Ready for the new season of Spartacus?

The full-frontal fleshfest 'Spartacus' returns soon for a second season minus former star Andy Whitfield who had to be replaced due to health issues.

The new series will star Dustin Clare whose bio at Starz.com says, "Dustin Clare plays Gannicus, the rising champion gladiator of Batiatus’ ludus in “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena,” a Starz original action-adventure drama series."

'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena' premieres January 21 on Starz. - via The Torch 

The Watching Hour at Starz

Curated by Keith Garcia, Programming Manager for the Denver Film Society, THE WATCHING HOUR will focus its eye on films that other theaters are too afraid to show.

Following the success of last year's zombies-on-film celebration, THE WATCHING HOUR continues the party with THE DEAD OF SUMMER presents: as a banner spotlighting the best in new and classic takes on the undead genre the first weekend of every month. Kicking things off August 7 & 8 will be the amazing Canadian tweak on the genre, PONTYPOOL, which follows a small town running from a zombie virus hidden in the words being broadcast from a local radio station.

Filling in the remaining coveted spots every weekend will be the best of genre films new and old including recent controversial festival-circuit hits DEADGIRL (Aug 14 & 15) and GRACE (Aug 21 & 22) and occasional spotlights on special themes starting with THE WIZARDS OF OZ-PLOITATION, a peek at a handful of the best exploitation films produced in Australia in the 1970s and 80s as featured in the documentary NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD (returning to Denver August 14). NQH was a roaring success at THE WATCHING HOUR during SDFF31 and our salute to these films from "down under" begins August 28 & 29 with RAZORBACK, one of the Ozploitation genre's most notorious entries. Directed by Russell Mulcahy (HIGHLANDER) the film features some of the most beautiful outback cinematography you've ever seen a crazed, giant, blood-thirsty wild boar run through.

Tips for Guncles: Kids First Free Movies at Starz

Guncles (gay uncles) always have to be on the lookout for fun and reasonably-priced activities to do with the nieces and nephews and here's a great one that takes place every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Starz Film Center.

Embark on a fun-filled excursion for the whole family when you attend this Saturday morning series with two guarantees: the films are rated G, and entrance is totally free.

This Saturday, February 28, the featured film will be 'Strawberry Shortcake: Happily Ever After.'

Strawberry and her friends bring two beloved fairy tales to life in magical adventures filled with very berry fun. In "Sleeping Beauty," Brambleberry Fairy (Angel Cake) feels neglected and casts a spell that puts Princess Strawberry Rose to sleep. The Princess's fairy friends (Appleberry, Rainbowberry, Gingerberry, Tangerinaberry and Orangeberry) aren't able to awaken her. It's up to Prince Huckleberry to work his magic and teach Brambleberry Fairy an important lesson in friendship and listening.
The enchantment continues in "A Princess Named Rap." Princess Rapunzel's (Rainbow Sherbet) teacher is disturbed by her non-royal interests especially her fascination with ships and navigation. But when the teacher's rowboat is swept out to sea, "Rap" shows everyone she has the right stuff to rule her kingdom.

Otto

January 30 - February 5
Digital presentation - Otto is a handsome, sensitive, neo-Goth zombie with an identity crisis. He wanders the streets of the city, never sleeping, until one day he auditions for a zombie film. The director, revolutionary Medea Yarn, is convinced that Otto is the personification of the effects of advanced capitalism on individuals. Medea begins making a film about Otto, while simultaneously shooting a film about a gay zombie revolt against consumerist society. As Medea directs the final, orgiastic scene of her film, Otto struggles to access the human emotions buried beneath his zombie exterior. Director Bruce LaBruce toys with genre conventions, combining different media, and making use of Medea’s humorous film-within-the-film, while creating a new, sexy, hyper-politicized zombie mythology.

'The Universe of Keith Haring' in Denver

Playing at the Starz Film Center starting on December 3, 'The Universe of Keith Haring' is a thorough and intimate exploration of the background and career of one of the most popular and significant gay artists of the 20th century, Keith Haring, whose boundary-shattering message was that art is for everyone.

The film features interviews and archival footage of those closest to him including the entire Haring family and such notables as Yoko Ono, Ann Magnuson, Andy Warhol, Madonna, Kenny Scharf and David LaChapelle.

