Montana State MFA Shorts includes the films: The Grove, As a Star, Propagation, Breathe, The River That Shapes Us, Sweetwater, The Things She Leaves Behind, Years Gone By, WEEP, and Powder Arousal.

Aspen trees play an integral role in Mountain West ecosystems for a variety of reasons, including contributing to slowing down wildfires and providing wildlife habitat. Because aspens are often choked out by conifer trees, there are organizations that work to restore aspen groves by strategically thinning out encroaching conifers. This is the story of a group in Gallatin County, Montana, doing such restoration work in the hopes that this beneficial tree species will thrive in this and future generations. Screening Sponsored by Montana State University ﻿<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/9311b9e063f239442dcf7bfdcdcac377.jpg">

The Grove

What is a self-portrait? Is it what you see inside of yourself, or a reflection that the outside world sees? One woman struggles to answer these questions for herself as she discovers that her sense of self was tied (a bit more strongly than she realized) to someone she lost. Screening Sponsored by Montana State University ﻿<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/7a54b495d0bac6efade4cf793447fc2c.jpg">

As a Star

An avalanche forecaster reflects on his job and experiences in the mountains. Screening Sponsored by Montana State University ﻿<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/87f854606ccf99661ad98efaf3745936.jpg">

Propagation

Breathwork is the practice of intentionally modulating one's breathing patterns to reach an altered state of consciousness. The filmmaker explores the physiological and psychological underpinnings of Breathwork and its potential to release stuck emotion and trauma. Screening Sponsored by Montana State University ﻿<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/fe7551da454f238fd0ae6e8b6ea6261a.jpg">

Breathe

Montana's free-flowing rivers and clean water are critical to the state's prosperity, its unmatched way of life, and to its flourishing fish and wildlife. The proposed Montana Headwaters Legacy Act will protect segments of 17 of the most important headwaters streams in their wild, free-flowing form under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. A man with deep connections to the rivers demonstrates why advocating for the Montana Headwaters Legacy Act is crucial to preserving Montanan’s unique ways of life. Screening Sponsored by Montana State University ﻿<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/838f49938ad14165ad237f2f8c9d0a5a.jpg">

The Rivers That Shape Us

Sweetwater Creek ends in Payne's Prairie, a huge, protected area, but starts somewhere inside the city of Gainesville, Florida. I traced it from end to headwaters to learn more about the ways in which this waterway connects the humans of the city to the wildlands of the marsh. This film is what I found. Screening Sponsored by Montana State University ﻿<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/249695428ed253d68959d032dffe89e0.jpg">

Sweetwater

During a year where everything is virtual, an elderly woman reflects on how a global pandemic impacts her life. As she recalls memories from her years of travel and adventure, she fights off feelings of hopelessness and isolation. Seen in conversation during three virtual video calls with her granddaughter, her charming stories and reflections offer insight into an aging populations' lived realities during Covid-19. Screening Sponsored by Montana State University ﻿<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/15c4bb14b35c2196f2f9c6ea9ca56f9e.jpg">

The Things She Leaves Behind

Once thriving cities, Greenbackville and Franklin City, VA were the location to harvest world-class Chincoteague Salt Oysters. However, due to over-harvesting of the oysters, improper land management, increased severe storms and an encroaching tidal line, many who called these cities home left to pursue more stable lives elsewhere. Now they have less than 500 residents, most seasonal visitors. This sleepy little beach town located on the Eastern Shore of the United States is more than just a picture of years gone by, but rather a warning of what the backyards of many may look like in the future. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/66c43f833127c9bafed5b1b01305d4c3.jpg">

Years Gone By

Crying is an intense physical response to an emotional stimulus, though the complete process of when and why humans cry is not fully understood. WEEP investigates crying over a range of fields, from medical, to psychological, and even dramatic arts in pursuit of answering as many questions as possible. Humans are complex beings with complicated functions and WEEP is a tool for humanity to learn more about itself. Screening Sponsored by Montana State University <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/5f45a0a2386aaeb83e9551b684c7d29d.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto;">

WEEP

What does sexual risk taking have to do with backcountry powder skiing? They may not be as different as you think. Researchers Jordy Hendrikx, Jerry Johnson, and Andrea Mannberg try to understand why experienced backcountry skiers make fatal mistakes despite access to reliable avalanche risk information. Screening Sponsored by Montana State University ﻿<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/63bab7312c417a2b30f80a11ce0fec90.jpg">

Powder Arousal

Join us for a Live Q&amp;A with student filmmakers from the Montana State University MFA in Science &amp; Natural History Filmmaking, including: Kascie Herron - Director, AS A STARChrissie Bodznick - Director, BREATHEMarit Ehmke - Director, THE GROVEEmily Lea - Director, POWDER AROUSALNate Kenney - Director, PROPAGATIONErinn Hermsen - Director, THE RIVERS THAT SHAPE USRichard Barker - Director, SWEETWATERCassidy Reeves - THE THINGS SHE LEAVES BEHINDHarrison Bach - Director, WEEPGrace Weikert - Director, YEARS GONE BY

Live Q&A with MSU MFA Shorts filmmakers

Connect with student filmmakers from the Montana State University MFA in Science & Natural History Filmmaking.

Montana State MFA Shorts

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