FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Denver Film Festival Media Contacts:
Marty Schechter, marty@denverfilm.org
Jon Ewing, jon@denverfilm.org
Anna Duggan annaduggan@denverfilm.org
Critically acclaimed ‘American Fiction,’ to open this year’s festival with “I.S.S” set as closing night presentation
‘Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story,’ ‘The Boy and the Heron,’ “La Chimera” and ‘All of Us Strangers,’ highlight robust lineup of features, documentaries,shorts and more, including Oscar submissions from 15 countries
Michael Shannon and Andrew Haigh to be honored at the festival, among others
Tickets on sale Oct. 5 to Denver Film members, Oct. 6 to the public
Festival runs Nov. 3-12 at venues across Denver
DENVER – Denver Film announced today its program lineup for the 46th Denver Film Festival (DFF46), Nov. 3 -12. This year’s Festival lineup delivers 186 feature-length films, documentaries and shorts from across the globe, including Oscar submissions from 15 countries.
Serving as the official kickoff for Visit Denver’s annual Denver Arts Week, the DFF46 curtain rises Nov. 3 with the Opening Night Red Carpet presentation of American Fiction at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Cord Jefferson’s hilarious directorial debut is generating significant awards season buzz and, most recently, was recognized as the People’s Choice Award Winner for Best Film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The DFF46 Centerpiece delivers two presentations over two nights. Filmmakers Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz bring us Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, presented Nov. 7 at Denver Botanic Gardens. The Boy and the Heron, a semi-autobiographical fantasy from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki, screens Wednesday, Nov. 8, also at Denver Botanic Gardens.
The Festival celebrates Closing Night with Director and Colorado native Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s I.S.S., the high-stakes thriller set entirely in the confines of the International Space Station (ISS). The Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m. screening at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Infinity Theater is followed by the Closing Night Party at Meow Wolf beginning at 9 p.m.
“We’re incredibly proud of our DFF46 lineup and the opportunity to bring some groundbreaking films to our Denver-area audiences,” said Denver Film Festival Artistic Director Matthew Campbell. “This is a robust international lineup of independent films, including the Oscar submissions from more than a dozen countries, that allows us to share, explore and celebrate the work of many of the industry’s most respected and awarded directors. These are films that will deliver entertainment, inspiration and empathy, as well as some important new lenses in which to view the world.”
Special Presentations and Honorees:
Two in-person guests will help spotlight a strong group of Special Presentations. DFF46 will pay tribute to Michael Shannon on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Sie FilmCenter with the Festival’s Breakthrough Director Award for his directorial debut film Eric LaRue. In addition, Director Andrew Haigh will receive Denver Film’s Second CinemaQ LaBahn Ikon Film Award (Colman Domingo received the award in 2022) prior to a screening of All of Us Strangers, a film that is also receiving tremendous awards contender buzz, on Nov. 10, 7 p.m. at Denver Botanic Gardens.
Michael Shannon Andrew Haigh
Photo Courtesy: Juankr Photo by Chris Harris (Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures)
The Special Presentations lineup offers 10 other features, including the highly anticipated Dream Scenario, directed by Kristoffer Borgli and starring Nicolas Cage, Nov. 9 at Denver Botanic Gardens. (Additional in-person guests and honorees are set to be announced in the weeks ahead.)
Completing the 10-day Festival programming, DFF46 will deliver a robust lineup of general screenings including feature length films, documentaries, and shorts. In addition, the Festival will bring immersive programming, filmmaker conversations, events, panels, parties, industry guests, awards and tributes that will be shared in venues across the city. Including the Sie FilmCenter, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Botanic Gardens, AMC 9 + CO 10, Tattered Cover, and new this year, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater.
“As one of the first and most enduring film festivals in the United States, we take great pride in this annual opportunity to bring the world’s best filmmaking to Denver’s discerning audiences,” said Denver Film CEO Kevin Smith. “We’re honored that our Opening Night celebration can serve as the official kickoff to Denver Arts Week and help shine that spotlight on a city that has become one of the most admired in the country for its arts and cultural offerings.”
The Colorado Spotlight section of DFF46 will encompass Colorado Shorts, both documentary and narrative, as well as eight feature length films including:
Ileana’s Smile, Colorado musician and now Director Brad Corrigan tells the tragic story of a girl with a lightning smile who endures life in a trash dump community in Managua, Nicaragua, and the unlikely friendships that form around her.
