DENVER FILM ANNOUNCES LINEUP FOR

25TH FILM ON THE ROCKS SUMMER SERIES

DENVER – APRIL 26, 2024 – Denver Film and Denver Arts & Venues today announced the lineup for the 25th edition of Film on the Rocks, the annual summer series featuring live performances and beloved films under the stars at the iconic Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. Tickets for the five-event season go on sale April 29 at 10 a.m. at denverfilm.org. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $35 for VIP reserved seating. Group sales are also available by contacting Russel Brewer at russel@denverfilm.org.

The season kicks off Monday, June 10 with a 25th-anniversary presentation of the cyberpunk action film The Matrix and continues through Monday, August 19 with a presentation of the exhilarating post-apocalyptic adventure film Mad Max: Fury Road. In between, the schedule delivers beloved films Shrek, The Wizard of Oz, including a pre-show event with National Geographic Live, and Deadpool.

“We’re excited to celebrate 25 years of Film on the Rocks with another amazing lineup of films, local musicians and entertainers performing under the stars at the iconic Red Rocks Park,” said Denver Film CEO, Kevin Smith. “From the 25th-anniversary celebration of a computer hacker’s journey into the Matrix to Shrek’s rescue of Princess Fiona, the 85th-anniversary celebration of Dorothy, Toto and friends' trip to the Emerald City, Wade Wilson’s transformation to Deadpool, and concluding with the daring escape of Mad Max, our 2024 lineup is packed full of options for a wide range of audiences.”

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with pre-show entertainment taking the stage at 7 p.m., followed by the film presentation at 8:30 p.m. Each show will be emceed by a local comedian, actor, and event host Janae Burris. Pre-show entertainment includes performances by DARKARTS, School of Rock, Doc Sadler Band, and the winner of the Colorado Native Sundown Throwdown, a Battle of the Bands contest sponsored by Molson Coors.

FILM SCHEDULE:

THE MATRIX

Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski

Monday, June 10, 8:30 p.m.

Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question -- What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.

25th Anniversary!

Featuring a pre-show performance by DARKARTS

SHREK

Directors: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson

Monday, June 24, 8:30 p.m.

Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek (Mike Myers) whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairy tale characters. They were all banished from their kingdom by the evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Determined to save their home -- not to mention his -- Shrek cuts a deal with Farquaad and sets out to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) to be Farquaad's bride. Rescuing the Princess may be small compared to her deep, dark secret.

Presented by Xcel Energy

Featuring a pre-show performance by School of Rock

THE WIZARD OF OZ

Director: Victor Fleming

Monday, July 8, 8:30 p.m.

When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, and en route they meet a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) that needs a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) missing a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who wants courage. The wizard asks the group to bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) to earn his help.

85th Anniversary!

Including a pre-show event with National Geographic Live

DEADPOOL

Director: Tim Miller

Monday, July 15, 8:30 p.m.

Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is a former Special Forces operative who now works as a mercenary. His world comes crashing down when evil scientist Ajax (Ed Skrein) tortures, disfigures and transforms him into Deadpool. The rogue experiment leaves Deadpool with accelerated healing powers and a twisted sense of humor. With help from mutant allies Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Deadpool uses his new skills to hunt down the man who nearly destroyed his life.

Featuring a pre-show performance by Doc Sadler Band

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Director: George Miller

Monday, Aug. 19, 8:30 p.m.

Years after the collapse of civilization, the tyrannical Immortan Joe enslaves apocalypse survivors inside the desert fortress the Citadel. When the warrior Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) leads the despot's five wives in a daring escape, she forges an alliance with Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), a loner and former captive. Fortified in the massive, armored truck the War Rig, they try to outrun the ruthless warlord and his henchmen in a deadly high-speed chase through the Wasteland.

Featuring a pre-show performance by the winner of the Colorado Native Sundown Throwdown, a Battle of the Bands contest sponsored by Molson Coors

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Members of the press interested in covering Film on the Rocks may contact Ambriehl Turrentine at ambriehl@denverfilm.org or Marty Schechter at marty@schechterpr.com.

Sponsors

AdventHealth, AOR, Aquafina, City Pop, Coca-Cola, CommonSpirit Health, DU Daniels College of Business, Kaiser Permanente, Meow Wolf, Modern Market, Molson Coors, Quiktrip West Inc, School of Rock, Table Mountain Inn, Toyota, United Airlines, Visit Denver, Xcel Energy

About Denver Film

Founded in 1978, Denver Film is a membership-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution that produces film events throughout the year, including the award-winning Denver Film Festival and the popular, summertime series Film on the Rocks. With a vision to cultivate community and transform lives through film, Denver Film provides opportunities for diverse audiences to discover film through creative, thought-provoking experiences.

The permanent home of Denver Film, the Sie FilmCenter is Denver's only year-round cinematheque, presenting a weekly-changing calendar of first-run exclusives and arthouse revivals both domestic and foreign, narrative and documentary - over 600 per year, all shown in their original language and format. Denver Film's one-of-a-kind programs annually reach more than 200,000 film lovers and film lovers-in-training.

About Denver Arts & Venues:

Denver Arts & Venues (DAV) is the City and County of Denver agency responsible for operating some of the region’s most renowned facilities, including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center, Denver Coliseum, Loretto Heights and McNichols Civic Center Building. We also oversee the Denver Public Art Program, funding opportunities like Urban Arts Fund, P.S. You Are Here and Denver Music Advancement Fund, implementation of Denver’s Cultural Plan and other entertainment and cultural events such as the Five Points Jazz Festival.

Funds generated by the agency are put back into the community through grants for artists and arts organizations, free and low-cost cultural events, art in public spaces, venue operation and maintenance and arts education.

Bret Saunders