Three Sold-Out Screenings At Denver Film Festival

Mike Ostroski, Scott Takeda, Lori Kay Allred, Brock Sherman and Kate Cook on the red carpet of the premiere of "The Outsider" at the 40th Annual Denver Film Festival. (photo by Cyrus McCrimmon)

This week, we are celebrating three sold-out screenings of our latest film "The Outsider" at the Denver Film Festival. When the schedule was first announced, the festival assigned two screenings to our film, which was part of a block of 10 Colorado short films. However when the first screening sold out within hours, the festival quickly added a third one.

"I think I might be responsible for the first sell-out," said writer-director Scott Takeda. "Our film heavily features my family which numbers more than one hundred, and I think many of them purchased the bulk load of the theater's 140 seats for the Sunday screening."

"I'm most excited that our film seems to be affecting people," said producer Lori Kay Allred. "Obviously we had a lot of supporters during the first screening, however countless people have approached me after the second and third screenings. Many are in tears and excitedly talking about how our film has touched them. And I just talked with festival founder Ron Henderson at the filmmaker lounge, and he told me how much he enjoyed our film."

The cast and producers of "The Outsider" also walked the red carpet during the festival. Lead actress Kate Cook flew in from Los Angeles along with fellow cast member Mike Ostroski who found an opening in his schedule between shoots for ABC's "Black-ish" and his recurring role on Nickelodeon's "Henry Danger." They joined producer Brock Sherman, Allred and Takeda, along with other LA dignitaries including Kyra Sedgwick, Bill Pullman, and Aaron Sorkin.

Rocky Mountain PBS Spotlights "The Outsider"

This week, Rocky Mountain PBS featured an interview with filmmakers Scott Takeda and Lori Kay Allred in their coverage of the 40th Annual Denver Film Festival. The two talk about our latest film "The Outsider" which will premiere at the festival with three screenings. Enjoy!

Our Latest Film To Premiere at Denver Film Festival

Writer-Director Scott Takeda gives direction while producer Lori Kay Allred keeps things light.

The Denver Film Festival just named our latest short film "The Outsider" as an official selection. The film will have two screenings during the festival's November 1-12 run. 

"We are so excited to have our world premiere in our home town," said writer-director Scott Takeda. "We shot this dramedy short with a lot of my family members, so I'm excited that they'll be able to attend. Our LA cast will be flying out to attend the red carpet and the premiere."

"This is so huge," said producer Lori Kay Allred. "It's the 40th Year for the festival, which has premiered so many films like the Oscar-nominated 'Ray.' Last year, they screened Damien Chazelle's 'La La Land,' and this year, they are screening Greta Gerwig's 'Lady Bird,' Aaron Sorkin's 'Molly's Game' and other Oscar-buzzworthy films. It's very flattering to be among these filmmakers."

"The Outsider" will screen in a block of Colorado short films on Sunday November 5th at 11:30am as well as Wednesday November 8th at 9:30pm. Both screenings will be at the UA Denver Pavilions theater in Downtown Denver.

10/8/17 UPDATE - The Denver Post just reported that "The Outsider" is a finalist for the True Grit Award, given to the best Colorado film.

10/11/17 UPDATE - The first screening of "The Outsider" sold out within hours.

10/21/17 UPDATE - The second screening of "The Outsider" sold out. Denver Film Festival has added a third screening on Tuesday November 7th at 7:30pm at the UA Denver Pavilions theater in Downtown Denver.

11/4/17 UPDATE - The third screening of "The Outsider" also sold out.

Allred Screenplay A Finalist in Austin Revolution

We're popping the champagne!

The jury members of the Austin Revolution Film Festival just named our screenplay "Secrets" one of the finalists for their 2017 festival.  It's the first feature of screenwriter Lori Kay Allred.

"Wow, this is HUGE," said producer Scott Takeda. "Lori's screenplay has gotten a lot of attention in the past few months, making finalist in two festivals, and now three.  And we just got word this week that it's getting some traction in LA.  All very exciting."

Now in it's 5th Year, Austin Revolution Film Festival was started by independent filmmakers and is a consistent Top-100 festival on Film Freeway.  The 2017 festival runs September 19-23 in Austin, with many showings at the Alamo Drafthouse.

7/18/19 UPDATE - Austin Revolution Film Festival just announced that our screenplay is an award nominee.  Yea!

"The Outsider" Begins Its Festival Run

Whew! We just completed our latest short film "The Outsider" and are starting to focus on a festival run. The dramedy short is directed by Scott Takeda. It's an autobiographical story about his girlfriend (now wife), as she struggles entering his family.

"The film shows a woman who happens to be in a mixed-race relationship," said Takeda. She is excited for a "meet-the-family" moment that happens during a traditional Japanese ceremony called Mochitsuki, the making of the rice cake called mochi. When she feels excluded, is she really an outsider? Or does that happen in every relationship? I explore those questions as well as our universal need to belong."

The film stars working LA actors who are recurring on network TV shows. Kate Cook (Nickelodeon's 'Henry Danger') is the lead. She is supported by Kristen DeVore Rakes (FX's 'American Horror Story'), Takeda (NBC's "Days of Our Lives') and Mike Ostroski (Netflix' 'Fuller House'). 

"We believe our film will connect with audiences," said producer Lori Allred.. "It's a poignant, personal story that blends drama, comedy, and the confusion that comes when mixing two cultures. We're actively looking to partner with a festival to premiere it. When we find one, we'll fly out our LA publicist and cast to help out with pre-festival news articles. We think the film's topic, along with our PR push will help attract a crowd."