Hard Miles, inspired by the life of Greg Townsend (played by Matthew Modine) and Colorado’s Ridgeview Academy Cycling Team, a strong-willed social worker assembles a cycling team of teenage convicts who embark on a transformative 1000-mile ride, where they overcome fear and find triumph and personal growth.
Tickets to individual screenings, Special Presentations, Red Carpets, and events go on sale to Denver Film members Oct. 5 at 8 a.m., and to the general public Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. at https://www.denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival/
The complete lineup of films, screenings and ticketing information is available at: https://www.denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival/.
2023 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
RED CARPET PRESENTATIONS: There is much to admire in every category, but if you want to see films destined to receive industry honors and awards, this is an excellent place to start. The films below feature some of DFF’s boldest and best artists pushing envelopes and taking big swings. Many, if not all, are sure to generate passionate discussions after the credits roll.
OPENING NIGHT:
American Fiction
Directed by Cord Jefferson
USA (2023) 117 min.
American Fiction is Cord Jefferson’s hilarious directorial debut, which confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a
frustrated novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk uses a pen name to write an
outlandish “Black” book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.
Opening Night /Friday, Nov. 3, 8 p.m., Ellie Caulkins Opera House
CENTERPIECES:
Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story
Directed by Gelila Bekele, Armani Ortiz
USA (2023) 115 min.
Writer, actor, filmmaker, studio head, and media titan, Tyler Perry, is America’s consummate multihyphenate. But underneath this entertainment behemoth is a man working humbly to heal his childhood trauma by transforming his pain into promise. With unfettered access, filmmakers Gelila Bekele and Armani Ortiz lead us into the inner world of a man, whose story has never fully been told, as he becomes a father and a media mogul with a mission to pave his own road to the top. The product is a profound lesson on remembering where you came from to know where you want to go.
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens
The Boy and the Heron
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Japan (2023) 124 min.
A young boy named Mahito yearning for his mother ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead. There, death comes to an end, and life finds a new beginning. A semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation, in tribute to friendship, from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens
CLOSING NIGHT:
I.S.S.
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
USA (2023) 95 min.
An eerily prophetic high-stakes thriller set entirely in the confines of the International Space Station (ISS), where astronauts face a call to duty in a fateful and terrifying way. While tensions flare aboard the ISS, a worldwide conflict occurs on Earth, and the astronauts receive orders from the ground to take control of the station by any means necessary.
Saturday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m., Denver Museum of Nature & Science
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
Directed by Raven Jackson
USA (2023) 92 min.
Award-winning poet, photographer, and filmmaker Raven Johnson debuts a captivating, haunting, and richly layered film that explores a woman’s life in the deep south of Mississippi. Johnson beautifully weaves an ode to the fabric of generations that shape humanity through the decades.
Friday, Nov. 3, 6:45 p.m., Sie FilmCenter
All of Us Strangers
Directed by Andrew Haigh
UK, USA (2023) 105 min.
Adam (Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor, Harry (Paul Mescal). As their relationship develops, Adam is preoccupied with dreamlike memories of the past and finds himself drawn back to his childhood home. Upon return, he discovers his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) appear to be living just as they were on the day they died 30 years ago.
Friday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens
Dream Scenario
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli
USA (2023) 101 min.
In this wickedly entertaining horror comedy, family man and professor Paul Matthews’ (Nicolas Cage) life gets turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. But when his nocturnal appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.
Thursday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens
Eric LaRue
Directed by Michael Shannon
USA (2023) 119 min.
Eric LaRue follows Janice (Judy Greer), the mother of a 17-year-old boy who shot and killed three of his classmates in school. As the days move toward a meeting of the mothers affected by her son’s actions, Janice struggles for insight through exchanges with her husband (Alexander Skarsgård), pastor and coworkers. The story becomes not about the violence but about what we choose to think and do in order to survive trauma. The sympathy we feel for Janice is complicated by the dark path she takes to find her way toward healing.
Monday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m., Sie FilmCenter
La Chimera
Directed by Alice Rohrwacher
Italy, Switzerland, France (2023) 133 min.
This film follows the adventurous journey of love lost by a British archaeologist who gets caught in the illegal trafficking of ancient finds. Everyone has their own chimera, something they try to achieve but have yet to find. This lively expedition is played out between the contrasts of the living and the dead, forests and cities, and celebrations and solitudes, showing how humanity is constantly searching for chimera.
