Aspen Film

What Aspen Film does

Aspen Film is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit film arts and education organization founded in 1979 by Ellen Kohner Hunt and headquartered in Aspen, Colorado. The organization presents two flagship Oscar-qualifying film festivals — Shortsfest each April (35th edition in 2026) and Filmfest each September (47th year) — alongside year-round programming that includes Radical Wednesdays, Summer of Cinema, Indie Showcases, Cinema Under The Stars, and a Kids Summer Film Series. Aspen Film owns and operates the century-old Isis Theatre (acquired 2022), a four-screen, 362-seat venue in downtown Aspen managed by Bow Tie Management, providing the only full-time movie theater in the city.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of streams: tiered memberships ranging from $75 (Cinephile) to $25,000 (Cinema Society Auteur) per year, single-ticket and festival-pass sales ($20-$28), individual donations ($50-$15,000), grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Colorado Creative Industries, the City of Aspen, the Addy Foundation, and Alpine Bank, plus corporate sponsorships and theater concessions. Educational programs (Film Educates, Film Camp, Voices in Film Youth Forum, Young Filmmaker Labs) are delivered largely free of charge, supported by donor and grant funding, in partnership with Colorado Mountain College, Community College of Aurora's School of Cinematic Arts, and local K-12 institutions.

The organization serves approximately 30,000+ participants annually across the Roaring Fork Valley, drawing film enthusiasts, students, educators, families, and aspiring young filmmakers. Distribution relies on owned and partnership venues (Isis Theatre, Wheeler Opera House, Crystal Theatre, TACAW, Base of Aspen Mountain) plus online ticketing via Aspen ShowTix and Isis Tickets. The core technology stack is operational rather than productized — Donorbox for donations, Google Analytics for web tracking, and standard ticketing platforms — with no proprietary software or AI-driven capabilities. Aspen Film is governed by a Board of Directors (Chair Monica Vidal) and led by Executive Director Kitty Boone, appointed in October 2023.

Name

Aspen Film

Legal name

Aspen Film

Website

https://aspenfilm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aspen Film is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1979 that runs two Oscar-qualifying film festivals (Shortsfest, Filmfest), year-round educational programs, and the Isis Theatre in Aspen, Colorado, serving 30,000+ annual participants in the Roaring Fork Valley through memberships, donations, grants, and ticket sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival & Arts Programming

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers (MPADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL)

Keywords

• Film festival programming
• Nonprofit arts organization
• Film education programs
• Movie theater operations
• Arthouse cinema exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Aspen, Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual membership tiers ranging from $75 to $25,000/year providing festival passes, ticket discounts, VIP event access, and recognition. Cinema Society inner circle includes Auteur ($25,000), Visionary ($10,000), and Benefactor ($7,000) levels.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from festival passes, single tickets to screenings, and Isis Theatre general admission. Festival single tickets are $28 general admission, $20 for members.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations at various levels ($50-$15,000) supporting specific programs like film camps, indie showcases, filmmaker visits, and festival events. Tax-deductible contributions through EIN #74-2483139.
4. Grants and Sponsorships: Funding from grantors including National Endowment for the Arts, Colorado Creative Industries, City of Aspen, and corporate sponsors. Corporate sponsorship packages and lodging partnerships support festival operations.
5. Theater Operations and Concessions: Revenue from Isis Theatre screenings managed by Bow Tie Management, including concessions sales. Theater ticket pricing: Adult $16, Senior/Child $12.50, Matinee $13.50, Tuesdays $10 all ages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aspen Film is a nonprofit film arts organization that curates and presents film festivals (Shortsfest in April, Filmfest in September), operates the historic Isis Theatre as a year-round movie venue, runs educational outreach programs for youth (Film Educates and Film Camp), and offers curated screening series (Radical Wednesdays, Indie Showcase, Summer of Cinema, Kids Summer Film Series). Programming includes independent, documentary, foreign-language, and arthouse cinema, supported by tiered membership programs and donations from individuals, corporations, and government grantors.

