PROGRAM
SEPTEMBER 19-21
11:00am | Location: The Waypoint
Short Film Block #1 – Montana Stories
- A Little Imagination
- Loving Town
- Modify
- The Language of Belay
- Frozen Frames: Murphy's Yellowstone
1:00pm | Location: The Waypoint
Feature Film: Lost Wolves of Yellowstone
Directed by: Thomas Winston
In-Person Appearance and Q&A by Thomas Winston, Director
3:00pm | Location: Arts Council Building
Roundtable / Panel - Indigenous Representation in Cinema/Media
Led by Dr. Shane Doyle of the Crow Nation and Paulette Fox of the Blackfoot Confederacy. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this discussion.
5:00pm | Location: The Waypoint
Short Film Block #2 – Resilience
- Trokas Duras
- Kusi Smiles
- Gloria
- Swimming with Butterflies
- Pavilhão
7:30pm | Location: The Waypoint
Feature Film: Champions of the Golden Valley
Directed by: Ben Sturgulewski
In-Person Appearance and Q&A by Baktash Ahadi, Producer
9:30pm | Location: Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge
Blue Buddha After Party
Show a purchased ticket to any film to get in!
11:00am | Location: The Waypoint
Short Film Block #3 –Determination
- Kin
- Hellbent
- Janelle Niles: Inconvenient
- Where The Earth Meets The Sky
- Courage
1:00pm | Location: The Waypoint
Feature Film: Runa Simi
Directed by: Augusto Zegarra
In-Person Appearance and Q&A by Augusto Zegarra, Director
3:30pm | Location: The Waypoint
Feature Film: Cutting Through Rocks
Directed by: Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza Eyni
6:00pm | Location: The Waypoint
Feature Film: Sing Sing
Directed by: Greg Kwedar
In-Person Appearance and Q&A by Brent Buell, who is the Producer, Writer and Inspiration for the Film
8:30pm | Location: The Waypoint
Closing Ceremony & Celebration
A tremendous thank you and farewell from Lone Peak Film Festival!
4pm - 8pm | Big Sky Center for the Arts
American Indian Council MSU Installation & Lone Peak Impact Fair
Available all three days of the festival, starting at 4 PM on Friday, this free installation and fair will include the moving films How the Land Remembers Us (Director: Jared Wahkinney) and Learning I’m Home (Director: Victoria Cheyenne), a special installation by the American Indian Council MSU, honoring Indigenous culture and history in the Big Sky area, and an impact fair highlighting local NGOs connected to our films.
5:00pm | Len Hill Park
Welcome Ceremony
A public welcome ceremony for our attendees and the Big Sky community led by Shane Doyle of the Crow Nation and Paulette Fox of the Blackfoot Confederacy.
Rancho Picante Bison Burgers available for purchase 5:30pm - 7pm at the park
7:00pm | The Waypoint
Directed by: Daniel Glick, Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald.
9:00pm | The Waypoint
Opening Night Hangout
Open to all festival attendees to hang out at the Waypoint and connect with filmmakers and other movie lovers.
4:00pm - 8:00pm
Big Sky Center for the Arts
American Indian Council MSU Installation & Lone Peak Impact Fair
Available all three days of the festival, starting at 4 PM on Friday, this free installation and fair will include the moving films How the Land Remembers Us (Director: Jared Wahkinney) and Learning I’m Home (Director: Victoria Cheyenne), a special installation by the American Indian Council MSU, honoring Indigenous culture and history in the Big Sky area, and an impact fair highlighting local NGOs connected to our films.
FREE
5:00pm
Len Hill Park
Welcome Ceremony
A public welcome ceremony for our attendees and the Big Sky community led by Shane Doyle of the Crow Nation and Paulette Fox of the Blackfoot Confederacy.
Rancho Picante Bison Burgers available for purchase 5:30pm - 7pm at the park
FREE
7:00pm
The Waypoint
Directed by: Daniel Glick, Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald.
9:00pm
The Waypoint
Opening Night Hangout
Open to all festival attendees to hang out at the Waypoint and connect with filmmakers and other movie lovers.
