WELCOME Greetings Missoula, filmmakers and documentary fans, On behalf of the Big Sky Film Institute, welcome to the 15th Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival! This year we revel in a milestone, fifteen years of celebrating documentary film and its power to gather, inform, engage, educate and entertain. It is with immense gratitude to the hundreds of filmmakers, thousands of fans, and most especially the community of Missoula, that we cross this exciting threshold and charge ahead with fresh perspective. We are pleased to feature over 170 exceptional films, selected from an unprec- edented 2,000 submissions from all over the world, exploring visionary stories of humanity, activism, perseverance, innovation and a changing planet. Big Sky will venture into new mediums, presenting audio documentaries in a collective listening session, and virtual reality stories from the far side of the world. We are honored to feature two retrospective programs including the much-lauded non- fiction luminary Kirby Dick and veteran documentary filmmaker Greg Barker. 2018 also marks the launch of the Native Filmmaker Initiative, elevating a long tradition of celebrating Indigenous documentary film. In ad- dition, the 2018 DocShop will spotlight the intersection of film and technolo- gy, exploring the mechanics and innovations of a rapidly changing medium. Contemporary storytelling is increasingly influenced by gadgets and gizmos, however, as depicted by the woman on the cover of this program, the passion and inspiration in documentary film still comes from the heart. Documentaries today have the potential to be innovative in their use of technology and push boundaries with the stories they tell. As film technology advances, so too does the human ingenuity to build resiliency of character and provide a roadmap for the way forward in a changing world. Rachel Gregg Executive Director Big Sky Film Institute CONTENTS Tickets, Passes and Festival HQ 2-3 Special Features 5-14 Festival Jury 16-17 Big Sky DocShop 18-19 Strands 23-27 Venue Map 28-29 Youth Programs & Schoolhouse Docs 30-31 Schedule of Films 32-40 Film Descriptions 42-85 Festival Staff 98 Sponsors 104 Cover Art: Theo Ellsworth BOX OFFICE INFO FESTIVAL HQ Festival HQ is located in the ROAM office at Purchasing & Pick-Up 125 S. Higgins Avenue, right next to The Wilma Advance tickets: bigskyfilmfest.org (available for pick up at the door) Buy passes: Festival HQ Hours Will call for all passes (All Access, All Screening, 5-Punch): Festival HQ Friday, February 16th: 12pm - 8pm February 17-25: 10am - 8pm daily Passes & Prices Single-Screening Ticket $9 Festival HQ is your source for daily festival information and box office Student/Senior Single-Screening $7 services where you can: 5-Punch Pass $40 Student/Senior 5-Punch Pass $30 • Buy All-Access passes, All-Screening passes and 5-punch cards Schoolhouse Docs $5 • Pick up will call tickets and passes All-Access Pass $325 • Pick up festival credentials, all access passes and filmmaker passes All-Screening Pass $175 Weekend Pass (Films & Parties) $150 Tickets for individual screenings may be purchased at the door. Will call DocShop Pass (Feb 19-23) $150 tickets for individual screenings may also be picked up at the door. IMPORTANT INFORMATION All-Access Pass Festival Merchandise This pass is good for all screenings, VIP events and parties, and in- Get your 2018 BSDFF merch! T-shirts, hoodies, stickers and more at cludes access to the private filmmaker lounge and DocShop events. The Wilma, The Elks Lodge and MCT! All-Screening Pass This pass is good for all film screenings at the 2018 festival. (Does not include special events, DocShop or parties). Passes are Non-Transferable Valid ID required to pick up passes and will call tickets. Arrive Early Congratulations We recommend passholders arrive 15-20 minutes early for screenings. to all the participants in the Seating is first come first serve. Reserved seating for ticketed patrons is guaranteed until 10 minutes prior to start time. PLEASE NOTE Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Most of the films at this festival are not rated by the MPAA. If you are bringing children, please read film synopses carefully as some films may have sensitive content. If you have questions, please contact the festival office at 406-541-FILM (3456). 