Post Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Attention all movie lovers!
The 18th annual Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) is happening downtown next week! From March 3 - 6, the four day festival features parties, movies, CineCHEF, galas, talkbacks and more programming. The festival has been recognized as a global attraction and brings together over 25,000 people from around the world.
For those who have never attended BIFF before (and for seasoned regulars), I’m going to walk you through some of this year’s highlights. As someone who has personally never attended the BIFF, I’m super excited by all there is to look forward to this year!
Starting the festival off on Thursday evening is CineCHEF, a culinary showdown between eight all-star chefs (including downtown's own Chef Daniel Asher (Ash'Kara), Chef Michael Bertozzi (The Kitchen), Chef Rich Byers (Jill's Restaurant & Bar) and Chef Mike Thom (Spruce Farm & Fish)) creating film inspired dishes for guests to enjoy along with music, paired wines, local beers and desserts. Attendees can indulge in their foodie side at the beautiful Rembrandt Yard Art Gallery & Event Center. Find tickets here!
Friday BIFF activities really get going with the Opening Night Red Carpet Gala that includes not one but two pre-film parties at the Hotel Boulderado and Rembrandt Yard Art Gallery and Event Center. Attendees at both parties will enjoy live music, wine, local beers, and delicious food catered by Pasta Jay’s. After the parties, the Guerilla Fanfare Brass Band will lead you second line-style down the streets to Boulder Theater to enjoy a viewing of The Duke, a film based on the true 1961 story of a 60 year old taxi driver stealing a portrait of the duke from London’s National Gallery, and demands the government invest more in more care for the elderly.
Saturday is jam packed with activities and movies all day long! Films will be shown at six different locations from 10 am - 10 pm, featuring talkbacks with directors and interviews with actors. A full schedule of screenings and all the other activities can be found here. After the movie screenings and free singer-songwriter showcase at The Spotted James, two more parties will be hosted until midnight at The Post Chicken & Beer and License No. 1. Perfect for BIFF attendees to mingle with filmmakers, celebrities and other film enthusiasts!
Also on Saturday, a few notable mentions include live interviews with Academy-Award Nominated actor Javier Bardem and award-winning actor Alec Baldwin. At 12:30 pm, Javier Bradment will receive the Festival’s “Outstanding Performer of the Year” award for his role as entertainer and entrepreneur Desi Arnaz in Amazon Studio’s Being the Ricardos, for which he was nominated for “Best Actor” by both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Screen Actors’ Guild. This ceremony will be followed by an interview with Scott Feinburg, a distinguished awards columnist from The Hollywood Reporter. Later on in the day at 6 pm, Alec Baldwin will be interviewed in person at the Boulder Theater with Ron Bostwick, BIFF Special Event Producer.
Capping off the festival, Sunday is filled with more movies, talkbacks and of course the Closing Night Awards Ceremony. Doors open at the Boulder Theater at 6:30 pm for a live music performance by Rabblefish, featuring an intoxicating mix of jazz, funk, rock, blues and R&B. After the Awards Ceremony, enjoy a screening of the new film Juniper starring Charlotte Rampling.
This year’s BIFF is filled with amazing programming and films. I know I’m going to try to make it downtown for some of it - I hope you will too!
See you around Downtown,
Alex
Mentioned in this Post: Boulder Theater, Hotel Boulderado, Jill's Restaurant & Bistro at St Julien Hotel and Spa, License No. 1, Pasta Jay's, The Post Chicken & Beer, Rembrandt Yard, The Spotted James, Spruce Farm & Fish