Netflix's Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery opens this year's festival with Paramount's Primate as the opening night late night showcase, Searchlight's Is This Thing On? as its centerpiece and the World Premiere of Netflix's Elway as the closing night presentation, presented in person by John Elway
Lucy Liu, Delroy Lindo, Gus Van Sant, Niecy Nash-Betts to receive top individual honors
The Testament of Ann Lee, Sentimental Value, Hamnet, Jay Kelly, No Other Choice, Rental Family, and Christy highlight robust lineup of features, documentaries, and shorts
Tickets on sale Oct. 5 to Denver Film members, Oct. 6 to the public
Denver Film announced today its program lineup for the 48th annual Denver Film Festival (DFF48), taking place Oct. 31 – Nov. 9. This year's Festival lineup delivers 136 feature-length films, documentaries and shorts from across the globe. The complete schedule of films, screening times and locations, as well as tickets to individual screenings, Special Presentations, Red Carpets and events is available at https://www.denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival/. Tickets to individual screenings, panels and parties go on sale to Denver Film members Oct. 5 at 10 a.m., and to the general public Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. at: www.denverfilm.org/.
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The DFF48 curtain rises Oct. 31 with two Opening Night presentations including the Opening Night Red Carpet presentation of Netflix's Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Writer/Director Rian Johnson's third installment in the Knives Out series features southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) chasing clues in the latest mystifying case and featuring a star-studded ensemble including Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner and Kerry Washington.
The Halloween celebrations will continue later that evening with the Late Night Showcase Opening Night presentation of Paramount's Primate, the American horror film directed and co-written by Johannes Roberts and starring Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander and Troy Kotsur.
The festival continues with Searchlight's Is This Thing On? as its Centerpiece presentation on Nov. 3 at the MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater. Directed by Bradley Cooper and featuring Cooper alongside writer/actor Will Arnett and Laura Dern.
The festival will close with the World Premiere of Elway, a Netflix and Omaha Productions produced documentary on legendary Broncos quarterback John Elway.
The film chronicles his early collegiate career at Stanford through his 16 seasons as the Denver Broncos starting quarterback. Elway will join co-directors Ken Rodgers and Chris Weaver to present the film at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Denver Film will welcome and honor several guests, spotlighting their work through Special Presentations.
Lucy Liu(Rosemead, Presence, Kill Bill, Charlie's Angels) will receive the John Cassavetes Award at a screening of Rosemead, Nov. 8 at the MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater presented by Amazon.
Delroy Lindo (Sinners, Malcolm X, Get Shorty, Da 5 Bloods) will receive Denver Film's Next50 Career Achievement Award following a special screening of Sinners at the Sie FilmCenter on Nov. 1.
Gus Van Sant(My Own Private Idaho, Good Will Hunting, Milk, To Die For) will receive the Excellence in Directing Award for his work on Dead Man's Wire screening Nov. 4 at the MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater presented by Amazon.
Niecy Nash-Betts(All's Fair, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Reno: 911!, Claws) will receive the fourth CinemaQ LaBahn Ikon Award presented annually to an entertainment contributor from the LGBTQIA+ community whose work has made a lasting cultural impact and inspired meaningful representation on screen and beyond. Past honorees include: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Colman Domingo, and Andrew Haigh. Nash-Betts will be honored Nov. 2 at Denver Botanic Gardens.
The Denver Film Festival will serve as the first opportunity for most audience members to see some of the most-talked about films of the year. This year's lineup includes Sentimental Value, winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and starring Stellan Skarsgard as a film director trying to reconnect with his daughters; Hamnet, directed by Oscar-winner Chloe Zhao and featuring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in a story about the real-life tragedy that influenced William Shakespeare's greatest work; The Testament of Ann Lee, award winning writer-director Mona Fastvold's (The World to Come, The Brutalist) speculative retelling of the extraordinary story of Ann Lee, founder of the religious sect known as the Shakers;Jay Kelly, a Noah Baumbach-directed dramedy with George Clooney as a movie star reflecting on his life choices and Adam Sandler as his manager; No Other Choice, the latest twisty thriller by South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook; Rental Family, a crowd-pleaser featuring Brendan Fraser as an actor who stumbles into an unusual job playing stand-in roles for strangers; Christy, with Sydney Sweeney in a knockout performance as boxer Christy Martin; Nuremberg, starring Rami Malek and Russell Crowe in a psychological drama about one of the most important trials of the 20th century; Man on the Run, Morgan Neville's documentary on Paul McCartney; and The Secret Agent, with Wagner Moura in a performance that took home the Best Actor prize at Cannes.
