Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival

Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Villa de Leyva

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Arts & CultureVilla de Leyva
DatesDates TBA · Usually NovemberCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsThe festival's independent, non-commercial
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: COP
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival in Villa de Leyva

Founded in 2007 by Maria Angelica Tovar and Philippe van Hissenhoven, Villa de Leyva's film festival showcases independent and alternative cinema from Colombia and abroad in one of the country's best-preserved colonial towns. Screenings and talks fill historic buildings and public spaces around the town's vast stone plaza, drawing an estimated 14,000 attendees across several days each year.

Villa de Leyva's independent film festival was founded in 2007 by Maria Angelica Tovar and her husband Philippe van Hissenhoven through their Fundacion Cine Posible, bringing an international independent-cinema showcase to a town better known for its enormous stone-paved colonial plaza than for film culture.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's independent, non-commercial selection policy sets it apart from Colombia's larger competition-driven film events, favouring emerging directors and unconventional work over premiere-circuit titles

02

The mystery stays covered

Its setting is equally distinctive: screenings run through a sixteenth-century colonial town built around one of South America's largest cobbled plazas, rather than in a multiplex or purpose-built festival campus

03

The city starts moving

Ministry of Culture recognition for audience-development work over multiple editions points to an educational mission beyond simple film exhibition

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

Symbols

Custom

Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival is documented as a recurring arts-culture festival in the Eventisimus atlas.

Participation

Calendar

Some moments are open to visitors; others belong to local participants. Follow barriers, steward instructions, and local etiquette.

Place memory

Place

The strongest version of the event is the one tied to Villa de Leyva, not a generic copy of the same category elsewhere.

The local code

Meaning

The festival's independent, non-commercial selection policy sets it apart from Colombia's larger competition-driven film events, favouring emerging...

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually November

Getting around

For Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival, plan transport around the exact Villa de Leyva venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Layered clothing works best given Villa de Leyva's dry-highland swing between warm days and cool nights; sturdy, flat shoes are worth prioritising over anything else for the uneven cobbled...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival, stay near the part of Villa de Leyva you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

COP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map5.63 N, 73.52 WOpen in Google Maps

Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia

Nearest airportBOG — El Dorado
TransportFor Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival, plan transport around the exact Villa de Leyva venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival, stay near the part of Villa de Leyva you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Villa de Leyva via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Villa de Leyva, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for November.Compare faresFestival gearLayered clothing works best given Villa de Leyva's dry-highland swing between warm days and cool nights; sturdy, flat shoes are worth prioritising over anything else for the uneven cobbled streets throughout the town. No formal dress applies even at opening or closing events.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Colombia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival?

Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival is listed for Past edition: 18 May 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Villa de Leyva Independent Film Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Villa de Leyva, Colombia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLvilladeleyva-boyaca.gov.co
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually November
Source statusOfficial source linked
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