Goals and Objectives:

The mission of the Colorado Film Society (CFS) is to encourage and celebrate the art of film by creating a dynamic forum for artistic, social and cultural awareness in the community.

Our main organizational goals, which will fulfill the mission of CFS are 1) to inspire and enlighten Colorado audiences with a dynamic cultural film experience; (2) to conduct wide-ranging educational outreach programs and symposiums designed to encourage and expose a new generation of students and viewers to international film; (3) to foster a vibrant local film community by becoming a resource for Colorado filmmakers and film organizations to further build, promote and celebrate the art of filmmaking; and (4) to provide independent filmmakers with a platform to debut ideas and grow their careers through networking and showcasing their work.

Organizational History:

Documentary filmmakers Robin and Kathy Beeck, whose films have won awards and critical acclaim in dozens of major film festivals, founded the Colorado Film Society in 2003.  They began writing, directing and producing films in 1996, including the cult classic “Grandpa’s Still in the Tuff Shed.”  While screening at film festivals throughout the world, they were witness to the power of independent film and its ability to change the world in which we live.  They set out to unite individuals who share the common goals of the Colorado Film Society, and used their extensive experience and contacts to recruit filmmakers, producers, programmers, events coordinators, and marketing professionals to the CFS staff.  The inaugural Boulder International Film Festival was presented by the CFS in February 2005 and was awarded “Best New Festival” by readers of Westword and “Best of Boulder” in the Boulder Weekly.  The Colorado Film Society became a 501(c) 3 organization, further solidifying its commitment to the future of film in Colorado.

Programs, Activities, and Accomplishments:

The Colorado Film Society offers four main programs throughout the year: (1) the Boulder International Film Festival; (2) the CFS Educational Outreach Program; (3) the CFS Community Resource Program; and (4) the CFS Independent Film Series.

The Boulder International Film Festival offers audiences a unique opportunity to see films from all corners of the world and to learn from a diverse group of filmmakers.  BIFF 2005 featured 55 films from twenty countries, in addition to workshops, networking opportunities and panels. Over half of the filmmakers accompanied their films to the festival and were available for question/answer sessions following their film screenings. The Friday and Saturday night film programs sold out the entire 800-seat Boulder Theater, with overall attendance for the four-day weekend of over 5000. The Festival opened with a premiere of the Fox Searchlight film “Millions” by Danny Boyle, and closed with the Sundance-winning documentary film “The Liberace of Baghdad”, starring Samir Peter, the most famous piano player in Iraq.  CFS was pleased to have brought Mr. Peter to Boulder for BIFF, where he played a concert for enthusiastic fans after the screening of the film. This interaction is part of the magnificent richness of film festivals, and is what has made them into an unforgettable experience - a place to be entertained, to learn and to be inspired.

One of the earliest priorities of the Colorado Film Society has been to develop a pioneering program for educational outreach to Colorado students of all ages.   During BIFF 2005, the CFS Educational Outreach Program offered a free and well-attended film block for students, provided over 300 free tickets to students for workshops and other film programs, presented a block of student-made films, and awarded the “Best Student Film” at the Festival.  Velcrow Ripper, a Canadian award-winning documentary filmmaker presented his film “Scared Sacred” at the University of Colorado, Naropa University and Fairview High School, in addition to screening at BIFF.  Also, a student team from Denver (Ohio School of Broadcasting) was given complete and total access to BIFF 2005 for their final film project titled “The Birth of BIFF.”  CFS outreach programs in the 3 months since the Festival include: a free film program and discussion at our headquarters for high school students led by Dr. Jane Elvins, our Educational Outreach Coordinator and an Instructor from the University of Colorado; a presentation of BIFF films at Boulder High School and the University of Colorado; and a free seminar open to the public, conducted by the Colorado Actors and Screenwriters Association (CASA) of Denver. 

The CFS Community Resource Program strives to help nurture and grow the blossoming film community in Colorado by providing several different types of support to other Colorado film festivals, filmmakers and industry groups.  This support includes event promotion in our newsletter; use of our facilities for receptions, workshops, and meetings; space to distribute and place information, banners, and materials about their organization and activities; and promotion of their logo and events at the annual Film Festival in February.  Organizations we have assisted include, but are not limited to: The Asian Film Festival, Toofy Film Festival, The Shoot-Out Boulder 24-Hour Filmmaking Festival, The Chaos Film Festival, The Adventure Film Festival, Colorado Actors & Screenwriters Assembly, Community Access Television, Boulder Film Alliance, The Outdoor Cinema, and The Documentary Cinema Institute.  In addition, CFS hosted a fundraiser for “Dialy Kama Diebate”, a documentary film on the people and music of Senegal.

The Colorado Film Society Independent Film Series features year-round independent film programs.  In May 2005, nearly 500 people attended the first in the series - “The Best of BIFF Shorts”, which included the 2005 Academy Award-winning film “WASP.”  Our goal is to bring noted filmmakers and industry professionals to Colorado to address audiences and present their work and to serve as an ongoing revenue source for CFS.

Volunteers and In-kind

The Colorado Film Society has attracted 115 typically-Boulder-way-over-qualified  volunteers from the community to its management and staff.  These volunteers include the 14 members of the CFS core and leadership staff, BIFF event staff, marketing, public relations, educational outreach, and sponsorship teams. Our staff and team members represent talented professionals passionate about film and committed to the goals of CFS and BIFF. They have donated countless hours of volunteer support, and we are fortunate to have them as such an integral part of the success of our first year.

In-kind support by local businesses was also an important part of our success. We received valuable print advertising, radio play, reception space, hotel accommodation, creative design work, equipment donation, and food & beverage support totaling well over $150,000 from the following businesses: KBCO, The Daily Camera, 42 Productions, Blue Shadow Designs, Boulder Digital Arts, St. Julien Hotel, Pearl St. Inn, Bradley Inn, Rembrandt Yard, Mallek Creative, Boulder Outdoor Cinema, Alpine Audio & Visual, Windom Hannaway & Assoc., Lisa Busch Creative, Flying Dog Brewery, Cheesecake Factory, Murphy's Bar & Grill, Old Chicago Pizza, The Kitchen, and Wild Oats Markets.

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