$95 / Free for Passholders (RSVP Required)
Opening Night Feature Film: The Duke
5:00pm – 7:00pm: Pre-Film Parties (details below)
7:00pm: Doors Open at Boulder Theater
7:30pm Opening remarks, The Duke
**One Opening Night ticket is included with the purchase
of each BIFF Festival Pass (RSVP required).
In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver, stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. It was the first (and remains the only) theft in the Gallery’s history. Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly – he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television. What happened next became the stuff of legend. Only 50 years later did the full story emerge – Kempton had spun a web of lies. The only truth was that he was a good man, determined to change the world and save his marriage – how and why he used the Duke to achieve that is a wonderfully uplifting tale.
Directed by Roger Michell
Produced by Nicky Bentham
Courtesy of Sony Picture Classics
Presented by 105.5 The Colorado Sound
NOTE: once again this year, the Red Carpet Gala will be held on
FRIDAY night (so you can stay out later!)
Join us as we come together to celebrate our community, and help welcome our visiting filmmakers to Boulder! Your Opening Night ticket grants you access to our TWO party venues–the Hotel Boulderado Ballroom and the Rembrandt Yard Art Gallery & Event Center—each featuring delicious food, live music and libations.
As we wrap up the pre-film festivities, in the spirit of Mardi Gras, a ‘second line’ jazz band will lead us as we parade our way over to the Boulder Theater.
Once settled into your reserved seat at the theater, enjoy the evening’s presentation of The Duke.
– A gourmet selection of appetizers from the
Auguste Escoffier School
of Culinary Arts
– Wines by Winc/Natural Merchants
and Bookcliff Vineyards
– Local beers and Snowmelt spiked hard seltzer
by Upslope Brewing
– Specialty cocktails from
WhistlePig Rye Whiskey
– Music by The Mark Diamond Trio
– Tasty house-made Italian specialties from
Pasta Jay’s Catering
– Inspired bites created by
Savory Cuisines Catering
– Wines by Winc/Natural Merchants
and Bookcliff Vineyards
– Local beers and Snowmelt spiked seltzer
by Upslope Brewing
– Specialty cocktails from WhistlePig
Rye Whiskey
– Music by Scott Martin and Gonzalo Teppa
