Annual Report 2025 - 2026
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Attendees pose for a picture on the red carpet at our annual party Hollywood’s Brightest Night — An Oscars® Celebration at the Sie FilmCenter
Table of Contents
04
Mission, Vision, Values
06
A Letter From Our CEO
08
Who We Are
09 10
By the Numbers
Programming Spotlights
21 22
Award Honorees
Community Support
26
Denver Film Partnerships
33 34 36
Staff & Board
Annual Giving
Looking Forward
28 32
Financial Report
Volunteers & Membership 3
4
Our Mission
Denver Film creates entertaining and transformative experiences for the Colorado community through the power of diverse voices in film.
Our Vision
Denver Film’s vision is to cultivate community and transform lives through film.
Our Values
Community, Accessibility, Professionalism, Excellence, Creativity, and Collaboration
A Letter From the CEO Dear Film Lovers, 2025 marked a year of transformation for Denver Film. By unifying more of our programming and audience experience at the Sie FilmCenter, we strengthened a dynamic, year-round model of cultural engagement rooted in increased attendance, broader audience reach, and deeper community connection. Throughout the year, Denver Film focused its energy on making the Sie FilmCenter a more vibrant home for audiences, filmmakers, and community partners. Daily screenings, festivals, special events, rentals, and partner programs worked together to create a more cohesive experience, reinforcing the Sie’s role as both a destination for film and a gathering place for the community. That transformation was reflected in meaningful growth. Across all programs, Denver Film welcomed approximately 200,000 attendees, including more than 99,000 attendees at the SieFilmCenter. Audiences returned in greater numbers, engaged across a wider range of programs, and spent more time in a space designed for discovery, dialogue, and connection. As Denver Film looks ahead, this momentum affirms the importance of a year-round home for cinema in Colorado. Through expanded partnerships, community rentals, festivals, and daily programming, the Sie FilmCenter continues to be a place where audiences gather, artists are celebrated, and stories from Colorado and around the world find a meaningful home on the big screen. With gratitude, Kevin Smith Chief Executive Officer
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Denver Film CEO Kevin Smith (right) with Artistic Director Matthew Campbell (left) at the Denver Film Festival closing night presentation of Elway
Who We Are
Sie FilmCenter
Year-round home for film lovers, the heart of Denver Film’s community Denver’s Only Independent Cinema
Denver’s Only Nonprofit, Community-Owned Theater We personally curate independent, arthouse, and retrospective titles, keeping the spirit of cinema alive. Loss of beloved theaters across Denver highlights the essential role of the Sie FilmCenter. The money that we make goes right back into the Sie FilmCenter: •
We don’t have shareholders that we need to appease or pay
•
Our only stakeholder is our local audience
•
Your support is what drives everything and puts it on the screen
99K+ attendees
Denver Film Festival
Our flagship festival, bringing Hollywood to Denver, now in its 48th year 27K+ attendees
Film on the Rocks
Movies, music, and comedy at Red Rocks Amphitheatre 39K+ attendees
CinemaQ
17 years of celebrating LGBTQ+ storytelling and community building
Women+Film
Films by and about women, for all
Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival
Co-presented with Colorado Dragon Boat, a relationship that empowers DF to serve the AANHPI community authentically
Summer Scream
Denver Film’s only annual fundraising event at the Iconic Lakeside Amusement park
Denver Silent Film Festival
Educational and entertaining classics and lesser-known, rare and restored silent films with live musical accompaniment
What We Do
By the Numbers Through year-round programming at the Sie FilmCenter, our flagship Denver Film Festival, summer time fun at Film on the Rocks, and our impactful Spotlight Festivals, Denver Film continues to expand access to independent and arthouse cinema while strengthening its role as a cultural anchor for Colorado.
200K+
Total attendees in 2025
99K+
Tickets sold at the Sie FilmCenter
27K+
Community Access
55
Discounted rentals for nonprofit partners
12
Free rentals for community organizations
Partnership Highlights
$422K+
82
16.4M
59K+
5.2M
+37% from FY 2024
+8% from FY 2024
Attendees to the Denver Film Festival
In corporate sponsorships
Corporate partners
Marketing Highlights
37.6M
Total marketing impressions
Website views
Email subscribers
Social media impressions
Together, these numbers reflect Denver Film’s broadest impact, where audiences, artists, and partners come together to celebrate the voices of diverse storytelling as a shared and transformative experience.
