Black Hills Film Festival this weekend

The 15th annual Black Hills Film Festival (BHFF) is kicking off in the Hills Friday, Sept. 27 with events running through Sunday, Sept. 30. People travel from across the country and even across the world for this event, which averages an attendance of 400 people. 

This year’s festival features 22 unique films in various lengths and genres divided into 11 film sessions.

“These are all independent films that were made outside of the Hollywood studios by aspiring filmmakers,” said BHFF executive director Chris VanNess. 

Tickets are $10 per film session or $50 for a VIP pass. These prices have not increased in 15 years “because it is so important that people get to see these films,” said VanNess.  “Our mission is to advance filmmaking in South Dakota and help young filmmakers, and then also introduce the community to independent films. They wouldn’t normally have a chance to see these films, and the filmmakers are very passionate about what they do and there’s some great stories.” 

The festival will begin Friday, Sept. 27, at The Journey Museum in Rapid City, with two film presentations and a reception. These events require reservations since the theater is smaller, and the reception is an additional $25 with a discount for VIP pass holders. 

Starting the evening from 3:30-5 p.m. is the film “FasionABLE” directed by BHFF board member Randal Iverson. 

“It’s a documentary about the FasionABLE: All-Ability Threads fashion show that is held every other year. That’s an interesting documentary,” said VanNess. 

Following the film is a reception from 5:30-6:30 p.m. where attendees will be able to connect with the majority of the filmmakers. 

“That’s kind of our purpose is to help our filmmakers make connections,” VanNess said. 

Then from 7-9:30 p.m., the feature film of the evening is “The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story” directed by Ted Green. 

“That one is about a baseball star pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and he also started a foundation for Special Olympics. It’s a great story about his life and all the things that he did. Director Ted Green will be there after the screening to talk about the film,” said VanNess. 

BHFF board member and Hill City resident Dan Dickey will also speak after the film. Dickey grew up in the same town as Erskine, went to school with his son and knew him very well. 

There will be an encore screening of this film Sept. 28 at 5:15 p.m. at the Hill City High School (HCHS) Theater. 

“Then on Saturday and Sunday, we’ve got films all day. Films start at 11 a.m. and go until 9:15 p.m. each day,” said VanNess. These will all take place at HCHS and reservations are not required. 

Saturday kicks off with a free lighting workshop by Doug Lee from 9 a.m. to noon in the high school commons area. Lee has over 30 years of experience in photography. 

“Quite a few local filmmakers come to these workshops and learn all about lighting,” said VanNess. Anyone interested in photography or filmmaking is encouraged to attend. 

Afterward, there will be an equipment swap. This was suggested by a BHFF board member because he had extra equipment to get rid of. 

“Anyone who wants to bring stuff can bring it, and we’ll set it up in the commons area after the workshop. And then the filmmakers can get together and make their deals,” said VanNess. “It kind of helps everybody out. If you’re a new filmmaker, you don’t have all the gear. And then some of the more experienced ones have a lot, and they just want to get rid of it and help someone out. It’s a good way to get some equipment.”

The morning film session is a family friendly program starting at 11 a.m. in the theater, and it is followed by a South Dakota film session at 1 p.m. 

“We have some amazing South Dakota films. It’s great. I’m really happy to see that we keep getting them, that people are making them and they’re getting better, and better and better,” said VanNess. “And it’s nice for the South Dakota filmmakers to attend because they get to meet people from all over the world.”

Additional film sessions run through 9:15 p.m. Saturday. Following the final session there will be an after party from 9:30-11 p.m. at Lemongrass Bar & Kitchen in Hill City. This is open to everyone attending the festival. 

Sunday’s film sessions start with another family friendly program at 11 a.m. 

Then, before the Native American film session at 1:30 p.m., there will be a free special presentation by actor Sam Shoulder in the theater at 1 p.m.

“He’s a young man from Rapid City, Native American, who appeared in one of the films at the festival (in 2017). It was his first acting role in a film by a Custer filmmaker, and then he decided to go on and go to film school in California,” said VanNess. “He’s coming back to our festival to talk to other young aspiring actors and tell them how he fared at that as a Native American actor and give them some ideas on how they can also follow their dreams.” 

Additional film sessions run through 9:15 p.m. Sunday. 

There will also be a book signing on Saturday and Sunday in the lobby area for “Zintka!: Lost Bird of Wounded Knee” by Brad Colerick and Scott Feldmann. 

“One of the films is a little short film called ‘Lost Bird.’ The filmmakers started out with a song that one of the guys wrote, and then they illustrated a book and made a film about it. It’s about a baby that was found at the Wounded Knee Massacre,” said VanNess. 

Prairie Edge will carry the book and host a signing as well. 

Throughout the festival five awards will be given out to filmmakers following the screening of their film. There will be a Rising Star Award for a student and then the Bronze Fedora Awards will be presented for the best short documentary, the best feature documentary, the best short film and the best feature film. 

“The Bronze Fedoras are original artwork that was created when Black Hills Bronze was here, and we continue to make them every year. They’re original pieces of art. They’re great,” said VanNess. 

Winners are selected by a panel of judges from the film industry based on a rating system from zero to 10. 

VanNess said, “A lot of the films were nine and above this year. It was just amazing. They were all very, very good.” 

At the end of the event, VanNess wants attendees to leave wowed and thinking about new things. 

As this year’s program says, “Whether you take in most of the 2024 festival films and activities or just a few, we hope you leave inspired. Thank you for attending and supporting the BHFF.

“I just want to thank Hill City for being so supportive of us. We started in Hill City, and we’ve always had our festivals in Hill City. The community is very supportive with volunteers and sponsorships. We love Hill City.” 

More information about the BHFF as well as trailers, film descriptions, a complete schedule and program can be found at blackhills

filmfestival.org.

Anyone wishing to volunteer as an ushers during the films can contact VanNess at 605-574-9454.