The 19th annual Backcountry Film Festival will arrive in Great Falls on Friday, Feb. 9, at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Since 2005 the film festival has raised funds for local groups and non-profits thought a national films tour that promotes public access and environmental stewardship on public lands.
The Backcountry Film Festival is a screening of 10 short documentaries and ski movies about adventure and personal reflection presented by the Winter Wildlands Alliance. Every winter the Backcountry Film Festival tours more than 100 cities and towns, and is hosted by local retailers and backcountry outdoor enthusiasts.
This year’s presentation of 10 films range in length from a six-minute personal reflection on the risks and rewards of backcountry skiing called “What If?,” to a 20-minute exposé on the rapidly changing culture of skiing across Utah’s mountainous backcountry entitled “Have an Adventure.” Combined, the total runtime for the 2023-24 film festival is two hours.
Proceeds from the Backcountry Film Festival’s presentation in Great Falls will benefit Wild Montana’s Island Range Chapter, a non-profit organization that supports community outreach and educational programs in Cascade, Teton, Chouteau, Fergus, Meagher, and adjacent counties with the goal of preserving and protecting prairie landscapes, wildlands along the Rocky Mountain Front, and those within the Little Belt and Big Snowy Mountains.
At the Great Falls screening, attendees will have a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses including equipment rentals from Big Horn Outdoor Specialists, lift tickets for a day of skiing at Showdown alpine ski area, and more. Sierra Nevada Brewing has also donated a variety of their beers.
Doors open at 5:45 p.m., and the screening begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children, and can be purchased online at wildmontana.org/irc/bcff or at the door.
