Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will open the 48th annual Denver Film Festival, taking place October 31 – November 9, 2025, with the lineup showcasing 136 feature-length films, documentaries and shorts.
Denver Film Festival (DFF)
The Denver Film Festival is the largest regional film festival in the Rocky Mountain region, bringing international cinema, filmmakers, virtual reality, immersive experiences and creative conversations to Colorado.
The Denver Film Festival takes place at four primary locations throughout the city of Denver, with dozens of locations hosting pop-up events to engage audiences in the Denver and Aurora Metro areas, as well as greater Colorado and its surrounding states.
Denver Film Festival (DFF) started in 1978 and takes place in Denver, CO, USA
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Wake Up Dead Man to Open 48th Denver Film Festival Lineup
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. (Netflix)
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NOMADLAND Kicks Off 43rd Denver Film Festival Lineup, NINE DAYS as Centerpiece Film
Frances McDormand in the film NOMADLAND. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2020 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved The 43rd Denver Film Festival (DFF43) kicks off tonight, Opening Night, October 22 with Searchlight’s NOMADLAND. The film will also receive DFF43’s Rare Pearl Award which will be accepted by director, Chloé Zhao, in a video presentation before the film screening. The Rare Pearl Award highlights a film whose beauty and uniqueness stand out as finest of the year. Recent Rare Pearl Award winners include Portrait of a Lady on Fire (DFF42) and Roma (DFF41).
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40th Denver Film Festival to Spotlight ‘LADY BIRD’, ‘I, TONYA’, ‘MOLLY’S GAME’
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Lady Bird[/caption]
Actress Greta Gerwig directorial debut Lady Bird starring Saoirse Ronan will kickoff the 40th Denver Film Festival which takes place November 1 to 12, 2017. I, Tonya, the Tonya Harding biopic, directed by Craig Gillespie, and starring Margot Robbie, will close out the festival on Saturday, November 11.
Other spotlight films include Submission directed by Richard Levine, starring Stanley Tucci and Kyra Sedgwick screening on Friday, November 3; and The Ballad of Lefty Brown directed by Jared Moshe, starring Bill Pullman and Peter Fonda will have a special “spotlight” screening on Wednesday, November 8.
Molly’s Game starring Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba in the directorial debut from writer Aaron Sorkin, is featured on the “Big Night” of the festival on Thursday, November 9.
And, on closing night, there will also be a red carpet matinee of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri by writer/director Martin McDonagh, starring Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson on Saturday, November 11.
Special Presentations
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME – Italy/France/Brazil/USA / Director: Luca Guadagnino Based on an acclaimed novel, the screenplay for this sensual and transcendent tale of first love from Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino was penned by none other than that master of exquisite longing, James Ivory CHAPPAQUIDDICK – USA / Director: John Curran How did one of the most powerful political dynasties in US history preserve its legacy in the aftermath of a tragic scandal? Directed by John Curran, this historical drama centers on the media maelstrom surrounding Chappaquiddick, as the 1969 car accident involving US Senator Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) and a young campaign worker (Kate Mara) came to be known. Ed Helms and Jim Gaffigan co-star. DARKEST HOUR – UK / Director: Joe Wright Gary Oldman stars in director Joe Wright’s thrilling fictionalized account of Winston Churchill’s first weeks in office during the early days of World War II. With the support of his wife of 31 years, Clemmie (Kristin Scott Thomas), the witty and brilliant Prime Minister must rally a nation to fight against incredible odds and change the course of world history forever. HUMAN FLOW – Germany / Director: Ai Weiwei In recent years, over 65 million people around the world have fled their homes to escape famine, climate change and war. This epic documentary journey through 23 countries by the internationally renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei gives powerful visual expression to both the staggering scale of the refugee crisis and its profoundly personal human impact. IN THE FADE (Aus dem nichts) – Germany/France / Director: Fatih Akin When her husband Nuri and young son Rocco are killed in a bomb attack, Katja begins a search for answers that makes the mourning process all the more painful and difficult. The trial of two neo-Nazi suspects pushes her to the edge, but there’s simply no alternative for the pursuit of justice. Diane Kruger won Best Actress at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival for her role in this raw, gripping drama. ISMAEL’S GHOSTS (Les fantomes d’smael) – France / Director: Arnaud Desplechin Mathieu Amalric, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Marion Cotillard star in this meta-romantic thriller from France about a filmmaker caught in a triangle between his current love and a woman from his past—who happens to have been presumed dead for 20 years. LAST FLAG FLYING – USA / Director: Richard Linklater Thirty years after they served together in Vietnam, three military vets (Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston and Laurence Fishburne) reunite for a different type of mission: to bury Doc’s son, a young Marine killed in Iraq. In this thoughtful and moving road movie, director Richard Linklater’s characters wrestle with the impact war has had on their lives. THE LEISURE SEEKER – Italy/France / Director: Paolo Virzì From acclaimed Italian filmmaker Paolo Virzì, this new take on an old genre—the road movie—stars Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland as a runaway couple on an unforgettable journey to recapture their passion for life and their love for each other in the faithful old RV they call the Leisure Seeker. NOVITIATE – USA / Director: Margaret Betts Melissa Leo (The Fighter, The Big Short) leads a strong cast of rising stars in this Vatican II–era drama about a rural Tennessean girl’s first true love—which just so happens to be for God. Granted a scholarship to Catholic school, young Cathleen is quickly drawn into the mysterious