The critically-acclaimed Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) held in early March, has gained a reputation as one of the most influential and innovative film festivals in the United States, with a large number of new-but-unknown feature films, documentaries, and shorts that have gone from early screenings at BIFF to significant box-office success and multiple Oscar nominations. The Festival features over 25,000 attendees, A-list filmmaker and celebrity guests, and some of the best films and filmmakers working today. The Festival been proud to honor some of the industry's most talented artists including Alan Arkin, Shirley MacLaine, Alec Baldwin, James Franco, Martin Sheen, William H. Macy, Blythe Danner, Alan Arkin, and director Oliver Stone, along with many independent filmmakers, stars and special guests.