The Denver Film Festival (DFF) 2024 kicks off today in the Mile High City and is primed, once again, to bring together the best in local and international cinema between November 1st–10th in Colorado's capital. Suite is a proud sponsor of the event this year—just minutes down the road from our headquarters in Boulder—and we’re thrilled to support the filmmakers, directors, editors, producers, actors and others who pour their hearts into the next generation of movies being showcased at the event.

With over 180 movie screenings, celebrity appearances, panel discussions, and numerous awards being handed out over the next week, there's plenty of ways for filmgoers & media professionals, alike, to enjoy what the festival has to offer. We've been scouring the schedule, so here's a peek at some of the highlight moments at the 47th annual Denver Film Festival. See you at the movies!

Cinema in the foothills of the Rockies

The Denver Film Festival has become a staple of Denver's arts scene since its inception 47 years ago, renowned for its celebration of blockbuster films, environmental & local storytelling, and avant-garde choices that keep Denver's creative scene buzzing long after the credits roll. Its commitment to presenting diverse storytelling and fostering a community-driven environment makes it a haven for filmmakers and cinephiles, and as the largest film festival in the Rocky Mountain region, DFF’s programming draws movie-lovers from all over the world to enjoy Denver's vibrant city.

Key Highlights for 2024

This year’s DFF offers a range of exciting features and events. Attendees can enjoy Gala Presentations, Special Presentations, and an array of films in competition. The festival also shines a spotlight on Colorado with its “Colorado Spotlight” section, dedicated to films made by or featuring Colorado talent. This year’s festivities promise to deliver unforgettable experiences with both in-person and virtual screenings.

Creative Conversations

The 2024 lineup includes three panels discussions that delve into the nuances of modern filmmaking and storytelling. If you're a film buff with a niche interest in the following topics, be sure to reserve your seat in the theater beforehand: 

Rocky Mountain Reels: Climate Change in Colorado Cinema

This insightful panel features local leaders as they explore the critical intersection of film and climate change. This panel will showcase Colorado-based filmmakers Kelly Sears, Dewi Sungai, and Jason Houston, alongside Jon Lipsky, a former FBI agent specializing in investigating environmental crimes. Together, they will share their insights on how employing narrative, documentary, and experimental lenses can shed light on this urgent issue. They will discuss the unique challenges that climate change poses to film production in Colorado as well as strategies for cultivating a greener film industry within the state.

Contemporary Italian Cinema

Professors Irene Lottini (University of Iowa) and Roberta Waldbaum (University of Denver) will discuss contemporary Italian films and new trends in 21st-century Italian cinema released in American theaters or presented at international film festivals, from big productions by renowned Italian directors to unique works by emerging filmmakers.

Embodying the Character in Film

An actor’s vision in film acting is lived emotionally and physically. That kind of performance requires more than instinct; it needs interpretative intelligence and a mastery of physical, psychological, and emotional craft into performance. Internationally recognized acting coach and movement director Jean-Louis Rodrigue leads this conversation, exploring the skills and tools required for the extraordinary creation of characters and performances geared explicitly for the camera. He began his actor training in 1967 and has spent decades teaching and coaching students and A-list actors. Having collaborated with such film actors as Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Juliette Binoche, Josh Brolin, Chris Pine, Hilary Swank, and Helena Bonham Carter — to name only a few — gives Rodrigue a unique point of view of applying physicality to acting in film.

Must-See Films at DFF 2024

With over 180 movies scheduled to play during the week-long event, there's everything from blockbuster dramas to quicky, niche comedies. Here are a few of the highlight films selected for this year's Denver Film Festival: 

Opening Night Film: "The Piano Lesson"

Includes a presentation of the 2024 Excellence in Writing Award to Virgil Williams (in-person) and Malcolm Washington and a post-film conversation moderated by Stephanie Rance.

A battle is brewing in the Charles Household. At the center stands a prized heirloom piano tearing two siblings apart. On one side, a brother (John David Washington) plans to build the family fortune by selling it. On the other, a sister (Danielle Deadwyler) will go to any lengths to hold onto the sole vestige of the family’s heritage. Their uncle (Samuel L. Jackson) tries to mediate, but even he can’t hold back the ghosts of the past. Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, The Piano Lesson explores the intergenerational dynamics of identity, resilience, and transcendence — revealing startling truths about how we perceive the past and who gets to define our legacy.

Centerpiece Film: "The Order"

Includes a post-film conversation with Denver City Councilman Kevin Flynn, author of "The Silent Brotherhood," from which The Order is adapted and Executive Producer Kate Susman.

For over a year, a series of bold bank robberies and armored car heists executed in broad daylight left law enforcement baffled and the public panicked throughout the Pacific Northwest. As the attacks become increasingly violent, FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) becomes convinced that the robberies are the work of domestic terrorists who plan to use the loot to finance an armed uprising against the U.S. government. An intense political and psychological thriller based on the non-fiction book The Silent Brotherhood (written by Denver's own Kevin Flynn), The Order follows Husk and his team into the tangled world of white supremacists as they try to head off a violent uprising that could shatter the nation. As the militia builds a war chest of over $4 million, Husk pursues the malevolent racist Bob Mathews (Nicholas Hoult) to a final confrontation that will go down in American history.

Closing Night Film: "September 5"

Includes a post-film Q&A with actor Ben Chaplin, the 2024 Excellence in Acting Award recipient

Set during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics, September 5 unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. The film follows the American broadcasters who quickly adapted from sports reporting to live coverage of the Israeli athletes taken hostage on that fateful day. At the heart of the story is the young and ambitious producer Geoff (John Magaro) striving to prove himself to his boss, the legendary TV executive Roone Arledge (Peter Sarsgaard). As narratives shift, time ticks away, and conflicting rumors spread, with the hostages' lives hanging in the balance, Geoff grapples with tough decisions while confronting his own moral compass.

5280 Award: "Saturday Night" 

Includes a post-film conversation with the Saturday Night creative team, during which they will receive the 2024 5280 Award. In-person guests include writer/director Jason Reitman, cinematographer Eric Steelberg, co-writer Gil Kenan, and cast members Gabriel LaBelle and Cory Michael Smith.

‍At 11:30 p.m. on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television – and culture – forever. Saturday Night is based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, we count down the minutes in real time until Chevy Chase utters those famous words: “Live from New York…”

Colorado Film Spotlight: "Elevation"

Includes a post-film Q&A with actor Anthony Mackie & director George Nolfi‍

The world has changed. The only habitable place left for humanity is in the high mountains, above 8000 feet. Below 8000 feet dwell the creatures that killed 95% of the human population less than three years ago. To save the life of his young son, a father (Anthony Mackie) is forced to venture below “The Line” with a scientist (Morena Baccarin) he despises, but who just might hold the key to defeating the monsters, and a young woman (Maddie Hasson) determined to keep them both alive long enough to save the human race.

Celebrating storytelling in the Mile High City

This year, we're honored to support the Denver Film Festival as it brings filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals together in celebration of film. From engaging panels on three specific topics to an array of new movies being screened in various theaters around Denver, this year’s festival is set to be an extraordinary experience for anyone passionate about film.

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To learn more about how Suite supports filmmaking & post production, click here.

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