refer to the app, but there’s nothing like a paper program to circle your planned itinerary and compare notes before the next “SHOW”. It’s also your memento that you can keep and refer to after 20+ years of attending. 
  • Snacks! Because actual meals are few and far between. Fruit (non-mushy kind) to throw into the backpack and/or crackers, or stuff that doesn’t make a ton of noise to unwrap is a good choice. Theaters offer candy, soda, etc – but the lines can be long and if you just want a little nosh, it’s good to have on hand. Also, the 2 grocery stores in town have limited supplies over the holiday weekend, so stock up in Montrose, if you can. 
  • Raincoat (preferably one that covers your butt so you don’t have to sit in wet pants)
  • Small umbrella 
  • And yes, even a super lightweight down jacket because the temps dip 15-20°+ cooler when the sun goes down and if you’re in a theater, that cold air is going to feel a lot colder.  
  • Hat, mittens & scarf… check night time forecast.
  • First aid kit: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl & saline spray for your nostrils (your nose will get *very dry*) 
  • Headlamp because the streets can be pretty dark and you definitely want good lighting for riding your bike. 

• Bike – you just need a little commuter bike that will allow you to get from theater to theater quickly so you can queue up for the next film or hop into the screening that is just starting – having that 10-15 mins that you’d be walking allows you to see 2-3 more films! 

NOTE: You can rent a bike (daily/weekly) from Easy Rider (photo above) which is a lot cheaper than some other shops on Main St. Jonny is so old skool that there’s no website. Just a buncha cool bike dudes who fix bikes. Call the shop to reserve your bike because like most things in Telluride, bikes are also a finite resource.

Optional & nice to have: 

Lightweight collapsible chair (I have this one) for sitting rather than standing in line when waiting for movies. 

What to wear in Telluride: 

Jeans, sneakers, a sweater & always have a light jacket. It’s a super casual town so be comfy. 

Couple quick housekeeping rules. 

Because these films are either World Premieres or North American Premieres, do not ever check your phone during the film. It’s really disrespectful to the filmmaker, and even if she isn’t sitting beside you, it’s distracting and disrespectful to everyone who traveled to be in that theater. Turn your phone off. Please. The only screen you need is the giant one in front of you. 

This is it! This is not a drill! The SHOW is about to begin!

AM: Review the program and make a plan for what you MUST SEE and then prioritize those screenings. Remember: the last days of the festival, there will be lots of “TBAs” so you will get more chances to see what’s popular.

Day 1: Films begin after the Main Street Feed – so this is really a ½ day for movies.

PM: Join the Main Street Feed – this is the first big event of the festival. It’s great people-watching and always delicious! Often catered by La Cocina. 

PM: Check out the late night films, most of the audiences go to bed early so often it’s a good idea to see those 9PM / 10PM screenings. 

Day 2: THIS IS IT!  ALL DAY FILMS. Tell your butt to prepare to sit for A LONG TIME! 

Most films start at 9AM, if you *really* want to see it, get in line* by 7:30AM. Lines will be long all day. 

*NOTE: Talk to people in line. “What have you seen that you LOVED?” Ask people what’s been their favorite. I’ve learned so much about what films to see and which to avoid by simply talking to people in line. 

*A quick note about the lines. Refer to your TFF program for how the lines work. I’m not going to share everything here because theaters vary with their “queue protocols”. If you’re in line an hour before the film starts, theater volunteers will give you a paper queue to hold your place. That allows you to walk around, grab a quick bite (this is one of the many times that you’ll be happy to have a bike!) or just lay in the grass and watch the slow moving white puffy clouds in a resplendent gleaming blue sky above. 

Day 3: Things start to calm down a bit now – you should have more luck getting into screenings. 

Day 4: Same – more chill. Remember to stay hydrated! Drink water! Have a meal! For god sakes, you can’t survive on movies alone… oh, yes, you can. 

Day 5: There are 5 GLORIOUS days this year because it’s the 50th so Day 5 is a BONUS! Enjoy the last day of movies, movies, movies! 

Then go to the Closing Picnic in Town Park. It’s fun to chill and sit on the grass and take in all the views that you’ve missed over the past 5 days indoors. 🙂 

Day 6: Ok, technically, there is NO Day 6… but a few films stick around for the “After the Film Fest – Film Fest” on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – so see everything you missed! And go for a hike! Get up into the mountains. Real life is just around the corner. Start the countdown for next year’s Telluride Film Fest in 359 days… 

After the festival, there are 2 things that you can do that will increase your joy factor immeasurably: 

1. Do yourself a favor and write some reviews. It’s fun! And it will help you to remember what you saw. 
2. Stay in touch with the people you met in Telluride. I have acquaintances who I follow their Instagram throughout the year. And I have dear friends who I met by volunteering for the Telluride Film Fest who have become lifelong friends. We see each other outside of Labor Day weekend now because we share a lot more than our love for movies! 

Feel free to click around my blog to see the films I loved most. I started writing reviews in 2014, the year of Birdman, Foxcatcher, Life Itself and Wild Tales! 2014 was a truly great year at the Telluride Film Festival.

What will we see this year!?? Stay tuned.

Some of my best memories from the Telluride Film Festival…

(…See the theme? Every photo shows people I love most from this festival — we come for the GREAT movies… but it’s the friendships that keep us returning every Labor Day weekend)