Programming Spotlights 2.8K+ Total screenings
10
559
Total films shown
98
Filmmakers & special guests
52
Countries represented
Sie FilmCenter The Sie FilmCenter, Denver Film’s yearround home base, was our focal point of transformation in 2025. By centering the Sie, we are creating a community gathering space where audiences connect before and after films, engage in conversations, and participate in community events.
349
Booked new releases
99K+
Attendees
Highlights from 2025 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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Film on the Rocks Film on the Rocks remained one of Denver Film’s most visible and widely attended programs, combining film, live performance, and community gathering at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater.
39.9K
Tickets issued
2025 Lineup 2001: A Space Odyssey With Big Dopes & Al Jackson
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
With The Martini Shot & Steve Gillespie
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory With School of Rock & Janae Burris
Legally Blonde
With blankslate & Hannah Jones
Shrek 2
With Shrek Rave & Georgia Comstock
Summer Scream Summer Scream, our annual Fundraiser and signature immersive event, transformed Lakeside Amusement Park into a highly interactive Denver Film Summer Camp experience. 2025 featured expanded programming, live performances, and audience participation to a sold out event.
3.5K+
Tickets issued
Sunset Cinema Sunset Cinema offers neighborhoodbased screenings at Sculpture Park within the Denver Center for Performing Arts. In partnership with Denver Arts & Venues, every summer is dedicated to quotable movies. So, our audiences filled the summer night reciting their favorite films in community.
6.4K+ Attendees
Photo courtesy of Denver Arts & Venues
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Women+Film Festival The Women+Film Festival celebrates the work of women in film both infront of and behind the camera. Creating space for dialogue, insight, and community engagement. This celebration included panel discussions, a marketplace featuring women-owned businesses, and the annual luncheon celebrating the incredible career of Julia Stiles.
1.8K+
Tickets issued
CinemaQ Film Festival Denver’s only LGBTQ+ film festival celebrates the community’s vibrant and diverse stories through a curated selection of movies, panels, and discussions, and iconic events. In 2025, CinemaQ expanded its programming to include events such as Pride Palooza and the BLQ Showcase, developed in partnership with Black Pride Colorado. These programs allow audiences to engage more deeply in the festival environment in meaningful ways.
1.9K+
Tickets issued
Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival The Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival celebrated AANHPI stories through a curated program of film and community-centered events. The festival also included a culinary experience and marketplace featuring AANHPI artists and vendors, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and expanded audience engagement.
1.5K+
Tickets issued
Denver Silent Film Festival The Denver Silent Film Festival continued to offer a distinctive cinematic experience, pairing classic films with live musical accompaniment. The festival remains an important part of Denver Film’s programming, attracting dedicated audiences and preserving a unique form of film exhibition.
1.2K+
Tickets issued
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Building Community Through CinemaQ CinemaQ continued to be one of Denver Film’s most vital spaces for connection, creating a festival environment where LGBTQ+ audiences could gather, celebrate, and see their stories reflected on screen. Through expanded programming such as Pride Palooza and the BLQ Showcase, developed in partnership with Black Pride Colorado, there were new opportunities for visibility, and dialogue. The weekend extended well beyond the theater. Marketplaces, resource sharing, community gatherings, and the annual summertime Cookout Block Party invited audiences to participate in a larger ecosystem of care, creativity, and belonging. Together, these experiences strengthened CinemaQ’s role as a welcoming space where film bridges identity, community, and collective celebration. For many attendees, CinemaQ was more than a festival. It was a place to linger, return, connect, and feel seen. This demonstrated how cinema can create transformative experiences beyond the screen.
“
This was my first year attending the festival, and I was simply blown away. What an incredible lineup of films, events, activities, and space for safe, inclusive gathering. I had a blast and will absolutely return next year!”
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- CinemaQ Audience Member
48th Denver Film Festival Our flagship program, The Denver Film Festival, brought together audiences, filmmakers, and industry professionals for the region’s largest celebration of film. In 2025, the festival was centered at the Sie, creating a more unified and energized experience that strengthened both audience engagement and the festival’s identity. This shift resulted in a high number of soldout screenings and a more dynamic festival environment. Audiences lingered at the Sie, engaging not only with films but with panels, conversations, and informal community gatherings throughout the venue. The festival also hosted visiting filmmakers and A-list talent, contributing to a stronger national profile.
