Movie festivals are all the time on the transfer, catching as much as and launching traits, churning out themes, and hawking tickets to please longtime members and mint new ones.
The Denver Movie Competition has shifted greater than most. When its forty fifth occasion opens on Wednesday, Nov. 2, it should have survived management turnover, workers defections and two years of pandemic upheaval at its nonprofit producer, Denver Movie, to current its 200-plus titles — all of them in individual this yr.
“We’ve received a comparatively younger, inexperienced workers, which I see as a constructive,” stated Kevin Smith, CEO of Denver Movie. “They bring about an vitality and pleasure round what we’re doing, and it’s been fantastic to open up that pool of candidates as a part of our DEI (variety, fairness and inclusion) efforts.”
Smith, previously Denver Movie’s advertising guru, acknowledged {that a} half dozen or so workers members and contract employees have left in latest months, some acrimoniously, however he hopes to regular the ship. He was named CEO in Might, following the departure of James Mejia, who lasted solely about 17 months within the place.
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Previous to that, Denver Movie was run by Andrew Rodgers, who resigned amid a interval of tragedy and different shake-ups at Denver Movie, following the car-accident loss of life of inventive director Brit Withey. Longtime pageant director Britta Erickson additionally stepped down, leaving Smith as de facto director final yr.
The pageant’s Nov. 2-13 schedule, which kicks off with the red-carpet screening of James Grey’s “Armageddon Time” on the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home on Nov. 2, leaves room for reinvention amid its globe-spanning options, shorts, documentaries, panels and filmmaker talk-backs.
Whether or not that’s a very good factor is as much as viewers.
James Grey’s bittersweet household drama “Armageddon Time” will open the forty fifth Denver Movie Competition on Wednesday, Nov. 2, with a purple carpet screening on the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home. (Supplied by Denver Movie)
Gone this yr — and with regrets from inventive director Matthew Campbell — is the digital program that allowed viewers throughout the state to catch screenings. Distributors have been pushing onerous for in-theater screenings and limiting titles primarily based on that, Campbell stated, leaving digital attendees within the mud.
Additionally totally different this yr: The screenings, events and digital actuality sometimes happening on the McNichols Civic Middle Constructing have been moved to the Sie FilmCenter, Denver Movie’s residence base, in addition to to the next-door Tattered Cowl bookstore. Different screenings will happen on the AMC 9+10 and Denver Botanic Gardens, as in years previous.
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The excellent news? The lineup is muscular and socially acutely aware. Along with the fly-on-the-wall household drama “Armageddon Time,” starring Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Robust, different purple carpet displays on the Ellie embrace “Empire of Gentle” by director Sam Mendes, starring Michael Ward, Olivia Colman and Colin Firth (centerpiece, Nov. 4); and “Girls Speaking” by director Sarah Polley, starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy and Frances McDormand, about confronting sexual assault in an remoted non secular colony (closing evening, Nov. 12).
A final-minute addition is “The Holly,” author-director Julian Rubinstein’s documentary about Denver’s gang scene as considered by way of North Park Hill Bloods. A earlier screening offered out so rapidly {that a} purple carpet slot was introduced for Nov. 10, pushing a screening of “Loudmouth,” a documentary about Al Sharpton, to the Sie FilmCenter. (Sharpton canceled his look on the pageant earlier this month).
Carey Mulligan, left, and Zoe Kazan star in “She Mentioned,” primarily based on the New York Instances reporters who began the #MeToo period with their Harvey Weinstein investigation. (Supplied by Denver Movie)
Particular Presentation screenings, as Denver Movie calls them, are simply as magnetic. “She Mentioned” (Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan) seems to be on the roots of the continuing #MeToo motion, whereas “The Son” (Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern) delves into psychological well being crises and household dynamics. “The Whale,” starring Brendan Fraser (Nov. 12 and already offered out) will embrace a post-show award ceremony for author Samuel Hunter. Notably, the movie is predicated on Hunter’s play that had its world premiere on the Denver Middle Theatre Firm in 2012.