romanticism—eroticism, even—of a life devoted to worship and servitude. THE PARTY – UK / Director: Sally Potter The more is anything but the merrier in this brutally funny satire on the British upper crust. Politico Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) throws an insufferable dinner party whose every guest (Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer and Cillian Murphy among them) is worse than the last—all the better for the audience to bask in writer-director Sally Potter’s zinger-rich dialogue. SOLLERS POINT – USA / Director: Matthew Porterfield This gritty drama follows small-time drug dealer Keith from the confines of house arrest back onto the racially tense streets of Baltimore. Although he wants to make a new start, his father (Jim Belushi), a retired steelworker, has little patience with his unemployed son—and the allure of criminal life in his depressed neighborhood may be impossible to withstand. VIGILANTE: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF CURTIS SLIWA AND THE GUARDIAN ANGELS – USA / Director: David Wexler A forceful tribute to community self-defense, this documentary tells the remarkable story of Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, who vividly narrates his initiation into a life of vigilantism in the crime-ridden New York City of the ’70s and ’80s, touching on everything from the crack epidemic to his defense of infamous subway gunman Bernard Goetz.KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM FINALISTS
THE HAPPINESS OF THE WORLD – Poland / Director: Michał Rosa This period drama from Polish filmmaker Michał Rosa is set in 1939 in a village on the German-Polish border, where the residents of a tenement house endure the rising tension of the coming war. When a Warsaw journalist embeds himself in their building in search of an anonymous author, their secrets begin to surface, intertwined with a mysterious Jewish beauty named Róża. IN THE FADE– Germany/France / Director: Fatih Akin When her husband Nuri and young son Rocco are killed in a bomb attack, Katja begins a search for answers that makes the mourning process all the more painful and difficult. The trial of two neo-Nazi suspects pushes her to the edge, but there’s simply no alternative for the pursuit of justice. Diane Kruger won Best Actress at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival for her role in this raw, gripping drama. QUALITY TIME – Netherland/Norway / Director: Daan Bakker Dutch filmmaker Daan Bakker’s sly, strange tragicomedy about a quintet of 30-something misfits is told in five distinct parts—all employing their own inventive visual and narrative styles to convey a sense of the dislocation, dysfunction and absurdity dictating the lives of Koen, Stefaan, Kjell, Karel and Jef. RADIANCE – Japan/France / Director: Naomi Kawase In this heartfelt drama from Japan, Misako is a passionate translator of films for the visually impaired. At a screening, she meets Nakamori, an older photographer who is slowly losing his eyesight—but who can teach her to see what’s right in front of her, provided she’s open to the possibilities. THELMA – Norway/France/Denmark/Sweden / Director: Joachim Trier When shy, religious young Thelma goes to study at a university in Oslo, she begins to experience violent seizures that lead to an encounter with beautiful classmate Anja—while also revealing supernatural abilities. As the girls’ friendship deepens, both the terrifying implications of Thelma’s powers and tragic secrets from her past come to light in this paranormal thriller from Norway. UNDER THE TREE – Iceland / Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson When Baldwin and Inga’s next door neighbours complain that a tree in their backyard casts a shadow over their sundeck, what starts off as a typical spat between neighbours in the suburbs unexpectedly and violently spirals out of control.MAYSLES BROTHERS AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FINALISTS
32 PILLS: MY SISTER’S SUICIDE – USA / Director: Hope Litoff She’s beautiful, artistic, beloved—and she can’t stand to be alive. Documentary filmmaker Hope Litoff seeks to piece together the life and death of her sister Ruth; in the process, she gives a devastating account of the toll her investigation takes on her own mental health. ALPHAGO – USA / Director: Greg Kohs The ancient Chinese game called Go is said to have more board configurations than there are atoms in the universe. This fascinating documentary takes viewers from the coding terminals of Google DeepMind in London to a tournament in Seoul, where a legendary Go master is set to compete against a computer program in an epic battle of wits: can the human brain outsmart artificial intelligence? DID YOU WONDER WHO FIRED THE GUN? – USA / Director: Travis Wilkerson Filmmaker Travis Wilkerson turns the camera on his own family to expose a dark secret in this unflinching personal documentary. Returning to his hometown of Dothan, Alabama, he discovers that his great-grandfather, a white supremacist, once shot and killed a black man but was never charged with the murder—and that any historical trace of his victim is gone. FACES PLACES – France / Director: JR, Agnès Varda At 89 years old, Agnès Varda, one of the leading figures of the French New Wave, teamed up with acclaimed 33-year-old French photographer JR to co-direct this enchanting documentary-meets-road movie. As they travel around France in JR’s truck producing large-scale photographic portraits of the locals they meet along the way, they reveal the humanity in their subjects—and themselves. NO MAN’S LAND– USA / Director: David Byars Director-cinematographer David Byars had remarkable access to the protesters occupying Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge during their 41-day armed standoff with federal authorities in 2016. This gripping documentary reveals the inner workings of the insurrection as it examines what draws Americans to the concept of revolution. STRAD STYLE – USA / Director: Stefan Avalos Meet Danny Houck—a down-on-his-luck, Stradivarius-obsessed recluse in rural Ohio who has somehow convinced a famous European concert violinist that he can make a copy of one of the world’s rarest and most valuable violins. A hilariously poignant and suspenseful documentary about the true meaning of chutzpah.AMERICAN INDEPENDENT NARRATIVE AWARD FINALISTS
