Denver Film on Monday revealed the 200-film lineup for its 45th Denver Film Festival, led by star-studded award contenders and backed by acclaimed documentaries and immersive virtual-reality content.
The program for the event, which returns with in-person screenings, panels and parties Nov. 2-13, leans into crowd-friendly main titles as much as international features, shorts and music videos. Its quartet of Red Carpet screenings at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House includes a who’s-who of Oscar-bait, as is expected for a festival that arrives with the benefit of hindsight from Cannes, Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Red Carpet shows this year are “Armageddon Time” from director James Gray, starring Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong (opening night, Nov. 2); “Empire of Light” by director Sam Mendes, starring Michael Ward, Olivia Colman and Colin Firth (centerpiece, Nov. 4); “Loudmouth” by director Josh Alexander, a documentary about Al Sharpton (Big Night, Nov. 10); and “Women Talking” by director Sarah Polley, starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy and Frances McDormand (closing night, Nov. 12).
Notable titles at other venues — including the festival home base (the Sie FilmCenter), Denver Botanic Gardens, AMC 9 + CO 10 and the Tattered Cover East Colfax — include more big names, many of them focused on Special Presentation screenings. See “The Whale” (Brendan Fraser); “She Said” (Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan); and “The Son” (Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern).
Celebrity actors, filmmakers and other guests will be announced closer to the event.
Note: Unlike past years, this year’s event does not offer virtual programming.
Tickets to individual screenings, special presentations and red carpets are on sale to Denver Film members at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3, and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m. See more at denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival/dff45. (The full lineup will not be online until after 6 p.m. MT on Monday, Oct. 3.)
“We’re thrilled to have so many incredible films from across the world and to present the latest works by so many acclaimed directors,” said festival artistic director Matthew Campbell. “These wide-reaching creations and performances go well beyond entertaining and often deliver experiences for our guests as they generate conversations, debate and growth around serious topics that touch on the lives of so many in our community and beyond.”
Other films include “How to Blow Up a Pipeline,” directed by Boulder native Daniel Goldhaber; “R.M.N.,” which recently screened in the main competition at Cannes; Amazon’s upcoming horror film “Nanny”; and the marine drama “The Inspection,” Denver Film officials said. This year’s Spotlight Sections are the Sheila K. O’Brien Spotlight on UK/Ireland Cinema; Italian Showcase; CineLatinx; J’Adore; Late Night; CinemaQ; Women+Film; Colorado Spotlight; Colorado Dragon Boat Spotlight; The Color of Conversation; and Retrospectives.
