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FILM FOODMUSICPARTIES MORE

YEA CELEBRATING

years

FEB29-MAR3 2024

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OF N

10 YEARS

C E L E B R AT I N G

OF OFFICIAL SPONSORSHIP

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V i s i t o n e o f o u r T W O c o n v e n i e n t l o c at i o n s : DEALER OF THE YEAR

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3 0 3 - 4 4 2 - 7 0 0 7 AUDIboulderservice.COM

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We are excited to open the festival with a film featuring Hollywood royalty and end with a documentary featuring actual royalty! Our Opening Night film, Ezra, directed by Tony Goldwyn and starring Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale, and Rose Bryne, is about a father’s love and the cross-country odyssey he and his son undertake. On Closing Night, The Cowboy and the Queen tells the inspiring true story about a real horse whisperer and his magical relationship with Queen Elizabeth. We are thrilled to have the great horseman and subject of the film, Monty Roberts, here in Boulder for a Q & A after the screening. We are thrilled to be honoring one of our personal favorites, Laura Linney, with our Vanguard Award. She’s an acclaimed film, television

GET THE BIFF APP! Download the official app for the 2024 Boulder International Film Festival. Use this app to buy and access your tickets, view the film schedule and program, vote for films, and so much more. Available for Android via Google Play and iPhone in the App Store. We guarantee it’ll provide you a whole new way to experience the Festival.

APP CREATED BY BIFF DEV OPS

RANDY MALONE / photomalone.com

elcome to the 20th Anniversary Boulder International Film Festival. We’re almost legal! It’s a special year, and we are looking forward to celebrating with you, with filmmakers joining us from around the world, with our wonderful sponsors and donors, and with our amazing volunteers. In honor of this great milestone, we will be offering some of our favorite films from the last two decades for free at eTown Hall, and free mini Nothing Bundt Cakes on the Pearl Street Mall on Saturday. Learn more about these free screenings and how to snag tickets on page 43.

and theater actor who has been nominated 3 times for an Oscar, won 4 Emmy Awards, and was nominated 5 times for a Tony. She’ll be talking with Ron Bostwick about her incredible career and her new film Wildcat, which screens Saturday night before the interview (see page 28). We are also excited to be featuring another in-person podcast interview from The Hollywood Reporter’s incomparable Scott Feinberg, who will chat with a yet-to-beannounced Hollywood A-lister. Stay tuned for more details on who’s coming to town. Go to biff1.com for more info and tickets. Our famous and delicious fundraiser, CineCHEF, is on Thursday night. Other highlights include BIFF at Home! virtual screenings, films at the Stewart Auditorium in Longmont, our legendary parties, and the 12th Singer-Songwriter Showcase at one of the hottest music venues in town, Velvet Elk Lounge. Outdoor action, are you getting any? Join us at the BIFF Adventure Film Pavilion, where we will feature the best of today’s adventure filmmakers and the most exciting new adventure films of the year. From surfing and running to ski mountaineering and freeride mountain biking, the AFP will get your adrenaline pumping. Get your tickets online, on the BIFF app, or at the Visitor Information Kiosk on the corner of Pearl and 13th Streets (1303 Pearl St.). Thanks to the City of Boulder and Downtown Boulder Partnership for making our ticket center happen! Big thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who help make BIFF “one of the coolest film festivals in the world,” according to MovieMaker Magazine. So, get a room, buy a Festival Pass, and have a world-class Film, Food and Music Vacation right here in Boulder.

See you at the movies! — Robin & Kathy Beeck

Kathy Beeck, DIRECTOR Robin Beeck, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CONTENTS 4 5 6-7 9 11 12 13 15 S

17-18 19-25 26-35 35-41 43 46-47 56-57 58-61

VENUES MAP TICKET INFO / VIRTUAL FILMS PARTIES CINECHEF MUSIC/SINGER-SONGWRITER YOUTH PROGRAMS TALKBACK ADVENTURE FILM PAVILION

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY FREE COMMUNITY DAY AT eTOWN LONGMONT OUR STAFF SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

SPECIAL THANKS TO... BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Harrison, PRESIDENT Robin Beeck Kathy Beeck Annamaria Boehms Alan O’Hashi

ADVISORY BOARD Chuck Hunker Carolyn Schuham Sophie Walker Sandy Younghans

FREE LIGHT BREAKFAST FREE light breakfast, coffee & tea! Show BIFF ticket stub or pass. Capital One Café, 13th & Pearl St. Sunday, 9-11am WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

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G R

A N T O R S G R A N TO R S

G E N E RO U S S U P P O R T P ROV I D E D B Y T H E S E G R A N T I N G O RG A N I Z AT I O N S

I N D I V I D UA L

SPONSORS

GEMINI BOULDER GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO HAZEL'S BEVERAGE WORLD INTERNATIONAL FILM SERIES JEFE'S TACOS & TEQUILA LINDSAY’S BOULDER DELI LONGMONT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LONGMONT PUBLIC MEDIA MCBRIDE SISTERS WINE COMPANY MILLER & HARRISON

#2024BIFF

MOXIE BREAD CO NOTHING BUNDT CAKES ORGANIC SANDWICH COMPANY PHOTO MALONE POSTINO THE ROOST SHAMANE'S BAKERY SWAYLO'S TIKI VENUS BIKE CLUB

S P O N S O R S GOLD

MERCURY

S I LV E R

BRONZE

PA R T N E R

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HOP FOR FREE THANKS TO THE CITY OF BOULDER

Enjoy FREE HOP rides during the Festival. Just flash your BIFF ticket stub or BIFF Festival pass.

BIFF Pass Pick-up

1426 Pearl Street (Citizens National Bank Building) Wednesday, Feb 28 . . 12-6pm Thursday, Feb 29 . . . . 8am-8pm Friday, March 1 . . . . . . 8am-8pm Saturday, March 2 . . . 8am-6pm Sunday, March 3 . . . . . 8am-2pm

n OR download the Metropolis app and add

promo code BIFF2024 before entering. • Click the menu at the top left of the Metropolis app homepage • Click Promotions • Enter code BIFF2024 • Select Claim

Monday-Friday: Pay just $3 when you enter after 3pm and leave before 3am. Good at the city’s downtown parking garages with the green P.

Hotel Boulderado

Canyon Blvd Blvd Canyon

BIFF Pass Pickup

///////// Century Boulder

Walnut St St Walnut

PG Grace Commons Church Canyon Blvd Blvd Canyon

1.3 Miles

/////////

Arapahoe Ave Ave Arapahoe

University Ave Ave University

2032 14th St.

Baseline Rd Rd Baseline Grace Commons Church

1820 15th St.

Boulder High Auditorium 1604 Arapahoe Ave.

Century Boulder 1700 29th St. (29th St. Mall)

Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium 400 Quail Rd., Longmont, CO

/////////

P P

Boulder Theater

29th Street Mall

Arapahoe Ave Ave Arapahoe

College Ave Ave College FILM VENUES

University Ave Ave University

1303 Pearl St. BOX (At the Visitor OFFICE Information Kiosk)

ADVENTURE FILM PAVILION

PP BIFF Pass Pickup

Free on Sat & Sun. M-F $3 from 3pm3am

P Parking Lot or Meters

Free after 7pm & Sun

4 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

1. Rembrandt Yard

2. Hotel Boulderado

1426 Pearl St.

@ Grace Commons 1820 15th St. For more info p.15

Boulder High Auditorium

PARTY & EVENT SPOTS 1301 Spruce St. Baseline Rd Rd Baseline • CineCHEF (p.9) • Opening Night (p.25)

REGISTRATION & PARKING PG Parking Garage

30th

16th

Walnut St St Walnut

/////////

M A L L

Japango

B R O A D W A Y

S T R E E T

///////// 16th

P E A R L

PearlPearl St St

Visitor Information Kiosk

Boulder Theater

15th

BOX OFFICE

15th

3 5

14th

1 14th

13th

Velvet Elk Lounge Bohemian Biergarten

VENUES

Rembrandt Yard

13th

Broadway

11th

10th

9th

Broadway

Spruce St St Spruce

TEEN EVENT

1303 Pearl Street (Visitor Information Kiosk) Feb 16-18 . . . . . . . . . . 12-6pm Feb 23-28 . . . . . . . . . . 12-6pm Feb 29-March 2 . . . . . 9am-8pm March 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 9am-6pm

Thursday Feb 29 and Friday Mar 1 at any city-owned garage downtown (look for the green P). Garages are always free Saturday & Sunday. DIRECTIONS FOR USE n PARK first, and scan the QR code before leaving to have your parking validated.

$3 FROM 3 TO 3

Boulder Public Library

Festival Box Office

FREE GARAGE PARKING

2115 13th St • Opening Night (p.25)

3. Velvet Elk Lounge

2037 13th St. • Filmmaker Lounge (p.6) • Adventure Film Party (p.7) • Singer-Songwriter Showcase (p.11)

#2024BIFF

4. Japango

1136 Pearl St. • VIP Filmmaker Reception Passholders only (p.7)

5. Bohemian Biergarten 2017 13th St. • BIFF Noir Saturday Night Party (p.7) TEEN EVENT

Boulder Public Library

1001 Arapahoe Ave. • Teen Short Film Competition Opening Night (p.12)

TICKETS

BOX OFFICE

FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE

1303 Pearl St (Visitor Information Kiosk) boxoffice@biff1.com / 303.746.7268

HOURS

THE BOX OFFICE WILL CLOSE EACH NIGHT 15 -20 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST FILM PROGRAM BEGINS.

Feb 16-18 . . . . . . . . 12-6pm Feb 23-28 . . . . . . . . 12-6pm Feb 29-March 2. . . . . 9am-8pm March 3 . . . . . . . . . 9am-6pm

HOW TO BUY TIX • ONLINE: biff1.com

BIFF at Home!

Virtual Cinema

You can watch a selection of films in the 2024 BIFF program at home on our Eventive Virtual Cinema platform. Grab some popcorn and go to biff1.com/virtual-cinema to learn more and browse our virtual film offerings (or scan the QR code here to start viewing). All Virtual Cinema screenings are $18 (invite the whole family!) and will be available for pre-order beginning on Feb 9. Most films on BIFF at Home Virtual Cinema will be available from March 4-17, but select films will have a shorter screening window. And some films will limit the number of viewings, so order early. Grab your wellworn sweats and BIFF at Home!

SCAN THIS CODE

• IN PERSON: BIFF Festival

Print at home or download to your phone

• BIFF APP: (See p.1) • BY PHONE: 303.746.7268

SCAN TO BUY TICKETS

MARCH 4-17

Box Office, 1303 Pearl St., or at the door of the venue 30 minutes before start time

• SCAN THE QR CODE: (Left)

Individual Film Program Tickets Print or download your mobile ticket and skip the box office lines!

Regular admission ............................................ $18* Seniors (65+up with valid I.D.) ......................... $17* Students: see page 12 for FREE programs

BIFF at Home VIRTUAL SCREENINGS............. $18 Festival Pass .................................................... $495* Opening Night Film + Red Carpet Gala ......... $95* (BT-02, See p.25)

Closing Night Film + Awards ....................... $28* (BT-11, See p.41)

CineCHEF .......$120* (See p.9)

Amuse Bouche..........$170*

Hollywood Reporter Celebrity Interview .. $25* (BT-06, See p.28)

A Conversation with Laura Linney After a screening of Wildcat ......................$35* (BT-07, See p.28)

For Longmont tickets and passes, see p.46

BIFF Noir ........................$20 online* /$25 at the door (See p.7)

Free Community Day ..................................... FREE (See p.43)

Singer-Songwriter Showcase ...................... FREE (See p.11)

Youth Programs .............................................. FREE (See p.12)

*PLUS SERVICE CHARGES

STANDBY TICKETS

QUESTIONS?

TICKETS SOLD OUT?

Contact boxoffice@biff1.com or call 303.746.7268 for more information.

Standby tickets are often available for purchase at the program venue 10 minutes prior to showtime. Head on over to find out!

Before you call for tickets, please note the program numbers — you’ll need these to complete your order.

This program is subject to change. Films are not rated and may contain mature subject matter. Tickets and passes are nonrefundable.

FILM PASSES The BIFF Festival Pass

For film lovers who want guaranteed entrance* to BIFF film programs, parties and events. (CineCHEF and Longmont screenings are not included.)

RED C ARPE T

You!

The BIFF Red Carpet Pass

For the ultimate film lover who wants priority entrance to BIFF film programs and parties and wants to be first in line! Red Carpet passes available for donors of $2,500 (includes 2 passes) and up. Email boxoffice@biff1.com for more information.

BIFF Pass good-to-knows • Passes are nontransferable. • Photo ID may be required for entry.

* Passholders must arrive for programs at least 25 minutes prior to the start of the film to guarantee entrance.

• Passes available for pickup starting Wednesday, Feb 28.

BIFF Pass Pick-up

1426 Pearl St (Citizens National Bank Building) Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Feb 28 Feb 29 March 1 March 2 March 3

12 –6pm 8am – 8pm 8am – 8pm 8am – 6pm 8am – 2pm BIFF1.com

OPENING NIGHT • FILMMAKER LOUNGE

Presented by 105.5 The Colorado Sound

OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET GALA FRIDAY, March 1 • 5-7pm parties Film 7:30pm $95 / FREE for Passholders

OPENING NIGHT FILM

EZRA

AT THE BOULDER THEATER SEE P.25 FOR ALL THE DETAILS!

Join us as we come together to celebrate our community, and help welcome our visiting filmmakers to Boulder! Your opening night ticket includes two pre-film parties at the Hotel Boulderado and Rembrandt Yard. Attendees will enjoy delicious food from Auguste Escoffier, Savory Catering and Pasta Jay’s, live music, wines from Scarpetta, local craft beers and hard seltzer from Upslope Brewing, and specialty cocktails from WhistlePig.

UNPARALLELED CONVERSATIONS

As we wrap up the pre-film festivities, The 5280 Brass Band will lead attendees and revelers “second line” style to the Boulder Theater for the screening of Ezra.

— WITH —

HOLLYWOOD’S LEADING CONTENDERS

SINGER-SONGWRITER SHOWCASE Velvet Elk Lounge / 2037 13th St. FREE and Open to All 21+ Opens at 5pm daily

PARTIES PAGE

H O S T E D BY

SCOTT FEINBERG

Thursday, Feb 29 and Saturday, March 2 – 6-9:30pm A fantastic line-up curated by Sonic Guild (sonicguild.org) celebrating and elevating local musicians.

Senior Awards Analyst Executive Editor of Awards

Thursday, February 29 6pm Kenny Lee Young 7pm Ingrid Avision 8pm Briana Harris 9pm Kayla Marque

BIFF Filmmaker Lounge

LISTEN WHEREVER PODCASTS ARE HEARD

BIFF1.com

#2023BIFF 6 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

Saturday, March 2 6pm Lonely Choir 7pm Edwina Maben 8pm Nina DeFritas 9pm Old Man Saxon

Welcome to the center of the social action at BIFF. The Filmmaker Lounge is party headquarters for BIFF attendees and anyone who wants to mingle with filmmakers, celebrities, and fellow film fans. Check out our favorite downtown venue for great local music — Velvet Elk Lounge!

#2024BIFF

PARTIES

• VIP • CINECHEF • AFP • BIFF NOIR • AWARDS

VIP FILMMAKER RECEPTION

PRESENTED BY AUDI FLATIRONS & OUTSIDE

ADVENTURE FILM PARTY FRIDAY, March 1, 9pm–midnight

SATURDAY, March 2 3:30-5:30pm Japango • 1136 Pearl St. PASSHOLDERS ONLY

The Filmmaker Lounge at the Velvet Elk 2037 13th St. / 21+

Join us in one of the most beautiful rooms in town for a taste of modern Japan, featuring delicious food, wine and beer. A menu of specialty cocktails playfully inspired by the BIFF film lineup will be served, as will great conversation with fellow film lovers, filmmakers and special guests — you never know who might show up! Bring your pass and stop by early — space is limited!

FREE with •Adventure Film Pavilion Pass or Ticket Stub •BIFF Pass Join us to celebrate the adventurous spirit of Boulder and BIFF’s Adventure Film Pavilion (AFP). Meet the explorers, artists, and creators who will be sharing their stories. Live music by Mighty Holler. (See p.15 for details).

One free drink and tasty bites from The Post Chicken & Beer. Plus, win great prizes from our AFP partners!