DISCREET – USA/Brazil / Director: Travis Mathews After years in hiding and struggling to control his demons, an eccentric drifter returns home and discovers that his childhood abuser, the center of his pain, is still alive. GOLDEN EXITS – USA / Director: Alex Ross Perry Writer-director Alex Ross Perry (The Color Wheel, SDFF34) explores the torment of modern domestic life, with a fabulous ensemble cast—including Mary-Louise Parker, Jason Schwartzman, Chloë Sevigny, Keith Poulson and the Beastie Boys’ Adam Horovitz—on hand to embrace both the dramatic and darkly comedic sides of despair. THE MISOGYNISTS – USA / Director: Onur Tukel This dark, claustrophobic satire stars Dylan Baker (Happiness) as Cameron, a lonely businessman celebrating Trump’s election in a hotel room after a bitter separation from his wife of 35 years. As the night progresses, friends, colleagues and strangers come and go, debating politics and what it means to be an American—among them a pair of prostitutes facing an existential crisis of their own. MR. ROOSEVELT – USA / Director: Noël Wells Comedian Noël Wells (Saturday Night Live, Master of None) wrote, directed and stars in this charming comedy. Like Wells, Emily has racked up millions of YouTube hits for her video sketches. But unlike Wells, she can’t quite make it in Los Angeles. When she receives news of a death in the family, she rushes back to Austin to find her ex-boyfriend—and everything else—has changed. THE STRANGE ONES – USA / Directors: Christopher Radcliff, Lauren Wolkstein A young man and a boy travel by car through a wooded American landscape. Who are they? Where are they going? Are they on the run? The boy seems disturbed, haunted by memories of nameless violence, and the mood is one of foreboding—but the more we learn, the less we understand in this artful coming-of-age mystery. THIRST STREET – France/USA / Director: Nathan Silver While on layover in Paris, a lonely American flight attendant has a rendezvous with a seedy nightclub bartender and becomes tangled in a web of misunderstandings, masochistic tendencies, & unrequited amour fou in this homage to the erotic dramas of 1970s Europe from returning fest guest Nathan Silver (Actor Martinez, DFF39).TRUE GRIT BEST COLORADO FEATURE FILM AWARD FINALISTS
COLORADO FEATURE FILMS
AMY & SOPHIA – UK/USA / Director: Adam Lipsius An unlikely friendship forms when two troubled girls, haunted by their past, forge a shared future by using art as an escape from the present in this magical-realist drama. GNAW – USA / Director: Haylar Garcia Jennifer Conrad is a small-town girl starting over in the big city. Fleeing an abusive relationship, all she wants is a chance to become whole again. But that’s hard to do when something is eating at you while you sleep—literally. This horror flick by Colorado filmmaker Haylar Garcia delves with equal gusto into paranormal and psychological phenomena. HOME TRUTH – USA / Directors: Katia Maguire, April Hayes In 1999, Colorado mother Jessica Gonzales experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when her three young daughters were killed after being abducted by their father. Determined to make sure their deaths were not in vain, Gonzales became an advocate for domestic-violence victims, taking her case to the US Supreme Court and beyond. At once troubling and inspiring, this documentary tells her story. HONDROS – USA/Iraq/Liberia/Libya / Director: Greg Campbell Pulitzer Prize-finalist photographer Chris Hondros spent a decade documenting wars in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Liberia and Libya, until he was killed while on assignment for Getty Images in 2011. Directed by fellow journalist and lifelong friend Greg Campbell, this eloquent documentary pays tribute to the late photojournalist’s courageous and compassionate career. JONBENET’S TRICYCLE – USA / Director: Andrew Novick Andrew Novick is a Mile High legend as (among other things) an obsessive collector. He reveals some of his strangest acquisitions—including JonBenet Ramsey’s tricycle—in this quirky autobiographical documentary, which is also an investigation of the human urge to possess what we value and of the impact pop culture and the media have on our experience of tragedy. LIYANA – Swaziland/USA/Qatar / Directors: Aaron Kopp, Amanda Kopp The lives and extraordinary imaginations of five orphans at a storytelling workshop in Swaziland are captured in this enchanting, moving and highly acclaimed documentary from Colorado filmmakers Aaron and Amanda Kopp. MOVING PARTS – Trinidad and Tobago/USA / Director: Emilie Upczak In this unique personal drama of human trafficking—written and directed by Boulder native Emilie Upczak—Zhenzhen follows her brother to Trinidad and Tobago with the help of a smuggler. When her new restaurant job proves dangerously unpleasant, a local art gallery owner helps her fight to secure her future. WALDEN: LIFE IN THE WOODS – USA / Director: Alex Harvey Shot on location in Colorado, this radical Western re-imagining of Thoreau’s eponymous classic interlaces three narratives that take place over 24 hours to consider the trappings of modern life and the unlikely heroes who dream of escape.COLORADO SHORT FILMS
CHOCOLATE SPOKES – USA / Directors: Brendan Leonard CHOWDER – USA / Director: Justin Tyrrell, Travis Lindner THE DAY BEFORE – USA / Directors: Geoff Marslett DIVING MONKEYS – USA / Director: Elizabeth Henry DREAMSPOOK – FEAR IN LOVE – USA / Directors: Joseph Kolean FED TO FIRE – USA / Director: Joseph Dasteel FINAL FOUR – USA / Directors: Dario Ortega MRS. DRAKE – USA / Director: Caitlin FitzGerald OH, OPHELIA – USA / Directors: Dakota Nanton THE OUTSIDER – USA / Director: Scott Takeda THE ROMANTIC METHOD – USA / Directors: Maggie Hart UNSEEN – USA / Director: Kaleb Kohart
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‘ONE CHANCE’ ‘CODE BLACK’ Among Top Winners of 2013 Starz Denver Film Festival
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ONE CHANCE[/caption]
The 36th Starz Denver Film Festival (SDFF) announced its jury and audience award winners for the 2013 festival, which ran from November 6 to November 17 in Denver, Colorado, and featured more than 270 films from 44 countries. ONE CHANCE directed by David Frankel and produced by Simon Cowell, won the Starz People’s Choice Awards for Best Film, and CODE BLACK directed by Ryan McGarry won the Starz People’s Choice Awards for Best Documentary. ONE CHANCE is described as a classic underdog story of the sensitive, artistic kid triumphing over adversity, this gentle comedy reads like Billy Elliot but is based on the life of cellphone salesman Paul Potts, who stepped on stage for Britain’s Got Talent and amazed the world. CODE BLACK follows a group of young, energetic doctors battling an overburdened health-care system while training in the trauma bay at Los Angeles County General Hospital.