“Selecting from so many accomplished works was an incredibly difficult process,” said Denver Film Festival Artistic Director Matthew Campbell. “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.”
Completing the 10-day Festival programming, DFF48 will deliver a robust lineup of general screenings including feature length films, documentaries, and shorts. In addition, the Festival will bring filmmaker conversations, events, panels, parties, industry guests, awards and tributes that will be shared in venues across the city including the Sie FilmCenter, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Botanic Gardens and the MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater presented by Amazon.
“The Denver Film Festival has always been about bringing people together through the transformative power of film,” said Denver Film CEO Kevin Smith. “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.”
Additional in-person guests/honorees will be announced as confirmed in the weeks ahead.
2025 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
RED CARPET PRESENTATIONS:If you want to see films destined to receive industry honors and awards, Red Carpet presentations are an excellent place to start. The films below feature some of DFF's boldest and best artists pushing envelopes and taking big swings. Many, if not all, are sure to generate passionate discussions after the credits roll.
OPENING NIGHT:Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (United States), directed by Rian Johnson
OPENING NIGHT LATE NIGHT SHOWCASEPrimate(United States), directed by Johannes Roberts
CENTERPIECE:Is This Thing On? (United States), directed by Bradley Cooper
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:Arco (France, United States), directed by Ugo BienvenuThe Choral (United Kingdom), directed by Nicholas HytnerThe Chronology of Water (United States, France, Latvia), directed by Kristen StewartH is for Hawk (United Kingdom, United States, Singapore), directed by Philippa LowthorpeHamnet (United Kingdom), directed by Chloé ZhaoHeads or Tails? (Italy, United States), directed by Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo ZoppisJay Kelly (United States, United Kingdom, Italy), directed by Noah BaumbachMan on the Run (United Kingdom, United States), directed by Morgan NevilleNo Other Choice (South Korea), directed by Park Chan-wookNuremberg (United States), directed by James VanderbiltRebuilding (United States), directed by Max Walker-SilvermanRental Family (United States, Japan), directed by HIKARISentimental Value (Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Türkiye), directed by Joachim TrierSinners (United States), directed by Ryan CooglerThe Testament of Ann Lee (United States, United Kingdom), directed by Mona FastvoldTrain Dreams (United States), directed by Clint Bentley
CLOSING NIGHT:Elway (United States), directed by Ken Rodgers and Chris Weaver
DFF48 FILMS IN-COMPETITIONFeaturing films from across the world, this year's selection of in-competition films will be screened and judged by a panel of industry professionals and entertainment industry media.
Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Feature Film – FinalistsIn its early years, the Denver Film Festival gained a reputation within the international film community for showcasing, on a regular basis, new Eastern European films. Krzysztof Kieslowski appeared in 1989 for a major tribute and was a guest again in 1994. The director died in 1996 at the age of 55. The following year, Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Feature, presented to a feature-length film that reflects the artistic sensibilities of the late Polish director, was established the next year under the auspices of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland and in collaboration with the widow of the late director.
Left-Handed Girl(Taiwan), directed by Shih-Ching TsouThe Love That Remains(Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, France), directed by Hlynur PálmasonMy Father's Shadow(Nigeria, United Kingdom, Ireland), directed by Akinola Davies, Jr.The President's Cake(Iraq, United States, Qatar), directed by Hasan HadiSirat (Spain, France), directed by Olivier LaxeSound of Falling(Germany), directed by Mascha Schilinski
Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary – FinalistsIn the early 1960s, two brothers started a revolution in documentary filmmaking. Albert and his late brother David pioneered the method called direct cinema. Hand-held cameras and lightweight sound equipment made possible an immediacy and spontaneity that led to an entirely new way of making films uniquely suited to non-fiction subjects. The Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary is presented to a filmmaker who best represents the truth and purity of documentary filmmaking as established by the Maysles Brothers.
Cover Up(United States), directed by Mark Obenhaus, Laura PoitrasThe Eyes of Ghana(United States), directed by Ben ProudfootHair, Paper, Water…(Belgium, France, Vietnam), directed by Nicolas Graux, TrÆ°Æing Minh QuýSeeds(United States), directed by Brittany ShyneShifting Baselines(Canada), directed by Julien ElieA Simple Soldier(Ukraine), directed by Jual Camilo Cruz, Artem Ryzhykov
American Independent Competition – FinalistsThis award is presented annually to a domestic narrative feature that boldly steps outside of the studio system to offer unique stories in an unconstrained spirit.