Space is limited, so please get there early!

cine

CHEF

Earthside

BIFF NOIR

Celebrating the Classics

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 9PM-MIDNIGHT Bohemian Biergarten / 2017 13th St. FREE for Filmmakers & Passholders $20 advance purchase online / $25 at the door

UNPARALLELED CONVERSATIONS — WITH —

HOLLYWOOD’S LEADING CONTENDERS

Enjoy the fun and flavor of a traditional European gastropub, thanks to our new partners and party hosts at the Bohemian Biergarten! Your pass or ticket gets you one complimentary glass of beer, wine, or a WhistlePig specialty cocktail, plus tasty Adults 21 and over late-night pub snacks, including the "best only, please. wurst in town." Live music by Jack Hadley. BRING I.D.

PARTIES THURSDAY, Feb 29 PAGE 5pm – Amuse Bouche VIP Preview 5:30-7pm – CineCHEF Rembrandt Yard

1301 Spruce St.

H O S T E D BY

Eight of Colorado’s best chefs create classic-film-inspired dishes and compete for your vote.

SCOTT FEINBERG

• Colorado wines from BookCliff Vineyards • Local craft beer and hard seltzer from Upslope Brewing

cine

Senior Awards Analyst

CLOSING NIGHT FILM & AWARDS CELEBRATION SUNDAY, March 3, 6:30pm

• Whiskey from WhistlePig

CHEF

(Passholders 6:15pm) Boulder Theater / $28 / Free for Passholders Closing Night film: The Cowboy and the Queen

• Desserts from Nothing Bundt Cakes

Inside the Boulder Theater, enjoy music by Wrenn Van with Jesse Ogle and CLASSICS Blessing Chimanga, followed by the 20th AnnualFBIFF where E B Awards 2 9 • 2 0Ceremony 24 5–7PM •the REMBRANT we’ll honor best YARD of the fest with their 1301 SPRUCE ST, BOULDER handcrafted Vielehr AwardLsculptures. ISTEN

Live Music by Julia Kirkwood See p.9 for details.

Then enjoy a special screening of The Cowboy and the Queen with Monty Roberts (above) in person. SeeH p.41 for E more info. W ER VE R

PODCASTS ARE HEARD

5:30–7PM CINECHEF • $120 // 5PM AMUSE BOUCHE VIP PREVIEW • $170

CELEBRATING THE CLASSICS! JOIN US IN A CULINARY JOURNEY THAT CAPTURES THE

ESSENCE OF BOULDER'S RICH GASTRONOMIC LEGACY As the festival marks its 20th anniversary, CineCHEF will take on an extra special dimension, paying homage to the culinary classics that have defined the uniqueness of Boulder’s food scene over the years and solidified this town’s reputation as Bon Appétit’s Foodiest Town in America.

 2024 CHEFS Michael Bertozzi, VP of Culinary, THE KITCHEN AMERICAN BISTRO

Rich Byers, Executive Chef,

JILL'S RESTAURANT AT THE ST JULIEN HOTEL & SPA

Gage Hascall-Dove, Chef, BLACKBELLY

Bradford Heap, Executive Chef/Owner,

BIFF1.com

cine

CHEF CLASSICS

FEB 29 • 2024 5:30 –7PM • REMBRANDT YARD 1301 SPRUCE ST 5:30 –7PM CINECHEF • $120 // 5PM AMUSE BOUCHE VIP PREVIEW • $170

CELEBRATING THE CLASSICS! JOIN US ON A CULINARY JOURNEY THAT CAPTURES THE

ESSENCE OF BOULDER'S RICH GASTRONOMIC LEGACY As the festival marks its 20th anniversary, CineCHEF will take on an extra special dimension, paying homage to the classic chefs and restaurants that have defined the uniqueness of Boulder’s food scene over the years and solidified this town’s reputation as Bon Appétit’s Foodiest Town in America.

 CHEFS Michael Bertozzi, VP of Culinary, THE KITCHEN AMERICAN BISTRO

Rich Byers, Executive Chef, JILL'S RESTAURANT AT THE ST JULIEN HOTEL & SPA

Gage Hascall-Dove, Executive Chef, BLACKBELLY

Bradford Heap, Executive Chef/Owner,

What better way to celebrate the heritage of Boulder than by honoring our favorite restaurants and visionary chefs. Featuring 8 award-winning Colorado chefs who will create classic-filminspired dishes for attendees to try before voting for their favorite. Wines from BookCliff Vineyards, craft cocktails and whiskey from WhistlePig, local beers from Upslope Brewing, desserts from Nothing Bundt Cakes and live music by Julia Kirkwood will round out this unforgettable evening.

SALT

 AMUSE BOUCHE VIP PREVIEW

SAVORY CATERING

For those who want the ultimate CineCHEF experience. A perennial sellout, the preview gets you in 30 minutes early (at 5pm) to enjoy a welcome glass of bubbly and be the first to taste our chefs' creations. Also includes a very special gift: a complimentary cooking class gift certificate from Boulder's Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. Limited number available.

Kevin Kidd, Proprietor and Executive Chef, 24 CARROT BISTRO

Sheila Lucero, Executive Chef, JAX FISH HOUSE & OYSTER BAR

Jeremy McGinty, Chef de Cuisine, RIVER AND WOODS

Bob Sargent, Executive Chef/Owner,

 DESSERTS Amy Long, Owner, NOTHING BUNDT CAKES

CineCHEF is not included with the Festival Pass. Free for Red Carpet Passholders at $5,000+ Director and Leadership Circle levels only.

BIFF1.com

LIVE MUSIC FREE MUSIC

MORE MUSIC

FREE Live Music @ Velvet Elk Lounge 2037 13th St. (Opens 5pm)

SINGER-SONGWRITER SHOWCASE Sonic Guild has put together an amazing lineup of local Colorado musicians who will perform for the BIFF Singer-Songwriter Showcase at our Filmmakers Lounge and music venue, Velvet Elk. All are welcome. Sonic Guild supports the creation and performance of extraordinary local music. Become a member at sonicguild.org.

THURSDAY, FEB 29 6-9:30PM SINGER-SONGWRITERS 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm

Kenny Lee Young Ingrid Avision Briana Harris Kayla Marque

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 6-9:30PM SINGER-SONGWRITERS 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm

Lonely Choir Edwina Maben Nina DeFritas Old Man Saxon

Ingrid Avision

LONGMONT

Thursday, Feb 29

Friday, March 1

Rembrandt Yard, 1301 Spruce St. 5:30–7pm Julia Kirkwood

Longmont Stewart Auditorium 5:15–6:45pm Antonio Lopez & Jonathan Sadler

CINECHEF

Julia's music is soulful and unique, combining sounds of indie and alternative pop with rock themes and Americana rhythms.

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION

Antonio Lopez’ style is lyric-forward folk with marimba swells and swooning Spanish guitar. Jonathan Sadler joins him, specializing in tabla and marimba.

Mighty Holler

Jack Hadley Julia Kirkwood

Saturday, March 2

Friday, March 1

BIFF NOIR

OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET GALA

Parties at the Hotel Boulderado and Rembrandt Yard 5–7pm Hotel Boulderado – Rex Peoples & XFactr

Bohemian Biergarten 9pm-12am Jack Hadley

Bear Hat

Rex Peoples is the 7x winner of Best Blues Vocalist in Colorado. If you like Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Sam Cook, R&B and the Blues, then you will be a Rex Peoples fan. Get ready to dance!

(Performed at the Program Release Party) Winner at the 2017 Colorado Blues Challenge. "Left-of-center/eclectic blues...a monster blues guitarist/singer with an amazing sum of influences: North Mississippi drone blues-meets Jimi/BB/Albert/Curtis Mayfield/Marley filtered through Haight Ashbury...” — Bob Lohr The 5280 Brass Band

Rembrandt Yard – Stoned & Emotional

Sunday, March 3

Boulder duo Rori Wootan and Thom LaFond use harmonies with inspiration from Ben Gibbard, Thom Yorke, and other artists of the 90s and early 2000s, sending you on a journey through all the feels.

Dance your way to the Boulder Theater with the second line stylings of The 5280 Brass Band. This is a high-energy, fun, and loud brass band that brings the heat with music from traditional New Orleans second line bands.

Thanks to Roots Music Project for party and pre-film music bookings. Go to rootsmusicproject.org for info on this exciting Boulder venue.

Kenny Lee Young

Antonio Lopez & Jonathan Sadler

Briana Harris

Kayla Marque

CLOSING NIGHT FILM AND AWARDS AT THE BOULDER THEATER Doors open 6:30pm / 6:15 for passholders Awards Ceremony 7:15pm Film starts at 7:30pm Wrenn Van with Jesse Ogle and Blessing Chimanga

Wrenn Van

From Arise Music Festival to performing with Hazel Miller, Wrenn Van merges classic influences like Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James with sounds like Amy Winehouse and Stevie Nicks. Watching Wrenn Van perform is an experience like no other.

Stoned & Emotional

More at biff1.com/music Be a part of the conversation #2024BIFF

Lonely Choir

Nina DeFritas

Edwina Maben

BIFF1.com

Rex Peoples

Old Man Saxon

GET FREE TICKETS AT biff1.com/youth

FOR YOUTH 21 & UNDER

FREE YOUTH PROGRAMS TEEN SHORT FILM COMPETITION AWARDS NIGHT

Friday, March 1, 6:30pm FREE – For kids, teens, and families (With registration at biff1.com/youth)

Boulder Public Library, Canyon Theater 1001 Arapahoe Ave. The new generation of teen filmmakers has a cinematic pulse on the modern world. With entries from local teens to international students, this year’s short films venture into experimental worlds, dramatic scenes, and investigative realms with thrills, chills, laughs, and gaffes. Plus animation! And all of these stories are unified by the maverick spirit of the teen filmmaker. Join us for a fun-filled evening at our Teen Short Film Competition Awards Night to celebrate these youth artists and this year’s short film nominees and winners. Light appetizers and beverages will be served. AGES 12+ • All attendees must register in advance • Doors open 5:30pm • Program begins 6:30pm • Arrive at 5:30pm to enjoy live music performed by local teens.

WORKSHOP

NOW PLAYING: HOW TO WATCH A MOVIE

Saturday, March 2, 1-2:30pm Boulder High School Cafeteria You must register for FREE tickets at biff1.com/youth Questions? eileen@biff1.com Thumbs up. Thumbs down. You like a movie, you don’t. But do you really know why? Want a real film buff’s eye? Get literate in the language of cinema. Youth (14-18) are invited to watch movies in a new way with Jack Hanley, Boulder-based film critic, filmmaker, and podcaster who will change how you watch movies forever. In less time than a feature-length film, Jack will upgrade your knowledge and viewing skills about how movies are directed and shot and how they tell stories to reflect today’s world. This class will forever change the way you think about, appreciate, and talk about your favorite films! Presented by The Dairy Arts Center

12 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

their quest to become guide dogs for the blind. Cameras follow these pups through an intense 2-year odyssey as they train to become dogs whose ultimate responsibility is to protect their blind partners from harm. The stakes are high, and not every dog can make the cut: Only the best of the best, the pick of the litter. P R O G R A M GC- 07

Saturday 12:30pm, Grace Commons Church

DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY DON HARDY, DANA NACHMAN

COPA 71

UK, Feature Documentary, 90 minutes, 2023 Executive produced by Serena and Venus Williams. It is August 1971, and teams from England, Argentina, Mexico, France, Denmark and Italy gather in Mexico City for a watershed soccer tournament. Despite being one of the most groundbreaking moments in soccer history, you’ve probably never heard of it. And why? Because the players are all women, and the heroic event that unfolds has been sidelined from history — until now. With interviews from Megan Rapinoe and Brandi Chastain and a thumping ‘70s soundtrack driven by female singer-songwriters. SUBTITLED DIRECTED BY JAMES ERSKINE, RACHEL RAMSAY PRODUCED BY VICTORIA GREGORY, JANNAT GARGI, ANNA GODAS COLORADO PREMIERE JAMES ERSKINE IN PERSON

P R O G R A M HS - 06

Sunday 10am, Boulder High Auditorium

THE SECRET OF KELLS

Ireland/Belgium/France, Feature Animation, 71 minutes, 2009

PICK OF THE LITTER

A bewitching animated fairytale. With the Viking hordes approaching, the monks of Kells are forced to turn their attention from transcribing manuscripts to building barricades. The future of Ireland’s most cherished artifact, the Book of Kells, is in jeopardy and it falls to Brendan, young nephew of the abbot Cellach, to save the day.

The film follows a litter of puppies from the moment they’re born and begin

DIRECTED BY TOMM MOORE PRODUCED BY DIDIER BRUNNER, VIVIANE VANFLETEREN, PAUL YOUNG

P R O G R A M HS - 04

Saturday 5:15pm, Boulder High Auditorium

US, Feature Documentary, 81 minutes, 2018

#2024BIFF

You’ve been moved? Now get moving!

ALL Call2Action discussions are FREE and open to the public!

Have you left a film fired up and wondered what you can do? Engage with filmmakers, presenters and fellow film lovers to enjoy the afterglow of SNACKS FROM the film experience. Learn what motivated the filmmakers and how that intertwines with the co-presenters’ missions. Learn about actions you can take to make a difference.

TalkBacks will be held at or near the film venues, with snacks provided by Shamane's. Visit biff1.com/call2action for more info and real ways to get involved and make a difference. See the 5 actions you can take for each film.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1 PROGRAM GC-01

WILDING

Grace Commons/Adventure Film Pavilion Friday, 10am Co-presented by Boulder Open Space Conservancy bosc.org Synopsis p.22 PROGRAM CEN1-03

CONFESSIONS OF A GOOD SAMARITAN

Century Boulder Friday, 10:30am Co-presented by National Kidney Donor Organization nkdo.org Synopsis p.19

Our thanks to Call2Action founders and supporters Sandy Younghans and Joellen Raderstorf, and these donors for helping change the world!

PROGRAM HS-03

PROGRAM GC-03

ARCTIC ASCENT WITH ALEX HONNOLD

Grace Commons/Adventure Film Pavilion Friday, 2:30pm Co-presented by American Alpine Club americanalpineclub.org Earth Vision Institute earthvisioninstitute.org Synopsis p.23 PROGRAM GC-04

ADVENTURE SHORTS 1 – KEEPERS OF THE LAND

Grace Commons/Adventure Film Pavilion Friday, 5pm Co-presented by The Nature Conservancy nature.org Trees, Water, People treeswaterpeople.org Synopsis p.23

TEHACHAPI

Boulder High Auditorium Saturday, 3pm Co-presented by madeLife madelife.com Synopsis p.29 PROGRAM HS-04

PICK OF THE LITTER Boulder High Auditorium Saturday, 5:15pm Co-presented by Boulder Puppy Raisers for Guide Dogs for the Blind boulderpuppies.org Synopsis p.30

SUNDAY, MARCH 3 PROGRAM GC-11

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 PROGRAM GC-06

RHINO MAN

Grace Commons/Adventure Film Pavilion Saturday, 10am Co-presented by Wildlife Protection Solutions wildlifeprotectionsolutions.org Synopsis p.33 PROGRAM HS-01

FOOD, INC. 2

Boulder High Auditorium Saturday, 10am Co-presented by CoPIRG pirg.org/colorado Synopsis p.29

NO LEGS. ALL HEART.

Grace Commons/Adventure Film Pavilion Sunday, 1pm Co-presented by Race Across America raamrace.org Synopsis p.38 PROGRAM GC-13

WADE IN THE WATER:

A JOURNEY INTO BLACK SURFING & AQUATIC CULTURE Grace Commons/Adventure Film Pavilion Sunday, 6pm Co-presented by Intrsxtn Surf intrsxtnsurf.com Synopsis p.39

More at biff1.com/call2action BIFF1.com

Get enrolled. Turn Boulder gold. Paid parking in BoulderPark garages pays dividends. Register your vehicle for the Metropolis gateless system at app.metropolis.io. Once you create an account, it’s as simple as driving in and driving out. No more lost tickets or waiting in line. Park for free in BoulderPark garages Saturdays, Sundays and city holidays.

Learn how parking revenue supports cultural vibrancy, district vitality and access for all. Scan the QR code or visit: bldr.fyi/bouldercv

Congratulations to Boulder International Film Festival on 20 years!

PURSUE YOUR CULINARY DREAMS! Reach the height of your culinary or pastry artistry at Escoffier Boulder.

www.escoffier.edu | 303-494-7988

PRESENTED BY

FOR TICKETS &THANKS INFO, go to TObiff1.com/adventure OUR SPONSORS! The 2024 Boulder International Film Festival Adventure Film Pavilion features a suite of the world’s greatest new adventure films, with shorts, features, discussions with world-class adventurers and adventure filmmakers, as well as non-profit groups working on the important issues in the adventure community.

