Reflecting on a Year of Growth, Community, and Resilience
At ACT, we believe access to arts and culture is a fundamental part of a healthy, connected community. Film has the power to illuminate human rights issues, deepen understanding across differences, and remind us of our shared humanity. Sustaining this work requires collaboration, generosity, and a long-term commitment from partners, supporters, and audiences alike.
The 2026 ACT Human Rights Film Festival was our strongest year yet, not because the challenges we face became easier, but because our community showed up in remarkable ways.
This year brought record attendance, growing regional participation, increased earned revenue, and expanded opportunities for students, filmmakers, and community members to engage with stories from around the world. Even with a shorter festival and a leaner budget, we strengthened partnerships, expanded bilingual and accessibility initiatives, and continued our commitment to making the festival welcoming to all.
Here are just a few highlights from FY26:
- Two sold out screenings of The Librarians during Banned Book Week, presented in partnership with Poudre Libraries and CSU Libraries. Audience members took action following the Q&A by attending a Board of Education meeting to affirm their support for students’ freedom to read.
- CSU’s first-ever student poster competition and expanded student film screenings, showcasing the creativity and perspectives of the next generation.
- An all-Spanish Q&A following Comparsa, reflecting the power of community-led programming and the welcoming, multilingual spaces our audiences help create.
- Meaningful conversations and moments of connection that reminded us both of the work still ahead and of the extraordinary strength and richness of our community.
These accomplishments are deeply meaningful, and they are possible because of so many people.
They also exist within a continuously challenging reality.
Arts organizations, filmmakers, and higher education institutions are navigating an increasingly uncertain landscape. As resources become more limited, spaces that foster thoughtful conversation, creative expression, and civic engagement become even more essential. We remain committed to ensuring that human rights stories, and the artists who tell them, continue to find audiences and inspire dialogue.
To everyone who attended a screening, volunteered, partnered with us, supported our work, or helped spread the word, THANK YOU. Your enthusiasm, generosity, and belief in this work made this extraordinary year possible.