International Film Series

Catch up to 60 films per semester presented by Boulder’s oldest arthouse cinema

By McKenzie Watson-Fore

The International Film Series (IFS) is Boulder’s oldest arthouse cinema and one of its best-kept secrets. IFS, operated by the Cinema Studies department at CU, offers students and local cinephiles alike the opportunity to watch great movies in a distinct setting. 

“The joy of IFS is getting to see a movie in an environment that’s very much about the movie,” says Kendra Nelson, media specialist. Films are screened in Muenzinger Auditorium, a four-hundred-seat auditorium on the CU campus. “You experience something really powerful being in an auditorium,” says IFS director Jason Phelps. 

IFS offers an immersive cinematic experience centered around deeply intentional programming. “You get to see interesting films curated by a real person, not just the algorithm making suggestions based on your latest views,” Phelps says—but don’t expect buckets of buttery popcorn, overpriced fountain drinks or noisy neighbors. “We don’t show any ads, and we don’t sell food,” Phelps adds. “But we also show a lot of things you’re not going to get at a theatre these days.” 

IFS was founded in 1941 by James Sandoe, an English professor whose passion for extracurricular learning has left a significant imprint on Boulder’s cultural offerings. Sandoe is also credited with staging the first play at the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre, a tradition that eventually evolved into the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. IFS has grown from a niche group of professors gathering to watch films in their free time to a full slate of programming open to the public, featuring as many as sixty films per semester.

Pablo Kjolseth ran the program for more than twenty-five years, and Phelps worked under Kjolseth for ten years before taking the helm in 2022. “I have some very big shoes to fill in that regard,” Phelps says, laughing.

“Every director has had a different approach regarding what kind of films they program,” Phelps says. Phelps’ taste is eclectic and wide-ranging, and the IFS calendar reflects that. “My general approach is that a good movie’s a good movie, regardless of genre, time period, place of origin,” Phelps says. “We show everything from silent films to brand new releases,” Nelson added. Phelps hopes to earn viewers’ trust by showing some films that are familiar crowd-pleasers—this semester’s calendar includes “Jaws,” “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” plus Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox”—so that they’ll be willing to take a risk and show up to a film they haven’t heard of before. 

“One of my favorite things is hearing someone leave an IFS film saying, ‘That’s my new favorite movie,’” Phelps says. 

In addition to the curated selection of films, IFS offers viewers the opportunity to see 35mm films. “In many cases,” Nelson explained, “35mm means you’re actually seeing the movie as it was shot.” Most movies these days are converted to digital for ease of access, but watching movies on film offers a more distinct, material experience. “Celluloid is alive; it’s moving, it’s different,” Nelson says. “It makes a huge difference in the texture of the film.” 

IFS uses a reel-to-reel projection system, which means there are two side-by-side projectors. The projectionist winds the film around reels and locks it in with gates (a process referred to as “threading”). Each reel holds approximately 2,000 feet, which equates to about twenty minutes of screen time. Therefore, every fifteen to twenty minutes, the projectionist must switch between projectors. “There’s somebody back there physically touching it and making it go,” Nelson says. “It’s completely manual.” And if the projectionist is good—like those at IFS—the audience is none the wiser. 

IFS features several special theme weeks throughout the year. Animation Appreciation Week happens every semester. Nine Days of Nineties takes place in the fall; in February, IFS shows nine Black History Month films curated in conjunction with the Center for African and African American Studies. This year’s lineup includes several films released in 1975, in celebration of their 50th anniversaries. 

With the Sundance Film Festival migrating to Boulder, IFS staff are already working on a partnership between the two organizations. Sundance’s presence will likely make it easier for IFS to host filmmakers for special events and talkbacks. 

From cult classics to little-known arthouse gems, IFS has something to offer for everyone. “The whole point is to bring important cinema to the big screen,” Phelps says. 

“My generation has never associated watching movies with a communal experience,” Nelson reflected. “But it is—or it can be. I think people want that.” 

What To Know If You Go

Location: Typically in Muenzinger Auditorium, in the Muenzinger Building (across from the CU football field)

Times: 7:30 pm Monday through Saturday; 2:00 pm on Sunday

Cost: $10 general admission, $8 seniors/students; $1 bike helmet discount, $65 punch pass for ten films

Find the complete calendar at internationalfilmseries.com