MTFF SHORTS BLOCK 4 - MONTANA-MADE

Beyond its natural grandeur, Montana has filmmaking talent to rival anywhere in the world. These nine films--all available elsewhere throughout the festival, but gathered together here--are evidence. 


Gary

Director: Irina Arnaut
Producers: Aaron Murtagh, Jeri Rafter
New York, NY

Helen and John are artists. They're also contract killers. And they hate the name Gary. This offbeat road film, which has won numerous awards at film festivals across the country, was made in Montana and produced by long-time friend of MTFF Jeri Rafter.


Perfect!

Director: Emma Travagline
Producer: Ella Steinberg
Bozeman, MT

The Girls are all shiny and perfect--until there's a crack in the glass.


Bleach Bone

Director: John D. Nilles
Producer: Josh Wagner
Missoula, MT

Nine years after murdering his friend in cold blood, Dwain returns to dig up the remains. There, in a bleak Montana field, he reflects upon the path that led him to this grim outcome.


$55 Private Room in a Safe Quiet Neighborhood

Director: Lauren Norby
Producers: Jeri Rafter, Caitlin Hofmeister
Missoula, MT

Jennifer loves to craft and scheme. With the gun show in town, it's a perfect time to rent out the spare room to see if she can trick someone into testing out their new gun . . . on her husband.


they're taking my house

Director: Dan Lopez
Producer: Dan Lopez
Great Falls, MT

A woman finds herself trapped in an abyss, taunted by a malevolent telephone.


NET

Director: Kal Bailey
Producers: Grace Wolcott, Kal Bailey
Missoula, MT

A self-isolating photographer who has drifted away from her closest friend begins a strange friendship with the lonely owner of an antiquated computer she meets during a power outage at her college.


Man Baby

Director: Aaron Murtagh
Producers: Jeri Rafter, Kat Bitnar
Missoula, MT

Directed by and starring Montana-based actor/director Aaron Murtagh, Man Baby follows a man in the weeks following the birth of his child. As he attempts to navigate the changes within the home, the man soon discovers that there are changes happening within himself that defy the laws of nature.


To Build a Fire

Director: Jennings Barmore
Producer: Jeri Rafter
Quake Lake, MT

Miles from shelter, with the sun and the temperature dropping swiftly, a man attempts to build a fire, desperate to save his own life and that of his dog. Based on the renowned short story by Jack London, To Build A Fire was filmed during the brutal winter of 2022 - 2023 in the Quake Lake region of Montana.


Not Afraid

Director: Mikaela Bruce
Producers: Jennifer Murphy, Luna Zhang, V.C. Rhone
Los Angeles, CA

After a long period of absence following a family tragedy, Olivia is at first eager to get back on her high school basketball team. Reality hits when she starts practicing with her team again and painful memories resurface. She finds herself suspended from practice and avoiding those closest to her, relying on her aunt for support.



Q&A to follow the 10/6 screening with the following guests:

Gillian Todd, star of $55 Private Room in a Safe Quiet Neighborhood
Lauren Norby, director of $55 Private Room in a Safe Quiet Neighborhood
John D. Nilles, director of Bleach Bone
Kal Bailey, director of NET
Jennifer Murphy, producer of Not Afraid
Emma Travagline, director of Perfect!
Jennings Barmore, director of To Build a Fire
John Budge, star of Man Baby and $55 Private Room in a Safe Quiet Neighborhood


Sponsored by the MT Department of Commerce!