BIFF Events and Parties
Great parties are one of the mainstays of great film festivals. The Boulder International Film Festival will host a variety of events throughout downtown Boulder during the Festival.
Media Welcome Reception (Media pass holders only)
Thursday, February 16th
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
BIFF Office, 1426 Pearl St., #14
Join the Festival founders and leaders at a private reception prior to the Opening Night Gala. Enjoy complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres before being escorted to the Boulder Theater to walk the red carpet.
CFS Opening Night Gala and Premiere Film
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St.
Thursday, February 16th
6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Cost: $50, VIP or media pass
Socialize with actors, filmmakers and film buffs at this premiere presentation of the Festival and Boulder’s most exciting, well-publicized film event of the year. The black-tie-optional gala will kick off the Festival in style with a major studio film premiere, “The Sisters,” a host of visiting filmmakers, live music by Onda, and refreshments.
BIFF Filmmaker/VIP Welcome Party (Invitation Only)
St. Julien Hotel, 900 Walnut St.
Friday, February 17th
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free Invited Guest Only
Celebrate and meet the provocative artists behind the films at BIFF’s filmmaker reception. Music provided by Georg Haugland, guitarist.
Colorado Film Society Filmmaker Reception
Rembrandt Yard, 1301 Spruce St.
Saturday, February 18th
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Cost: $ 10.00
This casual, laid-back event is open to the public. Meet and greet filmmakers and the people behind BIFF. Music provided by Bilbao.
BIFF Closing Film and Awards Celebration
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St.
Sunday, February 19th
6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Cost: $25.00
BIFF will end the Festival with the presentation of the Colorado Film Society Awards and a special closing-night screening of the Tibetan film, “What Remains of Us.” The film will be preceded by music from a local Tibetan musician. This is a high-security event. No recording devices or cell phones will be permitted in the theater due to the nature of the film. The Rebecca Folsom Band performs after the film. Food provided by Frasca and Coleman Natural Foods.
Colorado Film Society Educational Outreach Program
One of the earliest priorities of the Colorado Film Society was to develop a program for educational outreach to Colorado students. Our pioneering program presents films and symposia in schools, and at our facility during off-school hours, in order to ignite a new and lasting sense of social, intercultural and technical imagination in the next generation.
During BIFF 2005, the CFS Educational Outreach Program offered a free and well-attended film block for students, provided more than 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 its final film project titled, “The Birth of BIFF.”
CFS educational outreach in 2005 included: a free film program and discussion at CFS headquarters for high school students; a presentation of BIFF films at Boulder High School and the University of Colorado; a free seminar open to the public, conducted by the Colorado Actors and Screenwriters Association (CASA) of Denver; a seminar on filmmaking for at-risk kids of the Our Love of Children Foundation, a health and well-being program; and serving as headquarters for the newly formed Student Film Boulder led by Sam Osborne, a local high school student.
BIFF 2006 will reach out to middle school, high school and college students with the film, “Higher Ground,” produced by Warren Miller Entertainment. Representatives from Warren Miller will be on-hand after the screening to answer questions from the students about the making of the film. “Higher Ground,” sold out several screenings at the Boulder Theater in 2005. It’s free to students, and will be shown Friday, Feb. 17th at 10:00 a.m. at the Boulder Theater
BIFF Leadership Team
BIFF’s greatest strength lies in the experience of its team. BIFF’s leaders are filmmakers, producers, directors, professional events coordinators and businesspeople. They have attended and entered films in festivals throughout the world, and drawing on the best they’ve seen, have used their extensive experience and contacts to build a true filmmaker’s festival.
Robin Beeck, executive director
Robin is a critically acclaimed documentary filmmaker, whose films have won awards in more than a dozen major film festivals, including Telluride Mountainfilm and Banff. Robin’s most recent film, “Grandpa’s Still in the Tuffshed,” has toured the world and become a cult classic.
Kathy Beeck, festival director
Kathy is a producer for Robin Beeck Films and her fundraising and marketing efforts have garnered recognition from The New York Times, Boston Globe, NPR, Fox News, Extra, and Inside Edition, among many others. Kathy was marketing manager at Wild Oats Markets, Inc., and is now devoted full-time to BIFF and the Colorado Film Society.
Joan Cleland, volunteer coordinator
Joan, who moved to Boulder from Madison, WI in 2001, is a book buyer at the Boulder Bookstore. She has had a variety of volunteer experiences, including organizing political campaigns and sailing regattas. She has an avid interest in foreign films.
