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Film Sections
Explore the sections that make up this year’s Denver Film Festival Program!
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Special Presentations
Each year, the Denver Film Festival goes beyond the traditional screening with a collection of unforgettable cinematic experiences. Special Presentations bring together standout films, celebrated guests, unique events, and can’t-miss moments that turn a night at the movies into something bigger.
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Colorado Spotlight
Each year, the Denver Film Festival is proud to shine a light on the filmmakers, artists, and stories that call our state home. Colorado Spotlight celebrates the talent in our own backyard, bringing audiences closer to the people and perspectives helping shape the future of filmmaking in Colorado.
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UK Ireland Cinema Showcase
The UK Ireland Cinema Showcase, presented by Founder and Sponsor Sheila K O’Brien, is an annual highlight of the Denver Film Festival, highlighting the talents, achievements, and compelling cinematic works of our country’s closest allies across the Atlantic.
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CinemaQ
Presented by William LaBahn, Cinema Q celebrates bold, authentic LGBTQ+ stories and the filmmakers bringing them to the screen. This collection shines a spotlight on queer voices and experiences, creating space for stories that entertain, connect, and celebrate the many ways we move through the world.
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Colorado Dragon Boat
The Denver Film Festival is proud to partner with the Colorado Dragon Boat Film to celebrate the stories, cultures, and diversity of AAPI filmmaking perspectives of the Asian and Asian American Pacific Islander communities from Colorado and around the world.
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Women+Film
Women+Film celebrates bold storytelling from women filmmakers, bringing distinctive voices and fresh perspectives to the forefront. From intimate personal stories to boundary-pushing filmmaking, this collection highlights work that challenges, inspires, and expands what we see on screen.
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Shorts Program
Shorts are proof that a powerful story doesn’t need a long runtime to make an impact. These carefully curated collections spotlight inventive filmmaking, singular perspectives, and stories worth discovering.
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Films With In-Person Guests
Want to hear directly from the people who brought these stories to life? We’ve rounded up the films featuring in-person guests at this year’s DFF, giving you the chance to hear from filmmakers, actors, and special guests about their work. Explore the screenings below and find out who’s joining us in the theater!
In Competition
Meet the bold, original films in competition for top honors at this year’s DFF.
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Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Feature Film
The Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Feature Film honors the Festival’s best narrative feature. Past awardees include Sirāt, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Drive My Car, and Shoplifters.
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The Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary
The Festival’s top honor for nonfiction filmmaking, the Maysles Brothers Award recognizes an outstanding documentary feature and the craft of bringing real stories to the screen.
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True Grit Award
The True Grit Award honors the best film in the Festival’s Colorado Spotlight section, celebrating outstanding filmmaking from Colorado across both feature-length and short films.
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Grand Jury Short Award
Celebrating the very best in short-form filmmaking, the Grand Jury Short Award is presented to the best short film across the entire Festival.
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Marilyn Marsh Saint-Veltri Award
Spotlighting the next generation of animators, the Marilyn Marsh Saint-Veltri Award recognizes outstanding achievement in student animation and celebrates an emerging filmmaker with a singular creative vision.
This year’s entrants include:
- The 12 Inch Pianist
- The Sky Was Candy
- The Undying Pain of Existence
- Hunting
- Death’s Peak
Beyond the Screen
Discover the parties, panels, conversations, and special events that bring DFF to life outside the theater.
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Parties & Special Events
Our parties reflect the thriving film community of the city we call home: creative, welcoming, and always a good time. Celebrate beyond the theater, connect with filmmakers and fellow film lovers, and raise a glass to DFF.
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Creative Conversations
Step inside the creative process with Creative Conversations, featuring candid discussions with compelling voices from across the industry. Hear the stories, ideas, and experiences that shape their work and keep them making art.