Denver Film Festival Lineup For 2025 Unveiled As Fest Names Honorees
EXCLUSIVE: The Denver Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for its 48th edition, taking place October 31–November 9.
Featuring 136 narrative features, documentaries and shorts from around the world, the program opens on Halloween with a double header. The Opening Night Red Carpet presentation will be Netflix’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the third installment in Rian Johnson’s whodunit series starring Daniel Craig, which will screen at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Later that evening, attendees will be treated to a Late Night Showcase Opening Night screening of Primate, Paramount’s forthcoming horror film from Johannes Roberts, starring CODA’s Troy Kotsur, at Sie FilmCenter.
The festival continues with Centerpiece presentation Is This Thing On?, the Searchlight divorce dramedy from filmmaker Bradley Cooper, starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern. That film screens at the MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater on November 3. The festival closes on November 8 with the world premiere of Elway, a Netflix doc produced by Skydance Sports, Omaha Productions and MakeMake, exploring the highs and lows of legendary Broncos quarterback John Elway’s career.
This year’s list of festival honorees includes Lucy Liu, who will receive the John Cassavetes Award at a November 8 screening of her film Rosemead at the MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater; Delroy Lindo, who will receive Denver Film’s Next50 Career Achievement Award following a special screening of Sinners at the Sie FilmCenter on November 1; Gus Van Sant, who will receive the Excellence in Directing Award for his work on Dead Man’s Wire, screening November 4 at the MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater; and Niecy Nash-Betts, who will receive the fourth CinemaQ LaBahn Ikon Award, presented to an industry figure from the LGBTQIA+ community whose work has made a lasting cultural impact and inspired meaningful representation on screen and beyond. Nash-Betts will be honored at Denver Botanic Gardens on November 2.
Additional in-person guests and honorees will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Beyond the awards and tributes, the festival will showcase numerous other major awards contenders, including Joachim Trier’s Cannes Grand Prix winner Sentimental Value, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, The Testament of Ann Lee from The Brutalist scribe Mona Fastvold, Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, Hikari’s Rental Family, the Sydney Sweeney boxing pic Christy from David Michôd, James Vanderbilt’s Nuremberg, Morgan Neville’s Paul McCartney doc Man on the Run, and The Secret Agent, which earned Wagner Moura Cannes’ Best Actor prize.
“Selecting from so many accomplished works was an incredibly difficult process,” said Denver Film Festival Artistic Director Matthew Campbell. “But we’ve curated a lineup that reflects both the diversity and strength of contemporary storytelling with a remarkable selection of films, storylines and performances. Eclectic and thought-provoking, these films ask urgent questions about our past, present and future, alongside deeply personal stories of resilience and triumph. It’s a program rich with human connection and empathy, and our audiences will have the opportunity to come together in a communal experience and discover both big-name titles and hidden gems that shine just as brightly. That’s what makes the Denver Film Festival such a special experience.”
Denver Film CEO Kevin Smith (not to be confused with the filmmaker of the same name) added, “The Denver Film Festival has always been about bringing people together through the transformative power of film. As we celebrate our 48th year, we’re excited to bring bold new voices and world-class filmmakers to Denver and to create experiences that inspire, challenge and connect us. There is a clear and noticeable momentum coming from Colorado’s film industry, including the most recent addition of Sundance to our ecosystem, and original and independent voices are driving it. This festival is as much about our incredible community as the films themselves.”
Tickets to individual screenings, panels and parties go on sale to Denver Film members October 5 at 10 a.m., and to the general public October 6 at 10 a.m. Purchase tickets and view the full schedule, including screening times and locations, at the Denver Film website.
View the Denver Film Festival lineup below.
2025 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
RED CARPET PRESENTATIONS: If you want to see films destined to receive industry honors and awards, Red Carpet presentations are an excellent place to start. The films below feature some of DFF’s boldest and best artists pushing envelopes and taking big swings. Many, if not all, are sure to generate passionate discussions after the credits roll.
