The buzz, by now, has become deafening for certain titles that began their year on the festival circuit and have now wound their way to Denver theaters — think “Past Lives,” “Asteroid City,” and “The Barbie Movie” — in advance of expected Academy Award nominations.
But while there’s been plenty to see, there’s nothing quite like the Denver Film Festival, arguably the largest and most audience-friendly film event in the region. There are competitive one-offs and world premieres at this year’s 46th installment, but cinephiles will also have the chance to check out features and documentaries they’ve been hearing about since debuting at Sundance and other industry-standard events in Telluride and Toronto earlier this year.
Here’s what you need to know going into this year’s Denver Film Fest, produced by the nonprofit Denver Film, which runs Nov. 3-12 at venues around the Mile High City.
- This year features more than 180 titles including narrative features, documentaries and shorts. Tickets for individual screenings are on sale now, and some events are sold out. Single tickets to regular screenings are $17, special presentations are $30, panels are $10, and parties are (generally) $25. See the full lineup and buy passes at denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival/dff46.
- The fest-headquarters is at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave., with validated free parking on-site. Buy tickets there or call 720-381-0813. The Sie’s cozy lobby is the place for various events and mixers. The festival is also screening titles at the AMC 9 + Co 10, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Botanic Gardens, MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater, and Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s recently renovated Infinity Theater.
- In addition to red carpet presentations of “American Fiction” (Nov. 3), “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story” (Nov. 7), “The Boy and the Heron” (Nov. 8), and “I.S.S.” (Nov. 11), there will be a special focus on Italian cinema, a robust lineup of documentaries and shorts, Q&As and workshops, panels, and the annual Colorado Spotlight program.
- Denver Film Festival is usually less about star power and more about deeply curated screenings and discussions with directors, producers writers, and actors. But this year still has some notable guests at in-person screenings and awards ceremonies. Just announced is the creative team for the blockbuster “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” accepting the fest’s first 5280 Award. Expect writers and producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, executive producer Bob Persichetti, producer Christina Steinberg and senior animation supervisor Humberto Rosa in-person after a screening of the movie on Nov. 7 at the AMC 9 + Co 10.
- More notables include Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon (“The Flash,” “George and Tammy”), Emmy-winning comic and writer Larry Wilmore (“The Daily Show,” “The Office”), director Andrew Haigh (“All of Us Strangers”), writer/director Anthony Chen (“The Breaking Ice”), and director Gabriela Cowperthwaite (“Blackfish,” “I.S.S.”).
- Awards-season watcher should be sure to check out titles that have won acclaim and/or are premiering in Denver, including “American Fiction,” “La Chimera,” “Eric Larue” (Michael Shannon’s directorial debut), “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,” “Perfect Days,” “Dream Scenario,” “The Great Divide,” “Cypher” and “Blood for Dust.”
- The event also includes a focus on Denver Film’s mini-fests, with movies related to CineLatinx, CinemaQ and Colorado Dragon Boat, and Women+Film, as well as the Sheila K. O’Brien Spotlight on U.K. & Ireland Cinema.
