Wind, snow, February. These words feel far-flung for a bright July day but they’re important in telling and celebrating the story of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (BSDFF). Each year, viewers gather in venues around downtown to watch these films, most always braving the treacherous and tiresome weather that February brings to our Missoula. Still, it doesn’t matter. The houses are still packed, even in the festival's 20th year.
Rachel Gregg, Executive Director of the Big Sky Film Institute, sees the stalwart nature of Missoulians as part of their success. “We saw those crowds and said to ourselves, 'Of course, you came out, Missoula!' This hardy mountain town is not deterred. We live in a curious, involved community. There’s definitely an appetite for documentary films here."
Community support was obvious, even back in 2004 when organizers Dru Carr, Doug Hawes-Davis, and Damon Ristau first considered putting together an organized collection of films for public viewing. “They had this idea,” explained Rachel. What if we do a film festival in Missoula? Would people come? A few people showed up to the first screening and they were stoked! Then, the rest of the weekend was sold out.”
The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is Montana’s largest documentary film festival, but that doesn’t mean it’s limited to films solely about Big Sky Country. This year, 2,000 submissions yielded a showing of more than 150 films from around the world.
“It’s huge and that means we can host films that are popular with Missoula crowds, then also give edgy, more experimental docs some attention,” said Rachel. In fact, the festival is an Academy Award qualifier for short documentaries. Winners here have the opportunity to compete for an Oscar. “Our shorts winner went on to win in 2021,” said Rachel. Beyond the red carpet, BSDFF continues to receive recognition. Recently, MovieMaker magazine included it among their list of the top 50 film festivals worth the entry fee. “It’s definitely a feather in our cap,” Rachel said. “It allows us to continue attracting a wide variety of exceptional films. We have a reputation among filmmakers for being an event where you can have access to professionals and enjoy Missoula’s distinctive vibe. Every night, we host networking events in various iconic Missoula spaces. The events are always open to all. There’s no red rope.” said Rachel.
Sarah McGihon, Director of Sponsorship and Marketing, understands the strong supporting role that Missoula culture plays in the festival’s success. “This wouldn’t survive just anywhere,” said. Sarah.
During the festival, there’s a lot going on behind the curtain. “We organize what we call DocShop,” Rachel said. “It’s a chance for filmmakers to discuss all aspects of the industry. We organize educational events, like panels and master classes. It’s where they can really get down to the business of filmmaking.” In contrast to those heady sessions, artists get a special treat through the institute’s Filmmakers in the Schools program. They can watch their films in the classroom beside younger viewers with fresh eyes. “Many find that watching their work along with students gives them a whole new perspective. The Q&As are so lively,” said Rachel.
Throughout two decades, the festival has grown beyond ten days of films into a robust artist development institute. “It’s been twenty years. Now we’re asking, ‘What else can we do as an institute?’” Sarah said. “Youth programs are front of mind for us,” added Rachel. Their extensive youth programming gives BSDFF a strong foundation to build upon. The institute aims to nurture the next generation of filmmakers with programs like the Teen Doc Intensive, Native Filmmaker Initiative, and Big Sky Documentary Youth Fellowship. For example, during the festival, teens from across the state gather together to shoot, edit, and screen their films within three days. Fellowship recipients learn under the tutelage of a professional filmmaker and get to premiere their work at the festival. In addition, the institute pulls together a collection of films made by indigenous filmmakers for use in schools across the state.
“We have a tradition in Montana of indigenous storytelling and we want to see that spread wider,” said Rachel. “We can help meet Montana’s Indian Education for All mandate by providing a pre-packaged curriculum for the classroom.” For educators, that’s an easy sell. Every day, teachers witness the eagerness of students to create media, even if all they have is a phone. The institute’s Director of Education, Julia Sherman, understands why. “This generation is more likely to be engaged in the media. They use it to process the world through their own lens,” said Julia.
Cultivating personal ownership for how we interact with media has become an overarching mission of the institute. “Everything we do is rooted in media literacy,” said Rachel. “We provide opportunities for audiences to consider how they access and consume media so that we can each grow a sense of agency. Our job at the institute is more than putting on a film festival. It’s to start conversations. Our festival says, ‘This is what’s out there in the world; let’s discuss.’”
“We provide opportunities for audiences to consider how they access and consume media so that we can each grow a sense of agency. Our job at the institute is more than putting on a film festival. It’s to start conversations. Our festival says, ‘This is what’s out there in the world; let’s discuss.’” - Rachel Gregg