2 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 2006 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival! In 2004 we decided to share our passion for documentary film with Missoula by hosting the inaugural Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, and the communi- ty responded. Over the last three years Big Sky has grown beyond any of our wildest expectations. This year we will be screening 96 outstanding documentary films from 28 countries, including 14 World Premiers, 10 North American and United States Premiers, 39 Northwest Premiers and 19 Montana Premiers. This year we received over 800 entries, making our event one of the most entered documentary festivals in the world. With such a wealth of films to choose from, the festival will once again run an entire week at the historic Wilma Theatre downtown Missoula. Filmmakers from around the world will be in attendance to address the audiences after their films screen, providing a tremendous opportunity for our community to interact with these extraordinary artists. We are thrilled to bring the theatrical experience of artistic, entertaining and compelling non-fiction films to Missoula for all to enjoy and discuss. Viewers have the opportunity to experience human stories that otherwise would never be shown in this area. These films allow us to connect with, and better under- stand one another, the world, and ultimately ourselves. We invite you to join us in watching some incredible films and celebrating the art of documentary.

Enjoy the show! Damon Ristau, Festival Director Contents

Staff ...... 4 Special Thanks ...... 4 Contact Information ...... 4 Staff Bios ...... 5 Judges ...... 7 Awards...... 9 Events Schedule ...... 10-11 Ticket Information...... 12 Directions ...... 13 Feature Competition films ...... 15-20 Short Competition films ...... 23-32 Big Sky Award films...... 35-38 Out of Competition films ...... 40-48 Les Blank Retrospective ...... 50-53

Diann Kelly - Program Design, Missoulian Kate Murphy - Art Director, Missoulian Greg Twigg - Cover Design, Twiggarts

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 3 Staff Festival Programmer Doug Hawes-Davis Festival Director Damon Ristau Programming Associates Gita Saedi and Dru Carr Volunteer Coordinator Valerie Krex Event Coordinators Sarah Woods, Tina Mills, Margot Higgins, Marianne Zugel and Caroline Jones Box Office Manager Ginger Moore Projectionists Ken Furrow and Bill Emerson Web and Graphic Design Greg Twigg Special Thanks Les Blank To m Ro y Kettlehouse Brewing Co. Toni Matlock Amy Colson Sten Iversen Elisabeth Ristau Diann Kelly Janet Taylor Kate Murphy Holly Kuehlwein Jackie Walawander Mark Sherouse Kim Anderson Yvonne Gritzner

and to all the volunteers who make the event happen!

Festival Information Theatre Information

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Wilma Theatre 131 South Higgins Ave. Suite 201 131 South Higgins Ave. Missoula, MT 59802 Missoula, MT 59802 (406) 541-FILM (406) 728-2521 [email protected] www.thewilma.com www.bigskyfilmfest.org

4 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Damon Ristau - Festival Director After coaxing a degree out of the University of Montana in 2003, Damon Ristau coordinated the inaugural Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. Recently, he co-founded Walkabout Workshop, a film and video production and post firm based in Utah that pro- duces documentary films for international non-profit organizations. Ristau is dedicated to the continual development of BSDFF and the creation of space to help Missoula grow into a premier interna- tional venue for documentary film. He resides in Missoula with his wife Elisabeth, and two kids, Mariposa and Summit.

Doug Hawes-Davis - Festival Programmer Doug Hawes-Davis, co-founder of High Plains Films with Drury Gunn Carr, has produced and distributed his own non-fiction films for more than a decade. Winner of a 2001 Montana Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship, Hawes-Davis has directed, produced, and edited numerous award-winning documentaries that have screened around the world. Hawes-Davis founded the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in 2003.

Dru Carr - Programming Associate Dru Carr, co-founder of High Plains Films, has been directing, pro- ducing, shooting and editing documentaries for nearly 15 years. Carr's most recent feature doc, Libby, Montana (2004), co-directed with Doug Hawes-Davis, has been screened around the world and received universal acclaim from critics. As a board member of the Big Sky Film Institute, he has been involved in the planning and development of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival since its inception.

Gita Saedi - Programming Associate Gita Saedi has been producing, directing and editing documentary films and videos for over 15 years. She was the Series Producer for the award-winning PBS national series The New Americans and has also recently field and line produced several other critically acclaimed projects on race and culture. Saedi works on a variety of non-broadcast videos for universities, community groups and labor unions as both producer and editor. She currently lives in Montana with her husband and son.

Valerie Krex - Volunteer Coordinator Valerie Krex earned her undergraduate degree in Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1998 and, after realizing that she would never use it, headed west to Missoula, Montana. After work- ing as a documentary photographer for several years, Valerie opted to change her primary medium to video so that she could include new variables, such as sound and motion, into her documentary work. Valerie completed her MFA in Media Arts at the University of Montana in 2005 and currently produces non-fiction work that investigates the human experience on an individual scale.

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 5 6 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival The Judges John Hoskyns-Abrahall John Hoskyns-Abrahall is the co-owner of Bullfrog Films, North America's leading distributor of films about environmental and social justice issues. Born in England, he received a B.A. from Oxford University. He received an M.A. in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania where he met his future wife and partner, Winifred Scherrer. For the first Earth Day in 1970, John and some friends produced CIRCUIT EARTH, which was shown at the first Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. John and Winnie began their professional careers as part of the Rodale Press Film Division, before co-founding Bullfrog Films in 1973.

Les Blank Les Blank began his career in 1960 and continues to produce exciting new work today. Blank's films began as a series of intimate glimpses into the lives and music of passionate people who live at the periph- ery of American society. In 1990, Blank received the American Film Institute's Maya Deren Award for outstanding lifetime achievement as an independent filmmaker. In 1989-1990 Blank was the distin- guished filmmaker-in-residence at San Diego State University and in 1991, adjunct assistant professor in film at the University of California, Berkeley. He was also the Louis B. Mayer filmmaker-in-residence at Dartmouth College and a directing fellow at the Sundance Institute in Utah (both in 1984). Les Blank is one of America's most acclaimed documentarians. His work spans nearly 40 years and a wide range of topics. The 2006 BSDFF will feature a full retrospective of Blank's work. Please see page 50 for film titles and information. Denise Dowling Denise Dowling worked in television and radio newsrooms for twenty years before becoming an Assistant Professor in the Radio-Television department in the School of Journalism at the University of Montana. Dowling has held positions ranging from studio camera operator to director to executive producer and managing editor. She has earned several Emmy Awards for her work and was also honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award in 1996.

Roger Hedden Roger Hedden's play, “Bodies, Rest, and Motion” premiered at Lincoln Center Theatre. He adapted “Bodies, Rest, and Motion” for the screen, and co-produced the Fine Line film. As a producer, he gathered five writer friends to co-write the M.G.M. film “Sleep With Me". He subsequently wrote and directed the Lions Gate release “Hi-Life". He is a graduate of Columbia University and was the recipient of an N.E.A. Playwrighting fellowship.

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 7 The Judges Amy King Amy King studied film, French and art history at the University of Arizona in Tucson and the Institut Americain in Aix-en-Provence, France. She has worked in Los Angeles as a producer on short films, music videos and commercials, and in New York as an associate pro- ducer and post supervisor in television production. After ten years in film and TV production, she got a gig as Segment Producer for the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival and became hooked on film festival work. Amy currently serves as the Associate Director of SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival and lives in Washington, DC.

Mary Lance Mary Lance is an award-winning filmmaker with over twenty-five years' experience in documentary production. Lance's films have won numerous awards and have shown at venues around the world and have been televised in numerous countries. Her critically acclaimed documentary on the world renowned minimalist painter, “Agnes Martin: With My Back to the World,” is showing out of compe- tition at the 2006 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. She currently lives in New Mexico, where she works as a line producer and field producer for various television companies including ABC News, The Learning Channel, and various cable series. She has worked on location as a producer in Mexico, Canada, Europe, India, Pakistan, and Russia.

Andrew Smith Andrew Smith is a writer and filmmaker who lives in Brooklyn and Missoula, Montana. An Assistant Professor in the Media Arts pro- gram at the University of Montana, Andrew did his graduate work at the University of Iowa, where he received an M.A. in Film Studies, and an M.F.A. in Poetry at the Writer's Workshop. Along with his twin brother Alex Smith, Andrew co-wrote and co-directed the critically- acclaimed feature film The Slaughter Rule. The film premiered in the Dramatic Competition at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. The Slaughter Rule went on to play at over two dozen national and international film festi- vals. Released in theaters in spring 2003 by Cowboy Pictures, The Slaughter Rule was acquired for cable and home video distribution by the Sundance Channel.

Cindy Stillwell Cindy Stillwell received her MFA from New York University's film program and since then has worked as a filmmaker, cinematograph- er, editor, DVD author and professor. Stillwell's recent work has been a series of short experimental documentaries that have screened worldwide at festivals and venues such as the Walker Art Museum, Melbourne International Film Festival, Slamdance Film Festival, and the PDX Film Festival. She is currently teaching at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT as an associate professor in the Department of Media and Theatre Arts.

8 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival The Judges Brad Tyer Brad has worked as a journalist and critic for 15 years in Texas and Montana. His work has been published in the Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Texas Monthly, the Texas Observer and New York Times Book Review. He is currently the editor of the Missoula Independent.

Awar ds Documentary Feature Competition The award for Best Feature Documentary will be given to one film 60 minutes or longer in length, released after September 1, 2004. Documentary Short Competition The award for Best Documentary Short will be given to one film under 60 minutes in length, released after September 1, 2004. Big Sky Award Competition The Big Sky Award will be given to one film concerning the American West released after September 1, 2004.

Submitted films released after September 1, 2004 are considered “in-competition” for the festival awards. The festival received more than 800 films to consider for the 2006 event. It is a privilege to watch the hundreds of outstanding documentary films submitted to the festival. Three established docu- mentary filmmakers viewed all of these entries in building the program for the 2006 festival. Final judges for each category will view all of the finalists in their category at the official screening for each film at the Wilma Theater during the week of the festival. Winners will be announced the last day of the festival at the awards reception and press conference in Marianne's at the Wilma beginning at 5:00 p.m. The reception will be followed by repeat screenings of the three award-win- ning films. Out of Competition Screenings: Submitted films released prior to Sept. 1, 2004 are considered “out of competition” for the festival awards. Retrospective Series: Retrospectives highlight the work of important filmmakers and earlier clas- sics in the genre.

