As Boulder awaits a Sundance decision, the city’s existing film festival turns 21
Boulder International Film Festival founders say there's room for both them and Sundance.
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Kathy and Robin Beeck like to think of their film festival as a sunny reprieve from the grim subjects currently clouding the country’s mood.
“We’ve got a lot of titles that will restore your faith in humanity this year,” said Robin, who along with sister Kathy founded the Boulder International Film Festival, returning March 13-16. She pointed to movies that dig thoughtfully into climate change, politics, psychedelic research for PTSD, education and war, among dozens of topics.
“We like being part of that dialogue, and we have panels afterward so people can learn ways to act on certain issues,” she said, noting this is the 15th year of their Call to Action program.
Boulder International Film Festival — or BIFF, as most people call it — is also celebrating its 21 years overall with a lineup that’s still growing: on Wednesday, Emmy-winning actor Jane Lynch (“Best in Show,” “Only Murders in the Building”) joined a guest list that’s heavier on cultural import than celebrity appeal. That includes gold-medal Olympian Edwin Moses, world-renowned designer Kenneth Cole, Devo founder Mark Mothersbaugh, triathlete Siri Lindley, astronaut Eileen Collins, and other documentary subjects who will answer questions about their films just after the screenings.
Past years at the competitive event have featured Oscar winners and Hollywood icons such as Javier Bardem, Shirley MacLaine, Alan Arkin, Martin Sheen, Jesse Eisenberg, Peter Fonda, Chevy Chase and Bruce Dern.
But even as it tees up for its biggest event yet, with screenings in Boulder and Longmont, a question hangs over BIFF and the city, as it has for months: will Sundance Film Festival relocate to Boulder starting in 2027? As of last year, the 45-year-old, industry-heavy juggernaut has been scoping out a new home, and Boulder is among three finalists, along with Park City, Utah (its longtime home) and Cincinnati.
This year’s Sundance hosted 72,840 people in Park City, in late January and early February, according to Film Comment, which noted that travel to the resort-focused town is more expensive and difficult than ever. A decision from Sundance leaders is expected in late March, which means the timing won’t steal BIFF’s March 13-16 thunder, whatever the verdict.
The city and state could see tens of millions of dollars in economic activity with Sundance, which justifies the economic incentives they dangled to lure the event, Gov. Jared Polis has said. But BIFF, which drew about 25,000 film enthusiasts last year, will have a strong role in the city regardless of Sundance, the Beecks said.
“We and Sundance both think there’s not only room for both festivals, but for collaboration,” Robin told The Denver Post, noting that she and Kathy met with Sundance officials last summer during Sundance’s fact-finding trip.
Sundance’s sprawling footprint could easily crush any competition if it wanted to, but that’s unlikely, given how that would contradict its ethos of boosting independent filmmakers and producers. Sundance would actually bolster BIFF, if it chose the city, the Beecks said, spurring upgrades at existing venues and adding new ones that both events could use for screenings.
The University of Colorado has also promised a “big commitment” to supporting Sundance’s logistics and housing issues, said Eve Lieberman, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
The Boulder Theater, long the red-carpet venue for BIFF that hosts its opening and closing nights, would likely hold screenings from both BIFF and Sundance, befitting the town’s collaborative spirit, Kathy Beeck added.
This year’s BIFF program has 68 films from 18 countries and programming silos such as CineCHEF (movie-inspired, chef-created food), the Adventure Film program, a Singer-Songwriter Showcase, and more. Sixty attending filmmakers — 20 from Colorado — join three world premieres and six U.S. premieres. (Some of this year’s films can also be seen the “BIFF at Home!” virtual platform beginning March 17 at biff1.com/virtual-cinema.)
“We feel like we’re part of what’s happening right now in the world, in Colorado and in Boulder,” Robin said. “And that’s not going to change.”
If you go
The 21st Boulder International Film Festival. Narrative features, documentaries, shorts, Q&A panels, parties and more. March 13-16 in Boulder, at various venues in Boulder and Longmont. Tickets are $19 per screening or $35 for two, with more ticket packs and upgrades available per event. A full-festival pass is $475. biff1.com.
