The Starz Denver Film Festival announced Tuesday that actress Judy Greer will be honored with the festival’s annual John Cassavetes Award. Greer will be present to receive the award on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2011 at the Denver Film Center/Colfax. The actress is appearing in two films screening at this year’s 34th Starz Denver Film Festival.
Greer’s role as Julie Speer in “The Descendants” from writer/director Alexander Payne (“About Schmidt,” “Sideways”) plays alongside an ensemble cast helmed by George Clooney. Greer also co-stars alongside Susan Sarandon, Jason Segal, and Ed Helms in the indie-comedy “Jeff Who Lives at Home” from writer/director brothers Jay and Mark Duplass. “The Descendants” is a Red Carpet event at the Ellie Caulkins Opera house, screening Friday, Nov. 5, at 8:00 p.m. “Jeff Who Lives at Home” will screen at the Denver Film Center/Colfax Friday, Nov. 11, at 6:30 p.m.
The Nov. 4 award event will feature Judy Greer in person, featuring a clips program of her work followed by a one-on-one interview conducted by Denver Post film critic Lisa Kennedy. Festival Director Britta Erickson described Greer as, “…a gutsy, hard-working actor who has appeared in 39 movies and has stolen scenes at every turn from some of Hollywood’s best and biggest leading men…It takes a tenacious spirit and unwavering integrity to survive as an artist and Judy has done it with aplomb making us laugh and cry with her characters along the way.”
In addition to her film roles, Greer established an unforgettable television career throughout the past decade, starting with one of her most recognized roles as Kitty Sanchez on “Arrested Development.” Greer’s voice may also be recognizable to fans of the animated spy comedy “Archer” as Cheryl.
Her film roles stretch across the spectrum of genres, from romantic comedies like “27 Dresses” and “Love and Other Drugs” to darker satires like “Visioneers” with Zach Galifianakis, “The Hebrew Hammer,” and as the waitress/sexual muse Alice in Charlie Kaufman’s “Adaptation.” Greer has even extended her talents to fantasy thrillers like M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Village.”
The John Cassavetes Award has been honoring talented filmmakers since 1989, started by the Festival and Cassavetes’ widow Gena Rowlands. It was first awarded to Steven Soderbergh and recently to actors like Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, William H. Macy, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, Bill Pullman, and J.K. Simmons. Tickets for the event can be purchased through denverfilm.org.
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