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 9 Events Schedule Wed., Feb. 15, 2006 Sat., Feb. 18, 2006 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm LES BLANK RETROSPECTIVE KETTLEHOUSE KICK-OFF 10:00 am The Maestro: King of the Cowboy FUNDRAISER Artists

LES BLANK RETROSPECTIVE Thurs., Feb. 16, 2006 11:15 am Dizzy Gillespie 10:00 am Disarm The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins SHORTS PROGRAM Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue 11:00 am Taylor Chain I Ridge Happy Crying Nursing Home, My Old Fiddle The Fire Within Bessie Cohen 1:00 pm Another World Lolo Ferrari PANEL DISCUSSION: 12:30 pm Stranger With A Camera WOMEN IN DOCUMENTARY FILM 1:45 pm El Inmigrante 1:00 pm (Marianne's downstairs at the Wilma. Free and open to the public.)

SHORTS PROGRAM 2:15 pm Agnes Martin: With My Back to 3:30 pm Pushing up Daisies the World Don't Fence Me In Lawn It’s Like That SHORTS PROGRAM 3:30 pm G8 Scotland: Won't Get Fooled 5:30 pm Battleground: 21 Days on the Again Empire’s Edge Sweet Little Sixties Caught in the Crossfire 7:15 pm Bob Smith, USA Noel 9:00 pm Favela Rising SHORTS PROGRAM 5:00 pm Milepost 314 10:30 pm The Big Question Phase, Iran, 2005 The Mythologist Fri., Feb. 17, 2006 6:30 pm Last Thoughts 10:00 am Bhopal 8:00 pm Be Here to Love Me 11:00 am The Venus Theory 12:00 pm Beethoven’s Hair 9:45 pm Salt Men of Tibet 1:45 pm Mashallah Sun., Feb. 19, 2006 3:15 pm Two Museums LES BLANK RETROSPECTIVE 10:00 am I Went to the Dance 4:30 pm One Shot 5:30 pm Game Over: Kasporov and the SHORTS PROGRAM Machine 11:45 am B224 NH2 7:15 pm Cowboy del Amour 9:00 pm Pleasure and Pain PANEL DISCUSSION: TOPIC TBA 10:45 pm Platinum 1:00 pm (Marianne's downstairs at the Wilma. Free and open to the public.)

10 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Events Schedule 1:30 pm 89 Millimetres Tues., Feb. 21, 2006 10:00 am McLibel 3:00 pm Weekend Warriors 11:35 am Waiting to Inhale SHORTS PROGRAM 5:00 pm Cheating Death 1:15 pm Gussie Vocalize 2:15 pm Teachings of the Tree People: The The Elevator Operator Work of Bruce Miller Life List Living to Work 3:30 pm Phase II 6:30 pm Village Life 5:15 pm Emma

LES BLANK RETROSPECTIVE LES BLANK RETROSPECTIVE 7:45 pm Gap-Toothed Women 6:30 pm Burden of Dreams A Well Spent Life Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe SHORTS PROGRAM 8:15 pm Aerosol 9:45 pm Homemade Hillbilly Jam Afloat Grand Lucheonette Mon., Feb. 20, 2006 Hammer and Flame 10:00 am Once They Were Neighbors Site Specifc-Las Vegas '05 Shulie SHORTS PROGRAM 10:00 pm Hand of God 11:20 am Unschooled Richart Blue Fish Wed., Feb. 22, 2006 Out in the Heartland 10:00 am Sentenced Home 1:15 pm Post no Bills 11:30 am The Sandman's Garden 1:00 pm Color of Love SHORTS PROGRAM 2:30 pm The Intimacy of Strangers 2:30 pm The Bird People Dodge City Gray Days 3:45 pm On Hostile Ground My Saraab The Cole Nobody Knows AWARDS RECEPTION AND PRESS CONFERENCE 4:15 pm Cesarino and the Colours of Life 5:00 pm in Marianne's at the Wilma

SHORTS PROGRAM 6:30 pm Awards Screenings (Titles TBA) 5:30 pm Do You Want the Elephant Music French Fries to Go Left Behind Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana 7:15 pm Clearcut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon 9:00 pm Walking the Line 10:15 pm Fatboy: The Movie

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 11 Tickets

SINGLE SCREENING TICKET (matinees) ...... $6.00

SINGLE SCREENING TICKET (evenings) ...... $7.00

FIVE SCREENINGS PASS...... $30.00 Provides access to ANY five screenings during the week of the festival, but not the Awards Night event.

ALL SCREENINGS PASS ...... $75.00 All Screenings Passes provide access to the full week of screen- ings only. They do not include access to the Awards Night event.

ALL ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS. . . $100.00 All Access Passes are for all screenings, including the Awards Night screenings, and all filmmaker and VIP events/parties.

AWARDS BENEFIT TICKET . . . . $10.00 Awards Night Tickets provide access to the Wednesday, February 22, 2006 screenings of the three award winning films. Start times will be on your ticket.

PASSES PURCHASED ON-LINE: will be held at the ticket window and will be available for pick up at any time during the week of the festival. Bring valid ID. All passes and tickets are non-transferable.

Individual tickets are sold at the Wilma before each show. Passes are available for credit card purchase on-line at www.bigskyfilmfest.org or at the Wilma any time during the week of the festival. Major credit cards accepted. Local checks only. Individual tickets are good for one screening block. Tickets for the Shorts Programs are for all films listed. All films screen once, except three award winners, which will screen again on the closing night of the festival. (Award winners to be announced on the final day of the festival.) PLEASE NOTE: None of these documentaries are rated. Most films in the festival are suitable for children 12 years and up but some have sensitive content. If bringing children, please read a film's synopsis carefully. Email ques- tions to: [email protected] IMPORTANT! Pass holders will have immediate entrance to the theater. We recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes early for all daytime screenings and at least 30 minutes early for all evening screenings if you're purchasing tickets at the door. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis and all seats are general admission.

Barring any unforeseen technical difficulties, SCREENINGS WILL START ON TIME.

12 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Directions elcome to Wilma Theater DOWNTOWN 131 S. Higgins Avenue, Missoula, Montana W Location: issoula All screenings will be held February 16-25, 2006 in the historic Wilma Theater in downtown M Missoula. • MOVIES Directions: • DINING From I-90, exit on either Van Buren or Orange, • SHOPPING then turn on Broadway until you reach Higgins. • FESTIVALS Turn South. The theater and office are right next to Caras Park and the Clark Fork river. • GALLERIES • MUSEUMS • GIFT CERTIFICATES

543-4238 www.missouladowntown.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 13 That’s right, Bella! We have a Downtown store with tons of Parking! New Books Home of the $10 self-serve bath Postcards • Journals • Toys, Treats & Gifts Galore! • Professional Regional & World Grooming • On-site Biscuit Bakery Literature • Finest Quality Dog Improving Lives... One Dog & Cat at a Time & Cat Foods 728-BARK (2275) 627 Woody St. • Missoula, MT 59802 103 South 3rd West • 549-9010 www.gofetchdog.com Missoula, Montana

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14 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Feature Competition

Montana Premier - Feb. 19, 1:30 pm 89 Millimetres 80 minutes, 2005, DVCAM, Germany and Belarus By Sebastian Heinzel

German filmmaker Sebastian Heinzel sets out on a journey to Belarus, a young nation that is torn between stagnation, protest and emigration. He meets a political refugee, members of the Resistance, a house painter, a Go-Go-dancer, a journalist without any prospects and a soldier devoted to his country. The film is a por- trait of a generation trying to find its own way after the breakdown of the Soviet Union. On the border of the new European Union, some say Belarus is the last European dictatorship. Kloos & Co. Medien GmbH, Jablonskistraße 32, 10405 Berlin, Germany +49 30 4737 2980, [email protected], www.89mm-derfilm.de

Montana Premier - Feb. 16, 5:30 pm Battleground: 21 Days on the Empire’s Edge 83 minutes, 2004, DV, USA By Stephen Marshall

In late 2003, two filmmakers spent three weeks on the frontlines of the simmering guerrilla war in Iraq, gathering intelligence, dodg- ing bullets, and capturing the untold stories of what has become the world's most covered, and misunderstood, conflict. BattleGround is an emotionally intense journey that will challenge orthodoxies of Left and Right, and highlight the humanity of all sides of the conflict. BattleGround is a critical film for anyone who wants to understand the powerful forces that are sucking America deep- er and deeper into a Middle Eastern quagmire. Stephen Marshall/GNN, 247 East 28th Street 17D, New York, NY 10016 212.679.3324, [email protected], www.gnn.tv

United States Premier - Feb. 17, 12:00 pm Beethoven’s Hair 84 minutes, 2005, HDCAM, Canada By Larry Weinstein

"Beethoven's Hair” traces the unlikely journey of a lock of hair cut from Beethoven's corpse and unravels the mystery of his tor- tured life and death. The story unfolds tracing the past generations of owners, culminating in the futuristic science that reveals Beethoven's “medical secret". Set to a lush score of some of Beethoven's most glorious music, the film explores the world of forensic testing in sharp relief against the romance of 19th century Vienna and the hor- rors of 20th century Nazi Germany. Along the way, this film sheds new light upon the cause of Beethoven's various maladies, including his deafness, as well as accounting for his volatile personality and perhaps even the nature of his great art. Rhombus Media Inc., 99 Spadina Ave. Suite 600, Toronto, Canada M5V 3P8 (416) 971-7856, [email protected], www.rhombusmedia.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 15 Feature Competition

Montana Premier - Feb. 18, 8:00 pm Be Here to Love Me 99 minutes, 2005, 16mm, USA By Margaret Brown

As a musician, Townes Van Zandt was legendary -- perhaps one of the greatest who ever lived, inspiring artists from Bob Dylan to Norah Jones to Steve Earle. As a man, a husband, and a father his life was as tragic and as beautiful as the songs he wrote. Haunting and lyrical, BE HERE TO LOVE ME combines emotional interviews with friends and family with never-before-seen footage Sponsored by: of Townes Van Zandt; from rare performance and interview footage to intimate portraits shot in Van Zandt's own home. Includes appearances by many famous musicians including Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle, and Emmylou Harris. Palm Pictures, (212) 320-3684, [email protected]

Northwest Premier - Feb. 16, 7:15 pm Bob Smith, U.S.A. 85 minutes, 2005, mini-DVD, USA By Neil Abramson

A hilarious new documentary that provides a view into American culture through the eyes of seven men named Bob Smith. The filmmakers traveled across the United States documenting the lives of the Bob Smith's. Despite their common names, the men vary greatly in profession, age and religion - from septic tank repairman to yoga instructor; from twenty eight to eighty-eight years old; from Evangelical Christian to Evangelical Atheist. As each man's story unfolds in their own words, intimate portraits are drawn; creating a poetic, non-judgmental and highly enter- taining document of American life. Neil Abramson, 2814 Haddington Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90064 310-710-1998, abramson.n@comcast.net, www.bobsmithmovie.com

