Bozeman Film Celebration is dedicated to understanding diverse points of view and is in the vanguard in restoring media literacy among our youth. The BZN vision is to highlight movies that make a positive impact on audiences—stories that showcase the best of the human spirit while inviting a call to action. We champion films that educate and enrich while they entertain: documentaries, indies, comedies, features and shorts that make our cut must be intelligent and thought-provoking, inspire curiosity and encourage community and global awareness. Above all, they should stimulate conversation—a lost art we’re determined to help restore.

The Bozeman Film Celebration's BZN International Film Festival will run June 6-9, 2019, and spotlights women filmmakers, directors, actors and producers who are ready to take the helm, pioneering projects to change current statistics and elevate women’s visions and voices. We are seeking submissions that define strong women who respect themselves and know their worth. These characters - fictional and real - may choose to be intrepid adventurers as well as strong partners, mothers, friends and businesswomen and along the way they inspire, energize and embolden people of all ages regardless of their sex or ethnicity.

In addition, BZN looks for films that inspire audiences to get involved and take action to protect our planet.

About Bozeman Film Celebration

We are thrilled to launch the inaugural event this June, and look forward to welcoming filmmakers, speakers and leaders in the film industry to Bozeman, ranked as one of the 20 most beautiful towns in America by Conde Nast Traveller!

BZN is dedicated to supporting and promoting women’s voices in film and the film industry, and as such will present a series of events and conversations that will focus on various challenges and elements of filmmaking as a woman.

Awards & Prizes

New to the 2019 festival, we are offering a $5000 cash award!

BZN is committed to fostering intelligent filmmaking specifically in the area of supporting humanity to live in harmony with the environment and be at peace with one another. Film is a powerful medium for educating, encouraging and inspiring audiences to get involved and take action to protect our planet. We acknowledge that conservation is complex and requires involvement from many different perspectives. Through this cash award of $5,000, to be given at the end of the 2019 BZN International Film Festival in Bozeman, we are seeking a film that authentically encourages environmental stewardship or details innovative solutions to global dilemmas.

The Bozeman Film Celebration is devoted to nurturing a collaborative and non-competitive atmosphere, and as such does not offer juried awards. Rather, BZN looks to our audience for the winners, and will present an Audience Award for each genre and length.

Every film that screens will be considered for the following:

Audience Award - Narrative Short
Audience Award - Narrative Feature
Audience Award - Documentary Short
Audience Award - Documentary Feature
Audience Award - Experimental/Animation Short

The BZN Spirit Award - Given to the film, short or feature, that most honors the BZN Mission

These awards will be presented on Sunday, June 9 at the Awards Ceremony — the last event of the festival weekend.

Rules & Terms

• Entry fees are non refundable and are payable by credit card only.

• Non-English language films must be subtitled in English.

• If a feature film is accepted, we encourage one female filmmaker or member of the film team attend the festival to represent the film during the audience Q&A and participate in the festival experience.

•. If any portion of your film was produced in Montana, BZN would appreciate your contacting BethAnn@BozemanFilmCelebration.com

•. If the filmmaker has an affiliation with Montana State University, BZN would appreciate your contacting BethAnn@BozemanFilmCelebration.com

• Filmmaker has all necessary legal authority and rights required to submit this film to the BZN.

• All filmmakers will be notified by May 1 of their status.

• If accepted, the filmmaker will assume all responsibility for shipping and insurance costs to / from the Festival Office. Please include all relevant return addresses & instructions in the packaging.

• The date, time and location of the screenings of films are solely at the discretion of the Bozeman Film Celebration.

• All filmmakers must be able to provide BOTH a BluRay AND a DCP. In certain cases BZN may request a QuickTime file, and will contact the filmmaker directly if so. Materials must be postmarked by May 8. BZN does not accept H264 files. (Please read this handy guide if you're having any issues with prepping your screening materials: bit.ly/2m10Qkn)

• BZN is not a “premiere” festival meaning that your film does not have to be a premiere to be accepted.

Questions regarding submissions to BZN may be directed to filmoffice@bozemanfilmcelebration.com

Terms

• By submitting your film, you grant BZN the right to utilize an excerpt from this film submitted and accepted for exhibition at the Celebration for promotional purposes.

We look forward to seeing your film!

11 Reviews
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  • Jenna Ciralli

    We had the BEST press of our run yet for "Willow Creek Road" at BZN. I am so grateful to the team for being interviewed on the CBS affiliate tv station and Bozeman Magazine. You really feel the support of the whole community. I met some great folks here. Beth Ann and team lead with tremendous heart and a deeply rooted mission to support women in the arts. Cannot wait to see how you grow and expand, BZN! Go get 'em!

    August 2018
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you!
    It was a pleasure to have you and your film at the festival. Let us keep in touch.

  • Bethany Michaels

    Absolutely excellent on all fronts. The Artistc Managing Director and team who run this festival are a welcoming, talented, organized, thoughtful and excellent group. 5 stars on all categories is not an exaggeration, and 2018 was just the inaugural festival! If your film is accepted to BZN fest, it is much worth attending, plus you can soak in the gorgeous summer weather and Mountain Views around Bozeman!

    June 2018
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  • VALERIE RED-HORSE MOHL

    The BZN (Bozeman International Film Festival) was a tremendous experience for MANKILLER. The quality (and theme) of films, amount of sponsorships, audience engagement, community involvement, dedicated staff and overall participation were much more indicative of a seasoned festival; such a true accomplishment for an inaugural launch! Beth Ann Kennedy and her entire team deserve to be recognized for this wonderful event. Gale Anne Hurd, the Executive Producer of our film and I (Valerie Red-Horse Mohl) both attended and would highly recommend this festival to any filmmaker seeking a meaningful experience.

    June 2018
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  • Martha Gregory

    Such a welcoming crew! I was unable to attend but the communication and organization was excellent and I experienced some serious FOMO. Thrilled to have my film included!

    June 2018
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  • Krystle Wright

    I am honoured that my work was able to be featured in the inaugural event. I was unable to attend due to other projects keeping me on the road but I wanted to thank the team for their excellent communication and thorough work in running a smooth operation. I llok forward to submitting again and hopefully be there in person next time!

    June 2018
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