Denver Film Festival: Jason Reitman Named The Recipient of The Prestigious 2018 John Cassavetes Award

The Denver Film Festival (DFF), produced by Denver Film Society (DFS), announced today the recipient of the 2018 John Cassavetes Award as director Jason Reitman. Jason Reitman is returning to the Festival with his latest film, THE FRONT RUNNER, after winning over audiences at DFF30 with his coming-of-age hit film Juno. A four-time Oscar® nominee, Jason Reitman has left an indelible mark on Hollywood with films such as Thank You For Smoking, Juno, Up In The Air, and Young Adult.

“Jason Reitman’s legacy as a filmmaker goes beyond his work as a director,” says Festival Director, Britta Erickson. “An accomplished and Academy Award® nominated writer and producer, he has been an important and well-respected new voice in today’s Hollywood. From his poignant and touching direction of Juno, to the serious drama of Labor Day, to his leap into the world of tabloid politics with his latest film, The Front Runner, Jason Reitman continues to delight audiences while delivering powerful, important and pertinent films, year after year.”

Reitman will be in attendance at the Red Carpet screening of his latest work, THE FRONT RUNNER, the story of Colorado’s most famous senator—Gary Hart. With an impressive cast, including Hugh Jackman (as Hart), Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons, and Alfred Molina, THE FRONT RUNNER, follows Senator Gary Hart’s unsuccessful bid for the White House after a scandal forced him to step out of the race, highlighting the nation’s turn towards tabloid politics. The film will screen on Thursday, November 8 at 8pm at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, followed immediately by the presentation of the John Cassavetes Award. Jason Reitman will be joined by his co-writers Matt Bai and Jay Carson for an onstage conversation about the film.

Oscar® nominee Hugh Jackman stars as the charismatic politician Gary Hart for Academy Award®-nominated director Jason Reitman in the new thrilling drama THE FRONT RUNNER. The film follows the rise and fall of Senator Hart, who captured the imagination of young voters and was considered the overwhelming front runner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination when his campaign was sidelined by the story of an extramarital relationship with Donna Rice. As tabloid journalism and political journalism merged for the first time, Senator Hart was forced to drop out of the race—events that left a profound and lasting impact on American politics and the world stage.

The prestigious John Cassavetes Award was established in collaboration with Gena Rowlands in 1989. It is presented annually to a film artist who has made a significant contribution to the world of filmmaking and whose work reflects the spirit of the late John Cassavetes – his unique vision, his maverick sensibility, his unwavering integrity and his tenacious ability to survive as an artist against difficult odds.  Past recipients include Steven Soderbergh, Jim Jarmusch, John Sayles, Alan Rudolph, Robert M. Young, Seymour Cassell, Hal Hartley, Charles Burnett, Errol Morris, D.A. Pennebaker & Chris Hegedus, Barbara Kopple, Sean Penn, Richard Linklater, Nick Nolte, William H. Macy, Kevin Bacon, Philip Baker Hall, Tim Robbins, Bill Pullman, JK Simmons, Elliott Gould, Judy Greer, Vince Vaughn, Harry Dean Stanton, John Turturro and Kyra Sedgwick.

Individual tickets are currently on sale. Tickets will be available for purchase online at www.denverfilm.org or the DFF41 main box office location at the Sie FilmCenter (2510 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80206).

Festival Ticket Packages are currently on sale.

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