The annual Starz Denver Film Festival (SDFF) has attracted some of the brightest actors in Hollywood, including Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn, and Tim Robbins. And the films screened for Denver audiences emit some of the loudest Oscar buzz you’ll hear all year. It’s no surprise last year’s Big Night Gala — one of the three red carpet events, including Opening Night and Closing Night, happening during the festival — featured Slumdog Millionaire, which went on to win a Best Picture Oscar and seven other gold statuettes.

This year’s 32nd annual festival, to be held November 12 – 22, promises more big stars, award-worthy features, and locally produced shorts. And it’s all presented in a way that mirrors the city itself — smart, sophisticated, and oh, so approachable.

Some film festivals are all about the deal. Robert Redford’s iconic Sundance is known as much for the handshake agreements forged in Park City as for its groundbreaking movies. The SDFF is different. Festival-goers can rub shoulders with some Hollywood heavy-hitters without them needing a bodyguard or escort. “We try to create an atmosphere where the two can be comfortable comingling,” says festival artistic director Brit Withey. The invited talent, in turn, is far more at ease than they typically are on their home turf, staffers say.

Then again, for some filmmakers Denver is home. Last year, former Denver resident Rian Johnson made a triumphant return to Colorado with his Opening Night feature The Brothers Bloom. Johnson’s first film, Brick, earned praise for its film noir peek at high school and won the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

This year, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, produced by Denver-based Sarah Siegel Magness and Gary Magness, will open the festival. Precious director Lee Daniels (Shadowboxer) and star Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe will walk the red carpet. “The movie has potential to win an Oscar for Best Picture,” says Tom Botelho, executive director of the Denver Film Society. Precious already picked up audience awards at both Sundance and the Toronto festival.

But getting access to SDFF takes planning. Screening tickets go fast, some selling out weeks in advance. And keeping track of the movies being screened — more than 250 films, shorts, and documentaries — sounds darn near impossible. Festival staffers suggest planning early and doing your homework.

“My Festival,” on the SDFF Website, which the festival first used last year, allows visitors to craft their own schedule, so they don’t miss a screening. The individualized blueprint can then be e-mailed to friends. Another way to soak up the festival is by purchasing one of three ticket packages (see sidebar), perfect for film devotees who don’t want to miss a moment of the 10-day event.

It doesn’t hurt to book one of Denver’s swanky downtown hotels to make sure you’re in the thick of things once the festival starts humming. Besides, you never quite know what to expect when Hollywood comes to Denver. In recent years, legendary director Francis Ford Coppola cooked a meal for festival staffers, and local food scribes and fans of actor Tim Robbins snuck in to meet him through a back door entrance.

This year, the festival will welcome Oscar-nominated actor Ed Harris (Appaloosa, Apollo 13) with a clips ensemble; a screening of his film, Touching Home; and the presentation of the Mayor’s Achievement Award. Hal Holbrook will receive the Excellence in Acting Award in connection with his new film That Evening Sun.

Then there are the films themselves. Many arrive with honors from other notable events such as the Toronto and Telluride film festivals. But others might catch Denver audiences off guard. “There’s always a film that doesn’t seem like it would appeal to you, but then everybody’s talking about it,” says festival director Britta Erickson.
Jamin Winans, Denver-based director of the acclaimed science fiction thriller Ink, says Denver hosts one of the more prestigious, respected film festivals in the country. The event “has a real laid-back vibe. Denver does a good job of keeping the emphasis on the films,” he says. Winans suggests stargazers check out the red carpet evenings, where you’ll often find famous actors and directors chatting away before the screenings.

Among this year’s other can’t-miss festival highlights are two documentaries on last year’s historic Democratic National Convention in Denver, including Convention and ‘Hick’ Town by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s brother George. Cinema Mexicano will salute the Mexican film scene, capped off by a gala to honor visiting native filmmakers. The festival’s panel discussion series, led by former Rocky Mountain News film critic Robert Denerstein will include an exploration of the realities of today’s documentary filmmaking. Another details how an independent film is made, from last-minute casting changes to grappling with dwindling budgets. “It walks an audience through the filmmaking process,” Erickson says.

Reed Martin, author of The Reel Truth: Everything You Didn’t Know You Need to Know About Making an Independent Film, cautions against disparaging a film as you might discover you are sitting next to the producer. “I’ve heard a million stories of people saying, ‘That was the worst thing I’ve ever seen,’ and they’re talking to the [film’s] director or producer,” Martin says. “You have to be diplomatic.” He recalls chatting up a young, unknown filmmaker at a festival a few years ago. It was The Dark Knight’s Christopher Nolan. “You really never know who anybody is or who they’re going to be,“ he says. “Be prepared to be delighted by some sort of surprise.”

Erick Opeka, head of digital distribution with New Video, says festival attendees should expect spontaneous Q&As after screenings. “A lot of times, there are people you meet you can talk about the film with right after the event,” he says. And don’t just see movies that follow your traditional interests. A good international film festival works best when it opens audience members to new experiences. “It’s important for people to get outside their comfort zone, explore genres they may not normally watch,” he says. “A festival has dozens of different films that could really broaden your horizons.”

Get It Together
Don’t want to miss any aspect of the Starz Denver Film Festival? Then consider one of these three ticket packages.

The Supporter ($500):
VIP seating and access to the festival’s three red carpet events and their respective afterparties, invitation to the Filmmaker and Women+Film receptions, six film festival vouchers, badge access and two single-day passes to the Festival Filmmakers Lounge and the Late Night Lounge, Denver Film Society membership for one year, and a commemorative festival program.

The Cinephile ($250):
Access to Opening and Closing Night events and their respective post-screening Last Reel parties, four film festival vouchers, and a commemorative festival program.

The Next Big Thing (under 35, $50):
Two film festival vouchers; two year-round film vouchers; and access to the Late Night Lounge for any two nights.