Grades 3-12, Digital Media & Film Institute
DISCIPLINE // Digital Media & Film
GRADE LEVELS // 3-12
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION // The mission of the Big Sky Film Institute is to celebrate and promote the art of nonfiction filmmaking, and to encourage media literacy by fostering public understanding and appreciation of documentary film. Major programs include the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (BSDFF), Big Sky Film Series, DocShop and the Native Filmmaker Initiative. The organization provides a necessary economic boost to Missoula in February during the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, and it feeds our community inspiring stories from around the world. BSFI is devoted to engaging young Montanans with non-fiction film, opening their eyes to the stories of the world and creating exciting opportunities for them in the art of filmmaking. The Big Sky Film Institute, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION // BSFI connects with Montana’s youth with documentary film through our Education Outreach Programs. The programs include four components: the Schoolhouse Docs series, the Filmmaker in the Schools program, the Native Filmmaker Initiative Film Club and the Teen Doc Intensive, and is designed to include all youth, including at-risk students, students from low-income areas, and students of mixed abilities.
Schoolhouse Docs is a series of fun and educational documentaries for kids and families showing at special after school screenings at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. Schoolhouse Docs films are rated for students by Missoula area educators and offer a variety of age-appropriate and perspective-widening themes, bringing non-fiction film to the next generation.
The Filmmakers in the Schools program connects filmmakers with classrooms across Montana in special in-school screenings of their age-appropriate films, offering kids the opportunity to ask questions, voice opinions, and dive deeper into the content of the films. Filmmakers visit classrooms in the Missoula area as well as schools across the state via video conference in partnership with Inspired Classroom.
Teen Doc Intensive is a two-day workshop on filmmaking during the BSDFF, bringing participating Montana youth from across the state together with a number of filmmakers and University of Montana journalism students who will act as mentors and teachers. The workshop will offer technical instruction in filming, editing, and consist of studio and location shooting. Students create cause-driven films about local issues their communities care about, taking their passion for film and creating something that gives back to their communities.
The Native Filmmaker Initiative was created in 2018 to provide a platform for Native perspective to be shared with diverse audiences, and to educate Montana youth about contemporary and historical indigenous issues through nonfiction film. The NFI Film Club takes Indigenous stories and the filmmakers behind them into classrooms across Montana in partnership with Inspired Classroom and the Office of Public Instruction Indian Education for All initiative.
AVAILABLE PROGRAMMING // The 2019 festival will take place February 15-24. Schoolhouse Docs are scheduled Tuesday through Friday at the festival at 4pm (location TBD) and tickets are $5. Filmmakers in the Schools takes place February 18-22 and is provided at no cost to schools. Contact youth@bigskyfilmfest.org to get your classroom involved! The Teen Doc Intensive takes place February 16-17 at the University of Montana School of Journalism. Application for the Teen Doc Intensive opens in the fall, contact youth@bigskyfilmfest.org for more information. The NFI Film Club is currently seeking schools for participation in the 2019 fall and winter Film Club events. Contact director@bigskyfilmfest.org for more information.
ADDITIONAL COLLABORATIONS AND RESIDENCIES MAY OCCUR. PLEASE CONTACT FOR POSSIBILITIES.
PRIMARY CONTACT // Rachel Gregg, Executive Director
ADDRESS // 113 West Front St, Suite 105 City Missoula, MT 59801