Every year, the Starz Denver Film Festival (November 6-17) brings a little bit of Tinseltown to the Mile High City, with red carpets, movie screenings, director talkbacks, and lots of parties (for more on those, click here). But with more than 250 flicks to choose from, planning your schedule can be overwhelming. Here, a movie recommendation a day to get you started.

Wednesday, November 6: Labor Day. The festival opener is a crime drama (with a touch of romance) starring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin. Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 8 p.m.

Thursday, November 7: When I Walk. When he was 25 years old, director Jason DaSilva (pictured, above) was vacationing at a beach, fell down, and couldn’t get back up. It was a moment he knew would come—after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis months before. This documentary follows DaSilva as he comes to terms with his new life. Sie FilmCenter, 9:15 p.m.

Friday, November 8: Blue Ruin. Vengeance takes center stage in this thriller, which won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Sie FilmCenter, 9:15 p.m.

Saturday, November 9: Nebraska. Directed by Alexander Payne (The Descendants), this black-and-white ode to small-town America follows a father and son on what may be a futile road trip. Ellie Caulkins, 8 p.m.

Sunday, November 10: A Fragile Trust: Plagiarism, Power, and Jayson Blair at the New York Times. As a journalist, I can’t overlook this documentary, which tries to get to the bottom of how now-infamous plagiarist Jayson Blair became “one of the first ‘tragedies of the electronic age.'” Blair even tells some of his own story. Sie FilmCenter, 2:30 p.m.

Monday, November 11: Soft in the Head. Part of the New Directors Showcase, Soft is an indie romance that follows “lost soul” Natalia as she slowly loses herself in the lights of the big city. Sie FilmCenter, 6:45 p.m.

Tuesday, November 12: My Naked Diary. Access to films from around the world is one of the top reasons to attend film festivals. This Czech entry is a romantic romp—combining animation with traditional film—through the mind of a young adult (based on a novel by 17-year-old Johana Rubinova). Sie FilmCenter, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 13: Mother, I Love You. Latvia’s nomination for best foreign language film in next year’s Oscars is a quick flick (just 83 minutes) about 12-year-old Riamonds descent into petty thievery. It is a tale about a boy on the edge of adulthood who still isn’t sure about the difference between right and wrong. Sie FilmCenter, 6:45 p.m.

Thursday, November 14: Generation War. Originally aired as a TV miniseries in Germany, this three-part epic (it’s showing in two parts here) spotlights five young men and women as they navigate a world torn apart by war. Think of it as the German version of Band of Brothers. UA Pavilions, 4 p.m.

Friday, November 15: 2 Autumns 3 Winters. Seems Real World confessionals aren’t just for TV. In this quirky French Canadian rom-com, the three protaganists often speak directly to the camera or utilize voiceovers to portray their feelings. It’s a unique take in an often stale genre. UA Pavilions, 9:15 p.m.

Saturday, November 16: Hide Your Smiling Faces. After two brothers discover the dead body of one of their friends, the world becomes a different place. Heralded as a thoughtful and real presentation of the adolescent male experience, this American indie film was lauded at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. UA Pavilions, 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 17: Who Loves You, Baby? Colorado Shorts Package. A collection of eight shorts by Colorado filmmakers. UA Pavilions, 7:15 p.m.

—Image courtesy of When I Walk

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Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.