North American Premier - Feb. 20, 4:15 pm Cesarino and the Colours of Life 69 minutes, 2005, Beta, Switzerland, Argentina and Italy By Tiziano Gamboni and Gianluigi Quarti

The tenth of eleven children, Cesarino Fava was born in 1920, in Italy. After emigrating to Argentina, he founded that nation's Alpine Club and began exploring the most remote summits in the Andes. During a fateful ascent on the Aconcagua, Cesarino was trapped for several days on a mountain wall in a violent blizzard while trying to save the life of a North American climber. A severe case of frostbite resulted in both of his feet being Sponsored by: partly amputated. Today, at the age of 81, he is still able to climb. The Colours of Life relates his emotions, his memories and enthusiasm and brings to light his incredible and infectious vitality. Te levisione Svizzera -TSI, Federico Jolli, Dip. Cultura E Fiction 6903 Lugano, Switzerland, +41 91 03 53 25, [email protected]

16 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Feature Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 16, 10:00 am Disarm 67 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq By Mary Wareham Despite a global ban, millions of antipersonnel mines continue to claim victims daily in more than eighty countries. Disarm features harrowing footage smuggled out of isolated nation of Burma, scenes from war-ravaged Colombia and Iraq, never-before-seen hel- met camera footage shot by Afghan and Bosnian deminers, unprece- dented access into warehouses stockpiling millions of Soviet-made mines, and insightful comments by outspoken Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams. Looking beyond landmines, Disarm offers a contemporary, intelligent and critical investigation into how weapons systems, war, and the way it is waged are being redefined in the twenty-first century with devastating consequences. Mary Wareham, Next Step Productions, 2407 15th Street, NW #411, Washington, DC 20009 (202)612-4356, [email protected], www.nspfilms.org Northwest Premier - Feb. 20, 10:15 pm Fatboy: The Movie 67 minutes, 2005, 16mm, USA By Michael Landsberg

Are Americans getting fatter while the weight loss industry grows at the same rate? In Fatboy: The Movie we are taken on the weight loss journey of Miles Forman, a Florida native who decides to pursue a healthier lifestyle after 25 years of being over- weight. On Forman's road to fitness and well being his dysfunctional upbringing is unveiled-a world of solitude, numbed by TV and video games, and comforted with food. Fatboy examines America's poor eating habits coupled with their love of “quick-fix” fad diets, while they ironically retain the title of “The Worlds Largest Nation." Magnolia Martin, Milos Productions, 687 6th Ave, Apt. 2, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (347)223-4958, [email protected], www.fatboythemovie.com5

Montana Premier - Feb. 16, 9:00 pm Favela Rising 80 minutes, 2005, DV/16mm, Brazil By Jeff Zimbalist

Favela Rising documents a man and a movement, a city divided and a favela (Brazilian squatter settlement) united. Anderson Sa is a former drug-trafficker who, haunted by the murders of his family and many of his friends, turns revolutionary in Rio de Janeiro's most feared slum. Through hip-hop music, the rhythms of the street, and Afro-Brazilian dance he rallies his community to war against the violent oppression enforced by teenage drug armies and sustained by cor- rupt police. At the dawn of liberation, just as collective mobility is overcoming all odds and Anderson's grassroots AfroReggae movement is at the height of its success, a tragic accident threat- ens to silence the movement forever. Favela Rising LLC115 W. 29th St. 10th Fl, New York, NY 10001 [email protected], www.favelarising.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 17 Feature Competition

World Premier - Feb. 21, 10:00 pm Hand of God 96 minutes, 2005, miniDV, USA By Joe Cultrera

How does a film about Catholic clergy abuse not descend into depression? It helps when the victim doesn't act like one - but uses his own intellect and humor to fight back. Unlike any other look at this topic - Hand of God is a provocative tale of one survivor and his family. The paint is peeled off generations of blind faith as a family tries to regain its spiritual footing, and a survivor comes to incendi- ary conclusions about Corporate Catholicism. This is a visually compelling and poetic portrait of family, community and the triumph of individual spirits. Zingerplatz Pictures, 200 Park Ave South, Suite 1612, N.Y., NY 10003 (212)529-3841, [email protected], www.zingerplatz.com

Montana Premier - Feb. 19, 9:45 pm Homemade Hillbilly Jam 80 minutes, 2005, Super 16mm, USA By Rick Minnich

Hillbillies haven't died off; they've simply become neo-hillbillies. Three families of musicians in the Ozark Mountains of Southwestern Missouri give new meaning to the word “hillbilly.” Float down the backwaters, soak up some old time religion, savor a washboard duel, and bask in the neon lights of the pseudo-hillbilly showtown Branson. Lean back and merge into hillbilliness.

Hoferichter & Jacobs GmbH, Alte Schönhauser Str. 9, 10119 Berlin, Germany +49-30-3087-4560, [email protected], www.hoferichterjacobs.de

Northwest Premier - Feb. 21, 10:00 am McLibel 83 minutes, 2005, DVCAM/Beta SP, UK By Franny Armstrong “McLibel” is the story of two ordinary people who humiliated McDonald's in the biggest corporate PR disaster in history. In the longest trial in English legal history, the “McLibel Two” represent- ed themselves against McDonald's £10 million legal team. Seven years later, in February 2005, the marathon legal battle finally con- cluded at the European Court of Human Rights. And the result took everyone by surprise - especially the British Government. “McLibel” is not just about hamburgers. It is about the importance of freedom of speech now that multinational corporations are more powerful than countries. Filmed over ten years by no-budget Director Franny Armstrong, “McLibel” is the David and Goliath story of two people who refused to say sorry. And in doing so, changed the world. Lizzie Gillett, BCM Spanner Films, London, WC1N 3XX +44 207 681 0394, [email protected], www.spannerfilms.net

18 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Feature Competition

North American Premier - Feb. 20, 10:00 am Once They Were Neighbours 65 minutes, 2005, DVCAM, Hungary By Zsuzsanna Varga

Koszeg is a picturesque small town surrounded by mountains on the Austrian border of Hungary. 60 years have passed since any Jews have lived here. What did the bystanders see and what do they believe they saw in their community during the last days of WWII? The film raises difficult questions regarding the actions of average non-Jewish Hungarians while their Jewish neighbours were sent to their death. The people of Koszeg - along with the entire Hungarian society - have never really faced the past, never taken responsibility, never asked the questions: How did we let it happen? What could have been done? Zsuzsanna Varga, Zsurlo Film Kft., Szél u. 17., 1035 Budapest, Hungary +36 30 3825388, [email protected], www.zsurlofilm.com/OnceTheyWereNeighbours/

World Premier - Feb. 22, 11:30 am The Sandman’s Garden 66 minutes, 2005, miniDV, USA By Arthur Crenshaw The Sandman's Garden examines the life and art of Lonnie Holley, a self-taught African-American artist based in Birmingham, Alabama. The film follows Holley as he builds a sculptural environment out of discarded materials and found objects in the Birmingham Museum of Art's sculpture garden. His art is by turns profound, playful, and deeply moving. As the garden grows piece by piece, Holley is revealed as a man who has overcome a tor- tured past. Growing up poor and black in the 20th century American South, Holley worked to overcome prejudice and deprivation by using art to explore his life and ideas. The camera captures the artist's process and reflections as he gathers materials, creates pieces, interacts with others, and relives the joys and sorrows that forged his unique and genuine artwork. Arthur Crenshaw, Furnace Films, 4306 Overlook Road, Birmingham, AL 35222 (205)533-3348, [email protected] North American Premier - Feb. 22, 10:00 am Sentenced Home 76 minutes, 2005, DVCAM, USA/Cambodia By David Grabias and Nicole Newnham

Raised as Americans in inner-city Seattle, three Cambodian refugees each made a rash decision as a teenager-committing a crime that irrevocably shaped their destiny. Now as adults 20 years later, they find themselves caught between a tragic past and an uncertain future by a system that doesn't offer any second chances. “Sentenced Home” puts a human face on U.S. deportation policy, follow- ing the heart-breaking sagas of these three Cambodian-Americans full-circle. To ld in first-person narration, through the voices of the three deportees, their families and their friends, “Sentenced Home” interweaves their dramatic cinema-verité stories and raises timely ques- tions about immigration, civil rights, and cultural identity that have no easy answer. Sentenced Home Productions, 4302 1/2 Melrose Ave., Suite B, Los Angeles, CA 90029 323-661-4700, [email protected]

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 19 Feature Competition

North American Premier - Feb. 19, 6:30 pm Village Life 61 minutes, 2005, DVCAM, England By Nick O'Dwyer and Rachel Bliss Botton Village - tucked away high on England's north Yorkshire moors - is part soap opera; part Village of the Damned. It's a bold social experiment where 136 special needs “villagers” with learning difficulties live in a commune with 100 “co-workers.” Partly because of its isolation, Botton is a place of high emotion where outbursts of bizarre behavior are part of the routine and are benignly tolerated. Landmark Films was given remarkably free access to Botton and “Village Life” - filmed over a cold winter - is an extraordinary mix of conflict, emotion and weirdness. “Village Life” unfolds in a series of observed scenes, allowing special needs people to speak for themselves, unmediated by experts or educational therapists. The result is a film which is raw, direct, honest and provocative. Landmark Films, 11 Evelyn Court, 267b Cowley Road, Oxford, England OX4 1GY +44 (0)1865 297220, [email protected], www.landmarkfilms.com Northwest Premier - Feb. 21, 11:35 am Waiting to Inhale 85 minutes, 2005, DVCAM, USA By Jed Riffe “Waiting to Inhale” takes the viewer from underground pot clubs to the U.S. Supreme Court, from Israeli science labs to govern- ment approved marijuana gardens outside London. It features leading experts and researchers from all over the world on both sides of the controversy over the therapeutic potential of marijuana. In the U.S., ten states have passed laws with medical marijuana provi- sions. Yet use, cultivation and possession - for any reason - remain illegal under federal law. In the film we see the ensuing battles while exploring deeper issues of medical ideologies. “Waiting to Inhale” is not a propaganda film for either side of this inter- national conflict, instead focusing on passionate individuals enmeshed in a struggle whose stakes are nothing short of life and death. Jed Riffe, Beyond the Dream, LLC, 2600 Tenth Street Suite 437, Berkeley, CA 94710 (510)845-2044, [email protected], www.beyondthedream.org World Premier - Feb. 19, 3:00 pm Weekend Warriors 93 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, Germany By Alexa Oona Schulz

American Football is not only played in the US but also in Germany. Four young amateur football players from Berlin are the main focus of the film. For them this all-American sport is more than just a hobby and more than just a game. Football gives them guidance in life and a boost to their masculine ego. Weekend Warriors portraits Herbie - the mama's boy, Tilo - the show-off, Johnny - the young and confused, and Thomas - the thinker, during one football season with the “Berlin Adler”. The film explores in a humorous way how personal goals, moral values and rituals from the football fields are applied to real life and vice versa. Blue Moon Film, chustehrusstr. 45, 10585 Berlin +49(0)171 17 200 74, www.blue-moon-film.com, www.weekendwarriorsfilm.com

20 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 21 Welcome to Missoula! Enjoy the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival

Pepsi Cola Bottling of Missoula

Oasis in the Alley 115 1/2 South 4th West (corner of 4th and Higgins beside the Holiday station) Tired of the Usual?

