The 36th Starz Denver Film Festival Announces Red Carpet Galas and Special Presentations
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- Category: Entertainment News
- Published on Saturday, 02 November 2013 14:21
DENVER - The 36th Starz Denver Film Festival (SDFF), November 6 - November 16, sponsored by Starz Entertainment and produced by the Denver Film Society, announced today its Red Carpet Galas and Special Presentations.
Recognized as the Rocky Mountain Region's premier film event, SDFF attracts nearly 55,000 filmgoers and is widely recognized for presenting Academy Award and Independent Spirit Award-winning films, such as The Artist, Black Swan, Brokeback Mountain, No Country for Old Men and Silver Linings Playbook-well before their collective accolades.
"Reflecting what is being called the most competitive Oscar season in recent memory, the 36th Starz Denver Film Festival will present the Denver with premieres of four outstanding Red Carpet films from acclaimed SDFF alumni filmmakers Jason Reitman, Alexander Payne, John Wells and Andy Garcia," said Festival Director Britta Erickson. "We certainly will be 'painting the town red' from start to finish as we celebrate some of awards seasons most buzz-worthy films."
The Starz Denver Film Festival opens November 6 with Labor Day, directed by Jason Reitman and starring a standout cast of Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet and Gattlin Griffith. Alexander Payne's road trip dramedy, Nebraska, will be center stage for Big Night on November 9. August: Osage County directed by John Wells will anchor the newest Red Carpet Presentation for Centerpiece on November 15. Inaugural George Hickenlooper Award (2012) recipient Andy Garcia returns with his latest At Middleton, which costars Vera Farmiga to close the Festival on November 16.
SDFF Special Presentations include: American Mustang, The Armstrong Lie, Days and Nights, Gloria, Hanna Ranch, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, One Chance, Philomena, Tim's Vermeer and The Truth About Emanuel.
"With nearly 200 titles, a ten-film focus on the Netherlands, an impressive array of locally produced work and a year-end survey of 2013's best festival films, SDFF 36 is shaping up to be one of the strongest in years," said Artistic Director Brit Withey.
SDFF presents a twelve-day full festival program including international and independent films, industry panels, workshops, achievement awards and tributes. .
To keep up to date with the Starz Denver Film Festival, visit www.denverfilm.org/festival, like the SDFF Facebook page www.facebook.com/denverfilmfestival, follow @DenverFilm on Twitter and join the conversation by using the hashtag: #SDFF36.
RED CARPET PRESENTATION
Opening Night, November 6
Labor Day - (DIRECTOR Jason Reitman, PRODUCERS Jason Blumenfeld, Helen Estabrook, Lianne Halfon, Jason Reitman, Russel Smith WRITER Jason Reitman CAST Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet, Gattlin Griffith) - Labor Day centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler (Griffith), who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele (Winslet) while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers (Brolin), a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives. Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Big Night, November 9
Nebraska - (DIRECTOR Alexander Payne, PRODUCERS Albert Berger, Doug Mankoff, George Parra, Julie M. Thompson, Ron Yerxa WRITER Bob Nelson CAST Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb) - After receiving a sweepstakes letter in the mail, a cantankerous father (Dern) thinks he's struck it rich, and wrangles his son (Forte) into taking a road trip to claim the fortune. Shot in black and white across four states, Nebraska tells the stories of family life in the heartland of America. Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Centerpiece, November 15
August: Osage County - (DIRECTOR John Wells, PRODUCERS George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Steve Traxler, Harvey Weinstein WRITER Tracy Letts CAST Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ewan McGregor, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis, Sam Shepard, Chris Cooper) - August: Osage County tells the dark, hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name made its Broadway debut in December 2007 after premiering at Chicago's legendary Steppenwolf Theatre earlier that year. It continued with a successful international run and was the winner of five Tony Awards in 2008, including Best Play. August: Osage County is directed by John Wells (The Company Men), who received the SDFF 25 Mayor's Career Achievement Award. Courtesy of The Weinstein Company
Closing Night, November 16
