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Denver Film Festival Sponsorship

Join us in 2023 for the 46th Annual Denver Film Festival
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46 Years Strong

The 46th Denver Film Festival (DFF46) is a ten-day festival presenting film and new media to over 40,000 guests. This year’s festival will take place from November 3-12, 2023.

The Denver Film Festival is the largest regional film festival in the Rocky Mountain region, bringing international cinema, filmmakers, virtual reality, immersive experiences and creative conversations to Colorado.

The Denver Film Festival takes place at four primary locations throughout the city of Denver, with dozens of locations hosting pop-up events to engage audiences in the Denver and Aurora Metro areas, as well as greater Colorado and its surrounding states.

Our Goals

Discover

Providing an opportunity for film discovery

Celebrate
Celebrate the diverse leaders of international independent cinema
Inspire

Inspire the next generation of filmmakers

Community
Bring the
independent film loving community together

The Past 4 Decades

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Each year from its inception in 1977, the festival has been packed with high-profile international guests and hundreds of highly acclaimed films from around the world.

After runs at the Denver Center Cinema in the Performing Arts Complex and the historic Paramount Theatre, to the Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli, Denver Film established our year-round home at the Sie FilmCenter in 2010.

From spotlights on Eastern European films after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990, to a salute to Chinese cinema in 2002, a feature on Brazilian films in 2019, each year the festival highlights a specific region for their exceptional filmmaking and cinema.

In 2016 we introduced our Festival Annex at the Historic McNichols Civic Center Building, which annually hosts our cutting-edge virtual reality exhibitions, community events, receptions, lounges, creative conversations, immersive experiences, and so much more.

In 2020, we pivoted our Red Carpet presentations to be screened at our Drive-Ins at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. The films were presented on a 48-foot by 28-foot LED screen, with audio delivered via a designated FM radio frequency.

In 2021, we added two new venues to our lineup of primary locations. We partnered with the brand new AMC 9+CO 10 on Colorado Blvd., to bring a polished experience to 200+ screenings. In addition, we partnered with the esteemed Denver Botanic Gardens, to bring screenings and events to their new Freyer – Newman Center and Sturm Family Auditorium.

 

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Actor Steven Yeun

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McNichols Civic Center Building

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Freyer - Newman Center

Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Filmmakers & Artists

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The Denver Film Festival brings 100+ filmmakers and artists to Denver to participate in screenings, panels, and Red Carpet presentations annually. In 2021, the Festival continued the tradition by hosting 100+ guests for Q&A’s, panels, and special events.

Past artists have ranged from Directors to Actors, including: Rian Johnson, Emma Stone, Jamie Dornan, Zazie Beetz, Clifton Collins Jr., and many more.

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Actor Steven Yeun
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Actor Zazie Beetz
Director Sam Pollard
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Actors Kevin Bacon & Kira Sedgwick
Director Rian Johnson
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Actor Bill Pullman
Actor Omar Epps
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Actor Emma Stone
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Top Notch Partners

Each year we work with incredible partners and sponsors, without whom the Denver Film Festival would not be possible. These partners range from film associations, colleges and universities, consulates, restaurants, law firms, corporate brands, and more.

We highlight our partners through engaging activations, participation in Q&As and panels, brand awareness through video spots, logo placement, and branded swag. We work with each partner to customize their festival experience and ensure that their brand is brought to life.

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Engage With Our DFF Audience

40,000+

Attendees

56,000+

Email Subscribers

3,500+

Denver Film Members

100+

Filmmakers & Artists

119,000+

Social Media Followers

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Red Carpet Presentations

The Ellie Caulkins Opera House hosts Denver Film Festival’s Red Carpet presentations. Filmmakers, actors, and local community members alike appear on the Red Carpet prior to each presentation. Previous Red Carpet presentations include: La La Land, Nomadland, Knives Out, Black Swan, Precious, King Richard, and more.

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Creative Conversations

Creative Conversations and Panels are programmed after the Festival films and guests take shape. Once films have been selected, the programming team works with Denver Film staff to identify subjects and themes that resonate with the work done by local communities, artists, and organizations. Denver Film then works with collaborators to build a program that addresses Festival films while elevating the partner’s work in Denver.

Some conversations feature Festival filmmakers who are being honored with an award, and therefore their participants and conversations are predetermined. This is the case with programs such as the Women+Film Luncheon and the Italian Spotlight.

Finally, when collaborating with artist groups or bands, Festival leadership works directly with the group, with whom the relationship has been established through year-round programs. For example, Denver Film had previously worked with local band DeVotchKa, so collaborated with them to live score Man With A Movie Camera in 2019 during the Festival.

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   La La Land    

   DFF39 Opening Night Red Carpet Presentation    

Virtual Reality & Immersive Experiences

In programming Virtual Reality and Immersive Experiences for the Denver Film Festival, the programming team curates the best of the best experiences from around the world. Immersive Experiences are programmed and executed in collaboration with the artists and creators.

Typically, Denver Film will engage the artist to be present for the duration of the Festival so that they can direct the installation of their project and cast their production with local actors where required.

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Special Events

Every year festival goers, including audience members, sponsors, as well as filmmakers, join us at various venues throughout the city of Denver to celebrate the festival and indulge in phenomenal music, film, food and drinks.

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Venues

DSC_0029Our Year-Round Home

Located on East Colfax Ave., Denver Film’s year-round home hosts screenings and special events throughout the festival.

2510 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80206

Representation

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The 46th Denver Film Festival will bring together the best in film from around the world in a statewide celebration of diverse perspectives.

We believe that the key to elevating diverse perspectives lies in both celebrating the plurality of voices in cinema and employing the Festival as a platform for insightful conversations led by community leaders and influencers.