2018 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival *Find Festival HQ location on map (p.28) 2 New York • Chicago • Los Angeles www.abelcine.com THE ULTIMATE LOCATION OPENING NIGHT LOCATIONS • RESOURCES • SCOUTING Assisting filmmakers since 1974 OPENING NIGHT FILM: DARK MONEY, Directed by Kimberly Reed Friday, February 16th, 7:00 pm, The Wilma, Free Admission Opening night at BSDFF 2018 features the homecoming and exception- al telling of an important Montana story. A century ago corrupt money scarred Montana’s democracy and landscape, but Montanans voted to prohibit corporate campaign contributions. Today, after the Citizens United ruling, dark money floods elections nationwide, but Montanans are standing up to stop history from repeating itself in a struggle that has the potential to change the way elections happen nationwide. CLOSING NIGHT CLOSING NIGHT FILM: BIRD OF PREY, Directed by Eric Liner Sunday, February 25th, 6:00 pm, The Wilma Join us closing night for a special event featuring the world premiere of the stunning and timely film BIRD OF PREY. Wildlife cinematographer Neil Rettig embarks on what could be the most challenging assignment of his career: to find and film the rarest eagle on the planet. Bird of Prey explores the vanishing world of the Great Philippine Eagle and reveals the people determined to save it. Neil Rettig and Laura Johnson in 2018 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 800-553-4563 attendance. 5 montanafilm.com Peerless, MT TOWARD ZERO WASTE WASTE LESS | WATCH MORE | FEEL BETTER In partnership with local sustainability advocates and the City of Missoula, Big Sky strives to be a leader in ecologically sustainable Audio documentary has recently been the fastest growing medium in the event production, reduce our carbon footprint and encourage documentary field, with radio and podcasts enjoying a proverbial 21st century eco-consciousness and sustainable practices. Every year powerful film renaissance. This year, six audio documentary selections will be featured in a live programming addresses environmental issues on scientific and social listening event, a multimedia presentation providing a true festival experience with a medium normally heard in solitude. levels, engaging our audience on serious challenges facing commu- nities across the globe. We continue our Toward Zero Waste initiative this year with support from the High Stakes Foundation in an effort to Wednesday, February 21, 6:15 pm, MCT - $12 significantly reduce the waste produced during the ten day festival, THE 121ST SHIP Director Jessica Hart - 24 min increase awareness of environmental issues and behavioral solutions in our local community, and provide a model for other film festivals Lauren Vuong, who escaped from Vietnam with her family in 1979, recalls the one and the industry at large. person who rescued her family and allowed her a chance at life. DOGS ARE PEOPLE TOO Host Caroline Ballard, Senior Producer Erin Jones, WHAT WE’RE DOING Digital Producer Anna Rader, Executive Producer Micah Schweizer - 23 min • Banning single-use plastic at our VIP events, opting for PLA and BPA certified vessels wherever possible In 2007, more than 50 pit bulls were discovered at former NFL quarterback • Using post-consumer recycled paper for printed materials Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring in Virginia. Most people thought they couldn’t be • Partnering with eco-conscious vendors wherever possible saved. But their stories had just begun. • Providing recycling and compost receptacles at all festival venues • Planning festival events within walking distance, and providing HOOFPRINTS ON THE HEART Host Caroline Ballard, Senior Producer Erin shuttles to for events outside the downtown proper Jones, Digital Producer Anna Rader, Executive Producer Micah Schweizer - 20 min This is the story of a love that spans continents. Jon Dunham set out on the WHAT YOU CAN DO longest, toughest walk of his life. But along the way, he met someone who helped • Walk, bike, or take the FREE Mountain Line downtown! carry the weight. • Take only one program or plan your festivities with our online resources. KENNETH’S FIRST VOTE Director Lance Warren - 6 min • Recycle your program and any paper you collect at the festival. On November 8, 2016, Kenneth Williams voted for the first time. Though he • Recycle! Compost! You’ll find bins at all festival venues. completed a prison sentence for robbery 30 years ago, this 67 year-old business owner lacked voting rights until restored by Virginia's governor following a lengthy Learn more about Towards Zero Waste and the City of Missoula’s Zero application process. by Fifty initiative at www.ci.missoula.mt.us THE LONGEST YEAR Director Jessie Beers-Altman - 12 min Stand Up For Justice Practice Nonviolence The Longest Year represents a young woman's attempt to understand and work Protect Our Planet Shop Fair Trade through a personal, tragic, life-altering event through the memories of friends and loved ones who shared the experience. ON DEATH AND SPACE CLOUDS Director Tally Abecassis - 7 min How do you keep someone's memory alive once they have died? A mother and change the child try to make sense of it together. world with us REASON TO THE MOON Director Ng Sze Min - 4 min 519 S. Higgins The advent of the spacecraft enabled man to reach the moon. And what have we 2018 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Like us on Facebook 2018 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival www.jrpc.org discovered? 6 7 VIRTUAL REALITY Rooted in the heart of the mountain west, The Big Sky Film Institute nurtures and elevates non-fiction films that have the power to transform our world, our culture, our youth and ourselves.