There are many things about SeriesFest, the annual event that celebrates emerging and underserved voices in episodic storytelling, that make it truly unique. But what really stands out as the event reaches its 10th season is how it charts a decade’s worth of change in television – both in programming and how people access shows.
“When I think back to that first year, we didn’t know what to expect and weren’t sure if anybody was going to come,” said Randi Kleiner, co-founder and CEO of SeriesFest. “Now looking back, we’ve had so many success stories of shows that launched here, like ‘Mr. Robot’ and ‘Yellowstone,’ that people watch and love.”
Season 10 of SeriesFest kicked off on Wednesday, May 1, and runs through Sunday, May 5. The bulk of the festival will be held at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, but some special events will be held at other locations.
Fittingly for a milestone year like this, the event is bigger than ever, with more great programming to watch, panels to attend and unique events to take part in.
“My recommendation for attendees, especially new ones, is to choose an independent pilot block, a network screening and a panel and from there, you can see what you gravitate towards,” Kleiner said. “What you’ll find is the festival is all about community — anyone who comes through the Sie FilmCenter doors will feel that.”
This year’s pilots lineup is more wide-ranging than ever, with 45 independently produced pilots available to see. This includes international pilots, which is a rarity at these types of events. Attendees can select from shorts, dramas, comedies and more.
Some of the panels that are worth checking out include “It’s In the Details: Costume Design for Television,” which features costumers for shows like “Outlander,” “Queen Charlotte” and “Yellowstone,” and a screening and discussion of the hilarious SYFY show “Resident Alien.” Creator, executive producer and writer Chris Sheridan and actor Sara Tomko will both be in attendance.
For special events, the SeriesFest Soiree Fundraiser Gala is the biggest event of the whole festival. The organization will be honoring Minnie Driver, Mark Duplass, SAG-AFTRA, Shondaland and Betsy Beers, as well as celebrating 20 years of “Grey’s Anatomy,” with cast and creatives in-person. “Grey’s” is getting its own special legacy celebration, featuring showrunner Meg Marinis and actors James Pickens Jr, Kevin McKidd, Camilla Luddington, Caterina Scorsone and Kim Raver. And as always, the festival wraps up at ReelWorks (1399 35th St. in Denver), this year with a dance party celebrating Beyoncé’s new album, “Cowboy Carter,” featuring Young Guru and special guests from the album.
“There is so much programming this year, and so much talent taking part, that I hope people come check it out as I know they will get hooked,” Kleiner said. “We’re always trying to expand our audience and I hope people embrace the festival and have the insightful conversations that really move the needle forward in the industry.”
For the full schedule, passes and more, visit https://seriesfest.com/.
Lone Tree Arts Center Blends Music and Movement
It’s been a long time since classical music carried the stodgy reputation it once used to have. From pairing orchestras with popular acts to performing film scores live, there is so much room for experimentation and fun. The Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., is taking this to a thrilling new level with Cirque de la Symphonie and the Boulder Phil.
The event will be held at the center at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, and will delight audiences with a unique pairing of music and acrobatics. The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the region’s best orchestral groups and Cirque de la Symphonie is well-known for its unique and enrapturing approach to movement synchronized to music.
Secure your tickets at www.lonetreeartscenter.org.
Ain’t No Party Like the Denver Derby Party
No party in Denver gets quite the hullabaloo that The Original Denver Derby Party does, and deservedly so. Every year it’s a total blast of fun and tradition, all going to a good cause (100 percent of all proceeds benefit the Sean Ranch Lough Foundation).
Held on Saturday, May 4, the party has found a perfect venue in McGregor Square, 1901 Wazee St. in Denver. McGregor has more than 17,000 square feet of outdoor gathering space, the Milepost Zero food hall, three levels of indoor space and balconies, and features a 66-foot by 20-foot LED screen, according to provided information.
Make sure your derby drip is on point and get information and tickets at https://denverderby.com/.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Blondshell at the Larimer Lounge
Sabrina Teitelbaum, the 25-year-old who records under the name Blondshell, is one of last year’s great new indie rock discoveries — her self-titled album from 2023 made a bunch of best of lists and brims with great guitar licks and smart and insightful lyricism.
In support of the album, Blondshell will be stopping by the Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. Denver, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8. An intimate venue like this is the perfect place for Teitelbaum’s classic-rock-inspired riffs to achieve full effect.
Get tickets at www.larimerlounge.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.