STARZ PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Narrative Feature
Winner: “ONE CHANCE”
Director: David Frankel
Producers: Simon Cowell, Michael Menchel, Kris Thykier, Harvey Weinstein, Brad Weston
Writer: Justin Zackham
Cast: Julie Walters, Colm Meaney, Mackenzie Crook, James Corden, Jemima Rooper, Alexandra Roach
Documentary Feature
Winner: “CODE BLACK”
Director: Ryan McGarry
Producer: Linda Goldstein Knowlton
Writers: Ryan McGarry, Joshua Altman
Short Film
Winner: “WHAT DO WE HAVE IN OUR POCKETS?”
Director/Writer: Goran Dukic
Producer: Mikal Portnoi Lazarev
Cast: Azazel Jacobs, Diaz Jacobs
JURIED AWARDS
The Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Foreign Feature Film
Winner: “A TOUCH OF SIN,” (China) directed by Jia Zhangke
The jury stated: “We salute Jia Zhangke for writing, directing and producing this startling collection of stories featuring masterful imagery, deeply human characters and searing social relevance. Created against unimaginable odds, this film represents an unprecedented level of commitment.”
Special Jury Award: “THE FIFTH SEASON” (Belgium), directed Peter Brosens and Jessica Hope Woodworth
The jury stated: “Chosen for its visionary creation of an imaginary, yet vivid and fully realized world inspired by our current sociological and environmental challenges.”
The Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary Film
Winner: THE SEARCH FOR EMAK BAKIA, directed by Oskar Alegria
The jury stated: “A film that is impeccably crafted yet still captures the freewheeling spirit of artistic discovery. Beautifully composed, formally innovative, it is at once a documentation of a work of experimental cinema and a work of art in itself.”
The New Directors Award
Winner: “HIDE YOUR SMILING FACES,” directed by Daniel Patrick Carbone
The jury stated: “To Daniel Patrick Carbone for Hide Your Smiling Faces, an affecting and nuanced mediation on coming of age. With a confident visual style complimented by grounded performances from his young actors, Carbones film proves him an exciting new voice in American independent film.”
The Spike Lee Student Filmmaker Award
Winner: “UNORTHODOX,” directed by Patrick Waismann
The jury stated: “Unorthodox is an unexpected look at family, religion, punk rock, and hot dogs, told through the eyes of a kid warming up for his bar mitzvah. The distinct visual style, engaging direction, and truthful performances unravel a truly unique coming-of-age tale.”
The ASIFA-Colorado Best Animated Short Award
Winner: “VIRTUOSO VIRTUAL,” directed by Maja Oschmann and Thomas Stellmach
Liberty Global International Student Short Award
Winner: “NOAH” (Canada), directed by Patrick Cederberg and Walter Woodman
The jury stated: “Noah broke out of conventional form with an engaging story that succinctly portrays the fragmentation of our technology-laden lives. Through clever direction, well-executed compositing, and grounded performances, Noah reveals a rapidly dissolving relationship in real-time. Taking place entirely on a computer desktop and an iPhone, Noah explores the disconnect caused by the immediacy of social media and modern communication. This non-traditional storytelling forces you to experience the story along with the characters, in a way that feels eerily familiar.”
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Feature Screenplay
Winner: “FALFURRIAS,” written by Edward Tyndall
The jury stated: “A young woman living in Mexico makes a perilous passage into Texas after learning her sister is afflicted with cancer and receiving no medical care. Her journey proves to be a harrowing mission that tests a sister’s unflinching sense of duty and love. Tyndall’s script exhibits an ever-deepening compassionate story that poignantly explores the tangled aspirations of the human spirit.”
Shorts Screenplay
Winner: “SLIP KID,” written by Stephen G. Eoannou
The jury stated: “Set in the Buffalo, New York in 1979, this gripping drama centers on the murder of a priest in a close-knit Greek community. Driven by a guilt-ridden 16-year-old protagonist, this compelling crime tale charts the tragic consequences of malevolence. Eoannou’s script exhibits a true mastery of character and dialogue within a perpetually engaging narrative structure.”
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2013 Starz Denver Film Festival Unveils Full Festival Lineup
20 Lies, 4 Parents and a Little EggThe 36th Starz Denver Film Festival (SDFF), taking place November 6 to17, 2013, announced its full Festival line-up. SDFF 2013 will screen more than 250 features, shorts, music videos and student films, along with Denver Film Society’s signature programs such as Cinema Q, Reel Social Club and Women + Film. This year, SDFF shines a spotlight on cinema from the Netherlands, known for its wildly diverse range of cinematic treasures. Fourteen Dutch films are included in the Festival line-up.
FOCUS ON A NATIONAL CINEMA: NETHERLANDS
Each year the festival shines the spotlight on one particular country in order to illuminate its range of cinematic treasures. Dutch cinema, for the most part, does not find its way onto the screens of U.S. Theaters. However, the Netherlands hosts two of the most important film festivals in the world: the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. The EYE Film Institute on the banks of the IJ waterfront in Amsterdam is a film exhibition, collections, and education wonder. Dutch cinema is wildly diverse: popular comedies dominate the local box office, off-kilter narratives punctuate major film festivals’ competition sections, and lush dramas find their way around the world. We’ve brought some of all of that to you.
