Julia Stiles Honored at Denver Women+Film Festival

Spring blooms adorned the Denver Botanic Gardens on Friday as film lovers gathered for the Women+Film Festival, a weekend dedicated to celebrating women's contributions to cinema.

This year, the festival spotlighted actress Julia Stiles, who received the prestigious Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award. The award was presented by Bridges herself, who praised Stiles as "one of the most fearless and talented actresses in Hollywood."

Attendees were treated to a screening of Stiles' directorial debut, "Wish You Were Here," an adaptation of Renee Carlino's best-selling novel. The film, released by Lionsgate in January 2025, marks a significant milestone in Stiles' career.

In an interview with Mekialaya White, the event's emcee, Stiles expressed her excitement: "This is a total dream come true because the story means so much to me. I think this kind of story is necessary in our world today."

The festival, presented by Denver Film, continues through the weekend, featuring a marketplace and an evening with acclaimed writer and journalist Elizabeth Gilbert.

"This festival is designed for you to connect with your peers and community," noted Ambriehl Turrentine, Programming Manager at Denver Film.

Amy Weiner Wiess, Director of Development at Denver Film, emphasized the festival's broader mission: "Women+Film does more than promote films from emerging and seasoned female filmmakers. It provides an opportunity to highlight important issues, foster dialogue, share diverse perspectives, and celebrate stories that reshape the landscape of women in cinema. Women+Film is vital to Denver Film's year-round programming, but we can't do it alone. As an arts non-profit, we rely on the generosity of community members like you."