174
Screenings, events, & panels
27K+
Total attendees 18
Highlights Marketing
30.5M
7.4M
1.8M
1.1M
444K+
39%
Total marketing impressions
Social impressions
Emails opened
Website impressions
Email impressions
Average open rate
Press & Media
9.1M Estimated views
477
Pieces of press coverage
Connecting Audiences with Filmmakers In 2025, Denver Film deepened one of the most powerful parts of the theatrical experience: the opportunity for audiences to engage directly with the artists behind the work. Across year-round programming and the Denver Film Festival, filmmakers, actors, and industry leaders joined audiences for screenings, panels, workshops, and conversations that transformed filmgoing into a shared space for dialogue, discovery, and connection. The festival welcomed acclaimed artists including Lucy Liu, Gus Van Sant, Delroy Lindo, Zoey Deutch, and Julia Stiles, alongside independent filmmakers, local creatives, and emerging voices from across the film community. Together, these guests created rare points of access between audiences and the creative process, offering insight into how films are made, why stories matter, and how cinema can help us better understand one another. These moments extended beyond formal Q&As. Throughout the Sie FilmCenter, audiences encountered live music, informal conversations, and opportunities to gather before and after screenings. In these moments, audiences were not just watching films. They were connecting with the artists, ideas, and communities that make cinema a transformative experience.
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The festival is so great because it is an overflowing reminder of community as well as creativity, from the Q&As to the live music in the lobby, I feel a part of something bigger than me. It’s real as hell.” - DFF48 Audience Member
2025 Award Honorees John Cassavetes Award
Rising Star Award
Next50 Career Achievement Award
Excellence in Directing Award
Excellence in Acting Award
Rare Pearl Award
Lucy Liu, Rosemead
Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Imogen Poots, The Chronology of Water
CinemaQ LaBahn Ikon Award Niecy Nash-Betts
Breakthrough Director Award
Charlie Pollinger, Director, The Plague
Outlaw Award
Ben Foster, Christy
Zoey Deutch, Nouvelle Vague Gus Van Sant, Dead Man’s Wire
Hamnet Director: Chloé Zhao
Stan Brakhage Vision Award Peggy Ahwesh
Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award Julia Stiles
CommunitySupport Denver Film’s impact extends beyond the screen. Through filmmaker support, creative development, and meaningful partnerships, we invest in the people and ideas shaping Colorado’s film community. 22
Local filmmakers at the Denver Film Festival talk about the process of creating thier short films in a Q&A
Filmmaker Support Independent film requires more than great storytelling. Denver Film supports filmmakers through funding initiatives, fiscal sponsorship, exhibition opportunities, and strategic partnerships that strengthen Colorado’s film ecosystem.
Fiscal Sponsorship Provides access to charitable funding, nonprofit infrastructure, and institutional support for independent projects.
45 Active Projects Received Contributions in 2025
MOFFOM
Our Music On Film, Film On Music (MOFFOM) grant supports music-centric documentaries with up to $20,000 in annual funding. Since 2017, over 20 projects have been funded.
2025’S WINNERS Bulletproof Stockings ($5,000) follows the world’s first allfemale Hasidic rock band as drummer Dalia Shusterman and singer-songwriter Perl Wolfe navigate friendship, faith, and creative expression while breaking barriers through sold-out women-only performances. Directed by Slamdance and Murrow Award-winning filmmaker Nicole Teeny, the film offers an intimate portrait of artistic risk and collaboration. The Road to Ruane ($15,000) explores the life and legacy of Boston music champion Billy Ruane, whose passion for emerging artists helped shape the city’s music scene in the 1980s and ’90s. Featuring reflections from musicians, friends, and family, the film celebrates the lasting cultural impact of one devoted supporter and the community that carried the project forward after the death of filmmaker Mike Gill.
“
My son was very grateful for receiving feedback and constructive criticism of his work. He felt empowered and inspired by the hands-on work and interaction with animators at the top of their profession.” - Parent of a Student Animator
Expanding Access Through Creative Workforce Development Denver Film continued to invest in the next generation of storytellers by creating direct pathways into the creative industries. Through Young Animated Minds, presented in partnership with Mile High Animation, Denver Film hosted a weekend of free animation workshops that connected 160 students with professional artists working at major studios. By offering the program at no cost, Denver Film removed a key barrier to participation and opened the door for students to learn directly from working animators, receive meaningful feedback, and see their own projects on the big screen. For emerging artists, these experiences can be transformative, turning curiosity into confidence and helping students imagine a future for themselves in film, animation, and creative production. Denver Film also piloted a Workforce Development pipeline in partnership with the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media, providing direct financial support to six university filmmakers and placing them on a professional set to gain realworld experience. Together, these initiatives reflect Denver Film’s commitment to expanding access to industry knowledge, mentorship, and opportunity so that more emerging creatives can see a pathway into the stories, careers, and communities that shape Colorado’s film future.
