The Boulder International Film Festival is a four-day celebration of independent cinema founded in 2005 by filmmaker sisters Kathy and Robin Beeck. Named one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” in the world by MovieMaker Magazine, BIFF has grown from 35 films at two venues in its inaugural year to a major regional festival screening nearly 70 films across multiple Boulder venues, attracting more than 25,000 attendees annually.
The Beeck sisters, both CU Boulder alumni who began their careers as “popcorn girls” at local theaters in the late 1970s, started the festival after Robin was laid off from a tech job in 2004. Working as documentary filmmakers, they recognized Boulder as an ideal setting for a film festival and launched BIFF within months. The festival operates through the Colorado Film Society, which became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2004.
BIFF screens a curated mix of features, documentaries, shorts, and international films, many of which have gone on to significant box office success and Oscar nominations. The festival has hosted prominent guests including Oliver Stone, Javier Bardem, Jesse Eisenberg, James Franco, and Shirley MacLaine. Unique programming includes the CineCHEF competition, Adventure Film Program, and Call2Action documentaries paired with nonprofit organizations.
The festival operates on a community-centered model with 500 volunteers and emphasizes filmmaker-audience interaction through Q&As and networking events. For 2026, BIFF moves from its traditional March dates to April 9–12, ahead of Sundance’s arrival in Boulder.
Dates: April 9–12, 2026 (moved from traditional March dates) Founded: 2005
