Ouray Film Sabbatical Opens Applications for 2027 Cohort
The OURAY FILM SABBATICAL (OFS) is now receiving applications for its second annual cohort, which will gather in Ouray, Colorado, next January for four days of peer mentorship, rest, deep thinking, and play.
Following a highly successful inaugural program in 2026, the second sabbatical will preserve the same commitment to nurturing a diverse cohort of filmmakers, critics, film scholars, programmers, and curators. Established by Jake Abell and Jared LaCroix (co-directors of the Ouray Int. Film Festival) and Benjamin Wiessner (2026 SXSW Janet Pierson Champion Award winner, Short to Feature Lab co-founder with Jim Cummings), the second sabbatical will take place from January 9-12, 2027.
Unlike many filmmaker residencies and labs, OFS is less focused on project mentorship and instead provides resources, hospitality, and community to help fellows chart the next phases of careers in film production, distribution, curation, or criticism. Fellows receive lodging, airfare, and homemade meals throughout the experience.
“OFS is a place to unplug, pause, and do some soul searching in the company of incredible artists working in all areas of production and curation,” says LaCroix. “In our first cohort, we saw just how transformative this approach could be. So while we certainly offer project support, we also emphasize rest, play, cooking together in the kitchen, chess, and soaking in hot springs.”
Writer/director Elizabeth Rao, who participated in the inaugural cohort, wrote that OFS was "thoughtful and thought-provoking, nurturing and supportive, in a soul-deep kinda way. Cannot recommend it highly enough!" Rob Munday, Managing Editor of Short of the Week, similarly described how the sabbatical “not only helped reinforce my perspective on my work and where it might be heading, but also shifted how I think about life more broadly. Surrounded by mountain air, breathtaking views, homemade food, and genuinely wonderful people, it offered a reminder of the value of slowing down.”
2026 Sabbatical Fellows
The sabbatical works on a model of peer mentorship between the fellows and a group of three industry facilitators who join LaCroix, Wiessner, and Abell as resources for the sabbatical cohort. The 2027 sabbatical will see the return of documentary filmmaker Alexandria Bombach (On Her Shoulders, It’s Only Life After All, Netflix) as a guest facilitator. “Alexandria’s impact at the first sabbatical was even more inspiring than we could have imagined,” reports co-founder Jake Abell. “When we were determining which industry leaders to recruit for this year’s sabbatical, it was obvious that we wanted to invite Alexandria to return. We’re honored that they’ve accepted.” Two additional facilitators will be announced later in the summer.
A group of guest curators help to recruit and assess applications. For this second season, the sabbatical is proud to work with a pair of OFS alumni: Tim Kirkman (Loggerheads, Dear Jesse), representing scripted filmmakers, and Alejandra Vazquez (Going Varsity in Mariachi, Netflix) assessing documentary filmmaker applications.
“Tim and Alejandra represent everything we cherish about the sabbatical community,” says Wiessner. “They are extremely talented and open-minded artists, but they also embody collaboration and kindness in everything they do. We’re thrilled that they’ll be helping to sculpt this second sabbatical cohort. We can't wait to meet everyone!” A third curator will be announced this summer to compliment the leadership’s backgrounds in programming, festival development, and film scholarship.
Applicants can apply through FilmFreeway as well as through the festival website. You can learn more about the sabbatical through these articles from Rob Munday (Short of the Week) and Brian Tallerico (RogerEbert.com).