At Middleton - (DIRECTOR Adam Rodgers, PRODUCERS Andy Garcia, Glenn German, Sig Libowitz WRITERS Glenn German, Adam Rodgers CAST Vera Farmiga, Andy Garcia, Taissa Farmiga, Spencer Lofranco, Tom Skerritt, Peter Riegert) - The inaugural George Hickenlooper Award (2012) winner Andy Garcia returns to SDFF with his latest film directed by Adam Rodgers. Edith (Vera Farmiga) is a strong willed, free-spirited and successful businesswoman who's taking her hyper-achieving, 18 year-old daughter Audrey (Taissa Farmiga) on a tour of potential colleges. George (Garcia) is a buttoned-up heart surgeon accompanying his not very motivated son Conrad (Lofranco) (also 18), on a similar tour. Their paths cross at idyllic Middleton College, nestled in the picturesque Pacific Northwest. At first, all things point to this being the kids' story... but as the parents' well intentioned support backfires hilariously-so much so that they are booted from the very campus tour they traveled so far to attend - it quickly becomes clear that George and Edith are the heart of the film. Now banished together, these two time-pressed, responsible adults suddenly find themselves with a free day in the midst of a beautiful setting - and the hours they subsequently share change their lives as they play out a singular "college tour" all their own. Equal parts charming, romantic and heartfelt, At Middleton is about letting go and coming together - the story of two people who, through a remarkable, unexpected connection, are able to glimpse the potential that true romance can offer. As Edith and George eventually realize, in ways both comic and heartbreaking, their adventure proves to be "the greatest half-day" of their lives. Courtesy of Anchor Bay Films.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
American Mustang - (DIRECTOR Monty Miranda PRODUCER Henry Ansbacher CAST Daryl Hannah, Alison Eastwood, Julia Putnam, Jim Neubert, Luke Neubert) - In an artful blend of exquisite nature documentary and character driven narrative, the majestic wild horses of the American West are revealed in stereoscopic 3D as never before. The wonder in a girl's eye pulls us into a drama unfolding still on hundreds of millions of acres of public land. The battle lines have long been carved into very the landscape, and the players are deeply entrenched. Yet as the subtle choreography that has evolved over thousands of years begins again before our eyes, it is captivating. The intricate dance between a man and an wild horse presents lessons for us all, even the battle hardened special interest groups fighting over the place of the American Mustang.
The Armstrong Lie - (DIRECTOR Alex Gibney PRODUCERS Alex Gibney, Frank Marshall, Matthew Tolmach WRITER Alex Gibney CAST Lance Armstrong) - In 2009 Alex Gibney was hired to make a film about Lance Armstrong's comeback to cycling. The project was shelved when the doping scandal erupted, and re-opened after Armstrong's confession. The Armstrong Lie picks up in 2013 and presents a riveting, insider's view of the unraveling of one of the most extraordinary stories in the history of sports. As Lance Armstrong himself says: "I didn't live a lot of lies, but I lived one big one."
Days and Nights - (DIRECTOR Christian Camargo PRODUCERS Barbara Romer, Juliet Rylance WRITER Christian Camargo CAST Katie Holmes, Allison Janney, Jean Reno, Christian Camargo, William Hurt) - Reckless desire wreaks havoc over Memorial Day weekend as a family confronts the volatile and fragile nature of love. A modern retelling of Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull," set in rural New England.
Gloria - (DIRECTOR Sebastián Lelio PRODUCERS Luis Collar, Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín WRITERS Sebastián Lelio, Gonzalo Maza CAST Paulina García, Sergio Hernández, Diego Fontecilla, Fabiola Zamora, Coca Guazzini) - Gloria is 58 years old and still feels young. Making a party out of her loneliness, she fills her nights seeking love in ballrooms for single adults. This fragile happiness changes the day she meets Rodolfo. Their intense passion, to which Gloria gives everything as she feels it may well be her last, leaves her dancing between hope and despair. Gloria will have to pull herself together and find a new strength to realize that, in the last act of her life, she could burn brighter than ever.
Hanna Ranch - (DIRECTOR Mitch Dickman PRODUCERS Karl Kister, Eric Schlosser) -
Mitch Dickman's documentary is an intimate portrait of three generations of a Colorado ranching family and their once prominent way of life. It focuses on "eco-cowboy" Kirk Hanna, who was featured in the book Fast Food Nation as an early adopter of Holistic Resource Management practices, fights to preserve his land in the face of urban encroachment, environmental concerns and family discord.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom - (DIRECTOR Justin Chadwick PRODUCERS Anant Singh, David M. Thompson WRITER William Nicholson CAST Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Jamie Bartlett, Lindiwe Matshikiza) - Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is based on South African President Nelson Mandela's autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country's once segregated society. Idris Elba (Prometheus) stars as Nelson Mandela, Naomie Harris (Skyfall) stars as Winnie Mandela, with Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl) directing.
One Chance - (DIRECTOR David Frankel PRODUCERS Simon Cowell, Michael Menchel, Kris Thykier, Harvey Weinstein, Brad Weston WRITER Justin Zackham CAST Julie Walters, Colm Meaney, Mackenzie Crook, James Corden, Jemima Rooper, Alexandra Roach) - Most people only dream about becoming a famous superstar, but against all odds one man from Wales did just that. This is the story of his journey. One Chance is the remarkable and inspirational true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night. Paul became an instant YouTube phenomenon after being chosen by Simon Cowell for 'Britain's Got Talent.' Wowing audiences worldwide with his phenomenal voice, Paul went on to win 'Britain's Got Talent' and the hearts of millions.