Product overview

Aspen Film is a nonprofit film arts organization offering a multi-layered portfolio of film programming centered around two flagship Oscar-qualifying festivals (Shortsfest in April and Filmfest in September), year-round education initiatives (Film Educates, Film Camp), and venue operations at the historic Isis Theatre. The organization runs diverse programming including Radical Wednesdays (retro ski series), Summer of Cinema, Kids Summer Film Series, Indie Showcases, and Cinema Under The Stars. A tiered membership program (Cinema Society for major donors and standard tiers for general members) supports operations. The company does not operate as a software platform but as a presenting arts organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shortsfest: Aspen's Oscar-qualifying short film festival held each April, recognized as one of the premier short film festivals in North America
• Filmfest
• Film Educates
• Film Camp
• Summer of Cinema
• Radical Wednesdays
• Indie Showcase
• Aspen Film Presents

Products and services

• Shortsfest An Oscar-qualifying short film festival held each April in Aspen, recognized as one of the premier short film festivals in North America. Features curated short films from around the globe with screenings, panels, workshops, and special events for film enthusiasts, filmmakers, and industry audiences.
• Filmfest Aspen's premier feature film festival held each fall (September), now in its 47th year. Showcases independent, documentary, foreign-language, and arthouse cinema from around the world for film lovers, industry, and community audiences.
• Isis Theatre A four-screen movie theater (362 total capacity) opened in 1915 in downtown Aspen, the only full-time movie theater in Aspen. Managed by Bow Tie Management, it screens Hollywood blockbusters, independent, and art-house films and serves as Aspen Film's permanent home for year-round programming.
• Film Educates Year-round educational outreach program exposing students of all ages to storytelling through film, fostering diverse perspectives, empathy, critical thinking, and dialogue. Includes Voices in Film Youth Forum, Filmmakers to the Classroom, Seats for Students, and Young Filmmaker Labs. 90% of programs offered at no charge.
• Film Camp Summer filmmaking camps for youth offering hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment. Programs include Animation Film Camp (ages 10-13) and Making Movie Magic (week-long immersive filmmaking camp), taught in partnership with Community College of Aurora's nationally recognized Cinematic Arts program.
• Radical Wednesdays A retro ski film series held each March at the Isis Theatre, featuring classic alpine films, throwback ski culture, and interactive guest appearances for ski and outdoor film enthusiasts.
• Summer of Cinema Summer program series partnering with local organizations to bring distinctive film experiences including special screenings, curated series, youth camps, and educational programs to the Aspen community.
• Indie Showcase Monthly curated series featuring independent and edgier film fare at the Isis Theatre. Free for Aspen Film members.
• Kids Summer Film Series Family-friendly summer film series screening every Wednesday at 11 AM, June through August, at the Isis Theatre. Tickets priced at $5 per screening.
• Cinema Under The Stars Outdoor film screening series co-presented with The Little Nell hotel, featuring classic films under the stars at the base of Aspen Mountain.
• Cinema Society Membership Inner-circle membership tier recognizing major donors with benefits including reserved seats at all events, festival passes for Shortsfest and Filmfest, private screenings at the Isis Theatre, and underwriting of special screenings. Tiers include Auteur ($25,000/year), Visionary ($10,000/year), and Benefactor ($7,000/year).
• Standard Membership Program Tiered general membership program with levels including Star ($2,000/year), Producer ($1,000/year), Storyteller ($500/year), Director ($225/year), Platinum ($150/year for 75+), and Cinephile ($75/year for 35 and under). Benefits include festival passes, ticket discounts, VIP event invitations, free monthly Indie Showcase access, and merchandise discounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,000+ annual participants across all programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Endowment for the ArtscoreOthersFederal arts funding agency providing grant support for Aspen Film's programming and educational initiatives.
• Colorado Creative IndustriescoreOthersState agency supporting creative industries in Colorado, providing funding for arts programming.
• City of AspencoreOthersMunicipal government providing grant support through the City's arts and culture funding programs.
• Colorado Mountain CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for Filmmakers to the Classroom program and Voices in Film Youth Forum. Provides facilities and student participation for festival events.
• No Film SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for filmmaker events including In Conversation series and podcast recordings at Shortsfest. Joint programming to support emerging filmmakers.