Partnerships History Colorado
History Colorado and Denver Film have joined forces to present Reel to Real, a fourweek series that brings Colorado’s history, culture, and communities to life through film. After each screening at the Sie FilmCenter, History Colorado curators and other experts will lead a discussion covering the film’s historical context, impact, and thematic connection to the state.
Denver Arts and Venues
We partner with Denver Arts & Venues to produce the iconic Film on the Rocks program at Red Rocks Amphitheater, host red-carpet events at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, and present our free annual outdoor movie series, Sunset Cinema, in Sculpture Park. This partnership is fundamental to empowering us to have access to the most elite venues in the Front Range.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
The Sci-Fi Film Series, produced in partnership with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and features famous sci-fi films and discussions that break down the sciences behind these films, separating fact from fiction. 26
Photo courtesy of Thomas Cooper, Getty
Next50
Next50 is a Colorado-based national private foundation that works toward a society that values aging and makes growing older an empowering, fulfilling experience. Through our partnership, Denver Film co-produces the Aging On Screen series, celebrating authentic portrayals of older adults in media while creating space for intergenerational conversations around aging, representation, and storytelling.
Black Pride Colorado
In partnership with Black Pride Colorado, Black Lives Queerly (BLQ), a year-round program of CinemaQ, celebrates QTBIPoC stories that amplify and explore what it means to be part of this amazing community. Through screenings, conversations, and community gatherings, BLQ creates space for storytelling that uplifts diverse voices and fosters deeper connection.
MCA Denver’s Holiday Theater
MCA Denver’s Holiday Theater has become an important cultural home for Denver Film programming, expanding opportunities for audiences to experience cinema throughout the city. As a key venue partner for the Denver Film Festival and the home of Cinema Sundays, the Holiday Theater provides an intimate space where audiences come together through film.
Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver Botanic Gardens is one of Colorado’s premier cultural institutions, connecting people through art, science, nature, and shared experiences. Through our partnership, Denver Film brings cinematic storytelling into one of Denver’s most beloved community spaces, including the annual Women+Film Luncheon where Denver Film honored Julia Stiles with the Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award in 2025.
Colorado Film Festival Coalition The Colorado Film and Television Festival Coalition (CFTFC), launched at DFF48, connects festival leaders from across Colorado to share resources, build networks, and strengthen the statewide film exhibition ecosystem. Supported by the Colorado Office of Film, Television, and Media, this initiative fosters collaboration, sustainability, and reach throughout Colorado.
Financial Report 2025 was another banner year for Denver Film financially. The larger audiences Denver Film served not only expanded access and connection to highly-curated film content for our Colorado community, but were doubly impactful to the organization’s bottom line, reflected in greater ticket sales (+18%), higher concessions revenue (+32%), and a larger volume of nonprofit and corporate rentals (+20%). Community members galvanized around Denver Film in 2025. Significant increases in both individuals (+56%) and foundations (+197%) who supported Denver Film at a higher level affirm our organization’s positioning as a connector of philanthropy and arts programming. A more robust membership base (+23%) validates how our theatrical, festival, and specialty programming builds community amongst local film-lovers. Additionally, fiscal sponsorship proves to be not only a meaningful way to support the local filmmaking community, but also a major support tentpole for Denver Film. Between 2024 and 2025, the net assets received by the organization in support of fiscally-sponsored projects doubled, from $8,711,275 to $16,309,964; the interest accrued by stewarding these funds grew year-over-year by 191%; and the administrative fees Denver Film retained on received donations increased by 145%. Denver Film released 45% more filmmaker funds from restriction to fund the projects within its robust fiscal sponsorship program, allowing Denver Film to play a vital role in the economic development of the creative landscape.
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Artistic Director Matthew Campbell (left) and Denver Film’s Founder Ron Henderson (right) at Opening Night of the 2025 Denver Film Festival
Denver Film’s blended model of earned, contributed, and fiscal sponsorship revenue creates a more sustainable funding structure.
Revenue
14.4%
39.1%
Contributed
$ 1,344,673.00
Earned
$ 3,676,328.00
SCFD
$ 659,390.00
Partner Payments & Investment Returns
39.4% 7.1%
$ 9,325,926.00
Expenses
14.4%
General/ Administrative
$1,347,806.00
Programming/ Events
$ 2,107,056.00
Wages
$ 2,350,700.00
Partner Payments*
$ 3,472,641.00 $ 9,278,203.00
*This figure includes payments to fiscallysponsored projects and presenting partners. 30
$ 3,645,535.00
37.4% 22.7%
25.3%
Cash of $12,400,699 is restricted for fiscal sponsorship and other programs.
