The three-year-old Festivus kicks off tonight at 6:45 p.m. with a screening of Thor at the Bus Stop and a 9 p.m. showing of Opening Night Shorts, both at the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo Street; an opening-night after-party follows at 10:30 p.m. at Forest Room 5, 2532 15th Street. "We don't program for the film critics, so we try to program films that anyone will like," explains Jonathan McFarlane, one of the festival’s directors, and so the lineup includes short films, comedies and even a few horror films.
This year’s festival includes nine world premieres, testament to Festivus’s growing international presence. "We had films from over 25 countries submitted this year," McFarlane says, "and even have a filmmaker traveling all the way from Turkey just to attend the festival." Festivus continues through January 17, with most events held in northwest Denver venues, including the Oriental Theater, 4335 West 44th Avenue.
Admission to a single film is $8, and single-day passes can be purchased for $15. For more information, visit www.festivusfilmfestival.com or call 720-221-3586.
Jan. 14-17, 2010
