Step Into the Story!

Cinema Toast House Festival is taking over Writer Square October 2–4 with three days of screenings, installations, conversations, and hands-on filmmaking experiences.

Free Outdoor Screenings!

Bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy a movie under the stars!

  • What does it take to make meaningful independent film in today’s landscape? Cinema Toast House Fest presents a conversation with director and producer Amy Redford on the foundational elements of indie filmmaking: finding your voice, connecting with your audience, and leaning into community support. Stick around after the discussion to ask Amy your own questions during an open Q&A.

  • Being scrappy is a badge of honor for indie filmmakers. What does it take to keep a micro film company operating in this space? This roundtable offers a candid, open discussion about the challenges and opportunities of working in film from Denver.

  • Join the Community College of Aurora's Cinematic Arts Department for a celebration of our amazing student filmmakers! Experience a diverse showcase of original student films, then stay for a panel discussion featuring students and instructors who will share insights into the creative process and the opportunities available through CCA's Cinematic Arts program.

    Student Films

    “Six Nights” - a restaurant dishwasher is given a last-minute chance to step up as a line cook. Written and Directed by Robert Brogden

    “Sean: The Ramblings of a Sculpture Artist” - An eccentric artist dives into his past and his imagination in a quest to make sense of the life that shaped him. Directed and Produced by Felicia Hettinga and Lauren Tolfa

    “Stereo Psychosis” - A mother and daughter clash over the "crazy" music her offspring listens to leading to bizarre and tragic events. Written and Directed by Matt Sandoval

    “Fly Away with Me” - A claymation about a disillusioned extraterrestrial researcher. A film by Alexadra S. Faust

    “Grocery Trip” - In a world filled with sentient foods, a lonesome coyote must venture out to find his next meal. Created by Leon Hicks

  • Jon discusses his book, Filmmaking for Change, outlining the four primary categories: Development, Production, Distribution and Activation. Followed by a Q&A.

  • Sandra shares her editing process giving a practical, behind-the-scenes workshop that showcases how films are shaped in post-production. She will discuss building a strong organizational foundation when preparing footage with an assistant editor, approaching individual scenes while understanding how each moment serves the larger story, and what she looks for in performance. As well as how performance, interactions, and music help her craft a scene, and how long-term collaboration with a director influences creative decision-making. Using Boyhood as a case-study, she offers a one-of-a-kind insight into the experience of editing a film over the course of 12 years.

  • This presentation will walk you through the history of movie production in Colorado, showing photos and movie clips, from the very first movies in 1897 through today. How did Colorado become a center for film production, both in the silent era and from the 1950s and how have economic and technical changes affected what is shot in Colorado today?

  •  A fireside chat with Colorado's Film Commissioner, Lauren Grimshaw Sloan, on the state's fast-growing screen industry. From landing major productions like The Hateful Eight and Furious 7 to shaping incentives, infrastructure, and pathways for emerging filmmakers, this conversation looks at where Colorado film is headed and how to build a career here.

Free Industry Panels!

Come get up close and personal while filmmakers and industry professionals discuss their craft. Seating is first come, first served…so arrive early !

  • Kevin Smith and Alaina Drechny discuss the history of the Denver Film Festival (one of the oldest film festivals in the country), the year-round community spotlight festivals it produces, and Colorado’s film community as a whole. They provide insight into the film festival landscape, exploring the difference between industry and regional film festivals.

  • An intimate masterclass on the invisible art of film editing. This panel dives into Adair’s legendary three-decade collaboration with director Richard Linklater, the structural mechanics of character-driven pacing, and the instinct required to mold years of raw footage into cohesive, generation-defining cinematic landmarks. The session includes clips, workflow insights, and audience Q&A.

  • Andrew Bujalski discusses the journey behind his installation piece There There, from initial spark of inspiration, through the 2022 experimental film version, and how he finally adapted it as an immersive installation (currently viewable in Room 12) where no two viewers will have quite the same experience. The installation, taking place across a series of interconnected “duet” scenes on themes of trust and belief, invites the audience to stand literally in the space between characters — to witness the stitching together of their performances and to examine the distance we ourselves traverse with every leap of faith in another person. Bring your curiosity, and your questions about this unique and strange work.

  • UnTilted is a live, multi-part experience from Ryzo Studios built around the story of Aaron, a young aspiring game designer navigating feelings that are big, messy, and not easy to deal with. The film, Release The Beast, gets the conversation started. The game, Rage Fighters, lets players step into Aaron’s inner battles. And a sticky note art activity runs through the whole thing. For kids, it’s an adventure. For parents, it’s a window.

