ASPEN FILM ANNOUNCES LINE-UP FOR 31st ANNUAL ACADEMY SCREENINGS

Blitz Bazawule’s THE COLOR PURPLE Opens Festival with In-Person Q+A, Festival to Close with Cord Jefferson's Highly Anticipated AMERICAN FICTION

ASPEN, Colo. (Nov. 30, 2023) - Aspen Film is excited to announce the program for its 31st Annual Academy Screenings, showing at the newly acquired Aspen Film Isis Theatre from Dec. 19-23, 2023. The 10-film showcase kicks off with the new and highly anticipated THE COLOR PURPLE, directed by Blitz Bazawule, followed by a special, in-person Q+A with award-winning composer Kris Bowers and award-winning choreographer Fatima Robinson on Opening Night. The festival will Close with Cord Jefferson's Highly Anticipated AMERICAN FICTION.

Aspen has long been a favorite winter destination for voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and other various entertainment guilds such as DGA, PGA, SAG-AFTRA, WGA. From big-name features to fresh independent voices, Aspen Film’s 31st Edition Academy Screenings showcases high-profile, prominent end-of-year awards season contenders.

“This has been a stellar year for cinema, and Aspen Film has been fortunate to present so many world-class films,” says Aspen Film Executive + Artistic Director Susan Wrubel. “We have the privilege of sharing several of the most anticipated year-end films with our audiences, and once again, Academy Screenings is sure to please. To kick things off, we are delighted to host award-winning composer Kris Bowers and award-winning choreographer Fatima Robinson from THE COLOR PURPLE.”

31ST ASPEN FILM ACADEMY SCREENINGS OFFICIAL PROGRAM

THE COLOR PURPLE

Tue, DEC 19 | 7:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

A story of love and resilience, THE COLOR PURPLE is a decades-spanning tale of one woman’s journey to independence. Celie faces many hardships in her life but ultimately finds extraordinary strength and hope in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

(US, 2023) 141 MIN

FOLLOWED BY Q+A WITH AWARD-WINNERS COMPOSER KRIS BOWERS AND CHOREOGRAPHER FATIMA ROBINSON

FESTIVAL | AWARDS 2023 Critics Choice Awards Celebration of Cinema and Television, Winner - Ensemble Award

DIRECTOR Blitz Bazawule

WRITTEN BY Marcus Gardley

WITH Halle Bailey, Jon Batiste, Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Louis Gossett Jr., Taraji P. Henson + H.E.R.

 

THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE

Wed, DEC 20 | 5:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

An idealistic high school teacher who advocates for a student accused of stealing becomes embroiled in conflict when she becomes the target of theft herself. 

(Germany, 2023) 98 MIN

OFFICIAL 2024 OSCAR® SUBMISSION, GERMANY - Best International Feature

FESTIVAL | AWARDS 2023 Berlin International Film Festival - Winner, C.I.C.A.E. Award; German Film Awards - Winner, Best Screenplay, Best Direction, Best Actress, Outstanding Feature Film; Toronto International Film Festival

DIRECTOR Ilker Çatak 

WRITTEN BY Johannes Duncker, Ilker Çatak

WITH Leonie Benesch, Michael Klammer, Eva Löbau + Leonard Stettnisch

 

POOR THINGS

Wed, DEC 20 | 8:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

Bella, a young woman brought back to life by a genius surgeon, sets out on an adventure across continents to explore an unknown world. Freed from the prejudices of her time and learning about equality and emancipation, Bella achieves amazing growth.

(Ireland, UK, US, 2023) 141 MIN

FESTIVAL | AWARDS 2023 Venice Film Festival - Winner, Best Film, UNIMED Award; Telluride Film Festival; New York Film Festival

DIRECTOR Yorgos Lanthimos

WRITTEN BY Tony McNamara, Alasdair Gray

WITH Christopher Abbott, Jerrod Carmichael, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Mark Ruffalo, Emma Stone, Hanna Schygulla, + Ramy Youssef

 

SEVEN BLESSINGS

Thur, DEC 21 | 5:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

Marie reunites with her relatives for her wedding, forcing them to confront the past while wrecking the present in a tragic family comedy about fury, forgiveness, and food. 

(Israel, 2023) 108 MIN

OFFICIAL 2024 OSCAR® SUBMISSION, ISRAEL - Best International Feature

FESTIVAL | AWARDS 2023 Ophir Awards, Winner - Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress

DIRECTOR Ayelet Menahemi

WRITTEN BY Eleanor Sela + Reymonde Amsellem

WITH Reymonde Amsallem, Rivka Bahar, Tikva Dayan, Eran Mor + Eleanor Sela

COMMUNITY PARTNER JCC of Aspen

 

THE IRON CLAW

Thur, DEC 21 | 8:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.

(UK/US, 2023) 130 MIN

DIRECTOR Sean Durkin

WRITTEN BY Sean Durkin

WITH Harris Dickinson, Zac Efron, Lily James, Holt McCallany, Maura Tierney + Jeremy Allen White

 

THE ZONE OF INTEREST

Fri, DEC 22 | 5:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp. 