FILM SCHEDULE TALK BACK

FRIDAY

10am - WILDING (Synopsis 22) INPERSON p.INPERSON TALK 12pm - FOUR TRAILS BACK (Synopsis p. 22) 2:30pm – ARCTIC ASCENT WITH TALK BACK ALEX HONNOLD INPERSON INPERSON (Synopsis p. 23) 5pm – ADVENTURE SHORTS 1 (Synopsis p. 23) INPERSON INPERSON 7:30pm – REEL ROCK: BURNING THE FLAME + SHORTS (Synopsis p. 24) TALK BACK

SUNDAY

23 shorts and features • Over 17 filmmakers

and film subjects in attendance • 5 Call2Action Talkbacks

Grace Commons Church, 1820 15th St., Boulder Price: $18/ticket (purchase at biff1.com/adventure)

rock climbing river running conservation

SATURDAY

10am – RHINO MAN INPERSON (Synopsis p. 33) INPERSON 12:30pm – COPA 71 (Synopsis p. 33) 3pm – ADVENTURE SHORTS 2 (Synopsis p. 34) 5:45pm – THE WHITE MOUNTAIN (Synopsis p. 35) 8pm – NOTHING’S FOR FREE (Synopsis p. 35)

Friday, March 1 - Sunday, March 3

FREE with Pass

mountain

climbing running surfing mountain

biking

women's

soccer skiing

PRESENTED BY AUDI FLATIRONS + OUTSIDE

ADVENTURE FILM PARTY

FRIDAY, March 1, 9pm–Midnight Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St.

FREE with • Adventure Film Pavilion Pass or Ticket Stub •BIFF Pass Join us to celebrate the adventurous spirit of Boulder and BIFF’s Adventure Film Pavilion. Meet and mingle with the explorers, artists and creators who will be sharing their stories at the AFP. Live music by Mighty Holler. One free drink and appetizers courtesy of Audi Flatirons, Outside, Velvet Elk Lounge, and The Post Chicken & Beer. Win great prizes from our sponsors! Space is limited, so please get there early!

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

TALK BACK

1pm – NO LEGS. ALL HEART. (Synopsis p. 38) INPERSON INPERSON 3:30pm – ADVENTURE SHORTS 3 (Synopsis p. 39) 6pm – WADE IN THE WATER (Synopsis p. 39) TalkBack info on p.13

BIFF1.com

FILMS

T H U R SDAY

P R O G R A M CEN1- 01

P R O G R A M CEN2- 01

TAKING VENICE

ALL ABOUT THE LEVKOVICHES

Thursday 4pm, Century Boulder US/France/Venice, Feature Documentary, 98 minutes, 2023

Thursday 4:45pm, Century Boulder

Hungary, Feature Film, 85 minutes, 2024

ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46

ALSO SCREENING SUNDAY 10:30AM AT CENTURY BOULDER

At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. government is determined to fight Communism with culture. The Venice Biennale, the world’s most influential art exhibition, becomes a proving ground in 1964. Emboldened by the exploding art scene of ’60s New York, powerful art dealers hatch a daring plan to make the unknown Robert Rauschenberg the winner of the Grand Prize. The artist is yet to be taken seriously with his combinations of junk off the street and images from pop culture, but he has the potential to dazzle. Deftly pulling off maneuvers that could have come from a Hollywood thriller, the American team leaves the international press crying foul and Rauschenberg questioning the politics of nationalism that sent him there. PA R T I A L LY S U B T I T L E D

Although the big-hearted boxing coach Tamás, 70, has a kind word for everyone, he and his son, Ivan, have not spoken in years, and Tamás has never met his own 6-year-old grandson. After Tamás’ beloved wife ZsuZsa dies, Ivan calls and insists that religious regulations require he move in with his father for a whole week to mourn. Tamás agrees, but only if Ivan brings the grandson he has never met. This atheist coach’s living room now becomes the site of religious rituals, which include a large group of orthodox men praying three times a day, making Tamás increasingly grumpy. As past conflicts resurface, they embark on a funny, heartwarming journey of healing and understanding. S U B T I T L E D

DIRECTED BY AMEI WALLACH PRODUCED BY ANDREA MILLER, TAL MANDIL, VANESSA BERGONZOLI COLORADO PREMIERE AMEI WALLACH IN PERSON

DIRECTED BY ÁDÁM BREIER PRODUCED BY ÁDÁM FELSZEGHY, ANDREA AUSZTRICS, MIKLÓS KÁZMÉR COLORADO PREMIERE

@HOME

SOME FILMS CAN BE SCREENED VIRTUALLY • SEE P.5

BIFF1.com

Samuel J. Paul

FILMS

T H U R SDAY

P R O G R A M CEN1- 02

P R O G R A M CEN2- 02

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

HAPPY CLOTHES: A FILM ABOUT PATRICIA FIELD

Thursday 6:45pm, Century Boulder

US, Feature Documentary, 99 minutes, 2023

ALSO SCREENING SATURDAY 2:30PM AT CENTURY BOULDER

“It’s a testament to Kaufman’s undeniable genius that we’re still so fascinated with him.” — I N D I E W I R E Winner of Best Documentary at the Venice Film Festival In his short, enigmatic life, Andy Kaufman entertained and transfixed audiences while simultaneously driving them away. His work dissolved the boundaries between reality and fiction, and his commitment to performance, both on stage and off, rendered any distinctions between his characters and his real life useless. Was he a comic, an affable sitcom star, a washed-up lounge singer, a busboy, a professional wrestler, a hoaxer, a provocateur or a pest? Nearly 40 years after his supposed death, one question still puzzles fans and haters alike: “Was that for real?” Thank You Very Much is the definitive documentary look at how a shy, oddball kid from Long Island became the most polarizing performance artist of the 20th century. Featuring Steve Martin, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Laurie Anderson, Lynne Margulies, Bob Zmuda and James L. Brooks. DIRECTED BY ALEX BRAVERMAN PRODUCED BY LAUREN BELFER, ALEX BRAVERMAN, JOE PLUMMER, JENIFER WESTPHAL BOULDER PREMIERE ALEX BRAVERMAN IN PERSON

18 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

Thursday 7:15pm, Century Boulder

US, Feature Documentary, 100 minutes, 2023

ALSO SCREENING SUNDAY 1PM AT CENTURY BOULDER

World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival Dynamic, bright-red-haired Patricia Field, 82, is one of the world’s designer giants. She created the fashions in Sex and the City, The Devil Wore Prada and Emily in Paris, among many others, and has won two Emmys and an Oscar nod. Patricia is known as a curator of pop culture, and for her famous downtown Manhattan boutique, which has been a magnet for stars like Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cyndi Lauper and RuPaul for 50 years. Jean-Michel Basquiat started out selling his paintings (now worth hundreds of millions) from the back of Patricia’s shop, and her store is an essential New York destination for cool shoppers from all over the world. In this era of female empowerment, Field is an exemplar of straight-shooting, no-nonsense candor and self-reliance that has paved the way for so many to follow. DIRECTED BY MICHAEL SELDITCH PRODUCED BY DONALD ZUCKERMAN, SAMUEL J. PAUL, MICHAEL SELDITCH BOULDER PREMIERE MICHAEL SELDITCH IN PERSON

#2024BIFF

FILMS

F R IDAY

P R O G R A M CEN2- 03

P R O G R A M CEN1- 03

P R O G R A M CEN2- 04

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN

CONFESSIONS OF A GOOD SAMARITAN

ANGEL APPLICANT

Friday 10am, Century Boulder

Friday 10:30am, Century Boulder

Ireland/UK, Feature Film, 108 minutes, 2023

US, Feature Documentary, 103 minutes, 2022

ALSO SCREENING SUNDAY 4:30PM AT CENTURY BOULDER

ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46

Winner at SXSW

“…feels like a moment frozen in time.” — L O U D A N D C L E A R R E V I E W S Based on the final novel from John McGahern, one of Ireland’s greatest novelists, who has been called “the successor to James Joyce.” Joe and Kate returned from London 5 years ago (late ’70s) to settle where Joe grew up, and are now fully a part of their small Irish lakeside town. They find a way of life in rural Ireland that has remained unchanged for a thousand years. A society where neighbors help each other with all the big jobs of the farming year — lambing, shearing, saving hay, cutting turf — all ending in a harvest dance, along with visiting each other's houses to share food, gossip and a few drams of whiskey. This was the simplicity of life before the Information Age.

Director Penny Lane’s decision to become a “good Samaritan” by giving one of her kidneys to a stranger turns into a funny and moving personal quest to understand the nature of altruism. This film is a provocative inquiry into the science, history, and ethics of organ transplantation, asking an ancient question in a whole new way: Who is your neighbor, and what do you owe them? Penny shares her often humorous journey through the long, strange trip of transplantation, and more importantly, how helping people makes you feel great about yourself and is, in fact, the glue that holds our civilization together. DIRECTED BY PENNY LANE PRODUCED BY GABRIEL SEDGWICK COLORADO PREMIERE

DIRECTED BY PAT COLLINS PRODUCED BY TINA O’REILLY AND BRENDAN J. BYRNE COLORADO PREMIERE

TALK BACK

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13 INPERSON

Friday 12:45pm, Century Boulder

US, Feature Documentary, 74 minutes, 2023 ALSO SCREENING SATURDAY 12:15PM AT CENTURY BOULDER

“Unexpectedly exhilarating.” — N Y T I M E S “What’s incredible about Meyers’ film is how funny it is.” — D A I LY B E A S T Winner at SXSW, Hot Docs and Hamptons Film Festivals Paul Klee, a Swiss-German painter, fled Germany in 1933 when he and other modern artists were vilified by the rising Nazi Party. Isolated in Switzerland, a mysterious disease began wreaking havoc on his body and profoundly changing his artwork. Narrator/director Ken August Meyer explores Klee’s expressive last works after being diagnosed with the same life-threatening disease. Through a curation of Klee’s work, Meyer finds powerful messages on coping with his own mortality. Using colorful and whimsical visuals, Angel Applicant echoes the mystique and ironic wit of Klee, demonstrating how creativity can inspire us to overcome personal suffering and make the most of life. DIRECTED BY KEN AUGUST MEYER PRODUCED BY KEN A. MEYER, JASON ROARK COLORADO PREMIERE

INPERSON

BIFF1.com

FILMS

F R IDAY

P R O G R A M GC- 01

P R O G R A M GC- 02

WILDING

FOUR TRAILS

Friday 10am, Grace Commons Church

Friday 12pm, Grace Commons Church

UK, Feature Documentary, 75 minutes, 2023

Hong Kong, Feature Documentary, 101 minutes, 2023

“…filled to the brim with enthusiasm and passion for nature.” — F I L M C A R N A G E

A captivating film documenting the physical and mental hardships of runners taking on one of the world’s most daunting athletic challenges.

A long-awaited film of Isabella Tree’s best-selling book, Wilding, which has been translated into 8 languages and won many major literary prizes.

At the time, they said it couldn’t be done. In 2012, Andre Blumberg set off by himself to run all four of Hong Kong’s iconic ultra distance trails in just four days. After 185 miles and over 47,572 feet of climbing, the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge was born. With the 2021 edition of the challenge as the backdrop, Four Trails takes you on a journey from when the concept was first conceived to its current format — under 60 hours to be deemed a “finisher” and under 72 hours to be a “survivor.” The film takes a deep dive into the famous four trails that make up the challenge and follows the stories of those who dare attempt such a feat. PA R T I A L LY S U B T I T L E D

Inheriting a rundown estate in England, and having little money, Isabella and Charlie gambled everything on a new concept, “re-wilding.” They simply guided their 1,400 acres to go back to nature. To bring back life to the hard-packed, barren soil ruined by centuries of overfarming, the couple introduces wild ponies from nearby Dartmoor, let deer wander, and allow herds of pigs to root, break up the soil and roam free. Now cows, sheep and pigs live and breed outdoors year round with little husbandry — or overhead. The stunning cinematography that captures grand, misty sunrises on the farm, along with close-ups of the doves, beavers and storks that have returned to the estate, makes this film an absolute joy. TALK BACK

DIRECTED BY DAVID ALLEN PRODUCED BY GABY BASTYRA COLORADO PREMIERE

INPERSON

DIRECTED BY ROBIN LEE PRODUCED BY BEN LEE US PREMIERE ROBIN LEE IN PERSON

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13 INPERSON

 Thanks to our Call2Action

partners at BOSC for helping us bring this film to Boulder.

22 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

#2024BIFF

FILMS

F R IDAY

P R O G R A M CEN1- 05

P R O G R A M CEN2- 06

P R O G R A M CEN1- 06

FRIDA

IBELIN

MEET THE PATELS

Friday 4:15pm, Century Boulder US/Mexico, Feature Documentary, 87 minutes, 2023

Friday 6:15pm, Century Boulder Norway, Feature Documentary, 104 minutes, 2024

ALSO SCREENING SATURDAY 11:45AM AT CENTURY BOULDER

ALSO SCREENING SATURDAY 7:30PM AT CENTURY BOULDER

Winner at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival

Winner of the Audience Award and Directing Award in the World Cinema Documentary category at Sundance 2024

An intimately raw and magical journey through the life, mind and heart of iconic artist Frida Kahlo, Frida is told through her own words for the very first time. Drawn from her famed illustrated diary, the film reveals letters, essays and candid print interviews — and is brought vividly to life by lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork. The feature film directorial debut of acclaimed editor Carla Gutiérrez (RBG, La Corona), Frida posits a striking context as to why the artist — and her art — remains as powerful as ever. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY CARLA GUTIÉRREZ PRODUCED BY KATIA MAGUIRE, SARA BERNSTEIN, JUSTIN WILKES, LOREN HAMMONDS, ALEXANDRA JOHNES COLORADO PREMIERE

Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. His parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely and isolated life, when they started receiving messages from online friends around the world. Ibelin offers an endearing portrait of Mats’ abundant life through World of Warcraft and is a heartwarming and adventurous journey through his digital life and his profound impact on a community. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY BENJAMIN REE PRODUCED BY INGVIL GISKE COURTESY OF NETFLIX COLORADO PREMIERE

Friday 6:45pm, Century Boulder

US, Feature Documentary, 88 minutes, 2014

“...sharp” and “riotously funny...” — V A R I E T Y Fresh out of a breakup with his American girlfriend, Ravi Patel is freaked out that he’s 30, still single and now under kneebuckling pressure from his parents to get married. During a vacation to India with his parents and filmmaker sister, Ravi learns that “Patel” is one of the most common surnames in India, and he is struck with how overwhelmingly happy the marriages are of his Patel family and friends. Ravi decides that the semi-arranged marriages of India might not be so bad. Back in America, he enlists the help of his matchmaker mother and his advice-spouting father who send him on a whirlwind of dates around the U.S. via the “Patel Matrimonial Convention” websites. Will Ravi’s sister Geeta ever get to shoot a wedding? PA R T I A L LY S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY GEETA PATEL, RAVI PATEL PRODUCED BY JANET FRIES ECKHOLM, GEETA PATEL

BIFF1.com

FILMS

F R IDAY

P R O G R A M GC- 01

P R O G R A M GC- 02

WILDING

FOUR TRAILS

Friday 10am, Grace Commons Church

Friday 12pm, Grace Commons Church

UK, Feature Documentary, 75 minutes, 2023

Hong Kong, Feature Documentary, 101 minutes, 2023

“…filled to the brim with enthusiasm and passion for nature.” — F I L M C A R N A G E

A captivating film documenting the physical and mental hardships of runners taking on one of the world’s most daunting athletic challenges.

A long-awaited film of Isabella Tree’s best-selling book, Wilding, which has been translated into 8 languages and won many major literary prizes.

DIRECTED BY DAVID ALLEN PRODUCED BY GABY BASTYRA COLORADO PREMIERE

INPERSON

DIRECTED BY ROBIN LEE PRODUCED BY BEN LEE US PREMIERE ROBIN LEE IN PERSON

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13 INPERSON

 Thanks to our Call2Action

partners at BOSC for helping us bring this film to Boulder.