Monday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens
Monster
Directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Japan (2023) 126 min.
When her young son starts behaving strangely, his mother feels that something is wrong. Believing that a teacher is responsible, she storms into the school demanding answers. But as the story unfolds through the eyes of the mother, teacher, and child, the truth gradually emerges.
Saturday, Nov. 11, 6:15 p.m., Sie FilmCenter
Occupied City
Directed by Steve McQueen
USA (2023) 262 min.
The past collides with the precarious present in filmmaker Steve McQueen’s documentary Occupied City. McQueen creates two portraits: a haunting door-to-door excavation of the Nazi occupation and a vivid journey through modern-day protests and a pandemic. What emerges is both devastating and life-affirming, an expansive meditation on memory, time, and perhaps, what’s next.
Sunday, Nov. 5 1:45 p.m., AMC 9 + CO 10
The Old Oak
Directed by Ken Loach
UK, France, Belgium (2023) 113 min.
A once-thriving village in northern England has fallen on hard times. When a group of Syrian refugees relocates into the floundering town, prejudices develop between the community when its newest inhabitants arrive. The Old Oak, the town’s last standing pub’s proprietor, forms an unexpected friendship with a young Syrian woman, and new possibilities arise for the divided village.
Saturday, Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m., Sie FilmCenter
Perfect Days
Directed by Wim Wenders
Japan, Germany (2023) 125 min.
In director Wim Wenders’ profoundly moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us, Hirayama seems utterly content with his simple life as a public facilities cleaner in Tokyo. Outside his structured routine, he fills his day with his passion for music, books, and trees. But a series of unexpected encounters gradually reveals more of his past.
Sunday, Nov. 5, 6:30 p.m., Denver Botanic Gardens
The Promised Land
Directed by Nikolaj Arcel
Denmark, Germany, Sweden (2023) 127 min.
Impoverished Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen) risks his life to conquer a vast, uninhabitable land in 1755. He’s on a mission to cultivate crops and build a colony for the King in exchange for a royal name for himself. But the sole ruler of the area, the merciless Frederik De Schinkel, believes this territory belongs to him.
Sunday, Nov. 5, 7:15 p.m., AMC 9 + CO 10
Robot Dreams
Directed by Pablo Berger
Spain, France (2023) 103 min.
Robot Dreams is a whimsical, animated film based on an unlikely partnership between Dog and his new self-built robot companion. The pair go everywhere together throughout NYC, discovering life in the ‘80s. One summer night, Dog sadly abandons Robot at the beach. Will they ever meet again?
Saturday, Nov. 11, 6:30 p.m., Sie FilmCenter
The Teachers’ Lounge
Directed by Ilker Çatak
Germany (2023) 98 min.
This gripping drama about conformity, racism, and rebellion is an incisive look at the rapidly shifting power dynamics and complex search for truth in the contemporary educational system. Carla, a dedicated sports and math teacher, starts her first job at a high school and quickly learns her role as a power player. After a series of thefts, she investigates the matter and tries to do everything right, but the efforts threaten her integrity.
Saturday, Nov. 4, 6:45 p.m., Sie FilmCenter
Film Sections
CineLatinx
Highlighting cinema from the Americas, including indigenous cultures. CineLatinx celebrates the diversity of storytelling within the Latinx community
The Delinquents (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Luxembourg) – directed by Rodrigo Moreno
Going Varsity in Mariachi (USA) – directed by Alejandra Vasquez, Sam Osborn
The Settlers (Chile, Argentina, France, Denmark, UK, Taiwan, Sweden, Germany) – directed by Felipe Gálvez
They Shot the Piano Player (Spain) – directed by Javier Mariscal, Fernando Trueba
Tótem (Mexico, Denmark, France) – directed by Lila Avilés
CinemaQ
Queer voices. Queer visions. Queer lives. Experience the best in films that highlight LGBTQ+ community within the DFF46 CinemaQ program
All of Us Strangers (UK, USA) – directed by Andrew Haigh
Caterpillar (USA) – directed by Liza Mandelup
Fancy Dance (USA) – directed by Erica Tremblay
Femme (UK) – directed by Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping
Housekeeping for Beginners (North Macedonia, Sweden, Kosovo, Poland, Serbia, Croatia) – directed by Goran Stolevski
Monster (Japan) – directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu
The People’s Joker (USA) – directed by Vera Drew
Colorado Dragon Boat
Two of Colorado’s leading nonprofits, Denver Film and Colorado Dragon Boat have partnered to showcase the best in contemporary Asian and Asian American cinema.
