‘Sirāt’ Triumphs as Best Feature at Denver Film Festival
Oliver Laxe’s film Sirāt has been awarded the title of Best Feature at the 48th Denver Film Festival. The festival, which took place from October 31 to November 9, 2023, saw Laxe’s pre-apocalyptic rave and road trip odyssey recognized for its innovative storytelling and impactful performances. The movie had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where it garnered attention and acclaim.
A jury comprising esteemed film critic and programmer David Ansen, Variety‘s chief awards editor Clayton Davis, and actress-producer Clara McGregor presented Sirāt with the Krzysztof Kieslowski Award. In their official statement, they praised the film, stating, “A movie you’ll never forget, Oliver Laxe’s Sirāt immerses us in a terrifying and compassionate world we’ve never seen on screen before, with brilliant performances, sound design, and cinematography.” They emphasized that viewers would find it unforgettable.
The festival also recognized excellence in documentary filmmaking. The Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary went to Cover-Up, directed by Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus. The jury, which included Oscar-nominated director Bing Liu, arts administrator Lisa Lucas, and The Hollywood Reporter‘s senior writer Chris Gardner, commended the film for its “radically honest portrayal” of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. Their statement noted the film’s dual focus on the importance of truth-telling and the personal costs associated with it.
In a special mention, the jury recognized Brittany Shyne’s documentary Seeds, highlighting its poignant depiction of an intergenerational community united against societal neglect. They described it as “an unforgettable feature debut told with patience and love.”
The American Independent Award was awarded to Joel Alfonso Vargas’s film Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo). The jury praised it for its authentic and emotionally compelling representation of the Dominican-American experience in the Bronx, New York, particularly noting the performances by leads Juan Collado and Destiny Checo.
The shorts jury, featuring Denzel Whitaker, Lucie Boulet, and Coral Peña, selected several winners, including Sam Davis’s The Singers as grand jury winner and Eve Liu’s Nervous Energy as best student live action short. Additionally, Ferdinand Ehrhardt’s Detlev won the Marilyn Marsh Saint-Veltri Award for best student animation.
Audience awards were also presented, with Maryam Touzani’s Calle Malaga taking home the award for best narrative feature. Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson’s Comparsa won best documentary feature, and The Singers secured the title of best short film based on audience votes.
The festival also distributed grants through its Music on Film — Film on Music initiative, with winners including Nicole Teeny’s Bulletproof Stockings and Mike Gill and Scott Evans’s The Road to Ruane.
A range of notable figures attended the 48th Denver Film Festival, including Lucy Liu, who received the John Cassavetes Award, and Delroy Lindo, honored with the Next50 Career Achievement Award. Other recipients included Gus Van Sant for the Excellence in Directing Award and Imogen Poots for the Excellence in Acting Award.
Artistic director Matthew Campbell reflected on the festival’s success, stating, “The winners and honorees of the 48th festival represent the very best of bold, authentic storytelling — works that move us, challenge us, and expand the way we see the world.” The festival celebrated a vibrant array of films and filmmakers, demonstrating the creativity and community spirit of Denver cinema.