OPENING NIGHT:
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (United States), directed by Rian Johnson
OPENING NIGHT LATE NIGHT SHOWCASE
Primate (United States), directed by Johannes Roberts
CENTERPIECE:
Is This Thing On? (United States), directed by Bradley Cooper
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:
Arco (France, United States), directed by Ugo Bienvenu
The Choral (United Kingdom), directed by Nicholas Hytner
The Chronology of Water (United States, France, Latvia), directed by Kristen Stewart
H is for Hawk (United Kingdom, United States, Singapore), directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
Hamnet (United Kingdom), directed by Chloé Zhao
Heads or Tails? (Italy, United States), directed by Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis
Jay Kelly (United States, United Kingdom, Italy), directed by Noah Baumbach
Man on the Run (United Kingdom, United States), directed by Morgan Neville
No Other Choice (South Korea), directed by Park Chan-wook
Nuremberg (United States), directed by James Vanderbilt
Rebuilding (United States), directed by Max Walker-Silverman
Rental Family (United States, Japan), directed by HIKARI
Sentimental Value (Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Türkiye), directed by Joachim Trier
Sinners (United States), directed by Ryan Coogler
The Testament of Ann Lee (United States, United Kingdom), directed by Mona Fastvold
Train Dreams (United States), directed by Clint Bentley
CLOSING NIGHT:
Elway (United States), directed by Ken Rodgers and Chris Weaver
DFF48 FILMS IN-COMPETITION
Featuring films from across the world, this year’s selection of in-competition films will be screened and judged by a panel of industry professionals and entertainment industry media.
Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Feature Film – Finalists
In its early years, the Denver Film Festival gained a reputation within the international film community for showcasing, on a regular basis, new Eastern European films. Krzysztof Kieslowski appeared in 1989 for a major tribute and was a guest again in 1994. The director died in 1996 at the age of 55. The following year, Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Feature, presented to a feature-length film that reflects the artistic sensibilities of the late Polish director, was established the next year under the auspices of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland and in collaboration with the widow of the late director.
Left-Handed Girl (Taiwan), directed by Shih-Ching Tsou
The Love That Remains (Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, France), directed by Hlynur Pálmason
My Father’s Shadow (Nigeria, United Kingdom, Ireland), directed by Akinola Davies, Jr.
The President’s Cake (Iraq, United States, Qatar), directed by Hasan Hadi
Sirāt (Spain, France), directed by Olivier Laxe
Sound of Falling (Germany), directed by Mascha Schilinski
Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary – Finalists
In the early 1960s, two brothers started a revolution in documentary filmmaking. Albert and his late brother David pioneered the method called direct cinema. Hand-held cameras and lightweight sound equipment made possible an immediacy and spontaneity that led to an entirely new way of making films uniquely suited to non-fiction subjects. The Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary is presented to a filmmaker who best represents the truth and purity of documentary filmmaking as established by the Maysles Brothers.
Cover Up (United States), directed by Mark Obenhaus, Laura Poitras
The Eyes of Ghana (United States), directed by Ben Proudfoot
Hair, Paper, Water…(Belgium, France, Vietnam), directed by Nicolas Graux, Trương Minh Quý
Seeds (United States), directed by Brittany Shyne
Shifting Baselines (Canada), directed by Julien Elie
A Simple Soldier (Ukraine), directed by Jual Camilo Cruz, Artem Ryzhykov
American Independent Competition – Finalists
This award is presented annually to a domestic narrative feature that boldly steps outside of the studio system to offer unique stories in an unconstrained spirit.
Charliebird (United States), directed by Libby Ewing
Fucktoys (United States), directed by Annapurna Sriram
Lucky Lu (United States, Canada), directed by Lloyd Lee Choi
Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) (United States), directed by Joel Alfonso Vargas
The Plague (United States, United Arab Emirates), directed by Charlie Polinger
Rosemead (United States), directed by Eric Lin
Featured Shorts –
The shorts lineup includes a wide range of offerings from across the globe. The shorts jury will screen and award a Grand Jury Prize for Best Short, as well as for Student Shorts: Live Action and Student Shorts: Animation.