Feature Films:
Borgman – DIRECTOR Alex van Wamrdam
The Girl and Death – DIRECTOR Jos Stelling
The Marathon – DIRECTOR Diederick Koopal
Matterhorn – DIRECTOR Diederik Ebbinge
The Resurrection of a Bastard – DIRECTOR Guido Van Driel
Tricked – DIRECTOR PAUL VERHOEVEN
20 Lies, 4 Parents and a Little Egg – DIRECTOR Hanro Smitsman
Warriors, Preceded by: Symbiosis – DIRECTOR Mijke de Jong
Wrong Time Wrong Place – DIRECTOR John Appel
Short Films:
Amstel – DIRECTOR Jaap van Eyck
The Animation of Man – DIRECTOR Amanda Nedermeijer
Balance – DIRECTOR Mark Ram
Chopper – DIRECTORS Lars Damoiseaux and Frederik Palmers
Sevilla – DIRECTOR Bram Schouw
CINEMA Q
Queer voices. Queer visions. Queer lives. Experience the best in films that convey every angle of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer rainbow through our Cinema Q program during the festival, as well as year-round.
Feature Films:
In The Name Of – DIRECTOR Malgorzata Szumowska
20 Lies, 4 Parents and a Little Egg – DIRECTOR Hanro Smitsman
Vic & Flo Saw a Bear – DIRECTOR Denis Côté
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? – DIRECTOR Arvin Chen
WOMEN + FILM
Women + Film is a year-round program of the Denver Film Society that not only celebrates the art and achievements of women filmmakers around the world, but also brings together an array of scholars, civil- and human-rights advocates, community leaders, and concerned members of the public to shine the spotlight on social issues through cinema and the dialogue it stimulates.
Feature Films:
American Mustang – DIRECTOR Monty Miranda
The Animal Project – DIRECTOR Ingrid Veninger
August: Osage County – DIRECTOR John Wells
Lion Ark – DIRECTOR Tim Philips
Brave Miss World – DIRECTOR Cecelia Peck
Lovely Louise – DIRECTOR Bettina Oberli
Mother, I Love You – DIRECTOR Janis Nords
The One Who Loves You – DIRECTOR Katharyn Grant
Papusza – DIRECTORS Joanna Kos and Kryzsztof Krauze
Salma – DIRECTOR Kim Longinotto
Sarah Prefers to Run – DIRECTOR Chloe Robichaud
The Truth About Emanuel – DIRECTOR Francesca Gregorini
SPOTLIGHT ON COLORADO
Colorado’s filmmaking scene continues to grow at an unprecedented pace. More often than not, filmmakers are choosing to stay and work in the state rather than moving to Los Angeles or New York. This year’s Starz Denver Film Festival features a host of locally produced feature-length films and shorts, including an amazing 3-D documentary, and six shorts from the Denver Actor Project.
Feature Films:
American Mustang – DIRECTOR Monty Miranda
An American Terror – DIRECTOR Haylar Garcia
EAT – DIRECTOR Jimmy Weber
Hanna Ranch – DIRECTOR Mitch Dickman
The One Who Loves You – DIRECTOR Katharyn Grant
Ring of Water – DIRECTOR Joel Stangle
Torn Cloth – DIRECTORS Tate Zandstra and Phil Brown
Uranium Drive-In – DIRECTOR Suzan Beraza
Short Films:
Breathe – DIRECTOR Clifton Archuleta
Capstone’s Oak – DIRECTOR Will Phelps
Caretaker – DIRECTOR Tony Gault
Chasseur – DIRECTOR Christopher Soren Kelly
The Diver – DIRECTOR Damon Mohl
Fluffy the Flying Fish – DIRECTOR Ryan Charmatz
The Happy Go-Lucky Sunshine Twins – DIRECTOR Rylan Rafferty
Love to Hate – DIRECTORS Evan and Adam Nix
More – DIRECTOR Daniel Beahm
Tongue Twister Variations– DIRECTORS Dan Boord and Luis Valdovino
Music Videos:
The Blue Riders (12-6-10) – DIRECTOR Rett Rogers
Esme Patterson (My Young Man) – DIRECTOR Rett Rogers
The Epilogues (The Fallout) – DIRECTOR Dillon Novak
Frances England (Day You Were Born) – DIRECTOR Antonina Clarke
Ian Cooke (Cassowary & Fruit Bat) – DIRECTOR Adam Singer
The Denver Actor Project:
Brought to life by producer, writer, and director Brad Stabio, the Denver Actor Project showcases the talents of local actors as they perform a variety of monologues from films and plays juxtaposed with scenes of their own creation. Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted, find six of these works scattered throughout the festival screening in front of these films:
Jordan Leigh – screening prior to A Field in England
Tracy Shaffer – screening prior to The Truth About Emanuel
Chris Crundy – screening prior to Cold Turkey
Paul Page – screening prior to In the Name Of
Amie MacKenzie – screening prior to Northwest
Jeff Kosloski – screening prior to The Resurrection of a Bastard
ENVIRONMENT IN FOCUS
Environmental advocacy has become a powerful cultural touchstone; as such, it is a core concern for the 2013 Starz Denver Film Festival. The Environment in Focus program features seven cutting-edge documentaries that have the ability to inspire audiences to make a difference through their interactions with the natural world.
