commitment to the arts and community were deeply ingrained in me and have been a constant inspiration in my life. What were some of your early successes or failures that brought out your desire to work with film? Kelley: I’m not sure I had early successes or failures to speak of, but my true desire for film was infused early in my life! My parents would take me and my sisters to see films at all the art houses in denver: the flick, the ogden, the Esquire… which were showing Gallipoli, Das Boot, Harold and Maude, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown… I was captivated by everything shown at those theaters. I also went to my first film festival on Nantucket when I was only ten. It was the Humphrey Bogart film festival, and we went to double features every day of our vacation—it was wonderful!
So, this coming June marks the next BIff festival. Can you give us a sneak peek into any of the new plans, this year’s goals? How it will be better than any of the past years? Kelley: We aren’t going to change things that much this year, but of course will present 75 NEW films and filmmakers! I can tell you that we will be presenting some new films that have deep connections to the Berkshires. However, the biggest new thing we are doing this year is presenting a “House Party” on Labor day weekend. the BIff Reel friends will present an annual party with a rotating fun theme, at a private home in the Berkshires, with seated dinner, dancing and various activities.
kEllEY VICkERY
BERkSHIRE INtERNAtIoNAL fILM fEStIVAL interview by Harryet Candee
The million dollar question: How did you begin BIff? What ingredients in your life, thinking and experience lead you to such a festival for film? Kelley Vickery: I actually started the BIff because I needed a job! At the time, my three children were really young, and I wanted a job that I could be flexible about, where I could work early hours, late hours, weekend hours etc. I have a deep love of film, and my background is in special events and marketing, so I combined one of my passions with my work skills and began to talk to people about the idea. I also consulted with a very close family friend who started the denver film festival and another family friend who ran the Aspen film festival for years, and they gave me the courage and the outline of what I needed to do. I met with Richard Stanley, who agreed to have the triplex serve as a home for the festival, met with kevin Sprague at Studio two to help with a website, met with some distributors, and was given some seed money 38 •APRIl 2016 THE ARTful mINd
from Ronald frohne… A year later, BIff was born!
Where did you grow up? Kelley: I grew up in denver and in the mountains of colorado. Where did you study? Kelley: I went to the University of colorado at Boulder, with overseas studies in London and florence.
kelly, you’re such a talented, artistic person. What was it about your childhood that pointed you in the direction of the arts? Kelley: Both my parents were very philanthropic, community-oriented and involved with the arts in denver. My mother lead the biggest fundraiser for the denver Symphony, and I would attend the symphony every week with my father. My mother also had me and my sisters in dance and ballet classes for years. their deep
Can you explain the logistical side, the business side to how BIff survives and thrives? What goes into the planning? Kelly: BIff is a 501(c)3 and, like all non-profits, we seek money from grants, sponsorships, and individual giving as well as income from our pass and ticket sales. A festival of our size is not inexpensive to produce, so we count on all of those sources to allow us to bring a world-class festival to our community. BIff also relies on our Reel friend Society members to provide funding for us to produce such events as the Mariel Hemingway event Running From Crazy and the unforgettable reunion of Animal House. What are the challenges you face each time you start the year’s plan? Kelley: the biggest challenge is what films will be available and presented to us each year. In addition to myself, Lillian Lennox and the BIff programming team screen dozens of films, beginning in September. We view some 700 films, and curate that down to about 10% of them, to be presented at BIff.
kelly, who has been your inspiration and mentor in your life? How have they connected the dots for you in making your vision come to fruition in projects such as BIff? Kelley: My grandfather was an enormous mentor to me and although he passed away 17 years ago, he continues to serve as an inspiration. He was an entrepreneur, and started a bank during the Great depression after trying two previous times. He was a humble and generous man who loved everyone, and he loved helping people realize and achieve their dreams. His determination, his positive attitude and his love of life were infectious to everyone around him. He was also a great outdoorsman. I think of him every day. My three children also serve as a tremendous inspiration to me and