This year’s Denver Film Festival (DFF47) took place from Nov. 1 to Nov. 10, kicking off Denver Arts Week with screenings at the Sie FilmCenter, AMC 9 + CO 10, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver’s Holiday Theater, Denver Botanic Gardens, Sturm Family Auditorium in the Freyer-Newman Center and Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
From start to finish, the festival showcased stories from all around the world. Films representing different cultures, lifestyles, interests and abilities were categorized by genre and considered for a range of awards, while filmmakers gained inspiration from the crowd favorites and post-film conversations.
Black on Screen
The festival’s opening night featured a screening of the acclaimed The Piano Lesson at the MCA Denver Holiday Theater, putting inclusivity at the center of this year’s lineup.
Directed by Malcolm Washington and starring John David Washington, both sons of Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, The Piano Lesson was awarded the 2024 Excellence in Writing Award. Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play, the film features a stellar cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler. It explores intergenerational dynamics of identity, resilience and transcendence, with a storyline centered around a prized, heirloom piano tearing two siblings apart.
During the ten-day festival, several film screenings highlighted Black stories told by filmmakers around the world.
The Fire Inside, starring Ryan Destiny and Oscar-nominated actor Bryan Tyree Henry, and written by Oscar-winning writer Barry Jenkins, shared the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, the first woman in her country’s history to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. The hard-hitting film won the attention of critics in attendance, and Destiny was awarded the DFF47 Rising Star Award for her performance.
The festival boasted an impressive lineup of Black films. Nickel Boys, a film shot in Louisiana chronicled a powerful friendship between two friends. The Knife, a film co-written and produced by Nnamdi Asomugha, focused on the relationship between choice and consequence. Hard Truths, by acclaimed filmmaker Mike Leigh centered around a Black family in London; and Elevation, a post-apocalyptic action thriller, were just some of the films representing the Black experience at the event.
Elevation, starring the award-winning Anthony Mackie, was filmed in Boulder and Golden, evoking hometown pride among Colorado-based festival goers. The familiar, forested, Rocky Mountain terrain served as refuge to survivors fleeing from giant alien creatures, with Mackie leading an expedition into danger.
One film – with a special Colorado connection – highlighted an especially endearing Black story.
Color Book, tells the story of a father taking care of his son who has Down syndrome after the death of his wife. The film’s three-day screening won the hearts of audiences while increasing awareness just days after October’s Down Syndrome Awareness Month allocation.
Color Book’s Colorado Connection
“Professional” is the word Color Book writer and director, David Fortune, uses to describe 12-year old Aurora resident, Jeremiah Daniels, who plays Mason, the son of the sudden widower.
The storyline follows Mason’s father, Lucky, played by Will Catlett, as he decides to bring his son to a baseball game to raise his spirits after the loss of his mother. The two spend the day navigating Metro Atlanta’s public transit system, with Lucky determined to overcome every obstacle they encounter.
“I am so proud of my son!” says Joi Daniels, mother of the young star. “This journey has been amazing for us as a family, and Jeremiah has enjoyed every bit of it.”
The Color Book’s festival journey has taken the Daniels family to the Tribeca Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, AFI film Festival and right back home to DFF47.
“It is an honor for Jeremiah’s hometown to see him in action,” his mother says.
When the film’s leading actors met for the first time during a screen test, their on-set chemistry was undeniable. When Fortune asked Catlett what he thought about Daniel’s performance as Mason, the father-figure replied, “That’s my son.”
Catlett says his inspiration for his character came from watching Daniels’ parents interact with him on set. Their love and care, along with his own experience as a father, allowed him to pour into the young boy in heartfelt scenes displaying their special bond.
Several heart-gripping scenes stirred the emotions of audience members, but when Daniels utters, “I want my mommy,” Catlett’s embrace is a demonstration of the beautiful marriage between patience and understanding when it comes to raising a child with special needs.
Coloring Between the Lines
When developing the idea for his directorial debut, Fortune wanted to create a father and son story – a story he would want to watch on the big screen. After several conversations with supporters of the Down syndrome community, he knew it was a theme he wanted to explore in his film.
Color Book combats negative stereotypes about Black fathers, while delving into the experience of raising a child with special needs. It is centered around a cast of Black men, showing the strength and importance of a village.
“I wanted to show that Black men rely on, trust and care for each other. It takes a village to raise a child. Community is important and we all need it to survive and thrive.”
The Joy of Living
Daniels’ mother screamed joyfully when she received the news that her son was selected to play Mason.
“I was happy we were going to be a part of this story,” she says.
“There are not a lot of images of African American children with Down syndrome on screen. Nor are there stories of the experience of Black parents with kids with special needs.”
According to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 640 babies each year. 13% of those diagnosed with Down syndrome being Black, with disparities existing in lifespan and associated health issues.
Catlett did an excellent job of depicting what it’s like to raise a child with Down syndrome – despite life’s inevitable challenges he embraces joy and the beauty in each milestone.
Color Book, won DFF47’s American Independent Award for Best Narrative Feature; there wasn’t a dry eye in the room as the credits rolled.
Daniels is looking ahead with big plans for his acting career. “I want to play a Basketball player in my next film. It will be directed by David Fortune and star Will and I,” he says with a cheerful smile.
