The Vail Film Festival is an independent film festival held annually in Vail, Colorado, since 2004, founded by Sean and Scott Cross. Produced by the Colorado Film Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the festival aims to foster independent film through screenings, panels, workshops, and networking events. It showcases a diverse lineup of narrative features, documentaries, and short films, complemented by filmmaker question-and-answer sessions, panel discussions, and nightly parties. The festival has garnered over 150,000 attendees and 3,000 filmmakers since its inception, and in 2007, MovieMaker Magazine rated it among the top 10 best destination film festivals worldwide. The festival also partnered with the European Independent Film Festival (ÉCU) for its 2026 editions to spotlight independent cinema and strengthen transatlantic artistic exchange, including a French and Francophone Screenplay Competition.