RAPID CITY, S.D. — The 16th annual Black Hills Film Festival wrapped up Sunday, capping a three-day event that showcased independent films from around the world and in South Dakota. The festival was hosted at The Journey Museum and Learning Center in Rapid City, which has hosted the festival in part for the last 3 years with this year being the first time the museum has hosted the festival in its entirety.
“The museum covers history, science, art, all those together, and really these films are a mixture of documentary films, art films, independent films, and so it really is kind of the perfect fit for the Journey Museum,” said Conor McMahon, the museum’s Executive Director.
Twenty different films, ranging from feature-length narratives and documentaries to animated shorts, were shown in the museum’s Wells Fargo Theater. The festival featured selections from Canada, Belgium, and France, alongside a strong showing of films with South Dakota connections. The opening night included a special screening of “Green and Gold,” which stars Rapid City actress Madison Lawlor.
Throughout the weekend, festival staff presented juried awards, while moviegoers had the chance to vote for a People’s Choice award after each film session. “The Paper Bag Plan” took home the award for Best Feature Film, while “Hail to the Breadsticks!” won for Best Feature Documentary.
The award for Best Student Film went to Finn Kane for his documentary, “Galena: The Ghost Town that Refused to Die.” The film explores the history and surprising vitality of the small, unincorporated community in the Black Hills.
“Just going out with my friends, we like going to ghost towns, and so we fully went in expecting it to be like a ghost town, so no buildings, and if there were, dilapidated and falling down and stuff, but it just wasn’t,” Kane said, “There’s really impressive historical maintenance, and so having that was just really inspiring.”
Kane’s documentary is scheduled to air on South Dakota Public Broadcasting on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 8:30 p.m.
Other award-winning films included “Hearts of Stone” for Best Short Film and “Wakanyeja Kin Wana Ku Pi – The Children are Coming Home,” a film about the Cheyenne River Youth Project’s efforts to restore Lakota access to land near Bear Butte, which won Best Short Documentary.
A date for the 17th annual festival has not yet been set. Information on how to get involved with future events can be found on the Black Hills Film Festival website at
blackhillsfilmfestival.org
Per grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from South Dakota Mines. He found his passion for weather reporting by the impact it has on the community, both in how people work and how it brings people together through severe weather preparation. He also has a passion for preventing health issues with Air Quality Index awareness. Per can be found enjoying outdoor activities in the Black Hills when the weather allows.