22 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

#2024BIFF

FILMS

F R IDAY P R O G R A M GC- 04

Friday 5pm, Grace Commons Church

ADVENTURE SHORTS 1 ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46

AFTER YOU’VE GONE

US/Argentina, Short Documentary, 12 minutes, 2022

An older, cigar-chewing fishing guide honors her late husband by taking a thrilling and healing expedition to the trout-fishing paradise of Patagonia. National Geographic Matt Pycroft

P R O G R A M GC- 03

Friday 2:30pm, Grace Commons Church

ARCTIC ASCENT WITH ALEX HONNOLD

US, Feature Documentary, 90 minutes, 2024 ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46

Famed Free Solo climber Alex Honnold and “rock” star Hazel Findlay — battling loose rock, bitter cold and sudden storms — climb one of the tallest unclimbed sea cliffs in the world in Greenland to research a key climate change bellwether for our entire planet. Joining Alex and Hazel are climber/cinematographer Mikey Schaefer, glaciologist Dr. Heïdi Sevestre, Greenlandic guide Adam Kjeldsen and renowned adventurer Aldo Kane. Honnold will fulfill a lifelong dream of climbing the most remote and toughest walls of Greenland, while also showcasing how climate change is affecting the region. Greenland is considered to be “the world’s last, great climbing frontier” and the highlight of the journey will be Peak 3342, one of Greenland’s highest peaks that has yet to be climbed. DIRECTED BY J.J. KELLEY, RICHARD LADKANI PRODUCED BY PLIMSOLL PRODUCTIONS WORLD PREMIERE TALK COURTESY OF NATIONAL BACKGEOGRAPHIC

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13 INPERSON

INPERSON

DIRECTED BY MAX ERICKSON PRODUCED BY FLYLORDS, FISKA MEDIA, JARED ZISSU

KEEPERS OF THE LAND

Canada, Short Documentary, 29 minutes, 2023

One small First Nation on British Columbia’s West Coast is taking big steps to claim rightful power over its forests, rivers and shores in a land still rich with fish, bears, oldgrowth trees and kelp forests by reviving their stories and the laws within them. But after immense loss, and with ever-dwindling resources, will the Kitasoo Xai’xais people be able to assert their laws in time to protect what they have left? DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY DEIRDRE LEOWINATA, DOUGLAS NEASLOSS TALK COLORADO PREMIERE BACK DEIRDRE LEOWINATA AND CINEMATOGRAPHER TalkBack following TAVISH CAMPBELL IN PERSON

the film at the venue. See p.13

JANWAAR

INPERSON

US/India, Short Documentary, 11 minutes, 2022

Janwaar celebrates a wild bunch of kids whose lives are transformed when a skatepark is built in their small village in India. Raw talent, creativity and childhood fun without limits manage to break down generations of caste and gender barriers. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY DANNY SCHMIDT BOULDER PREMIERE

EARTHSIDE

US, Short Documentary, 33 minutes, 2023

In 2022, famed extreme-skiing champion Hilaree Nelson had great fun leading 3 other strong women to climb and ski first descents on the primeval, 7,000-foot mountains of Baffin Island, Nunavut. Sadly, just a few months later, she lost her life skiing down Everest. In loving memory of Hilaree Nelson, the first woman to climb Everest in 24 hours (1972–2022). PA R T I A L LY S U B T I T L E D

DIRECTED BY ROB WASSMER, KAKI ORR PRODUCED BY THE NORTH FACE, AIDAN HALEY, CHRISTINA LUSTENBURGER ROB WASSMER IN PERSON

BIFF1.com

FILMS

F R IDAY

P R O G R A M GC- 05

Friday 7:30pm, Grace Commons Church

REEL ROCK: BURNING THE FLAME+SHORTS SOUNDSCAPE

US, Short Documentary, 15 minutes, 2023

Soundscape features Erik Weihenmayer, a global adventure athlete and author who is fully blind, as he ascends a massive alpine rock face deep in the Sierra Nevada. Using expert camera work and emotive, novel animation to bring to life a concept by adaptive climbing pioneer Timmy ONeill, the film is a surprising and soulful adventure. DIRECTED BY TIMMY ONEILL PRODUCED BY SARAH LEE STEELE BOULDER PREMIERE ERIK WEIHENMAYER IN PERSON

P R O G R A M BT- 01

Friday 3pm, Boulder Theater

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: WITHOUT A NET

109 BELOW

US, Feature Documentary, 98 minutes, 2022

US, Short Documentary, 14 minutes, 2023

With unprecedented access, Cirque du Soleil: Without A Net charts how this legendary aerial circus went into a freefall when the world shut down, closing all its shows, and letting 95% of its workforce go. A year later, a small team of world-class artists, athletes and crew face loss and uncertainty as they attempt to bring the spectacular “O” show back to life in the heart of Las Vegas. A magical film that looks behind the scenes of this world-famous live show.

An attempted rescue on Mount Washington in 1982 changed not only the course of two climbers’ lives, but the lives of the rescuers who attempted to save them — and the future of prosthetics — forever. DIRECTED BY NICK MARTINI PRODUCED BY SARAH STEWART, BEN OSBORNE, LEX HINSON BOULDER PREMIERE

DIRECTED BY DAWN PORTER PRODUCED BY DAWN PORTER, SUMMER DAMON, SADIE BASS, MARK BURNETT, BARRY POZNICK COURTESY OF AMAZON STUDIOS COLORADO PREMIERE DAWN PORTER IN PERSON

REEL ROCK: BURNING THE FLAME

US, Feature Documentary, 48 minutes, 2023

Big wall free climbing masters Babsi and Jacopo seek their greatest challenge yet: a free ascent of Eternal Flame, an elusive 3,000-foot route up the legendary Nameless Tower in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. Facing extreme conditions and 5.13 trad climbing at high altitude, a two-year quest comes down to one short weather window. Captured with drones and on-mountain cameras in one of the most stunning places on earth, Burning the Flame transports viewers to a place that is normally off-limits.

A WORLD OF ADVENTURE AWAITS

DIRECTED BY PETER MORTIMER PRODUCED BY ZACHARY BARR, NICK ROSEN PETER MORTIMER IN PERSON

24 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

#2024BIFF

F R IDAY

FILMS

OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET GALA

OPENING NIGHT Friday, March 1 P R O G R A M BT- 02

Courtesy Bleecker Street

Friday 7:30pm, Boulder Theater

EZRA

5-7PM PRE-FILM FESTIVITIES

US, Feature Film, 100 minutes, 2023

In this irresistibly charming dramedy about a father’s love taken to the extreme, we meet standup comic Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale of The Station Agent) and his mildly autistic 11-year-old son Ezra (William Fitzgerald). Having recently blown up his career and his marriage, Max is living with his eccentric father Stan (Robert De Niro) and is profoundly at odds with his soon-to-be ex-wife Jenna (Rose Byrne of Bridesmaids) about what’s best for this precious little boy. When Ezra is expelled from yet another public school, Max makes the controversial decision to take him in the middle of the night, embarking on a fabulously unpredictable cross-country odyssey. Ezra also features Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg. DIRECTED BY TONY GOLDWYN PRODUCED BY WILLIAM HORBERG P.G.A., JOHN KILIK P.G.A., TONY GOLDWYN, TONY SPIRIDAKIS COURTESY OF BLEECKER STREET COLORADO PREMIERE

PRESENTED BY 105.5 THE COLORADO SOUND $95 / FREE FOR PASSHOLDERS 5-7PM PRE-FILM PARTIES 7PM BOULDER THEATER DOORS OPEN FILM STARTS 7:30PM



2 PARTIES 2 VENUES

HOTEL BOULDERADO BALLROOM

REMBRANDT YARD

A menu inspired by cuisines around the world from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts • Music by Rex Peoples & XFactr

Tasty housemade Italian specialties from Pasta Jay’s • Inspired bites created by Savory Cuisines Catering • Music by Stoned & Emotional

2115 13th St.

1301 Spruce St

Wines by Scarpetta • Local beer and Spiked Snowmelt craft hard seltzer by Upslope Brewing • Specialty cocktails from WhistlePig Rye Whiskey • The 5280 Brass Band will lead attendees and revelers “second line” style to the Boulder Theater. P A S S H O L D E R S ! OPENING NIGHT IS RESERVED SEATING ONLY. ALL PASSHOLDERS MUST RSVP TO RESERVE SEATS. Please email RSVP@BIFF1. com by Monday, Febuary 19. (Opening Night Gala ticket buyers will receive seating upon purchase.)

BIFF1.com

FILMS

S AT U RDAY

©cine-tamaris2008

P R O G R A M BT- 03

P R O G R A M BT- 04

VIVA VARDA!

PORCELAIN WAR

Saturday 10am, Boulder Theater France, Feature Documentary, 67 minutes, 2023 ALSO SCREENING SUNDAY 3PM AT CENTURY BOULDER

“…one of the gods…” —MARTIN SCORSESE

From Cannes, Toronto and Telluride Film Festivals Agnès Varda helped start the French New Wave of cinema in the ʼ50s: films with deeply personal themes that were shot on low budgets. Often filmed in the director’s own apartment and neighborhood, and with mobile shots sometimes made by the director sitting in a shopping cart holding a camera, the French New Wave started a revolution in film that is still felt today. Viva Varda! reveals a brand new perspective on the influential filmmaker’s life and work, with never-before-seen archival footage and illuminating interviews with her family, friends and collaborators. One of Varda’s last films, Faces Places (BIFF 2018), went on to be nominated for an Oscar, making Varda the oldest person in history to be nominated for a competitive Academy Award. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY PIERRE-HENRI GIBERT PRODUCED BY FABIENNE SERVAN-SCHREIBER, ROSALIE VARDA BOULDER PREMIERE

26 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

Saturday 12pm, Boulder Theater

US/Ukraine/Australia, Feature Documentary, 88 minutes, 2024

Sundance 2024 U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary Under the roaring fighter jets and missile strikes of the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine, artists Slava, Anya and Andrey choose to stay behind and fight, armed with their art, their cameras, and, for the first time in their lives, their guns. Despite daily shelling, Anya finds resistance and purpose in her art, Andrey takes the dangerous journey to get his young family to safety abroad, and Slava becomes a weapons instructor for ordinary people who have become unlikely soldiers. As the war intensifies, Andrey picks up his camera to film their story, and on tiny porcelain figurines, Anya and Slava capture their idyllic past, uncertain present, and hope for the future. Defiantly finding beauty amid destruction, they show that even though it’s easy to make people afraid, it’s hard to destroy their passion for living. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY BRENDAN BELLOMO, SLAVA LEONTYEV PRODUCED BY ANIELA SIDORSKA, PAULA DUPRÉ PESMEN, CAMILLA MAZZAFERRO, OLIVIA AHNEMANN COLORADO PREMIERE BRENDAN BELLOMO, SLAVA LEONTYEV, PAULA DUPRÉ PESMEN, OLIVIA AHNEMANN, ANIELA SIDORSKA, ANYA STASENKO, KATERYNA LAPINA, AND FRODO THE DOG IN PERSON

#2024BIFF

FILMS

S AT U RDAY P R O G R A M BT- 05

Saturday 2:45pm, Boulder Theater

SHORT FILMS 1

ALSO SCREENING SATURDAY 5PM AT CENTURY BOULDER AND IN LONGMONT, SEE P. 46

IN THE GARDEN OF TULIPS

US, Short Film, 14 minutes, 2023

CARL AND THE JANITOR Denmark, Short Film, 23 minutes, 2022

TEACUPS

Australia/Ireland, Short Animation, 8 minutes, 2023

Voiced by Hugo Weaving. For almost half a century, Don Ritchie would approach people contemplating suicide at the edge of a cliff, just 100 feet from his home, his palms facing up. Teacups explores Don's surreal interactions with years of people on the edge. The film asks, can a simple act of kindness save a life?

This delightful, critically acclaimed film is a snapshot of the lives of 10-year-old Carl and his school janitor, Richard, who form an unlikely friendship during lockdown. They both love chess, music and outer space, but Carl has a lot of questions while Richard frets about his to-do list. S U B T I T L E D

At the height of the Iran–Iraq war, Caroline takes a final car ride with her father to the Iranian countryside. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY JULIA ELIHU PRODUCED BY AARON LEMLE, JULIA ELIHU BOULDER PREMIERE

DIRECTED BY THOMAS LEVIN PRODUCED BY DARWIN SHAW, WILL HAWKES US PREMIERE DARWIN SHAW AND WILL HAWKES IN PERSON

THE FAMILY CIRCUS US, Short Film, 18 minutes, 2022

A Vietnamese-American family's plan to cover up a drunk driving accident begins to unravel, somewhat humorously, when their emotional baggage spills out in front of the police. PA R T I A L LY S U B T I T L E D

DIRECTED BY ALEC GREEN, FINBAR WATSON BOULDER PREMIERE

NEW RB_12ad.pdf

12/22/21

7:42 AM

DIRECTED BY ANDREW FITZGERALD BOULDER PREMIERE

KLETTE

Belgium, Short Film, 17 minutes, 2022

A 26-year-old student, Morgane still lives with her mother, has not yet completed her studies, and her love life doesn’t get beyond one-night stands. She evidently doesn't know how to get things done — in Brussels they call someone like that a klette. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY MICHAEL ABAY BOULDER PREMIERE

BIFF1.com

FILMS

S AT U RDAY

P R O G R A M BT- 07

Saturday 7:30pm, Boulder Theater

WILDCAT

US, Feature Film, 108 minutes, 2023

P R O G R A M B T- 0 6

Saturday 5:30pm, Boulder Theater

AWARDS CHATTER LIVE PODCAST RECORDING Grab your seat at the Boulder Theater as The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg and a special in-person guest record a live episode of his popular Awards Chatter podcast — which features hour-long career-retrospective interviews with Hollywood A-listers. The special guest's name will be revealed before the Festival. Stay tuned, and go to biff1.com for more information and tickets. SCOTT FEINBERG AND SPECIAL GUEST IN PERSON

Directed and co-written by four-time Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke. Wildcat invites you to weave in and out of celebrated Southern Gothic writer Flannery O’Connor's mind as she ponders the great questions of her writing: Can scandalous art still serve God? Does suffering precede all greatness? Can illness be a blessing? In 1950, Flannery (Maya Hawke) visits her mother Regina (Laura Linney) in Georgia when she is diagnosed with lupus at age 24. Struggling with the same disease that took her father’s life and desperate to make her mark as a great writer, this crisis pitches her imagination into a feverish exploration of belief. As she dives deeper into her craft, the lines between reality, imagination, and faith begin to blur, allowing Flannery to ultimately come to peace with her situation. Starring Maya Hawke, Laura Linney, Philip Ettinger, Rafael Casal, Cooper Hoffman, Steve Zahn, Vincent D’Onofrio, Allessandro Nivola, Christine Dye, Willa Fitzgerald, and Levon Hawke. DIRECTED BY ETHAN HAWKE PRODUCED BY JOE GOODMAN, RYAN HAWKE, KARRI O’REILLY, CORY PYKE BOULDER PREMIERE

A CONVERSATION WITH LAURA LINNEY LED BY RON BOSTWICK AF TER THE FILM Laura Linney is an acclaimed actor who works in film, television, and theatre. She stars in all four seasons of the critically lauded Netflix original series Ozark, where she plays Wendy Byrde, starring opposite Jason Bateman. Laura received her seventh Emmy Award nomination and her ninth SAG Award nomination for her portrayal of Wendy Byrde. Laura Linney’s numerous film credits include Sully, Kinsey, The Savages, Hyde Park on Hudson, The Squid and the Whale, Mystic River, The Truman Show, The Mothman Prophecies, and Love Actually, among many others.

Laura Linney, recipient of the Boulder International Film Festival Vanguard Award

Linney has been nominated three times for an Academy Award, five times for a Tony Award, nine times for a SAG award, once for a BAFTA Award and eight times for a Golden Globe. She has won one Screen Actors Guild Award, one National Board of Review Award, two Golden Globes and four Emmy Awards. She has also appeared in many Broadway productions, and recently returned to the Broadway stage starring opposite Jessica Hecht in Summer, 1976, a play written by David Auburn. Most recently, Linney can also be seen in Suncoast, Laura Chinn’s (Grey's Anatomy) debut feature film as a writer/director.

