The Denver Film Festival has just begun, and this year, there are a lot of films that are pushing the boundaries of technology, featuring diverse casts, and celebrating traditional and old visual media alike. With so many films featured on the schedule, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed with what to see. That’s why we’ve created this quick list of the most anticipated films premiering at the Denver Film Festival. We’ll let you how and when you can see them as well. Note: All foreign language films have English subtitles.
1. Memoria
Memoria follows Jessica, played by Tilda Swinton, as she awakened by a loud explosion in Bogota, Colombia. There to visit her sister, she finds herself befriending some of the locals, like Agnes the archaeologist and Hernan, a fish scaler, who help her to discover the origins of the mysterious that awoke her. She discovers that origins may be a little more psychological than she had anticipated.
Showing: Saturday November 6th at AMC House 4
2. Parallel Mothers
Directed by the famous Spanish director, Pedro Almodóvar and starring the famous, Penelope Cruz, this film tells the story of two women who meet in a hospital while they’re there to give birth. What ensues is a divisive bond unlike anything they’d ever experienced as they grapple with their accidental pregnancies, and the feelings that follow.
Showing: Friday November 5th, 7pm, at Maglione Theater
3. Petite Maman
This French film tells a heartwarming and magical story about a girl, who has recently lost her grandmother, as she meets another girl her age in the forest. The two girls explore, build treehouses, become fast friends, and, together, uncover a fascinating secret.
Showing: Sat, Nov 13th, 4:00 PM @ Maglione Theater
4. Red Rocket
The next film from recent filmmaker, Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine) starts Simone Rex who plays a hustler in a small American town that barely tolerates him. Get ready for a darkly funny, raw film.
Showing: Sat, Nov 6th, 6:30pm @ Maglione Theater
5. The Humans
Featuring an all-star cast like Steven Yeun, Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, etc. is this American film about a Thanksgiving dinner gone wrong. Adapted from a screenplay, the film follows themes of divisiveness, togetherness, and the current American climate.
Showing: Sat, Nov 13th, 7:00 PM @ Denver Botanic Gardens
6. The Worst Person in the World
This film follows Julie on her 30th birthday as she struggles to make sense of the mess her life has become. In an impulsive act, she meets another man despite having a boyfriend, and throws herself into a new relationship. The chaos that ensues teaches Julie a lot about herself and the results of her decisions.
Showing: Fri, Nov 12th, 6:15 PM @ AMC House 2
7. A Chiara
A family drama that follows the Guerrasio family after the eve of the daughter’s 18th birthday. When their father disappears, it’s up to the 15-year-old Chiara to investigate what’s happened to her family, but as she comes closer to the truth, she begins to feel confused about what her future holds.
Showing: Thu, Nov 11th, 6:30 PM @ Maglione Theater
8. Flee
The only animated film on this list, Flee is the story of the filmmaker’s friend, an Afghan refugee who agreed to tell his story as long as he could remain anonymous. What ensued was an animated recollection of his experience in a visceral, poetic tale that can only be fully realized when you see it for yourself.
Where: Sun, Nov 14th, 7:00 PM @ Maglione Theater
9. Burning
This documentary from the Emmy-award winning director, Eva Orner, takes a look at the Australian bushfires from 2019-2020 known as ‘Black Summer’ with an unflinching look at each participant’s perspective, from victims to firefighters.
Showing: Sat, Nov 13th, 4:30 PM @ Denver Botanic Gardens
10. Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America
“Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, criminal defense and civil rights lawyer Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.”
Showing: Thu, Nov 11th, 7:15 PM @ Tom Fries Theater
11. A Hero
“Rahim is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don’t go as planned…”
Showing: Sat, Nov 13th, 6:30 PM @ AMC House 2