Denver Film Festival unveils its programme: ‘I Play Rocky’ opens the 49th edition

The Hollywood Reporter reports that the Denver Film Festival has presented the programme of its 49th edition, which will be held from October 22 to November 1, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. This year the festival will show 129 feature and short films from around the world, along with a series of talks, panels and special presentations.

The festival will open on October 22 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House with ‘I Play Rocky’ by Peter Farrelly, a dramatic retelling of the making of the cult classic ‘Rocky’ (1976), with Stephan James in the role of Sylvester Stallone and Matt Dillon in the role of the producer.

At the centre of the programme are three gala premieres at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science: ‘Is This Thing On?’ by the American director Bradley Cooper, which closes the New York Film Festival and tells the story of a middle-aged stand-up comedian; ‘Jay Kelly’ by Noah Baumbach, with George Clooney in the lead role; and ‘Rental Family’ by Hikari, with Brendan Fraser in the role of an out-of-work American actor who makes a living in Japan through a ‘rental family’ agency.

The closing night, October 29, belongs to ‘Paper Tiger’ by James Gray, with Adam Driver, Miles Teller and Scarlett Johansson — a crime drama about American brothers who fall into the spider’s web of the Russian mafia.