ABOUT MINT
This year, we're highlighting the immense talent and production connected to Montana. The 2022 MINT Film Festival will spotlight made-in-Montana films! See below for details.

The MINT Film Festival is an annual film festival located in Montana's largest city, Billings. We exist to bring great films from around the world to an enthusiastic audience. Enjoy red carpet events, industry-lead panels, workshops, film screenings, lavish parties, and recreational excursions under the Big Sky! National press publications are in attendance to review film screenings.

We love films that are thoughtfully controversial, pushing technical or creative boundaries, and truth & beauty searching.

AS SEEN IN
Film Threat: http://bit.ly/35nbd4N
MovieMaker Magazine: http://bit.ly/2KmBGZO
IndieWire: http://bit.ly/2G5xQ1P

DATES
The 2022 MINT Film Festival Montana Edition is from September 16-17 in downtown Billings.

VENUES
-Babcock Theater
-Art House Cinema

-MINT Spirit Award
-Best Made-In-Montana Film

FESTIVAL BACKGROUND
The MINT Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) in Billings, Montana.

WHY YOU SHOULD SUBMIT TO MINT
All too often, great films by hard-working filmmakers go unseen, and we want to change that outcome! We know how hard it is to make a film. We know how much you have likely sacrificed to bring your film to life, and we want to assure you that the selection process at the Montana International Film Festival is a true meritocracy. All films submitted will be viewed in their entirety by knowledgeable programmers, not by inexperienced volunteers who may only watch a minute of your film and move on to the next. In an ever-growing sea of film content, we understand that the role of the curator is more vital than ever, and we take this role seriously. We are a world-class festival that gives up-and-coming directors a platform and an audience to show their work.

Billings is a growing and vibrant city located along the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana. Voted by Outside magazine as the #1 Best Town of 2016, the city has an abundant, energetic, and passionate audience of film and art lovers who are ready to see your film and ready to share their community with you. Our venues include beautifully equipped 75 to 750-seat theaters within the community.

*All panel events are subject to change.

Awards & Prizes

JURY AWARDS
We're bringing it home and having a Made-In-Montana special edition in 2022. We're proud to recognize films in the following categories:

-MINT Spirit Award
-Best Made-In-Montana Film

Rules & Terms

FILM LENGTH
-All Feature-length films with a run time of 46 – 120 min.
-All Short films with a run time of 1 – 45 min.
-Webisodes/TV Pilots with a run time of 5 - 60 min

SPOTLIGHT ON MT EDITION, SUBMISSION FORMAT, & TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
-MINT Alumni filmmakers are always welcome to submit!
-Submissions must be made through FilmFreeway.
-All films must either be in English or with English subtitles.
-Filmmakers must have all necessary legal authority and rights required to submit.
-DCP only.
-We're interested in films that have some sort of connection to Montana. If a portion of your film was filmed, produced, or edited in Montana; OR if you received your education from a Montana college/university and are now filming out of state; OR if you were ever a MT resident at any time or have family in Montana.

REFUND POLICY:
Refunds will not be issued for films that do not qualify within our submission categories. Please check that your film qualifies or contact us before submitting. We're happy to chat.

SUBMISSION ELIGIBILITY
All submissions must have been completed after January 1, 2021, for consideration.

PREMIERE STATUS
A Montana premiere is not required, but it's preferred.

SELECTING FILMS
Film submissions are reviewed and considered under the following criteria:
-Quality of narrative (or documentary subject matter)
-The emotional depth of the characters
-Ability to push creative, technical, or social boundaries

SCREENING FORMAT
Our theaters use industry-standard DCP.

LIABILITY & NOTICE
We work closely with our theater venues to ensure the best quality projection and sound. Failure of technical equipment, while rare, can happen, and we, along with our venues and partners, will not be held liable. Submission fees will not be refunded in any such case. Submission fees will not be refunded should the festival cancel, postpone, or alter the schedule/availability of screenings or events due to COVID-19 or anything outside our control.
35 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Cynthia Matty-Huber

    Thank you Montana International Film Festival for choosing to include “For Love of the Land” into your festival. I’m honored to have been selected.

    November 2021
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  • Kaia Rose

    Such a well organized, well curated festival! I am so glad that I was able to participate, albeit virtually, and look forward to visiting Billings one day! Congrats to everyone for a fantastic festival.

    October 2021
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  • Elizabeth Chatelain

    Unfortunately I was unable to go to MINT in person, but the online portion of the festival was great. Communication was clear, quality of the films was very high, and the fact that they gave attention to films made around the area, Montana and the west, I think is an incredible service to local filmmakers. Thank you for a great festival!

    September 2021
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  • Celia Jaspers

    MINT is the real deal, one of the few festivals that delivers. Great comms and although I couldn't attend in person this year I definitely will in future. Thanks so much, keep it up!

    September 2021
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  • Rose Steller Burke

    Thank you, thank you MINT for curating, planning and executing on an excellent film festival. Our only regret was not being able to make it to Billings to immerse ourselves in the festival. Thank you also for the incredible honor of "Best Indigenous Voice Documentary" award for our selected film "Home From School: The Children of Carlisle". For filmmakers especially in the Rocky Mountain West we highly recommend this festival!

    September 2021
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