Interview With Breck Film Festival’s Founder
/By Bodhi McClung
Meg Lass (ML), one of the original founders of the Breckenridge Film Festival currently serves on Breck Film’s board and has been involved on and off for the past 43 years. In August of 2023, she was interviewed about the founding of the festival, how it has evolved, and what it’s potential future looks like.
What was the original goal and or inspiration for the festival in its first year? And did you originally plan for it to be a continually running festival, especially for this long?
ML: Well, no. This was a very long time ago. My best friend and I were working at the Breckenridge Tourism Office. At that time, I was a director, and she was the events coordinator.
One day the mayor and a prominent businessman walked into our office and said, “We need more business up here in September. Can you guys start a film festival?”
And we're like, oh, sure…and we knew nothing! I mean, nothing - but we loved film. And then we were lucky enough, the businessman who came in had contacts with the Denver Film Festival at that time and they are a couple years older than we are, and knew what they were doing.
The other savior, seriously, was that my friend had contacts with Jeffrey Lyons who at that time was a very prominent film critic in New York. My friend's husband dated Jeffrey's wife in sixth grade, so they had some kind of connection!
Well, anyway, with both of those contacts, we were able to start. I think it probably took us two years to get the first festival going, which was in 1981. At that time, they were really only in Telluride and Denver, and that was about it for Colorado film festivals. And now, you know, there's many all over the country. And I must say, we had a blast. We had so much fun. Jeffrey was able to get us premieres. He was able to get us some very well known stars at that time. And so we did it, and we were working our other jobs. We did it for about ten years. And then my friend moved, she left me, and I couldn't do my full time job and this so at that point it moved on to another committee.
Was there any specific reason for a film festival in Breckenridge? I know you said that tourism in September was needed, but why a film festival?
ML: I think the arts were important to start developing in Breckenridge. There was an organization, I remember, a woman started called the Seven Arts Society. And that was very young at the time. I also think that the guy, this businessman who came in with the mayor, loved film. He had connections with Denver [Film], and he really thought it'd be cool to have a festival in Breckenridge. So I think that's really how it got going.
What has the process been like in setting up the festival? Any initial hiccups or, on the contrary, any initial successes that were celebrated?
ML: As a nonprofit, funding is always an issue. At that time, our budget was much smaller. We had no paid staff and I think we had a couple business people who were big donors. They supported us and the town was very much in favor of this.
The other big thing, and it continues to this day, is that this is a really strong volunteer organization. People step up and volunteer. I mean, today, how many volunteers do we have, hundreds? There were certainly difficult times. But overall, I have to say, this town and its people have continued to support the festival and continue to this day. Now it's grown exponentially. It's fabulous that it's grown. I am in awe and shock it's still going. I mean 43 years is a long time and there are still some people like me who are around who are still involved.
What do you think makes the Breckenridge Film Festival different from other festivals?
ML: Well, I think location is one of the prime things because of [Breckenridge’s] history, its success, and its beauty. Also, it is a very relaxed, welcoming, experience for people. That's what I think sets it apart. And I'll tell you, Telluride could maybe say some of those things, but they're on a different track than we are. And I think over the years now, the main focus of this festival is for filmmakers. So it really is a “filmmaker festival”. We did not have that when we started. And this year, there was a record- setting number of films submitted. So I think that makes it different.
So, that actually leads me to my next question. How does this festival foster relationships between filmmakers and others involved in the film industry?
ML: First of all, Dianna [Nilsson], who does programming - I don't know how many years she's been involved, but a very long time - and she has really created a reputation that she has a very good working relationship with filmmakers, with directors, with producers, etc. So she kind of keeps that going. And then when the filmmakers come to town, they're very well taken care of.
Do you have a favorite memory associated with the festival?
ML: Oh, boy. I think I have many. We just had some really interesting, very high profile guests because of Jeffrey's connections. And these were, you know, Hollywood types, but when they came to town, it's very laid back. It's very welcoming. It's very beautiful. They couldn't believe that. And, then they'd get into it. One of the best things that we did there, there was a development going on called Spruce Valley Ranch. It's south of Breckenridge, a beautiful, beautiful area. And we would have a picnic out there where they would all come and I mean it was just fun seeing them get out of the spotlight and be themselves and relax. I think those are some of my favorite memories. I guess I can say my best friend is still my best friend so that's, after all these years, that says something. That's definitely a good sign!
What do you see for the future of the film festival moving forward? Do you see any more growth?
ML: I see great growth I think. I love the fact that it now has year-round programming. They started doing that a number of years ago with the Breckenridge Film Society and with Winter Film Series.
But the biggest thing that has happened, and it happened two years ago, was that we now have our own theater, and that is absolutely huge. Even though it's been very difficult with Covid, I think we are coming out of it. The strike is not helping us right now, but there's always something you know. And so I see it is growing more and more. And I see it. It's a very exciting time. You know the theater, it's a challenge, but it's doing well right now. We have Barbie! So, I'm very optimistic!
