The Montana Film Festival promotes bold independent films from around the world and aims to engage our community with remarkable, shared, cinematic experiences.
With a lineup of independent films from all over the world, Montana Film Festival embraces the expansive possibilities of contemporary filmmaking. The festival highlights emergent independent talents and favorites from major international festivals, with special attention paid to Montana's burgeoning film industry. Just as this festival honors the makers, it is also a perennial local favorite from our audiences, who consistently value Taking the Time to Watch Cinema.
The beloved Roxy Theater, located on “The Hip Strip” in downtown Missoula, Montana, is the host venue for MTFF. If you love film, you'll fall in love with this charming art-house theater. Only more charming than the theater is the regular staff who truly make the difference in terms of the festival experience. Hosting 5 festivals each year, the 'Roxys' are experts at hosting visiting filmmakers.
Our regular event welcomes guest writers, directors, actors, and industry professionals to experience Montana hospitality over the four-day festival. With special events to introduce audiences to creators. spark conversation and reveal the inner workings of filmmaking, MTFF’s retreat-like atmosphere provides every attending filmmaker development opportunities through our presenting partner, the Montana Film Office.
MTFF has welcomed a number of special guests to Missoula over the years: Charles Burnett, Bill Pullman, Lily Gladstone, Sophia Takal, Tobi Poser, 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.
Past MTFF selections and Montana Premieres include Shiva Baby, Cowboys, Thunder Road, Tangerine, Mandy, Birds Without Feathers, Certain Women, Wildlife, The Unknown Country, Bitterbrush, Quantum Cowboys, and The Power of the Dog.
MTFF SUBMISSIONS
MTFF accepts short films work in the following genres: narrative, documentary, and experimental. We also accept feature film submissions only if that have a Montana-centric programming strand. This strand gives priority to films with strong connections to the state, whether that connection is through key crew roles, shooting locations, or a thematic focus on living in the contemporary West.
The Montana-focused programming support screening work curated especially to our Roxy + MTFF audiences. Too often traditional audiences fail to see--or value--the in-state film production that feeds both our artistic community and our state’s economy, nor are they able to feel a part of it. Equally often, Montana-made films that deserve a wider audience, or just to be seen on a big screen, don’t get the attention they deserve.
For those interested in submitting feature films for consideration. We are most interested in viewing feature films that have a Montana connection. This connection might be shared crew, shooting locations, budget support, or be more topical. Our jury is very eager for films that explore what it is like to live in the contemporary West in a new, unexplored way.
TIP: We are not interested in the classic documentary structure yet are open to documentary work only if it is notably genre-bending and challenges storytelling perspectives as well as possesses that Montana or Western-connection.
