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Aspen Film’s 43rd annual film festival returns from September 27th to October 2nd. This year’s festival will showcase 16 feature films, including a variety of cinematic stories from around the world.
Aspen Film’s executive and artistic director Susan Wrubel has spent months scouring some of the world’s biggest film festivals — such as South by Southwest, Cannes, Toronto, Venice and Telluride — to “pick up” the upcoming highlights for her Say, this fall and winter season for the film industry.
“Because this is an invitation-only festival, we looked for something that resonated,” Wrubel said. “If you look at the cast, the films have a lot to say.”
Wrubel explained that many of this year’s films brought pathos and empathy to the screen, and notable themes surfaced. Some common themes include family, friendship and loyalty, defending equality and justice, and the nature of mental health.
“A lot of topics are really important to this community and people here can relate to,” Wrubel said. “I try to focus on films that have messages that I think the community will respond to — some of those messages feel good, others a little bit uncomfortable.”
Filmfest kicks off with a more “feel good” story with an opening night screening at the Wheeler Opera House on September 27. The first film shown, titled “Good Night Obi,” tells the true story of a rover called Opportunity being sent to Mars on a 90-day mission and ultimately surviving 15 years. This family-friendly documentary follows Opportunity’s journey on Mars and the rover’s extraordinary relationship with the human space team returning to Earth.
Wrubel pointed to “Good Night Obi” as a highlight of this year’s festival and said the film is inspiring for people of all ages. Following its premiere night premiere, Aspen Films is working on an educational screening of “Good Night Obi” at Aspen Middle School sometime during the festival.
Other festival highlights include a special tribute screening of the film “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” a 1981 remake of the 1946 classic noir. The newer version is directed by the late Bob Rafelson, a longtime Aspen native who died in July.
Rafelson won the first Aspen Film Born Independent in 1999, and 20 years later, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at Aspen Films’ 40th Anniversary Celebration in 2019.
“We did this to celebrate Bob and honor him as a filmmaker,” Wrubel said. “He embodies our ‘born independent’ spirit.”
“The Postman Always Rings Twice” is an addition to a selection of 16 films that will be screened at the Wheeler Opera House on Thursday, September 29 as a free community event. Advance registration is required to participate.
Filmfest will also have a surprise screening at the Wheeler Theatre on Sunday, October 2nd. While there have been no such films in the past few years, Aspen Film has always offered surprise screenings at its Filmfest show in the past, Wrubel said. She explained how the festival is bringing it back this year with a highly anticipated film that just wrapped up its world premiere and isn’t allowed to announce ahead of showtime.
“It’s a very powerful movie,” Wrubel said. “I encourage all spectators and everyone to roll the dice and get a ticket.”
Wrubel went on to say that the surprise film is one of many other upcoming festival options, noting that the films being screened are regional premieres from high-profile festivals — a handful of which are winners.
“The fact that we’re able to bring these films to Aspen before they hit theaters is important,” Wrubel said. “It’s a very timely festival…distributors love seeing their films in a market like Aspen because of its cultural prestige.”
The timeliness of Filmfest coincides with the early buzz of the industry’s awards season and falls within the same weeks as other major festivals. The Aspen Film Festival starts before and overlaps with the New York Film Festival – making it difficult for filmmakers and directors to attract the Aspen Film Festival, as many are in New York for the prestigious show, Wrubel allow.
This year, Aspen Films hired a filmmaker. Julia Mintz, writer and director of the documentary “Four Winters,” will be presenting her film at the Isis Theatre on Saturday, October 1, where she will participate in a post-screening Q&A session. Four Winters tells the story of the last surviving Jewish partisans fighting back against the Nazis from the forests of Eastern Europe during World War II.
From human courage to friendship, the 43rd annual film festival will provide audiences with plenty of opportunities for meaningful gains. Selected films will expose audiences to stories across the globe and beyond – from cities like South Korea and Paris to more remote places like the Amazon rainforest and Mars.
“A lot of movies have a duality,” Wrubel said. “Whether it’s comedy or heartbreaking drama, there’s a lot to learn and a lot to walk away from.”
The festival will run from September 27th to October 2nd. Screenings will be held at the Wheeler Opera House and Isis Theatre in Aspen and the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale throughout the week. An all-pass Filmfest pass is $350 and is currently available through the Aspen Film website. Show tickets ($25) will be available to the public starting Wednesday.
For more information on this year’s festival schedule and films, please visit aspenfilm.org.
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