George Hickenlooper, RIP: Starz Denver Film Festival director says fest to be dedicated to him

George Hickenlooper and friend.

Saturday brought news about the shocking death of George Hickenlooper, Mayor John Hickenlooper's filmmaking cousin, who was in Denver to screen his latest flick, Casino Jack, as part of the Starz Denver Film Festival.

The show will go on, says festival director Britta Erickson, with at least one more Casino Jack screening added -- and the fest as a whole will be dedicated to George.

Kevin Spacey in "Casino Jack."

According to Erickson, she learned about George's death on Saturday morning from the mayor. She deems it a "tragic, tragic, tragic loss" that's shaken her and other staffers at the festival, where George's films have been featured "for the past nineteen years," she points out.

"We've given a lot of thought about what we're going to do now," Erickson continues, "and we've decided we're going to go ahead and screen Casino Jack on Thursday as planned," as part of the grand-opening celebration for the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax, located in the complex that also houses the Tattered Cover and Twist & Shout. "That's what he would have wanted. He would have wanted us to show this film that he was so excited about to this Denver audience he loved so much. But now, it's going to be a tribute to George."

Right now, particulars for the initial screening are in flux. Erickson knows veteran festival coordinator Ron Henderson will offer a tribute, and Donald Zuckerman, George's longtime producer, is flying in for the occasion -- and Morning, the other flick slated for the Denver FilmCenter/Colfax's debut, will be shown as scheduled.