Montana Film Festival is a respite from the market and industry of film festivals. We celebrate and highlight emergent talents and new points of view, importing perspective and representation into our community. We hold high the virtues of social communion around film and the relationships created through filmmaking, with special celebration of Montana's growing film community.

Founded within the heart of a non-profit cinema, our highest aim is to enrich our audiences through the art and craft of independent narrative film. The Montana Film Festival is held each year in beautiful Missoula, Montana at the convergence of five mountain ranges.

Montana Film Festival has welcomed a number of special guests to Missoula over the years: Charles Burnett, Bill Pullman, Lily Gladstone, Sophia Takal, Mya Taylor, Sarah Adina Smith, Emily Hubley, Benjamin Wiessner, Wendy McColm, Kenneth Turan (LA Times critic), Neal Block (Magnolia Pictures Head of Distribution & Marketing), Andrew and Alex Smith, Annick Smith, Amber Sealey, Krisha Fairchild, Ty Hickson, Annabelle Attanasio, Natalie Metzger, Richard Pearce, Lynzee Klingman, Jessica Oreck, and more.

Rules & Terms

Montana Film Festival is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt from any film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Festival for promotional purposes. The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorized to commit the film for screening, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations. Please note that Montana Film Festival does NOT accept documentary films. We DO accept fictions films made both nationally and internationally.

All entries should be in English or with English subtitles.
The applicant shall indemnify and hold harmless Montana Film Festival from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SUBMISSION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE, DEADLINES, PROGRAMS, VENUES AND DATES MAY CHANGE. ALL RESPONSES TO FILMMAKERS WILL BE BY EMAIL.

8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Drew Danburry

    Wonderful experience. Wonderful people. Great time.

    October 2019
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  • Talena Sanders

    Wonderful festival, the folks who run it are dedicated, caring, and tons of fun. If you get in, go to it! They go above and beyond your usual festival experience to organize intimate and unique parties and outings. You will definitely meet good people and see great work presented with care.

    October 2019
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  • John Charter

    The MFF team went far above all expectations and put together an excellent program of films, field trips and workshops. The festival leveraged the local art house theater's contacts with indie distributors to bring out some of the best festival favorites of the year and several of the filmmakers behind these gems. Super impressed by this festival!

    October 2018
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  • Jenna Ciralli

    High quality of films mixed with the real Montana treatment -- complete with hot springs, hard cider, late night dancing with a glass of whiskey, and the Montana Film Forum to learn about the MT film scene (to name a few). I was able to build existing relationships in meaningful ways and grow new roots with others. I will return again and again (if they'll have me) -- as a New Yorker originally from Montana, these are my people and certainly my Home Base. Salt of the Earth.

    October 2017
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  • Ian Carstens

    Intimacy and camaraderie, bravado paired with humility, this festival is what a festival should be!

    October 2017
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