The home of the Denver Film Festival on Tuesday detailed more than $500,000 in upgrades that give its theaters state-of-the-art technology and creature comforts normally associated with national exhibitor chains.
The improvements at the nonprofit Sie FilmCenter, an independent, three-screen movie house at 2510 E. Colfax Ave. include new screens, Christie 4K laser projectors, upgraded sound systems, and new “premium seating” in the center’s Clasen Screening Room, according to a statement.
The improvements arrive as several venues in Boulder are busy upgrading their own technology to handle the Sundance Film Festival. It’s set to debut there in January 2027, following a move from its longtime home in Park City, Utah, and will bring tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors and global cultural prestige to the city.
Sundance officials haven’t said where they might hold satellite screenings outside of Boulder, but many attendees are expected to stay in Denver, so The Sie FilmCenter has the potential to host overflow or post-fest screenings.
Denver Film CEO Kevin Smith said the upgrades were done in anticipation of Denver Film’s 50th anniversary in 2027 — and to ensure the Sie remains “the best theatrical movie-going experience in the state.”
“We continue to work closely with the Sundance team and will be partnering on several projects — some of those announcements will begin to roll out in the weeks ahead — but that is not one of them at this time,” Smith said in an email to The Denver Post.
Sundance requires its theaters and venues to have 2K or 4K screening capability, 5.1 Surround Sound, and various software details in place before a film can appear there, on Sundance’s website. The Sie FilmCenter already had that, and Denver Film has in the past partnered with the Sundance Institute, which produces the Sundance Film Festival, and its Sundance Lab to of new, independent titles.
The newly installed Christie 4K laser projectors at the Sie will display ultra-high resolution (4096 x 2160) with added brightness and color accuracy, and high frame rates of up to 120 frames per second. Those will “(eliminate) motion blur … ensuring stunning clarity for both 2D and 3D presentations,” officials said.
The Clasen Screening Room also now includes premium seating with overstuffed chairs, better sightlines, and a more intimate experience for guests, filmmaker conversations, and community events.
“Denver Film is about so much more than movies,” major donor Liane Clasen said in a statement. “It’s also about fostering community by bringing people together socially in a welcoming place for screenings, conversation, festivals and fun.”
The improvements were paid for by several longtime supporters, according to Denver Film, which owns and operates the building. They include Liane and Robert Clasen, the Sie family and its foundation (the theater’s namesake), and Mike Fries, the CEO of Liberty Global.
The Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media also contributed money, as did its umbrella organization, the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Denver Film officials said.
