The Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) enjoyed a banner year just before the world shut down in 2020.

That year the festival, that began in 2002 as the brainchild of sisters and longtime Boulder residents Kathy and Robin Beeck, drew more than 20,000 attendees. People flocked to screenings at the festival’s anchor venue, the Boulder Theater, and to film events at other satellite venues around town.

What’s more, the festival’s unique blend of live music, Q&As with industry bigwigs and other signature events drummed up an unprecedented amount of buy-in in 2020.

Then COVID-19 hit and BIFF — like arts organizations across the state, the country and the globe — had to reinvent itself and refine its expectations.

Fast forward three years. The Beeck sisters, along with the rest of the crew behind Boulder’s internationally renowned celebration of all facets of film, are hoping for a return to that pre-pandemic momentum.

The 2023 festival, slated to run from March 2-5 at sites across downtown Boulder, is set to feature U.S. premieres, culinary events, live music, a dedicated youth film program, a singer-songwriter showcase and the return of its growing Adventure Film Pavilion that’s dedicated to outdoorsy, rugged movie content that feels so apt for Boulder and for Colorado.

The film lineup will include four feature films from Sundance and 13 films made by Colorado filmmakers.

“We’ve got an absolutely fantastic lineup,” Kathy Beeck said. “I think it’s the best lineup we’ve ever had. I think it’s going to be a good year, in terms of attendees.”

Along with Executive Director Robin Beeck, Kathy founded the festival 19 years ago, after working in Boulder movie theaters as a teenager and touring Aspen, Telluride and other Colorado film festivals.

“We just started the BIFF, thinking we’d make movies in our spare time,” Kathy Beeck said. “Then we figured out pretty quickly that there is no spare time when you’re running a festival like this.”

The first festival drew upwards of 5,000 attendees, and BIFF’s scope has only grown since. Even COVID couldn’t derail the Boulder cinematic tradition — thanks to virtual and outdoor screenings, BIFF found a way to persist through social distancing and other pandemic necessities.

This year, however, feels like a true return to the festival’s roots, which means placing quality cinema at the forefront.

“It’s all about the movies,” Kathy Beeck said. “That’s the base of everything. The movies have to be outstanding, and then you can build on top of that with parties, panels, music. If the base isn’t there, it’s like a house of cards.”

This year, that translates into a total of 67 films screened at the Boulder Theater, Boulder High School, the Century Theatre complex and Grace Commons Church in Boulder and the Longmont Museum’s Stewart Auditorium in Longmont.

Highlights include the Opening Night Red Carpet Gala and screening of “Immediate Family,” a film about a legendary session band that backed the likes of James Taylor, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Brown, Keith Richards and David Crosby. Director Danny Tedesco and Executive Producer Dan Braun will be in attendance for the screening on March 2, as will band members Russ Kunkel and Steve Postell.

“We tend to open often with music films,” Beeck said. “We find that it’s a great tone for an opening night.”

Other gems from the extensive lineup for the 2023 festival include “On the Line,” a film about Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams.

That screening will include a visit from the director, as will the closing night screening of “Still Working 9 to 5,” a documentary about the making of the 1980 comedy starring Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman.

“It’s a wonderful film,” Kathy Beeck said. “It talks about the social climate at the time the film was made, and about the evolution of the women’s rights movement before, and since. It explores why that film was really cutting-edge for its time.”

The lineup also includes selections with subjects ranging from the wit of legendary baseball figure Yogi Berra in “It Ain’t Over” to a stirring look at the life of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, in “Chevalier,” which tracks the extraordinary life and work of the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner who rises to the cultural heights of the French court in the 18th century.

“My Sister Liv” examines contemporary challenges and crises facing America’s youth through the lens of a Boulder family, while “Ride: A Brutal Fairy Tale” focuses on two world champion BMX racers, Alise and Sam Willoughby, who’ve overcome monumental challenges, and who will be in attendance for the screening.

All of these films will find a complement in a broad array of events, parties and celebrations that range from its popular cinema-themed culinary competition CineChef, to its long-running singer-songwriter showcase featuring eight local musicians performing over two nights at the Velvet Elk Lounge in Boulder. A dedicated youth program and a “Call to Action” series will also feature films of a specific genre and mission.

It all adds up to a festival with film at its heart, but one that incorporates all the sounds, sights and sense of adventure that sums up Boulder so well.

After a stretch of years where the BIFF has had to make adjustments to meet previously unknown challenges, the 2023 festival offers the feel of a return to form for its founders, two movie-lovers who found their passion for film in Boulder movie theaters, slinging popcorn and taking in all the free screenings they could.

BIFF highlights

Thursday, March 2

CineChef: A culinary competition between seven award-winning Colorado chefs who will plate up bites inspired by their favorite films. There will be live music from Perpetual Motion, wine from Bookcliff Vineyards, a whiskey tasting from WhistlePig, beer from Upslope Brewing and desserts from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Participating chefs include: Daniel Asher (River & Woods, Ash’Kara, Driftwind, Tributary), Patrick Balcom (Farrow), Rich Byers (Jill’s Restaurant and Bistro), Linda Hampsten Fox (The Bindery), Chris Royster (Flagstaff House), Bob Sargent (Savory Cuisines Catering) and Mike Thom (Spruce Farm & Fish).Friday, March 3

Opening Night Red Carpet Gala and Film: To kick off the gala, there will be two parties — one at Hotel Boulderado, 2115 13th St., Boulder, and one at a private party space at Crystal Building (third floor), 1401 Pearl St., Boulder. There will be live music by Tie Dye Sushi and Miguel Espinoza Fusion, drinks and food Scarpetta, Upslope Brewing, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey, Pasta Jay’s Catering and Savory Cuisines Catering. The Guerilla Fanfare Brass Band will lead attendees in a New Orleans-style second line march to the Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder, for the screening of “Immediate Family.” After the film, Director Denny Tedesco, Executive Producer Dan Braun and band members Russ Kunkel and Steve Postell will participate in a Q&A with Ron Bostwick of The Colorado Sound.

Longmont Opening Night Reception: Free with a March 4 film ticket or a Longmont pass, this party will serve up wines from Winc/Natural Merchants, beer and seltzer from Upslope Brewing, live music from Gypsy jazz and swing group Espresso! and food from The Roost, Jefe’s Tacos, Smokin’ Bowls and Swaylo’s Tiki; 5 p.m. Stewart Auditorium Atrium, 400 Quail Road, Longmont.

Sunday, March 5

Closing Night Film and Awards Ceremony: The night begins with live music and the annual BIFF awards ceremony followed by a screening of “Still Working 9 to 5,” a feature documentary looking at 40 years of inequality in the workplace, following the lead of the 1980 film that starred Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. After the film, Director and Producer Gary Lane and Executive Producer Larry Lane will appear in person for a Q&A.

For tickets and a full schedule, visit biff1.com.