The Gay Bed and Breakfast of Terror at Starz

Premiering Halloween night at Starz, 'The Gay Bed and Breakfast of Terror's' Helen and Luella are just another typical God-fearing mother and daughter who happen to bake mincemeat muffins and run a charming if not a bit faded Bed and Breakfast Inn.
Or are they?

On the eve of the biggest gay party weekend of the year, and having not made advance reservations, five 'couples' find themselves having to make accommodations far from the city.

There's Dom and Alex, the 'performers' and Deborah and Gabby, the sophisticated, entrepreneurial 'lipsticks'. There's also Mike and Eric, the upscale 'yuppie' power couple and their annoying 'fag-hag' friend, Lizette. Also checking in are Starr and Brenda, the struggling folk singer and tough-talking tomboy and lastly Rodney and Todd, the sugar daddy and 'personal trainer'.

What should have been the biggest gay party weekend of the year quickly turns into every gay and lesbian's worst nightmare!

I just saw this last week and it's a hoot-and-a-half. Watch for my review later this week.

Coming soon to Starz FilmCenter: The Nomi Song

Looks like an alien, sings like a diva - Klaus Nomi was one of the 1980s' most profoundly bizarre characters. The Nomi Song is the Andrew Horn’s 2004 documentary about the triumphant yet tragic life of Nomi—the operatic, robotic, new-wave icon who backed David Bowie, counts Morrissey as a major fan, and has even popped up as an animated character in Adult Swim’s The Venture Bros. The film plays at the Starz FilmCenter on Wednesday, September 17 at 7 p.m. and is introduced by Colorado's own alien diva Rockstar Aaron.

Instinct's Denver Issue: Blind Date Second Stop: Starz FilmCenter

Starz FilmCenter is a great gay venue, with Cinema Q featuring GLBT-themed movies once a month at the very least. Cinema Q is sponsored by The GLBT Community Center of Colorado (The Center) and Out Front Colorado and has great offerings for everyone. Anyone looking for a good film, including you straight people out there, should check out Cinema Q as well as the other films at Starz FilmCenter. Our Blind Daters got a gift certificate (from Denver Film Society's Keith Garcia, left) to take in a future show and pig out on refreshments. Will they go together? Only time – and Instinct magazine – will tell. Remember, Denver is the featured city for the September issue of Instinct, on stands real soon. Find out more this week on MHGG.

Starz Filmcenter: Gone Fishin'

STARZ Filmcenter (home of Cinema Q GLBT film series) will be closed August 20-September 4 due to the Democratic National Convention. They return with a full slate of films on Friday, September 5.

The stars come out for Starz Green Room at the DNC

Prominent figures from entertainment, politics, mainstream and new media and literature will be part of the unique Starz Green Room at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Aug. 25-28, a venue just steps from the convention hall in the Pepsi Center.

A topical but non-partisan undertaking, the Starz Green Room will be both a respite from and a complement to the official events associated with the Democratic National Convention. From socially themed films and high-powered panel discussions to an online film competition discussing the meaning of democracy, Starz, LLC, the Denver Film Society, SeaChange Communications, and the Impact Film Festival have created unique, insightful programming for the Starz Green Room that provides a perfect supplement to the convention.

Get more details after the jump.


Among the confirmed participants in Starz Green Room programming are:
Entertainment figures including actresses Charlize Theron, Daryl Hannah, Rosario Dawson and Kerry Washington; actors Ben Affleck, Josh Brolin, Kal Penn and Hill Harper; actor/filmmaker Stuart Townsend; musician/filmmaker Will.i.am, filmmakers Patrick Creadon, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, Chris Moore, Morgan Spurlock and others;
Politicians including U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer, Blanche Lincoln, Kent Conrad, and more; US Representatives Diana DeGette, Barney Frank and others; New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin plus additional city, state and national politicians;
Journalists/bloggers including Arianna Huffington, Jay Carney, Jonathan Alter, Eric Alterman, David Sirota, Elvis Mitchell, James Boyce, Rebecca Traister and Ted Johnson;
Pundits/activists including John Podesta, Hillary Rosen, Drew Westen, Walter Isaacson, Dennis Prager and many more.
The program is being produced by Starz Entertainment, The SeaChange Ideas Forum from SeaChange Communications (founded by Jamie McGurk and Victoria Hopper), the Impact Film Festival (founded by Jody Arlington, Jamie Shor and Kimball Stroud) and the Denver Film Society, based at the Starz FilmCenter in the Tivoli, which is where the Starz Green Room will be housed.