Charliebird (United States), directed by Libby EwingFucktoys(United States), directed by Annapurna SriramLucky Lu(United States, Canada), directed by Lloyd Lee ChoiMad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo)(United States), directed by Joel Alfonso VargasThe Plague(United States, United Arab Emirates), directed by Charlie PolingerRosemead(United States), directed by Eric Lin
Featured Shorts -The shorts lineup includes a wide range of offerings from across the globe. The shorts jury will screen and award a Grand Jury Prize for Best Short, as well as for Student Shorts: Live Action and Student Shorts: Animation.
48th Denver Film Festival A-Z Film Guide:Amrum(Germany), directed by Fatih AkinAndré is an Idiot(United States), directed by Tony BennaArco(France, United States), directed by Ugo BienvenuBackside(United States), directed by Raúl O. Paz-PastranaBelow the Clouds (Italy), directed by Gianfranco RosiCalle Malaga(Morocco, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium), directed by Maryam TouzaniThe Captive (Spain, Italy), directed by AlejandroAmenábarCharliebird (United States), directed by Libby EwingThe Choral(United Kingdom), directed by Nicholas HytnerChristy (United States), directed by David MichôdThe Chronology of Water (United States, France, Latvia), directed by Kristen StewartCoexistence, My Ass! (France, United States), directed by Amber FaresComparsa (Guatemala, United States), directed by Vickie Curtis, Doug AndersonCover-Up (United States), directed by Mark Obenhaus, Laura PoitrasCreede U.S.A.(United States), directed by Kahane Corn CoopermanDead Man's Wire(United States), directed by Gus Van SantElway (United States), directed by Ken Rodgers and Chris WeaverEternity(United States), directed by David FreyneThe Eyes of Ghana(United States), directed by Ben ProudfootFantasy Life (United States), directed by Matthew ShearFranz(Czech Republic, Germany, Poland), directed by Agnieszka HollandFucktoys(United States), directed by Annapurna SriramGod Will Not Help (Croatia, Italy, Romania, Greece, France, Slovenia), directed by Hana JušicThe Golden Spurtle(United Kingdom, Australia), directed by Constantine CostiH is for Hawk (United Kingdom, United States, Singapore), directed by Philippa LowthorpeHair, Paper, Water…(Belgium, France, Vietnam), directed by Nicolas Graux, TrÆ°Æing Minh QuýHamnet (United Kingdom), directed by Chloé ZhaoHeads or Tails?(Italy, United States), directed by Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo ZoppisI Was Born This Way (United States), directed by Daniel Junge, Sam PollardIs This Things On? (United States), directed by Bradley CooperIsh(United Kingdom), directed by Perretta ImranJay Kelly(United States, United Kingdom, Italy), directed by Noah BaumbachKokuho (Japan), directed byLee Sang-IlKontinental '25(Romania), directed by Radu JudeLa Grazia(Italy), directed by Paolo SorrentinoLate Shift(Switzerland, Germany), directed by Petra VolpeLeft-Handed Girl(Taiwan), directed by Shih-Ching TsouA Life Illuminated(United States), directed by Tasha Van ZandtLiving the Land(China), directed by Huo MengThe Love That Remains(Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, France), directed by Hlynur PálmasonLucky Lu(United States, Canada), directed by Lloyd Lee ChoiMad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo)(United States), directed by Joel Alfonos VargasMan on the Run(United Kingdom, United States), directed by Morgan NevilleMy Father's Shadow(Nigeria, United Kingdom, Ireland), directed by Akinola Davies, Jr.The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (Chile, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain), directed by DiegoCéspedesNatchez (United States), directed by Suzannah HerbertThe New Yorker at 100 (United States), directed by Marshall CurryNirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (Canada), directed by Matt JohnsonNo Other Choice(South Korea), directed by Park Chan-wookNuremberg (United States), directed by James VanderbiltOBEX (United States), directed by Albert BirneyOrphan(Hungary, France, United Kingdom, Germany), directed by László NemesPalestine 36(Palestine, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Qatar, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Jordan), directed by Annemarie JacirPeter Hujar's Day(United States, Germany), directed by Ira SachsThe Plague(United States, United Arab Emirates), directed by Charles PolingerA Poet(Colombia, Germany, Sweden), directed bySimón Mesa SotoThe President's Cake (Iraq, United States, Qatar), directed by Hasan HadiPrimate (United States), directed by Johannes RobertsPromised Sky(Tunisia, France, Qatar), directed by Erige SehiriRebuilding(United States), directed by Max Walker-SilvermanReflection in a Dead