Hanna Ranch – DIRECTOR Mitch Dickman
Eternal Amazon – DIRECTOR Belisario Franca
Gold Fever – DIRECTORS Tommy Haines, JT Haines and Andrew Sherburne
If You Build It – DIRECTOR Patrick Creadon
Lion Ark – DIRECTOR Tim Phillips
Uranium Drive-In – DIRECTOR Suzan Beraza
MUSIC VIDEO MIXTAPE VOL. 1
New to the festival this year, SDFF presents a selection of the best new music videos from around the world. This compilation features funny, provocative, and mesmerizing videos with a wide range of genres, featuring local, international, indie, and industry-staple talent. These beg to be seen on the big screen and heard at full volume in surround sound. You might just find yourself dancing in your seat. Highlights include Placebo, “Too Many Friends,” narrated by Bret Easton Ellis; The Epilogues, “The Fall Out”; MGMT, “Your Life Is a Lie”; and Nine Inch Nails, “Came Back Haunted,” directed by David Lynch. Tuesday, Nov. 12, 6:45 p.m., Sie FilmCenter & Thursday, Nov. 14, 8:45 p.m. at Sie FilmCenter.
MILLION DOLLAR MOVIES
From the ’60s to the 80s, numerous TV stations across the country showed late-night movies under the moniker “Million Dollar Movies.” From Night of the Living Dead to The Night of the Hunter. From House of Wax to House of 1000 Corpses. From Holy Mountain toHoly Motors. From The Princess Bride to Princess Mononoke. It is in this tradition that we bring back “Million Dollar Movies” as a part of SDFF’s midnight programming.
An American Terror – DIRECTOR Haylar Garcia
Bushido Man – DIRECTOR Takanori Tsujimoto
The Demon’s Rook – DIRECTOR James Sizemore
EAT – DIRECTOR Jimmy Weber
She Wolf – DIRECTOR Tamae Garateguy
PANELS
Kickstart Your Dream
So, you want to make a movie, but have no idea how to raise the money. Crowdsource fundraising has opened a world of new possibilities. Many Denver filmmakers have funded their projects through Kickstarter, and the Denver Film Society used Kickstarter to help finance the purchase of digital projectors for the Sie FilmCenter, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, and Film on the Rocks. Panel moderator Robert Denerstein will lead a nuts-and-bolts, in-depth conversation covering the basics of running a successful crowdsource campaign. How promising is crowdsource funding? What are the keys to success? The road to fundraising success has taken a new turn, but it’s best traveled with good directions and an awareness of pitfalls. Our panel will help. Saturday, Nov. 9, 11:30 a.m. at Sie FilmCenter.
Women + Film
Animal rightsactivists hold the idea that all animals are entitled to the possession of their own lives, and that one of their most basic interests, that of not suffering, should be championed by all. SDFF 36 presents two thought provoking films on the subject. Lion Ark,features the world’s most ambitious and daring animal rescue, in which 25 lions are airlifted to freedom to a preserve in Colorado. American Mustang, is an artful blend of documentary and a character-driven narrative about the majestic wild horses of the American West-revealed as never before in stereoscopic 3D. Both stories present the intricate interplay between animals and man, providing insights and lessons for us all. These films will stir you into action by raising awareness of the issues these animals face. Join our panelists and festival guests as they talk about their passions and fierce dedication to making a difference in the lives of animals world over. Saturday, Nov. 9, 12 p.m. at Sie FilmCenter.
The Land That Feeds Us Presented by Hanna Ranch
Hanna Ranch, an “Environment in Focus” documentary selection, introduces us to holistic ranching pioneer Kirk Hanna. Dubbed the original “eco-cowboy,” his legacy lives on in the sustainable ranching movement – which is up against grim statistics. Over the last 30 years, half a million ranchers have quit or gone out of business due to relentless encroachment of development and misuse of land. Moderated by Culinary Director of Root Down and Linger Daniel Asher, this in-depth discussion over brunch will tackle the issues facing the agriculture industry in our country today – how can it withstand continual loss? Who will be at the forefront of the sustainable agriculture movement? Who will be the stewards of the land that feeds us? Panelists: Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation, Food Inc., Command and Control), Chris Pague (The Nature Conservancy), Matthew Jones (Slow Food USA), Dale Lasater (Lasater Grasslands Beef); Brunch by: Linger & Root Down Sunday, Nov. 10, 12 p.m. at RedLine.
How To Package And Sell Your Film
Join the best film agents in the business as they discuss what is often the hardest part of making a film: the financing. Robert Denerstein moderates a conversation about best practices for packaging, financing, and selling a film, and how to navigate the ever-changing marketplace. This is the third in a quarterly series of Industry Panels supporting professional development in the Colorado filmmaking community. Saturday, Nov. 16, 12 p.m. at Sie FilmCenter.
Are Movies Breaking Bad?
Lines along various parts of the entertainment/arts continuum seem to be blurring on a daily basis. Long gone are the days when watching a movie meant buying a ticket and sitting in a Theater. But over the past decade or so, series-most aired on premium cable channels-have accomplished what many criticize the movies for not doing: focusing on characters, developing compelling stories, and dominating the national conversation. Long- form storytelling even has spread to services such as Netflix, which provide on-demand streaming as well as disc rentals. Panel moderator Robert Denerstein leads a discussion about whether the best of television now rivals and possibly surpasses movies in both relevance and artistry. Our panelists also will consider which form penetrates more deeply into the national consciousness. Were you more likely to hear watercooler talk about such cable series asBreaking Bad, Homeland, and Game of Thrones than about Argo, last year’s Oscar winner for best picture? Our panel will examine seismic shifts in the entertainment business, and chime in on whether movies are keeping pace. And, yes, we’re talking content, not just delivery systems. Sunday, Nov. 17, 12:15 p.m. at Sie FilmCenter.
