Despite the breathtaking beauty of its location, the Telluride Film Festival can be a daunting beast for first-time attendees. With eight theaters spread throughout downtown Telluride—one even requiring a gondola ride up the mountain—simply finding your way around can feel overwhelming, let alone securing seats at the screenings you want to attend. The following tips are what the Film Vomit crew learned during our first trip to Telluride. Hopefully, these insights will inspire you to make the pilgrimage and help make your first experience smoother.

The Lay of the Land

If possible, arrive a day before the festival starts to familiarize yourself with the landscape. Knowing where each theater is located, how the gondola system operates, and how long it takes to travel between venues is crucial for making it to your screenings on time. Your first stop should be Brigadoon, conveniently located near the gondola entrance. Here, you'll pick up your passes, and the helpful festival volunteers can provide you with your program and answer any questions you have. You can also stock up on some cool merch at the swag tent.

Your program will be your lifeline. Since the lineup isn’t announced ahead of time, the program will inform you which films are playing, give you a handy schedule to plan your day, and provide a map of all the theater locations. The majority of the theaters—such as Abel Gance Open Air Cinema, Sheridan Opera House, Galaxy, Backlot, and Masons—are located near Brigadoon. The Chuck Jones Cinema is accessible via a quick gondola ride to Mountain Village, which takes about twelve minutes on average. La Pierre and Palm theaters are situated on the opposite side of town from Werner Herzog Theater, but you can walk between them in about fifteen minutes if you're hustling.

Arrive Early for Screenings

This tip depends on what pass you purchase. Patron Pass holders get priority seating at every screening, but for those with the Festival Pass (the most common pass), it's best to arrive at least two hours early. The Film Vomit crew was turned away from our first screening attempt—despite arriving an hour and fifteen minutes beforehand—because it was for the hotly anticipated Anora, the big-ticket item this year. The size of the venue matters too, as theaters range from 65 seats to 650 seats. Always consider the film's popularity and the theater's capacity when planning your arrival time.

Make a Plan, But Be Ready to Improvise

Missing our first planned screening triggered a domino effect that threw off the rest of our schedule. It's important to use the planner inside the festival program to map out your screenings, but don't be discouraged if things don't go as planned. The festival often reprograms popular films for Monday (the last day), giving attendees another chance to catch films they missed. There are also TBAs, or surprise screenings—this year, they included Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice and Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain—so even the most meticulous plan may require flexibility.

The SHOW App is Your Best Friend

If you prefer digital convenience, the Telluride Film Festival has an app updated in real time throughout the festival. It includes a digital version of the program, lets you add films to your personal schedule, provides news about TBAs, offers maps with directions to each theater, and features a digital goodie bag with deals and promotions from festival partners and sponsors. However, the app’s most valuable tool is the SHOW Seats feature, which shows how many passes have been scanned for each screening in real time. This helps you gauge whether you have enough time to make it to a screening before seats are full.

The Elevation is Real, Very Real

At 8,750 feet above sea level, Telluride's elevation is no joke. Coming from Raleigh, North Carolina, which sits at just 315 feet, the Film Vomit crew—who are in decent shape, if we do say so ourselves—struggled with the altitude. Before you attend, make sure to drink plenty of water and load up on antioxidants (berries, oranges, leafy greens) to combat the effects. If you're still struggling, pop into a local shop and grab an oxygen canister. We tore through at least three cans during our stay, finding amusement in the different flavors—mint oxygen, anyone?

While the elevation is serious, the weather isn't as cold as you might expect. We made the mistake of packing for winter, but during the day, a t-shirt and jeans are perfectly comfortable. If you get cold easily, carry a light jacket for the evenings when the temperature drops.

The Chuck Jones Cinema

Of all the theaters we visited, Chuck Jones Cinema was our favorite. Located in Mountain Village, this venue has its own set of rules. All venues distribute "Q" cards about an hour before screenings, which reserve your spot in line. At Chuck Jones, they distribute something called W2s (don’t worry, no taxes required) 90 minutes before the screening. Unlike Q cards, W2s guarantee you a seat. You can get these at Brigadoon or in front of the Chuck Jones Cinema.

The Chuck Jones Cinema also has an exclusive pass—The Acme Pass—which works like a Festival Pass but is only valid for screenings at this venue. Acme pass holders are seated alongside W2 holders, and they both get priority over Festival Pass holders who didn't secure a W2.

What really sets Chuck Jones apart is the incredible staff and volunteers. They go above and beyond to ensure you’re informed about your chances of getting into a screening and won’t leave you hanging for hours with false hope. A special shout-out to David Cook, the kindest festival volunteer we met—thank you for making our first Telluride experience unforgettable!

Sorry, Introverts

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, don’t be shy—talk to everyone you meet. I’m not typically a sociable person, but at Telluride, I found my people. Everyone shares the same love of film, so you automatically have something in common with almost everyone you encounter, whether it’s in line, on the gondola, or just walking around town.

Talking to others can also be a treasure trove of insider tips. For example, we didn’t know about the SHOW Seats feature in the app until a gentleman in line—who was almost three decades our senior—showed us. Whether you’re chatting with the partner of a film producer, the spouse of a screenwriter, or a fellow cinephile from your hometown (these all happened), you never know who you’ll meet at Telluride.

With that said, those are our tips for navigating the Telluride Film Festival. While it’s the only film festival I’ve attended so far, I highly recommend it as one of the most magical experiences of my life. The scenery alone is worth the trip, but meeting so many passionate cinephiles was a true delight, and watching films all day is the icing on the cake. If the price of passes is a concern, consider volunteering. Volunteers only work four to six hours per day, and they get the same film access as Festival Pass holders for the rest of the day.

Have any other questions? Jump into our Discord and ask away!