Now in its 21st year, the Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) has become a premier event, drawing acclaimed filmmakers, industry icons and thousands of film lovers to the city each year. BIFF co-founder Kathy Beeck sat down with us to discuss this year’s themes, the festival’s biggest challenges and the star-studded lineup — narrowed down from thousands of submissions to 68 films — with the help of 400 dedicated volunteers. This year’s guests include Jane Lynch, Bill Murray and Mark Mothersbaugh.
21 years in — what themes have emerged from this year’s film lineup?
Kathy Beeck: This year music is one of the themes which I love (Viva Verdi, One to One: John & Yoko, Diane Warren: Relentless, DEVO) and we also have a little space theme with the films, Apollo One and Spacewoman. I am so excited as we are going to have the first female shuttle commander (Eileen Collins) in person for that documentary, also in celebration of Women’s History Month.
I am going to be more nervous to meet her than any other celebrity. I’m just so in awe of her — she commanded four missions, and the film had me on the edge of my seat. There were technical difficulties that she had to maneuver around, and though I knew she was going to be OK since we all know the ending, it was still heart-pounding. She is a rock star!
What are the technical difficulties behind the scenes that festival-goers might not be aware of?
Beeck: Well, what we say at the festival is that when it’s going on and there are a thousand things happening, it is like a duck paddling as fast as possible underwater that you don’t see, and everybody thinks, ‘Oh, that doesn’t look hard?’ During the festival, we are paddling as fast as we can while keeping our heads calm.
So when we might have ‘technical difficulties,’ they are occasionally because the venues that we use are not movie theaters! So we have to bring all of our own equipment — screens, sound, projectors — and create theaters for each location. But our tech team lead, Dave Reby, has been with us for 21 years, so we are just so grateful for him — he makes it flawless.
Would you rank that as the hardest aspect of producing the festival?
Beeck: Well, we have between 400-500 volunteers each year, and the thing about it is, after 21 years, you do build a lot of connections and relationships with actors, studios and agents, so you are able to reach out and ask, ‘What do you got?’
But the hardest thing is really getting that lineup together because it’s the most important thing. We do a lot at the festival — food events (CineChef), talkbacks (Call2Action), free concerts (Velvet Elk Music Hall), youth programming (Teen Short Films), parties (BIFF Noir) — but if you’re going to put all of that on a semi-good film program? That doesn’t fly. It has to be an excellent program; otherwise, it is a house of cards. The program has been so critically acclaimed, so it has to be the most important thing.
Speaking of the lineup, you’re opening the festival with a Bill Murray film. He could be a cardboard cutout, and people would still flock to see it!
Beeck: I know it, he is our favorite, and an opening night film has to set the right tone. For our Red Carpet Gala, we have two parties and a Second Line jazz band that leads everyone to the theater. You cannot show a super serious film with that energy — it is festive!
So you look for exactly the right tone, and we feel like The Friend, whose star is actually a 150-pound Great Dane, sets that perfect balance. I mean, we love animals here in Boulder.
With the rise of streaming and solitary viewing, what has the festival done to encourage seeing films as a collective experience?
Beeck: I still prefer watching films in the theater because it is such a wonderful experience, and you’re all together laughing, crying and feeling all together. I prefer that. Plus, big screen, great sound — it is unique. You feel like you are in the movie more than at home.
Film festivals take that up to another level because you’re going in together to watch the film, talking about the film in line with other festival-goers, asking, ‘What have you seen?’ or ‘Did you meet the actor/producer/writer?’
We have over 60 filmmakers coming this year. It is a shared experience, and you get to hear from the makers. It is like going to the bookstore, opening a book and then having the author tap you on the shoulder and ask what you thought!
I’ve had that experience at BIFF! Meeting F. Murray Abraham was beyond thrilling. You always bring such incredible guests — who’s on the list this year?
Beeck: I totally agree, F. Murray was such a gentleman, and we love hosting celebrities. I am so busy that I don’t even have the time to gawk — I am just so grateful that they come.
We are expecting to keep that same level of personality this year with Kenneth Cole (A Man with Sole), a film that I love. I feel like every CEO should see this film. He has put so much of his life into his beliefs — he worked messaging into his branding, and he makes it safe to talk about difficult issues.
We also have famed Olympian Edwin Moses (Moses: 13 Steps), discussing his fascinating story and legendary life. He went 10 years without losing a race — who does that? But he’s also a scientist, engineer and advocate for young Olympians.
Mark Mothersbaugh, founder of the ’80s band DEVO, is also a film composer who has composed for Wes Anderson. He is a visual artist as well. I mean, the talent is so good. And we are just now announcing Jane Lynch — one of the greats of comedy — will be in attendance as well. We just couldn’t be happier.
She is receiving our Entertainer of the Year award, followed by an interview with The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg. You just know that the interview will be very entertaining — I just can’t wait.
Final thoughts?
Beeck: We couldn’t be happier with this year’s program and lineup. BIFF is about bringing people together through film, music and conversation, and this year is shaping up to be one of our best yet.
The Boulder International Film Festival runs from March. 13-16. Get your tickets and full event details.