• Wheeler Opera HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric venue partnership for Shortsfest screenings and festival events. Located at 320 E Hyman Ave, Aspen since 1889.
• Crystal TheatreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor125-seat nonprofit theater in Carbondale for select festival programming down valley.
• The Little NellcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury hotel partnership for Cinema Under The Stars outdoor screening series and special event receptions.
• Bow Tie ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional commercial movie theater operations company managing the Isis Theatre. Handles theater operations, rentals, and day-to-day management.
• Aspen Public RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner for Filmfest screenings, including moderating Q&A sessions and community outreach.
• Addy FoundationminorOthersLocal foundation providing grant funding for programming.
• Alpine BankminorOthersRegional bank providing grant support for arts and cultural programming.
• The GantminorOthersPremier lodging partner providing accommodations for festival guests and filmmakers.
• Community College of AuroraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides experienced educators to teach film camps using their Cinematic Arts program nationally recognized as one of the top film programs in the country.
• Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth media program partnership for podcast production and youth media training at Shortsfest.
• Aspen Daily NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper providing media sponsorship coverage for festivals and events.
• Aspen Public RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity radio station serving as media sponsor for Filmfest and providing coverage of Aspen Film events.
• Red Brick ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner at Red Brick Center for the Arts hosting Animation Film Camp sessions.
• TACAW (Willits)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner hosting Making Movie Magic Film Camp sessions at their facility.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco International Film Festival: Run by SFFILM, a nonprofit presenter of one of the longest-running film festivals in the Americas. Comparable as a nonprofit festival organization with year-round education, member tiers, filmmaker programs, and curation of independent/arthouse cinema.
• Telluride Film Festival: A nonprofit festival held each September in Telluride, Colorado — another affluent Colorado mountain resort. Highly comparable: similar remote-resort location, similar curatorial prestige model, similar filmmaker-centric programming, and overlapping audience demographics to Aspen Film's Shortsfest and Filmfest.
• Tribeca Festival: A New York City-based nonprofit film festival with year-round programming, immersive storytelling, and industry events. Comparable as a multi-program nonprofit festival with a permanent home venue (Tribeca Cinema), educational initiatives, and tiered membership models.
• Cleveland International Film Festival: A nonprofit presenting one of the largest U.S. film festivals with strong education programs and year-round screenings. Comparable mid-size nonprofit festival operation with education emphasis and tiered membership models.
• Sundance Institute: The preeminent U.S. independent film nonprofit, running the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Highly comparable nonprofit structure, independent-film mission, year-round artist support, and education/lab programs parallel Aspen Film's Film Educates and Film Camps.
• SXSW Film Festival: A major annual film and culture festival in Austin, Texas, with strong independent and documentary programming and filmmaker Q&As. Comparable in scale of programming, Oscar-adjacent filmmaker engagement, and educational/industry programming.
• Seattle International Film Festival: A nonprofit presenting one of the largest and longest-running film festivals in the U.S., with year-round cinema programming, education programs, and tiered memberships. Comparable structure, scale, and mission to Aspen Film's programming model.
• Hamptons International Film Festival: A nonprofit fall festival in East Hampton, NY focused on independent film with strong year-round education and screening programs. Comparable as an affluent-market, nonprofit, independent-film-focused festival with educational outreach paralleling Aspen Film.

Broad incumbents

• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: A national dine-in cinema chain with curated repertory programming, special events, and festival-style screenings. Comparable in combining exhibition with curated programming, food/beverage revenue, and special-event-driven experiences — though commercially owned and far larger scale than Aspen Film.
• Film Independent: A larger Los Angeles-based nonprofit running the Spirit Awards and year-round filmmaker development programs. Comparable independent-film nonprofit mission, but operates at national scale with industry-focused events rather than a single festival.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apsen-film

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aspen Film