With the opening of the 35th annual Starz Denver Film Festival on November 1st came a multi-million dollar donation from John and Anna Sie. The 1.5 million dollar donation coupled with a 1 million dollar loan was all that was needed for the Denver Film Society to acquire a new building, the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax.

The opening evening of the Starz Denver Film Festival always focuses on the love of movies, and last night was no exception. But this year (the fest's 35th), the event was also about...a huge pile of cash. Before a big crowd at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, fest vet Ron Henderson revealed that philanthropists John and Anna Sie have gifted the Denver Film Society with $2.5 million with which to buy its current home, the Denver Filmcenter/Colfax. Not that it'll have this name for much longer.

The red carpet outside the Ellie prior to the big reveal was jammed with filmmakers, actors and the like, all enjoying a spectacular Colorado evening. No doubt they enjoyed showing off their wardrobe finery rather than having to huddle in wool coats.

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