Medicine And The Movies: An Eye-Opening Look At America’s Health-Care Crisis
Two vitally important festival documentaries-Code Black and Remote Medical Area-provide revealing looks at different aspects of the U.S. health- care system, emergency-room treatment and medical care for underserved rural populations. These films-both accompanied by their directors-will serve as a springboard for a wide-ranging discussion about health care from the perspective of those who have witnessed the front-line dedication of physicians who serve highly stressed communities. Amid often-acrimonious arguments over Obamacare, it’s essential to learn from the people who’ve seen the system at its best and at its worst. Local health-care officials also will join the filmmakers and panel moderator Robert Denerstein for a discussion that reminds us that documentaries can bring important issues into sharper focus while keeping us in touch with the human face behind the policy and politics that typically tend to dominate public debate. Sunday, Nov. 17, 2:15 p.m. at Sie FilmCenter.
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2013 Starz Denver Film Festival Galas Lineup; ‘LABOR DAY’ to Open, ‘AT MIDDLETON’ to Close
AT MIDDLETONThe 36th Starz Denver Film Festival (SDFF) taking place November 6 to 17, 2013, opens November 6 with LABOR DAY, directed by Jason Reitman and starring a standout cast of Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet and Gattlin Griffith. Alexander Payne’s road trip dramedy, NEBRASKA, will be center stage for Big Night on November 9. AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY directed by John Wells will anchor the newest Red Carpet Presentation for Centerpiece on November 15. Inaugural George Hickenlooper Award (2012) recipient Andy Garcia returns with his latest AT MIDDLETON, which costars Vera Farmiga to close the Festival on November 16.
SDFF Special Presentations include: AMERICAN MUSTANG, THE ARMSTRONG LIE, DAYS AND NIGHTS, GLORIA, HANNA RANCH, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, ONE CHANCE, PHILOMENA, TIM’S VERMEER and THE TRUTH ABOUT EMANUEL.
RED CARPET PRESENTATIONS
Opening Night, November 6
LABOR DAY – (DIRECTOR Jason Reitman, PRODUCERS Jason Blumenfeld, Helen Estabrook, Lianne Halfon, Jason Reitman, Russel Smith WRITER Jason Reitman CAST Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet, Gattlin Griffith) – Labor Day centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler (Griffith), who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele (Winslet) while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers (Brolin), a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives. Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Big Night, November 9
NEBRASKA – (DIRECTOR Alexander Payne, PRODUCERS Albert Berger, Doug Mankoff, George Parra, Julie M. Thompson, Ron Yerxa WRITER Bob Nelson CAST Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb) – After receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father (Dern) thinks he’s struck it rich, and wrangles his son (Forte) into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. Shot in black and white across four states, Nebraska tells the stories of family life in the heartland of America.Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Centerpiece, November 15
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY – (DIRECTOR John Wells, PRODUCERS George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Steve Traxler, Harvey Weinstein WRITER Tracy Letts CAST Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ewan McGregor, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Sam Shepard, Chris Cooper) -August: Osage County tells the dark, hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name made its Broadway debut in December 2007 after premiering at Chicago’s legendary Steppenwolf Theatre earlier that year. It continued with a successful international run and was the winner of five Tony Awards in 2008, including Best Play.August: Osage County is directed by John Wells (The Company Men), who received the SDFF 25 Mayor’s Career Achievement
Award. Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
Closing Night, November 16
AT MIDDLETON – (DIRECTOR Adam Rodgers, PRODUCERS Andy Garcia, Glenn German, Sig Libowitz WRITERS Glenn German, Adam Rodgers CAST Vera Farmiga, Andy Garcia, Taissa Farmiga, Spencer Lofranco, Tom Skerritt, Peter Riegert) – The inaugural George Hickenlooper Award (2012) winner Andy Garcia returns to SDFF with his latest film directed by Adam Rodgers. Edith (Vera Farmiga) is a strong-willed, free-spirited and successful businesswoman who’s taking her hyper- achieving, 18 year-old daughter Audrey (Taissa Farmiga) on a tour of potential colleges. George (Garcia) is a buttoned-up heart surgeon accompanying his not very motivated son Conrad (Lofranco) (also 18), on a similar tour. Their paths cross at idyllic Middleton College, nestled in the picturesque Pacific Northwest. At first, all things point to this being the kids’ story… but as the parents’ well intentioned support backfires hilariously-so much so that they are booted from the very campus tour they traveled so far to attend – it quickly becomes clear that George and Edith are the heart of the film. Now banished together, these two time-pressed, responsible adults suddenly find themselves with a free day in the midst of a beautiful setting – and the hours they subsequently share change their lives as they play out a singular “college tour” all their own. Equal parts charming, romantic and heartfelt, At Middleton is about letting go and coming together – the story of two people who, through a remarkable, unexpected connection, are able to glimpse the potential that true romance can offer. As Edith and George eventually realize, in ways both comic and heartbreaking, their adventure proves to be “the greatest half-day” of their lives. Courtesy of Anchor Bay Films
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
AMERICAN MUSTANG – (DIRECTOR Monty Miranda PRODUCER Henry Ansbacher CAST Daryl Hannah, Alison Eastwood, Julia Putnam, Jim Neubert, Luke Neubert) – In an artful blend of exquisite nature documentary and character driven narrative, the majestic wild horses of the American West are revealed in stereoscopic 3D as never before. The wonder in a girl’s eye pulls us into a drama unfolding still on hundreds of millions of acres of public land. The battle lines have long been carved into very the landscape, and the players are deeply entrenched. Yet as the subtle choreography that has evolved over thousands of years begins again before our eyes, it is captivating. The intricate dance between a man and an wild horse presents lessons for us all, even the battle hardened special interest groups fighting over the place of the American Mustang.
