A mid-February Missoula event taking place over 10 days is giving a spotlight to filmmakers in a widely consumed genre.
The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is an event from Big Sky Film Institute, and 2026 will mark the event’s 23rd year. The festival gives people in the industry an opportunity to show off their documentary projects and network with each other.
Several venues are used to screen the films and host events, with the main one being The Wilma, Missoula’s historic theater. The number of films shown each year averages 150, with more than 200 creatives attending the overall event. The festival is also noted to be a spot where short film documentaries are able to qualify for the Academy Awards. Many films that have won various awards were shown at the festival at one point.
During the festival, filmmakers can experience a number of panels and workshops in the DocShop. The main theme for 2026 is Resilience & Longevity. The Big Sky Pitch will allow makers to try and earn funding for their projects by speaking in front of investors and industry officials.
Tickets start at $54 for access to five films and go up to $395 for complete event access. Purchases can be made on the event’s website. Poster printing is a popular promotion technique for many activities relating to movies.
The festival will be running between February 13 and February 22.