Panel topics planned for the SeaChange Ideas Forum range from how high-profile friends help politicians succeed to the increasing role of viral videos and social networks in political debate, research by behavioral scientists into the mind of voters, an examination of the changing role of New Faith Voters and alternatives to military solutions for solving global crises.

The Starz Green Room will also feature contemporary as well as classic films with topical themes. New titles include:
The Impact Film Festival is presenting such films as Flow, I.O.U.S.A., Battle in Seattle, Trouble the Water, The Black List, The Accidental Advocate, and others. Most of the contemporary films will be followed by conversations with the filmmakers and others associated with the projects.
A poignant highlight of the programming will be a screening of Robert Kennedy Remembered, introduced by Davis and Grace Guggenheim, with members of the Kennedy family in attendance. The film of the presidential candidate and U.S. Senator from New York aired at the Democratic National Convention 40 years ago
In addition, the Starz Green Room will show such landmark politically themed films as The American President, Election, Dave, Being There, Wild in the Streets, The Candidate and more, as well as The Visitor and Henry Poole is Here from Overture Films, the theatrical division of Starz.

At the Starz Green Room, the Denver Film Society will highlight short films exploring what democracy means from the Cinemocracy online film competition, sponsored by Starz. The top 10 short films will be shown at Cinemocracy Rocks! a public event at Red Rocks during the Convention on Monday, August 25 along with musical performances. More information and tickets to the Cinemocracy Rocks! event are available at www.cinemocracy.org.

A schedule of programming at the venue is currently available at www.starzgreenroom.com; it will be updated in the days leading up to the start of the Convention. Schedules and additional ticketing information is available at www.seachangecom.com and www.impactfilmfestival.org.

Because the Starz FilmCenter is within the security perimeter of the convention center, and has very limited seating capacity, attendance at the Starz Green Room will be limited to credentialed convention attendees and VIP guests. Most of the events at the Starz Green Room will be held mornings through early afternoons, concluding each day at 6 p.m. MDT

For those unable to attend, the Starz Green Room is also a virtual event, with many of the panel discussions, Q&As and more set to be webcast at the www.starzgreenroom.com website. This will enable interested viewers with broadband connections to share in the excitement and compelling dialog of the Starz Green Room, live or on a time-shifted basis.




Thanks to all the great gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses that helped make our Instinct Blind Date a success

It took a lot of planning and preparation and I had to deal with a couple of flakes before settling on the two guys who eventually became the Instinct Blind Daters but it is finally over with and it was a huge success. Thanks to the daters who really put themselves out there for this. A blind date is a pretty nerve-wracking thing, let alone when it's going to be photographed and written up for a national magazine. They were great.





And I couldn't have done it without the good folks at:
Melt
Starz/Cinema Q
Hamburger Mary's
El Potrero
BoyzTown

Thanks so much!

Upcoming Cinema Q films

Queer Lives. Queer Voices. Queer Visions. The Denver Film Society is proud to present them in all their diversity via Cinema Q, one of the only regular showcases for GLBT cinema in Denver. Don't miss limited first-run releases like Jonah Markowitz' Shelter or or encore presentations of genre pioneers such as Gus Van Sant's Mala Noche or Gregg Araki's The Living End. Cinema Q is presented by The Center and Out Front Colorado.

July 4 - 10:XXY - Directed by Lucia Puenzo

Held Over! Now through July 10:
WATER LILIES - Directed by Celine Sciamma 2nd Week!
THE EDGE OF HEAVEN - Directed by Fatih Akin 3rd Week!

Upcoming Cinema Q films:
July 11 - 17: HOLDING TREVOR - Directed by Rosser Goodman
August 1 - 7: A JIHAD FOR LOVE - Directed by Parvez Sharma
Check out the trailer for A Jihad for Love, the worlds first documentary about Islam and homosexuality, below:

The Movies That Missed Us at Starz

It's no easy task pulling together a program of 175-plus films every year for the 11-day cinematic blowout that is the Starz Denver Film Festival. Sometimes, amid the planning and programming, the screenings and selections, a film gets left behind. There are myriad reasons for the omissions: other film festivals' premiere policies come into play; a single print gets booked elsewhere for the dates we want to screen it; distributors devise complex roll-out strategies that don't match our festival dates; the list goes on. The Movies That Missed Us presents four films Keith from Denver Film Society deeply loved but was unable to book at the time of their release. To the best of Keith's knowledge, these films have never screened in Denver-until now.

More at DenverFilm.org.