Aspen Filmfest back for 46th year with panels, perks, and a family film

Aspen Film is running its 46th annual Filmfest, screening 15 invited films from all over the world for six days of thought-provoking content exploring compelling stories of the human experience.

Filmfest runs from Sept. 16-21 at the Aspen Film Isis Theatre with select motion pictures that have been featured at festivals around the globe, including Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, and more. 

The magic of a great film festival is all of the extras — what might be the  most popular perk of attending this event is the opportunity for Q&As with the filmmakers themselves.

“I think panels sort of lift the veil, and take you behind the curtain of the process, whether it’s narrative or documentary, you sort of learn a lot about what you don’t see on screen, and that sometimes is really, really interesting,” said Joseph Gamble, a professor at Colorado Mountain College’s Isaacson School who will be leading the premiere of “Dreamboats” panel during FilmFest.

The following screenings will feature guest speakers presented by Aspen Film, along with other Filmfest highlights.

Filmmaker panels highlights

“She Runs the World” will be screened at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19. The Q&A will be moderated by Aspen Public Radio Executive Breeze Richardson and will include co-directors Perri Peltz and Matthew O’Neill.

“The story of Allyson Felix and her journey to secure maternal protections shows how each of us can be faced with a moment where we take care of ourselves or we fight for others. Allyson chose to do just that, walking away from her contract at Nike when they refused to guarantee material protections for all female athletes,” Richardson said. “The directors have said this film is a call to action to challenge the status quo, to recognize and rectify gender disparities in all walks of life, and to celebrate those who dare to lead the charge and make the change.”

The 2025 drama “Rebuilding” will be screened at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19. The panel will include director Max Walker-Silverman and Aspen Fire Chief Jake Andersen, with Aspen Film’s Regna Jones moderating. Having premiered at Sundance, the film starring Josh O’Connor is about a rancher who loses his home in a wildfire, joins a FEMA camp, and the connections that evolve.

The 2025 documentary “The Librarians” will screen at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19. The Q&A will be moderated by Executive Producer Melony Lewis, featuring Academy Award-nominated director and co-producer Kim Snyder and co-producer Maria Cuomo Cole. 

The film, with Sarah Jessica Parker on board as an executive producer, follows librarians in Texas, Florida, and other states as they unite to combat book banning in the United States. The film trailer recently garnered more than 800,000 views in five days and prompted hundreds of inquiries for screenings. 

“People really care about this issue, and are looking to be educated about book banning in the country, and librarians have really emerged as the superheroes that they are,” Snyder said.

There will also be a Q&A for the world premier of “Dreamboats” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, featuring English-born restaurateur Ben Towill and chef Charlie Layton, along with director Zach Thompson. The Q&A will be moderated by Gamble. The film is a documentary about two chefs attempting to cross the Atlantic in an epic race.

“These two (Towill and Layton) are both into promoting sustainable agriculture, and I’m excited to learn how that ties into the Atlantic rowing challenge they undertake,” Gamble shared.

Shopping highlights

Several community perks accompany the Filmfest partnerships. TWP Aspen boutique will offer pre-screening and post-screening live music, libations, and shopping from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, along with a 15% sales discount all day through Thursday, Sept. 18, with proceeds benefiting Aspen Film. Aspen’s Maja DuBrul Jewelry will offer 20% off all purchases for the entire week of the festival. And with the exception of opening and closing night, all teachers and students can attend the festival for free through Aspen Film Educates.

Family Film Screening

Aspen Film will screen a free family adventure comedy at noon Sunday, Sept. 21, “The Muppet Movie.” The story revolves around Kermit the Frog’s trek across America to find success in Hollywood, but a frog-legs merchant is after Kermit. Tickets are required for this complimentary screening of this 1979 classic American film. The runtime is 95 minutes. For more information, visit FilmfestTheMuppetMovieAspenFilm.

“As we celebrate its 46th edition, Filmfest continues to be a true gathering place for our community. It’s an annual tradition that reminds us how powerful it is to experience stories together, surrounded by the beauty and spirit of Aspen,” Aspen Film Board Chair Monica Vidal said.

For the full festival line up, film descriptions, festival passes, and tickets, go to aspenfilm.org/festival/2025-filmfest/.