The festival was named after Festivus, a holiday celebrated on December 23 which was introduced in the Seinfeld episode The Strike. The festival founders liked and adapted the Festivus motto: "Festivus for the rest of us". The Festivus Film Festival was started to promote high-quality independent films in Denver, and provide an intelligent, "indie-friendly" audience for filmmakers. The Festivus Film Festival expanded considerably since its inaugural year in 2008. In 2009 it expanded to a four-day event and added a filmmaker/VIP lounge at each venue. In 2010 the festival featured 12 world premieres, and had filmmakers from as far as Turkey and Australia attend to present their works. The subsidiary Laugh TrackComedy Festival was created in 2010 as a spin-off from Festivus' comedy shorts block Also in 2012, MovieMaker Magazine named the Festivus Film Festival one of the "20 Coolest Film Festivals" in the country.
Previous Winners
2012
Best Editing:A Finger, Two Dots, Then Me Best Cinematography:Ghosts of Old Highways Best Animation:999.999.999 Best Music Video:100 Monkeys for Modern Times Best Short Short:Halbschlaf Best Experimental:Self-Sabotage Best Documentary Short:The Forgotten Fruit Best Documentary Feature:Facets of Winter Best Narrative Short:Science of Death Best Narrative Feature:Searching for Sonny
2011
Best Editing:Calling on Others Best Cinematography: Brant Hadfield for The Last Legend Best Animation: Noella Borie's The Face Shop Best Music Video: Evan Nix for Tour Life Best Short Short: Joe Petrilla's THE LINE Best Experimental: Adam Badlotto's Only in Dreams Best Documentary Short: Robert Sickels' Walla Walla Wiffle Best Documentary Feature:Awakening the Skeena Best Narrative Short: Marisa Brown's Rain for Morgan Best Narrative Feature:Boy Wonder
2010
January 14- January 17 Best Editing:The Ballad of Angel Face Best Cinematography:Stoney Best Animation:Little Old Ladies Best Music Video:The Atro-City Sleepers Best Short Short:Black Ops Arabesque Best Experimental:The Magnitude of the Continental Divides Best Documentary Short:Between the Lip and Nasal Passageway; A Modern Account of the Moustache Best Documentary Feature:Rouge Ciel Best Narrative Short:The Godmother Best Narrative Feature:Racewalker
2009
January 8- January 11 Best Editing:And What Remains Best Cinematography:Placebo Best Music Video: Mr. Bungle - Retrovertigo Best Experimental:Railed Best Animation:Gerald's Last Day Best Short Short:Interpretation Best Doc Short:Reefer Madness Best Documentary:The Cost of Oil Best Narrative Short:Compact Only Best Narrative Feature:The Project
2008
January 11- January 13 Best Narrative Short:Partially True Tales of High Adventure! Best Short Short:The Seed Best Experimental:Standing on a Whale Best Music Video: DeNardo Best Animation:Hope Springs Eternal Best Documentary Short:In Times of War: Ray Parker's Story Best Feature Documentary:Beauty24 Best Narrative feature:Wasting Away