Cheryl Johnson, events co-coordinator
“CJ” is an award-winning creative director with 15 years of experience in entertainment design and special event production. She has worked for many international entertainment companies, including Disney and Paramount. CJ recently opened her own design firm specializing in entertainment and interior design.
Pamela Knott, festival consultant
Pamela has worked for 20 years with the Banff Television Festival, eight years with the Taste of Banff Festival and four years with the Banff Mountain Film Festival. She is also the Special Events Coordinator for the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
Robyn Nick, events co-coordinator
Robyn is the director of marketing for Coleman Natural Foods and previously directed regional and national brand strategy for Wild Oats Markets, Inc. She has also implemented partnerships and negotiated sponsorships with key Boulder community groups, including the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Chautauqua Summer Concert Series, and Downtown Boulder, Inc.
Dave Riepe, technical manager
Dave produces the acclaimed Boulder Outdoor Cinema and brings more than 15 years of programming and event production experience to the Festival.
Brad Weismann, workshops and panels coordinator
Currently serving as the News Editor of the Colorado Daily newspaper, Brad is a journalist, critic and playwright whose work has appeared in English-language publications on three continents. Before working as a full-time wordsmith, he spent 15 years as a standup and improvisational comedian, as well as a radio personality.
Nicky Wolman, education outreach manager
Nicky has been in education for more than 30 years. Her work has primarily focused on student intervention programs, and she has received numerous grants and awards for her innovative programs. Retired, she is now able to volunteer for programs such as BIFF, BoldeReach and the Chinook Clubhouse.
Denise Zainea, public relations manager
Denise is a public relations consultant with more than seven years of experience promoting natural and organic products and clients in the arts entertainment industry. She has placed articles in publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post to Food & Wine and Organic Style.
BIFF Selection Committee
The selection committee is made up of local professionals from the film industry, including University of Colorado film studies professors and filmmakers.
Kathy Beeck
Robin Beeck
Christine Botvinick
Mark Botvinick
Cory Chavez
Colleen Conroy
Jeanine Fritz
Joel Haertling
Laurel Hunter
Patrick Mallek
Kathleen Man
Marty Mapes
Ben Phelan
Dave Riepe
BIFF Advisory Board
Loren Ankarlo, president, Ankarlo Training Group
Shaun McGrath, program manager, Western Governors' Association, Boulder City Councilperson
Jim Palmer, director, Conference on World Affairs and the World Affairs Athenaeum/Professor of Film Studies, University of Colorado
Marsha Walker, founder, Making Amends Fund, Grassroots Gang
Sonja Tuitele, senior director of corporate communications, Wild Oats Markets
Ericka Frederick, sales and marketing, Eastman Kodak
BIFF Board of Directors
Kathy Beeck, director, Colorado Film Society
Robin Beeck, executive director, Colorado Film Society
Leesa Carter, education director, Renew Life Formulas
David Harrison, attorney at law
William Vielehr, sculptor, public speaker and guest lecturer
Colorado Film Society and Boulder International Film Festival
Fact Sheet
CFS is a non-profit organization founded by local filmmakers, Kathy and Robin Beeck. BIFF is presented by CFS, which is dedicated to providing the large, urban, film-hip audiences of the Boulder/Denver metro area with an early look at the best new films in international cinema.
CFS will conduct lectures, symposia, networking events and student film programs year-round at its office, area schools and during BIFF. CFS will also provide meeting space, fundraisers, education and marketing for other film festivals and film groups.
The BIFF board and staff have selected the best elements of the hundreds of film festivals they have attended and blended them together into an event of films, panel discussions and parties, all located in downtown Boulder near the Pearl Street Mall.
BIFF has received an enthusiastic response from the international film community and will screen a total of 50 films, including 24 films from around of the world at the 2006 Festival.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors for each BIFF program block. VIP passes are $295 and give patrons access to all parties, films, panels and workshops. Tickets and VIP passes are available for purchase on www.bouldertheater.com beginning Jan. 30, 2006.
Audiences will have an opportunity to meet and learn from a provocative group of talented filmmakers. BIFF 2006 will host more than 20 filmmakers who are accompanying their films to the Festival, speaking at screenings, answering questions and joining panel discussions.
More than 100 volunteers staff the Festival venues, headquarters, and provide marketing and public relations support during the four-day Festival.