WILA OLFE LAMBROS REALTT ESTATE WILA WWOLFE See you at Tipu’s Buying or Selling... Menu: www.tipustiger.com “Talk to Twila” Ta ke Out: 542-0622 406-532-9252 • [email protected] Delivery by Café Courier: 829-9500 www.twilawolfe.com

22 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Short Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 21, 8:15 pm Afloat 5 minutes, 2005, 16mm, USA By Erin Hudson

From the intimate vantage point of a senior community swim- ming pool, water and time suspend both body and memory. This film travels underwater and above water to create a gentle medita- tion on growing old, feeling young, and living life.

Erin Hudson, 650-380-8601, [email protected], www.rotationfilms.com

Northwest Premier - Feb. 18, 1:00 pm Another World 52 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, France By Steve Moreau The incredible story of two young men: Sébastien Lefebvre, a Frenchman aged 27, and Jeremy Hinton, an Englishman aged 23. Coincidence and confidence in each other brought them together. They had only known each other for a few hours, spoke different languages, and had different approaches to navigation and life in general. Together, on the 22nd of October, 2003 at 7 o'clock in the morning, they set forth from the island of La Gomera on one of the most difficult sporting events in the world: rowing across the Atlantic Ocean.

Les Films du Voilier, 32, rue de l'Arcade, 75008 Paris - France +33 (0) 1 40 06 07 36, [email protected], www.lesfilmsduvoilier.com

Montana Premier - Feb. 17, 10:00 am Bhopal: The Search for Justice 52 minutes, 2004, DV, India/Canada By Lindalee Tracey & Peter Raymont On December 2, 1984, the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, leaked poisonous methyl isocyanate gas, killing at least 15,000 men, women and children. Hundreds of thousands more were permanently maimed. Twenty years later, amid charges of corruption, graft and suppression of medical and environmental research about the tragedy, the victims are still not adequately com- pensated and cared for. Journalist Raajkumar Keswani, whose prediction of the Union Carbide disaster proved prophetic, documents the legacy and introduces us to the leading scientists, doctors and activists in his search for justice.

National Film Board of Canada, 1-800-542-2164, http://nfb.ca/

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 23 Short Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 20, 11:20 am Blue Fish 21 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, USA By Rao Fu

A film about the decisions and sacrifices we all have to make in life. A promising young pianist is forced to choose between his musical aspirations and his family.

Rosie Fu, 5455 Kiowa Dr. #39, La Mesa, CA 91942 (626)807-1513, [email protected]

World Premier - Feb. 18, 3:30 pm Caught in the Crossfire 18 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, Iraq By Mark Manning

With exclusive footage, never before seen in western media, Caught in the Crossfire tells the true and untold story of the civil- ians of Falluja, Iraq. Shot from November 2004 to April 2005 inside the city of Falluja this film details the conditions experienced by civilians as they endured the violent clashes and consequences of Operation Phantom Fury and became refugees outside the eyes and care of the international community. Caught in the Crossfire exposes the annihila- tion, not the liberation, of the Iraqi people. By detailing what is actually happening to these civilians, the film shows why the people of Iraq have lost faith in the stated American policy goals and why, with the loss of “hearts and minds” in Iraq, there is now no way for America to win this war. Conception Media, PO box 2219, Santa Barbara CA 93120 [email protected], www.conceptionmedia.net Northwest Premier - Feb. 19, 5:00 pm Cheating Death 25 minutes, 2005, DV, Canada By Eric Geringas

At 13 years old, Gyasi Ferdinand was a sweet kid from Trinidad, living with his mom in suburban Toronto. By 17, he was making $2000 a night selling crack cocaine on some of the roughest street corners in Canada. The 9mm pistol in his waistband had earned him the street name J9.

“Couldn't be more timely... A rare entry into the world of pure violence.” - Globe and Mail Golden Sheaf - Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival, 2005 Third World Newsreel, 545 Eighth Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018 (212)947-9277, [email protected], www.twn.org

24 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Short Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 20, 2:30 pm The Cole Nobody Knows 21 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, USA, Switzerland and France By Clay Walker

A documentary on Chicago-native Freddy Cole, the lesser known, yet equally talented younger brother of Nat “King” Cole. At age 74, with his current recording topping the jazz charts, Freddy Cole is finally being recognized for his amazing musical tal- ent. The Cole Nobody Knows features extraordinary, never-before- seen live performance material with Freddy Cole and his quartet. The film also includes interviews with music legends Monty Alexander, Clark Terry, David “Fathead” Newman, John di Martino, H Johnson, Carl Anthony and many others. Clay Walker, Plan B Productions www.planbproductions.com, [email protected]

Montana Premier - Feb. 20, 2:30 pm Dodge City 5 minutes, 2005, DVCAM/MiniDV/Digital Beta, USA by Jeff Dell

This short reminds us of the horrible toll war takes on children. Tw o children are exploring a playground miniature of Old Dodge City, a name synonymous with violence of the Old West. The health and vigor of these children at play becomes a shocking con- trast to the scenes of children injured by war that begin to appear. Be prepared for some disturbing images. Jeff Dell, 6 Longridge Lane, East Hampton, NY 11937 (631)324-0276, [email protected]

Northwest Premier - Feb. 20, 5:30 pm Do You Want the Elephant Music 17 minutes, 2005, 35mm, USA and Africa By Leslie Dektor

The ring allows us to see the lives and feelings of the circus per- formers and how they reflect our own lives. Do You Want the Elephant Music is an artistic endeavor that captures the imagination with its unique cinematography and editorial style. What is it that lies always outside or beyond the ring? We are being asked to look elsewhere.

Best Cinematography - 2005 Hermosa Shorts Film Festival Leslie Dektor, 1151 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA 90038 (323)466-3455, [email protected]

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 25 Short Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 19, 5:00 pm The Elevator Operator 8 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, USA By Jonathan Skurnik

The Elevator Operator is a meditation on the simultaneous power and futility of hope. Eugene Sheiman runs a manual eleva- tor in a New York City office building, trapped in his six by six foot cage. We discover that Eugene, a Ukrainian immigrant, was a jour- nalist in Kiev and has published a novel in Russian. Now that he's an American citizen, The Elevator Operator reveals his big dream. Mint Leaf Productions (917)658-2811, [email protected], www.mintleafproductions.com

World Premier - Feb. 21, 5:15 pm Emma 59 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, USA By Valerie N. Krex

Emma is the coming of age portrait that follows Emma Carney through her turbulent first year of high school in Missoula, Montana. Largely shot in the first person, Emma begins to docu- ment her experiences following her release from an adolescent men- tal health unit. Struggling to stay afloat in the public school system, Emma candidly details the obstacles surrounding her adolescence as well as her methods of escape. With original music by Morning Spy, Emma allows for a real-life glimpse into girlhood, womanhood, and the places in between. Valerie N. Krex, (406)370-7799, [email protected]

North American Premier - Feb. 18, 3:30 pm G8 Scotland 42 minutes, 2005, DVCAM, Scotland By Edinburgh Youth Against War

When the G8 World Leaders came to Scotland recently in July 2005, seasoned activists and concerned individuals were ready for them. Against a background of escalating and menacing police presence on the streets of Edinburgh, it shows their articulate views about Make Poverty History, the African Debt Crisis, Global Warming, Free Trade, Holy Bob Geldof and the supposed “Lennon and McCartney” of International Debt Relief - Brown and Blair. This arresting and compelling film smashes the myth of apathy and lethargy in the younger generation, and pres- ents a youth account of one of the most significant weeks in Scotland's current political history. Pilton Video, 30 Ferry Rd Ave, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH4 4BA 0044 131 343 1151, www.piltonvideo.org

26 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Short Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 21, 8:15 pm Grand Luncheonette 5 minutes, 2005, 16mm, USA By Peter Sillen

Grand Luncheonette documents the last days of one of the 42nd Street's unforgettable hot dog lunch counters. Its closing marks the final stage of the much publicized gentrification of Times Square.

Peter Sillen, Pumpernickel Inc, 12 E. 10th Street, New York , NY 10003 (212)228-1905, [email protected], www.pumpernickelinc.com

World Premier - Feb. 20, 2:30 pm Gray Days 14 minutes, 2005, DV, USA By Katherine Leggett

A graying American population and a record number of people incarcerated present an alarming trend: a dramatic increase of elderly in our state prisons. Built around the compelling stories of two elderly inmates in two North Carolina prisons, this film con- fronts the lives of an often-ignored population within our criminal jus- tice system. Katherine Leggett, 119 North Monroe Street, Stoughton, WI 53589 [email protected]

World Premier - Feb. 21, 1:15 pm Gussie 50 minutes, 2005, MiniDV/Super 8mm, USA By Meshakai Wolf

"You don't feel that you're old,” says Gussie Adams, the 104 year old subject of this film. “Gussie” is a vivid portrait of one woman's accumulated wisdom and memories. Despite old age and recurring illness, Gussie remains inquisitive and lucid throughout the film, often turning the spotlight of attention upon her great-grandson behind the camera, grilling him about his own life while he attempts to learn about hers. Through moments of tenderness and poignant humor, “Gussie” achieves more than a colorful portrait of old age in America; it points to the remarkable potential for communion between young and old. Meshakai Wolf, 134 New Street, Decatur, GA 30030 404-373-9043, [email protected], www.gussiefilm.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 27 Short Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 21, 8:15 pm Hammer and Flame 10 minutes 2005, Digital Betacam, UK/India