28 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

#2024BIFF

FILMS

S AT U RDAY

P R O G R A M HS - 01

P R O G R A M HS - 02

P R O G R A M HS - 03

FOOD, INC. 2

HIP HOP-ERATION

TEHACHAPI

Saturday 10am, Boulder High Auditorium US, Feature Documentary, 94 minutes, 2023 ALSO SCREENING SUNDAY 12:30PM AT CENTURY BOULDER

In a hard-hitting sequel to their influential, Oscar-nominated film, Food, Inc., Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo once again drill into the root cause of the unsustainability of our food supply. Food, Inc. 2 comes “back for seconds” to reveal how corporate consolidation has gone unchecked by our government, leaving us with a highly efficient yet shockingly vulnerable food system dedicated only to increasing profits. Seeking solutions, the film introduces innovative farmers, food producers, workers’ rights activists, and prominent legislators such as U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Jon Tester, who are facing these companies head-on and fighting to create a more sustainable future. DIRECTED BY ROBERT KENNER, MELISSA ROBLEDO PRODUCED BY MICHAEL POLLAN, ERIC SCHLOSSER, ROBERT KENNER, MELISSA ROBLEDO BOULDER PREMIERE TALK

Saturday 12:30pm, Boulder High Auditorium New Zealand/US, Feature Documentary, 93 minutes, 2014

France, Feature Documentary, 92 minutes, 2023 ALSO SCREENING SUNDAY 10AM AT CENTURY BOULDER

ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46

Winner of Audience Awards around the world Who said your grandma couldn’t be a hip hop star? These seniors may have lived almost a century, but for Kara (94), Maynie (95) and Terri (93), the journey to Las Vegas and the World Hip Hop Dance Championships is the greatest adventure of their lives. Already an Internet sensation, the 23 high-energy elders of Hip Hop-eration are the oldest dance group in the world (according to Guinness), they’re all from the same tiny island off of New Zealand, and they’re trained by their exuberant manager Billie Jordan to push their bodies and artificial joints to the absolute limits. “You’re all going to Vegas,” she yells, “even if you’re in an urn!” DIRECTED BY BRYN EVANS PRODUCED BY ALEX LEE, PAULA JONES

“Telluride breakout…” — I N D I E W I R E “How paper and glue rekindled a sense of hope in a supermax prison.” —T E D R A D I O H O U R Famed French muralist JR heads to the ultraviolent Tehachapi Supermax California Prison, where he asks a group of 40 inmates — most of them lifers — to help him install a huge photo collage of the inmates on the prison yard. By personally telling their stories on JR’s interactive website, many are surprised to restore long-broken relationships with their families and become more hopeful about their lives. Questioning the limits of the US carceral system, Tehachapi is a rare, illuminating and moving documentary that shows how art can be a decisive means to reintegration and rehabilitation. Well-known for his collages and giving a voice to the marginalized and unseen, JR is also the codirector of the Academy Award-nominated Faces Places (BIFF 2018) with Agnès Varda. DIRECTED BY JR PRODUCED BY ROSALIE VARDA, MARC AZOULAY, MARCO BERREBI BOULDERTALK PREMIERE BACK

BACK

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13 INPERSON

Saturday 3pm, Boulder High Auditorium

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13

INPERSON INPERSON

INPERSON

BIFF1.com

FILMS

RSON

S AT U RDAY P R O G R A M HS - 05

Saturday 7:30pm, Boulder High Auditorium

BOULDER FILMMAKER SHOWCASE

A MESSAGE FROM DOG US, Short Film, 5 minutes, 2023

THE LOST SEASON US, Short Film, 6 minutes, 2023

P R O G R A M HS - 04

Saturday 5:15pm, Boulder High Auditorium

PICK OF THE LITTER

US, Feature Documentary, 81 minutes, 2018 ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46

Pick of the Litter is a wonderful reminder of the extraordinary relationships we have with our dogs. The film follows a litter of puppies from the moment they’re born and begin their quest to become guide dogs for the blind. Cameras follow these pups through an intense 2-year odyssey as they train to become dogs whose ultimate responsibility is to protect their blind partners from harm. Along the way, these remarkable animals rely on a community of dedicated individuals who train them to do amazing, life-changing things in the service of their humans. The stakes are high, and not every dog can make the cut: Only the best of the best, the pick of the litter. DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY DON HARDY, DANA NACHMAN BOULDER GUIDE DOG TALKIN ATTENDANCE PUPPIES BACK

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13 INPERSON

30 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

The world is experiencing its final winter. A giant streaming company hires all available camera operators to film the final weeks of this soon-to-be-lost season. After seeing their footage as a form of ecological exploitation, the camera operators refuse to commodify further climate collapse with their labor.

When pondering the mysteries of the universe, maybe you should listen to what dogs have to say. DIRECTED BY DONALD SNIFFIN PRODUCED BY DONALD SNIFFIN, KATHY SNIFFIN WORLD PREMIERE DON AND KATHY SNIFFIN IN PERSON

DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY KELLY SEARS COLORADO PREMIERE KELLY SEARS IN PERSON

THE SINK: THE REST[AURANT] IS HISTORY

US, Short Documentary, 28 minutes, 2023

The Sink has been on The Hill in Boulder for 100 years, witnessing the evolution of the town, the neighborhood, and the world. This film highlights its time in business along with stories and sentiments from past owners, employees, and patrons who have created a century of memories at the iconic restaurant. DIRECTED BY BRUCE BOROWSKY, MIKE SCALISI PRODUCED BY RACHAEL CARALUZZI, JESSICA BENJAMIN MIKE SCALISI, BRUCE BOROWSKY, RACHAEL CARALUZZI AND JESSICA BENJAMIN IN PERSON

#2024BIFF

O CHRISTMAS DREAM

US, Short Documentary, 20 minutes, 2023

This award-winning film follows Greg Evans, a passionate and meticulous Christmas enthusiast who spends months planning, designing, and assembling his dream tree. Can a Christmas tree be considered fine art? DIRECTED BY TOM PARKIN PRODUCED BY TOM PARKIN, GREG EVANS BOULDER PREMIERE TOM PARKIN AND GREG EVANS IN PERSON

FILMS

S AT U RDAY

UNSEEN PEAKS

US, Short Documentary, 7 minutes, 2023

After enduring discrimination and trauma due to her blindness, Addie seeks freedom through skiing, ice climbing, and rock climbing, facing both the challenges of these activities and the need for acceptance within the outdoor community as a disabled person.

P R O G R A M CEN2- 07

Saturday 11:45am, Century Boulder

DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY ROO SMITH COLORADO PREMIERE ROO SMITH IN PERSON

FRIDA

SECOND SCREENING

P R O G R A M CEN1- 07

ALSO SCREENING FRIDAY 4:15PM @ CENTURY BOULDER. SEE P.21 FOR SYNOPOSIS.

Saturday 10am, Century Boulder

TERRESTRIAL VERSES Iran, Feature Film, 77 minutes, 2023

Presented in Un Certain Regard at Cannes

FROZEN DEAD GUY DAYS

US, Short Documentary, 27 minutes, 2023

A fun documentary that shows the origins and colorful history of Colorado's famous winter festival celebrating a frozen dead guy. DIRECTED BY MIKE SCALISI PRODUCED BY BRUCE BOROWSKY WORLD PREMIERE MIKE SCALISI AND BRUCE BOROWSKY IN PERSON

This often funny movie asks, “What is daily life like under authoritarianism?” This film portrays men, women and children in Iran in apparently mundane situations in which the absurd comes to disrupt everything. Focusing on everyone from school teachers to bureaucrats, these stirring vignettes capture the spirit and determination of people in the midst of adversity, offering a fascinating portrait of a complex society. Filmmaker Ali Asgari was banned from traveling and making movies after the film screened in Cannes. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY ALI ASGARI, ALIREZA KHATAMI PRODUCED BY ALI ASGARI, MILAD KHOSRAVI COLORADO PREMIERE

P R O G R A M CEN1- 08

Saturday 12:15pm, Century Boulder

ANGEL APPLICANT SECOND SCREENING ALSO SCREENING FRIDAY, 12:45PM @ CENTURY BOULDER. SEE P.19 FOR SYNOPSIS.

BIFF1.com

FILMS

S AT U RDAY

Saturday 2:30pm, Century Boulder

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

SECOND SCREENING ALSO SCREENING THURSDAY, 6:45PM @ CENTURY BOULDER. SEE P.18 FOR SYNOPSIS.

Courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films

P R O G R A M CEN1- 09

P R O G R A M CEN2- 08

P R O G R A M CEN1-11

THE FOX

C.R.A.Z.Y.

Saturday 2pm, Century Boulder

Saturday 7:15pm, Century Boulder

Austria/Germany, Feature Film, 118 minutes, 2023 ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46.

“A war movie that shows no battles of any kind.” 5 nominations for Austrian Film Awards In 1938, young Franz’s country, Austria, was taken over by Hitler, and Franz (the great-grandfather of this film’s director) was conscripted into the German army as a motorcycle courier. Early in the war, Franz finds a wounded fox cub crying over the body of its mother. He decides to nurse it back to health and looks after the animal as if it were his own child. With the little fox tucked into Franz’s greatcoat, they cross Europe undetected — easier if you are a motorcycle courier. Through his unique friendship with the fox, his own past as an outcast farmer’s son slowly catches up with him as the two begin a dangerous journey that takes them to occupied France. This is a film for those who have had the good fortune to live with an animal and felt psychological healing through the experience. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY ADRIAN GOIGINGER PRODUCED BY MALTE CAN, HANA GEISSENDÖRFER, ADRIAN GOIGINGER, GERRIT KLEIN, THOMAS PRIDNIG, PETER WILDLING, PETER WIRTHENSOHN US PREMIERE

Canada/Morocco/France, Feature Film, 129 minutes, 2005

P R O G R A M CEN2- 09

Saturday 4:45pm, Century Boulder

THE ARC OF OBLIVION SECOND SCREENING ALSO SCREENING FRIDAY, 3:45PM @ CENTURY BOULDER. SEE P.20 FOR SYNOPSIS. P R O G R A M CEN1-10

Saturday 5pm, Century Boulder

SHORTS FILMS 1 SECOND SCREENING

ALSO SCREENING SATURDAY 2:45PM @ BOULDER THEATER, SEE P.27, AND IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46

Featuring music by David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Patsy Cline and The Rolling Stones. This magical film covers two decades, the ’60s and ’70s, in a big, loving French-Canadian family, as narrated by Zac, the second youngest of the five boys. In a family that makes a big deal about everything, Zac, questioning his sexuality, creates major pandemonium as he begins a spiritual voyage of self-discovery. A rare combination of both intimate, character-driven auteur film and universally appealing crowd-pleaser, this emotional roller-coaster is a triumphant story of a beautifully ordinary family and the challenges of growing up different. C.R.A.Z.Y. exudes the beauty, the poetry and the madness of the human spirit in all its contradictions. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY JEAN-MARC VALLÉE PRODUCED BY PIERRE EVEN

P R O G R A M CEN2-10

Saturday 7:30pm, Century Boulder

IBELIN

SECOND SCREENING ALSO SCREENING FRIDAY 6:15PM @ CENTURY BOULDER, SEE P.21 FOR SYNOPSIS.

32 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

Winner of 38 awards from around the world

#2024BIFF

FILMS

S AT U RDAY

P R O G R A M GC- 06

P R O G R A M GC- 07

RHINO MAN

COPA 71

Saturday 10am, Grace Commons Church

Saturday 12:30pm, Grace Commons Church

US / South Africa, Feature Documentary, 98 minutes, 2023

We follow Anton Mzimba, the passionate, incorruptible head ranger of the Timbavati in South Africa, and legendary trainer, Ruben Dekock, as they protect endangered rhinos and train a group of hopeful ranger candidates competing for one of the most rigorous and dangerous jobs on the planet. It is a tense, heart-pounding job…each day facing the heavily-armed poachers sent by the $20-billion-a-year rhino-horn syndicate. It’s a race to inspire the next generation to care for the rhinos and the natural world, before poachers and habitat loss wipe out one species after another. Anton’s friend, William, Prince of Wales, has spearheaded an international effort to save endangered animals, and now there is a UN-led global initiative to protect 30% of the planet for endangered species by 2030. DIRECTED BY JOHN JURKO II, MATT LINDENBERG, DANIEL ROBERTS PRODUCED BY JOHN JURKO II, MATT LINDENBERG, JUSTIN WALKER BOULDER PREMIERE JOHN JURKO II AND GCC EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR AUSTIN DINGLEDINE IN PERSON

UK, Feature Documentary, 90 minutes, 2023

Executive produced by Serena and Venus Williams. It is August 1971, and teams from England, Argentina, Mexico, France, Denmark and Italy gather in Mexico City for a watershed soccer tournament. Lavish sponsorship, extensive TV coverage, merchandise on every street corner, and over 100,000 roaring fans turn the historic Azteca stadium into a cauldron of noise while a fawning media treats the players like rock stars. This is the greatest show on earth but, despite being one of the most groundbreaking moments in soccer history, you’ve probably never heard of it. And why? Because the players are all women, and the heroic event that unfolds has been sidelined from history — until now. The tournament ignites the flame that eventually leads to the explosion of women’s soccer around the globe. With interviews from Megan Rapinoe and Brandi Chastain and a thumping ’70s soundtrack driven by female singer-songwriters. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY JAMES ERSKINE, RACHEL RAMSAY PRODUCED BY VICTORIA GREGORY, JANNAT GARGI, ANNA GODAS EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY SERENA AND VENUS WILLIAMS COLORADO PREMIERE JAMES ERSKINE IN PERSON

TALK BACK

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13 INPERSON

INPERSON

BIFF1.com

FILMS

S AT U RDAY P R O G R A M GC- 08

Saturday 3pm, Grace Commons Church

ADVENTURE SHORTS 2 ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46

CANADA VERTICAL

Canada, Short Documentary, 45 minutes, 2023

Quebecers Nicolas and Guillaume start one of the longest wilderness expeditions in Canadian history at the upper edge of Nunavut, Canada’s newest and biggest province. They launch near northern Greenland and pull their sleds 1,000 miles south across primitive islands and heaving sea ice. Then begins a grueling, 1,200-mile paddle upstream into cascading rivers, where they meet their bikes and finish the expedition with a gorgeous 2,500-mile ride to southern Ontario. The journey provides a humbling and refreshing perspective on how people dream of their next adventures, far from well-documented routes. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY LAURENT POLIQUIN PRODUCED BY NICOLAS ROULX US PREMIERE

Pancho Herrera

CROSS COUNTRIES

France, Short Documentary, 8 minutes, 2022

Mountain biking the steep chutes of Sedona, Squamish Jurassic Five, the Pemberton train gap, slick rock in Moab or a Honolulu ridgeline…bike legend Kilian Bron border-hops (aka crosses countries) in the most beautiful way.

THE VALLEY OF SILENCE US/Chile, Short Documentary, 27 minutes, 2023

This film tells the story of Chilean climber Felipe Ignacio Tapia Nordenflych and blind climber Erik Weihenmayer, who teamed up for Erik to complete the first blind ascent of Torre Norte in Felipe’s home country. The film celebrates the beauty of partnerships that move beyond ability, culture, and race.

DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY KILIAN BRON, PIERRE HENRI

LOVE

US, Short Documentary, 14 minutes, 2023

PA R T I A L LY S U B T I T L E D

A film about motherhood, strength and climbing. After a miscarriage and a historic ascent of the famous sport climb Dreamcatcher, Paige Claassen follows her own path as a professional athlete training through pregnancy, finding new meaning in strength and identity through the early days of motherhood. Featuring Paige Claassen, Arjan De Kock, Emily Harrington, Adrian Ballinger, Angie Payne

DIRECTED BY FELIPE IGNACIO TAPIA NORDENFLYCHT, ERIK WEIHENMAYER PRODUCED BY KAREN WILLIAMS WORLD PREMIERE FELIPE IGNACIO TAPIA NORDENFLYCHT, ERIK WEIHENMAYER AND KAREN WILLIAMS IN PERSON

DIRECTED BY TARA KERZHNER PRODUCED BY TARA KERZHNER, SARAH STEELE BOULDER PREMIERE TARA KERZHNER IN PERSON

34 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

#2024BIFF

Isabelle Razavet

S U NDAY

P R O G R A M GC- 09

P R O G R A M GC-10

P R O G R A M BT- 08

THE WHITE MOUNTAIN

NOTHING’S FOR FREE: HISTORY OF FREERIDE MOUNTAIN BIKING

MAESTRA

Saturday 5:45pm, Grace Commons Church Hong Kong, Feature Documentary, 92 minutes, 2023

Hadley Hammer is a professional female steep skier who stars regularly in ski films — speeding down high mountain faces for a living. Bastien Fleury grew up in Chamonix, where he is a mountain rescuer for Mont Blanc/Chamonix’s elite mountain rescue team — and a champion ski-mountaineer who has set new records for 100k alpine ski runs. Both have seen friends and loved ones die in avalanches. Permafrost, the glue that has always held mountains together, is disappearing rapidly and causing a huge spike in rock and snow falls. In this nail-biting film, their separate stories are interwoven as they each embark on exceptional feats to test the safety of the steepest off-grid skiing and rock climbing routes on Mont Blanc, one of the most dangerous mountains on earth. DIRECTED BY GWYN WILLIAMS, LUKE WILES PRODUCED BY MALCOLM WOOD WORLD PREMIERE

Saturday 8pm, Grace Commons Church

Canada, Feature Documentary, 104 minutes, 2023

Every sport has its Dogtown and Z-Boys or Riding Giants. Nothing’s For Free is the real story of the birth and legacy of freeride mountain biking. The film chronicles the blue-collar story and rise of a cult sport to a global phenomenon that put the race-driven sport of mountain biking on the map in the world of action sports and the mainstream. Nothing’s for Free features the biggest names in mountain biking, from the early pioneers of adventure to modern-day internet superstars like Danny MacAskill and Brandon Semenuk. DIRECTED BY DEREK WESTERLUND PRODUCED BY KEVIN DEWAR, JON DORN, ROB FARIS, ROBIN THURSTON, DEREK WESTERLUND COLORADO PREMIERE DEREK WESTERLUND IN PERSON

Sunday 10am, Boulder Theater US, Feature Documentary, 88 minutes, 2023 ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P. 46.