Hunter will arrive alongside playwright-actor Raúl Castillo (“Inspection,” HBO’s “Wanting”); actor Sheila McCarthy (who seems in “Girls Speaking”); and minimalist legend James Benning (too many movies to depend), amongst others. The worldwide showcase brings again its Italian lineup, together with Irish and U.Ok. titles. Mini-fests similar to CinemaQ, Girls+Movie, and the Dragon Boat Movie Competition may also be represented in programming and discussions about race, abortion, sexuality, gender, LGBTQ rights and extra.
The documentary “My Sister Liv” follows the at-times harrowing journey of two inseparable Colorado sisters, Tess and Liv. The title will display screen as a part of the forty fifth Denver Movie Competition. (Supplied by Denver Movie)
A Colorado highlight part vaunts attractive native titles similar to Alexandre O. Philippe’s “Lynch/Oz,” Netflix’s “The right way to Construct a Intercourse Room,” and shorts by Usama Alshaibi, Kelly Sears and others. Notably interesting: Beret E. Robust and Katrina Miller’s “This Is (Not) Who We Are,” about institutional racism in Boulder.
Extra excellent news: Curiosity is up in comparison with final yr’s comparatively earthbound occasion. Pre-pandemic, Denver Movie Competition collected about $380,000 in ticketing income in 2018, adopted by $350,000 in 2019. That comes out to an common of 35,000 tickets per pageant, Smith stated, and this yr’s gross sales are already in line to fulfill or surpass that, with a number of sell-outs and tickets offered to each single occasion on the pageant.
As well as, Denver Movie’s Summer time Scream fundraiser at Lakeside Amusement Park smashed earlier data. With an immersive theme tapping 50 native artists, the 21-and-up occasion did slightly below $200,000 in income and drew greater than 3,000 attendees. The earlier fundraising report from the occasion was $67,000, Smith stated.
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Chris Getzan, co-programmer of Summer time Scream, will return for the fest with an progressive speaker sequence referred to as Tales from Attention-grabbing Instances, which collects various personalities and is geared toward delving deep into thorny subjects of the day.
“I hope it’s going to push some buttons, and get of us to second-guess their assumptions about issues — what they see, how they see it,” stated Getzen, who organized the talks beneath themes similar to Information, Work, Artwork and Meals.
No matter it seems to be like after the pageant ends on Nov. 13, Denver Movie could have reasserted itself as the town’s greatest champion of movie. Or so that they hope.
“We had been fortunate to even pull off the occasion final yr as a result of we had been sandwiched between the Delta and Omicron variants,” Campbell stated. “So we had been on eggshells the entire time. Would we’ve got to cancel? What’s the protocol? After all, we’re not accomplished with the pandemic but, however hopefully we will let our hair down just a little extra this time.”
For those who go
forty fifth Denver Movie Competition. Offered by Denver Movie, with 200-plus options, documentaries, shorts, music movies, digital actuality and different content material screening in individual. Nov. 2-13 on the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave., in addition to the Ellie Caulkins Opera Home, Denver Botanic Gardens, AMC 9+10 and Tattered Cowl Colfax.
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Tickets: $2,000 for all-access cross, $450 for the Mile Excessive cross; $250 for the festival-ending cross; $75 for particular person purple carpet screenings; and $11-$25 for all others. Costs discounted for members. Name 720-381-0819 or go to denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival/dff45 for tickets, the complete lineup and up to date schedule.
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Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Auburn quarterback Bo Nix were opponents in the 2019 and 2020 Iron Bowls. Now they’re teammates on the Denver Broncos.
Surtain has been a first-team All-Pro selection once and a Pro Bowl pick twice, and he currently leads the NFL in interception-return yards in his fourth season since Denver selected him at No. 9 in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Nix is a rookie, but he’s begun to attract accolades 11 starts after becoming the 12th pick in the NFL Draft on April 25. And Surtain foresees more recognition ahead for the Broncos quarterback.
