Big Sky film fest features 16 made-in-Montana documentaries
Missoula Current
Montana’s premiere non-fiction film event, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, kicks off today in Missoula, and will feature 16 made-in-Montana documentaries.
The Montana Department of Commerce’s Montana Film Office has supported a handful of these local filmmakers through the Big Sky Grant Program.
“Thanks to the Big Sky Grant Program, Montana filmmakers have unique opportunities to explore diverse stories and topics that otherwise may be overlooked,” film commissioner Allison Whitmer said. “It’s very fulfilling and exciting to present these stories to the festival audience and showcase the talent we have right here in Montana.”
Montana filmmakers Jonathan Skurnik and Randy Vasquez received a grant in 2016 for their film "Badger Creek," a story of American Indian resilience as seen through the eyes of three generations of Blackfeet people living on the reservation. "Badger Creek" will premiere Sunday, Feb. 19 at the Wilma Theater.
Previous Big Sky Grant Program recipient Phillip Baribeau and his team are showcasing a new film at the festival. "Charged" follows the journey of chef and outdoorsman Eduardo Garcia and his recovery after being electrocuted by 2,400 volts of electricity miles from help in the Montana backcountry.
"Charged" will be screened Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Wilma Theater.
The 16 made-in-Montana films participating in the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival this week are:
- 100 Years: One Woman’s Fight for Justice
- Badger Creek
- Being Evel
- Big Sky Youth Fellowship Films
- Charged
- Chasing Evel: The Robbie Knievel Story
- Crawford Bros. Band – Living in Two Worlds
- Doc
- Earth Oven
- In The Shadow of Coal Series
- John Isaiah Pepion – Native American Ledger Artist
- Montana State University MFA Shorts
- Our Last Refuge
- Red Ants Pants // Live from the Back Pasture Series
- Sharp
- Tatanka vs. Montana
- They Call Me Crazy
- Ty Rattler – Blackfeet Endurance Racer