2025 Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival Unveils Diverse and Bold Program Lineup

If you’re a film lover looking for something fresh, exciting, and thought-provoking, then mark your calendars. The 2025 Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival is back with a lineup that’s bold, inclusive, and bursting with creativity. Whether you’re a fan of indie flicks, documentaries, or cultural storytelling, there’s something at this year’s festival that’ll catch your eye—and steal your heart.

What is the 2025 Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival?

The CD (Central District) Film Festival is a much-loved annual event held in Seattle. It celebrates Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) filmmakers, spotlighting the incredible work being created by artists from historically marginalized communities. More than just movies, this event is about community, storytelling, and visibility.

With live screenings, workshops, and community events, the festival brings together filmmakers, audiences, and local creatives for an unforgettable experience. And in 2025, things are getting even more exciting.

What’s New for 2025?

So what’s different this year? In a word: diversity. The 2025 program lineup is the most expansive the festival has ever featured. It covers a wide range of genres, cultures, languages, and points of view that challenge traditional storytelling. Think boundary-pushing films that make you see the world in a different way.

Here are a few key highlights 2025 Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival:

• Over 60 films from around the globe
• Films made by BIPOC, queer, and immigrant filmmakers
• A special spotlight on Pacific Northwest filmmakers
• Opening night film: “We Walked Swiftly”—a poetic documentary on Black freedom movements
• Closing night film: “Even Saints Bleed”—a gritty, haunting drama set in Texas
• Free Community Screenings for families, teens, and youth of all ages
• Live Q&A sessions with directors and cast members

Why This Lineup Matters

A movie can do more than entertain—it can educate, empower, and shift your point of view. This festival embraces that idea by showcasing stories you won’t find on mainstream screens. From tales of resistance and resilience in Indigenous communities to stories about queer love and immigrant families, these films reflect the lived experiences that are often overlooked in Hollywood.

The 2025 lineup is a direct response to growing calls for greater inclusion and representation in the film industry. And the CD Film Festival is answering that call with both passion and purpose.

Sneak Peek: Films That Are Already Creating Buzz

Let’s take a quick look at a few titles making waves:

• “Mama Said”: A soulful narrative about a single Black mother raising a son with disabilities, told with warmth and raw honesty.
• “West of the Sun”: A visually breathtaking journey of Indigenous spiritual and land practices across the American Southwest.
• “They Said We Sick”: A documentary that captures forgotten chapters in American medical injustice through breathtaking storytelling.

These films don’t just tell stories—they ask important questions. What does freedom really mean? What happens when communities are erased from history? How can art become a form of resistance?

Beyond the Screen: Events That Connect

The CD Film Festival isn’t just about watching movies; it’s about building community:

• Workshops on screenwriting, directing, and producing led by BIPOC filmmakers
• Community food nights featuring local Black-owned restaurants
• Family Day with family-friendly films and activities for all ages

These events give everyone—from first-time filmmakers to curious viewers—a place to connect, learn, and share.

Why You Should Attend 2025 Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival

Still wondering if the CD Film Festival is for you?

Here are a few reasons why you should check it out:

• Diverse stories matter. They spark conversations, build empathy, and expand your worldview.
• Support independent filmmakers. Many of these artists are making magic on a shoestring budget.
• Feel inspired. It’s hard not to walk away from this festival without feeling a little more connected to the world around you.
• You’ll witness rising stars. Many of today’s award-winning directors got their start at festivals just like this.

Think of it like a giant family reunion—if your family included some of the most gifted storytellers on the planet.

When and Where 2025 Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival

The 2025 CD Film Festival will take place from May 15th to May 19th across various venues in Seattle’s Central District. This includes local theaters, community centers, parks, and even outdoor pop-up screenings.

So whether you’re planning to spend the whole weekend exploring every film, or drop in for a single event, there’s something for everyone.

Final Thoughts: Come For the Films, Stay for the Community

The 2025 CD Film Festival isn’t just about cinema—it’s about sharing stories that matter, giving voices to the voiceless, and making space for joy, truth, and healing.

As someone who’s been to the festival in years past, I can tell you: the energy is electric, the people are passionate, and the stories stay with you long after the credits roll. So grab your popcorn, invite a friend, and come experience something truly special.

If you’ve ever felt that today’s movies just don’t speak to your experience or reflect your reality, this festival might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

Ready to Be Inspired?

Visit the official CD Film Festival 2025 Program Page to explore the full schedule and learn how to get tickets. Don’t wait too long—some events do fill up quickly.

Come curious. Leave changed. That’s the power of stories told by the people who lived them.

See you at the movies!

2025 Colorado Dragon Boat All Access Pass

Denver Film Members – $75 | Non-Members – $85

• Access to all screenings, opening night reception, closing night reception, community conversations, and special events!
• Access to the Culinary Experience with Denver’s top AAPIs restaurants
• Member pricing on bar and concessions items, complimentary select drinks at the bar

*Please note, you must use your pass to reserve an individual ticket to all desired events.