“He’s him,” Surtain said. “I told him, ‘Man, you’re trying to win MVP. It’s not even looking like Offensive Rookie of the Year. It looks like MVP right now.’
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“But, man, it’s a testament to him. He puts the work in each and every week, and it shows with his preparation. He stays after hours to watch film, perfect his game. This is what you see from him. When you have games like this, it’s not a surprise because he puts the work in fundamentally each and every week.”
Surtain made the remark after the Broncos had beaten the Atlanta Falcons 38-6 on Sunday. Nix reached career highs in passing yards, touchdown passes, completion percentage and passing-efficiency rating as he completed 28-of-33 passes for 307 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He completed 84.8 percent of his passes and posted a passer rating of 145.0.
In his NFL debut, Nix completed 26-of-42 passes for 138 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The former Pinson Valley High School star completed 61.9 percent of his passes and had a passer rating of 47.5 in a 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.
“Our league, you’re learning each week,” Denver coach Sean Payton said, “and then pretty soon, you’re like, ‘I belong here.’ And it’s clear he belongs here.”
Nix became the first rookie in NFL history with 300 passing yards, four TD passes, no interceptions and a completion percentage of more than .750 in the same game on Sunday.
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“It’s a lot of fun to be able to be a part of, a lot of fun to watch him go out there and have fun,” Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton said after Sunday’s game. “You can tell he’s like a kid, man. He’s just enjoying himself. And for your quarterback to be out there enjoying himself but not panic – there’s not one ounce of panic that goes upon him no matter what part of the game we’re in. It’s a lot of fun.”
Broncos safety P.J. Locke has his award projection for Nix set a little lower than Surtain, pitching the quarterback for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after Sunday’s game.
“If it’s not, we got to go talk to somebody,” Locke said. “But, no, let me scale back. We still got a whole bunch of games, so I don’t want to mess up nothing. Keep taking it week by week. But I hope so. …
“Bo is not your average rookie, I would say. You can just tell, like, his confidence is growing. His leadership is growing. And it’s rubbing off on a lot of people. He’s going out there executing, getting that offense going, and it’s a fun sight to see. I think everybody feeds off of it.”
At 6-5, Denver is in the AFC’s final playoff spot in the current standings.
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The Broncos play the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:05 p.m. CST Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Denver defeated the Raiders 34-18 on Oct. 6 as Nix threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the “Ferris Bueller” game. Las Vegas has a 2-8 record after its 34-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
The Atlanta Falcons were painfully reminded of something that has been true for nearly 20 years. Sean Payton has partial ownership in the Atlanta Falcons. Maybe they hoped things changed since Payton was no longer leading the New Orleans Saints.
However, when the Falcons visited the Denver Broncos, Payton showed the new emblem on the hat doesn’t lessen his dominance over the Falcons. Payton improved his record to 22-9 against the Falcons with a dominating 38-6 victory.
Atlanta wasn’t the only team to get this reminder. Payton swept the NFC South this year and showed them why they all felt relieved by his temporary retirement. This included Payton’s first career victory over the Saints.
The games haven’t been too close either. The Carolina Panthers kept it the closest, and they lost by 14 points. At the end of that game, Payton flat out said Carolina isn’t a good team. Maybe that was the jolt Carolina needed because they haven’t lost a game since those comments.
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During his 16-year run with New Orleans, Payton had a winning record against every team in the division. As the coach of the Denver Broncos, he’s undefeated against his former division.
On the heels of a loss that could have been debilitating, the Denver Broncos bounced back with gusto, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 38-6. Instead of allowing that last-second loss in Kansas City hang with them, the Broncos showed in Sunday’s resounding victory that they’d moved on from it days ago.
Perhaps Bo Nix is Denver’s football priest most responsible for exorcising that particular demon. The rookie quarterback had a coming-out party against the Falcons, passing for 307 yards and four touchdowns, finishing with a passer rating of 145.0.
