Boulder International Film Festival
Encyclopedia
Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) sponsored by the Colorado Film Society, is held annually on Presidents Day Weekend in Boulder, Colorado
USA, and has developed a reputation as one of the most influential young film festivals in the U.S., with an extraordinary number of new-but-unknown feature films, documentaries and shorts that have gone on from early screenings at BIFF to significant box-office success and multiple Oscar nominations. Over 16,000 filmmakers, national media, special guests and film enthusiasts attended the four-day BIFF 2010.
Festival co-creator Robin Beeck's secret to a great festival: “The theme of the festival is great storytelling. No matter what the budget, the mainstay has to be a wonderful, great story. We’ve got great stories that were expensive to make, and we have great stories that were made on a shoestring budget.”
The CFS also inspires tomorrow’s film artists through year-round educational outreach programs, including “World Cinema Days” which bring international film, filmmakers, and presentations to local students; through Schmoozers, their networking event which provides a venue for people involved or interested in the film arts and industry to mix and mingle, and through the CFS Community Resource Program, which provides various forms of no-cost support, resources and mentorship to many arts organizations in Boulder County.
(A History of Violence, The Cooler, Thank You for Smoking), Academy-Award nominated writer and director Susannah Grant
(Erin Brockovich, 28 Days, Catch and Release, In Her Shoes), Director Jon Poll
(Charlie Bartlett, Producer - The 40-Year Old Virgin) and renowned Hollywood screenwriter John August
(Big Fish, Go, The Nines) along with many other independent filmmakers, directors, producers and stars including Academy-Award nominee Eric Roberts
, and Patrick Warburton
(Seinfeld).
Chevy Chase
opened the 2009 Festival at the Boulder Theater. Emmy award-winning comedian, writer and actor, Chase received an Award of Excellence in Comedy which was followed by a film retrospective honoring his work. Mr. Chase then participated in a Q&A session hosted by Ron Bostwick, BIFF executive producer.
"Not only has Mr. Chase graced so many classic comedic films and been a major influence to countless comedians, he has also been a tireless advocate for this country's environmental movement which Coloradans are so passionate about," said Kathy Beek, festival co-founder and director. "We are truly honored Chevy is able to join us for a lively start to the festival."
Closing Night of BIFF 2010 was a tribute to Alec Baldwin
which included a film retrospective of his work followed by a question and answer session hosted by BIFF Executive Producer Ron Bostwick.
Three weeks following BIFF, Baldwin co-hosted the 2010 Academy Awards ceremony with his It’s Complicated co-star Steve Martin
. Baldwin stars with Tina Fey on NBC’s “30 Rock”, winner of the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for the past three years. He’s received three SAG Awards, two Golden Globes, the Television Critics Award, and two Emmies for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.
“We are thrilled to have Mr. Baldwin attending the Boulder International Film Festival,” said Kathy Beeck, festival co-founder and director. “He’s a magnificent actor who has influenced many young actors and comedians, and we’re honored he will join us at this year’s festival.”
BIFF was recently voted one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” by MovieMaker Magazine(Summer 2009).
In addition to its Youth Advisory Council, BIFF hosts several 'World Cinema Days' throughout the school year. Their goal is to keep students meaningfully engaged by screening thoughtful student appropriate documentaries, films and animation during unstructured days off such as teacher “professional development” or “in-service days.” And to help parents arrange activities for their child on these non-school days. Features a free film program, presentations and group discussion for students in grade 4 through 12.
BIFF also works closely with the Boulder Public Library in offering free film to Boulder audiences through its 'Spotlight on BIFF' series at the Boulder Public Library Film Program in September, October, and November. The Spotlight includes ten “Best of the Fest” films and is free to students and the public.
BIFF 2009
BIFF 2008
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
USA, and has developed a reputation as one of the most influential young film festivals in the U.S., with an extraordinary number of new-but-unknown feature films, documentaries and shorts that have gone on from early screenings at BIFF to significant box-office success and multiple Oscar nominations. Over 16,000 filmmakers, national media, special guests and film enthusiasts attended the four-day BIFF 2010.
