About the Festival

Founded in 2015 by Don Andrews and Brian Boyd, CIFF built a filmmaker community from the ground up. Over its first five years, it showcased 600+ films from 36 countries, transforming historic Uptown Butte venues into spaces for unforgettable storytelling.

Now, in 2025, the Covellite International Film Festival is following the vein back to its lode—honesty, resilience, and the everyman experience. This isn’t just a film festival—it’s a gathering place where filmmakers connect year after year, film lovers have a voice, and buyers discover candid, uncompromising work.

This isn’t just another film festival. Forged in fire, built on solidarity—The Covellite International Film Festival is a place to come as you are and leave a little changed. No gatekeepers, just grit, goodwill, and A Vein of Truth.

CALL FOR FILMS:

COVELLITE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2025: A VEIN OF TRUTH

A Film Festival for Dreamers, Doers, and the Underdogs Who Refuse to Stay Down

🚨 SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN NOW on FilmFreeway! 🚨

Built by Butte, for Butte—this film fest strikes paydirt with raw and resonant storytelling. No velvet ropes, just hard-won voices, where the stories aren’t judged by industry elites, but by the people in the seats. This year, there’s no time for red tape and long waits—it’s a comeback festival, a year of action.

We know travel on this timeline is tight, but this is the digital age—remote Q&As, pre-recorded filmmaker intros, and live-streamed panels are all on the table.

We are looking for films that hit hard, dig deep, and make people feel something real. Stories about resilience, revolution, raw humor, and diamonds in the rough. If your film breaks hearts, starts fights, or brings out the belly-laughs, the Covellite Film Fest crew wants to see it.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:
🔥 Narrative & Documentary Films – Big themes, quiet truths
🎭 Shorts – Comedy, drama, experimental, and everything in between
🎬 Youth, DIY, & First-Time Filmmakers – If you made it with heart, it belongs at CIFF
🛠 Films That Fight Back – Stories that punch up, never down

2025 Festival Schedule

Friday, April 11th

Schedule TBA!

Saturday, April 12th

Schedule TBA!

Sunday, April 13th

Schedule TBA!

CIFF Team 2025