The Boy and the Heron (Japan) – directed by Hayao Miyazaki
The Breaking Ice (China) – directed by Anthony Chen
Concrete Utopia (South Korea) – directed by Um Tae-hwa
Deep Sea (China) – directed by Tian Xiaopeng
Evil Does Not Exist (Japan) – directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (Vietnam, Singapore, France, Spain) – directed by An Pham Thien
Monster (Japan) – directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu
The Shadowless Tower (China) – directed by Zhang Lu
Smoking Tigers (USA) – directed by Shelly Yo
Colorado Spotlight
Ever more diverse and collaborative, Colorado’s filmmaking scene continues to grow, producing works that screen in both film festivals and theaters around the country. This section features both homegrown talent, and stories told about our state.
Colorado Shorts: Documentary (USA) – directed by Peter Vo; Violet Dempsey, Aiden Nelson; Maggie Hartmans, Brittany Zampella; Nicholas Orris, Matt Deblinger; Nathan Ward
Colorado Shorts: Narrative (USA) – directed by Allison Volk; Ann Allsopp; Jenelle Pearring; Kristen Wolf; Devon Wycoff; Bruce Tetsuya; June K. Inuzuka
The Great Divide (USA) – directed by Tom Donahue
Hard Miles (USA) – directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna
Ileana’s Smile (USA) – directed by Brad Corrigan
On the Edge: Witold-K (Poland, USA) – directed by Piotr Weychert, Jacek Knopp
An Open Door (USA) – directed by John Barnhardt
Publish or Perish (USA) – directed by David Liban
Soft Liquid Center (USA) – directed by Perry Home Video
Summer of Violence (USA) – directed by Nicki Micheaux
Italian Showcase
Italy is the longtime home of a diverse and vibrant filmmaking community. The 46th Denver Film Festival is pleased to present five new Italian works from established and emerging directors.
The Beautiful Summer (Italy) – directed by Laura Luchetti
A Brighter Tomorrow (Italy, France) – directed by Nanni Moretti
Ennio (Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Japan) – directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
Kidnapped (Italy) – directed by Marco Bellocchio
La Chimera (Italy, Switzerland, France) – directed by Alice Rohrwacher
Late Night Showcase
Go to the outer limits of cinema with the Denver Film Festival’s Late Night Showcase. This year’s selection of nine features and a shorts package ranges from traditional horror flicks to cult comedies to straight-up mind melters.
Eight Eyes (USA, Serbia, North Macedonia) – directed by Austin Jennings
Hello Dankness (Australia) – directed by Soda Jerk
Infested (France) – directed by Sébastien Vaniček
Late Night with the Devil (Australia) – directed by Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
The People’s Joker (USA) – directed by Vera Drew
Raging Grace (UK) – directed by Paris Zarcilla
Riddle of Fire (USA) – directed by Weston Razooli
The Sacrifice Game (USA) – directed by Jenn Wexler
She is Conann (France, Luxembourg, Belgium) – directed by Bertrand Mandico
Shorts 5: Late Night
Sheila K. O’Brien Spotlight On UK & Ireland Cinema
In recognizing the myriad of talents and achievements within the U.K. and Ireland film industries, the Sheila K. O’Brien Spotlight is presented annually during the Denver Film Festival. We aim to take a look at the diverse and compelling cinematic works of our country’s closest allies across the Atlantic.
All of Us Strangers (UK, USA) – directed by Andrew Haigh
Femme (UK) – directed by Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping
Is There Anybody Out There? (UK) – directed by Ella Glendining
Notes from Sheepland (Ireland) – directed by Cara Holmes
The Old Oak (UK, France, Belgium) – directed by Ken Loach
Women+Film
Women+Film showcases documentaries, narratives, and short films celebrating the best in women-centric programming; both by and about women. These thought-provoking stories of women from around the world are sure to inspire all audiences.
