# Aspen Shortsfest 2027

> Aspen Shortsfest 2027 runs April 6–10, the festival's 36th year and an Oscar-qualifying event. Aspen's airport closes April 4: how to arrive, where to stay, what to plan.

Canonical page: https://aspenprive.com/aspen-shortsfest-2027/  
Updated: 2026-10-02 · Publisher: Aspen Privé (local Aspen stay planning and concierge)

**Aspen Shortsfest 2027**, Aspen Film's **Oscar-qualifying** short film festival, runs **April 6–10, 2027**, its 36th year, with screenings at the **Wheeler Opera House and the Isis**. One timing matters: **Aspen's airport closes at 11pm on April 4, 2027** for seven months. Arrive through Eagle, Rifle or Denver, or land in Aspen before the closure.

Festival dates from Aspen Film; airport dates from aspenairport.com; checked October 1, 2026. The 2027 program and passes are published closer to the festival.

## Dates, venues and passes

- **Dates**: Tuesday–Saturday, April 6–10, 2027 (36th edition).
- **Status**: Oscar-qualifying: winners can qualify for Academy Award consideration in the short film categories.
- **Venues**: The Wheeler Opera House and the Isis Theatre, both downtown and walkable.
- **Passes**: Published by Aspen Film ahead of the festival.

## Arriving as the airport closes

- **Aspen (ASE)**: Last operations at 11pm on April 4, 2027; closed until November 19, 2027.
- **Eagle (EGE)**: About 70 miles, roughly an hour and a half by car in spring conditions.
- **Rifle (RIL)**: About an hour and a quarter; the usual choice for private aircraft.
- **Denver (DEN)**: 3½–4 hours via I-70 and Glenwood Springs; Independence Pass is still closed in early April.

## Spring in Aspen

- **The last ski week**: Early April is the end of the ski season; check closing dates for each mountain if you want to ski between screenings.
- **Book near the Wheeler**: Both venues are downtown. Staying in the core means walking between screenings and dinner.

## Questions

**When is Aspen Shortsfest 2027?**  
April 6–10, 2027, the festival's 36th year.

**Can I fly into Aspen for Shortsfest 2027?**  
Aspen's airport closes at 11pm on April 4, 2027. Land before then, or fly into Eagle, Rifle or Denver and drive.

**Is Aspen Shortsfest Oscar-qualifying?**  
Yes. Aspen Shortsfest is an Oscar-qualifying festival.

## What Aspen Privé can arrange for this

The drive from Eagle, Rifle or Denver, a house downtown, and dinners timed around the screenings.

- [Eagle to Aspen by private car](https://aspenprive.com/eagle-to-aspen-private-car/) (From $850 per vehicle): The 70-mile transfer from Eagle airport, flight tracked and re-timed around the canyon.
- [A driver for the evening](https://aspenprive.com/contact.html?service=evening-driver) (From $210 per hour): A car and driver on call for dinner and the night out, so nobody hunts for a taxi at midnight.
- [Private chef](https://aspenprive.com/private-chef-aspen/): Dinner at the house, menu agreed in advance.

## Sources (checked October 1, 2026)

- [Aspen Film: Shortsfest](https://aspenfilm.org/our-festivals/shortsfest/)
- [Aspen/Pitkin County Airport: 2027 construction closure dates](https://www.aspenairport.com/aspen-pitkin-county-airport-announces-2027-construction-closure-dates/)

## Related

- [The 2027 closure](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-airport-closure-2027/): April 4 – November 19, 2027.
- [Spring skiing](https://aspenprive.com/spring-skiing-aspen/): The season's last weeks.
- [Events calendar](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-events-calendar/): Month by month.

To plan or request any of this: https://aspenprive.com/plan-your-trip/ · https://aspenprive.com/contact.html