Film festivals are the most highly anticipated offerings from Aspen Film, three signature events presented annually throughout the community. Our festivals showcase feature-length and short-form films from around the globe that highlight unique, compelling, and diverse stories.
Independent By Nature
Learn about upcoming events at Aspen Film
Events + ScreeningsUp Next
STOP MAKING SENSE
Saturday, September 30, 1:30pm | Saturday, September 30, 7:30pm | Sunday, October 1, 1:30pm | Sunday, October 1, 7:30pm | Monday, October 2, 7:30pm | Tuesday, October 3, 7:30pm | Wednesday, October 4, 7:30pm | Thursday, October 5, 7:15pm
Aspen Film Isis Theatre | 406 E Hopkins Ave, Aspen
Newly restored in 4K to coincide with its 40th anniversary, the 1984 film was directed by renowned filmmaker Jonathan Demme and is considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time. Stop Making Sense stars core band members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison along with Bernie Worrell, Alex Weir, Steve Scales, Lynn Mabry and Edna Holt. The live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and features Talking Heads' most memorable songs.
Learn More
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
Wednesday, October 4, 7:30pm
Aspen Film Isis Theatre | 406 E Hopkins Ave, Aspen
THE LOST WEEKEND: A LOVE STORY is the true tale that took 50 years to tell. It follows John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s personal assistant, May Pang, as she recounts her 18-month relationship with John—a relationship orchestrated by Yoko herself. During this extraordinary period, May helped John reunite with his son Julian and participated firsthand in his most productive period post-Beatles in which he released albums like Mind Games, Walls and Bridges, and collaborated with powerhouses like David Bowie and Elton John. Featuring moments with Julian Lennon, Mick Jagger, Alice Cooper, and Paul McCartney, May chronicles it all from her unique perspective as a 22-year-old experiencing her first unforgettable love.
Learn More
The Metropolitan Opera: Dead Man Walking
Saturday, October 21, 10:55am
Aspen Film Isis Theatre | 406 E Hopkins Ave, Aspen
American composer Jake Heggie’s masterpiece, the most widely performed new opera of the last 20 years, has its highly anticipated Met premiere, in a haunting new production by Ivo van Hove. Based on Sister Helen Prejean’s memoir about her fight for the soul of a condemned murderer, Dead Man Walking matches the high drama of its subject with Heggie’s beautiful and poignant music and a brilliant libretto by Tony and Emmy Award–winner Terrence McNally. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for this landmark premiere, with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato starring as Sister Helen. The outstanding cast also features bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as the death-row inmate Joseph De Rocher, soprano Latonia Moore as Sister Rose, and legendary mezzo-soprano Susan Graham—who sang Helen Prejean in the opera’s 2000 premiere—as De Rocher’s mother.
Learn MoreFestivals
Why We Do What We Do
Filmfest
Our fall festival focuses on feature films from around the world, films that have premiered at the Sundance, SXSW, Cannes, Venice, Telluride, New York, and Tribeca film festivals, giving our Aspen audience a first-look at some of this year’s hottest cinema.
Academy Screenings
Our winter festival is dedicated to showcasing hopeful awards season contenders. During the dynamic holiday season in Aspen, audiences have the chance to watch these incredible films in the historic Wheeler Opera House.
Shortsfest
Shortsfest was named “one of the coolest festivals in the world in 2022” by MovieMaker magazine. The festival takes place each spring and features groundbreaking filmmaking from around the globe, showcasing shorts that range from comedy to drama, documentary to experimental. Filmmakers are invited to present their films in an intimate and interactive setting.
More Than Film
become a member
As a member at Aspen Film, you’ll be a part of a world renowned film society and presenting arts organization. Membership at Aspen Film offers a range of benefits and offers such as exclusive sneak previews and VIP events. We also bolster the strongest movie-loving community in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Film Matters
Message from the Executive + Artistic Director
Film is a democratizing medium. It is also a resilient and powerful artform that can convey truth, wisdom, and emotion. As the world continues to change in unexpected ways, we hope that people look to film as a tool to understand our diverse realities and experiences. Our goal is to amplify voices and share stories. Aspen Film programs films with the intention of breaking barriers, building communities, and giving voice to experience. Show your support for global cinema by joining our vibrant community of members or by coming to any of our year-round programming.
In the news
AT HOME IN THE ASPEN FILM ISIS THEATRE, ASPEN FILM ANNOUNCES PROGRAM FOR 44th ANNUAL FILMFEST
Sep 5, 2023
Aspen, CO (Sep.5, 2023) Aspen Film is excited to announce that Alexander Payne’s new film, THE HOLDOVERS (which just had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival over the weekend) will round out the Saturday night lineup at Filmfest. The film will screen at 8:00 PM on Saturday, September 23rd. THE HOLDOVERS will be […]
Read More
Lawn Bash 2023 will celebrate community with volunteer fair, live broadcast, collaboration with Aspen Film, and more!
Jun 5, 2023
On Wednesday, June 28, join friends and fellow listeners for a fun, family-friendly gathering to celebrate our remarkable community on the lawn of the Red Brick Center for the Arts (110 E. Hallam St., Aspen, Colo., 81611), from 3-6 p.m. This FREE annual event first took place in 2016, but was put on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic before […]
Read More
Get ready for camp
Jun 2, 2023
School is almost out, and before you know it, it will be time for summer camp. Kids of all ages will be able to choose from a variety of opportunities in the Aspen area this summer to keep them entertained no matter their interests. From art to filmmaking and from theater to adventure, summer camp […]
Read More