The hull of an immense tanker broken open like an eggshell. A man descending into a dark trap of sparks and smoke. A crank- shaft broken in two using only a chisel and a pair of sledgeham- mers. Circles within circles, ship following ship. In the demolition wards of Northern India we enter an enigma, a world at the edge of our own, where in an unending cycle the greatest of manmade titans are unpieced with the simple tools of hammer and flame. Vaughan Pilikian, Unruowe, 2 Hesperus Crescent, Isle of Dogs, London, England E14 3AD, United Kingdom +44 (0) 7940 212 770, [email protected], http://www.unruowe.com

United States Premier - Feb. 20, 2:30 pm The Intimacy of Strangers 19 minutes, 2005, MiniDV/DVCAM, UK By Eva Weber

You used to have to make an effort to overhear other people's conversations, now you have to make an effort not to. The Intimacy of Strangers is a story of life, love, loss and hope - entirely constructed out of real, overheard cell phone conversations of ran- dom strangers. Exploring the conflict between the private and public, between being intimate yet distant, the film weaves these seemingly ran- dom exchanges into a modern-day love story that is both absurd and tender. Hemant Sharda, Bucks HP9 1LG National Film and Televison School (UK), Beaconsfield Studios, Station Road, Beaconsfield +44 (0) 1494 731 452, [email protected]

North American Premier - Feb. 20, 5:30 pm Left Behind 24 minutes, 2005 miniDV, Thailand

Since 1975, thousands of hilltribe Hmong have fled Laos' com- munist government, which hunts them down for having sided with the US during the Vietnam War. In late 2004, Hmong refugees arrived in the northern Thai village of Nam Khao. On July 4th, 2005, the Thai government evicted the Hmong onto the street, denying them shelter, food and water, and preparing to send them back to Laos. For the government, these are not refugees. They are illegal migrants. Laurent Gorse, LFG Productions, Whittayu Complex #23-C1, Bangkok, Thailand 10400 66 4.772.9236, [email protected]

28 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Short Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 19, 5:00 pm Life List 16 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, USA By Tom Dunlap

A warm-hearted and lyrical documentary that examines the philosophies, motivations, and field behaviors of two different birders, one a young college student in Minnesota and the other a retired social worker in Arizona. The film compares and contrasts the birding experiences of these individuals, focusing on the social and competitive aspects of the sport of birding, and the value of keeping records of all the birds they have seen. From the Southwestern deserts to the frozen shores of Lake Superior, Life List uncovers the intrigue behind one of the fastest growing activities in the United States. Best Documentary Short - Northern Lights Documentary Film Festival, 2005 To m Dunlap, Comeuppance Productions (818) 288-1128, [email protected], www.comeuppanceproductions.com Northwest Premier - Feb. 19, 5:00 pm Living to Work 9 minutes, 2005, 16mm, USA By Leah Wolchok

A cinematic meditation on the meaning of work in America. This visual poem explores the relationship between the elite obsession with success and the working class struggle to make a living wage. What begins as a city symphony morphs into an abstract montage, and by the end, the film asks whether living to work is living at all. Leah Wolchok, 1021 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 637-7390, [email protected]

Montana Premier - Feb. 20, 2:30 pm My Saraab 22 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, USA/Iraq By Sarna Lapine

In Arabic the word saraab means mirage, often used as a metaphor for survival in the midst of war. Political refugee Sabah Al-Dhaher returns home to Iraq: confronted with his past and the loss of hope, Sabah seeks solace through painting and carving in a world torn asunder by war.

Sarna Lapine, Journey Girl Productions, 350 W. 110th Street #3E, New York, NY 10025 (212)662-2524, [email protected], www.sarnalapine.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 29 Short Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 20, 11:20 am Out in the Heartland 19 minutes, 2005, DVCAM, USA By Gretchen Hildebran

Through the stories of gay Kentucky parents, Out in the Heartland examines the impact of the 2004 campaign to ban gay marriage on families and communities. As the amendment emerges from churches onto the ballot, these parents fear for the safety of their families. By giving a face to those at the center of this issue Out in the Heartland illuminates the consequences anti-gay amend- ments have for real families and for us all.

Frameline Distribution, 145 Ninth St, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 703-8650, [email protected], www.frameline.org/distribution

World Premier - Feb. 18. 5:00 pm PHASE, Iran 2005 40 minutes, 2005, miniDV, Iran By Kamal Bahar

Using a series of interviews with everyday Iranians, PHASE, Iran 2005 documents common perceptions of drug use in Iran. During recent years, traditional opium use is gradually replaced by the proliferation of synthetic drugs including Ecstasy. Young people have their own personal and social motives and reasoning to take X. Escaping present political and cultural realities seems to be a common theme. PHASE, Iran 2005 is a journey into the spirit of a society with scarcity of happiness and hope. Mr. Massih Bahar, Bahar Doc Film 249, Karegar Shomali St, Bahar lab Bldg., Tehran 14146 - Iran T: + 98 21 88 96 95 45, M: +98912 1000 227, E: [email protected], www.bahar-doc-film.com

World Premier - Feb. 17, 10:45 pm Platinum 54 minutes, 2005, MiniDV/8mm/16mm, USA By Sean Pecknold

In 1985, they found the mountain... and dreamed of a contest... Hidden away in the remote mountains of the Pacific Northwest, the pioneers of snowboarding created a race, not for money or fame, but for the sake of pure riding. Since those early days The Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom has remained true to the essence of snowboarding. Every year, pioneers and pros from around the world return to their roots and race side by side with the next generation of riders for a roll of duct tape. This film celebrates the past, present, and future of a race that defined the soul of a sport. Sean Pecknold, Flying Spot Pictures, 1008 Western Ave. Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98104 (206)464-0744, [email protected], www.flyingspot.com

30 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Short Competition

Northwest Regional Premier - Feb. 16, 3:30 pm Pushing Up Daisies 30 minutes, 2005, Beta SP/MiniDV, USA By Doug Whyte

Pushing Up Daisies delves into the world of American funeral directors, revealing the rarely witnessed behind-the-scenes action of the death care industry. It takes an intimate look into the daily lives of two very different funeral directors: Ronald L. Jones, a flam- boyant, philosophical man in urban St. Louis, lured into the business by the big cars, fancy suits and rumors of riches; and Peter Burla, an aus- tere, down-to-earth man in Ironwood, Michigan, who views his one-man oper- ation as a chance to earn a modest, respectable living. Examining the lives and work of these profes- sionals gives an insight into the heart of our culture. 7th Art Releasing, 7551 Sunset Blvd, Ste 104, Los Angeles, CA 90046 [email protected], www.7thart.com

World Premier - Feb. 18, 3:30 pm Sweet Little Sixties 4 minutes, 8mm, 2005, USA by Martin & Suzy Holt

This is a prologue to the third chapter in the story of my era. It suggests the messages I heard in the fifties which set up my emer- gence into adulthood. It was about the music of what's happening and of what is possible. It feasted on the excitement of being engaged and challenged and on fire. It was about setting up situations where a life could be imagined and a real life lived. It is a movie within a movie. I am none. I come from nowhere. I meet the beautiful people. I see the light. I get the gift of the capture. Montana Art Works, 576 3 Street, Helena, MT 59601 (406) 442 6331, [email protected]

Montana Premier - Feb. 17, 3:15 pm Two Museums 53 minutes, 2005, Super 16mm, Canada By Lea Nakonechny

Two Museums is a cinematic exploration of memory and place set in the starkly beautiful landscape of the Canadian prairies. First- time filmmaker Lea Nakonechny follows two characters-one at the beginning of life's journey and one at the end-to portray the cyclical beauty of farm life. Two Museums weaves the lives of these people into a universal experience that speaks to the nature of identity in the face of change. “...a timeless film, a continuation of a poignant story that is older than the province itself.” Nick Miliokas, Regina Leader-Post Judges Award, Best Film In Category - San Diego Girl Film Festival, 2005 Arid Sea Films, Box 2167, Swift Current, SK S9H 4V1, Canada (306) 773-8980, [email protected], www.aridsea.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 31 Short Competition

World Premier - Feb. 20 , 11:20 am Unschooled 25 minutes, 2005, DVCAM, USA By Jason Marsh

Unschooled follows three families that practice the homeschool- ing philosophy known as “unschooling,” where there is no curricu- lum, and kids have no tests or lessons. Parents trust that their chil- dren's own intrinsic interests will lead them to the skills they need for a full and happy life. The film presents one of the most radical approaches to the crisis of pubic education in this country. It also offers an intimate, often lighthearted, portrait of three families staking their place outside the American mainstream. Jason Marsh, 2041B Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703 (510)644-0860, [email protected], www.unschooledfilm.com

Northwest Premier - Feb. 19, 5:00 pm Vocalize 17 minutes, 2005, DV, USA By Robert Bregman

Elliot Gerard has one dream in life: To become a rapper. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite fit the criteria of the typical hip- hop lyricist as we have come to understand it today. For starters, he's White and Jewish. But he won't let that get in the way.

Best Documentary, 2005 Dusty Film Festival

Best Documentary Short, 2005 Great Lakes Film Festival Robert Bregman, 77 Bleecker Street (Apt 804), New York, NY 10012 917-514-8506, [email protected]

32 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 4HISISONE OFTHOSETIMES WHENHAVING ATTORNEYSINVOLVED ISAGOODTHING

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2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 33 StopStop ByBy andand StepStep BackBack inin Time.Time. Fort Missoula, established in 1877, was one of the first military posts in Montana. With over 22,000 artifacts and 13 historic structures, you’ll step back into the fascinating history of the American West.

