Grand Mesa Short Film Festival

5th Annual Grand Mesa Short Film Festival

Presented by Henderson Digital

Supported by The Planet

Meet the Future Filmmakers Today

The Grand Mesa Short Film Festival showcases filmmaking talent from across Colorado with two evening showings and one matinee.

Aspiring filmmakers have created short films in the following categories:

Documentary, Animation, Drama, Comedy, and Action/Adventure

Evening Showings

Friday, April 10th 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 11th 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Parents, please be advised, many evening films contain adult content.

Matinee - Family Friendly (These are not children's films, but they are appropriate for all ages)

Saturday, April 11th 1:00 pm. - 3:00 p.m.

Get the Weekend Pass and see ALL films - Friday Evening, Saturday Evening, and Matinee!

FRIDAY EVENING FILMS:

Dusty, Damned & Dead - Action/Adventure

Directed by Jordan Buanno

Driven by vengeance, Wyatt tracks his traitorous ex-partner, Sydney, to a derelict saloon. Ignoring Sydney’s desperate pleas, Wyatt drags him into the street and executes him, finally achieving cold, swift retribution for the past.

One Moment - Drama

Directed by Aiden Hurley

In a mountain town, a young barista gains wisdom from an elderly regular who reminisces about meeting her husband. Inspired by these memories, the barista courageously pursues a connection with her own quiet crush.

The Way of Stone - Documentary

Directed by Jack Fisher

Marine veteran and primitive skills expert Donny Dust leads students in butchering a bison using handcrafted stone tools. This documentary explores ancestral resilience, challenging modern disconnection by reviving ancient traditions that define the human spirit.

Keepsake - Drama

Directed by Joshua A Monen

A young woman recalls her tumultuous last relationship in the eve of a first date.

PeaceJam: A Legacy of Peace - Documentary

Directed by Sarah Hamilton

This short film showcases the inspiring journey of 14 Nobel Peace Laureates who are committed to empowering students to become the next generation of peacemakers by mentoring and guiding young leaders through the nonprofit Peacejam Foundation. Discover how youth are equipped with the tools and inspiration needed to create meaningful, lasting change in the world.

Of Apple Trees and Honey Bees - Documentary

Directed by Boyd Nagel Boland & Clara Boland Pena

Of Apple Trees and Honey Bees is the story of the revival of my family’s farm at Midway, between the towns of Paonia and Hotchkiss, Colorado.

Boiling Point - Comedy

Directed by Ryan Russo

Just when he’s reached rock bottom, Giacomo receives a mysterious invitation with an alluring guarantee. But when the promising evening becomes complicated, he is faced with a moral obligation to demand satisfaction.

The Boot - Action/Adventure

Directed by Zach Brown

A seasoned gangster brings a cocky young upstart on what is both their first and last days on the job.

Mad Man Maddox - Documentary

Directed by Justin Lee McClure

This intimate documentary follows Dorian, a professional wrestler balancing his public persona with personal trauma. Through the ring’s spectacle, the film explores identity and performance as tools for survival, self-expression, and finding future purpose.

Thoughts & Prayers - Documentary

Directed by Willow Aivyn Cahill

Addressing the surge of American school shootings, this PSA highlights the profound impact of gun violence on students. It critiques political inaction and "thoughts and prayers," urging viewers to demand common-sense legislation and systemic change.

Silent Fireworks - Drama

Directed by Steven J. Hinricher

A young, nameless man drifts through an ordinary world, hollow and unseen. He loves a girl who feels nothing for him, living instead in dreams and silence, a fragile bubble of longing that follows him even into death.

SATURDAY MATINEE FILMS:

Love Is - Animation

Directed by Jordan Jackson

An artistic male struggles with his conscience, but one day his art comes to life to show him a new way of living if he takes chances. However, it is still just his imagination. Real life does not always follow our dreams.

The Unsuspected - Comedy

Directed by Ingrid Krahling

An eight-year-old detective dedicates his weekend to solving a “critical” neighborhood crime, all while blatantly missing the clues that a more sinister crime is taking place.