The Founding of BIFF
The Festival was founded in 2004 by two sisters, Kathy and Robin Beeck , who were at the time filmmakers themselves. Having travelled extensively to several festivals with their films, the Beeck sisters saw Boulder, CO as the perfect venue for a new festival which celebrated "the bold spirit of independent filmmaking". With BIFF, the sisters created what they perceived as a "filmmaker's film festival".Festival co-creator Robin Beeck's secret to a great festival: “The theme of the festival is great storytelling. No matter what the budget, the mainstay has to be a wonderful, great story. We’ve got great stories that were expensive to make, and we have great stories that were made on a shoestring budget.”
Colorado Film Society
The Colorado Film Society (CFS), the non-profit umbrella organization, hosts the annual Film Festival. CFS is dedicated to nurturing and growing the vibrant film arts community in Boulder and along the Front Range. The mission of the CFS is to encourage and celebrate the art of film by creating a dynamic forum for artistic, social and cultural awareness in the community. The CFS offers four programs throughout the year: (1) the Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF); (2) the CFS Educational Outreach Program; (3) the CFS Community Resource Program; and (4) the CFS Film Series.The CFS also inspires tomorrow’s film artists through year-round educational outreach programs, including “World Cinema Days” which bring international film, filmmakers, and presentations to local students; through Schmoozers, their networking event which provides a venue for people involved or interested in the film arts and industry to mix and mingle, and through the CFS Community Resource Program, which provides various forms of no-cost support, resources and mentorship to many arts organizations in Boulder County.
Special Guests & Honorees
The Festival has hosted and celebrated some of independent film’s most talented players, including legendary Indie filmmakers Michael and Mark Polish “The Polish Brothers” (Twin Falls Idaho, Northfork, The Astronaut Farmer), Golden-Globe nominated actress Maria BelloMaria Bello
Maria Elena Bello is an American actress and singer known for her appearances in the movies Coyote Ugly, The Jane Austen Book Club, Permanent Midnight, Thank You for Smoking, A History of Violence, Payback, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. For television she is known for her role as Dr...
(A History of Violence, The Cooler, Thank You for Smoking), Academy-Award nominated writer and director Susannah Grant
Susannah Grant
Susannah Grant is an award-winning American screenwriter and director. She wrote the screenplays for Ever After, Erin Brockovich, directed by Steven Soderbergh, 28 Days and Disney's Pocahontas. For Erin Brockovich she received an Oscar nomination in 2001...
(Erin Brockovich, 28 Days, Catch and Release, In Her Shoes), Director Jon Poll
Jon Poll
Jon Poll is an American film director, editor and producer, best known for his directorial debut with the 2007 film Charlie Bartlett.-Career:...
(Charlie Bartlett, Producer - The 40-Year Old Virgin) and renowned Hollywood screenwriter John August
John August
John August is an American screenwriter and film director. He also writes and maintains the popular screenwriting blog , and develops screenwriter-targeted software....
(Big Fish, Go, The Nines) along with many other independent filmmakers, directors, producers and stars including Academy-Award nominee Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts
Eric Anthony Roberts is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies , earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case...
, and Patrick Warburton
Patrick Warburton
Patrick John Warburton is an American actor of television, film, and voice. He is best known for his several TV roles, including the title role of The Tick, David Puddy on Seinfeld, the evil Johnny Johnson on NewsRadio, and anchorman Jeb Denton on Less Than Perfect...
(Seinfeld).
Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
opened the 2009 Festival at the Boulder Theater. Emmy award-winning comedian, writer and actor, Chase received an Award of Excellence in Comedy which was followed by a film retrospective honoring his work. Mr. Chase then participated in a Q&A session hosted by Ron Bostwick, BIFF executive producer.
"Not only has Mr. Chase graced so many classic comedic films and been a major influence to countless comedians, he has also been a tireless advocate for this country's environmental movement which Coloradans are so passionate about," said Kathy Beek, festival co-founder and director. "We are truly honored Chevy is able to join us for a lively start to the festival."
Closing Night of BIFF 2010 was a tribute to Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin
Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
which included a film retrospective of his work followed by a question and answer session hosted by BIFF Executive Producer Ron Bostwick.
Three weeks following BIFF, Baldwin co-hosted the 2010 Academy Awards ceremony with his It’s Complicated co-star Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
. Baldwin stars with Tina Fey on NBC’s “30 Rock”, winner of the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for the past three years. He’s received three SAG Awards, two Golden Globes, the Television Critics Award, and two Emmies for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.
