Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Opens next week

The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival opens Thursday, February 15 at Missoula's Wilma Theatre for the first of seven consecutive days and nights of world-class documentary cinema. The fourth annual event boasts 100 films from 32 countries, including 30 world and North American premieres. In addition to screenings, the festival includes panel discussions, Q&A sessions with dozens of filmmakers, as well as VIP events, receptions and parties. Since its 2004 debut, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival has grown into an internationally-recognized venue for showcasing innovative, contemporary, and classic works of documentary film. The festival has grown significantly over the past year with major support from telecommunications provider, Bresnan Communications.

"Bresnan is extremely happy to be involved with the film festival this year," said Senior Vice President Patrick Bresnan. "Being active in the community is a cornerstone of our business. Here in Missoula, the efforts of a few individuals working on a project born of their passion have resulted in an internationally recognized event. We are proud to be partnering with the film festival in a way that will help the festival grow year after year and uphold its own artistic vision."

With support from HBO Documentary Films, the harrowing but rewarding Opening Night Film, "Montana Meth," will be free and open to the public. The World Premiere of "Montana Meth," which is competing for the festival's Big Sky Award, given to one film about the American West, will start at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, February 15. Moviegoers should arrive early as the event organizers expect a full theater. An extended Q&A session following the film will feature the filmmaker, Eames Yates. "Montana Meth" was produced by HBO in collaboration with the Montana Meth Project.

All competition films will show on Montana's largest screen in the Wilma Theatre's 1100 seat venue. A number of Special Presentations and work-in-progress screenings will show in the adjacent 80 seat Wilma #2 Theatre.

Winners of the four competition categories, which will be screened again on Wednesday, the closing night of the festival, will receive cash prizes, Media 100 Producer editing software, and more. The nine-member festival jury includes some of the nation's leading documentary programmers, filmmakers, and distributors (complete jury below).


The Wilma Box Office opens for ticket sales at 9 a.m., February 15. Tickets and passes will also be sold at the Wilma Theatre Box Office during the week of the festival. Passes and tickets to special events can be purchased on-line at . Passes purchased on-line can be picked up from Will Call during the week of the festival. Bring valid ID. All passes and tickets are non-refundable & non-transferable. Please call 406 541-FILM for information about press passes.


Pass holders will have immediate entrance into the Wilma Theatre. Single screening tickets will be available immediately prior to each screening. For these day-of-show ticket purchases we recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes early for all daytime screenings and at least 30 minutes early for all evening screenings. Cash and major credit cards accepted.


Pass and ticket prices:

o Single Screening Ticket $5 matinee/$7 evening.


o Five Screenings Pass $30 - Good for any five matinee or evening screenings, including the Awards Night Screenings. Buy Pass.


o All Screenings Pass $100 - Good for all screenings, including the Awards Night Screenings, as well as access to the VIP balcony. Does not include access to VIP events or the Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge. Buy Pass.


o All Access Pass $150 - Good for all festival screenings, including the Awards Night Screenings, as well as all exclusive VIP parties, receptions and special events. Also includes access to the Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge and the VIP balcony. Buy Pass.

Behind the Lens Special Events
Les Blank Workshop
Meet legendary filmmaker Les Blank during this interactive and intimate session that includes a preview of his two latest works-in-progress, BUTCH ANTHONY and BEING THERE. 2 p.m., Sunday, February 18 at the Wilma Theatre. $10. Very limited seating. Buy Ticket.

REEL PARADISE with Steve James
Participate in an extended Q & A with Steve James (Director of HOOP DREAMS, STEVIE and THE NEW AMERICANS) and view his film, REEL PARADISE. 3 p.m., Sunday, February 18 at the Wilma Theatre. $10. Very limited seating. Buy ticket.

VIETNAM: LONG TIME COMING with Jerry Blumental
Participate in an extended Q & A with Jerry Blumenthal (Director of GOLUB: THE LATE WORKS ARE THE CATASTROPHES) and view his 1998 film, VIETNAM: LONG TIME COMING. 4:30 p.m., Saturday, February 17. Very limited seating. Tickets available at the Wilma Box Office during the festival week. $5. Buy ticket.

Festival Mise en Scene
Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge
Filmmakers, festival jurors, press and All-Access pass-holders are invited to relax with a cup of coffee, an internet connection and the company of other film lovers in the Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge, located downstairs at the Wilma Theatre and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. February 15-21. Each day of the festival, the filmmaker lounge is hosted by a different sponsor. 2007 Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge sponsors include, Missoula Independent, Modern Digital, Montana Film Office, Bresnan Communications, The Resort at Paws Up and Current TV.

Asia Docs Series
The Big Sky Film Festival turns its focus on the Far East this year with over a dozen films by both Asian and Western filmmakers that focus on Asian peoples and their nations. Look for films that are part of the Asia Docs Series in the festival program. Discuss the themes explored and insights of the filmmakers during a free panel discussion taking place Saturday, February 17, at noon in the Filmmaker Lounge in the Wilma Theatre.