Open Year Round accredited by the American Association of Museums

Bldg. 322 Fort Missoula • Missoula, MT 59804 • 406 728-3476 www.fortmissoulamuseum.org

CANON EOS - 5D

• 12.8 megapixels • Full-frame sensor $340000 Capture the Memories Includes Camera Class the dark room

135 North Higgins • Downtown Missoula 549-1070

34 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Big Sky Award

Northwest Premier - Feb. 20, 7:15 pm Clearcut: The Story of Philomath, ORegon 72 minutes, 2005, mini-DV, USA By Peter Richardson

In the rural Oregon logging town of Philomath, every high school graduate has their college tuition paid thanks to the gen- erosity of local lumber baron Rex Clemens. But when a new schools Superintendent arrives from Chicago, the administrators of the scholarship become concerned over the increasingly “liberal” direc- tion of the schools. The conflict between the old-time loggers and the “urban immigrants” escalates dramatically, and the scholarship administrators deliver an ultimatum: either the superintendent leaves, or the scholarship is withdrawn, leaving the town's children without money for college. Peter Richardson, Bicoastal Films LLC, 963 NW Jackson Avenue #302, Corvallis, OR 97330 310-936-1333, www.clearcutmovie.com, [email protected] Northwest Premier - Feb. 17, 7:15 pm Cowboy Del Amor 87 minutes, 2005, HD, USA and Mexico By Michèle Ohayon Cowboy Del Amor is a documentary comedy about a cowboy- turned-matchmaker who can't manage his own love life. It fol- lows self-proclaimed “Cowboy Cupid” Ivan Thompson, as he finds Mexican brides for disillusioned American men searching for the perfect wife. His clients include Rick, an ex-marine long-distance truck driver, and Lee, a hopeful 70-year-old Vietnam Veteran. They willingly pay $3,000 for a 600-mile bus ride into the heart of Mexico in search for true love. He might not look like he knows much about love, but his success rate proves that he just might. His strategies are quirky and entertaining, from posting ads in the Mexican papers to checking his clients' pulse. As Ivan says, anyone can find a wife, as long as they have the “huevos” to do something about it. Love doesn't just stroll up and say 'Howdy!' Homeland Film Productions, 2337 High Oak Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068 [email protected], www.cowboydelamor.com Northwest Premier - Feb. 16, 1:45 pm El Inmigrante 90 minutes, 2005, MiniDV, USA/Mexico By John Sheedy, David Eckenrode and John Eckenrode

EL INMIGRANTE examines the Mexican and American border crisis through the story of Eusebio de Haro, a young Mexican migrant who was shot and killed during one of his journeys north. The film presents a distinct humanitarian focus in which story and character take precedent over policy and empiricism. The cast includes de Haro's family, the community of Brackettville, Texas-where Eusebio was shot, members of vigilante border militias in Arizona, the horseback bor- der patrol in El Paso, and migrants en route to an uncertain future in the United States. David Eckenrode, 2412 Delwood Ave., Durango, CO 81302 970-759-9683, [email protected], www.elinmigrantemovie.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 35 Big Sky Award

- Feb. 16, 11:00 am The Fire Within 10 minutes, 2005, MiniDV and 16mm, USA By Danny Reyes

This is a ten minute film about a young girl who is paralized and goes to the Burning Man Festival to spin fire as a performer. Her story is told about how she became paralized and what she has learned from her accident. She also gives us a great show of 'Poi' (fire-spinning) at the unique 2004, Burning Man Festival. This is an in depth look at one's determination and spiritual growth.

Danny Reyes, 836 South 4th West, Missoula, MT 59801 (406)721-1412, [email protected]

Montana Premier - Feb. 20, 5:30 pm Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana 16 minutes, 2005, 16mm, USA By Ken Kimmelman Based on the esteemed 1925 Nation prize-winning poem by Eli Siegel, this dramatic and colorful montage, combining still photog- raphy, live-action and special effects, shows how a hot afternoon in Montana is related to the whole world--people, places, things, events- past and present. It so deeply honors the earth--its land, history and people. “Ken Kimmelman's reproduction, on film , of Eli Siegel's magisterial poem, is an extraordinary achievement. It matches, in its visual beauty, the elegance of Siegel's words, and adds the dimension of stunning imagery to an already profound work of art.” - Howard Zinn, Historian Imagery Film,Ltd., 91 Bedford Street, New York, NY 10014 212-243-5579, [email protected], http://ifl.home.mindspring.com World Premier - Feb. 18, 6:30 pm Last Thoughts 72 minutes, 2005, Super 16mm, USA By Kevin Henry

In 1926, a sixteen-year-old boy hopped his first train from Oklahoma to California, beginning a ten-year odyssey marked by life-changing experiences. He kept his stories from those Depression years to himself until the eve of his death, when he made a tape recording for posterity. Seventy-five years after that first train ride, his grandson would set out with that tape and a 16mm camera, look- ing for echoes of those experiences in the modern landscape. Last Thoughts is an impressionistic tour of the American West, past and present, guided by the voice of a dying hobo. Kevin Henry, PO Box 1199, Carmel, CA 93921 www.last-thoughts.com, [email protected]

36 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Big Sky Award

World Premier - Feb. 18, 5:00 pm Milepost 314 8 minutes, 2005, Super 16mm, USA By Anne Devereux

Where great corridors of migrating wildlife and human com- merce intersect, “Milepost 314” profiles Bozeman wildlife biolo- gist April Craighead's efforts to make freeways less destructive to our natural heritage. Filmed along Interstate 90 just east of Bozeman, filmmaker and scientist explore solutions to prevent hun- dreds of animals from dying in collisions with automobiles each year.

Anne Devereux, The Dept. of Moving Pictures, 621 Canary Lane, Bozeman, MT 59715 [email protected], www.thedmp.com

Northwest Premier - Feb. 21, 8:15 pm Site Specific-Las Vegas ‘05 13 minutes, 2005, 35mm, USA By Olivo Barbieri

One of a series of aerial city studies by Olivo Barbieri, begins over the deserts of Arizona and Nevada and soon reaches the fan- tasy glitter world of Las Vegas. A portrait of materialism, Barbieri's film confounds - the miniature-sized pedestrians, cars and architec- ture appear as artificial as toys; monumental feats of engineering (the Hoover Dam or the Fountains at Bellagio) seem strangely out-of-context within the natural landscape; and the development of the Las Vegas Strip caus- es one to ask, what motivates such excess? Wonder Inc., 372 Richmond Street West, Suite 212, Toronto, Ontario M5V 1X6 (416)585-7911, www.wonderinc.com

World Premier - Feb. 21, 2:15 pm Teachings of the Tree People: The Work of Bruce Miller 58 minutes, 2005, Beta, USA By Katie Jennings

“The trees were our first teachers.” Known to the Skokomish peo- ple of the Pacific Northwest as “subiyay“, National Heritage Fellow, Gerald Bruce Miller, passed on the silent teachings of the natural world to anyone who came to learn. A passionate student of the culture, Bruce became the bearer of the language, oral traditions, art and spirituality of the Twana people of Hood Canal. This gentle and generous film documents his race against time and ailing health to pass his knowledge on to the next generation. The four-part seasonal structure, gradually unfolding narrative, and currents of deep emotion make Teachings of the Tree People a poignant walk through Indian Country. IslandWood, 4450 Blakely Ave NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 (206) 855-4300, [email protected], www.islandwood.org

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 37 Big Sky Award

Northwest Premier - Feb. 20, 9:00 pm Walking the Line 58 minutes, 2005, mini-DV, USA By Jeremy Levine & Landon Van Soest

A harrowing view of the chaos, absurdity, and senseless deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border through private citizens who are taking the law into their own hands. The region, celebrated for its history of lawlessness, has become the most highly trafficked areas for immigrants in the world—and one of the most dangerous. A shift in border policy forces migrants to cross the unforgiving desert where thousands die; those who make it face volatile civilian militias. Following rancher vigilantes with semiautomatic weapons, outlaw pastors with four-wheel drives, and impover- ished immigrants with dreams of a better life, the film explores the uncertain line between what is patriotic, what is moral, and what is just. Jeremy Levine, 513 S. Aurora St., Ithaca, NY 14850 [email protected], www.walkingthelinemovie.com

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2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 39 Out of Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 21, 8:15 pm Aerosol 23 minutes, 2004, HD, Spain By Miguel Angel Rolland

A portrait of four graffiti writers from Madrid and Barcelona: SUSO33, ISRA, SIXE and KAPI. They are part of a pioneering and illustrated generation in Street Art. For that same reason, their words and the development of four pieces (one by each artist) are the guides through this documentary. Shot in High Definition Aerosol shows these four people's passion about a new, radical, urban and deserving of greater respect art. Miguel Angel Rolland, Calle Colmenares 13 4C, Madrid, Madrid 28004, Spain +34915218802, [email protected], http://www.docusmadrid.org, www.aerosoldocumental.com

Northwest Premier - Feb. 18, 2:15 pm Agnes Martin: With my back to the World 57 minutes, 2003, 16mm, USA By Mary Lance A groundbreaking documentary on the internationally renowned painter, designated by ARTnews Magazine one of the world's top- ten living artists. This documentary was shot over a period of four years, from 1998 through 2002, Agnes Martin's ninetieth year. Interviews with the artist are cut with shots at work in her studio in Taos, New Mexico, with photographs and archival footage, and with images of her work from over five decades. It is a venue for Martin to speak about her work, her working methods, her life as an artist, and her views about the creative process. She also discusses her film, Gabriel and reads from her poetry and lectures. In keeping with Martin's chosen life of solitude, she alone appears in the documentary. New Deal Films, Inc., PO Box 2953, Corrales, NM 87048 USA 505-897-9738, [email protected], www.newdealfilms.com North American Premier - Feb. 19, 11:45 am B 224 23 minutes, 1999, 35mm, Germany By Rainer Komers

The B 224 is one of the major highways leading through the Ruhr area, one of Germany's most industrial and most densely populat- ed regions. It runs south and north again connecting Gladbeck, Bottrop, Essen, Wuppertal and Solingen. B224 is a purely observa- tion film, created from striking cinematography taken along this road corridor. Made by acclaimed German filmmaker Rainer Komers, winner of a special jury prize at the 2005 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival for his film, “Nome Road System." Rainer Komers Film, Moritzstrasse 102, D-45476 Mülheim an der Ruhr +49-208-77 94 38, [email protected]

40 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Out of Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 16, 10:30 pm The Big Question 67 minutes, 2004, Beta SP, Italy By Francesco Cabras & Alberto Molinari

Shot on the set of The Passion of the Christ, this film explores essential questions of the nature of divinity and belief through interviews with the cast and crew of 'The Passion,' including direc- tor Mel Gibson, and actors Monica Belluchi and Jim Caviezel. The Big Question is based on an idea that is very simple yet rather com- plex: it poses extremely direct questions to a large and varied group of people regarding their own intimate perception of the divine. Ganga Film, Largo Generale Gonzaga del Vodice, 4, 00195 - Roma +39 06 37.41.11.05, www.gangafilm.com, [email protected]

Montana Premier - Feb. 22, 2:30 pm The Birdpeople 61 minutes, 2005, 16mm, USA By Michael Gitlin

A loosely-knit community of birdwatchers in New York's Central Park; ornithologists with their specimen collections at a dozen dif- ferent natural history museums; bird banders gingerly extracting birds from mist nets and collecting data in upstate New York; six people searching for an extinct bird in a Louisiana bayou: these are the strands that are woven together by The Birdpeople as it documents a passionate fixation. Part cultural history, part self-reflexive anthropology, by turns humorous and elegiac, The Birdpeople examines the pleasures and problems of looking and naming, and investigates the social construction of nature, centered on ornithology and its amateur counterpart, bird watching. Michael Gitlin, 106 1/2 North 8th Street, Apt. 4L, Brooklyn, NY 11211 [email protected], www.flatsurfacefilms.com Northwest Premier - Feb. 22, 1:00 pm The Color of Love 68 minutes, miniDV, 2004, Iran by Maryam Keshavarz

One week each year Iranians stay out all night. Women abandon legal curfews. Men weep. Communities gather to mourn their saint's death, ask that wishes be granted, give thanks for prayers answered. While this week showcases Iran's most restrictive religious elements, it offers openings for this culture's most intimate connec- tions. Is a change in the perception of love inherently political because it affects individuals and their view of the world? THE COLOR OF LOVE shows that freedom is not what we assume it is and love is more than we imagine it to be.