“… the dark side of the classical music world…very few conductors of major orchestras are women.” —T H E H O L LY W O O D R E P O R T E R

Executive produced by David Letterman. A flick of her wand can raise an ocean of sound and a look in her eye can command an army. Why are women only 3% of conductors of the world’s major orchestras? Times are changing. In the spring, 14 strong, gifted women gather in Paris to show the world the great talent that drives them in what has long been considered the exclusive province of men. Over 4 days, mothers, daughters and leaders will take to the stage — in high drama — to compete in La Maestra, the only competition in the world for female conductors. PA R T I A L LY S U B T I T L E D

DIRECTED BY MAGGIE CONTRERAS PRODUCED BY MAGGIE CONTRERAS, NEIL BERKELEY, EMMA WEST, MELANIE MILLER, LAUREN LEXTON BOULDER PREMIERE MAGGIE CONTRERAS IN PERSON

BIFF1.com

FILMS

S AT U RDAY

FILMS

S U NDAY

P R O G R A M BT- 09

Sunday 12:30pm, Boulder Theater

SHORT FILMS 2

DEAD CAT

ALSO SCREENING SUNDAY 5:15PM AT CENTURY BOULDER AND IN LONGMONT, SEE P. 46.

2024 Oscar Live Action Shorts Shortlist

Canada, Short Film, 13 minutes, 2023

What were Catherine and Louis thinking when they chose a cat with distinctive white spots? It would have been much easier to replace if they had picked the all-black one! Now, they will have to tell their daughter Sophie that Nugget’s dead. Unless… DIRECTED BY DANICK AUDET, ANNIE-CLAUDE CARON PRODUCED BY ASTRID BARRETTE TESSIER, SOPHIE VALCOURT COLORADO PREMIERE

WE HAVE NOTES

US, Short Film, 14 minutes, 2024

The director of a big budget Joan of Arc movie struggles to implement increasingly frustrating studio notes. DIRECTED BY JORDAN MCKITTRICK COLORADO PREMIERE

YELLOW

Afghanistan/UK, Short Film, 13 minutes, 2023

In Taliban–controlled Afghanistan, Laili walks into a Chadari store in Kabul to buy her first full-body veil. She is drawn to the sounds of music coming from the back and discovers a young man, a disillusioned Taliban member, secretly playing the Rabab. In her search for a veil that fits, Laili must confront the new future she faces, while glimpsing the world beyond the mesh of her Chadari. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY ELHAM EHSAS PRODUCED BY DINA MOUSAWI, YIANNIS MANOLOPOULOS, CATHERINE TSCHAEPE. AZEEM BHATI, ELHAM EHSAS COLORADO PREMIERE

BIENVENIDOS A LOS ANGELES

THE ONE NOTE MAN

US, Short Film, 17 minutes, 2022

2024 Oscar Live Action Shorts Shortlist

A lonely bassoonist lives his life meticulously, mired in routine. Each day, he plays a single note in an orchestra and leaves the stage while the rest continue. One day, his exit is accidentally delayed and he hears a breathtaking violin solo which changes his life forever.

Inspired by true events, and shot on location at LAX, Bienvenidos a Los Angeles follows Imani, a Nigerian single mother living in Los Angeles, who offers to help a perfect stranger reunite with her son. In doing so, Imani learns this simple act of kindness threatens to jeopardize her path to citizenship. DIRECTED BY LISA COLE COLORADO PREMIERE LISA COLE IN PERSON

36 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

#2024BIFF

UK, Short Film, 21 minutes, 2023

DIRECTED BY GEORGE C. SIOUGAS COLORADO PREMIERE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER RITA MARCOCCI IN PERSON

FILMS

S U NDAY

P R O G R A M HS - 06

Sunday 10am, Boulder High Auditorium

THE SECRET OF KELLS

Ireland/Belgium/France, Feature Animation, 71 minutes, 2009

P R O G R A M BT-10

Sunday 3pm, Boulder Theater

ONE LIFE

UK/US, Feature Film 109 minutes, 2023

“If something is not impossible, then there must be a way to do it…” — S I R N I C H O L A S W I N T O N 1 9 0 9 -2 01 5 Based on the book If It’s Not Impossible … The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton by Barbara Winton, One Life tells the incredible, emotional true story of Nicholas “Nicky” Winton, a young London broker who visits Prague in December 1938. In a race against time, Winton convinces Trevor Chadwick and Doreen Warriner of the British Committee for Refugees in Czechoslovakia to rescue hundreds of predominantly Jewish children before Nazi occupation closes the borders. Fifty years later, Nicky (Anthony Hopkins) is haunted by the fate of the children he wasn’t able to bring to safety. It’s not until a BBC show reintroduces him to some of those he helped rescue that he finally begins to come to terms with the guilt and grief he carried — all while skyrocketing from anonymity to a national hero. Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter, Jonathan Pryce, Johnny Flynn, Lena Olin, Romola Garai, Alex Sharp, Marthe Keller DIRECTED BY JAMES HAWES PRODUCED BY JOANNA LAURIE, IAIN CANNING, EMILE SHERMAN, GUY HEELEY COURTESY OF BLEECKER STREET COLORADO PREMIERE

A bewitching animated fairytale for children and adults alike. With the Viking hordes approaching, the monks of Kells are forced to turn their attention from transcribing manuscripts to building barricades. The future of Ireland’s most cherished artifact, the Book of Kells, is in jeopardy and it falls to Brendan, young nephew of the abbot Cellach, to save the day. As the Vikings approach, revered illuminator Aidan arrives at the monastery and recruits Brendan to complete a series of dangerous, magical tasks. The Secret of Kells is an animated masterpiece that blends fantasy and Celtic mythology into a riot of color and detail. DIRECTED BY TOMM MOORE PRODUCED BY DIDIER BRUNNER, VIVIANE VANFLETEREN, PAUL YOUNG

P R O G R A M HS - 07

Sunday 12:15pm, Boulder High Auditorium

UNBROKEN

ALSO SCREENING FRIDAY, 1:30PM @ CENTURY BOULDER

UnBroken is the true story of how the Webers, a family of 7 Jewish children, were able to stay together during one of the largest systematic genocides in human history. After their mother was murdered in Auschwitz, they were hidden away for two years with the help of a gracious farmer and his wife, who risked instant execution by the Nazis for harboring Jews. Emboldened by their father’s mandate that they “always stay together,” the children fought through hunger, loneliness, bombings, and fear as they managed to travel across Germany together and escape to America. Filmmaker Beth Lane, daughter of the youngest Weber sibling, examines the journey of the Webers, as told through conversations with living siblings — now in their 80s and 90s. Beth and her crew road-trip across Germany, following the courageous, tumultuous, and harrowing path taken by her family over 70 years ago. PA R T I A L LY S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY BETH LANE PRODUCED BY MAI AMALIE BAK, JOSH BUOY, STACY KESSLER-AUNGST, DAVID TOMLIN COLORADO PREMIERE BETH LANE IN PERSON

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FILMS

S U NDAY

P R O G R A M HS - 08

P R O G R A M GC-11

SUGAR AND STARS

NO LEGS. ALL HEART.

Sunday 3pm, Boulder High Auditorium

Sunday 1pm, Grace Commons Church

France, Feature Film, 110 minutes, 2023

US, Feature Documentary, 89 minutes, 2023

ALSO SCREENING IN LONGMONT, SEE P.46

“… a sumptuous and autobiographical [film] that rises up like a tasty soufflé.” — I M P U L S E G A M E R Based on a true story. Yazid has one big passion: pastry making. Raised between foster homes and group homes, he gets his first job in the back of a commercial kitchen, where he runs into Islamophobia and is constantly threatened to be fired over the tiniest infractions. But he blindly soldiers on, believing, improbably, that it is his destiny to become a great pastry chef. Yazid steals ingredients to create a Black Forest gâteaux from scratch to keep his internship, and continually encounters nemeses, betrayals and setbacks. This film’s camera lovingly pans Yazid’s ever-more-spectacular desserts, cakes and ice sculptures, until he is frantically preparing to compete in the grandest of all of France’s baking championships. Warning: Don’t come to this film with an empty stomach. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY SÉBASTIEN TULARD PRODUCED BY LAURENCE LASCARY COLORADO PREMIERE

“We are disabled in things we can’t do... but there is no shortage of things that any of us can do.” — A N D R É K A J L I C H While studying abroad in Prague, André Kajlich suffered a terrible accident, leaving him with both legs amputated. After years of addiction, struggles and coming to terms with his life-changing accident, André attempts to be the first double amputee to complete the Race Across America, a bone-crushing, sleep-deprived 12-day, 3,082 mile bike race that spits out 50% of able-bodied racers. No Legs. All Heart. is a story about the true test of the human spirit and the pain we endure to carve our own path in life. Directed by firsttime director and Emmy Award–winning cinematographer Pablo Durana and produced by Oscar, Emmy and Peabody Award–winning filmmakers Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine. DIRECTED BY PABLO DURANA. PRODUCED BY ANDREA NIX FINE, SEAN FINE BOULDER PREMIERE PABLO DURANA IN PERSON

TALK BACK

@HOME

SOME FILMS CAN BE SCREENED VIRTUALLY • SEE P.5

38 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13 INPERSON

INPERSON

#2024BIFF

FILMS

S U NDAY P R O G R A M GC-12

Sunday 3:30pm, Grace Commons Church

ADVENTURE SHORTS 3

TRANSCENDENCE

US, Short Documentary, 30 minutes, 2023

DRIVING SWEEP

US, Short Documentary, 10 minutes, 2023

Riverguide Katie Veteto learns how to single-handedly pilot a 4,000-pound rubber sweep (cargo boat) down the steep, rocky rapids of the Salmon River in Idaho. Rule one: Avoid sandbars… DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY GREG CAIRNS BOULDER PREMIERE GREG CAIRNS IN PERSON

Seemingly out of nowhere, Adrien Costa — the rising golden child in American pro cycling — leaves the sport, only to find himself stuck under a rock with his life on the line. Now, forced to let his mind and body slow down, he trades in his wheels for a climbing harness and sets out to redefine himself, searching for balance and identity as an athlete in the sports he loves. This film follows his path from recovery to the cutting edge of adaptive climbing, working his way up to an epic first ascent in the North Cascades with Pacific Northwest legend Mark Allen. DIRECTED BY MICHELLE SMITH PRODUCED BY JIM AIKMAN JIM AIKMAN AND MICHELLE SMITH IN PERSON

TE ARA THE PATH

New Zealand, Short Documentary, 49 minutes, 2023

At 33 years old, Holly, a Māori wahine (brave woman), has survived addiction and is climbing the maunga (the mountain that challenges) to help in her recovery. Holly has her sights set on Everest, but before she can get there, she needs to take a significantly smaller step. Holly has no alpine training and has never summited a mountain before, so she seeks the help of New Zealand’s Lydia Bradey who has summited Everest. In Te Ara the Path, Lydia coaches Holly to the top of the towering, ice-covered Tititea Mountain in their own Waipounamu (South Island, New Zealand). At the documentary’s heart is the heroic resilience of a young Māori wahine, who is determined to reconnect with her wairua (spirit), starting in her own backyard.

P R O G R A M GC-13

Sunday 6pm, Grace Commons Church

WADE IN THE WATER: A JOURNEY INTO BLACK SURFING AND AQUATIC CULTURE

US, Feature Documentary, 80 minutes, 2023

“UNCOVERED SURPRISE!” — S A N TA B A R B A R A I N T E R N A T I O N A L F I L M F E S T I V A L

According to artifacts and early European sailor accounts, Africans have been surfing for over a thousand years, from Senegal to Angola. Then why do we picture surfers as people of Northern European descent, whose ancestors never surfed? This is easily explained in America, because Black families were forbidden from the beaches in Florida and California until the 1930s. Wade in the Water honors the lives, legacies and struggles of Santa Monica’s pioneering African American surfers with an in-depth historical context of the first African Americans to arrive in Santa Monica, as well as their encounters with the Jim Crow laws that legalized and enforced racial segregation in California’s coastal cities. The people profiled here are an inspiration to the next generation of Black surfers. DIRECTED BY DAVID MESFIN PRODUCED BY DAVID MESFIN, KIRA GILMORE, MICHEAL WARNER TALK COLORADO PREMIERE BACK

DIRECTED BY ALEXIS SMITH PRODUCED BY ALEX REED COLORADO PREMIERE ALEXIS SMITH IN PERSON

TalkBack following the film at the venue. See p.13 INPERSON

INPERSON

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PROGRAM CEN1-12

PROGRAM CEN1-14

TEHACHAPI

VIVA VARDA!

Sunday 10am, Century Boulder France, Feature Documentary, 92 minutes, 2023

Sunday 3pm, Century Boulder France, Feature Documentary, 67 minutes, 2023

SECOND SCREENING

ALSO SCREENING SATURDAY 3PM @BOULDER HIGH AUDITORIUM. SEE P.29 FOR SYNOPSIS.

ALSO SCREENING SATURDAY 10AM @BOULDER THEATER. SEE P.26 FOR SYNOPSIS.

PROGRAM CEN2-11

PROGRAM CEN2-13

ALL ABOUT THE LEKOVICHES

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN

Sunday 10:30am, Century Boulder

Hungary, Feature Film, 85 minutes, 2024

Sunday 4:30pm, Century Boulder

Ireland/UK, Feature Film, 108 minutes, 2023

SECOND SCREENING

ALSO SCREENING THURSDAY 4:45PM @CENTURY BOULDER. SEE P.17 FOR SYNOPSIS.

ALSO SCREENING FRIDAY 10AM @CENTURY BOULDER. SEE P.19 FOR SYNOPSIS.

PROGRAM CEN1-13

PROGRAM CEN1-15

FOOD, INC. 2

SHORT FILMS 2

Sunday 12:30pm, Century Boulder US, Feature Documentary, 94 minutes, 2023 SECOND SCREENING ALSO SCREENING SATURDAY 10AM @BOULDER HIGH AUDITORIUM. SEE P.29 FOR SYNOPSIS.

Sunday 5:15pm, Century Boulder

SECOND SCREENING ALSO SCREENING SUNDAY 12:30PM @ BOULDER THEATER AND LONGMONT. SEE P.36 FOR SYNOPSIS.

PROGRAM CEN2-12

Sunday 1pm, Century Boulder

HAPPY CLOTHES: A FILM ABOUT PATRICIA FIELD

US, Feature Documentary, 100 minutes, 2023 SECOND SCREENING ALSO SCREENING THURSDAY 7:15PM @CENTURY BOULDER. SEE P.18 FOR SYNOPSIS.

