The history of cinema is the history of technology: For every great breakthrough in the world of tech, cinema has found a way to incorporate it into storytelling.
Recently, this relationship has gone beyond visual effects and sound design — audiences can now view the latest films at home instead of the theater and use virtual reality to actively participate in the stories.
But the 41st Denver Film Festival, held from Wednesday, Oct. 31, through Sunday, Nov. 11, is tapping these advancements to give attendees the deepest cinematic experience.
“At the Festival Annex, which is the festival’s hub, we have features like VR and interactive experiences,” said Britta Erickson, festival director. “We also have Hamlet Mobile, an immersive, traveling adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet staged for small audiences.”
The Denver Film Festival has become one of the metro area’s biggest cultural events of the year. And scanning this year’s more than 200 screenings, it’s easy to see why. From three-to-five-minute short films to Red Carpet screenings of movies that everyone may be talking about come Oscar season, there is a great deal to explore.
Films will be shown all over Denver, including the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St., and Sie Film Center, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. The Festival Annex will be housed at the McNichols Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave.
“There are great ticket packages that allow audiences to pick several films that they’re interested in seeing, or they can buy individual tickets,” Erickson said. “We pride ourselves on providing a smooth customer service and viewing experience during the festival.”
One of the most eagerly anticipated movies is a piece of Colorado’s history — director Jason Reitman’s (“Up in the Air” and “Juno”) “The Frontrunner.” The film is about Colorado’s own Gary Hart (played by Hugh Jackman) and the affair that ended his political career.
“A lot of people will remember when all this happened, and Reitman is really excited to be back at the festival to show the film,” Erickson said. “It’s great that we get to feature such a Colorado story.”
For more information and tickets, visit www.denverfilmfestival.denverfilm.org.
Arvada Center’s celebration of color
For my money, the yellows, reds and oranges of autumn are nature’s best color show. And they make the Arvada Center’s fall exhibitions’ focus on color the perfect match for the season.
Running through Nov. 11 at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Virginia Maitland Retrospective: 1965-Present, Connected by Color and Laura Merage: Nausy Nausy, showcase different explorations of color.
Housed in the Center’s Main Gallery, Boulder painter Virginia Maitland gets an expansive career retrospective. Through more than 45 works and archive materials, some dating back to 1965, visitors can see how she incorporates color, light and nature into her large-scale paintings.
The Upper Gallery’s Connected by Color exhibit explores color’s limitless possibilities through the work of four artists. Patricia Aaron works in encaustic. Jennifer Ivanovic pours acrylic paint straight into her composition. Sue Oehme is a master printmaker. And Jodi Stuart creates ethereal sculptures using 3D printing pens.
In the Theatre Gallery, Laura Merage’s soft sculpture creations include huggable pillows and plush seats that allow visitors to enjoy the whimsical creations in style.
For more information on the exhibitions, visit www.arvadacenter.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week - Brian Fallon and Craig Finn at Summit Music Hall
Two of the best storytellers in rock music for more than 10 years have been The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn and The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon. So, the fact that they’re appearing on the same bill at the Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St. in Denver, should be cause for celebration. The show is at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27.
Fallon and Finn have been releasing solo albums over the last couple years, using the opportunity to explore different ways of writing and playing. But the results are just as rewarding. Last year, Finn’s “We All Want the Same Thing,” featured some truly novelistic songs that could just wreck a person. And Fallon’s “Sleepwalkers,” released in February, is one of this year’s best albums.
For tickets to this special show, visit www.summitdenver.com.
Don’t miss Boo at the Zoo
One of the area’s best trick-or-treat options not only provides a plethora of candy stations, but also the chance to see some wild animals in the process.
The 34th annual Boo At The Zoo, hosted at the Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., and presented by Toyota Stores, will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27 and 28.
The event offers trick-or-treat stations, creepy crawly animal demonstrations and exciting family-friendly entertainment under the canopy of the zoo’s beautiful fall foliage.
For more information, visit www.denverzoo.org.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com
