Free Movie Screenings Kick Off Celebrations for 20th Anniversary of Boulder International Film Festival

The festival’s theme is “thank you” for twenty years of movies, community, and culture

BOULDER, CO (January 8, 2024) — This week Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) launches a free series of virtual movies leading up to the 20th anniversary of one of Boulder’s biggest annual cultural events.

The new series, BIFF 20th Anniversary Classics, features four popular documentary films and one short film program from BIFF’s history, one per week for the next five weeks. Films are free to view by anyone in the area who signs up for BIFF newsletters at www.biff1.com/about/newsletter. The schedule includes:

January 11: Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times (2021)
January 18: Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (2020)
January 25: BIFF Short Film Program (2023)
February 1: Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise (2016)
February 8: Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey (2013)

“One of our goals for this year is to say ‘thank you’ to our community of supporters, including moviegoers, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and everyone who’s helped grow our festival into a nationally recognized and locally beloved annual celebration of the art of cinema,” said Kathy Beeck, the festival director who founded BIFF with her sister Robin in 2004.

BIFF 2024 will take place from Thursday, February 29, to Sunday, March 3.

Another “thank you” addition to BIFF is a free community day at eTown Hall on Saturday, March 2, with free screenings of BIFF award winners all day, including one for kids. BIFF will also serve birthday cake on the Pearl Street Mall during the festival.

The festival will also bring back its signature programming, including:

•CineCHEF, a friendly competition between Boulder chefs who make dishes inspired by their favorite classic films, on Thursday, February 29

•The Adventure Film Pavilion, highlighting the world’s greatest new adventure films, including shorts, features, and discussions with world-class adventurers and adventure filmmakers, as well as adventure-related nonprofit organizations

•A live recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast with Scott Feinberg and a celebrity guest

•The BIFF Singer/Songwriter Showcase, free live music performances by Boulder musicians at The Velvet Elk Lounge on Thursday, February 29, and Saturday, March 2

•The BIFF Teen Short Film Competition, for filmmakers between the ages of 12 and 19

•BIFF at Home! Virtual Cinema, which launches after the festival weekend

“Community has been such a huge part of BIFF’s success over the years,” said Robin Beeck, executive director and festival co-founder. “We’re proud that BIFF has become one of Boulder’s biggest cultural events, with 25,000 attendees each year. That’s something to celebrate!”

Festival passes and gift packs are on sale now. The Festival Pass includes early entrance to almost all BIFF film programs, parties, and events; the early bird price of the festival pass is $450. BIFF gift packs are available in denominations of $34 for two film tickets, $68 for four film tickets, and $100 for six film tickets. Passes and gift packs may be purchased here.

Since its inception in 2004, BIFF has earned a reputation as one of the most innovative film festivals in the U.S., featuring new, emerging, and A-list filmmakers, award-winning actors, special guests, and 25,000 attendees.

Over the past two decades, BIFF has hosted some of the industry’s most talented artists, including Shirley MacLaine, Jesse Eisenberg, Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen, William H. Macy, Blythe Danner, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, Bruce Dern, Maria Bello, Peter Fonda, James Franco, and director Oliver Stone, along with many special guests, including Presidential Medal of Freedom-honoree Congressman John Lewis, and legendary musicians, including David Crosby, Jakob Dylan, and Robbie Robertson of The Band.

BIFF is honored to be one of a small number of festivals where Scott Feinberg from The Hollywood Reporter records his celebrated Awards Chatter podcast in person, featuring the most interesting and accomplished people in the industry. Past interviewees at BIFF include Academy Award-winning actors Javier Bardem and F. Murray Abraham.

“It’s going to be a memorable year for the festival,” said Kathy Beeck. “We are looking forward to celebrating the films, filmmakers, and community partnerships that have helped us make such a positive impact in Boulder over the last 20 years.”