A farm fresh alternative to stale cinema, the Free Range Film Festival is a celebration of fiercely independent film. Films are usually screened inside a big old barn located in the heart of Minnesota's organic farm country.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:
For the past twenty years we've opened up our 100-year-old barn to screen films and videos nurtured without the use of pesticides, growth hormones or a distribution deal from a fancy-pants Hollywood studio. A Free Range Film can be a full-length feature, an independent short, a provocative documentary or a two-minute video starring your aunt, an old bicycle and a friggin' huge, black, winged unicorn. In the last couple of years, we've played some really great stuff like "The Overnighters" and "Beaver Trilogy Part IV."

Here are some frequently asked questions:

You run movies in a barn? Seriously?
Seriously. The films we select for our festival are projected on a 24-foot wide screen inside the hayloft of a barn built in 1916. It’s kind of a one-of-a-kind movie-going experience.

When is this Free Range Film Festival?
Just like our farm fields need to rotate and take time off to replenish the soil, the barn sometimes needs a break. After 20 years of delivering farm fresh alternatives to stale cinema, we’re spending 2024 nourishing our creative microbes so that we can bear film fruit for future years. In the meantime, keep watching good movies with other people and eat your vegetables! We'll see you in June of 2025!

Where is this big old barn, anyway?
The Free Range Film Festival will be held at the corner of County Roads 1 & 4 just one mile south of Wrenshall, Minnesota. The venue is two hours north of the Twin Cities and just 30 minutes south of Duluth.

Hey! I think I might have a Free Range Film in my closet! What should I do with it?
We are SO happy that there are filmmakers in the world and we appreciate each and every person for making something. You could choose to just sit around and twiddle your thumbs, but you created a moving image and that is awesome. We're still trying to figure out how best provide movies in a barn in northern Minnesota that is sustainable for all involved so sit back for now and we'll let you know when we figure out our next steps!

Will there be any prizes at the Free Range Film Festival?
We like to think the thrill of seeing your Free Range Film projected in a big old barn is reward enough.

You know all those rules and terms that other festivals have? Yeah. Reading those can be a bummer. Let's just all be nice to each other, okay?

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rachel Prost

    The big red barn venue is such a unique and special space for a film festival. All of the volunteers and organizers were very friendly and helpful. I am so honored to have had my film screened here.

    August 2021
  • Lovely folks at Free Range! Wish I could have been there in person.

    August 2021
  • Ghazal Farid

    Our movie was selected in this festival and overall the festival staff specially Anne were amazing in communication and she was always response for everything we need during the festival. Wish I could be there for our premiere. I hope the best for this festival.

    July 2019
  • Lion Cut

    Festival looked amazing, thanks for sharing our music video! Only wish we could have been there.

    July 2018
  • Wasn't able to go, but I was there in spirit. What a super cool unique place to screen! Looking forward to the next edition. Thanks again for showing BIG BROWN!

    July 2018