January newsletter
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
January 21-31, 2010
Park City, UT
The Montana Film Office has created a new marketing opportunity at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The Montana Film Office has partnered with the Bozeman CVB and film industry publication Moving Pictures magazine to have a greatly increased Montana presence at this year’s festival.
“The Sundance Film Festival attracts just the type of filmmakers, producers, and directors that we are looking to bring to Montana to get their pictures made,” said Sten Iversen, Film Office Manager. “As one of the film industry’s highest profile events, the Sundance Film Festival brings literally thousands of decision makers to Park City, Utah, and we will be there to invite them to Montana and to let them know about the great production value the state offers.”
The partnership with Moving Pictures has allowed the Film Office and Bozeman CVB to have a week-long presence in the Media Lounge where Moving Pictures magazine will welcome and interview top filmmaking talent attending the festival. They will also co-host the Sunday evening filmmaker reception with music from Stephanie Quayle, originally from Bozeman and recently recognized as the Hatchfest "New Musician of the Year". The Film Office and Bozeman CVB employees will also staff the official Filmmaker Outreach Booth at Sundance’s Filmmaker Lodge. This looks to be a good year for generating new production leads as we kick off Montana’s 2010 film marketing efforts at the Sundance Film Festival. For more information on festival events visit http://festival.sundance.org/2010/.
BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
February 12-21, 2010
Missoula, MT
The Montana Film Office will be a sponsor at the 2010 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. This festival is the premier venue for nonfiction film in the American West. From February 12-21, 2010 the festival will screen 100 films, including world and U.S. premieres, classics, rare and experimental works on Montana's largest screen at the historic Wilma Theater in downtown Missoula, MT.
In addition to ten days of screenings, the event will feature many public and VIP events including panel discussions, galas, receptions and networking round-tables. The competitive event is open to non-fiction films and videos of all genres, subject matter, lengths and production dates. Awards and cash prizes will be given for Best Documentary Feature (over 50 minutes), Best Documentary Short (15-50 minutes), Best Mini-Doc (under 15 minutes) and Best Documentary about the American West (the "Big Sky Award").
The Film Office will be marketing the state in the Filmmakers Lounge during the first weekend of the festival February 12-15. The Film Office will also be hosting a filmmaker reception on February 13, following the screening of Director Chris Eyre’s “The American Experience: The Trail of Tears”. We look forward to seeing you there! For more information on festival events visit www.bigskyfilmfest.org.
Studio 406 Contest
November 2009 - January 2010
We are wrapping up the Studio 406 Montana Fam Trip Giveaway. The contest gathered over 500 contacts and helped spread the word about Montana as a filming location and the incentives Montana has to offer. The grand prize winner will receive an all expense paid trip to Montana to check out our amazing variety of looks and locations for potential film projects. The winner will be announced mid-February. For more information on contest rules, prizes, and weekly winners visit www.scout406.com.
SXSW FILM FESTIVAL
March 12-20, 2010
Austin, TX
The Montana Film Office returns to the prestigious South By Southwest Film Festival and Conference (SXSW) in Austin, TX on March 12-20, 2010. SXSW is in its 17th year and features distinguished speakers and mentors as well as boasts the latest filmmaking trends and new technologies. The festival segment attracts internationally acclaimed independent filmmakers, with a special focus on emerging talents.
As SXSW has attracted more and more filmmakers, the Montana Film Office noted this event as a key market four years ago. The Film Office has had a presence at the trade show for all 4 years. If you are in Austin for the festival, stop by the Montana Film Office booth at the Film and Interactive Trade Show, March 13-15, 2010. For more information on festival events visit www.sxsw.com.
RECENT PROJECTS Filmed in Montana
Photo courtesy of Chris Patterson |
Keep an eye out for the new Ford Taurus commercial that was shot by Ranch Exit Films this past December near Bozeman.
The two-day shoot hired 17 local crew members. |
Photo courtesy of Rion Sanders |
"Last American Cowboy" a new series that will air on Animal Planet this year filmed for eight months on three Montana ranches. The show is set to air eight one-hour episodes this summer. The show's description reads, "From the traditional rancher who does everything by hand and on horseback to the modern ranch
that uses high-tech equipment and all-terrain vehicles, each family's fortune depends on the success
or failure of the season. Facing unpredictable weather, disease and
injuries, thousands of new births and hungry predators waiting for an easy meal, these modern
ranches continue the great American tradition of life on the range. 'Cowboys' is larger-than-life, life-and-death, real-life drama." Click here for a PDF of the full article by Travis Coleman of the Great Falls Tribune. |
Photo courtesy of Rob Story |
A&E's new series "The Fugitive Chronicles" will document some of the most compelling fugitive captures in recent history. Each show will feature interviews of the men and women who risked their lives to bring some of the most dangerous fugitives in the country to justice. Each episode will feature re-enactments and interviews with the hunters and the fugitives. This series is produced by Raw TV and RDF. For more information click here. |
REMINDERS & TIPS
The International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF), the premier film venue that celebrates wildlife and natural history programming from a global perspective, has announced a call for entries. The deadline for entries is January 30, 2010 (Late Deadline: February 12 plus a late entry fee of 20%). Click here to download a PDF of the IWFF Call for Entries Packet. The 33rd International Wildlife Film Festival will take place in Missoula, MT May 8-15, 2010. The theme for this year’s festival is Media & the Message: Wildlife Filmmaking and Survival in the 21st Century. The festival, among many other topics and issues, will have a special focus on two key areas – the International Illegal Wildlife Trade and the expanding role and impact of the Internet in distribution, messaging and impacting policy in wildlife conservation and what that means for wildlife filmmaking.
The two-month judging process begins in February and filmmakers are notified via email as to the status of their films' progress through the intensive judging process. If you are interested in being considered as a Final Judge, please contact IWFF at iwff@wildlifefilms.org. Final Judging is March 23-29, 2010. The festival is not able to underwrite the filmmakers' airfare to Missoula but do provide wonderful hosted home lodging and cover all expenses once the filmmakers arrive in Missoula. A complimentary delegate pass is also provided to Final Judges who return to attend the Festival in May. It is an intensive but extremely valuable and rewarding process. For more information, call (406)728-9380 or email iwff@wildlifefilms.org to receive an Entry/Registration Packet in the mail. See Entry Guidelines, Category Descriptions & Entry Fees, plus Festival Highlights at http://www.wildlifefilms.org.
The Big Sky Country episode of "Man vs. Wild" will air on the Discovery Channel January 27, 2010 (click here for show schedule). Don't miss Bear Grylls paragliding above the Rockies, traversing vast gullies, and making the most of abandoned debris before making his great escape on a moving train.
This Montana episode was filmed in September 2009 in the Bridger Mountains near Bozeman. Click here to check out a few clips of Bear in action.
Movie Trivia
Question: What movie did Stanley Kubrick direct that included scenes of Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Highway?
Answer: The Shining