Philomena - (DIRECTOR Stephen Frears PRODUCERS Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward, Gabrielle Tana WRITER Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope CAST Judi Dench, Steve Coogan) - Falling pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena was sent to the convent of Roscrea to be looked after as a "fallen woman." When her baby was only a toddler, he was taken away by the nuns for adoption in America. Philomena spent the next fifty years searching for him but with no success. Then she met Martin Sixsmith, a world-weary political journalist who happened to be intrigued by her story. Together they set off to America on a journey that would not only reveal the extraordinary story of Philomena's son, but also create an unexpectedly close bond between Philomena and Martin. The film is a compelling narrative of human love and loss that ultimately celebrates life.
Tim's Vermeer - (DIRECTOR Teller PRODUCERS Penn Jillette, Farley Ziegler CAST Tim Jenison, Penn Jillette, Colin Blakemore, David Hockney, Martin Mull, Philip Steadman) - Tim Jenison, a Texas based inventor, attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in all art: How did 17th century Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer ("Girl with a Pearl Earring") manage to paint so photo-realistically-150 years before the invention of photography? The epic research project Jenison embarks on to test his theory is as extraordinary as what he discovers. Spanning a decade, Jenison's adventure takes him to Delft, Holland, where Vermeer painted his masterpieces; on a pilgrimage to the North coast of Yorkshire to meet artist David Hockney; and eventually even to Buckingham Palace, to see the Queen's Vermeer.
The Truth About Emanuel - (DIRECTOR Francesca Gregorini PRODUCER Matt R. Brady WRITER Francesca Gregorini CAST Jessica Biel, Aneurin Barnard, Kaya Scodelario, Frances O'Connor, Jimmi Simpson) - Emanuel (Scodelario), a troubled girl, becomes preoccupied with her mysterious, new neighbor (Biel), who bears a striking resemblance to her dead mother. In offering to babysit her newborn, Emanuel unwittingly enters a fragile, fictional world, of which she becomes the gatekeeper.
TICKETS FOR THE 2013 STARZ DENVER FILM FESTIVAL
Tickets are available for purchase online at www.denverfilm.org or the SDFF main box office location at the Sie FilmCenter (2510 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80206).
Advanced Red Carpet packages are on sale now and Six Pack tickets to any regularly priced films go on sale Wednesday, October 9. Red Carpet packages and Six Pack tickets are available to both Denver Film Society Members and non-members and can be purchased online at denverfilm.org.
Patron Packages are available for advanced ticket selection and to ensure seating at Red Carpet Galas and Special Presentations. Contact Alison Greenberg to purchase a Patron Package at (303) 595-3456 ext. 229 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Red Carpet Presentations will take place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Special Presentation screenings will primarily take place at the Wolf Theatre at the JCC Denver and regular screenings at the Sie FilmCenter and UA Denver Pavilions Stadium 15.
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2013 Starz Denver Film Festival Sponsors:
PREMIER: Starz ASSOCIATE: Anna & John J. Sie Foundation, AOR Marketing & Advertising, Barbara Bridges, CEAVCO Audio Visual, KeyBank, Liberty Global, Stanley Film Festival SUPPORTING: Affinity Gaming - Golden Mardi Gras Casino, Argonaut Wine & Liquor, Colorado Structures, Inc., Mike's Camera, Rocky Mountain College of Art+Design, Stanley Film Festival PATRON: Basil Doc's Pizza, Butler Rents, Caz Matthews, Colorado Film School, Kentwood City Properties, Pura Vida Fitness & Spa, School of Rock, Wells Fargo MEDIA: Denver Life Magazine, Indiewire, Westword GOVERNMENT: Arts & Venues Denver, City and County of Denver, Colorado Creative Industries Division, Colorado Office of Film Television & Media, Consulate General of Canada in Denver, Scientific & Cultural Facilities District CONTRIBUTING: Blake Street Tavern, Contagious Media, Fine Arts Foundation, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation, Postmodern Company, Redshift Framing, Rotary Club of Denver Mile High, SAGIndie, Sprint, Visit Denver, World Trade Center, Zerosun Pictures FESTIVAL FRIENDS: Asian Art Coordinating Council, CinemaScore, Danny Graul-Black & Read, Denver Public Safety Youth Programs, Denver Screenprint & Embroidery, Downtown Denver Partnership, E&J Gallo Winery, Sunset Limo, Withoutabox SPECIAL THANKS: Denver Film Society's Alumni Board, Denver Film Society's Board Members, Volunteers of the Denver Film Society
About the Denver Film Society:
Founded in 1978, the Denver Film Society (DFS) is a membership-based, nonprofit cultural institution that produces film events throughout the year, including the award-winning Starz Denver Film Festival and the popular, summertime series Film on the Rocks. With a vision to cultivate community and transform lives through film, the Film Society provides opportunities for diverse audiences to discover film through creative, thought-provoking experiences.
The new, permanent home of the Denver Film Society, 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. DFS's one-of-a-kind programs annually reach more than 200,000 film lovers and film lovers-in-training.
