Latest news with #KeithGarcia
CBS News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
7 reasons to check out Denver's CinemaQ
Denver Film started CinemaQ in 2009 as a way to celebrate queer voices, queer visions and queer visibility as seen in the film industry. The three-day festival showcases new and classic LGBTQ+ movies from around the world. This year's festival includes 12 feature films as well as a shorts showcase, included are documentaries, dramas and animated movies. CinemaQ runs August 8 - 10, 2025 at the Sie Film Center on East Colfax Avenue in Denver. "We operate 365-days-a-year to just showcase the best in film, build a film community, and we do it all for the viewers," said Keith Garcia, Artistic Director at the Sie Film Center. Here are 7 reasons why you might consider checking it out: 1. BLQ showcase gets bigger & better Denver Film's partnership with Black Pride Colorado is in its second year. The BLQ (Black Lives Queerly) showcase includes screenings of four films, panel discussions, and a dance party. Dr. Tara Jae, Executive Director of Black Pride Colorado, said in a news release that "these screenings are more than events, they are acts of resistance, visibility, and healing for our community at large." "At Black Pride Colorado, we believe in the transformative power of storytelling to reclaim our narratives, celebrate Black queer joy, and build collective liberation," Jae said. 2. You can go inside the fight for trans rights "Heightened Scrutiny," screening on day two, follows civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio as he battles at the Supreme Court for transgender adolescents' right to healthcare. Strangio faces challenges not only in the legal system, but also in the media as he wages this personal fight. 3. Poignant storytelling is timeless CinemaQ kicks off with the presentation of "Twinless." Fresh off its premiere at Sundance Film Festival and before its wider release, "Twinless" explores the themes of loss and connection. The movie follows Roman (Dylan O'Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney) who meet in a twin bereavement support group and form an unlikely friendship. 4. Who doesn't love a movie starring Olivia Colman & John Lithgow? The Festival closes with a screening of "Jimpa" starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow. The intergenerational family drama explores the complexities of parenthood, queer identity and the evolving meaning of family. 5. House music has roots in queer Black clubs "Move Ya Body: The Birth of House" shows how house music emerged from the underground dance clubs on the South Side of Chicago. The movie features dramatic recreations, archival materials and interviews with the genre's pioneers. Denver Film will keep the celebration going with a House Party at the Sie Film Center on Saturday, August 9, 2025 after the film screening. 6. Lesbians rule in space Denver Film is hosting SaturGAY Morning Cartoons + Cereal Party at the Sie Film Center. "Where we have some cartoons of yore that I think were very queer coded as a child watching them, but that's before our brand new animated queer film from Australia called "Lesbian Space Princess," Garcia said. 7. Drag queens & club kids may be the best way to survive the apocalypse When zombies attack a warehouse party in Brooklyn, drag queens, club kids & frenemies have to put aside their drama to fight back. "Queens of the Dead" is screening as part of BLQ and is sponsored by Black Pride Colorado. "Queens of the Dead" director, Tina Romero, is the daughter of the Godfather of Zombie movies, George Romero, who directed "Night of the Living Dead." LINK: For Tickets & Information about CinemaQ "The Cinema Q Film Festival was born and we've been amplifying queer voices, queer visions, and queer visibility ever since," Garcia explained. "This year and right now, it's especially an important time to amplify queer voices, and I think, this batch of films is going to be just the right remedy for the kind of ill feeling we have in the world right now."
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Denver Film brings Bruce Lee to the big screen during May
In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Denver Film is screening a series of films called Bruce Lee & Beyond. The series is designed to explore the impact that Bruce Lee had on the martial arts genre and cinema itself. "He brought something to the screen that people have never really seen before in a martial arts film. Those were considered often like cheapies. You don't spend a lot of money on them. You get a cast to come in, do an action movie and make some money and then you're done. But he had something people wanted to see," said Keith Garcia, Artistic Director of the Sie FilmCenter for Denver Film. Denver Film Bruce Lee was a Hong Kong-American martial arts master and actor. He was born in San Francisco, but then most of his childhood in Hong Kong. He started acting when he was a child in Hong Kong. He moved back to the United States to go to college, and started teaching martial arts. He got his break in Hollywood by playing Kato in The Green Hornet. Lee is considered to be the first global Chinese film star and one of the most influential martial artists in the history of cinema. Lee made just four films before his death at age 32. The films are "The Big Boss," "Fist of Fury," "Way of the Dragon," and "Enter the Dragon." "Game of Death" was the movie he was working on when he died. It was released posthumously. All five of those movies will play as part of the series. "Just within the context of those five films, his star power changed the box office at the time for martial arts them legitimacy and just changed the global film structure all together," Garcia added. Denver Film In addition to Lee's body of work, Denver Film has curated a selection of films that were directly inspired by Lee. This films include Berry Gordy's "The Last Dragon," Jackie Chan's "Half a Loaf of Kung Fu" and "The Fearless Hyena," and Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill Vol. I and Vol. II." Total there are 13 films in the series. LINK: For Tickets and Information about Bruce Lee & Beyond Denver Film's Bruce Lee & Beyond runs throughout the month of May. All the films will screen at the Sie FilmCenter.
CBS News
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
The art of the heist plays out on the silver screen in Denver
We all love it when a plan comes together, or maybe it's fun to watch it all fall a part. That is the draw of Denver Film's Thick as Thieves film series throughout the month of March. The series covers a wide range of the films about people looking for a big score and how those plans play out. There are classics like "The Pink Panther," "Rififi," and "The Thomas Crown Affair," and more modern fair like "Inception" and "Set It Off." "If you've ever just kind of wanted to dip your toes into all the heist films, this is a great place to start," said Keith Garcia, Artistic Director of the Sie FilmCenter for Denver Film. This monthlong tribute to art of the heist kicks off with the ultimate series of theft thrillers. "I can think of no better way to kick off a whole month of heist movies than to look at the Ocean's series. We have two double features on Saturday, March 1. You can turn it into a quadruple feature if you've got the time. A double feature of 'Ocean's 11' and '12' and a double feature of "Ocean's 13' and '8,'" Garcia explained. Planned capers are not only fun to watch, but they also make for intricate storytelling. "It was time for some fun this month, so we just wanted to focus on a subgenre that is really fun, really interesting. Nothing more exciting than a heist film to pull you out are they going to get away with it? Are they not? We have plenty of options that go in all directions," Garcia said. There are 17 films carefully curated for the Thick as Thieves series. It starts on March 1, 2025 and runs throughout the month at the Sie FilmCenter in Denver.
