International Wildlife Film Festival

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Arts & CultureMissoula
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
Duration6 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsFew festivals anywhere focus as specifically
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula

The International Wildlife Film Festival, founded in 1977, screens wildlife and conservation documentaries each spring at the historic Roxy Theater in Missoula, Montana. Described by organizers as a Missoula springtime tradition, the festival pairs juried film competition with filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, education programming, and a virtual festival extension, and is approaching its 50th edition.

Since 1977, the International Wildlife Film Festival has given Missoula, Montana a distinctly springtime cultural rhythm built around one of the more focused documentary missions in American film festival culture: wildlife and conservation storytelling.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few festivals anywhere focus as specifically as IWFF does on wildlife and conservation storytelling, giving it a distinct identity within the broader documentary festival world rather than competing directly with general-interest film festivals

02

The mystery stays covered

Its nearly fifty-year run, dating to 1977, has built deep institutional memory, evident in the festival's active project collecting photographs and home videos from attendees dating back to the late 1970s for its upcoming 50th anniversary

03

The city starts moving

The festival pairs its juried Official Selections and Award Winners with a genuinely global virtual festival component, making its wildlife film catalog accessible well beyond Missoula, while special events such as a planned 50th-anniversary safari trip to Brazil's Pantanal wetland extend the festival's wildlife mission into direct real-world travel and conservation experience for supporters

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

IWFF's defining tradition is its juried Official Selections program culminating in Award Winners recognized each festival

Water and renewal

Living ritual

alongside consistently strong filmmaker Q&A sessions and panel discussions following screenings

The sacred route

Living ritual

The festival's Murmuration Program and ongoing education outreach extend its conservation mission beyond festival week

The local code

Living ritual

and the 50th-anniversary Memory Collection Project

Tradition 5

Living ritual

gathering photographs and home videos from past festivalgoers dating to 1977 through 1999

Tradition 6

Living ritual

reflects a deliberate institutional effort to preserve its own nearly half-century history

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Missoula you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Layered spring clothing works best, since Missoula spring weather can swing between cold mornings and milder afternoons, with a warm jacket useful for evening screenings even as daytime...

Safety

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

Where to stay

For busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after International Wildlife Film Festival does not become the hardest part.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map46.87 N, 113.99 WOpen in Google Maps

Missoula, MT

Nearest airportMSO — Missoula Montana
TransportStay close enough to the part of Missoula you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaFor busy dates, stay near reliable routes so the return after International Wildlife Film Festival does not become the hardest part.

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 Missoula via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Missoula, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearLayered spring clothing works best, since Missoula spring weather can swing between cold mornings and milder afternoons, with a warm jacket useful for evening screenings even as daytime temperatures rise. Inside the Roxy Theater, casual comfortable clothing is entirely appropriate, and there is no particular dress expectation beyond standard theater-going comfort.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States 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 International Wildlife Film Festival?

International Wildlife Film Festival is listed for Past edition: 18–23 April 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does International Wildlife Film Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Missoula, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

6 days 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?

Missoula, MT

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 URLwildlifefilms.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusOfficial source linked
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