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Breaking kicks off 29th film festival
By Joe Nguyen
nguyejos@mscd.edu

Photo by Johanna Snow • snowj@mscd.edu Mayor John Hickenlooper takes time to speak to an aspiring reporter on the red carpet before the opening night movie Nov. 9 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. The event kicked off the 29th Starz Denver Film Festival.

“There’s no business like show business.”

The classic Irving Berlin medley rang true as the 29th Starz Denver Film Festival kicked off its festivities Nov. 9 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Moviegoers were decked out in elegant attire for the red-carpet affair. The opera house was filled for the festival’s opening feature, Breaking and Entering, by Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella. Minghella, best known for The English Patient, was in attendance to receive the Mayor’s Career Achievement Award.

“We are truly, madly and deeply honored to have this Renaissance man as our special guest to share his most recent film with us,” Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said during his speech before the movie. Truly Madly Deeply was Minghella’s first feature film.

Ron Henderson, co-founder and artistic director of the Denver Film Society, said that typically an award or a tribute is given to someone from the opening or closing movie.

“Since (Minghella) won so many nominations for … six films,” Henderson said, “we changed it from lifetime to career because he’s got a lot more gas in his tank.”

Minghella was gracious and charming during his acceptance speech, often cracking jokes at his own expense.

“When you make movies you have integrity, and when you release them, you have none whatsoever,” Minghella said. “And I so wish I was now showing you the Borat movie.”

Photo by Johanna Snow • snowj@mscd.edu Anthony Minghella, director of Breaking and Entering, stands with his wife Carolyn Choa Nov. 9 at the Denver Starz Film Festival premiere. Minghella received the Mayor’s Career Achievement Award.

Breaking and Entering reunites the director with Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley) and Juliette Binoche (The English Patient). Law plays Will, a landscape architect who opens a new office in North London that becomes the target of a teenage thief, played by newcomer Rafi Gavron.

Struggling with problems inside his own family, Will finds himself drawn to the thief’s mother, a survivor from Sarajevo, played by Binoche.

“It’s an odd film for the beginning of a festival, so just be patient,” Minghella said. “And if you don’t like it, don’t look at me in the face afterward. I’ll be at the party in the corner.”

After the film, many attended the after-party in the Seawell Ballroom across the hall. Skewered hors d’oeuvres and a variety of liquors were served as house music played in the dimly lit room.

The atmosphere allowed for filmmakers to mingle with non-filmmakers. Henderson said there would be more filmmakers at this year’s festival than ever before, with approximately 180 expected.

“It’s very overwhelming for our small staff,” he said. “But it’s wonderful for the movie-going public, because they get a chance to talk to these directors in an intimate environment.”

But with more than 200 films featured, it may be hard to choose which ones to see.

“It’s like having 200 kids and choosing your favorite,” Henderson said.