    For this panel it is encouraged for participants to have access to Roblox on their phones.

  • Colorado's animation community has a story worth telling. Colorado based animation professionals look back at the studios and productions that shaped the state's animation history, discuss where the industry stands today, and share their hopes for its future.

    Jason Schwartz - Animation Director at Bento Box Entertainment, 

    Shane Minshew - Co-COO & Partner at Powerhouse Animation Studios, 

    Eric Sinha - Founder of Mile High Animation

  • Jon discusses the NonDe strategy, using his recent project Alchemy in Venice as a case study. The strategy involves making a film for a reasonable price, paying cast/ crew the same rates and giving them ownership in the property, developing partners from beginning through release, and creating a unique experience for audiences.

    (There will be an opportunity for guests to create cardboard art at the end of the panel, so bring some cardboard, an idea and an exacto knife!)

  • The lines between film and television are blurring as creators move fluidly across formats, platforms, and screens. From limited series and episodic films to digital shorts and independent projects, the story—not the format—is driving what comes next. Join SeriesFest Chief Programming Officer Claire Taylor Smith for a conversation on the creators shaping new models of storytelling, the evolving trends in episodic storytelling, and the future of building IP across film, television, digital, social, and beyond.

  • All Aboard for a One-of-a-Kind Movie Experience! Step into the world of movie making magic with interactive immersive film sets. Explore detailed miniature sets that reveal the precision and artistry of practical film effects. Clark Schaffer, the creator of the set, shares this incredible miniature world and gives a special presentation about how it was made. Then, step aboard a full-size train car set and become part of the scene! Experience one of the most time-honored practical effects - rear projection - while you’re filmed in your very own movie moment.

  • Renowned independent filmmaker Andrew Bujalski has spent his career exploring the awkwardness, pain, and promise of human beings trying (and often failing) to connect with one another. Now he arrives as an installation artist, with a work that lets you walk the charged distance between characters as literal, physical space.

    There There is a multichannel video work and a continuation of Andrew Bujalski’s 2022 film of the same name. In the feature film version, a series of conversations between people play out: the morning after a one-night stand, a parent-teacher conference, a late-night chat between a bartender and a customer - except these conversations were filmed with each actor in separate rooms, on separate days, with no visual continuity between their environments. It’s obvious that these characters are not actually speaking to one another in person, and yet great acting and editing convinces you of intimacy between two people that doesn’t actually exist.

    The new installation version of There There takes Bujalski’s exploration of intimacy and connection to yet another level, immersing the audience within the characters’ interactions.

    You are invited to step inside the film and become a participant in the characters’ attempts at connection.The audience takes over the role of the editor, navigating the space between the characters and creating their own version of the film in their mind by choosing where to look and when.

  • This special exhibit celebrates the imagination, ingenuity, and sheer resourcefulness of a young filmmaker whose work became the inspiration for the festival itself. At just 13 years old, he has already amassed an astonishing collection of films - featured here: handmade props, sets, costumes, and cinematic details—transforming everyday materials into the worlds of his films.


    Step inside and discover a kind of miniature studio museum, where the artifacts aren’t polished Hollywood originals—they’re the inventive, handcrafted interpretations of a young filmmaker determined to bring the movies he imagines to life. From playful recreations inspired by iconic films and television, including Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and 2001: A Space Odyssey, to original creations born entirely from his own imagination, each piece reveals the thinking, experimentation, and storytelling behind the finished film. 


    This is cinema in its purest form, born of imagination, determination, resourcefulness and collaboration.

Immersive Activations!

  • Box Office

  • The Paseo

  • Film Sets

  • Activations

The Paseo Experience.

Writer Square in LoDo transforms into an open-air cinematic plaza connecting historic downtown with with a mini pop-up cinematic festival experience. Throughout the three-day event, visitors can explore interactive spaces designed for curiosity and creation.

  • Catch cinematic screenings, local short film showcases, and surprise performances on screens throughout the Paseo.

  • Step into the world of movie making magic with interactive immersive film sets. Explore detailed miniature sets that reveal the precision and artistry of practical film effects.

  • Get up close with legendary screen vehicles and step onto custom photo backdrops and immersive art installations.

  • Enjoy top Denver food trucks offering curated bites and beverages alongside neighborhood vendors and artisans throughout the Paseo.