6 Industry Facilitators Announced for 2nd Annual Ouray Film Sabbatical; Applications Open Through October 5

The Ouray Film Sabbatical is thrilled to announce the six facilitators who will travel to Colorado’s San Juan Mountains this winter to lead the second iteration of this four-day retreat (January 7-10, 2027). 

These industry professionals represent diverse corners of the film ecosystem, including documentary and scripted filmmakers, programmers, film academics, and festival directors. Together, these facilitators share a commitment to shaping conversations about career growth, sparking creative reflection, and offering a community of support for a group of 8-10 fellows to be selected later this fall. 

“We started this initiative to provide unsilo-ed support for mid-career film workers, giving them an opportunity to be cared for, truly listened to, and asked the simple questions at the right time that can spark their own transformation,” says sabbatical co-founder Benjamin Wiessner, who received the SXSW Janet Pierson Champion Award in 2026. “I am so thrilled about the terrific humans we have as facilitators for the Sabbatical. In addition to their incredible bona fides, these people are also creating new space for film and film workers by thinking about and building for others.”

With a celebrated career in scripted, documentary, and hybrid filmmaking, Bill Ross IV’s participation as a facilitator marks a return to Ouray where he received the Film in Action Award at the 2026 Ouray International Film Festival (OIFF) alongside his brother and frequent collaborator Turner Ross. “I visited the festival this year for the first time and came away with the feeling that something very special was happening there in Ouray,” says Ross. “I’m thrilled to head back this winter.” 

For sabbatical co-founder Jared LaCroix, the feeling is mutual. “We can’t wait for sabbatical fellows to experience the warmth and wisdom that Bill brings as a filmmaker with decades of experience,” says Jared LaCroix, a co-founder of the sabbatical. “We are really lucky to have such an amazing group of folks come alongside our participants to pause and reflect together amid the hopefully snowy Colorado mountains. It’s going to be cozy.”

As a teacher of film and documentary director, facilitator Robie Flores’ film The In Between debuted at SXSW in 2024. “Robie’s talent as a filmmaker reflects her commitment to the communities that her work champions and supports,” says Jake Abell, another co-founder of the sabbatical. “I’m thrilled that our 2027 fellows will be enriched by Robie’s many gifts as a filmmaker and academic.” 

Doc filmmaker and story consultant Alexandria Bombach returns to Ouray as a facilitator. “After seeing the extraordinary personal impact that Alexandria had on our first group of fellows in 2026, it was the easiest decision in the world to invite them back,” adds Abell. 

For Bombach, returning to Ouray offers a chance to deepen the sabbatical’s commitment to nurturing film professionals who need rest and community. “Seeing the impact of the sabbatical last year was incredibly moving,” says Bombach, whose films have won awards at SXSW, Sundance, and festivals around the globe. “Offering time and space to reflect about our creative lives and connect on a deeper level is such a unique gift. I'm thrilled to continue to take part and see what another year of the program makes possible.”

Sabbatical co-founders Benjamin Wiessner (VP of Sales & Distribution at Vanishing Angle), Jake Abell (co-director, OIFF), and Jared LaCroix (co-director, OIFF) return to round out the facilitator team. The trio integrate their professional experiences as filmmakers, festival programmers, lab developers, and academics. 

The Ouray Film Sabbatical takes place in the beautiful town of Ouray, Colorado. Nestled in a box canyon high in the San Juan Mountains, Ouray is known as the Little Switzerland of America owing to the rugged beauty of the peaks that surround the town. Also, we have lots of hot springs. 

Applications for the Ouray Film Sabbatical remain open until October 5. Applicants can apply through FilmFreeway as well as through the OIFF website. Applicants from all roles of the film industry are encouraged to apply, including film production, curation, programming, film criticism, and academia.