Contributed Revenue Breakdown 32.0%
32.1%
1.4%
17.9%
16.5%
Individual
$ 430,317.00
Foundation
$ 240,778.00
Corporate
$ 222,273.00
Government
$ 19,447.00
In-Kind
$ 431,858.00 $ 1,344,673.00
Earned Revenue Breakdown Ticket Sales
$ 2,271,777.00
Rental Income
$ 132,259.00
Concessions
$ 377,588.00
Application Fees
$ 47,532.00
Fiscal Sponsorship Adminstrative Fees
$ 190,068.00
Membership
$ 309,604.00
Investment Return
$ 347,500.00 $ 3,676,328.00
9.5% 8.4% 5.2%
1.3%
10.3% 3.6%
61.8%
“
Volunteers & Membership Denver Film’s year of transformation was made possible by the community that showed up for it. Through the dedication of our volunteers, the loyalty of our members, and the generosity of our donors and inkind partners, the Sie FilmCenter became a vibrant home for connection, creativity, and shared cultural experience.
4.7K+ Members
+10.6% from 2024
32
429
Volunteers
+15.3% from 2024
4.8K+
What I love about Denver Film is making new friends and reconnecting with volunteers over the years.The staff’s enthusiasm for film is contagious, and they go out of their way to ensure everyone feels welcome and included. The atmosphere is vibrant, filled with laughter and engaging conversations about the art of story telling. Ultimately, it’s a community of passionate individuals coming together to appreciate the craft, share stories, and forge connections that extend beyond the event itself. We’re already counting down the days until the next festival begins!”
Volunteer hours
$186K+
In donated labor
Staff This year, Denver Film maintained the most consistent staff presence despite broader industry instability. Staff stepping up during significant events showcases our commitment and adaptability. Thank you to our board, an incredible group of cultural leaders and arts lovers for your support and dedication to film and the community. Amy Allison CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Billy Allyn PROJECTIONIST Russel Brewer OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Katherine Brothers ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR Lisa Burstein BOX OFFICER Matthew Campbell ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Manuel Rodrigo Contreras CONCESSIONAIRE Seth Degler VOLUNTEER & MEMBERSHIP MANAGER Alaina Drechny PRODUCER Josh Eliot HOUSE MANAGER/ BOX OFFICER Keith Garcia ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SIE FILMCENTER
Thomas George HOUSE MANAGER
David Vargas BOX OFFICE MANAGER
Claudia Gonzalez SR. MARKETING MANAGER
Josie Van Ness BARTENDER
Joey Haas GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Sean Virnich CONCESSIONAIRE
Teagan Iszler PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Christina Vu-Pham SR. SPONSORSHIPS MANAGER
Anthony Jones CONCESSIONARE/ BARTENDER
Amy Weiner Weiss DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Kurt Konrade BARTENDER Esther Lopez EVENTS SPECIALIST Whitney Miller TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Morgan Murphy PROJECTIONIST Sierra Sojourner McCoy HOUSE MANAGER Carrie Mitchell HOUSE MANAGER Rachelle Neal DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Marty Schechter PUBLIC RELATIONS
Board Amanda Blaurock CHAIR Tom Downey VICE CHAIR Elena Lippincott SECRETARY Jessica Johnson TREASURER Jeff Calhoon
Janna Parks CONTENT SPECIALIST
Miz Cordero
Aiden Pigg BOX OFFICER
Mike Ferrufino
Eric Prather DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Sandy Holmes
Alison Sahler BOX OFFICER
Sylvia Lambe
Dominick Shults PROJECTIONIST Kevin Smith CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Ambriehl Turrentine PROGRAMMING MANAGER
Caroline Davey Micah Gurard-Levin Chad Jimenez
Nicole Maholic
Dierdre McGuire Sara Moore
Sheila O’Brien
Stephanie Rance Maren Stewart Youngdon Yun
Annual Giving $50,000+
Anna and John J. Sie Foundation
Liane and Robert Clasen Scientific and Cultural Facilities District
Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media (COFTM) Next50
Ms. Sheila K. O’Brien Julie Mordecai
$20,000+
William LaBahn Wana Brands Foundation Kicking Horse Coffee Dormer Harpring Denver Personal Injury Lawyers Luisa and Christopher Law John Caulkins
Amazon Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Betsy Mordecai Heyman and Gareth Heyman Liberty Global
$10,000+
Black Pride Colorado AOR Center for Judaic Studies, University of Denver The Colorado Health Foundation Maxine and Mark Rossman Ann Corrigan and Kent Rice BOK Financial Mindy Levy Peckar and Steven Peckar The Harris Law Firm Denver Marketing & Media Services Colorado Creative Industries
