The inaugural Vail Film Festival, held April 1-4, 2004, drew over 5,000 attendees, and was heralded as the most successful first-year event in the history of Vail by Bill Jensen, COO of Vail Resorts, Rod Slifer, Mayor of Vail, and Kaye Ferry, President of the Vail Chamber and Business Association. The festival received praise in numerous film industry publications.