Aspen Film has released the lineup of special events and in-town guests as part of the 40th annual Aspen Filmfest, which opens Monday and runs through Sept. 29.<\/p>\n
The events include panel discussions with filmmakers and a tribute to iconic New Hollywood filmmaker Bob Rafelson. The longtime Aspenite will receive a lifetime achievement award from Aspen Film on Sept. 25 at the Wheeler Opera House.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are extremely honored to be able to present our first-ever lifetime achievement award to Bob Rafelson and consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have a filmmaker of his caliber in our midst in Aspen,\u201d Aspen Film executive and artistic director Susan Wrubel said in an announcement. \u201cThe evening we are spending with him promises to be a special one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additional events include an opening night reception (Monday at the Wheeler), the panel discussion with \u201cFantastic Fungi\u201d filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg titled \u201cThe Magic Beneath Us: Mycelium & Mushrooms\u201d (Tuesday at the Here House), a discussion with \u201cCracked Up\u201d filmmaker Michelle Esrick and the Aspen Hope Center\u2019s Michelle Muething and Sandy Iglehart (Sept. 27 at Here House), a panel discussion with WeRiseUp creators Kate Maloney, Michael Shaun Conaway, Alex Melnyk, and DJ Spooky (Sept. 28, Here House) and a closing night party (Sept. 28 at 7908 restaurant).<\/p>\n
Additional special guests coming to the festival include \u201cMuseum Town\u201d producer and writer Noah Bashevkin and executive producer Rachel Chanoff, \u201cThe Times of Bill Cunningham\u201d director Mark Bozek.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo round out our 40th anniversary Filmfest, we are ecstatic to be able to expand on ideas presented in three of our eye-opening documentaries with some of the filmmakers and a few special guests. In general, we are looking to shine a light and help bring about positive change,\u201d Wrubel said.<\/p>\n
The previously announced<\/a> schedule of film screenings in Aspen and Carbondale is online at aspenfilm.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advance film and event tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets can be purchased at the Wheeler Opera House box office and at aspenshowtix.com<\/a>. Festival passes and memberships can be purchased online at aspenfilm.org\/aspen-film-membership<\/a>.<\/p>\n