“LADY BIRD” KICKS OFF 40TH DENVER FILM FESTIVAL
The 40th Denver Film Festival may not have opened with all the razzledazzle of last year, when the Oscar- winning star ( Emma Stone) and director ( Damian Chazelle) of “La La Land” were here for the screening of the film for which each would later receive an Academy Award.
But the 11- day festival opened strong Wednesday when film buffs filled the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for a first look at “Lady Bird,” a coming- of- age flick that The New York Times hailed as
“big screen perfection.”
The fact that director Greta Gerwig and such cast members as Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf and Lucas Hedges were unable to attend— presumably because the film would open just two days after its screening in Denver and Gerwig, in particular, had plenty of last- minute details to tend to— didn’t seem to bother any of the first- nighters.
“I love everything about this event,” declared Will LaBahn, who has been a sponsor of the festival for eight years. “It’s a chance to meet new filmmakers, young actors and to see Denver in a whole different light.”
Having big- name stars in attendance is nice, observed KBNO radio’s Zee Ferrufino, who was there with Alma Garcia. But for him, the main attraction is what’s on the big
screen. “The opening night movie is always a good one— and so is the reception afterward,” he said. “I enjoy it all.”
“Autumn is always a vibrant time for Denver, and the festival is the pinnacle of that,” said Carmel Scopelliti, founder and president of Impresario Strategies. Also, “I always look forward to seeing what ( festival director) Britta Erickson is wearing. Her shoes. Her dress. She always picks something special.”
“I’m proud and inspired by the way the festival has grown, both in terms of the audience it attracts and the films that are represented,” said Deborah Jordy, executive director of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. “Films bring together people, ideas, culture and thought.”
Indeed, remarked Andrew Rodgers, executive director of the Denver Film Society. “The role of film is to open minds, viewpoints and conversation, ( so) just putting a film on the screen isn’t enough. I would argue that our future, the film society’s reason for being, is to build community, to build bridges and close divides, and to cultivate great conversations.”
Some of those most excited to be on hand for the opening night festivities were the 12 teen members of the Denver Film Society’s Young Filmmakers-Workshop, a group founded by Scott Kinnamon, a filmmaker and owner of Skew Media.
Over the course of the festival, Becky Bruner, a junior at Douglas County High School, and her young colleagues will attend screenings and other events to interview and photograph visiting filmmakers and create profiles that will be posted on the film society’s website. They’re also keeping their fingers crossed for a sit- down with Kyra Sedgwick, who will be here Nov. 3 to receive the John Cassavetes Award, which will be presented after the screening of her film, “Submission.”
“Last year, one of our members got to interview Emma Stone, and that went well,” Kinnamon said, “so we’re hoping things will work out with Sedgwick.”
In “Lady Bird,” Ronan’s character, Christine
“Lady Bird” McPherson, stresses out over finding the perfect prom dress— a scene that helped determine the theme for the opening night after- party held at the McNichols Building.
Among those enjoying the opening night festivities were Bob Clasen, president of the Denver Film Society board, and his wife, Liane; Denver Film Festival founder Ron Henderson and his wife, Judy Anderson; Geoff Marslett, director of “The Day Before;” Emilie Upczak and Nicholas Emery, the director and writer, respectively, of “Moving Parts;” Christopher Kamyszew, Gyula Gazdag and Clemence Taillandier, jurors for the Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for best feature film; Dr. Dean Prina and Caz Matthews; artistWilliam Matthews; Dee Chirifisi, Jim Theye, Jan Nelsen and Andi Leahey from patron sponsor Kentwood City Properties; Jody and David Charmatz; Wendy Greer- Hale; and Tracy Shaffer and David Thomson.