Veteran actors and filmmakers join up-and-coming artists at the BZN International Film Festival.
The Bozeman Film Celebration and Bozeman Arts—Live! host the fourth annual BZN International Film Festival Sept. 9-12 at the Emerson Center for Arts & Culture and other venues around Bozeman, and virtually via the new BZN App.
The festival celebrates independent filmmaking and creative expression from both emerging and established voices. Each screening will be accompanied by VIP events, filmmaker Q&As, and food and drinks.
Opening night on Thursday, Sept. 9, includes the unveiling of the BZN Film Fund for up-and-coming filmmakers. Friday brings a sampling of Bozeman-made films, such as Cindy Stillwell’s stirring documentary on sandhill cranes, “Mating for Life.”
A celebration of the life and legacy of filmmaker and activist Jamie Redford, who died last October, takes center stage Sept. 11, and includes a presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award and a screening of his film “Playing for Keeps.” Other Saturday events include a First Nations market and a block of films hosted by the founders of Social Distance Powwow.
Sunday is Adventure Day, with over $15,000 in raffle items and more than 20 films from Yeti and 5Point Film Festival, followed by the closing gala and award ceremony.
Among the 60 films in this year’s lineup are films by Yamaha, YETI, local filmmakers Cindy Stillwell and Justin Taylor Smith, and a film narrated by Jeff Bridges. Several nonprofits will be included in the line-up and panel discussions, including the Getting Better Foundation, PERC (a local environmental conservation group), and Social Distance Powwow.
The BZN International Film Festival is dedicated to fostering intelligent filmmaking, understanding diverse points of view, and restoring media literacy by highlighting films that showcase the best of the human spirit while inviting a call to action. They champion films that educate and enrich while they entertain: documentaries, indies, comedies, features and shorts that make the cut must be intelligent and thought-provoking, inspire curiosity, encourage community and stimulate conversation.
New this year, the Bozeman Film Celebration debuts the BZN App to showcase the magic of independent filmmaking at The Emerson as well as in the comfort of audiences’ homes. Available for download on all Apple, Amazon, and Google App stores, the App will feature more than 60 curated independent films produced by Montanans and talented filmmakers world-wide, enabling festival enthusiasts to attend via their smartphones and smart TVs.
For tickets, a schedule of this year’s events, and a list of all the films, visit bozemanfilmcelebration.com. Tickets are available at bzn2021.com/tickets.