Four Daughters (France, Tunisia, Germany, Saudi Arabia) – directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field (USA) – directed by Michael Selditch
Maestra (USA) – directed by Maggie Contreras
Milisuthando (South Africa, Colombia) – directed by Milisuthando Bongela
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Estonia, France, Iceland) – directed by Anna Hints
Smoking Tigers (USA) – directed by Shelly Yo
Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything (Germany) – directed by Emily Atef
Valeria Is Getting Married (Israel) – directed by Michal Vinik
46th Denver Film Festival A-Z Film Guide
About Dry Grasses (Turkey, France, Germany, Sweden) – directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt (USA) – directed by Raven Jackson
All of Us Strangers (UK, USA) – directed by Andrew Haigh
American Fiction (USA) – directed by Cord Jefferson
The Animal Kingdom (France) – directed by Thomas Cailley
Anselm (Germany) – directed by Wim Wenders
Bad Press (USA) – directed by Rebecca Landsberry-Baker, Joe Peeler
Banel & Adama (France, Senegal, Mali) – directed by Ramata-Toulaye Sy
The Beautiful Summer (Italy) – directed by Laura Luchetti
Blaga’s Lessons (Bulgaria, Germany) – directed by Stephan Komandarev
Blood for Dust (USA) – directed by Rod Blackhurst
The Boy and the Heron (Japan) – directed by Hayao Miyazaki
The Breaking Ice (China) – directed by Anthony Chen
A Brighter Tomorrow (Italy, France) – directed by Nanni Moretti
Caterpillar (USA) – directed by Liza Mandelup
Colorado Shorts: Documentary (USA) – directed by Peter Vo; Violet Dempsey, Aiden Nelson; Maggie Hartmans, Brittany Zampella; Nicholas Orris, Matt Deblinger; Nathan Ward
Colorado Shorts: Narrative (USA) – directed by Allison Volk; Ann Allsopp; Jenelle Pearring; Kristen Wolf; Devon Wycoff; Bruce Tetsuya; June K. Inuzuka
Common Ground (Mexico, USA) – directed by Josh Tickell, Rebecca Tickell
Concrete Utopia (South Korea) – directed by Um Tae-hwa
The Crime is Mine (France) – directed by François Ozon
Cypher (USA) – directed by Chris Moukarbel
Deep Rising (USA) – directed by Matthieu Rytz
Deep Sea (China) – directed by Tian Xiaopeng
The Delinquents (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Luxembourg) – directed by Rodrigo Moreno
Disco Boy (France, Italy, Belgium, Poland) – directed by Giacomo Abbruzzese
Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World (Romania, Luxembourg, France, Croatia) – directed by Radu Jude
Double Vision (USA) – Janie Geiser
Dream Scenario (USA) – directed by Kristoffer Borgli
Drift (France, UK, Greece) – directed by Anthony Chen
Eight Eyes (USA, Serbia, North Macedonia) – directed by Austin Jennings
Ennio (Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Japan) – directed by Giuseppe Tornatore
Eric LaRue (USA) – directed by Michael Shannon
Evil Does Not Exist (Japan) – directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Fallen Leaves (Finland, Germany) – directed by Aki Kaurismäki
Fancy Dance (USA) – directed by Erica Tremblay
Fantastic Machine (Sweden, Denmark) – directed by Axel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck
The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed (USA) – directed by Joanna Arnow
Femme (UK) – directed by Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping
Four Daughters (France, Tunisia, Germany, Saudi Arabia) – directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
Frybread Face and Me (USA) – directed by Billy Luther
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (USA) – directed by Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson
Going Varsity in Mariachi (USA) – directed by Alejandra Vasquez, Sam Osborn
The Great Divide (USA) – directed by Tom Donahue
Green Border (Poland, France, Czech Republic, Belgium) – directed by Agnieszka Holland
Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field (USA) – directed by Michael Selditch
Hard Miles (USA) – directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna
Hello Dankness (Australia) – directed by Soda Jerk
Hey Viktor! (Canada) – directed by Cody Lightning
Hoop Dreams (USA) – directed by Steve James
Housekeeping for Beginners (North Macedonia, Sweden, Kosovo, Poland, Serbia, Croatia) – directed by Goran Stolevski