Although it seemed that Jayden Daniels may have had Offensive Rookie of the Year sewn up, Nix’s rapid rise has put him on a level with Washington’s No. 2 overall quarterback. Fittingly, veteran wideout Courtland Sutton broke the ice on Nix’s Broncos teammates campaigning for the NFL at large to start including Nix equally in those conversations.
“I made the comment, but the dude should be in conversations for rookie of the year,” Sutton said post-game. “There should be no hesitation.”
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It’s as if Nix woke up on Sunday morning with the perfect knowledge that today was going to belong to him and the Broncos. At least, that’s what he said when he was asked when he had the realization that it was going to be one of those days.
“When I woke up this morning,” Nix said from the podium post-game. “Sometimes you just wake up ready to roll.”
Nix is grateful for his opportunity, crediting the Broncos for believing in him and drafting him to be this team’s future franchise quarterback. Such business is never a sure thing, and yet, if Sunday’s romp revealed anything, it’s perhaps that the future is now.
“Each day you go out there on the field and get to play for a team and a franchise that believes in you and an organization that does so much for you,” Nix said. “It is a blessing to be in my spot and my shoes. Each day is a new opportunity and a new time to go out there and play in front of a home crowd that showed up today. It was a lot of fun.”
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Nix looked like he was having fun out there, notching the first 300-yard passing game of his career and joining Peyton Manning as the only NFL quarterbacks to pass for 200-plus yards and at least two touchdowns in four straight home games. Nix has already joined John Elway in the Broncos’ record books, and he can now add Manning to the distinguished milestones reached so early in his NFL career.
Nix’s veteran teammates took notice of these accolades and distinctions long ago. After all, he’s the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month and of the Week. Something tells me he’ll be the Rookie of Week 11, too.
“I think he’s incredible. Bo is my dog, and he leads his team,” left tackle Garett Bolles said. “He leads this offense. We go as far as his play… He’s a deadly quarterback in this league.”
At 6-5, the Broncos can feel something happening. With six games to go, this team seems to be just hitting its stride, so the key moving forward will be keeping their eye on the prize.
Nix revealed a message that Broncos safety P.J. Locke shared with the team in the locker room post-game. The Broncos aren’t satisfied with being close, or nearly handing the Kansas City Chiefs what would have been their first loss of the season. This team is ready to get over the hump.
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I think we are all excited. We know the opportunity we have,” Nix said. “We beat a good football team today. It just proves that we can belong on this stage against teams that we want to go out there and beat. We are going to have to continue playing like we did today. We know it is there. P.J. said it in the locker room. We are tired of being close. We do not want to be close anymore. We have to make steps to get over that line. I thought today was a good step.”
Indeed. Call it a quantum leap in the right direction. Broncos head coach Sean Payton called a phenomenal game against his former NFC South foes, and has to be pleased as punch with Nix’s ascendance.
He may be a rookie, but Nix keeps the Broncos on schedule, avoids the negative plays, and is absolutely stubborn about turning the ball over. That might hurt Tums’ stock, but it helps the digestion of coaches like Payton, and helps them sleep at night.
“I thought he played well. You feel like you’re in good hands,” Payton said of Nix. “He’s smart with the football. He makes plays with his feet. A lot of times you’re calling plays for certain looks [and] the looks aren’t there. He has that ability to create and all the while protect the football. I thought he played really well.”
The way Nix carries himself, the way he leads, and his comportment on the field belies his rookie standing. His teammates have to remind themselves that their 24-year-old quarterback is, in fact, a rookie.
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“We really didn’t feel like we had a rookie,” wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. said post-game. “He just feels like an experienced veteran, and he’s been on the field every play. With his elusiveness and being able to extend plays, he doesn’t quit on any plays. He’s Bo Nix. He wants to make the most of every play so it’s a lot of fun playing with him.”
For what it’s worth, Nix has the most touchdowns among NFL rookie quarterbacks — 14 passing, four rushing, and one receiving. Plus, he has a history of winning rookie accolades, as the SEC’s Rookie of the Year his freshman season at Auburn.
Past is prologue, so they say.
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