Richard Linklater’s ‘Boyhood,’ Epic Drama That Took 12 Years to Make, Returning to Theaters for 12th Anniversary…

“Boyhood,” the Oscar-winning coming-of-age drama filmed over 12 years by Richard Linklater, will return to theaters nationwide for its 12th anniversary.

“We started filming this 24 years ago,” Linklater says. “The way life chugs along, you look up and it’s been 12 years since the movie came out and it’s kind of crazy. But the whole project was untraditional. We’d get together for a few weeks every year and film, so it ended up taking up a big chunk of our lives.”

When “Boyhood” was released in 2014, critics raved about the family drama and the film was nominated for six Oscars, winning best supporting actress for Patricia Arquette. Since its release, it has consistently ranked as one of the greatest movies ever made. Linklater said Independent Film Company, which released “Boyhood,” approached him about doing something for the 10th anniversary.

“I wasn’t in the mood, and I think I was busy,” Linklater says. “I just kicked the can, but the idea was, hey, let’s do a 12 year. Everyone does 10 and 20 and 25, you know? If you do anniversaries, they fall on the zeros and the fives. We’re the only one who kind of qualifies to do a 12-year anniversary that isn’t entirely arbitrary. But it was really just a delay tactic.”

As part of a celebration of the film, the cast and creators will also reunite in Austin, Texas, where “Boyhood” was made, for a one-night-only anniversary event. It will be hosted by Austin Film Society, which Linklater founded and which also served as a producer on the film, on July 18. The reunion event will feature a special screening, red carpet premiere and live Q&A with Linklater and stars Ethan Hawke, Arquette and Ellar Coltrane in attendance.

“Boyhood” remains the highest-grossing film in the Independent Film Company’s history, earning more than $25 million at the domestic box office.

“’Boyhood’ captures something deeply human about growing up and the passage of time in a way few films ever have,” Scott Shooman, head of IFC Entertainment Group, said in a statement. “It’s an honor to be part of its continued life in theaters as we celebrate it again 12 years after its original release and invite audiences to experience it — old and new — on the big screen.”

Following the Austin Film Society event, “Boyhood” will return to arthouse theaters beginning July 31. Participating theaters, including Alamo Drafthouse, will have access to the recorded reunion cast and filmmaker Q&A. The full reunion conversation will also be available for a future exclusive presentation attached to “Boyhood,” on streaming service Sundance Now, which IFC’s parent company AMC Global Media owns.

Linklater praises Independent Film Company for giving him the resources to make a movie over such a prolonged period of time, trusting that he would eventually produce something of value.

“They just took a leap of faith,” Linklater admits. “But you know, there’s rewards for doing a bold thing every now and then.”