“We are thrilled to have Mr. Baldwin attending the Boulder International Film Festival,” said Kathy Beeck, festival co-founder and director. “He’s a magnificent actor who has influenced many young actors and comedians, and we’re honored he will join us at this year’s festival.”
BIFF was recently voted one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” by MovieMaker Magazine(Summer 2009).
Educational Outreach & Youth Advisory Council
In keeping with its commitment to bringing independent films to a wider audience the Festival formed a Youth Advisory Council (YAC). The Council was founded in 2008 and is made up of 12-15 local film enthusiasts in grades 8-12. The Council represents a youth voice at the Festival and helps select films for its student film program, juries the student film category and helps organize and promote film opportunities for students in Boulder County.In addition to its Youth Advisory Council, BIFF hosts several 'World Cinema Days' throughout the school year. Their goal is to keep students meaningfully engaged by screening thoughtful student appropriate documentaries, films and animation during unstructured days off such as teacher “professional development” or “in-service days.” And to help parents arrange activities for their child on these non-school days. Features a free film program, presentations and group discussion for students in grade 4 through 12.
BIFF also works closely with the Boulder Public Library in offering free film to Boulder audiences through its 'Spotlight on BIFF' series at the Boulder Public Library Film Program in September, October, and November. The Spotlight includes ten “Best of the Fest” films and is free to students and the public.
Festival Winners
BIFF 2010| Category | Film | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Most Creative Documentary | Waking Sleeping Beauty | Don Hahn |
| Best Call 2 Action Film | Dive! | Jeremy Seifert |
| Best Colorado Film | Diplomacy | Jonathan Goldman |
| Best Adventure Film | The Wildest Dream The Wildest Dream The Wildest Dream is a 2010 theatrical-release feature documentary film about the British climber George Mallory who disappeared on Mount Everest in 1924 with his climbing partner Andrew Irvine... |
Anthony Geffen |
| Best Animated Film | Secret of Kells | Tomm Moore |
| Best Short Film | The Morse Collectors | David Cooke |
| Best Short Documentary | No Strings | Daniel Junge |
| Best Feature Documentary | The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers | Rick Goldsmith and Judy Ehrlich |
| Best Feature Film | I Am Love | Luca Guadagnimo |
| Grand Prize | Ajami | Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani |
BIFF 2009
| Category | Film | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Best Student Film | In the Dark | Alex and Sarah Fazelli |
| Best New Filmmaker | The Prince of Broadway | Sean Baker |
| Best Colorado Film | They Killed Sister Dorothy | Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher |
| Best Environmental Film | American Outrage | Beth and George Gage |
| Best Animated Film | Sita Sings the Blues | Nina Paley |
| Best Music Documentary | The Story of Anvil | Sacha Gervasi |
| Best Short Film | Tag | Natalya Uglitskikh |
| Best Short Documentary | Smile Pinki Smile Pinki Smile Pinki is a 39-minute documentary directed by Megan Mylan. The film shows the story of a poor girl in rural India whose life is transformed when she receives free surgery to correct her cleft lip... |
Megan Mylan Megan Mylan Megan Mylan is an American documentary film director, known for her films Lost Boys of Sudan and the 2008 Academy Award-winning Smile Pinki.... |
| Best Feature Documentary | Pirate for the Sea | Ron Colby and Patricia Van Ryker |
| Best Feature Film | Nothing But the Truth | Rod Lurie |
| Best Dramatic Comedy | Sunshine Cleaning | Christine Jeffs |
| Grand Prize | Burma VJ: Reporting From a Closed Country | Anders Ostergaard and Lise Lense-Miller |
BIFF 2008
| Category | Film | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Best Student Film | The Replacement Child | Justin Lerner |
| Most Inspirational Film | The Singing Revolution | Jim Tusty and Maureen Castle |
| Best Colorado Film | Iron Ladies of Liberia | Daniel Junge and Siatta Scott Johnson |
| Best Comedy | The Job | Jonathan Browning |
| Best Animated Film | The Fog | Emilio Ramos |
| Best Short Film | Tanghi Argentini | Guido Thys |
| Best Short Documentary | In Times of War: Ray Parker | Mark and Christine Bonn |
| Best Feature Documentary | War Dance | Andrea Nix and Sean Fine |
| Best Feature Film | Charlie Bartlett | Jon Poll |
| Best Adventure Film | 3 Peaks 3 Weeks | Michael Brown |
| Grand Prize | Stranded | Gonzalo Arijon |