The Denver Film Festival (DFF), produced by the Denver Film Society, announced its juried and audience award winners for this year’s festival, which ran from November 4-15 in Denver. Among the winners were the John Crowley-directed Brooklyn which won the People’s Choice Award for Best Narrative Feature, and the Kent Jones-helmed Hitchcock/Truffaut, selected by a jury as winner of The Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary Film.
“Beginning with our Opening Night presentation of Anomalisa to closing with Coming Through the Rye with so many unforgettable stories in between, the 38th Denver Film Festival certainly swept away audiences and welcomed filmmakers from around the world to share their impressive work,” said Denver Film Society Festival firector, Britta Erickson. “In one of our most successful festivals to date, it is a true honor to officially recognize the outstanding filmmaking this year’s award recipients have demonstrated.”
The 38th Denver Film Festival featured over 250 films representing 39 countries with 17 titles representing local Colorado productions. The festival attracted over 55,000 filmgoers during the annual twelve-day celebration. Here’s a rundown of award winners:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
Narrative Feature
Winner: Brooklyn
Documentary Feature
Winner: The Champions
Short Film
Winner: The House is Innocent
Music Video
Winner: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – "S.O.B."
JURIED AWARDS
The Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary Film
Winner: Hitchcock/Truffaut directed by Kent Jones (USA)
The jury stated: “One of the Maysles Brothers special gifts as filmmakers was that they allowed their stories to unfold in front of them with open minds and eyes, with a genuine love for their subjects and an empathy and compassion which gave all of their work beauty and authenticity.
"When watching the films in this year’s competition, we were looking for filmmaking which demonstrated a similar openness: a willingness to let a story be told in a manner that illuminates the human condition, yet executed with sure-handed direction in a visually compelling fashion. One film-one that on its face is simply about a book-created an enthralling tale about passion for both a subject (film and filmmaking) and friendship, one that grew out of eight days of elevated conversation about art, film and the creative process.
"In Hitchcock/Truffaut director Kent Jones uses archival footage, still photography, film clips and contemporary interviews to weave a beautiful portrait of two artists connected by the deepest talent and humanity-and humor! It is an cinematic manifestation of the interviews between Francois Truffaut and Alfred Hitchcock which achieves what Truffaut set out to do as a journalist-to remind everyone what a master of cinema Hitchcock truly was. The documentary is a deft and captivating piece of filmmaking that transcends the world of the cinephile and reveals two fascinating people who by the end feel like old friends.”
The Krzysztof Kieลlowski Award for Best Feature Film
Winner: Rams, directed by Grรญmur Hรกkonarson (Iceland)
The jury stated: “For its evocative filming of landscapes, for placing us in the midst of a way of life coming to a devastating end, and for making a film that moves us from pure hate to pure love, we award the 2015 Kieลlowski award to Rams.”
Special Jury Prize: Lamb, directed by Yared Zaleke (France)
The jury stated: “For its heartfelt, beautifully observed, visually ravishing and emotionally acute exploration of a young boy’s coming of age in a rural Ethiopian village, we award a Special Jury Prize to director Yared Zaleke’s Lamb.”
Special Ensemble Acting Jury Award: The Measure of a Man (France)
The jury stated: “For its pitch-perfect naturalism, its ability to find beauty in the otherwise mundane, and for its consistently arresting performances, we award a special Ensemble Acting Prize to The Measure of a Man.”
The American Independent Narrative Award
Winner: Krisha, directed by Trey Edward Shults (USA)
The jury stated: "A fraught suburban Thanksgiving is hardly new territory for cinema, but Krisha takes the concept to wildly dynamic and unusual places. Director Trey Edward Shults has created a fully formed, formally experimental portrait of authentic family dynamics that feels intimate and lived in. We’re so pleased to present the American Independent Narrative Award to Krisha.”
Special Jury Prize, Filmmaker to Watch: H., directed by Rania Attieh and Daniel Garcia
The jury stated: "Because days later we still can’t stop thinking about the audacious storytelling and bold vision of the transfixing H. and can’t wait to see what Rania Atteih and Daniel Garcia do next."
The Liberty Global International Student Short Award
Winner: Disintegration, directed by รlvaro Martรญn (Spain)
The jury stated: “This was a difficult decision as every film in this category was unique and impressive, but the standout winner was Disintegration. Playing as a remarkable portrait of childhood while delving into topical social issues, รlvaro Martรญn created magic that is enjoyable and heartbreaking at the same time. We appreciate the risk he took in creating this film and look forward to see what he makes next.”
Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Directing: The Fantastic Love of Beeboy and Flowergirl, directed by Clemens Roth (Germany)
The jury stated: “From striking visuals to creative storytelling, Clemens Roth masterfully created a compelling world that beautifully mixed fantasy and reality in The Fantastic Love of Beeboy and Flowergirl.”
The Spike Lee Student Filmmaker Award
Winner: Oasis, directed by Sara Lafleur-Vetter (USA)
The jury stated: “Oasis is an informative and gripping documentary that takes a closer look at the health care system that left behind those who can’t take care of themselves and one doctor who continues to fight on their behalf. We hope director Sara Lafleur-Vetter continues to bring awareness to this community through the power of film.”
Feature Screenplay Award
Winner: Memory by John Benge
Presented by: University of Colorado Denver’s Film & Television Program, College of Arts and Media
Short Screenplay Award
Winner: Symposium by Tom Grady
Presented by: University of Colorado Denver’s Film & Television Program, College of Arts and Media
Denver Film Festival Awards
As previously announced, awards presented on behalf of the Denver Film Festival were:
John Cassavetes Award: John Turturro
Maria & Tommaso Maglione Italian Filmmaker Award: Nanni Moretti (Mia Madre, Italy)
Reel Social Club Indie Spirit Award: Benjamin Dickinson (Creative Control, USA)
Rising Star Award presented by Rise Above Colorado: Alex Wolff (Coming Through the Rye, USA)
Stan Brakhage Vision Award: Nathaniel Dorsky
True Grit Award: Decay
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowersโ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, โHis artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.โ
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, โKris first caught my attention when he released his record โHeroes + Misfitsโ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More