The 11th annual Boulder International Film Festival runs March 5th-8th at the Boulder Theater. With the festival close to three weeks away, filmmakers, film buffs, critics and fans eagerly await the full program release. As of now, we can reveal two highly anticipated titles: Song of the Sea and From Austin to Boston, both of which premier at the festival.
Song of the Sea is a 2015 Academy award nominee, and a must-see at BIFF. Directed by Tomm Moore, creator of Academy Award nominee Book of Kells, the film is already being hailed a true masterpiece. It’s an intricate, hand-drawn work of art about the legend of the selkies – women of Irish and Scottish legend who can transform into seals. Moore’s film tells the story of the last seal-child and her brother, who embark on a grand journey to save the world of magic.
Moore’s Song of the Sea depicts weighty themes matched with beautiful illustrations, making the film appropriate and appealing to all ages, and capturing the wise spirit of traditional storytelling.
For the music-lover, Austin to Boston could very well become a favorite. The film begins at the end Austin’s South by Southwest festival and follows four bands in five old VW vans on the road as they tour from Austin, TX to Boston, MA. Ben Howard, The Staves, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Bear’s Den explore back roads and small towns of America on a musical tour, playing bars, barns, rooftops and other tiny venues.
Austin to Boston is reminiscent of the Woodstock era and focuses on members’ struggles, backgrounds and performances, depicting the harsh realities, beautiful moments and ephemeral nature they experience. Narrated by Gill Landry of Old Crow Medicine Show and directed by James Marcus Haney, Austin to Boston oozes musical genius in a humble, relatable manner.
Art lovers traveling to BIFF this year can’t afford to miss Austin to Boston and Song of the Sea, two films sure to leave viewers feeling inspired.
