The 25th Starz Denver International Film Festival, October 10-20, 2002, will present a film tribute to Denver’s own prolific film and television producer/director John Wells. This year, the festival will showcase two of Well’s feature films: “White Oleander” and “The Grey Zone.” Although Wells is better known lately as the creative force behind “ER,” he has also made his mark with an impressive roster of film projects.
Opening the festival will be Warner Brother’s “White Oleander,” based on the best-selling novel by Janet Fitch. The story follows the experience of a young girl caught in Los Angeles’ foster-home quagmire and stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Robin Wright Penn, Renee Zellweger, and newcomer Alison Lohman. The opening night film will take place at the Buell Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
Wells served as executive producer on “The Grey Zone,” director Tim Blake Nelson’s true tale of the only armed revolt by Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz, adapted from Nelson’s own play on the subject. The stellar cast features Steve Buscemi, Harvey Keitel, David Arquette, Mira Sorvino, and Natasha Lyonne. The screening of “The Grey Zone” will take place at the Denver’s Film Society’s permanent home, the Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli on the Auraria campus.
For more fest information, visit the Denver Film Society website.
