Sunday BIFF picks: Closing night party, docs on trailblazers Judy Blume, the Indigo Girls and more

Mar. 5—Closing Night Film and Awards

6:15 p.m. Sunday, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder: The night kicks off at 6:15 p.m. with music from Chella and The Charm, followed by the BIFF Awards Ceremony, where the best films of the fest will be honored with handcrafted Vielehr award sculptures. Following will be a screening of the U.S. feature documentary "Still Working 9 to 5" (see review this page). Filmmakers and brothers Gary Lane and Larry Lane will appear in person.

Judy Blume Forever

U.S. feature documentary, 2022, 97 minutes: Generations of readers have found themselves reading a Judy Blume book. Her name alone launches a flood of memories for anyone who's gripped one of her many paperbacks. For decades, Blume's radical honesty has comforted and captivated readers — and landed her at the center of controversy for her frankness about puberty and sex. Now the beloved American author candidly shares her own coming-of-age story. Emmy-winning filmmakers Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok trace Blume's journey from fearful, imaginative child to storytelling pioneer who elevated the physical and emotional lives of kids and teens, to banned writer who continues to fight back against censorship today. With humor, sensitivity, and a healthy dose of adolescent cringe, Judy Blume Forever tells the story of the woman whose trailblazing books changed the way millions of readers understand themselves, their sexuality, and what it means to grow up; 10 a.m. Sunday, Boulder Theater.

Jack Has a Plan

U.S. feature documentary, 2022, 73 minutes: Jack Tuller's brain tumor has come back aggressive and inoperable, and now he has two choices: have a long, wasting and expensive death, or see a Serious-Illness Management Counselor who can make all the arrangements for Jack to end his life, hassle-free. With his date of death, going away party and funeral arrangements all set, Jack is now free to find and reconcile with his long-estranged mother. Buoyed by curiosity and his life-long love of absurdity, Jack heads back out on the streets to look for his long-imagined father and finds even more surprises. Through this film, get to know this smart, gentle and silly person, and we might even recall Jack's adventures when we get closer to our own terminal breath; Director Bradley Berman will appear in person; 1 p.m. Sunday, Century Boulder, 1700 29th St., Boulder.

It's Only Life After All

U.S. feature documentary, 2023, 123 minutes: Forty years of making music as the iconic folk-rock band Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have made their mark as musicians, songwriters and dedicated activists. The duo began their musical connection as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, eventually honing their skills in dive bars and clubs across the South. Their unexpected rise to fame with the 1989 hit "Closer to Fine" propelled the Indigo Girls to winning a Grammy Award and rapid popularity. Living out publicly as lesbians long before there was understanding or tolerance of queerness in the music industry, they represented radical self-acceptance to many — leading multiple generations of fans to say, "the Indigo Girls saved my life." Still, Amy and Emily battled misogyny, homophobia, and a harsh cultural climate that chastised them for not fitting into a female pop-star mold. With joy, humor and heartwarming moments, "It's Only Life After All" gives the duo the recognition they deserve as musicians, trailblazers and activists. Directed by Alexandria Bombach; 3 p.m. Sunday, Boulder Theater.

-Robin Beeck, co-founder of Boulder International Film Festival