The 38th Denver Film Festival opened under chilly, drizzling skies at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Wednesday night as members of the Denver Film Society, film buffs and Colorado filmmakers assembled to walk and watch the event’s red carpet.
The glitzy launch unfolded absent any celebrities or big names associated with the opening-night feature, director Charlie Kaufman’s stop-motion animated dramedy “Anomalisa.” But that fact — and the soggy weather — didn’t seem to dampen any spirits.
“I’m most excited that it’s actually starting,” said festival director Britta Erickson, wearing a sleek, black dress and tasteful, dangly earrings. “We’ve worked so hard to pull something together for Denver that’s Hollywoodesque.”
A classy, understated VIP champagne reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at Baur’s Restaurant, about two blocks away from the Ellie, featured some of the same faces and a congratulatory speech on this year’s $1.3 million event, the festival’s first in 13 years without its Starz title sponsorship.
“Ticket sales become so much more important this year without the title sponsorship,” said former Starz CEO Robert Clasen, who in January takes over as chairman of the Denver Film Society. “What I’d like to see is that Film on the Rocks-type destination feel (for the fest) with the influx of millennials moving to Denver.”
“Our diehard patrons are not millennials,” Erickson said.
Following the 8 p.m. “Anomalisa” screening, the Denver Film Society also planned an after-party from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Union Station.
The 2015 festival, which includes panels, screenings and awards at the Ellie, the Sie FilmCenter and UA Denver Pavilions theaters, features more than 250 films from 39 countries. Organizers are expecting about 55,000 attendees through Nov. 15.
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642, jwenzel@denverpost.com or @johnwenzel
38th Denver Film Festival
Screenings, panels and awards through Nov. 15 at the Sie FilmCenter, UA Denver Pavilions and Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Tickets at Sie box office, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. or . Call 720-381-0813 for details.
