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New to DFF?

We’re glad you’re here!

Your first Denver Film Festival doesn’t have to be complicated.

You don’t need to know every filmmaker on the program, have an awards-season watchlist, or map out twelve screenings a day. You just need a place to start.

We’ve pulled together some of our favorite entry points for first-time festivalgoers. From crowd-pleasing films and special presentations to events that give you the full DFF experience, think of this as your shortcut to getting in on the fun without getting lost in the lineup.

There’s no wrong way to do your first DFF. But these are some pretty good places to start.

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Opening Night: I PLAY ROCKY

This biopic follows Sylvester Stallone, then a struggling actor, as he writes the ultimate underdog story and fights for the chance to play the role of a lifetime. As DFF’s Opening Night film, this is your chance to kick off your first festival in style, complete with the energy, excitement, and red carpet of one of DFF’s biggest nights. Screened at the iconic Ellie Caulkins Opera House, the full festival experience is available to you right out of the gate.

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Opening Night Party

Let the film festivities commence! Celebrate the launch of the 49th Denver Film Festival, hosted by Market Station, following the Opening Night screening of I Play Rocky! We’re bringing the great Colorado Outdoors to the heart of Downtown Denver with an indoor/outdoor evening celebration with open bars all night.

Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
Time: 9 PM – 1 AM
Address: Market Station, 1655 Market St, Denver, CO 80202

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Centerpiece: BEHEMOTH!

A gifted cellist, Alex Serian (Pedro Pascal), returns home to Los Angeles after 20 years on the road, where the music that has consumed his life begins to carry him somewhere unexpected. Experience it as DFF’s Centerpiece presentation at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House—one of the Festival’s biggest screenings, on one of Denver’s biggest stages. For first-timers looking to see DFF at full scale, this is the kind of night the Festival is all about.

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Centerpiece: INK

Fast, sharp, and wildly entertaining, Ink tells the true story of the misfits and visionaries who set out to revolutionize modern media, and changed the news forever. Catch it on the big stage at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for a high-energy introduction to the DFF experience.

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WILD HORSE NINE

John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, and Steve Buscemi lead this darkly comic trip to Easter Island, where two CIA agents find old secrets and new conspiracies threatening to derail their mission. With a stacked cast and plenty of twists, Wild Horse Nine is an easy entry point for your first DFF.

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Closing Night: PAPER TIGER

Two brothers get pulled into a scheme that’s too good to be true and enter a dangerous world where loyalty comes at a price. James Gray’s gripping crime thriller closes out DFF at MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater, making it a perfect chance to experience the energy of Closing Night and send off the festival in style.

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DFF is Better as a Member!

If you’re planning to DFF, membership practically pays for itself.

Members save on Festival tickets and can save more than the price of a membership on passes, making it one of the easiest ways to get more out of DFF for less. And the benefits don’t stop when the Festival does. Your membership unlocks perks all year long, from discounted tickets and concessions to special screenings and member events more.

More movies. More perks. More DFF for your dollar.

Become a Member

$ 65

Annual Film Buff Membership

$ 125

Annual Cinephile for Two Membership

$ 35

Annual Student Film Buff Membership

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The Mile High Pass

DFF is Best With a Pass!

Our most popular pass! Think of this as a-taste-of-the-festival pass.

$450 Regular Price, $350 Member Price

Includes:
One (1) Ellie screening
Two (2) Special Presentations (1 ticket per screening)
Six (6) General Admission tickets (non-concurrent, 1 ticket per screening)
Access to Panels (non-concurrent)
Access to Hospitality Lounge
Priority Seating

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