I’m making my first trip to Crested Butte at the perfect time: When the aspen leaves are still turning heavenly shades of red and gold—and the Crested Butte Film Festival is taking over town (September 26-29).

Throughout the four-day event, more than 90 films—features, documentaries, epic adventures—from around the world will be screened. The full schedule won’t be released until Sunday, but the lineup will also include free filmmaker talks and children’s programs. And there will be plenty of time to fit in hikes, bike rides, and exploring.

Here’s a sneak peek at three films at the top of my viewing list:

Drinking Buddies: Olivia Wilde, Jake Johnson (of New Girl fame), and a whole lot of beer. The two friends—or is it something more?—work together at a craft brewery. They navigate separate romantic relationships, until they find themselves alone for a weekend. This is a rom-com that even your boyfriend will want to watch.


A Place at the Table: I’ve been kicking myself for not seeing this documentary when it screened in Denver earlier this year, but I’m getting a second chance. One in four children in the United States don’t know where their next meal is coming from. This film explores hunger through the struggles of three people—including a Colorado fifth-grader named Rosie.


Starlet: A character study revolving around an unlikely friendship between 21-year-old Jane and 85-year-old Sadie. When Jane finds a hidden stash of money inside an object she buys at Sadie’s yard sale, she decides to befriend the older woman in an attempt to learn where the money came from.


Tip: Lodging is filling up quickly, so book now if you plan to attend.

Individual film tickets are $10. Passes range from a $56 six-pack punch card to a $1,000 patron pass.

Image courtesy of Xavier Fane

Associate editor Daliah Singer will be live tweeting from Crested Butte throughout the event. Follow her at . Have a suggestion for a hike, restaurant, or something else she needs to see in the Butte? Let her know.

Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.