"Overall, being part of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival with Sentinel students wasn’t just about watching movies —  it was about meeting the people behind them and asking questions. I think this made students realize that storytelling is something real people do for a lot of different reasons. It is an important way to tell stories."
                                                                             - MCPS Educator, 2026

                                                                                                                                                                 

Each year during the week of the festival Big Sky brings age-appropriate and classroom relevant BSDFF selections into Missoula area schools and throughout Montana. Filmmakers join classrooms for in-person and virtual screenings of their festival-selected films, giving students the chance to ask questions and make local connections to global stories. For educators outside of Missoula, we are offer a virtual program with scheduled live Q&A discussions throughout the week of of the festival.  

                                                                                                                                                               

 

For inquiries related to our Filmmakers in the Schools program, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Special thanks to the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation and The Llewellyn Foundation for their ongoing support of our Filmmakers In The Schools initiative.