Top 10 reasons to attend BIFF 2006:
10. Watch great films and explore Boulder's world-class shops, night clubs, galleries and restaurants over President's Day weekend.
9. See celebrities slated to attend -- Golden Globe nominee Maria Bello, as well as Marie Matiko, Danielle Proulx, Patrick Warburton and Eric Roberts, screenwriter Richard Alfieri and producer Judd Payne.
8. Walk the red carpet at the Opening Night Gala and Premiere Film, a formal-attire event with celebrities and great food, drinks and music at the historic Boulder Theater.
7. At the Opening Night Gala, see Arthur Seidelman’s acclaimed new film, “The Sisters,” starring Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), Maria Bello, Rip Torn, Chris O'Donnell and Mary Stuart Masterson. Afterward, immerse yourself in the music of Onda, an Afro-Cuban, eight-piece band.
6. Middle school, high school and college students will be treated to a FREE screening of Warren Miller’s latest masterpiece, “Higher Ground,” and learn how ski films are made from Warren Miller representatives.
5. Attend panel discussions, workshops and Q&A sessions with filmmakers and screenwriters; learn how they translate creative ideas into cinematic stories.
4. Hob nob with guests, filmmakers and celebrities at parties every night. Venues include the Boulder Theater, Rembrandt Yard and the elegant St. Julien hotel.
3. Attend the Closing Night Awards Ceremony at the Boulder Theater. Watch the presentation of the “Vielehr” awards, which were created for BIFF by internationally renowned Boulder sculptor, Bill Vielehr. See the powerful, top-secret Canadian-Tibetan film, “What Remains of Us.”
2. Also on closing night, delight in hors d’oeuvres provided by one of America’s top 10 chefs, Lachlan McKinnon-Patterson of Frasca. Dance to the Rebecca Folsom Band after the film.
1. Enjoy the best, most entertaining and most influential international films of 2005. BIFF is a four-day program featuring more than 50 films and 30 world-class independent filmmakers.
P R E S S R O O M
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Filmmaker contacts to arrange phone interviews:
20 Seconds of Joy
Jens Hoffmannjhoffmann@f24film.de3 Peaks, 3 Weeks
Dave D'Angelo dave@serac-films.coAria Next Door
Brad Stabiobstabio@earthlink.netBeauty Mark
ditonic@aol.comDiane IsrealBeyond the Call
Adrian Belicwadirum1@aol.comCarmichael & Shane
Rob Carlton/Alex Weinressaweinress@hixonfilms.com Conversing with Aotearoa
Corrie Francisisconversing@corriefrancis.comDalai Lama Renaissance
Khashyar Darvichkhashyard@wakan.com Greensboro: Closer to the Truth
Adam Zucker azfilmmaker@verizon.comGlass, Concrete & Stone
Doug Nicholasdougn@ghostly.comIn Times of War: Ray Parker's Story
Mark Bonnmarkbonn@mymonkeyhouse.comIn the Name of the Son
Harun Mehmedinovicmodrac@gmail.comKing Lines
Peter MortimerPeter@senderfilms.comLast Hat in Town
Zachary Finkzachary@soulfabric.netMagnetic Squirrel in Dog Dazed
Pat Mallekpat@mightyfudge.comMr. Reapers Really Bad Morning
Kevin D.A. Kuynik & Carol Beecherreaper@nucleus.comMy Name is Ahmed Ahmed
Matthew Testamatthewtesta@gmail.comNo Room for Gerold
Daniel Nockedmnocke@aol.comRow Hard, No Excuses
Luke Wolbachluke@lanternfilms.comRunning Down the Man
Travis Rummel and Ben Knightknightphoto@gmail.comSeeing Psychic Sally
Peter Goodmanpgpgnyc@yahoo.comShut-Eye Hotel
Bill Plymptonplymptoons@aol.com Taken
Don Sniffindon.sniffin@comcast.netThe Cave
Timothy Schultzbullheadentertainment@gmail.comThe Death of Shula
asafkorman@gmail.comAsaf KormanThe Fog
Emilio Ramoszinedinemiliane@yahoo.com The Job
Jonathan Browninginfo@jonathanbrowning.com The Life Penalty
David Quint info@WildBerryProductions.com The Replacement Child
Justin Lernerjustin@twelve34films.com The Singing Revolution
Jim Tusty & Maureen Castlejim@mvgltd.com Two Swimmers
Steven Sandersteven_sander@hotmail.com 