I.S.S. (USA) – directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Ileana’s Smile (USA) – directed by Brad Corrigan
In the Rearview (Poland, Ukraine, France) – directed by Maciek Hamela
Infested (France) – directed by Sébastien Vaniček
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (Vietnam, Singapore, France, Spain) – directed by An Pham Thien
Iron Butterflies (Ukraine, Germany) – directed by Roman Liubyi
Is There Anybody Out There? (UK) – directed by Ella Glendining
Join or Die (USA) – directed by Rebecca Davis, Pete Davis
Kidnapped (Italy) – directed by Marco Bellocchio
King Coal (USA) – directed by Elaine McMillion Sheldon
Late Night with the Devil (Australia) – directed by Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes
La Chimera (Italy, Switzerland, France) – directed by Alice Rohrwacher
A Little Prayer (USA) – directed by Angus MacLachlan
Maestra (USA) – directed by Maggie Contreras
Mami Wata (Nigeria) – directed by C.J. “Fiery” Obasi
Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story (USA) – directed by Gelila Bekele, Armani Ortiz
Menus-Plaisirs Les Troisgros (France, USA) – directed by Frederick Wiseman
Milisuthando (South Africa, Colombia) – directed by Milisuthando Bongela
The Mission (USA, India) – directed by Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
Molli and Max in the Future (USA) – directed by Michael Lukk Litwak
Monster (Japan) – directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu
Motherland (Sweden, Ukraine, Norway) – directed by Alexander Mihalkovich, Hanna Badziaka
National History Day Colorado Student Festival: Frontiers in History (USA) – directed by Wren Capra; Mark Thompson; Lucy Herbert, Pranav Bandaru; Claire Gold, Jiyu Kim; Erin Chastain, Ruby Frederick-Law, Audrey Mattox, Alea Brower
Notes from Sheepland (Ireland) – directed by Cara Holmes
Occupied City (USA) – directed by Steve McQueen
The Old Oak (UK, France, Belgium) – directed by Ken Loach
On the Edge: Witold-K (Poland, USA) – directed by Piotr Weychert, Jacek Knopp
An Open Door (USA) – directed by John Barnhardt
Pamfir (Ukraine, France, Poland, Chile) – directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk
Parachute (USA) – directed by Brittany Snow
Peak Season (USA) – directed by Henry Loevner, Steven Kanter
The People’s Joker (USA) – directed by Vera Drew
Perfect Days (Japan, Germany) – directed by Wim Wenders
The Promised Land (Denmark, Germany, Sweden) – directed by Nikolaj Arcel
Publish or Perish (USA) – directed by David Liban
Raging Grace (UK) – directed by Paris Zarcilla
Richland (USA) – directed by Irene Lusztig
Riddle of Fire (USA) – directed by Weston Razooli
Robot Dreams (Spain, France) – directed by Pablo Berger
Rule of Two Walls (Ukraine) – directed by David Gutnik
The Sacrifice Game (USA) – directed by Jenn Wexler
A Sensitive Person (Czech Republic, Slovakia) – directed by Tomás Klein
The Settlers (Chile, Argentina, France, Denmark, UK, Taiwan, Sweden, Germany) – directed by Felipe Gálvez
The Shadowless Tower (China) – directed by Zhang Lu
She is Conann (France, Luxembourg, Belgium) – directed by Bertrand Mandico
Shorts 1: Narrative (USA, Greece) – directed by Andrew Fitzgerald, Samm Hodges; Thanasis Neofotistos; Liz Sargent; Reema Maya
Shorts 2: Documentary (USA, Switzerland) – directed by Sean Wang; Paula Eiselt; Aylin Gökmen; Ivete Lucas, Patrick Xavier Bresnan; Geeta Gandbhir, Samantha Knowles
Shorts 3: Animation (France, Swede, Malaysia, Japan, China, USA) – directed by Chloé Alliez, Violette Delvoye; Carolina Sandvik; Lucas Malbrun; Gabriel Gabriel Garble; Rachel Gutgarts; Yoko Yuki; Junyi Xiao; Tom CJ Brown
Shorts 4: Avant-Garde (USA, UK, Canada, Philippines, France) – directed by Angelo Madsen Minax; Sky Hopinka; Anthony Ing; Maria Estela Paiso; Jessica Bardsley; Elisabeth Subrin
Shorts 5: Late Night (USA, Ireland, Spain,UK, Ukraine) – directed by Adam Wilder, Nicole Daddona; Derek Ugochukwu; Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Tyler Walker; Sam Max; Daphne Gardner; Lola Blanc; Tony Morales; Ben Brewer; Andreas Nilsson
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Estonia, France, Iceland) – directed by Anna Hints
Smoking Tigers (USA) – directed by Shelly Yo
Soft Liquid Center (USA) – directed by Perry Home Video
Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything (Germany) – directed by Emily Atef
