Denver Film Festival Unveils Lineup, Honorees and Ticket Sale Dates
The 48th Denver Film Festival (DFF48) will open its curtains Oct. 31 with a slate of world premieres, star-studded red carpets and top honors for industry veterans. The 10-day event will feature 136 feature films, documentaries and shorts from around the world, culminating with the world premiere of “Elway,” a Netflix documentary chronicling the career of Denver Broncos legend John Elway.
Tickets go on sale to Denver Film members Oct. 5, and to the general public Oct. 6 at denverfilm.org.
This year’s program includes major studio showcases, international titles and Colorado-connected stories. The festival will take place across screenings, panels and community events held at venues citywide.
Blockbuster Bookends
The festival opens with two high-profile presentations. On Oct. 31, Netflix’s “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will screen at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Directed by Rian Johnson, the third installment in the franchise follows detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) alongside an ensemble that includes Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner and Kerry Washington.
That same evening, the Halloween celebration continues with Paramount’s horror feature “Primate,” directed by Johannes Roberts and starring Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander and Oscar-winner Troy Kotsur.
The centerpiece presentation, Searchlight’s “Is This Thing On?,” arrives Nov. 3 at MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater. Directed by and starring Bradley Cooper, the film features Will Arnett and Laura Dern.
The closing night gala will bring “Elway” to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Nov. 8, tracing Elway’s rise from Stanford standout to Denver Broncos legend. The famed former quarterback will join co-directors Ken Rodgers and Chris Weaver to present the premiere in person.
Honoring Hollywood Legends
Denver Film will present a series of tributes during the festival, recognizing artists who have left lasting cultural marks.
Lucy Liu will receive the John Cassavetes Award during a Nov. 8 screening of “Rosemead” at MCA Denver. Delroy Lindo will be honored with the Next50 Career Achievement Award on Nov. 1 at the Sie FilmCenter following a showing of “Sinners.”
Acclaimed filmmaker Gus Van Sant will be recognized with the Excellence in Directing Award at the Nov. 4 screening of “Dead Man’s Wire.”
Actor Niecy Nash-Betts will receive the CinemaQ LaBahn Ikon Award on Nov. 2 at Denver Botanic Gardens. The annual honor celebrates members of the LGBTQIA+ community whose work inspires cultural representation. Past recipients include Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Colman Domingo and Andrew Haigh.
Global Spotlight
Beyond red carpets, the festival’s lineup is packed with award-winning international films and highly anticipated U.S. releases.
Highlights include “Sentimental Value,” winner of the Cannes Grand Prix and starring Stellan Skarsgård; Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” with Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal; Mona Fastvold’s “The Testament of Ann Lee;” Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly” with George Clooney and Adam Sandler; and Park Chan-wook’s thriller “No Other Choice.”
Other notable titles include “Rental Family” starring Brendan Fraser, “Christy” with Sydney Sweeney as boxer Christy Martin, and “Nuremberg,” a courtroom drama led by Rami Malek and Russell Crowe. Morgan Neville’s “Man on the Run” documents Paul McCartney, while Wagner Moura stars in “The Secret Agent,” winner of the Best Actor prize at Cannes.
Festival Vision
Artistic Director Matthew Campbell says curating this year’s program required navigating an abundance of quality films.
“Selecting from so many accomplished works was an incredibly difficult process,” Campbell says. “But we’ve curated a lineup that reflects both the diversity and strength of contemporary storytelling with a remarkable selection of films, storylines and performances.”
“Eclectic and thought-provoking, these films ask urgent questions about our past, present and future, alongside deeply personal stories of resilience and triumph. It’s a program rich with human connection and empathy and our audiences will have the opportunity to come together in a communal experience and discover both big-name titles and hidden gems that shine just as brightly. That’s what makes the Denver Film Festival such a special experience.”
Denver Film CEO Kevin Smith emphasizes the festival’s role in fostering connection.
“The Denver Film Festival has always been about bringing people together through the transformative power of film,” Smith says. “As we celebrate our 48th year, we’re excited to bring bold new voices and world-class filmmakers to Denver and to create experiences that inspire, challenge and connect us.”
“There is a clear and noticeable momentum coming from Colorado’s film industry, including the most recent addition of Sundance to our ecosystem, and original and independent voices are driving it. This festival is as much about our incredible community as the films themselves.”
Competitions and Awards
The festival will host its signature competitions, judged by industry professionals. The Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Feature Film includes finalists such as “Left-Handed Girl” (Taiwan) and “My Father’s Shadow” (Nigeria, U.K., Ireland). The Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary will highlight “Cover Up,” “The Eyes of Ghana” and “A Simple Soldier,” among others.
The American Independent Competition, honoring domestic narratives outside the studio system, features “Charliebird,” “Fucktoys,” “Lucky Lu” and “Rosemead.”
The shorts lineup will span global entries, with juries awarding prizes across categories including student animation and live action.
Venues and Community
Events will unfold across Denver at the Sie FilmCenter, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Botanic Gardens and MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater. Alongside screenings, the festival will include filmmaker conversations, panels, parties, tributes and red-carpet events.
Additional honorees and guests will be announced in the weeks ahead.
About Denver Film
Founded in 1978, Denver Film is the region’s only nonprofit membership-based film institution. Its year-round programming includes the Film on the Rocks series at Red Rocks Amphitheater and spotlight festivals such as CinemaQ, Women+Film and the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival. Denver Film serves more than 160,000 patrons annually through over 600 screenings.
Editor’s note: Ticket information and a full festival schedule are available at denverfilm.org.