For sold-out screenings, a limited number of standby tickets will likely be available for each screening. However, availability cannot be guaranteed and is subject to capacity. Standby seating is first come, first served and begins 10 minutes prior to showtime.
For screenings that are not sold out, tickets will be available for purchase at the door. At-the-door tickets also cannot be guaranteed as they are subject to capacity.
We encourage guests to arrive early if they wish to purchase at-the-door or standby tickets.
Standby & At-the-Door Tickets
5:00pm
Len Hill Park
Welcome Ceremony
A public welcome ceremony for our attendees, mentors, filmmakers, and friends.
7:00pm
The
Waypoint
Directed by: Daniel Glick, Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald.
7:00pm
The
Waypoint
Directed by: Daniel Glick, Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald. In-Person Appearance and Q&A by Ivan MacDonald and Daniel Glick, Co-Directors
MISSION
Lone Peak Film Festival champions inspiring stories, builds community, offers mentorship, and supports local and Indigenous filmmakers, all to spark positive change and catalyze action.
By offering stories of kindness, perseverance, resilience and positive action in the face of injustice or adverse circumstances, we will create spaces where people can come together and honor the goodness in humanity and build a nurturing community. It will be a counterweight to the relentless negativity of the mass media, offering compelling and well crafted stories that entertain as much as they move and inspire.
By bringing these stories to a place like Big Sky, we hope to connect the filmmakers, and the perspectives they provide, with people who can help them build their careers and expand the social impact of their films, all while creating an event that will be entertaining and will bring the community of Big Sky together. We want to create opportunities for the sparks of hope offered in these stories to be fanned into flames that can make a positive impact locally and across the nation.
VISION
LPFF FILMMAKER RETREAT
The Lone Peak Film Institute organizes and hosts an artist program for all attending filmmakers.
OUR 2026 MENTORS
The program is a two-day retreat held during the Lone Peak Film Festival.
The retreat is led by film industry mentors who volunteer sharing their expertise in writing, producing, and directing.
2026 MENTOR
KATIE
ASELTON
Katie Aselton is an acclaimed actor and filmmaker. Katie’s breakout acting role was in the indie darling, THE PUFFY CHAIR, directed by Mark and Jay Duplass. The film was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards. She has since graced screens both big and
small, perhaps most recognizably as series regular ‘Jenny’ in THE LEAGUE. Her latest project, THEIR TOWN, (which shows at our film
festival Friday night at 8 PM) premiered at this year’s SXSW film festival and marks her fifth feature as a director.
2026 MENTOR
KURT
LUSTGARTEN
Kurt Lustgarten is an award-winning commercial director and screenwriter who has sold television series to Amazon, Universal, and HBO Max, as well as co-writing a digital series with Bret Easton Ellis. He also co-wrote the hit graphic novel series MISFIT CITY, which he sold as a series to Amazon with co-writer Kiwi Smith. On the directing side, Kurt has directed content featuring talent such as Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart, and is currently prepping his feature directing debut, a comedic noir. He currently teaches film at DePaul Univeristy, and has taught in the graduate screenwriting program at UCLA.
2026 MENTOR
KIWI
SMITH
Kirsten "Kiwi" Smith co-wrote the hit films Legally Blonde, 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s The Man, Ella Enchanted, The House Bunny, and The Ugly Truth. On the television side, she co-created and executive produced Trinkets, a multi-Emmy-winning series for Netflix, based on her novel. She has developed series for Fox, Paramount, HBO Max, Universal and Amazon Prime — including Misfit City, based on her graphic novel with co-writer Kurt Lustgarten. Her producing credits include Whip It, directed by Drew Barrymore and starring Elliot Page and Kristen Wiig.