THE ARMSTRONG LIE – (DIRECTOR Alex Gibney PRODUCERS Alex Gibney, Frank Marshall, Matthew Tolmach WRITER Alex Gibney CAST Lance Armstrong) – In 2009 Alex Gibney was hired to make a film about Lance Armstrong’s comeback to cycling. The project was shelved when the doping scandal erupted, and re-opened after Armstrong’s confession. The Armstrong Lie picks up in 2013 and presents a riveting, insider’s view of the unraveling of one of the most extraordinary stories in the history of sports. As Lance Armstrong himself says: “I didn’t live a lot of lies, but I lived one big one.”
DAYS AND NIGHTS – (DIRECTOR Christian Camargo PRODUCERS Barbara Romer, Juliet Rylance WRITER Christian Camargo CAST Katie Holmes, Allison Janney, Jean Reno, Christian Camargo, William Hurt) – Reckless desire wreaks havoc over Memorial Day weekend as a family confronts the volatile and fragile nature of love. A modern retelling of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” set in rural New England.
GLORIA – (DIRECTOR Sebastia´n Lelio PRODUCERS Luis Collar, Juan de Dios Larrai´n, Pablo Larrai´n WRITERS Sebastia´n Lelio, Gonzalo Maza CAST Paulina Garci´a, Sergio Herna´ndez, Diego Fontecilla, Fabiola Zamora, Coca Guazzini) – Gloria is 58 years old and still feels young. Making a party out of her loneliness, she fills her nights seeking love in ballrooms for single adults. This fragile happiness changes the day she meets Rodolfo. Their intense passion, to which Gloria gives everything as she feels it may well be her last, leaves her dancing between hope and despair. Gloria will have to pull herself together and find a new strength to realize that, in the last act of her life, she could burn brighter than ever.
HANNA RANCH – (DIRECTOR Mitch Dickman PRODUCERS Karl Kister, Eric Schlosser) – Mitch Dickman’s documentary is an intimate portrait of three generations of a Colorado ranching family and their once prominent way of life. It focuses on “eco-cowboy” Kirk Hanna, who was featured in the book Fast Food Nation as an early adopter of Holistic Resource Management practices, fights to preserve his land in the face of urban encroachment, environmental concerns and family discord.
MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM – (DIRECTOR Justin Chadwick PRODUCERS Anant Singh, David M. Thompson WRITER William Nicholson CAST Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Jamie Bartlett, Lindiwe Matshikiza) – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is based on South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Idris Elba (Prometheus) stars as Nelson Mandela, Naomie Harris (Skyfall) stars as Winnie Mandela, with Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl)directing.
ONE CHANCE – (DIRECTOR David Frankel PRODUCERS Simon Cowell, Michael Menchel, Kris Thykier, Harvey Weinstein, Brad Weston WRITER Justin Zackham CAST Julie Walters, Colm Meaney, Mackenzie Crook, James Corden, Jemima Rooper, Alexandra Roach) – Most people only dream about becoming a famous superstar, but against all odds one man from Wales did just that. This is the story of his journey. One Chance is the remarkable and inspirational true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night. Paul became an instant YouTube phenomenon after being chosen by Simon Cowell for ‘Britain’s Got Talent.’ Wowing audiences worldwide with his phenomenal voice, Paul went on to win ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and the hearts of millions.
PHILOMENA – (DIRECTOR Stephen Frears PRODUCERS Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward, Gabrielle Tana WRITER Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope CAST Judi Dench, Steve Coogan) – Falling pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena was sent to the convent of Roscrea to be looked after as a “fallen woman.” When her baby was only a toddler, he was taken away by the nuns for adoption in America. Philomena spent the next fifty years searching for him but with no success. Then she met Martin Sixsmith, a world-weary political journalist who happened to be intrigued by her story. Together they set off to America on a journey that would not only reveal the extraordinary story of Philomena’s son, but also create an unexpectedly close bond between Philomena and Martin. The film is a compelling narrative of human love and loss that ultimately celebrates life.
TIM’S VERMEER – (DIRECTOR Teller PRODUCERS Penn Jillette, Farley Ziegler CAST Tim Jenison, Penn Jillette, Colin Blakemore, David Hockney, Martin Mull, Philip Steadman) – Tim Jenison, a Texas based inventor, attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in all art: How did 17th century Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer (“Girl with a Pearl Earring”) manage to paint so photo-realistically-150 years before the invention of photography? The epic research project Jenison embarks on to test his theory is as extraordinary as what he discovers. Spanning a decade, Jenison’s adventure takes him to Delft, Holland, where Vermeer painted his masterpieces; on a pilgrimage to the North coast of Yorkshire to meet artist David Hockney; and eventually even to Buckingham Palace, to see the Queen’s Vermeer.
THE TRUTH ABOUT EMANUEL – (DIRECTOR Francesca Gregorini PRODUCER Matt R. Brady WRITER Francesca Gregorini CAST Jessica Biel, Alfred Molina, Aneurin Barnard, Kaya Scodelario, Frances O’Connor, Jimmi Simpson) – Emanuel (Scodelario), a troubled girl, becomes preoccupied with her mysterious, new neighbor (Biel), who bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother. In offering to babysit her newborn, Emanuel unwittingly enters a fragile, fictional world, of which she becomes the gatekeeper.
