When the 33rd Starz Denver Film Festival begins next month, it will boast two opening nights: one at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, the other at the Denver Film Society’s new triplex on East Colfax Avenue. (The festival runs Nov. 3-14.)
Consider this double-barreled opening a sign not of greed (or indecision) but of the new possibilities in store for the arts mainstay, the city’s moviegoers and the city itself.
Last month, the film society signed a two-year lease with Frank Schultz, president and co-owner of Tavern Hospitality Group, for the space briefly occupied by Neighborhood Flix Cinema & Cafe. The space has been shuttered since 2008.
The freshly named Denver FilmCenter/Colfax joins the Tattered Cover Book Store and Twist & Shout music store in the culture-retail hub where the historic Lowenstein Theatre once stood. The move gives the city a new center of artistic interests, populated by its biggest cultural names.
Since 2002, the film society has called the Starz FilmCenter on Aur- aria’s campus home. This year’s and next year’s festival screenings will be held at both the Denver FilmCenter/ Colfax and the Starz FilmCenter.
In 2007, the organization moved its business offices into the building and tweaked the lobby. The film society’s current lease with Auraria ends in November 2011. Between now and next year, the organization will have to find new offices. The Colfax space isn’t big enough.
Using the energy of one of the city’s biggest arts events to launch a new theater complex is savvy strategy.
After all, the festival has been the engine for the film society’s other programs from the start. Its success made plausible the dream of a film center. A $5 million donation by Starz Encore founder John J. Sie made it real and forged a partnership between the film society and University of Colorado Denver’s College of Arts & Media.
Bringing the buzz
Having multiple venues will introduce the film society members to their new digs. It will also keep the new theaters humming with the buzz vets and first-timers always bring to the Starz Denver Film Festival.
John Cameron Mitchell’s “Rabbit Hole” will open the festival Nov. 3 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. In David Lindsay-Abaire’s adaptation of his Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart portray parents facing the unfathomable, the death of a young child.
Mitchell and Eckhart will attend opening night. And Eckhart is set to receive the festival’s Excellence in Acting Award. The handsome, sandy-haired actor made an early and chilling impression in Neil LaBute’s cruel and canny office drama “In the Company of Men.” He endeared himself as Erin Brockovich’s boyfriend and fast-talked the benefits of cigarettes in Jason Reitman’s black(lung) comedy “Thank You for Smoking.”
The next day, two red-carpet events christen the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax.
Mayor John Hickenlooper will join his cousin, director George Hickenlooper, for the screening of “Casino Jack.” Kevin Spacey portrays disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Hizzoner has a bit part in the movie.
And this year’s John Cassavetes Award recipient, Elliott Gould, will walk the red carpet running between the Tattered Cover and Twist & Shout for the screening of “Morning.” Actor-director Leland Orser’s debut feature provides audiences another take on the loss of a child and features Gould, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Orser and Laura Linney.
Most of the festival’s first screenings of films will take place at the new theaters. Second screenings will be held at the Starz FilmCenter.
The Big Night screening of Danny Boyle’s gripping “127 Hours” — about Aron Ralston, the mountaineer who amputated his arm in order to survive — and Darren Aronofsky’s wonderfully bizarre ballet drama “Black Swan” will play at the Ellie.
This year’s recipient of the Mayor’s Career Achievement Award, Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire” “28 Days Later”) will receive the award and a clip-reel tribute and then sit for a chat at the Denver FilmCenter/ Colfax (Nov. 6). “Trainspotting,” Boyle’s visceral plunge into the lives of Scottish heroin addicts, will screen as part of the “Watching Hour” series (Nov. 5).
Special presentations
The King Center on the Auraria campus will be home to a handful of special presentations. Among them: local filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe’s documentary “The People vs. George Lucas,” about the “Star Wars” creator and the fans who believe they love his legacy more than he does. Sundance fest fave “Blue Valentine” will screen. The pained and lovely marital drama, featuring bold performances from Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, was directed by Colorado guy made good Derek Cianfrance (Nov. 7).
That is just a taste of this year’s festival, expected to bring in more than 50,000 moviegoers, host 100 filmmakers and screen more than 200 movies, features and shorts, fiction and documentary.
When the festival concludes, the film society will begin year-round programming at the Colfax site in earnest.
First up: a best-of-fest compilation (Nov. 15); French director Olivier Assayas’ festival-lauded, three-part TV miniseries “Carlos,” about terrorist Carlos the Jackal (Nov. 19).
Film critic Lisa Kennedy: 303-954-1567 or lkennedy@denverpost.com. Also on blogs.denverpostcom/madmoviegoer
Tickets available now
Tickets for the 33rd Starz Denver Film Festival (Nov. 3-14) are now on sale. Last year the festival broke a record. Opening- night film “Precious” sold out faster than any red-carpet presentation in the festival’s history.
Next Sunday, we’ll offer critic’s picks of this year’s fare. Meanwhile, here are some contenders for early sellouts. Go to for the festival’s full program and to purchase tickets online.
Opening Night:“Rabbit Hole.” Director John Cameron Mitchell and star Aaron Eckhart — recipient of this year’s Excellence in Acting Award — will attend. Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m. Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Big Night:“127 Hours.” Nov. 5, 8 p.m. Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Director Danny Boyle clip-reel tribute, Nov 6, 1 p.m. Denver FilmCenter/Colfax.
Closing Night:“Black Swan.”Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver FilmCenter/Opening Night: “Casino Jack.” Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m. Denver FilmCenter/ Colfax. “Morning.” Nov. 4, 8 p.m. Denver FilmCenter/Colfax.
The Starz Denver Film Festival Box Office is located at the Starz FilmCenter on the Auraria campus (Ninth Street and Auraria Parkway). Today and Oct. 26-31: weekdays 4-7 p.m.; weekends 2-7:30 p.m. During the festival, tickets are available at all locations one hour before the first screening.
Prices vary according to venue and event.
Opening Night: Film Only $30- $35. Film Premiere & Party $80-$85. Party Only $60-$65.
Big Night: Film & Party $30-$35. Party Only $25-$30.
Closing Night: Film Only $30- $35. Film & Party $50-$55.
Grand opening at the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax: Film Premiere & Party $20-$25.
Special Presentations at the King Center on the Auraria campus: $11-$13.
Regular Screenings and Panels, $10-$12. Weekday matinees before 5:30 p.m., $6-$10.
