As a part of Colorado’s sesquicentennial summer celebration, Switchboard Strategies and Denver Film announced plans for The Colorado150 (CO150), a film series highlighting the most notable films with Colorado ties that were set, shot or featured top-line talent since 1876.
Beginning in June, more than 30 independent, community-based venues throughout Colorado will screen a selection from the best 25 films Colorado’s helped produce since the late 19th century, as chosen by Colorado film programmers, theater managers, creative district administrators and other industry professionals. In addition, Colorado film fans will be able to help fill in the list of the top Colorado 150 movies by voting for their favorite Colorado-related film at colorado150film.com. The Colorado150 will also showcase short films, music videos and presentations from filmmakers, artists, critics and other Colorado creative workers prior to each screening.
In collaboration with Downtown Colorado, and funding from the Boettcher Foundation, Switchboard Strategies is proud to contribute to this summer’s sesquicentennial celebrations with the Colorado150.
“The CO150 is a fun, accessible way to combine our love of movies and our state to celebrate 150 years of Colorado history,” says Switchboard CEO Rob DuRay. “By showing selections from the CO150 in a slew of diverse and hyper-local venues, we will open the sesquicentennial to Coloradans across the state. Switchboard’s goal for the Colorado150 is to use film as a novel, direct way to reach as many communities as possible. Through new partnerships with movie houses, entertainment venues, creative districts and main street organizations, these screenings will be more than just ‘watching a movie.’ We’ll map out different clusters of CO150 showings, creating itineraries across the state. Additionally, we’ll work to recruit interesting Coloradans to attend or record a few minutes to speak ahead of each film, connecting them to artistic themes, technical aspects or to cinematic and Colorado history. Via the CO150, film can be the vehicle for Coloradans to celebrate every part of the state and its history.”
Participating locations
- Fort Collins – The Lyric
- Greeley – The Kress Cinema
- Denver – Sie FilmCenter and locations around Denver
- Colorado Springs – Kimball’s/ENT Center/CC
- Grand Junction – Avalon Theater
- Durango & Pagosa Springs – Multiple Venues
- Cortez – Sunflower
- Mancos – Mancos Opera House
- Pueblo – Multiple venues
- Boulder – Boedecker Theater
- Steamboat – Wildhorse Cinema
- Lamar – Lamar Theater
- Breckenridge – Eclipse
- Center – Frontier Drive-In
- Ouray & Silverton – Wright Opera House & Powerhouse
- Flagler – Flagler Theatre
- Fort Morgan – Cover 4 Theater
- Limon – Lincoln Theater
“Colorado has been the backdrop for some truly iconic films: ‘The Shining,’ ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,’ ‘True Grit,’ and the stories keep coming,” says Denver Film CEO Kevin Smith. “Film is one of the most powerful ways we connect, reflect and celebrate who we are, and there’s no better time to do that than Colorado’s 150th anniversary. At Denver Film, we’re thrilled to support this statewide celebration that not only honors our film history but shines a spotlight on the incredible stories being told by today’s local filmmakers. We hope this inspires a new wave of creativity and reminds everyone that Colorado is and always has been a great place to make movies.”
As part of the CO150 project, the CO150 website also hosts a list of nearly 700 films Colorado has contributed to American cinema history since 1876—the first, and most comprehensive catalog of its kind to date. The CO150 site also spotlights an updated calendar of CO150 screenings and locations of film screenings across Colorado, where film buffs may connect to the venues or participating organizations themselves to purchase tickets.
“Out-of-state visitors and in-state explorers can spend some time on Colorado byways and main streets on their way to catch the curated list of Colorado-centric cinema in historic film venues,” DuRay says. “This way, film fans from all over can visit local businesses, explore local attractions and dig into all sorts of local treasures.”
Film lovers in Colorado and beyond are encouraged to visit the CO150 website and subscribe to the regularly updated CO150 media channels here and here for film-related stories, interviews, screening locations, dates and times. Tickets may be purchased by following the outside links listed on the CO150 venues page and reserving seats with participating theaters and locations.
Colorado 150 Film Festival spring timeline
- Week of March 16: Announcement of Colorado 150 film festival. CO150 website comes online. Public voting for favorite Colorado films (via CO150 site) opens. CO150 social accounts activated.
- Week of April 13: Public voting for favorite Colorado film (via CO150 site) closes. Link to full list of Colorado-related films (shot, set, featuring Colorado talent) posted to the website. Gradual roll-out of the top 150 Colorado films begins via CO150 site/media channels; 150-100 first week April, 99-50 second week April, 49-1 third week April.
- Week of May 1: Full schedule of all CO150 screenings and locations posted to CO150 site/media channels. First screening/venue itineraries are posted/emailed.
- Week of June 1: Screenings begin.
