THE BOULDER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
January 2009 - News from the Colorado Film Society

  • 5th Annual BIFF a Stunning Success!
  • CHEVY CHASE CRACKS UP BIFF CROWDS
  • March Schmoozer and Volunteer Appreciation Party
  • The Durango Independent Film Festival is March 4 - 8
  • Film Event for International Women’s Day, March 5th
  • Enter to win VIP Passes to BIFF 2010!
  • And thanks to our New BIFF sponsors!
  • Join the Boulder International Film Festival Facebook!

CHEVY CHASE CRACKS UP BIFF CROWDS

Funny Man Chevy Chase received an Award of Excellence in Comedy on Valentine’s Day

He accidentally knocked over the Evian water bottles placed on a table on the stage just for him, he played with the footrest on the folding chair he was sitting in until the chair nearly collapsed, he pretended to fall asleep during questions from moderator Ron Bostwick, (who expertly played his straight man and foil), he paced back and forth with open Evian bottle in his hand which would spray water all over the stage whenever he waved his hand to make a point.

Through questions from the moderator and the audience, he told, and physically demonstrated, wildly funny stories of people from his long career, peppered with straight-faced outrageous "confessions:" ( His gay love affairs with Lorne Michaels and Rodney Dangerfield? Is Betty Ford’s butt really just as attractive as his wife Jayni’s?)

Mega-comics Seinfeld, Cosby and Newhart polish their routines for a year before they take it on the road...Chevy Chase and Ron Bostwick winged "An Evening With Chevy Chase," with no rehearsal, and kept the big Boulder audience screaming in laughter for over an hour. It was a tour de force performance by a 65-year-old comedic genius still at the very top of his game.

March Schmoozer and Volunteer Appreciation Party

This month’s highly popular BIFF Schmoozefest is also a celebration for BIFF volunteers, who worked incredibly hard to help make BIFF a success! The festivities are Wednesday, March 4th at 5:30pm. We’ll have great munchies, cheap wine, and non-stop, wall- to-wall conversation. Please RSVP to staff@biff1.com. We’re located at 1906 13th Street, Suite 301, on the NE corner of 13th and Walnut, just three doors south of Connor O’Neill’s. See you there!

The Durango Independent Film Festival is March 4 - 8

The Durango Independent Film Festival, March 4 - 8, is committed to film literacy and to being a welcoming, intimate, and unique film organization that screens global, innovative, and diverse films that connect independent filmmakers, their artistic process, and their vision to the community. The program is now online and tickets on sale at durangofilm.org.

Film Event for International Women’s Day, March 5th

International Women’s Day is observed each year on March 8th. This year, on Thursday, March 5th, in honor of International Women’s Day, CARE, ONE and NCM Fathom will present A Powerful Noise live in 450 movie theatres nationwide for one night. Watch movie trailer here: apowerfulnoise.org/trailer.html

The event will begin with the acclaimed documentary, A Powerful Noise, which follows three women from different countries who overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to bring lasting solutions to their communities. A Powerful Noise takes you inside the lives of these women to witness their daily challenges and their significant victories over poverty and oppression. Their stories are personal yet illustrate larger issues affecting millions of marginalized women worldwide. A Powerful Noise is a meditation on the inherent potential of women to change the world.

Immediately following the film, a town hall discussion with humanitarian experts Madeleine K. Albright, Nicholas Kristof, Christy Turlington Burns and Dr. Helene Gayle will be broadcast live to all theatres.. You can purchase tickets in advance at the theater or on the website: http://www.fandango. com/. See you there! The Boulder Century Theatre at 29th Street Mall, Thursday, March 5th at 5:30pm.

Enter to win VIP Passes to BIFF 2010!

We are asking your help by completing a survey about the Boulder International Film Festival on gofilmfest.com. A professional, third-party demographic survey is a vital step in the future long-term funding of the Festival, and in our continued efforts to improve BIFF. A large response from BIFF fans right now will help immeasurably. The results of this survey will help improve and expand our operations and programs as BIFF continues its remarkable growth, and, of course, your specific feedback will remain private. Additionally, by completing the survey, you will be entered to win (2) VIP passes to BIFF 2010. The surveys should take just a couple of minutes and can also be found on biff1.com/survey09.html. Tell your friends!

And thanks to our New BIFF sponsors!

Seth Ellis Chocolatier
Multi-Media Audio Visual
Savory Cuisines
Concertos in Chocolate
AOV

Join the Boulder International Film Festival Facebook!

Help spread the word about our page and become a fan yourself! It’s a great way to stay connected and get all the latest information on BIFF Facebook

5th Annual BIFF a Stunning Success!

Above: Ron Bostwick, one of BIFF’s greatest assets, gave brilliant stage interviews during the festival this year, from Oscar-nominated director Rob Lurie and Burmese Princess Inge Sargeant to his hilarious, unforgettable hour-long Q&A with Chevy Chase. Bravo, Ron!

Award-winning films, world-renowned filmmakers and film aficionados descended upon Boulder, Colo. for the fifth annual Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF). An audience of more than 14,300 attended the 4-day 2009 Festival, a nine percent increase in attendance from 2008. Huge, enthusiastic Boulder audiences coupled with high-profile films, premiers and stars have helped to propel BIFF into the top echelons of young international film festivals.

Five screenings sold out during this year’s Festival, including the short documentaries "School of Thought" and "Come Back to Sudan," "Sari Soldiers," an intense documentary produced by Julie Bridgham, a University of Colorado alum; "Prince of Broadway," a film about a New York hustler and street salesman; a pre-release screening of "Sunshine Cleaning," a dark comedy starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt; and the second of two shorts programs featuring a series of short length films, documentaries and animations.

"We have always strived to provide audiences with memorable experiences and powerful independent films, and this year’s Festival was no exception," said Robin Beeck, BIFF’s executive director. "The 2009 Festival was a stunning success made possible by BIFF’s unique combination of accomplished filmmakers, cinema lovers, sponsors and volunteers, and we thank them all for their important contributions."

2009 Boulder International Film Festival Award Winners:

Best New Filmmaker: Sean Baker
Best Student Film: "In the Dark"
Best Dramatic Comedy: "Sunshine Cleaning"
Best Music Documentary: "Anvil: The Story of Anvil"
Best Colorado Film: "They Killed Sister Dorothy"
Best Animation: "Sita Sings the Blues"
Best Environmental Film: "American Outrage"
Best Short Film: "Tag"
Best Short Documentary: "Smile Pinki"
Best Feature Documentary: "Pirate for the Sea"
Best Feature Film: "Nothing But the Truth"
Grand Prize: "Burma VJ: Reporting From a Closed Country"