MaraKesh Films, Maryam Keshavarz, 543 Brooklyn Street, #2A, Brooklyn, NY 11215 415 710-7518, [email protected], www.marakeshfilms.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 41 Out of Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 16, 3:30 pm Don’t Fence Me In 30 minutes, 2004, DV/Beta, Burma By Ruth Gumnit Since 1962, Burma has been ruled by a military junta. Despite its former prosperity and its rich resources, it was voted least devel- oped nation by the UN in 1987, and human rights atrocities con- tinue to prevail. "Don't Fence Me In" chronicles the life of 70-year- old freedom fighter Major Mary On and her people's struggle for self-determination. Her charismatic storytelling is accompanied by rare, clandestine footage smuggled out of the Karen refugee camps. Cynthia Close, Exec. Director, Documentary Educational Resources 101 Morse Street, Watertown, MA 02472 (617)926-0491, [email protected], www.der.org

Montana Premier - Feb. 20, 5:30 pm French Fries to Go 15 minutes, miniDV, 2002, USA by Howard Donner & Bob Murphy

“French Fries to Go” documents the origins of Telluride Colorado's Biodiesel project, which resulted in the launching of the first city bus in the nation to operate on 100% Biodiesel. This funny and thought provoking film is pure Telluride featuring a cast of colorful characters from around the region. Heel stomping fun for the whole family with cameo appearances from Daryl Hannah, Dennis Weaver and world renowned Doctor Andrew Weil."

Best Environmental Film, 2002 Telluride Mountain Film Festival Grassolean Solutions, P.O. Box 2928, Telluride, Co 81435 (970) 209-8099, www.Grassolean.com, [email protected]

Montana Premier - Feb. 17, 5:30 pm Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine 84 minutes, 2004, Beta SP, USA By Vikram Jayanti In May 1997 Garry Kasparov, the greatest chess player the world has ever seen, played Deep Blue, a hulking one and a half ton IBM supercomputer. Before ranks of the world's media, this was a chess tournament and scientific experiment that would question our dominance as the most intelligent entity on the planet. To win the match, the computer did what many thought impossible at the time - it appeared to think like a human. Immediately after the tournament, bleary eyed and exhausted, Kasparov stormed into the final press conference and, under the glare of the world's media, accused IBM of cheating, alleging they had tampered with the machine during play. Within 24 hours of Deep Blue's victory, IBM's share price rose by some 2.5%, adding over $2 Billion to the company's value. THINKFilm, Amanda Sherwin, (646)293-9400, [email protected]

42 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Out of Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 16, 11:00 am Happy Crying Nursing Home 29 minutes, 2004, DVCAM, USA By Niklas Vollmer

With an almost frightening intensity, videomaker Niklas Sven Vollmer captures the enveloping void of fatherhood in “HAPPY CRYING NURSING HOME." In penetratingly honest detail, Vollmer charts the feelings of loneliness, jealousy and tenderness, the bitter, complex cocktail of despair and love that define his relation- ships to his child, his partner * and his camera. A powerful and witty, self-referential treatise on technology's gendered function and an analysis of what the camera means in a father's hands. Niklas Vollmer, 2796 Alston Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30317 (404)378-1278, [email protected]

Montana Premier - Feb. 16, 3:30 pm It’s Like That 7 minutes, 2003, 16mm, Australia By the Southern Ladies Animation Group

An animated documentary based on the recorded voices of three children. They were interviewed by phone while being detained in one of Australia's several Immigration Detention Centers, in accor- dance with the Australian Migration Act of Mandatory Detention of Asylum Seekers. The children are depicted as caged migratory birds. They reflect on their environment, the food and what they imagine Australia is like outside the facility. Southern Ladies Animation Group (SLAG), P.O.Box 2103, Brighton Nth, 3186, AUSTRALIA +61(0)438211263, [email protected]

Northwest Premier - Feb. 16, 3:30 pm Lawn 12 minutes, 2004, 16mm, USA By Monteith McCollum

An exploration of our relationship with nature and our desire to control it, and how our perception of others is affected by the condition of their lawns. A man struggles to go chemical-free to ensure the health of his child. Latent Films, 677 Halsey Valley Rd., Barton, NY 13737 (607)689-0376, [email protected]

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 43 Out of Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 17, 1:45 pm Mashallah 73 minutes, 2004, Digibeta, Israel By Eytan Harris

A mysterious combination between murder and poetry. A brutal murder of an anonymous Palestinian taxi driver drew a lot of attention only to be soon forgotten. Some years later the two main Israeli newspapers published a few poems, written in Hebrew and signed by an unknown Palestinian author. “Mashallah", the first poem, described a terrible experience of pain, misery and death. With grace and a sure sense of plot, the film weaves together the stories of the victim’s family, the murderer, the investigators and mysterious poet, who adds a fascinating element of literary intrigue to this tale of lives forever linked by tragedy. Eytan Harris Productions, 15 Yair Street, Zichron Yaacov, 30900 Israel +972 4 6396224, [email protected]

Northwest Premier - Feb. 18, 5:00 pm The Mythologist 26 minutes, 2004, Digital Beta/35mm, UK By John Lundberg

On the surface 'Armen Victorian' seems like a regular guy. He lives in Nottingham with his wife and two children and his occupa- tions have been variously listed as insurance salesman, shop assis- tant and cleaner. But dig a little deeper and Armen's life starts to resemble that of a latter-day Walter Mitty. Diplomat, adventurer, UFO investigator, crop circle researcher, intelligence officer - is this the secret life of a Nottingham shop assistant?

Jerwood First Cuts Documentary Award - Sheffield International Documentary Festival John Lundberg, +44 (0)771 575 4018, [email protected], www.offkilter.co.uk

North American Premier - Feb. 19, 11:45 am NH 2 53 minutes, 2004, Beta SP, Germany By Rainer Komers

The Indian National Highway No. 2 or “Grand Trunk Road” starts at Kolkata, cuts through the industrial areas of West Bengal and Bihar and meets the Ganges at Varanasi. The film documents three separate trips leaving the NH 2 to go north to Shantineketan (the international university established by Rabindranath Tagore and the ashram founded by his father), to Parasnath Hill, and to the sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centre Bodh Gaya. NH2 is a purely observational film made by acclaimed German filmmaker Rainer Komers, winner of a special jury prize at the 2005 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival for his film, “Nome Road System." Rainer Komers Film, Moritzstrasse 102, D-45476 Mülheim an der Ruhr +49-208-77 94 38, [email protected]

44 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Out of Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 22, 3:45 pm On Hostile Ground 72 minutes, 2000, DVCAM, USA By Liz Mermin and Jenny Raskin On Hostile Ground enters the lives of three abortion providers to reveal the obstacles (practical, legal, and emotional) that they face everyday, and shows them struggle with the decision to per- form this procedure. They reveal what their professional decision has done to their personal and family lives. While they each have their own stories, they are all driven more by personal experiences and spiritual beliefs than by political conviction. They each Sponsored by: express anger, confusion, and resentment in their own way. By weaving together three very different character portraits, this documentary takes an unusual approach to a volatile social conflict, portraying abortion through the personal stories of those who are in mortal danger because they provide it. Aubin Pictures, 136 Grand Street, New York, NY (212)274-0551, [email protected], www.onhostileground.com Northwest Regional Premier - Feb. 17, 4:30 pm One Shot 60 minutes, 2004, BETA SP, ISRAEL By Nurit Kedar

This is the first time snipers of Israel Defense Forces were ever interviewed for a film. After 5 weeks of training an Israeli soldier can become a sniper if he chooses to. Snipers are part of every combat unit. War scenes in the film were taken by combat soldiers on duty. Since the last Intifada, Israeli snipers are used for targeted killing. The image of the gun, the bullet and the man behind them who waits patiently and calmly, in the quiet darkness in order to fulfill the command and shoot one single shot - make the sniper appear a heroic fighter and, to others, a cold-blooded murderer. “ONE SHOT” focuses on snipers who still serve as reserved snipers in the Israeli Army. They do not regret killing, they still believe in one shot - one kill. Ruth Diskin Films LTD, 13 Diskin St. Suite 47, Jerusalem, 96440, Israel 972-2-5669691, [email protected], www.ruthfilms.com Northwest Premier - Feb. 21, 3:30 pm Phase II 87 minutes, DV, 2003, Germany/Switzerland By Tom Streuber

Robert Rappacinski, “Rappa,” is an 18 year old addicted crimi- nal. After getting caught in one crime, he is sentenced to three months in a monastery - a sort of “work education institution". Together with seven other addicted delinquents, he has to learn that a “normal life” should be a goal. Rappa has three months to prove his attitude changed or he has to stay for at least two more years. This observational documentary accompanies Rappa and the other inhabitants dur- ing these three months.

“...a brilliant filmed opus", Filmwoche To m Streuber, +49 163 6386512, [email protected]

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 45 Out of Competition

Montana Premier - Feb. 17, 9:00 pm Pleasure and Pain 89 minutes, 2002, DV, USA By Danny Clinch

An intriguing and in-depth look at the life that is lived by con- temporary roots rock icon Ben Harper. This documentary offers a rare glimpse into Ben's travels, performances, song writing, religion and life in general. Along with a rare behind-the-scenes perspective of the lives that these enigmatic musicians live, it incorporates concert footage, backstage clips and what goes into producing Ben Harper's per- formances. Not just another self-indulgent music documentary, Pleasure & Pain lives up to its name by showing the imperfect yet true humanity behind the performer on a pedestal. Matt Henderson, Seventh Art Releasing, 7551 Sunset Blvd., Suite 104, Los Angeles, CA 90046 (323)845-1455, [email protected], www.7thart.com

Montana Premier - Feb. 20, 1:15 pm Post No Bills 57 minutes, 1992, 16mm, USA By Clay Walker

Political heavy-weights populate this urgent and humorous docu- mentary on the detonative mix of art and politics as embodied in the work of infamous 'guerilla' poster artist Robbie Conal, a pro- fessional painter who has splattered hundreds of thousands of his caricatured paintings-as-posters across the United States' urban streets. Photographed in the grainy nighttime streets and in the well-lit galleries of Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City, this award winning film documents Conal's efforts through a variety of perspectives, including interviews with gallery owners, city officials, Daryl Gates, actor Tim Robbins, the Reagans and even Oliver North. Plan B Productions, www.planbproductions.com, [email protected]

Montana Premier - Feb. 20, 11:20 am Richart 23 minutes, 2004, MiniDV, USA By Dawn Smallman

While confined to a psychiatric ward at age 50, Richart Tracy made this discovery: If you want to get out of the hospital start making art like this. They will get rid of you - fast! This documen- tary takes a trip through his Art Farm yard, his eccentric art, original methods and his genius mind (not to mention what he hides in his basement). “Directors Renwick and Smallman hit the cinematic jackpot when finding the subject for their documentary, Richart.” Portland Mercury.