PROGRAMMING

On the programming side, a large part of the Festival is dedicated to elevating the frequently underrepresented voices in cinema through programs such as Women+Film, CinemaQ, CineLatinx, and the Spotlight on Social Justice, which presents films that specifically interrogate the issues and systems disproportionately impacting large groups of minorities, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities.

The Festival has also highlighted indigenous voices with the help of artists like Wes Studi, Buffy Saint Marie, and Will Sampson. Festival programming is enriched by internationally diverse storytelling, from local accounts that hit close to home to compelling stories from around the world. In 2018 alone, the Festival featured films from a total of 57 countries

OPEN CAPTIONING

As with programming, it is a primary goal beyond film to connect with the powerful work within our communities. Over the past two 

years, we have worked with leadership from Denver’s Deaf and Hard  of Hearing communities to improve accessibility. The Sie FilmCenter consistently offers Open Caption screenings, descriptive audio screenings, and assistive listening devices for most shows. Additionally, all Film on the Rocks Drive-In screenings in 2020 were presented with Open Captioning.

In 2021, we were thrilled to continue our partnerships with local organizations such as the Pan-African Arts Festival and Colorado Dragon Boat to produce the cinematic component of their cultural celebrations, both as standalone events and as essential programs within the 44th Denver Film Festival. We strongly believe that successful programs are made possible by audiences, which is why we continually strive to create an accessible environment for everyone.

 

FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
Marketing, outreach and programming teams prioritize geographic diversity to expand Festival programs & events throughout Denver and the Front Range. We are also committed to economic support of diverse narratives and artists. In 2019, Denver Film awarded its music licensing grant to Sweetheart Deal, which documents the lives of sex workers in Oregon, as well as The Letter, a Kenyan documentary investigating land theft and Kenya’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 2021 Academy Awards. Film has a particular power to shed light on the global scale of our diverse stories. Our profound belief in that power continues to drive our commitment to diverse storytelling with programming, community partnerships, and economic support.

 

In The News

The Denver Film Festival receives a wide range of press coverage from local and national outlets. The Festival has been recognized in the press for our Red Carpet presentations, filmmakers in attendance, marquee conversations, and special events.

Press outlets that have featured the Denver Film Festival include: The Denver Post, Variety, Denver Business Journal, 5280 Magazine, and more.

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  Denver Film Member Base

Our Members have always been the backbone of Denver Film. For the sixth consecutive season we have marked the best year for memberships in Denver Film history. New members and returning members realized what our longtime supporters have known for a while: that Denver Film is a community like no other.

Yet again Westword called Denver Film the Best Arts Membership in Denver. Consisting of monthly member screenings, special preview film events, and of course priority access to the Denver Film Festival, being a member combines generosity and great benefits. Thank you to all of our members! It is through your support that we are able to bring such wonderful independent film to Denver and our greater community.

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  Youth Education

Denver Film also feels fortunate to work with students beginning their journey as filmmakers and cinephiles. Through the Collegiate Fellows program, about 30 college students attend screenings and panels, interview guests, and learn about film distribution at no cost to the student.

Students aged 12 to 18 in Young Filmmakers Workshops create a film about their experience of the festival, and more than 350 high schoolers attend two High School Days.

1,600+Total Young Filmmakers Workshop Graduates

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Affiliate Your Brand

The Denver Film Festival is home to an annual audience of over 40,000 cinema lovers, including moviegoers, filmmakers, celebrities, and influencers from around the world. Connect your brand to the festival community with custom activations, cross-promotional campaigns, video spotlights, and more.

  • Film Screenings

  • Red Carpet Presentations

  • Film Sections

  • Youth Education Programs

  • Experiential Opportunities

  • Festival Volunteers

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Demographics

 

Sponsorship Levels

 
 
Marquee

$20,0000+
Spotlight

$12,000+
Studio

$8,000+
Cameo

$6,000+
Film

$3,000+
Recognition
Window wrap space in one of (4) locations        
Industry segment exclusivity        
“This Film is Sponsored By” Logo in :10 Pre-Show Video at Red Carpet Presentation      
Ad space in festival guide

1/2 Page

1/4 Page

      
Verbal recognition at sponsored events    
Logo on print materials    
Name mentioned in all press releases
Featured in sponsor block in e-blasts
Logo on website
Promotions
:15 video spot in front of sidebar or selected asset  
:15 video spot in front of (1) film         1 Film
“This Film is Sponsored By” Logo in :10 Pre-Show Video       1 Film
On-site signage at Red Carpet screenings      
Name mentioned in associating social posts    
Hospitality
Ticket Packages $2,000 $1,000 $800 $600 $300
Sponsor Badges - access to select parties & VIP lounges
Reserved seats at select Ellie Caulkins Red Carpets        

 

ADDITIONAL ASSETS AVAILABLE:

• Pre or post-reception at the Ellie Red Carpet
(see Ellie Sponsor Deck for additional information)
(starting at $10,000)
• Opportunity to sponsor McNichols lounge (starting at $15,000)
• Opportunity to sponsor AMC lounge (starting at $15,000)
• Opportunity to sponsor Sie FilmCenter Lounge (starting at
$10,000)

• Activation opportunity (starting at $2,500)
• Presenting sponsor of select special event (starting at $10,000)
• Opportunity to sponsor festival merch (starting at $5,000)
• Festival Guide Sponsor (starting at $15,000)
• Presenting Venue Sponsor (starting at $20,000)
• Official Festival Transportation Sponsor (starting at $10,000)
• Program Sponsorship ($5,000)

Join us for the 46th Denver Film Festival

Fill out the form below to learn more about becoming a sponsor

Meet with Halea

Set up a 15-30 minute introductory call with our Senior Events Manager, Halea McAteer.