Bandit Beavers of Breckenridge - Action/Adventure

Directed by DEan Bonzani with students Taeton Cross, Daegon Cross, Jordan Gonzales, Noah Strilzuk, Adelyn Newey, and Greyson Newey

In the middle of Colorado's worst snowstorm ever, a fearless lawman hunts down a relentless band of gold thieves who have kidnapped his big ol' wife.

Of Apple Trees and Honey Bees - Documentary

Directed by Boyd Nagel Boland & Clara Boland Pena

Of Apple Trees and Honey Bees is the story of the revival of my family’s farm at Midway, between the towns of Paonia and Hotchkiss, Colorado.

Isolated - Comedy

Directed by Linken Ryan

A kid wakes up to find his parents missing, replaced by an AI in control of the whole house, refusing to let him leave.

Solar Neighbor - Animation

Directed by Austin Cole

This claymation film follows a terminally ill human placed into cryogenic sleep. While the human drifts in stasis, their home planet changes completely (This film is handmade and uses no AI)

Embers - Drama

Directed by Maya Fahy

Exploring life’s impermanence, a young couple confronts the fragility of love as nature reclaims their world. Through symbolic flickering flames, they discover that transient beauty and profound connection illuminate even the most unsettling shifts in existence.

Respirator - Action/Adventure

Directed by Linken Ryan

A survivor and the sentient virus that ended the world work together to discover its origins in an agreement for immunity.

Unsung Valor: A Journey Through the History of the Vietnam War - Documentary

Directed by Isabel Otis

Explore the poignant Vietnam War monument in Cedaredge, Colorado. This tribute honors POWs, nurses, and veterans, sharing stories of courage and sacrifice. Join this journey of remembrance to pay homage to the heroes who changed history.

Mighty Maya - Documentary

Directed by Mars Birbilas

A look into a family’s healthcare journey and their path to recovery.

The Lab - Documentary

Directed by Jerry Stone

Contrasting the rapid advancement of technology, one lab looks at the experience of using technology through obsolete hardware.

SATURDAY EVENING FILMS

Peaks to Prairie - Documentary

Directed by Chad Weber

How can we harness the intelligence of nature to address our climate challenges?

An epidemic of wildfires threatens forests in the peaks, while nearby agricultural soils in the prairie sit degraded.

Is there a holistic way these two problems could serve as solutions for each other? Did somebody say Mushrooms?

The Phone Call - Comedy

Directed by Emma Olsen

A college student’s routine phone call with his mother spirals into a frustrating, guilt-ridden cycle of distraction. After confessing his inattention, his mother cheerfully restarts her story, forcing him to confront the consequences of tuning out love.

Crossroads: Journey of the Heart - Documentary

Directed by Frank J. Fazzio

Crossroads: Journey of the Heart follows three estranged individuals drawn together by a series of heartfelt letters. As they confront past wounds and long-buried tensions, their intertwined paths reveal a deeper search for reconciliation, identity, and grace.

Don't Hold Your Breath - Fantasy

Directed by Moses Ayron ZeS Velasquez

A naive young man hoping for a relaxed weekend while on the phone with a girl he likes, finds himself experiencing eerie circumstances that take a little while for him to comprehend.

Pioneers: The Bulls of Bull Mesa - Documentary

Directed by Heidi H. Weissner

With the Grand Mesa as a backdrop, HW Bull settled in Cedaredge Colorado during the Homestead Act and created a ranching legacy passed on through generations.

Bandit Beavers of Breckenridge - Action/Adventure

Directed by DEan Bonzani with students Taeton Cross, Daegon Cross, Jordan Gonzales, Noah Strilzuk, Adelyn Newey, and Greyson Newey

In the middle of Colorado's worst snowstorm ever, a fearless lawman hunts down a relentless band of gold thieves who have kidnapped his big ol' wife.

The Wild Bunch - Action/Adventure

Directed by Donna W. Guthrie

A gang of bikepacking misfits follow Butch Cassidy's outlaw trail.

The Crieth of Thy Brother - Drama

Directed by Quentin Diaz

A guilt-ridden religious assassin receives an unexpected call from his only victim.

Starlight Through the Storm - Drama

Directed by Justin Golightly

My Grandfather would tell me a story, about the first lights on a Christmas Tree. In the darkness of a war, a soldier heads home in the cold.