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v17 DocuWest 2026 Nov 12-15, 2026
SieFilmCenter
Announcing. New Digs. New Dates.
Dear Documentary Lovers and Those Who Are Doc Curious,
I'm so happy to be back typing out this e-newsie that I wanna shout. So, I will (all in l.c): "hey mo fo's - denverdocsoc is thrilled, juiced, electrified to announce the titles of the movies, and that tickets are on sale to v17 of docuWest. november 12-15, 2026 at the sie filmcenter."
Whew, that felt good. It's great being back.
A ton of positivity continued dropping our way since DocuWest 2025 ended with an amazing Final Dose of Reality screening of Rebel With A Clause. That energy has been continuous and amped up by the fantastic news that DocuWest moves to the Sie FilmCenter November 12-15, 2026. Yee-Haw.
Personally, my relationship with Denver Film goes back d-e-c-a-d-e-s. As I matriculated through life and ten years of film school. It was Denver Film that collaborated with a film school friend, and I to produce the First Look Student Film Festival from 2000 to 2017.
As a filmmaker, Denver Film allowed me to be part of the community as a filmmaker and proud alum. Bringing DocuWest to the Sie feels like a homecoming to me.
I cannot impress upon everyone how important this move to the Sie means for our organization and Denver. It's no joke when I share how excited our org feels being able to bring audiences a documentary program that reflects the same thoughtful approach to curation and community that people have come to expect from Denver Film.
Sure, our move is not as monumental as Sundance moving to Boulder. But DocuWest at the Sie has a nice ring to it. No?
DocuWest at the Sie FAQ:
Longtime followers might be thinking, hey what happened, wasn't DocuWest in October? Wasn't the fest held in North Denver. And, you would not be wrong.
Long story short. Our friends at the Denver Film Society moved the beloved Denver Film Festival to October 22 - November 1. Their CEO Kevin Smith with Denver Film was gracious in asking us if we would move DocuWest to the Sie.
Along with that, he wanted to share, "Maybe more than any other film category, the documentary format has the ability to challenge perspectives, deepen understanding, and create some truly meaningful dialogue among audiences. DocuWest has built a strong
tradition around exactly that kind of programming and engagement.”
To which we must give a tip of the ten gallon to Kevin and Denver Film - thank y'all.
Thanks to our Sponsors:
We could not have had such a smooth move from our prior location in North Denver to the Sie this November. If not for the longtime support of the festival by the Charles Schwartz Foundation for Music, Killmer Lane, LLP, Colorado Office of Film, TV and Media, and Ratio Beerworks. Your belief in what we have and can accomplish is magnifique.
Thanks to our Board:
As we made this move, in addition to longtime board member Randy Nogle, Denverdocsoc added three other incredible board members. Thanks to Michelle Killmer, Heather Yeager and Dr Vincent Piturro for jumping right in. The team navigated everything with ease. Thank ya'll. Sincerely.
In Closing:
Please plan to attend all the movies at DocuWest. As the programming director, knowing how the festival is recognized for its curation I promise you the stories shared will not disappoint.
When determining which films to curate. I place an emphasis on not programming via themes. Many fests do.
I think it is a shame. They take in submissions fees from stories/titles knowing it won't fit. But that's capitalism.
Yet, with submissions as a whole. My mantra is to put myself into the perspective and POV of an audience. Give the audience different rooms to visit.
It is rare when patterns of themes do exist. Because of its rarity. As a film programmer, it's important to acknowledge. If those submissions and invites turn into selections that can be summed up as a theme of the lineup - trust it.
In putting the program together, it was as if the majority of movies given the highest scores were of people taking chances; performative, explorative, substantive. I trusted it.
This year, the films selected, somehow, someway, show how important it is for regular people to expess themselves in real life. The Initial Dose of Reality screening of Tight & Nerdy hypes the shimmy-shaking, skin revealing, titillating aspect of Burlesque. Yet, as the story unfolds, we learn that their "Al-Stravaganza" is more than just a comedy show.
Behind the stage personas and wild costumes are everyday women exploring stories of female empowerment, gender equality, and the role art has in overcoming trauma – all set to some of Weird Al’s most memorable music.
"Curated for Conversation" became the tagline to this year's festival due to the depth of the stories presented. Out of the >300 submissions we received the pattern that emerged from the 16 movies selected are they will lead to some great discussions.
I look forward to hearing your opinions about the films.
BTW: Anyone who purchases a ticket are automatically invited to attend the festival's first Community BBQ and Awards Brunch - for Free.
It'll be held at our lodging partner the All-In Hotel on Sunday Nov 15 starting noonish ending 2ish before the final slate of films. The hotel is located a few blocks from the Sie.
I'll stick another quarter in the cuss jar.
Support Denverdocsoc
Documentary Love,
Wade
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