The Boise Film Festival (BFF) returns for its highly anticipated second edition October 2-5, kicking things off with a celebration of Idaho-shot and produced short films screening at the Historic Egyptian Theater. BFF has grown its highly curated line up, now totaling 38 movies, including 16 features (12 narrative and 4 documentaries), and 22 shorts.

This year’s edition will also feature the film festival’s master classes on movie producing and screenwriting, led by award-winning Idaho-based filmmaker Heather Rae (‘Fancy Dance,’ ‘Frozen River,’ ‘Trudell’), and screenwriter-director Steven Susco (‘Unfriended: Dark Web,’ ‘The Grudge,’ ‘The Grudge 2’). BFF 2025 will conclude with its celebrated big show filmmaker awards ceremony, which will be hosted by comedian Craig Shoemaker.

The film festival’s epicenter and all screenings will be held at Boise’s Egyptian Theater (700 West Main Street) and The Flicks (646 West Fulton Street). The filmmaking panels taking place at Idaho Film Society (1212 W. Bannock Street).

BFF Founders and Executive Directors, Christine and Mark Holder (producers of ‘Bandidos,’ ‘Beasts of No Nation’) said, “We knew following the success of last year’s debut was going to be a challenge, but it was one we were excited to take on. From the beginning, we have been dedicated to promoting and celebrating our local Idaho-based filmmakers and productions, and Opening Night will start things off right giving them the rock star treatment with a gala red carpet event.

“We also anticipate a number of our talented filmmakers making the trip to Boise with their films to meet the city’s film lovers and talk about film in a city that provides the best backdrop to those conversations they could imagine.  Add our master classes and another planned big show for our filmmaker awards, and this will be a weekend you won’t want to miss,” the duo added.

Opening the new film festival will be a special collection of short films locally shot and produced, as the Boise Film Festival gives them a gala platform. Those movies include Taylor Hildebrande’s ‘After the End,’ which follows four young woman forced to scavenge a dangerous wasteland for survival; Hailey Jackson Boucher’s period drama ‘Brackett & Folder,’ which chronicles an inmate pleading for release so she can care for her WWI veteran father; Andrew Ellis’ ‘Dog Person,’ about a man whose life is turned upside down by a person in a dog mask; Drew Garcia’s ‘Fan Film,’ which is a dark look at filmmakers who pursue their vision at any cost; and Dylan Hamar’s period thriller, ‘The Rabbit,’ about a desperate hunter who runs afoul of a vengeful Native spirit.

Also screening on Opening Night will be Tom Taylor’s animated short, ‘Sam and Duke’s Big River Adventure,’ which follows the titular adventurous duo, which is off an amazing journey along a river in their tiny boat; Justin Bass’ ‘Sloppy Joe,’ in which a personal chef strives to reignite joy in his dissatisfied client; Kody Newton’s ‘Thad & Mr. Black’ about a recently homeless man and his little yorkie trying to impress his dream girl; Jessica Melton’s ‘Violet’ looks at a couple in the future dealing with thoughts and feelings she shouldn’t be having; and Colin Kelly Hingel’s ‘Wormhole,’ which looks at what happens when a man, post-break up, gets on a mysterious video chat website.

As part of the Boise Film Festival’s mission to bring Hollywood to Boise, BFF will feature three Inner Circle Master Classes focused on insider looks at film producing and screenwriting. Friday, October 4, VFX Producer Tyler Cordova (‘Lilo & Stitch’ ) will head up a VFX Masterclass sharing the artistry and innovation behind today’s most breathtaking visual effects on the big screen.

On Saturday, October 5, Heather Rae will take aspiring filmmakers through the producing toolkit from the ground up at her Producing Masterclass with Heather Rae at the Idaho Film Society. Rae, award-winning producer and advocate for artist-driven, culturally resonant cinema, will lead an intensive session, breaking down the real-world path taking a film from concept to market.

On Sunday, October 6, Steven Susco will take the reins during the Writing Fearlessly: Steven Susco on Story & Screen panel, also at the Idaho Film Society. Susco will lead emerging and mid-career screenwriters through topics including story conception and development, writing for genre and character, structuring suspense, dialogue that resonates and strategies for breaking into and sustaining a career in screenwriting.

For more information on the 2025 Boise Film Festival, including the event’s full schedule, and to purchase passes and tickets, visits its official website.