DONALD ZUCKERMAN IN PERSON

40 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

#2024BIFF

FILMS

S U NDAY

FILMS

SUND A Y CLOSING NIGHT +

CLOSING NIGHT + AWARDS CEREMONY AWA R D S C E R E M O N Y

P R O G R A M BT-11

Boulder Theater Doors open 6:30pm / 6:15pm for passholders Live music 6:15-7:15pm Awards ceremony + film start at 7:15pm

THE COWBOY AND THE QUEEN US, Feature Documentary, 84 minutes, 2023

An old-time California rodeo cowboy sat with heads of state at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Many decades before, Monty Roberts had discovered a way to train horses nonviolently, but he was rejected by much of the traditional horse industry and nearly lost his livelihood. Then, in 1989, he got a call from Queen Elizabeth, an avid horsewoman, who challenged him to prove his methods. By endorsing Monty, she catapults him to worldwide fame and encourages him to write his book The Man Who Listens to Horses, which sold 5 million copies worldwide and became a full-blown phenomenon. Weaving present day footage and archival, never-before-seen moments of Her Majesty found in Monty’s cluttered garage, The Cowboy and the Queen is the inspiring story of a true horse whisperer and his magical 30-year relationship with the longest reigning monarch.

ENJOY MUSIC BY WRENN VAN WITH JESSE OGLE AND BLESSING CHIMANGA. From Arise Music Festival to performing with Hazel Miller, Wrenn Van merges classic influences like Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James with sounds like Amy Winehouse and Stevie Nicks. Watching Wrenn Van perform is an experience like no other.

DIRECTED BY ANDREA NEVINS PRODUCED BY ANDREA NEVINS, GRAHAM CLARK ANDREA NEVINS, GRAHAM CLARK AND SUBJECT MONTY ROBERTS IN PERSON COLORADO PREMIERE

BIFF award sculptures from the estate of sculptor and former BIFF board member Bill Vielehr. Special thanks to Chuck Vielehr and Laird Grimm for helping keep the legacy of “The Vielehr” alive at BIFF.

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FREE COMMUNITY DAY

OPEN TO EVERYONE! PASSHOLDERS MUST ALSO REGISTER FOR A TICKET (SEE BELOW), AND ENTER AS A TICKET HOLDER. SPECIAL THANKS TO ETOWN HALL

In honor of BIFF’s 20th Anniversary, the festival is offering the following audience favorite and award-winning films from the first 20 years of BIFF, free to the community. The screenings are free, but you must register at biff1.com/communityday.

Zen-farming expert named Alan York, who suggests a fantasy-utopian farm, with freerange animals like ducks, chickens and pigs to fertilize the soil. When the farm’s ecosystem finally begins to reawaken, so does the Chesters’ hope.

TICKETS ARE LIMITED

DIRECTED BY JOHN CHESTER PRODUCED BY JOHN CHESTER, SANDRA KEATS

P R O G R A M ET- 01

P R O G R A M ET- 03

Saturday, 10:00am, eTown Hall

Saturday, 2:30pm, eTown Hall

SONG OF THE SEA

Ireland/Luxembourg/Denmark/Belgium/France, Animated Feature, 93 minutes, 2014 From the creators of the Academy Awardnominated film The Secret of Kells comes a breathtakingly gorgeous, hand-drawn masterpiece. Based on an Irish legend, this is the story of the last seal-child, Saoirse, and her brother, Ben, who go on an epic journey to save the World of Magic and keep the spirit world from disappearing forever. For all ages, this wonder of magical storytelling and visual splendor is destined to become a classic. DIRECTED BY TOMM MOORE PRODUCED BY CLAUS TOKSVIG KJAER, PAUL YOUNG

MAYA ANGELOU AND STILL I RISE US, Feature Documentary, 114 minutes, 2016 Maya Angelou has a brutal childhood in Arkansas, but when she becomes a writer, Maya blossoms. She introduces the ancient visions and rhythms of Africa to the American poetry canon and becomes the best-selling American poet of the century. Dr. Maya Angelou’s powerful, elegant voice narrates this unforgettable film. DIRECTED BY BOB HERCULES, RITA COBURN WHACK PRODUCED BY CHRIS GARNER, RAYMOND LAMBERT P R O G R A M ET- 04

P R O G R A M ET- 02

Saturday, 12:15pm, eTown Hall

THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

Saturday, 5:00pm, eTown Hall

FARTHER THAN THE EYE CAN SEE

US, Feature Documentary, 91 minutes, 2018

US, Feature Documentary, 76 minutes, 2003

BIFF’s 2018 Grand Prize Winner for Best Feature Film and Award for Best Documentary

BIFF's 2005 Best Adventure Film Winner

When young urban foodie couple John and Mollie Chester buy a rundown 200acre farm with depleted soil, they know nothing about farming. They consult a

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This is the story of blind climber Erik Weihenmayer and his team’s highlysuccessful ascent of Mount Everest along with four other remarkable milestones on the

mountain. Time magazine called this the most successful Everest expedition of all time. The film beautifully captures the emotion, drama and humor of this historic climb. DIRECTED BY MICHAEL BROWN PRODUCED BY CHRIS BLUM, JOSH COLOVER MICHAEL BROWN AND ERIK WEIHENMAYER IN PERSON P R O G R A M ET- 05

Saturday, 7:15pm, eTown Hall

MUSCLE SHOALS US, Feature Documentary, 111 minutes, 2013

BIFF's 2013 Grand Prize for Best Film Winner During the most incendiary period of racial hostility, white and Black folks came together in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to create music that would last for generations. Rick Hall managed to entice talent like Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett to come and record what became their hit albums, backed up by the funkiest white men ever— the homegrown house band, the Swampers. As the word spread, the likes of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, the Staples Singers, the Allman Brothers Band, and Lynyrd Skynyrd magnetically followed suit. DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY GREG “FREDDY” CAMALIER PRODUCED BY STEPHEN BADGER GREG “FREDDY” CAMALIER IN PERSON

THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS FOR MAKING THESE FREE SCREENINGS POSSIBLE MARY BACKLUND & GINNI CORSI RICK & KAREN BAKER JAN BURTON DR. WILLIAM & JENNY BURTON TAMMY DAVIS & CHUCK WINTRUB GREG EVANS & CINDY WARD LOUISE & FERD GRAUER MICHAEL HALPERN SCOTT HERRIN KAREN HERZ LOIS LAFOND PATTY & GARY SHARP APRIL & WALT STONE STAR WARING & DAN JOHNSON

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Thank you Boulder International Film Festival for 20 amazing years! SPACE FARMER PRODUCTIONS

projectors • screens • sound • tech support Boulder/Denver, CO www.spacefarmer.com • 720-317-7498

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LONGMONT

FRI MARCH 1 SUN MARCH 3

BUY A PASS! Go to biff1.com before March 1. $175 plus service charge, limited quantity. Includes entry to all Longmont films and the Opening Night Reception.

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION March 1 @ 5:15PM in the Stewart Auditorium Atrium. Free with any March 1 film ticket or Longmont pass. Enjoy:

Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium 400 Quail Rd., Longmont

• Wines from BookCliff Vineyards

$18/ticket, $16/seniors & students, $14/museum members Purchase at biff1.com/Longmont In person at Stewart Auditorium Or call 303-651-8374

• Local beers and Spiked Snowmelt craft hard seltzer from Upslope Brewing • Music by Antonio Lopez & Jonathan Sadler • Catering from The Roost, Jefe's Tacos and Tequila, 99 Bar Saloon, and Swaylo's Tiki Restaurant & Bar

The Boulder International Film Festival is excited to continue bringing world-class films to Longmont.

PROGRAM LONG-04

Saturday 12:15pm

TAKING VENICE

US/France/Venice, Feature Documentary, 98 minutes, 2023 At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. government is determined to fight Communism with culture. The Venice Biennale, the world’s most influential art exhibition, becomes a proving ground in 1964. Emboldened by the exploding art scene of ‘60s New York, powerful art dealers hatch a daring plan to make the unknown Robert Rauschenberg the winner of the Grand Prize.

BOX OFFICE HOURS:

Thurs Feb 29, 9am–9pm Fri March 1, 9am–8pm Sat March 2, 9am–8pm Sun March 3, 9am–8pm

PA R T I A L LY S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY AMEI WALLACH PRODUCED BY ANDREA MILLER, TAL MANDIL, VANESSA BERGONZOLI COLORADO PREMIERE AMEI WALLACH IN PERSON

PROGRAM LONG-02

Friday 7pm

SHORT FILMS 1

See synopses on p.27 TEACUPS KLETTE CARL AND THE JANITOR DARWIN SHAW & WILL HAWKES IN PERSON

IN THE GARDEN OF TULIPS THE FAMILY CIRCUS PROGRAM LONG-01

Friday 3pm

PROGRAM LONG-05

HIP HOP-ERATION

Saturday 2:45pm

SUGAR AND STARS

New Zealand/US, Feature Documentary, 93 minutes, 2014

France, Feature Film, 110 minutes, 2023 “… a sumptuous and autobiographical [film] that rises up like a tasty soufflé.”

Winner of Audience Awards around the world The 23 high-energy elders of Hip Hop-eration are the oldest dance group in the world (according to Guinness). These seniors may have lived almost a century, but for Kara (94), Maynie (95) and Terri (93), the journey to Las Vegas and the World Hip Hop Dance Championships is the greatest adventure of their lives. DIRECTED BY BRYN EVANS PRODUCED BY ALEX LEE, PAULA JONES

PROGRAM LONG-03

Saturday 10am

SHORT FILMS 2

See synopses on p.36 YELLOW DEAD CAT BIENVENIDOS A LOS ANGELES LISA COLE IN PERSON

WE HAVE NOTES THE ONE NOTE MAN

SUBTITLED DIRECTED BY SÉBASTIEN TULARD PRODUCED BY LAURENCE LASCARY COLORADO PREMIERE

RITA MARCOCCI IN PERSON

46 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

Based on a true story. Yazid has one big passion: pastry making. Raised between foster homes and group homes, he gets his first job in the back of a commercial kitchen, and continually encounters nemeses, betrayals and setbacks. But he blindly soldiers on, until he is frantically preparing to compete in the grandest of all of France’s baking championships.

#2024BIFF

PROGRAM LONG-08

Sunday 10am

PICK OF THE LITTER

US, Feature Documentary, 81 minutes, 2018 courtesy of Oléo Films

PROGRAM LONG-06

Saturday 5:15pm

MAESTRA

Pick of the Litter follows a litter of puppies from the moment they’re born and begin their quest to become guide dogs for the blind. Cameras follow these pups through an intense 2-year odyssey. The stakes are high, and not every dog can make the cut: Only the best of the best, the pick of the litter. DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY DON HARDY, DANA NACHMAN

US, Feature Documentary, 88 minutes, 2023 “… the dark side of the classical music world… very few conductors of major orchestras are women.” —T H E H O L LY W O O D R E P O R T E R

Executive produced by David Letterman. A flick of her wand can raise an ocean of sound and a look in her eye can command an army. Why are women only 3% of conductors of the world’s major orchestras? Over 4 days in France, mothers, daughters and leaders take to the stage to compete in La Maestra, the only competition in the world for female conductors. P A R T I A L LY SUBTITLED DIRECTED BY MAGGIE CONTRERAS PRODUCED BY MAGGIE CONTRERAS, NEIL BERKELEY, EMMA WEST, MELANIE MILLER, LAUREN LEXTON BOULDER PREMIERE MAGGIE CONTRERAS IN PERSON

PROGRAM LONG-09

Sunday 12:15pm

ADVENTURE SHORTS 2 See synopses on p.34 CROSS COUNTRIES LOVE

TARA KERZHNER IN PERSON

PROGRAM LONG-11

Sunday 5:15pm

THE FOX

Austria/Germany, Feature Film, 118 minutes, 2023 “A war movie that shows no battles of any kind.”

5 nominations for Austrian Film Awards In 1938, young Franz’s country, Austria, was taken over by Hitler, and Franz (the great-grandfather of this film’s director) was conscripted into the German army as a motorcycle courier. Early in the war, he finds a wounded fox cub and looks after the animal as if it were his own child.. Through his unique friendship with the fox, his own past as an outcast farmer’s son slowly catches up with him as the two begin a dangerous journey. S U B T I T L E D DIRECTED BY ADRIAN GOIGINGER PRODUCED BY MALTE CAN, HANA GEISSENDÖRFER, ADRIAN GOIGINGER, GERRIT KLEIN, THOMAS PRIDNIG, PETER WILDLING, PETER WIRTHENSOHN US PREMIERE

CANADA VERTICAL THE VALLEY OF SILENCE

FELIPE IGNACIO TAPIA NORDENFLYCHT & KAREN WILLIAMS IN PERSON

PROGRAM LONG-10

Sunday 2:45pm

CONFESSIONS OF A GOOD SAMARITAN

Saturday 7:30pm

ADVENTURE SHORTS 1 See synopses on p.23 AFTER YOU’VE GONE KEEPERS OF THE LAND JANWAAR EARTHSIDE

ROB WASSMER IN PERSON

Sunday 7:45pm

Winner at SXSW

ARCTIC ASCENT WITH ALEX HONNOLD

Famed Free Solo climber Alex Honnold and “rock” star Hazel Findlay — battling loose rock, bitter cold and sudden storms — climb one of the tallest unclimbed sea cliffs in the world in Greenland. Honnold will fulfill a lifelong dream of climbing the most remote and toughest walls of Greenland, while also showcasing how climate change is affecting the region.

US, Feature Documentary, 103 minutes, 2022

PROGRAM LONG-07

PROGRAM LONG-12

DIRECTED BY PENNY LANE PRODUCED BY GABRIEL SEDGWICK COLORADO PREMIERE

US, Feature Documentary, 90 minutes, 2024

DIRECTED BY J.J. KELLEY, RICHARD LADKANI PRODUCED BY PLIMSOLL PRODUCTIONS WORLD PREMIERE

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Kanpai! Sushi, saké and a sip of a rare whiskey... your perfect between-film retreat awaits. Proud Host of the VIP Filmmaker Reception

1136 Pearl Street | Boulder Daily 11am - 10pm | 303.938.0330 BoulderJapango.com JapangoRestaurant

FIRST WEATHER

JapangoBoulder

OUR STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Robin Beeck

ADVENTURE FILM PAVILION Mick Follari, Producer

FESTIVAL PASS PICKUP

DIRECTOR

Kathy Beeck

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Kevin Smith

SPONSORSHIP DIRECTOR Chris Northrup

Arlene LaMar Francica, Festival Pass Pickup Manager Chris Francica, Festival Pass Pickup Technical Manager

FILMMAKER COORDINATOR Sara Murphy

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Shawna Sprowls

Sherri Fike

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Jaco Santulli

VOLUNTEER MANAGER Megan Dawson

SPECIAL EVENT

PRODUCER & HOST Ron Bostwick

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Dave Riepe

EDUCATION OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Eileen Dolbeare

BIFF APP DEVELOPMENT

Genavieve Anderson, App Developer and Development Ops Lead Jaco Santulli, Design and Development Ops

Crystal Gray, Co-Manager Nikhil Mankekar, Co-Manager William Baringer Gwen Dooley Topher Downham Jacquie McKenna Patty Sharp John Spitzer Jennilee Steinmann Bill Thomas

FESTIVAL EVENTS

Lauren Piscopo

SENIOR OUTREACH COORDINATOR

FESTIVAL JURY

Arlan Beeck

MODERATOR COORDINATOR Holly Gao

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

CALL2ACTION

Erika Helstrom, Events Team Manager Nicole Alamo, CineCHEF Culinary Director Rosalie Sheffield, Events Manager Jane Backer, Opening Night RSVP Co-Coordinator Dodie Udall, Opening Night RSVP Co-Coordinator

Bob Walter/Stylus Creative Kitty Nicholason

HEAD WRITER

PROGRAM MANAGER

Thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers, who have worked so hard to help us get to our 20th year!

