Headed into the first weekend of the 30th Starz Denver Film Festival and still flummoxed?
Granted, the event’s sheer variety – more than 60 films in three days – can do that to you. Here are some suggestions that explore the breadth and depth, the international ambitions and cheeky pleasures on tap at the Starz FilmCenter.
“The Orphanage” Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona offers a dark Gothic tale that wields suspense, not axes, relies on ghosts, not gore, to make you squirm. Belén Rueda (“The Sea Inside”) is mesmerizing and sympathetic as the mother of a boy who goes missing at the former orphanage she and her husband have made into their home. Also on the “Watching Hour” slate of midnight films (a feature added to the festival last year): “Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show.” Ari Sandel’s documentary hitched a ride with our chattiest jester when he took a variety show on the open road. (“Orphanage,” midnight Friday, 10:15 p.m. Saturday; “Vince Vaughn,” midnight Friday)
“The Scarlet Empress”The 1930s invited epic onscreen escapism. But, as one cinephile of Josef von Sternberg’s collaboration with Marlene Dietrich wrote: “Judging from its critical and commercial failure at the time … ‘The Scarlet Empress’ hit those limits and kept on going.” Dietrich offered a sightly different spin on the extravagant, quasi-biopic of Catherine the Great: “If this film is a flop, it will be a grandiose flop.” Howie Movshovitz introduces the 1934 movie and Steven Bach, film producer, author of “Marlene Dietrich: Life and Legend” and festival honoree. (12:30 p.m. Saturday)
Animation StationKid animators and their guardians can take part in an interactive workshop on animation and create a film about protecting our planet. (Ages 6-11, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; ages 12-18, 1-4 p.m. Saturday)
Speaking of exhibitsBe sure to visit Gallery 30 at the FilmCenter to take in Larry Laszlo’s lush black-and-white photo history of the film festival.
Starz FilmCenter is at the Tivoli, Ninth Street and Auraria Parkway. Go to
for information on programs and times.
Lisa Kennedy: 303-954-1567 or lkennedy@denverpost.com
