PHOTO ESSAY: Opening Night Prep

How do you take 16 people and transform them into classic movie characters in the course of an afternoon? Here's a look at the remarkable effort that our makeup artists, costumers and volunteers put forth to make Opening Night a panoply of fanciful fun! [All photos by/courtesy Amanda Wells Martin - http://awmphotodesign.com]

 

BIFF profile: Have film fest, will travel

Registration Coordinators Arlene LaMar and Ashley Peterson at the B.A.D. Party. [Photo by Bonnie Chaim]

By ILENE DOTTERER
BIFF DigiComm Commando


Some people travel around the country to participate in triathlons. Some travel to participate in dog shows. But lucky for BIFF, Arlene LaMar, BIFF’s intrepid Registration Coordinator, has a better idea.

Arlene travels around the country to volunteer in film festivals. She got the film-festival volunteer bug after volunteering for BIFF for several years. She’s volunteered at Sundance, Telluride, Traverse City. But
when she moved to Columbus, Ohio last year, she knew she would be back to help out with BIFF 2013.

When asked how BIFF compares to other festivals, Arlene said that BIFF’s films are much more accessible to filmgoers. “I think that Boulder’s spirit has really shaped BIFF. The movies reflect what Boulder is all about,” she says.

Arlene is already planning her trip for next’s year 10th anniversary BIFF. “I’m very excited. I’ll be back,” she says. Thanks for all your help Arlene, and see you next year!

DiMe Time! Scenes from 2013

The fourth annual Digital Media Symposium played out on Friday, Feb. 15, during the Festival. Two keynote speakers and 10 panelists entertained and stimulated the audience, prior to a catered networking session! Here are some snaps --

[Photo by/courtesy Peter Wayne]

Festival Director Kathy Beeck opens the Digital Media Symposium. [Photo by/courtesy Peter Wayne]

[Photo by/courtesy Peter Wayne]

A/V master Mitch Cole of Alpine Audio Video mans the controls. [Photo by/courtesy Peter Wayne]

Technical director Mike Eichner was up to every challenge! [Photo by/courtesy Bonnie Chaim]

Moderator Dave Taylor kicks off the afternoon. [Photo by/courtesy Peter Wayne]

Keynote speaker Blaise Aguera y Arcas leads off the afternoon. [Photo by/courtesy Bonnie Chaim]

Brad Bernthal [Photo by/courtesy Peter Wayne]

Erika Trautman of FlixMaster [Photo by/courtesy Peter Wayne]

John Levisay of Sympoz [Photo by/courtesy Peter Wayne]

The audience sits -- and takes lots of notes! [Photo by/courtesy PsykomePhotography]

DiMe Assistant Project Manager Michelle Schroder and Venue Manager Dale Colclasure  [Photo by/courtesy Bonnie Chaim]

Let the shmoozing begin! [Photo by/courtesy Bonnie Chaim]

Two of the region's top jazzmen, guitarist Bill Kopper and bassist Mark Diamond, entertain the crowd at the end of the day. [Photo by/courtesy Bonnie Chaim]

A good trime was had by all. [Photo by/courtesy Bonnie Chaim]

PHOTO ESSAY: Women in Film Panel, CU @ BIFF!

The CU @ BIFF pavilion at Shine was a big success! Here's one of the great events that drew a crowd Saturday -- [All photos courtesy Leah Masyotte]

BIFF REPORT: Singing to God: A look at 'Defiant Requiem'

(From left) 'Defiant Requiem' director Doug Shultz, Holocaust survivors Edgar and Hana Krasna. [Photo by Leah Mayotte]

By ILONA DOTTERER
BIFF DigiComm Commando


By the end of this remarkable film, you knew that the thick walls of Terezin, the ancient
walled fortress outside of Prague, heard the voices again. Voices that last sang seven
decades ago, voices that sang to honor the unmarked graves, voices that sang knowing
that God could not help but hear them. The voices of Jewish people imprisoned by the
Nazis, simply because they were Jewish. Terrorized, starved, murdered, simply because
they were Jewish. But they sang. Starving, cold, exhausted, they sang, every night in a
freezing cellar, led by a dedicated brilliant Jewish pianist, Raphael Schachter. Not only
did Schachter teach a group of 150 Jewish prisoners Verdi’s Requiem, one of the most
difficult pieces of music every written, he taught them in Latin and without a single
written note. Schachter, however, changed Verdi’s work from a Catholic mass for the
dead to a mass for dead Nazis, adding words of revenge, judgment and revelation. And
he translated the work to Czech, so that every singer could sing out that this was their
world, not the horrific world of Nazis. “We became different people in that cellar,”
said one of the survivors. And every viewer became a different person after viewing this
moving film.

Filmmakers Doug Shultz and Whitney Johnson brought two of the Terezin survivors,
Edgar and Hana Krasa, to Boulder. Speaking with heavy accents, they answered each
question in detail. As I listened, I remembered my parents’ heavy Czech accents. I
approached Edgar after the show, reaching for his hand. “Do you speak Czech?” I asked
in his native tongue. “I haven’t forgotten it yet,” Edgar answered, squeezing my hand.
And Boulder will not forget you, Edgar. Thanks for helping us what it means to sing to
God.

BIFF REPORT: Filmmakers endorse our loving care

Director Dafna Yelchin ("Digital Dharma") enjoying the red-carpet treatment. [Photo by Randy Malone] 

By ILONA DOTTERER
BIFF DigiComm Commando


“Impeccable.” “Great organization.” “They really take care of us.”

Directors Patrick Shen (“La Source”) and Dafna Yelchin (“Digital Dharma”) raved
about BIFF’s care and handling of filmmakers. “At most festivals,” Patrick said, “the
organizers only want to fill seats. The filmmakers are ignored and left on their own.”
Patrick said that BIFF takes very good care of filmmakers. “Everything is arranged
so we not only have a chance to promote our films, but also meet other filmmakers,
view other films, and meet members of the community. BIFF handles all the mundane
details.”

Director Patrick Shen ('La Source') and the film's subject, Josue Lajuenesse. [Photo by Randy Malone]

Dafna agreed. “The Call2Action folks did everything! They did a great job marketing
the film. And they created a forum where I could discuss the film not only with fans, but
also with other filmmakers. It’s great having everything taken care of so well.”

Both filmmakers added that they loved Boulder’s small town feel. “Everyone is so
friendly,” Dafna said. Patrick captured BIFF and Boulder in one sentence. “It’s a great
vibe.”

PHOTO ESSAY: B.A.D. Party Blowout!!

The Oddfellows Hall was Ground Zero for B.A.D. II! [Photo by Leah Mayotte]

WE TOLD YOU! The 2nd annual B.A.D. Party was an astonishing debauch! Here are some highlights -- 

People rocked out to not one but TWO rockabilly bands. [Photo by Peter Wayne]

How many parties have a poet on call? [Photo by Peter Wayne]

[Photo by Peter Wayne]

Ron Bostwick and F.O.B. Judith Dack. [Photo by Peter Wayne]

They can do it! [Photo by Peter Wayne]

[Photo by Randy Malone]

[Photo by Randy Malone]

[Photo by Randy Malone]

Arlene and Ashley, our beautiful Registration ladies [Photo by Randy Malone]

Photographers + alcohol = trouble! [Photo by Randy Malone]

Kevin and Jane -- our fearless leaders [Photo by Randy Malone]

[Photo by Randy Malone]

Lisa and Steve [Photo by Randy Malone]

[Photo by Randy Malone]

[Photo by Randy Malone]

[Photo by Randy Malone]

[Photo by Leah Mayotte]