An unsettling image leads a filmmaker towards a path of grappling with some of the dark and rarely discussed origins of film.

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An unsettling image leads a filmmaker towards a path of grappling with some of the dark and rarely discussed origins of film.

When viewed through a microscope, a drop of water from the lake in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park contains nearly as much life as 42nd Street. Or at least that’s how retired epidemiologist Deb Kapell sees it. FORBIDDEN POND follows Deb as she makes microscopy art and reflects on lives both big and small.

Forbidden Pond

When viewed through a microscope, a drop of water from the lake in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park contains nearly as much life as 42nd Street. Or at least that’s how retired epidemiologist Deb Kapell sees it. FORBIDDEN POND follows Deb as she makes microscopy art and reflects on lives both big and small.

Joleen Mitton is on a mission to use fashion as medicine for Vancouver’s Indigenous community. A former fashion model, she is the founder of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, and a community leader, supporting and inspiring artists and models.

Ancestral Threads

Joleen Mitton is on a mission to use fashion as medicine for Vancouver’s Indigenous community. A former fashion model, she is the founder of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, and a community leader, supporting and inspiring artists and models.

When photographer and writer Cig Harvey found out that her best friend Mary had terminal leukemia, she did what she knew best and made photographs. Over the coming years, Cig captured and sent Mary images exploding with color, piercing with light, evoking the pain and beauty of life.Through these images, they find a way through unspeakable tragedy and loss.

Eat Flowers

When photographer and writer Cig Harvey found out that her best friend Mary had terminal leukemia, she did what she knew best and made photographs. Over the coming years, Cig captured and sent Mary images exploding with color, piercing with light, evoking the pain and beauty of life.Through these images, they find a way through unspeakable tragedy and loss.

A group of advocates works to protect the voting rights of Indigenous communities in Montana.

Montana Indigenous Voting Rights

A group of advocates works to protect the voting rights of Indigenous communities in Montana.

An unconventional and deeply personal story of The 4DWN, a South Dallas skatepark whose mission is to change the lives of everyone who walks through the gate. This resilience hub is rooted in skate culture, and tackles the challenges of food insecurity and social justice in one of the city’s poorest communities.

4DWN

An unconventional and deeply personal story of The 4DWN, a South Dallas skatepark whose mission is to change the lives of everyone who walks through the gate. This resilience hub is rooted in skate culture, and tackles the challenges of food insecurity and social justice in one of the city’s poorest communities.

Shorts Block 11

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The 2024 virtual program has concluded. Thanks for joining us - see you next year!

The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, now in its 21st year, is the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. Enjoy an expansive virtual catalog of new nonfiction films streaming February 19-29, 2024.

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.