Awards Press Conference and Screenings
Each year, Big Sky gives awards in four competition categories: the Documentary Feature Competition, Documentary Short Competition, MiniDoc Competition and the Big Sky Competition. Winners of each category will be announced during a press conference held at the Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge at the Wilma Theatre, Tuesday, February 20, at 5:00 p.m. This event will be open only to media and all-access pass holders. All four award-winning films will be screened during a special awards screening that begins at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, February 21.

Best of Big Sky on Montana PBS
Beginning at 9:30 p.m. on February 11, Montana PBS airs three short films from the 2006 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. "The Best of Big Sky," hosted by festival Programming Associate, Gita Saedi, will feature "Afloat," "Life List," and "Vocalize."

Meet the Filmmakers
This year at Big Sky, fifty films will be represented by more than one-hundred visiting filmmakers from around the world. Following each screening where filmmakers are present, there will be question and answer sessions where audiences can engage with the visiting artists.

Outside the Shot Special Events
In addition to the screenings, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival includes regular events to celebrate the festival, discuss the genre and engage attendees with visiting filmmakers. While generally open to the public, please note that events marked VIP are open only to All Access Pass holders.

Wednesday, February 14, 3-8 p.m. at the Kettlehouse Brewing Company
Big Sky Kickoff Party at Kettlehouse Brewing.
A chance to meet the Big Sky staff, look over the festival program and find out insider tips.

Thursday, February 15, 6:00 p.m. at the Wilma Theatre
World Premiere of Montana Meth.
Screening of HBO and Montana Meth Project's new film that vividly portrays the physical and psychological damage caused by the abuse of methamphetamine. Includes an extended Q & A with filmmaker and Montana Meth Project Representatives. FREE PUBLIC ADMISSION.

Friday, February 16, 9:00 p.m. in Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge, downstairs at the Wilma Theatre
Big Sky Welcome Celebration, sponsored by Bresnan Communications.
A chance for the public to personally welcome and meet Big Sky's visiting filmmakers and judges. Open to the public. Free to All-Access pass-holders, otherwise $5 admission.

Saturday, February 17, noon. Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge, downstairs at the Wilma Theatre.
Panel Discussion - ASIADOCS: A Global Perspective.
From the remote tea bearing mountains of China to the edgy punk subculture of Beijing, this panel explores the diversity of Asia's burgeoning documentary scene and its inherent cross cultural challenges. Free and open to the public.

Sunday, February 18, noon. Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge, downstairs at the Wilma Theatre.
Panel Discussion - Programming Documentary.
Meet some of the nation's leading documentary programmers and find out what it takes for an independent documentary film to stand out from the thousands of docs made each year. Free and open to the public.

Sunday, February 18, 2:00 p.m. at the Wilma Theatre.
Les Blank Workshop
Meet legendary filmmaker Les Blank and view two of his latest works-in-progress, BUTCH ANTHONY and BEING THERE.

Sunday, February 18, 3:00 p.m. at the Wilma Theatre.
"Reel Paradise" with Steve James
Participate in an extended Q & A with Steve James (Director of HOOP DREAMS, STEVIE and THE NEW AMERICANS) and view his film, REEL PARADISE.

Monday, February 19, noon. at the Missoula Art Museum, 335 N. Pattee St.
Panel Discussion - The Art of Documentary.
With the rising popularity of the documentary genre, filmmakers must choose from a wide rage of traditional and innovative styles and formats.From first-person to observational to direct cinema, how does a documentary filmmaker select the right form for the chosen content? Free and open to the public.

Tuesday, February 20, 5:00 p.m. in the Big Sky Filmmaker Lounge
Awards Press Conference
This year Big Sky gives awards in four competition categories: Documentary Feature Competition, Documentary Short Competition, MiniDoc Competition and the Big Sky Category. Winners of each category will be announced during a press conference. Press and All-Access Pass-holders only.

Wednesday, February 21 at 6:15 p.m.
Awards Night Screenings
The 2007 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival award winners will screen back to back. See http://www.bigskyfilmfest.org or http://www.newwest.net after 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20 or see the Missoulian on Wednesday, February 21 for the list of winning films.

2007 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Jury
Phoebe Brush - Programming Director, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Michael Falter - Programming Director, Pickford Cinema/Bellingham, WA
Steve James - Filmmaker
Sarah Jo Marks - Film Rep/Producer/Writer
John Sinno - Producer/Filmmaker
Sky Sitney - Programming Director, SILVERDOCS: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival.
Greg Snider - Editor/Filmmaker
Mike Steinberg - Filmmaker/Director, Webster Film Series
Doug Whyte - Filmmaker/Director of Media Arts Programs, KDHX