The Native Filmmaker Initiative Film Club is a virtual youth education outreach program that screens a curated selection of Indigenous-made documentary films in classrooms across Montana. Following the screenings, filmmakers visit classrooms virtually for a live Q&A and discussion activities rooted in Montana's Indian Education for All Essential Understandings. Film Club discussions are led by the Big Sky Film Institute in collaboration with Montana Office of Public Instruction’s Indian Education Specialists as well as participating filmmakers to talk in-depth about the process of filmmaking.
The 2026 season of the NFI Film Club presents a triptych of films curated to engage Montana youth with unique and uplifting stories of Native and Indigenous individuals across North America. This year, our three films explore the theme of Indigenous Identity & Resilience Across Generations.
HOW IT WORKS Running October through December, each Film Club event will focus on diverse Indigenous subjects and topics. Consult the discussion guides to help adapt the Film Club activities into what works best for you and your classroom. Films are available to view in advance of Film Club discussions and each classroom will receive access to discussion guides and instructions on how to join the live Q&A. If you are unavailable for the the Q&A, you are still free to use the film and curriculum in your classroom.
REGISTER YOUR CLASSROOM Registration for Film Club 2026 is open! Click "Register" on the select film(s) below to sign up your classroom to participate. Registration includes a screening link to the film with details to join a live filmmaker Q&A (below), and accompanied discussion guides.
MORE INFO Are you an educator or administrator interested in more information about this program? Email Education Programs Manager, Casey Matter, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information, or to be added to our Youth Programs email list!
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Live Virtual Q&A w/ Film Team - Tuesday, October 13th (Time TBD)
TINY – Canada, 2023, 16 minutes
Tiny is a contemplative stop motion film which tells the story of ‘Nakwaxda’xw Elder Colleen Hemphill’s childhood. The film portrays modern day Colleen as she reflects on her past, and re-enacts the stories she tells of her youth, as a young girl growing up on a float-house in the wild and unpredictable Pacific Northwest and its waters
*THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED FOR ALL AGES*
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Live Virtual Q&A w/ Film Team - Tuesday, November 10th (Time TBD)
Yiyíistsʼą́ą́ʼ (Listen) – United States, 2025, 15 minutes
A filmmaker seeks to reconnect with his roots through his fading ancestral language and discovers hope and resilience within his community, led by a small Navajo radio station.
*THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED FOR 6-12 GRADES*
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Live Virtual Q&A w/ Film Team - Wednesday, December 2nd (Time TBD)
TIGER – United States, 2025, 13 minutes
From a 1980s boom to near collapse, Tiger chronicles Indigenous artist Dana Tiger’s decades-long journey of resilience, as she and her family transform grief and hardship into the revival of their iconic Tiger T-shirt.
*THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED FOR 6-12 GRADES*
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REMAINING NATIVE I MEET ME AT THE CREEK I INISKIM: RETURN OF THE BUFFALO
ANCESTRAL THREADS I OUR GRANDMOTTHER THE INLET I THROUGH THE STORM
SNQWELMISTN: THE PLACE WHERE YOU DO YOUR BEST | SHIRAMPARI: LEGACIES OF THE RIVER | JONATHAN THUNDER: GOOD MYTHOLOGY
JOE BUFFALO | THE TRAILS BEFORE US | CONNECTION
THE WATER WALKER | FRUITS OF LABOR | SWEETHEART DANCERS
IN MY BLOOD IT RUNS | BLACKFEET BOXING: NOT INVISIBLE | FAST HORSE
IN THE SPIRIT OF ʔATATÍcEʔ | RETURN | RUMBLE
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS NFI FILM CLUB SPONSORS AND PARTNERS!
The NFI Film Club is supported by the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Humanities Montana, and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
