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72 Hours. One Region. Big Stories.The Royal Gorge Film Commission, in partnership with the Royal Gorge Film Festival, presents the 72-Hour “River & Gorge” Film Challenge — a timed filmmaking weekend where Fremont County becomes your studio.
Teams will gather for an in-person kickoff at The Cañon Cinema on Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 PM, where the official challenge details will be revealed. From that moment on, teams have 72 hours to write, shoot, and edit an original short film using this year’s required challenge elements.
Each team will receive:
* a required location / landmark element
* a required regional prop
* a required line of dialogue
* an assigned genre
* a required local business / service-provider inclusion
All films must be completed and submitted by:
Sunday, June 14 at 6:00 PM
Then, on July 17, 2026, we’ll bring the finished films to the big screen for our Red Carpet Premiere + Awards Ceremony.
This challenge is open to everyone — beginners, students, hobbyists, emerging filmmakers, and professionals.
How registration works
Registration is handled through FilmFreeway.
Because FilmFreeway is project-based, teams will register by submitting a project entry.
That project can use a working title or placeholder title to get signed up.
After the challenge weekend, teams will update that same FilmFreeway project with their finished film and final materials before the deadline.
In short:
“Submit a project” on FilmFreeway = register your team for the challenge.
Event Timeline
Kickoff Night
Thursday, June 11, 2026 — 6:00 PM
📍 The Cañon Cinema
72-Hour Production Window
June 11–14, 2026
📍 Fremont County, Colorado
Submission Deadline
Sunday, June 14, 2026 — 6:00 PM
Red Carpet Premiere + Awards
Friday, July 17, 2026
📍 Venue details announced soon
Registration + More Information
Register through FilmFreeway
Use our website for event details, rules, countdown, and resources:
www.royalgorgefilmcommission.com/events/72hour-river-gorge-26
Questions:
[email protected]
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Event Venue
Fremont County, Colorado, 615 Macon Ave, Canon City, CO 81212-3301, United States
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