"We're
delighted to bring this terrific collection of Oscar hopefuls to Aspen
this holiday season," says Kip Hubbard, Aspen Film's Executive Director.
"This is a rare opportunity for locals and visitors alike to see
stunning cinema at the height of the holiday season, and at the historic
Wheeler Opera House, no less."
This
year's slate spotlights eagerly anticipated films featuring notable
directors, award-caliber performances, and festival favorites. Along
with a chance to catch films they might have missed earlier this fall,
Aspen audiences will be among the first to see brand-new releases
including Kathyrn Bigelow's compelling geopolitical thriller ZERO DARK THIRTY, starring Jessica Chastain, Chris Pratt and Joel Edgerton; NOT FADE AWAY,
David Chase's (The Sopranos) wistful coming of age tale with Jack
Huston, Bella Heathcote and James Gandolfini; and Gus Van Sant's timely
gas drilling drama PROMISED LAND, starring Matt Damon and Frances McDormand.
Other year-end releases to screen are Dustin Hoffman's poignant directorial debut QUARTET, starring Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon and Billy Connolly; Roger Michell's delightful biopic HYDE PARK ON HUDSON, featuring Bill Murray and Laura Linney; Michael Haneke's stunningly tender Cannes Festival prize winner AMOUR,starring Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva; Sally Potter's London coming of age drama GINGER & ROSA, with Elle Fanning, Annette Bening, Timothy Spall and Oliver Platt; and Walter Salles' adaptation of the Jack Kerorac classic, ON THE ROAD, starring Kristen Stewart, Steve Buscemi, Amy Adams, and Viggo Mortensen.
"Whether
it's performance, director, script or some other facet of production,
each film in this series is actively campaigning for Oscar©
consideration. And with the nomination ballots due even earlier this
year, our Academy Screenings provides a meaningful service to voting
members of the film industry who are here at the holidays and enjoy
seeing their movies on the big screen with a film savvy audience. What
makes this showcase unique, one of the only such series in the country,
is that it's open to the public, so Aspen's high profile visitors and
residents can also see some of the season's most talked about films,"
explains Artistic Director Laura Thielen.
Along with late season releases, Aspen Film will also present Ben Affleck's riveting political thriller ARGO starring Affleck, Alan Arkin and John Goodman; Steven Spielberg's absorbing historical drama LINCOLN,
starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones; Olivier
Nakache & Eric Toledano's affecting story of friendship THE INTOUCHABLES, with François Cluzet and Omar Sy; Paul Thomas Anderson's beautifully calibrated THE MASTER,starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joachin Phoenix and Amy Adams; David O. Russell's thoroughly original romantic comedy SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro and Jackie Weaver; Joe Wright's exquisite costume romance ANNA KARENINA, with Keira Knightley and Jude Law; Jacques Audiard's searing drama RUST AND BONE, starring Marian Cotillard and Matthieu Schoenaerts; Ben Auster's emotionally resonant THE SESSIONS, with Helen Hunt and John Hawkes; and Nikolaj Arcel's stirring period drama A ROYAL AFFAIR, starring Alicia Vikander and Mads Mikkelsen.
