Timed to the spectacular fall color in the Rocky Mountains, Aspen Film presents a six-day celebration of independent and big-screen cinema for locals and visitors to the Roaring Fork Valley's inspiring alpine locale alike. Showcases of award-winning features and documentaries from around the world along with previews of starry studio releases are punctuated by filmmaker guests, in-depth discussions and classroom education programming. One of Colorado's longest running film festivals, the 37th Aspen Filmfest runs Friday, Sept. 25 – Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Paepcke Auditorium and Isis Theater in Aspen and the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale.
ROOM (A24), directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, William H. Macy and Joan Allen, will open Aspen Filmfest on Friday, Sept. 25. Based on the international best-selling novel by Emma Donoghue, this emotional journey demonstrates he triumphant power of a mother's love even under the darkest of circumstances. The Aspen Filmfest audience will be the first to see the narrative feature outside of its Toronto International Film Festival premiere earlier in the month.
"Aspen Film is honored to open our 37th Aspen Filmfest with such an anticipated title," said Aspen Film Executive Director John Thew. "ROOM is sure to set the stage for our forthcoming impressive and diverse program."
The full Aspen Filmfest program will be announced and available online Tuesday, Sept. 1. Aspen Film REEL PEOPLE member ticket pre-sales begin Friday, Sept. 4. Tickets to the general public go on sale Friday, Sept. 11. Tickets for all Aspen and Carbondale shows are available through the Wheeler Opera House Box Office (320 E. Hyman Ave., 970.920.5770, www.aspenshowtix.com); tickets for Carbondale shows are also available through Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St., 970.510.5327, www.bonfirecoffee.com).
Aspen Filmfest is presented by The Aspen Times and generously supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Aspen, Embrey Family Foundation, Colorado Creative Industries, Les Dames d'Aspen, Thrift Shop of Aspen and AspenOUT. Aspen Filmfest is sponsored by The Aspen Club & Spa, The Gant, Aspen Public Radio, Aspen Sojourner, Alpine Bank, Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media.
For more information and to join Aspen Film, please visit www.aspenfilm.org. Full program information is available online Tuesday, Sept. 1.
About the film ROOM
ROOM (dir. Lenny Abrahamson, Ireland/Canada, 2015, 113 min.)
Opening Night Feature, Friday, Sept. 25, 8:15 p.m., Paepcke Auditorium
Both highly suspenseful and deeply emotional, Room is an unexpectedly tender exploration of the boundless love between a mother and child under the most harrowing of circumstances. Based on Emma Donoghue's award-winning bestseller, Room tells the extraordinary story of Jack (Jacob Tremblay), a spirited five year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted Ma. Like any good mother, Ma (a stunning Brie Larson) dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical-they are trapped-confined to a windowless, 10-by-10-foot space. But as Jack's curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma's resilience reaches its breaking point, they decide to enact a risky plan to escape. Lenny Abrahamson directs a stellar cast that also includes William H. Macy and Joan Allen.
About ASPEN FILM
Established in 1979, Aspen Film is one of Colorado's most active film arts organizations, presenting dynamic programs and featured guest artists throughout the year. Internationally recognized, Aspen Film organizes a major film event in every season, along with an extensive education program: Aspen Filmfest, Academy Screenings, Aspen Shortsfest and Film Educates. With a mission to enlighten, enrich, educate and entertain through film, Aspen Film stimulates thought, encourages dialogue and broadens understanding of our world and selves through the diverse spectrum of ideas presented by filmmakers worldwide. To learn more, visit www.aspenfilm.org.
