Since I Been Down
Director Gilda Sheppard, 105 Minutes
Available to view February 25-28th
A powerful documentary film examining both human events close to home in the Tacoma, WA Hilltop neighborhood, and to a larger crisis: the effects of the Three Strikes You’re Out legislation adopted in the 1990s by fifteen states. This leads to an examination of the need to consider sentencing reform, and to the disproportionate numbers of black youth who were incarcerated during those years.
The film also highlights the success of the Black Prison Caucus, a prisoner-led educational program now active in ten prisons in Washington state. I’m struck by the statistic that men who are now ages 45-65 years old are the group most affected by the three strikes law. That’s a whole generation of men, husbands, fathers, brothers and sons. A powerful, moving film. Historical clips of political importance are woven into the film. Take the time to consider what this film teaches.
We the Power
David Garrett Byars
35 minutes | 2021 | World Premiere
Imagine upending the traditional energy system and giving the power of clean electricity production back to your neighbors. This 35 minute film chronicles locations in Germany, Spain and the UK where local communities have taken control of their own power production, turning profits from power production back into their communities, instead of for profit utility companies. A powerful thought that has potential in the USA. Texas? California? Washington State?
Available to stream February 20-28th, 2021
Interviews with directors here:
Rachel Gregg, Executive Director of the BSDFF
https://soundcloud.com/ksvrfm/2-16-2021-big-sky-film-festival
The Made in Montana films short block, which is available for viewing from Feb 20-28th, is a collection of four thoughtful films that expose the inherent loneliness that abides in Montana.
From Chester, Montana, home of the filming of a commercial for Chester the Cheeto animal (The Orange Candidate), to a family breakup along the Bitterroot River (Bitterroot), to the isolation facing particularly seniors like Lois Chindale, who found companionship among fellow bowlers pre-Pandemic (Life in the Slow Lane), to the ultimate portrait of a solitary rancher, 93 year old John Hoiland (Born to Work) from Sweet Grass, Montana.
There is beauty here and there is sadness here among these films. That resonates, particularly now in 2021.
Made in Montana
Havana Libre
Havana Libre opens the The 18th Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana. The opening night film, a surfing film, follows the surfing movement in Cuba, a new not-quite-yet-authorized sport. Politics and surfing have collided, although as one surfer says, “Surfing is something that connects the world.”
The Cuban government has considered surfboards to be one of many potential vehicles for escape from Cuba to the USA, which has something to do with the Cuban government’s suspicion of the sport. But these surfers seem more interested in finding big waves wherever they may be than in escaping from Cuba. After all, Cuba is home.
The film follows Frank Gonzales Guerra’s obsession with surfing and his tremendous talents in constructing boards from recycled materials, his search for big waves in Cuba, and his desire to compete in international competitions in places including Hawaii and Peru.
Yaya Guerrero, one of only two female surfers in Cuba, becomes inspirational in building a surfing community of Cuban youngsters with a goal of building the sport in Cuba to Olympic status.
Historic political clips, great Havana street scenes, inside views of organic surfboard workshops, a great soundtrack and lots of waves make the film sing. Timely and inspirational I recommend this film will stir your interest in surfing.
Virtual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
In the Pandemic Year 2021 BSDFF is exclusively virtual. To buy a ticket go to www.Bigskyfilmfest.org. Single tickets and passes are available.
Over 90 films are on the 2021 docket. Forget winter cold and enjoy some great and informative films! See you on the Virtual screen.