Best Documentary Video - Microcinefest 2002, Grand Jury Award Far Away Films, LLC, 1148 SE 50th Ave., Portland, OR 97215 (503) 295-6832, [email protected], www.farawayfilm.com

46 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Out of Competition

- Feb. 18, 9:45 pm The Salt Men of Tibet 109 minutes, miniDV, 1997, Tibet/Germany by Ulrike Koch

Shot under extreme conditions in one of the world's most remote locations, “The Saltmen of Tibet” is a work of sublime beauty and epic scale. Documenting the ancient traditions and day-to-day ritu- als of a Tibetan nomadic community, filmmaker Ulrike Koch trans- ports us into a realm untainted by the tides of foreign invasion or encroaching modernity. Observing age-old taboos and steadfast homage to the deities of nature, four men meticulously plan their grueling three-month yak caravan to fetch “the tears of Tara,” the precious salt from the holy lakes of northern Tibet. The Saltmen of Tibet is a breathtaking collage of image and sound-a majestic tribute to the purity of a landscape, people and tradition facing extinction. ZEITGEIST FILMS LTD (212) 274-1989, [email protected], www.zeitgeistfilms.com Montana Premier Bessie & Lolo-Feb. 16, 11:00 am Noel-Feb. 18, 3:30 pm Selections from THE OBITUARY PROJECT By Hope Tucker

An obituary whittles down one's social contribution down to its barest form. The last ninety years of a life (BESSIE COHEN, SUR- VIVOR OF 1911 SHIRTWAIST FIRE, 3 minutes) can be eclipsed by an escape from a burning building. A porn star with a virtual fan base (LOLO FERRARI, 1.5 minutes) might have no obituary at all, garnering only an AP wire report. And a songwriter's identity (NOEL, 5 minutes) remains as obscure as his motives for penning a popular & didactic American holiday standard. Hope Tucker, 710 Sanga Creek, Cordova, TN 38018 (901)489-1034, [email protected], www.theobituaryproject.org

Northwest Premier - Feb. 21, 8:15 pm Shulie 27 minutes, 1967, 16mm, USA By Jerry Blumenthal, James Leahy, Sheppard Ferguson and Allan Rettig

A portrait of 22 year-old Shulamith Firestone in 1967 as she com- pletes the last year of her BFA in painting and photography at Chicago's School of the Art Institute. Working at the post office to pay the bills, trying to cope with her own ambivalence about her art and the harsh judgments of her professors, Shulie shares as much of her- self as she can, given the circumstances. The film coincidentally introduces us to the woman who five years later would write the now legendary manifesto, “The Dialectics of Sex: The Case For Feminist Revolution." Kartemquin Films, 1901 W. Wellington, Chicago, IL 60657 773-472-4366, [email protected], www.kartemquin.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 47 Out of Competition

Northwest Premier - Feb. 26, 12:30 pm Stranger with a Camera 60 minutes, 2000, DVCAM, USA By Elizabeth Barret

In 1967 eastern Kentucky, Hobart Ison shot and killed Canadian filmmaker Hugh O'Connor who was documenting conditions of poverty in Appalachia. “Stranger With A Camera” revisits this tragedy to explore the complex relationship between filmmakers and the communities they portray.

Marketing & Sales, Appalshop, Inc., 91 Madison Ave., Whitesburg, Kentucky, 41858 1-800-545-7467, [email protected], www.appalshop.org/

Northwest Premier - Feb. 16, 11:00 am Taylor Chain: Story in a Union Local 32 minutes, 1981, 16mm, USA By Jerry Blumenthal and Gordon Quinn

Taylor Chain: Story in a Union Local depicts the gritty realities of a seven-week strike at a small Indiana chain factory. Volatile, dramatic union meetings and the increasingly tense interactions on the picket line provide an inside view of the full range of conflicts in an authentic grassroots democracy, just as the recently won union is beginning to feel empowered to confront management with demands for a better contract. “A tiny stick of dynamite!” - Chicago Tribune Kartemquin Films, 1901 w. Wellington, Chicago, IL 60657 [email protected], www.kartemquin.com

Montana Premier - Feb. 17, 11:00 am The Venus Theory 52 minutes, 2004, Digibeta, Finland

“The Venus Theory” is about the possibility of a sudden catastrophic climate change and the greenhouse effect spiralling out of control on the Earth. Exploring the possibility of the Earth's temperature one day equaling the temperature on the planet Venus, the film includes interviews with leading scientists from around the world who explain the science behind climate change. The film covers projections of our atmosphere's warming in the coming century, and what consequences this holds for our planet, various species, and mankind. THE VIDEO PROJECT, Post Office Box 411376, San Francisco, CA 94141-1376 800-4-PLANET, [email protected]

48 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Missoula’s Resource for coordination, development & support of arts and culture to benefit Missoula.

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2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 49 Les Blank Retrospective

A Well Spent Life - Feb. 19, 7:45 pm 44 minutes, 1971, 16mm, USA By Les Blank

A deeply moving tribute to the Texas songster, Mance Lipscomb, considered by many to be one of the greatest guitarist of all time. Mance was not “discovered” until 1960, when Chris Strachwitz first recorded him for Arhoolie Records. Before that, Mance lived by sharecropping, surviving the brutality of a system not much better that slavery. Amazingly, instead of growing bitter, the tough times made him sweet. The film captures Mance's music, set in his hometown of Navasota, Texas.

Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com

The Blues According to Lightnin’ Hopkins - Feb. 18, 11:15 am 31 minutes, 1969, 16mm, USA By Les Blank

In his own words and his “own” music, Lightnin' Hopkins reveals the inspiration for his blues. He signs, jives, ponders. He boogies at an outdoor barbecue and a black rodeo, and takes you with him on a homecoming visit to his boyhood home of Centerville, Texas. Blank has captured Lightnin' blues in their fullest darkest power. The film reaches “past the impish bluesman himself into the blues itself, into the red-clay Texas, into hard times, into black-ness, into the senses... you begin to understand the reasons why black Texas people might be in love with this land and yet angry with the poverty. Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com

Burden of Dreams - Feb. 21, 6:30 pm 94 minutes, 1982, 16mm, USA By Les Blank

An extraordinary feature-length documentary about the messian- ic German director Werner Herzog struggling against desperate odds in the Amazon basin to make his epic feature, Fitzcarraldo. Burden of Dreams was honored with a British Academy Award for Best Documentary of 1982, and many critics consider it Blank's most awesome film. Sponsored by:

Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com

50 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Les Blank Retrospective

Dizzy Gillespie - Feb. 18, 11:15 am 20 minutes, 1964, 16mm B&W, USA By Les Blank

Rare images of immortal bebop jazzman Dizzy Gillespie as he talks about his beginnings and music theories -- and blows a lot of hot music on his famous bent horn. Les Blank's earliest music film, focusing on the trumpet player himself, who, along with Charlie Parker, Theolonius Monk and others, sparked the change from jazz into Bop in the '40s.

Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com

Gap-Toothed Women - Feb. 19, 7:45 pm 31 minutes, 1987, 16mm, USA By Les Blank

A charming valentine to women born with a space between their teeth, ranging from lighthearted whimsy to a deeper look at issues like self-esteem and societal attitudes toward standards of beauty. Interviews were conducted with over one hundred women, including model Lauren Hutton and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com

J'ai Été Au Bal - Feb. 19, 10:00 am (I Went to the Dance) 84 minutes, 1989, 16mm, USA By Les Blank

The definitive film on the history of the toe-tapping, foot-stomping music of French Southwest Louisiana. Includes many Cajun and Zydeco greats, featuring Michael Doucet and Beausoleil, Clifton Chenier, Marc and Ann Savoy, D.L. Menard, and many others.

Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com

2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival 51 Les Blank Retrospective Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge - Feb. 18, 11:15 am 11 minutes, 1991, 16mm, USA By Les Blank

Born in 1903, Julie Lyon, sister of Old Time fiddler Tommy Jarrell, lights up this gem of a film as she spins tales of her Appalachian childhood in North Carolina -- and her first romance. In telling stories of her life, from her midwife grandmoth- er riding horseback through ice storms to deliver babies to her proper but whimsical courtship of her husband, Julie evokes in an inimitable way a world of times gone by: of the memories that lie behind a patchwork quilt or a yellowed daguerreotype. Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists - Feb. 18, 10:00 am 54 minutes, 1995, 16mm, USA By Les Blank

What happens when a dedicated husband and father quits his job, adopts the persona of a Western-Movie Singing Cowboy, takes on the entire art establishment (including Christo and Andy Warhol), and refuses to accept money for his art? Meet Gerry Gaxiola, AKA The Maestro, an ex-wage slave who gave up everything to make art for art's sake. The Maestro's story could inspire a whole new generation of Van Goghs. Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com

My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarell in the Blue Ridge - Feb. 18, 11:15 am 17 minutes, 1994, 16mm, USA By Les Blank

The long-awaited sequel to Sprout Wings and Fly (Les Blank's first film about this homegrown Appalachian fiddler and raconteur) is a gentle celebration of mountain living, a once-thriving American way of life. This portrait showcases Tommy's unpretentious folk wisdom and reminiscences. The soundtrack features his singing and fiddling, spiced with a visit to the Smithsonian to test-drive an authentic Stradivarius violin. Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com

52 2006 BIG SKY documentary film festival Les Blank Retrospective Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe - Feb. 19, 7:45 pm 22 minutes, 1980, 16mm, USA By Les Blank

Yes, German film director Werner Herzog really does eat his shoe to fulfill a vow to fellow filmmaker Errol Morris -- boldly exemplifying his belief that people must have the guts to attempt what they dream of.

Flower Films, 10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510)525-0942, [email protected], www.lesblank.com

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