Julia Stiles to be Honored at Denver's Women + Film Festival
Denver Film is set to launch its Women + Film Festival with a series of events, including a luncheon, award ceremony, and film screening. The spotlight will shine on Julia Stiles, the acclaimed actress who has transitioned into directing. Stiles will receive the Women + Film Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award, marking her as the fifth recipient of this honor. Following the award presentation, she will engage in a discussion about her journey from acting to directing, culminating in a screening of her directorial debut, "Wish You Were Here."
During a recent Zoom interview, CBS First at 4 anchor Mekialaya White posed a question to Stiles: "How did this film come about? It's such a beautiful story about love, and finding love again and finding yourself." Stiles responded, "I have been wanting to direct a movie for a really long time, and I just couldn't find the right story. It wasn't until I read Renée Carlino's book that I thought, 'Oh...this is it.'" The screenplay for "Wish You Were Here" is based on Carlino's best-selling novel, which tells a heartwarming tale of a couple's magical night and the aftermath of their encounter. This project has been a labor of love for Stiles over the past five years.
White continued the conversation by asking, "How does it feel to be a woman in film? How does that journey feel to you?" Stiles reflected on her experiences, stating, "I think a distinctly female trait, in terms of leadership, is being very collaborative. I mean, I hate to make generalizations like that, but I do think it's true. At a certain point, I had to learn to be front-footed about being collaborative." The dialogue shifted as White noted the challenges of authority in leadership roles.
"It's not so much about being female," Stiles clarified. "It's more about as an actress; it's so ingrained in me to please everybody, to make sure that everybody is comfortable. Sometimes you have to really shed that and let it go in order to be a good leader, a good director." She also highlighted a unique connection between her film and Colorado.
"There is a musician, Nathaniel Rateliff, whose two songs are heavily featured in 'Wish You Were Here.' I had them in my head while writing the script. I reached out and begged him to let me use them in the movie, and he was really gracious about it. I'm a huge fan; he's a proud Denverite," Stiles shared.
Stiles has been part of the film industry since childhood, with notable roles in romantic comedies like "10 Things I Hate About You" and "Save the Last Dance," as well as action films such as the "Bourne" series. She expressed optimism about the evolving roles for women in Hollywood. "I would say that the roles for us have changed. They've become more dynamic. There's more nuance in the roles that we get to play and the portrayal of women on screen," she said. "I don't think I could have ever believed that I would step behind the camera and be a director if I didn't have examples of that before me."
When asked what she is most proud of regarding "Wish You Were Here," Stiles replied, "I want to make movies—whether it's acting or directing—I want to tell stories that move people and make them feel all the emotions that we are trying to understand as human beings." She expressed enthusiasm for future projects, indicating she has caught the directing bug.
The Women + Film Luncheon is scheduled for Friday, May 30, 2025, at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Julia Stiles will make a red carpet appearance at 11:15 a.m., followed by the luncheon program at noon. The award presentation and conversation will commence at 12:30 p.m., with the film screening taking place afterward.
Libby Smith serves as a special projects producer at CBS Colorado.
