​Talia Ryder and Sterling K. Brown to be felicitated at the ​46th Denver Film Festival

Talia Ryder and Sterling K. Brown will be felicitated at the 46th Denver Film Festival this weekend.

Brown is set to be honored with the Excellence in Acting Award for his outstanding performance in Cord Jefferson’s satirical drama “American Fiction,” the opening film of the festival on Nov. 3. Due to high demand, a second screening has been scheduled for Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. MST, where Brown, a three-time Emmy winner and star of IFC’s “Biosphere” earlier this year, will engage in a conversation with writer, producer, and podcast host Larry Wilmore.

Ryder, on the other hand, will grace the Denver Film Festival awards ceremony on Nov. 12 to accept the Rising Star Award for her notable role in Sean Prince Williams’ drama “The Sweet East,” a featured film in the festival’s official selection. Following the screening of her film, she will participate in a conversation with the audience.


The actor's honors were also added following the resolution of the SAG-AFTRA strike on Wednesday. “We wanted to pay tribute to Sterling K. Brown and Talia Ryder for their depth as actors, their incredibly exciting films this season and Sterling’s status as a trailblazer in the industry” stated Matthew Campbell, the festival’s artistic director, making the announcement.

Brown, renowned for his role as Randall in the NBC series “This Is Us,” secured an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series during the show's successful six-season run. His achievements extended to Golden Globe and SAG Awards, marking him as the first African American actor to win the lead actor drama prizes. In the realm of film, Brown has graced productions such as “Biosphere,” “Waves,” “Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul,” “Black Panther,” and “Marshall.”

Ryder, notable for her performance in the indie drama “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” which garnered nominations for a Film Independent Spirit Award and a Critics’ Choice Award, also features in this year’s “Dumb Money.”

The festival will also honor Anthony Chen, Michael Shannon, Andrew Haigh, and the creative team behind “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” all of whom will be present to personally accept their respective awards.