Somewhere Quiet (USA) – directed by Olivia West Lloyd
Songs of Earth (Norway) – directed by Margreth Olin
Sorcerer (USA) – directed by William Friedkin
The Space Race (USA) – directed by Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, Lisa Cortés
Story & Pictures By (USA) – directed by Joanna Rudnick
Student Shorts: Animation Competition (UK, USA, Croatia, Poland, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia) – directed by Mai Vu; Declan McKenna; Darian Bakliža; Barbara Rupik; Kilian Feusi, Jessica Meier, Sujanth Ravichandran; Toke Madsen; Zhen Li; Trinidad Plass Caussade, Titouan Tillier, Isaac Wenzek; Daria Kashcheeva
Student Shorts: Domestic Competition (USA) – directed by Noam Argov; Rashad Frett; Aurora Brachman; Annie Ning; Enrique Pedraza Botero, Faye Tsakas; Tari Wariebi
Student Shorts: International Competition (United Kingdom, China, Switzerland, Germany) – directed by Hazel McKibbin; Xiaoxuan Jiang; Matthias Sahli, Immanuel Esser; Shuli Huang; Sophia Mocorrea
Summer of Violence (USA) – directed by Nicki Micheaux
The Sweet East (USA) – directed by Sean Price Williams
The Taste of Things (France) – directed by Anh Hung Tran
The Teachers’ Lounge (Germany) – directed by Ilker Çatak
They Shot the Piano Player (Spain) – directed by Javier Mariscal, Fernando Trueba
Tótem (Mexico, Denmark, France) – directed by Lila Avilés
Valeria Is Getting Married (Israel) – directed by Michal Vinik
White Plastic Sky (Hungary, Slovakia) – directed by Tibor Bánóczki, Sarolta Szabó
The Press Accreditation application process for the 46th Denver Film Festival (DFF46) will remain open until Oct. 20. Guidelines to be considered for Accreditation can be found on the DFF46 website.
2023 Denver Film Festival Sponsors:
MARQUEE: Anna and John J. Sie Foundation, AOR, Jacquard Hotel, Liberty Global, Moye White, Pinemelon, Sheila K. O’Brien, University of Denver – Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures, William LaBahn, and Xfinity
SPOTLIGHT: Butler Rents, Caz Matthews, Clayton Hotel & Members Club, Colorado Party Rentals, RNDC, Serendipity Catering, SeriesFest, and Wana Brands and Wana Brands Foundation
STUDIO: American Airlines, Meow Wolf, and The Family Jones
CAMEO: BAIRD The Palm Group, Crested Butte Film Festival, Eldorado Natural Spring Water, Isarti Travel, Mary Watson, Susan Capitelli, Taloma Partners, Ratio Beerworks, United Airlines and Underwood
PARTNERS: Black Pride Colorado, Denver Arts & Venues, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Project for Humanistic Inquiry, Colorado Dragon Boat, Harmonic Media, Pearl Street Marketing, Ken’s Prints and Graphics, YellowDog, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, The Color of Conversation, Sap Sua, Cherry Creek North, and Denver Office of Storytelling
GOVERNMENT & FOUNDATIONS:Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Colorado Creative Industries, Colorado Office of Film and Television, NEA Media Arts, SCFD, Canadian Consulate, Instituto Italiano di Cultura, and Consulto Generale of Italia Chicago
FILM: Ballard Spahr, CFVA,The Center for African American Health, Colorado Environmental Film Festival, Datura Home, GHP Investment Advisors Inc., Gloria Campbell and John Verwys, MSterious Miracles, SAGindie, Aer Lingus, and Visit Denver
MEDIA: Axios Denver, CBS Colorado, Colorado Public Radio, Denver Gazette, Rocky Mountain Public Media, Wetsword, 5280 Magazine, and KBCO
About Denver Film
Founded in 1978, Denver Film is a membership-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution that produces film events throughout the year, including the award-winning Denver Film Festival and the popular, summertime series Film on the Rocks. With a vision to cultivate community and transform lives through film, Denver Film provides opportunities for diverse audiences to discover film through creative, thought-provoking experiences.
The permanent home of Denver Film, the Sie FilmCenter is Denver’s only year-round cinematheque, presenting a weekly-changing calendar of first-run exclusives and arthouse revivals both domestic and foreign, narrative and documentary – over 600 per year, all shown in their original language and format. Denver Film’s one-of-a-kind programs annually reach more than 200,000 film lovers and film lovers-in-training.