Diamond(Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Italy), directed by Hélène Cattet, Bruno ForzaniRental Family(United States, Japan), directed by HIKARIResurrection(China, France, United States), directed by Bi GanRomería(Spain, Germany), directed by Carla SimónRosemead(United States), directed by Eric LinThe Secret Agent(Brazil, France, Germany, Netherlands), directed by Kleber Mendonça FilhoSeeds (United States), directed by Brittany ShyneSentimental Value(Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Türkiye), directed by Joachim TrierShifting Baselines (Canada), directed by Julien ElieA Simple Soldier(Ukraine), directed by Juan Camilo Cruz, Artem RyzhykovSinners(United States), directed by Ryan CooglerSirat(Spain, France), directed by Olivier LaxeSisu: Road to Revenge(Finland, United States), directed by Jalmari HelanderSound of Falling(Germany), directed by Mascha SchilinskiStraight Circle (United Kingdom), directed by Oscar HudsonThe Stranger(France), directed by Francois OzonThe Tale of Silyan (North Macedonia), directed by Tamara KotevskaThe Testament of Ann Lee (United States, United Kingdom), directed by Mona FastvoldTrain Dreams (United States), directed by Clint BentleyTwo Prosecutors (France, Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, Romania, Lithuania, Ukraine), directed by Sergei LoznitsaUnderland (United Kingdom, United States), directed by Robert PetitWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery(United States), directed by Rian JohnsonYoung Mothers(France), directed by Jean Pierre Dardenne, Luc DardenneZodiac Killer Project(United Kingdom), directed by Charlie Shackleton
The Press Accreditation applicationprocess for the 48THDenver Film Festival (DFF48) closes Oct. 24 at 11:59 p.m. The application to be considered for Accreditation can be found on the DFF48 website or by clicking here.
2025 Denver Film Festival Sponsors (as of Oct. 4):
Branding Designed ByAOR
Thank You To Our SponsorsColorado Office of Film, Television and MediaAmazonLiberty GlobalNext50Anna John Sie FoundationDormer Harpring Personal Injury LawyersSheila K O'BrienWana Brands FoundationWilliam LaBahnGHP Investment Advisors, Inc.BOK FinancialMeow WolfTaloma PartnersPNC BankMary WatsonSnarfs SandwichesVisit DenverGloria Campbell and John VerwysSuzanne SitemanColorado Environmental Film FestivalConsulate General of Canada in Denver
Media5280 MagazineAxiosCBS News ColoradoCity Cast DenverColorado Public RadioDenverseKBCO (97.3 FM)Metromode MagazineRocky Mountain Public MediatheBulletin.io
Additional Thanks ToEldorado Natural Spring WaterBest Day BrewingButler RentsDenver Screen Print & EmbroiderymilkhausNewberry Brothers FloristRatio BeerworksSerendipity CateringSexy PizzaSpirit HoundsTopo ChicoTotal WineDenver Botanic GardensMCA Holiday TheaterDulin McQuinn Young, LLPColorado Dragon BoatMartha's Vineyard African American Film FestivalSAG-AFTRASeriesFest
Proudly Funded ByBonfils Stanton FoundationSCFD (Scientific & Cultural Facilities District)
About Denver FilmDenver Film has been transforming and entertaining the Colorado community through the power of diverse voices in film since 1978. Operating as the region's only membership-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit film institution, Denver Film has grown into a signature cultural organization in the West, screening international and independent movies found nowhere else in the region.
Serving more than 160,000 patrons annually through 600-plus screenings that include year-round programming at Denver Film's flagship home the Sie (pronounced SEE) FilmCenter, the annual Denver Film Festival celebration, the iconic Film on the Rocks program at Red Rocks Amphitheater, and Spotlight Festivals including CinemaQ, Women+Film, and the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival. Spotlights highlight underrepresented communities and foster inclusivity. Denver Film works to build resilience across all of its programming and events by amplifying diverse voices, promoting equity, and fostering community connections.
For more information or to explore the full suite of Denver Film programming, events, and ticketing visit: denverfilm.org.
About Visit Denver, The Convention & Visitors Bureau Celebrating 116 years of promoting the Mile High City, Visit Denver is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Denver welcomed more than 37.1 million visitors in 2024, generating $10.3 billion in spending, while supporting tens of thousands of jobs and making Tourism one of the city's largest industries. Learn more about Denver at Visit Denver or Tourism Pays Denver. Follow Denver's social media channels for up-to-the-minute updates on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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