(US, UK, Poland 2023) 105 MIN

OFFICIAL 2024 OSCAR® SUBMISSION, UNITED KINGDOM - Best International Feature

FESTIVAL | AWARDS 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Winner - Grand Prize; Telluride Film Festival; Toronto International Film Festival; New York Film Festival; Montclair Film Festival, Winner - Breakthrough Performer

DIRECTOR Jonathan Glazer

WRITTEN BY Martin Amis, Jonathan Glazer

WITH Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller + Freya Kreutzkam

COMMUNITY PARTNER Aspen Jewish Congregation

 

ALL OF US STRANGERS

Fri, DEC 22 | 8:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

A screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with a mysterious neighbor as he then discovers his parents appear to be living just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before. 

(UK, 2023) 105 MIN

FESTIVAL | AWARDS 2023 Telluride Film Festival; New York Film Festival; Montclair Film Festival, Winner - Special Jury Prize; British Independent Film Awards - Winner, Best Editing, Best Cinematography

DIRECTOR Andrew Haigh

WRITTEN BY Andrew Haigh

WITH Jamie Bell, Claire Foy, Carter John Grout, Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott + Ami Tredrea

COMMUNITY PARTNER AspenOUT

 

ROBOT DREAMS

Sat, DEC 23 | 2:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

In bustling 80s New York, Dog decides to build himself a robot companion to help cope with loneliness. After an enjoyable day at the beach, disaster strikes, forcing Dog and Robot to separate. Will they ever meet again? 

(Spain, France 2023) 102 MIN

FESTIVAL | AWARDS 2023 Cannes Film Festival; Montclair Film Festival;  Annecy International Animated Film Festival - Winner, Best Film; Toronto  International Film Festival; Animation is Film - Winner, Feature Film

DIRECTOR Pablo Berger 

WRITTEN BY Pablo Berger

WITH Ivan Labanda + José Garcia Tos 

 

PERFECT DAYS

Sat, DEC 23 | 5:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

Hirayama is content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine, he cherishes music on cassette tapes, books, and taking photos of trees. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world. 

(Japan, Germany 2023) 123 MIN

OFFICIAL 2024 OSCAR® SUBMISSION, JAPAN - Best International Feature

FESTIVAL | AWARDS 2023 Cannes Film Festival, Winner - Best Actor; Telluride Film Festival; Toronto International Film Festival; New York Film Festival; Montclair Film Festival

DIRECTOR Wim Wenders

WRITTEN BY Wim Wenders + Takuma Takasaki 

WITH Yumi Asô, Tokio Emoto + Kôji Yakusho, 

COMMUNITY PARTNER Matsuhisa

 

AMERICAN FICTION

Sat, DEC 23 | 8:00 PM | AF Isis Theatre

A novelist who is fed up with the establishment profiting from ‘Black’ entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain. 

(US, 2023) 117 MIN

FESTIVAL | AWARDS 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, Winner - People’s Choice Award; Denver Film Festival, Winner - Excellence in Acting Award; Critics Choice Awards - Winner, Visionary Award

DIRECTOR Cord Jefferson

WRITTEN BY Cord Jefferson

WITH John Ales, Adam Brody, Sterling K. Brown, Keith David, Tracee Ellis-Ross, Issa Rae, Leslie Uggams, Jeffrey Wright + Skyler Wright 

COMMUNITY PARTNER AspenWords

 

SCREENING VENUE

ASPEN FILM ISIS THEATRE

406 East Hopkins Avenue, Aspen

 

TICKETS

Festival Pass can be purchased here for $225.

https://aspenfilm.org/festival/2023-academy-screenings/

Member tickets go on sale Dec. 5. General admission tickets go on sale Dec. 8. 

 

ADMISSION - OPENING NIGHT

$30 General Admission 

$25 Aspen Film Members

 

ADMISSION - ALL OTHER SHOWTIMES

$25 General Admission 

$20 Aspen Film Members

 

Tickets can be purchased online at aspenfilm.org or starting Dec 11th, in person at the Aspen Film Office (110 E Hallam St; Suite 103, Aspen). Voting members of AMPAS, BAFTA, DGA, PGA, SAG-AFTRA, WGA, and other applicable entertainment guilds receive a complimentary Industry Pass to Academy Screenings that must be reserved in advance. To obtain an Industry Pass, please contact Aspen Film directly by email ([email protected]) or by phone (970.925.6882) by Dec. 16th.

 

SPONSORS

The 31st Annual Academy Screenings is made possible by the generous support of Aspen Daily News, Alpine Bank, Aspen Public Radio, AspenOUT, Aspen Thrift Shop, City of Aspen Arts Grant Program, Colorado Creative Industries, Colorado Office of Film Television + Media, Les Dames d’Aspen, Rotary Club of Aspen, W Hotel, Aspen.

 

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 (fall), Academy Screenings (December 19-23, 2023), Aspen Shortsfest (April 1-7, 2024), Summer of Cinema, and FilmEducates. With a mission to enlighten, enrich, educate, and entertain through film, Aspen Film stimulates thought, encourages dialogue, and broadens our understanding of our world and selves through the diverse spectrum of ideas presented by filmmakers worldwide. Aspen Shortsfest was voted one of the ‘Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World in 2022’ by Moviemaker Magazine. To learn more, visit aspenfilm.org.

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