PROGRAM BOOK EDITOR

Barbara Bowerman

SIGNAGE MANAGER Krysia Gallagher

Marty Mapes, President Patti Bruck Mick Follari Lisa Kennedy

SUSTAINABILITY LEAD

FILMMAKER LIAISON

Jeff Adams

BOX OFFICE

Kaitlyn Ryan, Festival Box Office Manager Katy King, Venue Box Office Manager Will Underhill, VIC Box Office Manager Amy Aldredge Garrison Bennet Jane Best Kenda Brouns Svetlana Burova Jennifer Cruger Mary Dahlstrom Naomi Dunlap David Graham Alan Halpern Ann Harsh Patti Leber Patsy O’Day Jackson Reed Lisa Tedesco

56 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

Steve Aldridge, Manager Lisa Bell, Manager Lori Krug Don Sniffin Kathy Sniffin Susie Chandler Lenora Cooper Mary Molloy-Rios Willie Rios Dave Williams

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Jaco Santulli, Digital Communications Manager Alan O'Hashi, Boulder Community Media Randy Malone, Official Photographer Tom Parkin, Video Production & DP George Lomas Jane Pietruszka John Williams Kathyrn Zeigler Kathleen McCormick

#2024BIFF

Kaiela Hobart Maggie Peter Celeste St. Smith

MERCHANDISE

Elsbeth Sweeney, Lead Carol Dwyer

PRODUCTION

Genavieve Anderson, Production Team Lead Franchesca Anderson, Asst Production Team Lead Andrew Odlum, Lead Production Manager Stephen Zanowick, Production Manager Lieschen Gargano, Production Manager

PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION Dave Wheeler, Manager Michael Leccese

SELECTION COMMITTEE Shawna Sprowls Marty Mapes Patti Bruck Peter Dillon Andrea Birgers Laurie Cicotello Sherri Fike Jack Hanley Ginger Havlat Arlene LaMar Francica Patti Leber Meg Moritz Ann Moss Sara Murphy Shay Westcott

STAGE MANAGERS

Jayne Romyn, Stage Management Team Lead Eric Hoffman, Operational Stage Manager Mitch Hulse, Operational Stage Manager Dick Devin Eric Ellis Timothy McDonald Scott Ruble Ethan Bedle Michele Dupepe

Noah Kovar Heather Hurford Rachel Lederman Julien Romeo Motola Bob Nichols Tom Overmann Eric Roth Duncan Todd

TECHNICAL PRODUCTION

Dave Riepe, Technical Director Russell Allen, Technical Producer-Sound Projectionists: Billy Allyn Jacob Corbo Jack Corgiat Morgan Murphy Kendra Nelson William Overton

THEATER OPERATIONS

Jackie Osborn, Theater Operations Team Lead Ali Boyle, Lead House Mgr Melissa Fornabaio, Lead House Mgr Christopher McCarthy, Lead House Mgr Kim Pettingill-Long, Lead House Mgr Anna Mahorski, Lead House Mgr Derek Stanley, Lead House Mgr Cassidy Arnold Tessa Brown Pat Comfort Gary Craig Sherry Feinbaum Karen Hodges

Liz Jessup Michael Kelem Lori Kinczel Joe Lanzoni Kat Lundahl Rose Maiuri Ella McGregor Robin Moskal Thomas Moskal Eric Nudelman Mindy Parker Elisa Patterson Barbara Prowe Dave Petroy Gil Rico Wendy Rico Jody Smith Jennifer Stanley Marjori Todd Helaine Unger

VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT Megan Dawson, Volunteer Manager Patty Kenney, Volunteer Support/ Shiftboard Manager Melissa Fike, Volunteer Training Lead Robert Carr Ed Pierce Jim Gately

Thanks to

WIFI TECHNICIANS

anonymous

Tom Hromada, Tech Wizard Lead Ray Clopton Roger Hall Tom Wingerd

Capital One and a generous donor for their support of our volunteers!

BIFF1.com

THUR PARTIES

FRIDAY

FEB 29

CENTURY BOULDER 1

CENTURY BOULDER 2

BOULDER THEATER / BT

GRACE COMMONS CHURCH / GC

1&2 CENTURY BOULDER / CEN1,2

GC-01 10a p22

CEN2-03 10a p19

WILDING

WED FEB 28

TALK BACK

THROUGH

SUN MARCH 3 at 1426 Pearl St. (Citizens National Bank Bldg) Wednesday 12pm–6pm Thursday 8am–8pm Friday 8am–8pm Saturday 8am–6pm Sunday 8am–2pm

INPERSON

GC- 02 12p p22

UNBROKEN GC- 03 2:30p p23

CIRQUE DE SOLEIL: WITHOUT A NET

CEN1- 02 6:45p p18

BT-02 OPENING NIGHT RED CARPET GALA 5pm PRE-FILM FESTIVITIES at Hotel Boulderado & Rembrandt Yard

7pm BOULDER THEATER DOORS OPEN

CEN2-02 7:15p p18

HAPPY CLOTHES: A FILM ABOUT PATRICIA FIELD

58 Boulder International Film Festival 2024

INPERSON

LONG - 01 3p p46 CEN2-05 3:45p p20

THE ARC OF OBLIVION

HIP HOPERATION

CEN1-05 4:15p p21

5:30-7pm CineCHEF (see p.9)

6-9:30pm SINGERSONGWRITER SHOWCASE (see p.11)

ARCTIC ASCENT WITH TALK ALEX HONNOLD BACK

INPERSON

ALL ABOUT THE LEVKOVICHES

INPERSON

CEN1-04 1:30p p20

TAKING VENICE CEN2- 01 4:45p p17

INPERSON

ANGEL APPLICANT

BT- 01 3p p24

CEN1- 01 4p p17

TALK BACK

CONFESSIONS OF A GOOD SAMARITAN CEN2-04 12:45p p19

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN

FOUR TRAILS

Velvet Elk Lounge

LONGMONT LONG

CEN1-03 10:30a p19

BIFF PASS PICK-UP

Rembrandt Yard 5pm Amuse Bouche

MARCH 1

7:30pm EZRA (see p.25)

GC- 04 5p p23

ADVENTURE SHORTS 1

FRIDA

TALK BACK

CEN2-06 6:15p p21 INPERSON

INPERSON

GC- 05 7:30p p24

REEL ROCK: BURNING THE FLAME + SHORTS

9-Midnight ADVENTURE FILM PARTY

Filmmaker Lounge at Velvet Elk (see p.7)

#2024BIFF

IBELIN

5:15-6:45pm OPENING NIGHT PARTY Stewart Auditorium (see p.46)

CEN1-06 6:45p p21

LONG - 02 7p p46

MEET THE PATELS

SHORT FILMS 1

FRIDAY, MARCH 1 Boulder Public Library

TEEN FILM COMPETITION & AWARDS Doors 5:30pm Music & light apps Program 6:30pm (see p.12)

SATURDAY

MARCH 2

BOULDER THEATER / BT

GRACE COMMONS CHURCH / GC

BOULDER HIGH / HS

1&2 CENTURY LONGMONT BOULDER / CEN1,2 LONG

ETOWN HALL FREE FILMS ET

BT- 03 10a p26

GC- 06 10a p33

HS - 01 10a p29

CEN1-07 10a p31

LONG - 03 10a p46

ET-01 10a p43

VIVA VARDA!

RHINO MAN

FOOD, INC. 2

TERRESTRIAL VERSES

SHORT FILMS 2

SONG OF THE SEA

TALK BACK

INPERSON INPERSON

INPERSON

BT- 04 12:00p p26

PORCELAIN WAR

GC- 07 12:30p p33

HS - 02 12:30p p29

COPA 71

HIP HOP-ERATION

CEN2-07 11:45p p21

FRIDA CEN1-08 12:15p p19

ANGEL APPLICANT

LONG-04 12:15p p46

TAKING VENICE

ET-02 12:15p p43

THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

THE FOX CEN1-09 2:30p p18

SHORT FILMS 1

GC- 08 3p p34

HS - 03 3p p29

ADVENTURE SHORTS 2

TEHACHAPI

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

ET-03 2:30p p43 LONG-05 2:45p p46

HS - 04 5:15p p30

BT- 06 5:30p p28

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER AWARDS CHATTER

GC- 09 5:45p p35

THE WHITE MOUNTAIN

PICK OF THE LITTER

INPERSON

THE ARC OF OBLIVION CEN1-10 5p p27

SHORT FILMS 1

LONG-06 5:15p p46

MAESTRA

TALK BACK

CEN1-11 7:15p p32 HS - 05 7:30p p30

WILDCAT

BOULDER FILMMAKER SHOWCASE

PLUS INTERVIEW WITH LAURA LINNEY

GC-10 8p p35

NOTHING'S FOR FREE:

C.R.A.Z.Y. CEN2-10 7:30p p21

LONG-07 7:30p p46

ADVENTURE SHORTS 1

(see p.12)

ET-04 5p p43

FARTHER THAN THE EYE CAN SEE

INPERSON

BT- 07 7:30p p28

Ages 14-18

3:30-5:30pm VIP FILMMAKER RECEPTION Japango (see p.7)

CEN2-09 4:45p p20

INPERSON

Boulder High Cafeteria YOUTH WORKSHOP: HOW TO WATCH A MOVIE 1-2:30pm

MAYA ANGELOU AND I STILL RISE

SUGAR AND STARS

TALK BACK

INPERSON

CEN2-08 2p p32

BT- 05 2:45p p27

PARTY & EVENT VENUES

ET-05 7:15p p43

MUSCLE SHOALS

6-9:30pm SINGERSONGWRITER SHOWCASE Velvet Elk Lounge (see p.11)

IBELIN

HISTORY OF FREERIDE MOUNTAIN BIKING

9-Midnight BIFF NOIR Bohemian Biergaraten (see p.7)

BIFF1.com

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Music is Life with the Boulder Phil

“Orchestral music is an exquisite art – at its best, it demonstrates the raw and transformative powers of collaboration, creativity, and communication.”

oulder, Colorado, is known for its thriving arts community — with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra at its heart. Presenting world-class music and guest artists for over six decades, the Phil draws on the high-level talent of local musicians to cultivate community through its engaging performances. The 2023/24 Season highlights a diverse cultural calendar of unforgettable experiences for all music lovers.

the organization gains a visionary leader who possesses a deep appreciation for the transformative potential of orchestral music. In her own words, “Orchestral music is an exquisite art - at its best, it demonstrates the raw and transformative powers of collaboration, creativity, and communication.” Mimi’s vision extends far beyond the concert stage, recognizing the orchestra as an integral component of the cultural tapestry. Driven by an unwavering passion for symphonic music, Mimi is eager to continue enriching the Boulder community through memorable performances and educational outreach. Additionally, the orchestra welcomes Judy Knapp as the new Board of Trustees President and Jesse Gilday as Director of Development, positioning the Boulder Phil for its next phase of growth and innovation. Together, the Phil family anticipates a season brimming with captivating musical experiences and a future that reflects the transformative spirit of our community and the arts.

The masterworks artists The orchestra is set to shine in a series of compelling performances for 2023/24. Renowned pianist Anne-Marie McDermott joins the Boulder Phil for the first time, opening the season with Beethoven’s fourth piano concerto. In November, a unique collaboration unfolds with the arrival of bandoneon soloist Richard Scofano and Boulder’s own Third Law Dance/Theater. In the new year, Cuban pianist and composer

Aldo López-Gavilán will make a triumphant return to Boulder, performing his piano concerto Emporium and presenting the world premiere of his new Clarinet Concerto featuring Ricardo Morales, principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The season continues to dazzle with appearances by Boulder’s star cellist David Requiro in February and Midori protégé Francisco Fullana, who closes the season with brilliant virtuosity in April.

The composers The Boulder Phil’s history of programming an innovative mix of new work and established masterpieces continues with a rich array of repertoire. Audiences can anticipate the passionate notes of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, the vivid imagery of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, the genius of Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony, and the grandeur of Brahms’ Symphony No. 1. Alongside new compositions by Richard Scofano and Aldo López-Gavilán, the orchestra presents works by Viet Cuong, Lili Boulanger, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, and a world premiere by local composer Jeffrey Nytch, crafted to honor the 75th anniversary of the iconic Boulder Star.

Special engagements A memorable holiday season awaits once again this year: On Thanksgiving weekend, the orchestra offers four performances of Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker in collaboration with Boulder Ballet, while December brings us the ever-popular Holiday Brass Concert. Additionally, the return of Cirque de la Symphonie in May promises two performances filled with a unique fusion of acrobatics, aerial magic, and theatrical flair, capping off a season packed with diverse and spellbinding musical experiences for everyone.

Decades of enriching communities

Top Photo: Young audience members in “Discovery” with Boulder Phil. Bottom Photo: Boulder Phil Discovery Concert in full attendance at Macky Auditorium | Photos by Jamie Kraus Photography

New beginnings Under the baton of Music Director Michael Butterman — who is celebrating his 17th year with the Boulder Phil — the 2023/24 Season embarks on a musical journey that

pays tribute to the past while ardently embracing the future. The orchestra’s 66th year signifies another chapter in its ongoing evolution. With the appointment of a new Executive Director, Mimi Kruger,

Michael Butterman and the Boulder Phil at Macky Auditorium | Photo by Jamie Kraus Photography

This season, the Boulder Phil celebrates the success of its Education and Community Engagement (EdCE) programming. Over the years, the orchestra has grown to offer nearly a dozen enriching community programs that foster education and engagement through the profound influence of music. These include Musical Hikes, In-School Visits, and the flagship Discovery Education Concert, many of which come at no cost to those they serve. Providing these musical experiences to the community not only enriches lives but also contributes to the cultural and artistic vibrancy of Colorado’s Front Range.

The Early Explorers program, introduced in 2019, has been fostering the love of music and nurturing young minds in collaboration with Boulder County Head Start and Integral Steps. This initiative aims to shape the next generation of music enthusiasts and world-changers. Building upon its success, the program is now expanding its reach to encompass students from Pre-K through 2nd Grade, specifically targeting Boulder Valley School District Title I schools. This expansion signifies the orchestra’s commitment to broadening its impact and instilling the joy of music in even more young hearts. Fernanda Nieto, Boulder Phil’s EdCE Director, explains none of these initiatives would be possible without the support of the community, from audience members to advocates for education. “This enduring commitment reflects a community with an insatiable hunger for learning at all stages of life,” Nieto describes. “The impact of our community programs goes beyond music. Through music, we open the doors to imagination, wonder, and curiosity. We open the doors to connection to a kind of beauty that everyone should be able to access.” To learn more about Boulder Phil’s Education and Community Engagement programs, and how you can make a meaningful impact, explore BoulderPhil.org or reach out to info@boulderphil.org. Your support, whether through volunteering your time or contributing to the orchestra’s mission, plays a vital role in bringing the transformative power of music to our community. With outstanding guest artists, well-loved classics, world premieres, community collaborations, and lots of great familyfriendly programming, you won’t want to miss a moment of Boulder Phil’s 2023/24 Season. Subscribe now to experience the excitement all season long.

The Boulder Phil’s 2023/24 Season subscription packages are available at BoulderPhil.org and by phone at 303.449.1343. Single tickets are on sale now with ticket prices ranging from $22-$94. Tickets for all students are only $10.

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SUNDAY BOULDER HIGH / HS

1 CENTURY BOULDER / CEN1

BT- 08 10a p35

HS - 06 10a p37

CEN1-12 10a p29

MAESTRA

THE SECRET OF KELLS

TEHACHAPI

BOULDER THEATER / BT

GRACE COMMONS CHURCH / GC

MARCH 3

Come by the Capital One Café for a COMPLIMENTARY coffee and breakfast treat with your BIFF ticket stub or pass. One per customer while supplies last. 13th & Pearl. Sunday, 9-11am

2 CENTURY BOULDER / CEN2

LONGMONT LONG

LONG-08 10a p46 CEN2-11 10:30a p17

ALL ABOUT THE LEVKOVICHES

PICK OF THE LITTER

12 HS - 07 12:15p p20

BT- 09 12:30p p36

SHORT FILMS 2

UNBROKEN GC-11 1p p38

FOOD, INC. 2

NO LEGS. ALL HEART. TALK BACK

INPERSON

CEN2-12 1p p18

ADVENTURE SHORTS 2

HAPPY CLOTHES: A FILM ABOUT PATRICIA FIELD

INPERSON

LONG-10 2:45p p46

BT-10 3p p37

ONE LIFE

LONG-09 12:15p p46

CEN1-13 12:30p p29

GC-12 3:30p p39

ADVENTURE SHORTS 3

HS - 08 3p p38

CEN1-14 3p p26

SUGAR AND STARS

VIVA VARDA!

CONFESSIONS OF A GOOD SAMARITAN

CEN2-13 4:30p p19

CEN1-15 5:15p p36

GC-13 6p p39 BT-11

Doors Open 6:30p Passholders 6:15p Live Music 6:15p Awards 7:15p Film 7:30p

Closing Night Awards & Film THE COWBOY AND THE QUEEN

TALK BACK

SHORT FILMS 2

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN

5 LONG-11 5:15p p46

THE FOX

WADE IN THE WATER:

A JOURNEYINPERSON INTO INPERSON BLACK SURFING AND AQUATIC CULTURE

LONG-12 7:45p p46

ARCTIC ASCENT WITH ALEX HONNOLD

(See p.41)

BIFF1.com

JOIN US IN THE HEART OF BOULDER

BOULDER, CO

720.406.9696

BIFF 2024