“Tom Delonge sang back in the day that ‘no one likes you when you’re 22.’ That, friends, is a maxim reserved exclusively for scene kid Instagram birthday announcements (the cool kids will always default to Prince or The Smiths), and it’s not true. We can think of a lot of great people and institutions that were, in fact, well liked when they were that age, like our subject for today: The Independent Film Festival Boston, better known as IFFBoston. They’re turning 22 years old in 2025, and to help ring in the first fest after they’ve become keenly aware of how a night of free drinking and open access to liquors of all colors can turn into one hell of a hangover or financial hole, they’ve assembled one absurdly stacked line-up for their annual celebration of cinema.” – Nick Johnston, Vanyaland
Independent Film Festival Boston runs April 23–30, with screenings April 24–29 at The Brattle.