DENVER – The 40th annual Denver Film Festival got underway Wednesday, kicking-off nearly two weeks of movie screenings and events around the Denver area. The festival runs until Nov, 12.
Screenings and events will take place at various venues, including the Sie FilmCenter, UA Denver Pavilions and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Tickets to the screenings and more information on how to fest can be found on the event’s website.
However, several of the screenings were already sold-out or placed on “stand-by,” meaning you could still get a spot to the screening if the original buyer had a change of heart.
The festival opens with Greta Gerwig's comedy-drama Lady Bird, starring Saoirse Ronan. The film garnered critical acclaim for Ronan’s performance. The show gets underway at 8 p.m. at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Further highlights include the Centerpiece Presentation of Richard Levine's drama Submission, starring Stanley Tucci and Kyra Sedgwick. The film made its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June.
Another don’t-miss event is The Big Night presentation of Aaron Sorkin's directorial debut Molly's Game, starring Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba and Kevin Costner. The red-carpet screening of Molly’s Game includes a post-film discussion with Sorkin at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Other features include the Red Carpet Matinee of Martin McDonagh's dark comedy-drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, starring Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson.
The festival closes with Craig Gillespie's tragicomedy I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie as controversial ice skater Tonya Harding.
This year's honorees are actress/producer Kyra Sedgwick (John Cassavetes Award) and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (Career Achievement Award).
The Associated Press contributed to this report