Aspen Film Announces Academy Screenings Program

Aspen Film today announced its full program of 29 feature films which comprise the 26th Academy Screenings at the historic Wheeler Opera House and the Paepcke Auditorium, both in Aspen. This annual film series, which has now been a part of Aspen's holiday tradition for over a quarter-century, running December 19-30, 2017, is a showcase that highlights a cross-section of the forthcoming awards-season contenders.

The series will open on December 19th with Craig Gillespie's highly anticipated I, TONYA at the Wheeler. The series closes on December 30th at the Paepcke Auditorium with the award-winning THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI.

As a longtime favorite winter destination for voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), WGA, DGA, PGA, SAG-AFTRA and other applicable guilds, what began as an intimate and exclusive industry-only event has grown into an Aspen holiday tradition, bringing together film professionals, visitors and residents alike. The intention of these screenings, like the Oscars, is to celebrate cinematic achievement across a variety of categories and not just the obvious Best Picture, Director, Screenplay and Actor.

Jane Schoettle, Program Director for the Academy Screenings and Aspen Film's October Filmfest shares, "In a year filled with remarkable filmmaking achievements, it is both unusual and gratifying that there are not necessarily dominant frontrunners - in almost every category - in the race towards Oscar. I feel this creates an exciting atmosphere for both our 'civilian' audience and Aspen's guild members, encouraging them in to delve deeply into our programming and experience these contenders on the big screen."

Narrative Features include THE BEGUILED, directed by Sofia Coppola (Focus Features); THE BIG SICK directed by Michael Showalter (Amazon Studios/Lionsgate Entertainment); BRAD'S STATUS, directed by Mike White (Annapurna Pictures); THE BREADWINNER, directed by Nora Twomey (GKids); COCO, directed by Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures); THE FLORIDA PROJECT, directed by Sean Baker (A24; GET OUT, directed by Jordan Peele (Universal Pictures); I, TONYA, directed by Craig Gillespie (Neon); LADYBIRD, directed by Greta Gerwig (A24); LAST FLAG FLYING, directed by Richard Linklater (Amazon Studios); THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (NEW AND SELECTED), directed by Noah Baumbach (Netflix); MUDBOUND, directed by Dee Reese (Netflix); THE POST, directed by Steven Spielberg (Twentieth Century Fox); ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ., directed by Dan Gilroy (Columbia Pictures); THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI, directed by Martin McDonagh (Fox Searchlight Pictures); VICTORIA & ABDUL, directed by Stephen Frears (Focus Features); WIND RIVER, directed by Taylor Sheridan (Acacia Pictures); WONDERSTRUCK, directed by Todd Haynes (Amazon Studios)

Documentaries presented are CITY OF GHOSTS, directed by Matthew Heineman (Amazon Studios); DINA, directed by Antonio Santini (The Orchard); HUMAN FLOW, directed by Ai Weiwei (Magnolia Pictures/Amazon Studios/Participant Media); ICARUS, directed by Bryan Fogel (Netflix); KEDI, directed by Ceyda Torun (Oscilloscope); STRONG ISLAND, directed by Yance Ford (Netflix)

Foreign Language selections are BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE) (France), directed by Robin Campillo (The Orchard); FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER (Cambodia), directed by Angelina Jolie (Netflix); IN THE FADE (Germany), directed by Fatih Akin (Magnolia Pictures); SUMMER 1993 (Spain), directed by Carla Simon (Oscilloscope); THELMA (Norway), directed by Joachim Trier (The Orchard)

"The lineup of 2017 Aspen Film Academy Screenings is as varied and diverse as the Academy is becoming. It's still anyone's race across many categories, and we are excited to be sharing so many of this year's cinematic achievements with you," says Aspen Film Executive Director, Susan Wrubel

"With so many elevated and well-crafted films, our programmer Jane Schoettle had some tough decisions to make, cutting her selections to 29 of this year's most laudable titles. Hopefully something for everyone, and as ever, we endeavor to enlighten, enrich, educate and entertain through cinema."

The 26th Aspen Film Academy Screenings full program is online now at aspenfilm.org. Tickets will be available through the Wheeler Opera House box office: aspenshowtix.com or 970.920.5770 / 866.449.0464. General Admission tickets are available for $20, and $15 for Aspen Film Members.

Voting members of AMPAS, BAFTA, WGA, DGA, PGA, SAG-AFTRA and other applicable guilds receive a complimentary Industry Pass to Academy Screenings, which allows complimentary entry 30 minutes prior to all screenings and events. To obtain a pass please contact Aspen Film directly by email (regna@aspenfilm.org) or phone (970.925.6882).

For more information and to join Aspen Film, please visit aspenfilm.org. For updates, like Aspen Film on Facebook, follow @AspenFilm on Twitter and Instagram.

Established in 1979, Aspen Film is one of Colorado's most active film arts organizations, presenting dynamic programs and featured guest artists throughout the year. Internationally recognized, Aspen Film organizes a major film events throughout the year, along with an extensive education program: Aspen Filmfest, Academy Screenings, Aspen Shortsfest and Film Educates. With a mission to enlighten, enrich, educate and entertain through film, Aspen Film stimulates thought, encourages dialogue and broadens understanding of our world and selves through the diverse spectrum of ideas presented by filmmakers worldwide. To learn more, visit www.aspenfilm.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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