$5,000+
Allied Global Marketing Denver Broncos Foundation
S&P Global Marti and Jeff Grazi Mr. Michael E. and Julie Bock Harvey and Kimberly Nelson The Virginia W. Hill Foundation Jane E Rosenbaum Joan and Mark Henneberry Pat and John Lickly Polly Ehrenhaft Suzanne Siteman Mary Watson Katie Reilly and Shane Harvey Taloma Partners Ireland Stapleton GHP Investment Advisors Office of Economic Development & International Trade Visit Denver Susan Capitelli Martha Records and Richard Rainaldi Meow Wolf Denver Vermilion University of Denver Jessica and Brandon Johnson Wana Brands School of Rock Denver Denver Broncos Football Club
$2,500+
Bank of Colorado AMC Networks Women’s Foundation of Colorado Allied Global Marketing Consulate General of Canada in Denver Colorado Film and Video Association (CFVA) Denver Screen Print and Embroidery Mary Caulkins and Karl Kister Ellen Bruss and Mark Falcone Howard Zucker Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Bob Boyle DU/ER Bennett Thrasher Best Day Brewing Indyink Screenprinting Topo Chico PNC Bank
Metromode Magazine Gloria Campbell and John Verwys Gary Martinez Eldorado Natural Spring Water Chad Jimenez Gary Community Ventures City of Greenwood Village Eileen O’Brien Education Endowment Fund Dori and Al Harrell Rocky Mountain Public Media
$1,000+
arc Thrift Stores Waterworks Car Wash Nancy Rebek Public Relations LLC Bueno Family Denver Community Media SAG-AFTRA NRPR Group Prime Meridian Media
Deep Eddy Vodka Simonson Family Charitable Foundation Caulkins Family Foundation Margaret Prentice Betsy and Robert Leighton Susan and Richard Abernethy Victoria Barstow and James Favret Beverly and Hal Haddon Mary Pellettier Stacy Baker Rebecca Boyd L’Alliance Française de Denver Jodi Asarch Impact100 Metro Denver Gina and Chris Carlson Blazy Susan Paul T Karolyi Sandy Holmes Terry Brown and Denis Berckefeldt Karen Bauer
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Looking Forward The Road to 50
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The 49th Denver Film Festival marks the beginning of Denver Film’s ramp-up to its 50th Anniversary in 2027, a milestone that reflects five decades of storytelling, community building, and cultural impact in Colorado. As we look ahead, Denver Film is focused on strengthening the future of independent cinema in Colorado through expanded year-round programming, deeper community partnerships, and continued investment in the Sie FilmCenter as a cultural home for film lovers, filmmakers, and audiences across the Front Range. The work underway today is helping shape the next era of Denver Film: one rooted in accessibility, audience engagement, and the shared experience of cinema. As Colorado’s film landscape continues to evolve, Denver Film remains committed to creating spaces where stories connect communities, spark dialogue, and inspire future generations.
Join Us! The next 50 years of Denver Film are already taking shape. Your support helps ensure that the Sie FilmCenter continues to serve as a vibrant home for independent film, cultural connection, and transformative storytelling throughout Colorado.
Thank You SCFD SCFD is the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, a tax collected and distributed to 300 cultural organizations in our seven-county Denver metro region including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties. Just one penny on every $10 spent in the district creates vibrancy for us individually and collectively. It gives our kids a unique perspective and understanding of the world. It inspires all of us to discover the radical and the beautiful, and stretches our capacity to be transformed. Our metro area would not be the vibrant, nationally-ranked metropolis that it is today without the cultural funding and economic impact created by SCFD. Residents understand this and have approved continuing the tax at each of three renewal elections. With more than $84 million granted in 2023, our community is enriched by an amazing tapestry of arts, culture and science that is available and accessible to everyone. Beginning with taxpayers and with the expert shepherding of the SCFD, our collective mission is simple: We fund culture. Visit scfd.org.
And To Our Community Thank you volunteers, donors, partners, and community members who make Denver Film’s work possible.
denverfilm.org