48th Denver Film Festival A-Z Film Guide:
Amrum (Germany), directed by Fatih Akin
André is an Idiot (United States), directed by Tony Benna
Arco (France, United States), directed by Ugo Bienvenu
Backside (United States), directed by Raúl O. Paz-Pastrana
Below the Clouds (Italy), directed by Gianfranco Rosi
Calle Malaga (Morocco, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium), directed by Maryam Touzani
The Captive (Spain, Italy), directed by Alejandro Amenábar
Charliebird (United States), directed by Libby Ewing
The Choral (United Kingdom), directed by Nicholas Hytner
Christy (United States), directed by David Michôd
The Chronology of Water (United States, France, Latvia), directed by Kristen Stewart
Coexistence, My Ass! (France, United States), directed by Amber Fares
Comparsa (Guatemala, United States), directed by Vickie Curtis, Doug Anderson
Cover-Up (United States), directed by Mark Obenhaus, Laura Poitras
Creede U.S.A. (United States), directed by Kahane Corn Cooperman
Dead Man’s Wire (United States), directed by Gus Van Sant
Elway (United States), directed by Ken Rodgers and Chris Weaver
Eternity (United States), directed by David Freyne
The Eyes of Ghana (United States), directed by Ben Proudfoot
Fantasy Life (United States), directed by Matthew Shear
Franz (Czech Republic, Germany, Poland), directed by Agnieszka Holland
Fucktoys (United States), directed by Annapurna Sriram
God Will Not Help (Croatia, Italy, Romania, Greece, France, Slovenia), directed by Hana Jušić
The Golden Spurtle (United Kingdom, Australia), directed by Constantine Costi
H is for Hawk (United Kingdom, United States, Singapore), directed by Philippa Lowthorpe
Hair, Paper, Water… (Belgium, France, Vietnam), directed by Nicolas Graux, Trương Minh Quý
Hamnet (United Kingdom), directed by Chloé Zhao
Heads or Tails? (Italy, United States), directed by Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis
I Was Born This Way (United States), directed by Daniel Junge, Sam Pollard
Is This Thing On? (United States), directed by Bradley Cooper
Ish (United Kingdom), directed by Perretta Imran
Jay Kelly (United States, United Kingdom, Italy), directed by Noah Baumbach
Kokuho (Japan), directed by Lee Sang-Il
Kontinental ’25 (Romania), directed by Radu Jude
La Grazia (Italy), directed by Paolo Sorrentino
Late Shift (Switzerland, Germany), directed by Petra Volpe
Left-Handed Girl (Taiwan), directed by Shih-Ching Tsou
A Life Illuminated (United States), directed by Tasha Van Zandt
Living the Land (China), directed by Huo Meng
The Love That Remains (Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, France), directed by Hlynur Pálmason
Lucky Lu (United States, Canada), directed by Lloyd Lee Choi
Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) (United States), directed by Joel Alfonos Vargas
Man on the Run (United Kingdom, United States), directed by Morgan Neville
My Father’s Shadow (Nigeria, United Kingdom, Ireland), directed by Akinola Davies, Jr.
The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (Chile, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain), directed by Diego Céspedes
Natchez (United States), directed by Suzannah Herbert
The New Yorker at 100 (United States), directed by Marshall Curry
Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie (Canada), directed by Matt Johnson
No Other Choice (South Korea), directed by Park Chan-wook
Nuremberg (United States), directed by James Vanderbilt
OBEX (United States), directed by Albert Birney
Orphan (Hungary, France, United Kingdom, Germany), directed by László Nemes
Palestine 36 (Palestine, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Qatar, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Jordan), directed by Annemarie Jacir
Peter Hujar’s Day (United States, Germany), directed by Ira Sachs
The Plague (United States, United Arab Emirates), directed by Charles Polinger
A Poet (Colombia, Germany, Sweden), directed by Simón Mesa Soto
The President’s Cake (Iraq, United States, Qatar), directed by Hasan Hadi
Primate (United States), directed by Johannes Roberts
Promised Sky (Tunisia, France, Qatar), directed by Erige Sehiri
Rebuilding (United States), directed by Max Walker-Silverman
Reflection in a Dead Diamond (Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Italy), directed by Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani
Rental Family (United States, Japan), directed by HIKARI
Resurrection (China, France, United States), directed by Bi Gan
Romería (Spain, Germany), directed by Carla Simón
Rosemead (United States), directed by Eric Lin
The Secret Agent (Brazil, France, Germany, Netherlands), directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho
Seeds (United States), directed by Brittany Shyne
Sentimental Value (Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Türkiye), directed by Joachim Trier
Shifting Baselines (Canada), directed by Julien Elie
A Simple Soldier (Ukraine), directed by Juan Camilo Cruz, Artem Ryzhykov
Sinners (United States), directed by Ryan Coogler
Sirāt (Spain, France), directed by Olivier Laxe
Sisu: Road to Revenge (Finland, United States), directed by Jalmari Helander
Sound of Falling (Germany), directed by Mascha Schilinski
Straight Circle (United Kingdom), directed by Oscar Hudson
The Stranger (France), directed by Francois Ozon
The Tale of Silyan (North Macedonia), directed by Tamara Kotevska
The Testament of Ann Lee (United States, United Kingdom), directed by Mona Fastvold
Train Dreams (United States), directed by Clint Bentley
Two Prosecutors (France, Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, Romania, Lithuania, Ukraine), directed by Sergei Loznitsa
Underland (United Kingdom, United States), directed by Robert Petit
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (United States), directed by Rian Johnson
Young Mothers (France), directed by Jean Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Zodiac Killer Project (United Kingdom), directed by Charlie Shackleton