English
The 49th Denver Film Festival will honor three celebrated performers this year. John Leguizamo, Indya Moore and D’Arcy Carden will each receive awards during the festival, which runs from October 22 to November 1.
Three Artists Recognized for Their Contributions to Film
Leguizamo will accept the John Cassavetes Award, presented by Next50. He will appear at the festival on October 30 to receive the honor. His appearance will precede a newly added screening of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, in which Leguizamo plays the character Eumaeus.
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Moore will receive the CinemaQ LaBahn Ikon Award on October 25 at the Denver Art Museum. The actress, model, writer and producer is widely known for her role as Angel in FX’s Pose. After the ceremony, she will take part in a moderated conversation with Jill D’Allessandro, curator of the museum’s DIVA exhibit, which runs from October 4 through January 31, 2027.
Carden will receive the Women+Film Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award at the festival’s Awards Brunch on November 1.
Matthew Campbell, artistic director of the Denver Film Festival, expressed strong enthusiasm for all three honorees. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome three extraordinary artists whose talent, creativity and impact extend far beyond the screen,” he said. Campbell described Leguizamo as a performer defined by fearless performances and incredible range. He called Moore a groundbreaking artist and a powerful voice for representation and inclusion. He also praised Carden for her comedic brilliance, versatility and heart. “Each has made a unique and lasting mark on the entertainment industry,” Campbell added.
Creative Conversations and Industry Panels
Beyond the awards, the festival will host six Creative Conversations with filmmakers and industry professionals. All discussions will take place at The Tattered Cover’s lower level.
The first session focuses on screenwriting with Peter Gamble, screenwriter of I Play Rocky, on October 23 at 11:30 a.m. Next, on October 27 at 11 a.m., a panel titled When the Buses Arrived will feature moderator Al Jackson alongside Andrea Ryall, founder of Hope Has No Borders, Karen Orona of the Colorado Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, Jon Ewing from the Denver Mayor’s Office, and filmmakers Rebekah Henderson and Lilah Park.
Also on October 27, at 1 p.m., a conversation titled Muddy Waters – Navigating the Colorado River’s Uncertain Future will bring together director Mara Tasker, water activist Lorelei Cloud, former Denver Water CEO Jim Lochhead and CSU Extension professor Perry Cabot. Moderator Tahlia Bear will lead the discussion.
On October 29 at 12:30 p.m., SeriesFest presents a panel on the evolving television landscape. Denver Post journalist John Wenzel will moderate. Participants include Teri Weinberg, president of Yellow Brick Road, Alex Maggioni, head of television at LAIKA Live Action, and Elsie Choi, founder and executive producer of Hours and Seasons.
Two additional sessions follow on October 30. At 11 a.m., Clueless costume designer Mona May will discuss her craft. At 1 p.m., casting director Karlee Formalont, known for her work on A Complete Unknown and The Post, will join a conversation about casting.
Film Competitions and Jury Members
The festival will also screen and judge films across several competitive categories. The Krzysztof Kieslowski Award for Best Feature Film jury includes David Canfield of The Hollywood Reporter, Destiny Jackson of Deadline and Rochelle Rose, national director of the Performers Program at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
The Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary jury features producer Justine Suzanne Jones, Ryan Lattanzio of IndieWire and Chris Murphy of Vanity Fair. Meanwhile, the True Grit Award jury includes Ethan Alter of Gold Derby, casting director Karlee Fomalont and actress Danielle Rose Russell.
Finally, the Shorts Competitions jury consists of producer Kate Chamuris, costume designer Mona May and producer Darwin Shaw. The 49th Denver Film Festival brings together a strong lineup of honorees, panels and competitions across its eleven-day run.