2026 MENTOR
BRADFORD
SCHMIDT
Bradford Schmidt grew up in a small mountain town in Colorado. He traveled the globe for six years and fell in love with filmmaking. In 2009, he graduated from UCLA Film Program as a director and screenwriter. Shortly after, he moved to San Francisco to join GoPro CEO Nicholas Woodman and created a YouTube channel that would win awards, amass millions of views, and rise to become one of the most powerful content-driven brands recognized around the world. Currently, he is developing several feature documentaries and writing a narrative limited series.
2026 MENTOR
DOMENICA CAMERON-SCORSESE
Domenica is an award winning director, whose directorial feature debut, ALMOST PARIS, premiered closing night
at the Tribeca Film Festival—later winning several awards including Big River Film Festival Best First Time Feature Director and the prestigious Beaufort International Film Festival Audience Choice Award. Domenica was a filmmaker mentor during our first festival last year, and this year she is returning as a mentor and Filmmaker Liaison to support our attending filmmakers and fellows.
2025 RETREAT FACILITATOR
BILL
WEINSTEIN
Bill Weinstein has spent 25 years in the media business. He started his career at Endeavor, then co-founded and ran a talent agency, Verve, from 2010 to 2024. During that time, he structured deals for his clients to be involved in award winning and commercial hits like Inside Out, Inside Out 2, Lord of the Rings, Wandavision, Toy Story 3, Soul, Crazy Rich Asians, Hidden Figures, House of the Dragon, and more.
OUR 2025 MENTORS
The program is a two-day retreat held during the Lone Peak Film Festival.
The retreat is led by film industry mentors who volunteer sharing their expertise in writing, producing, and directing.
2025 MENTOR
BAKTASH
AHADI
Baktash Ahadi is an Afghan-American film producer known for powerful stories rooted in international conflict and human resilience. A former U.S. Marine and Afghan interpreter, he earned critical acclaim for producing the Academy Award–nominated documentary Dirty Wars.
2025 MENTOR
DOMENICA CAMERON-SCORSESE
Domenica Cameron-Scorsese is an American actress and filmmaker. Her first feature Almost Paris premiered at Tribeca as well as her shorts Spanish Boots and Roots in Water. Her first short, A Little God, won the Torchlight Short Film Award. She continues to direct and act in film and theater.
2025 MENTOR
IVAN
MACDONALD
Ivan MacDonald is an Emmy-winning filmmaker. He is a member of the Blackfeet tribe and currently resides in Montana. He has produced and directed for work ESPN and Showtime. His most recent producing project Blackfeet Boxing Not Invisible premiered on ESPN’s 30 for 30 program and won Best Documentary Short at the 2021 Emmy Sports Awards.
2025 MENTOR
PATRICK
MARKEY
Patrick Markey is a veteran film and television producer, who storied careers include some of the most significant and influential projects of the last several decades including A River Runs through it, The Joy Luck Club, The Quick and The Dead, The Horse Whisperer, and Netflix’s Ozark, among many more.
2025 MENTOR
ERIK
OLESON
Erik Oleson is a professional TV and film writer and is the Showrunner and Executive Producer on the second season of Amazon Prime's "Carnival Row," starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne. Whether in film or television, Oleson's passion for storytelling has taken him into writing on a gamut of productions of every type and scope.
VALUE DRIVEN
The mentors for Lone Peak Film Festival are paired with screening filmmakers to assure mutual benefit, and to heighten connection and impact for all.
They are all experienced directors, writers and producers known for their efforts to give back, community orientation and distinctive craft.
PROGRAM
VISION
The Mentorship Program is built on the spirit of community and mutual respect.
It is designed to provide resources, fulfillment and memories for all filmmakers, both mentors and attendees alike.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
FROM YEAR ONE BELOW
Presenting Sponsor
Producer Level Sponsors
Co-Producer Level Sponsors
Associate Producer Level Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Local Sponsors
Special Thanks to Big Sky Resort Area District
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STAY IN THE KNOW
OUR TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ADVISORY BOARD
DOMINICK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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BUFF BURROWS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
ANIA BULIS
ADVISORY BOARD
BAYARD DOMINICK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BILL WEINSTEIN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BRETT WEITZ
ADVISORY BOARD
BROOKE PEPION SWANEY
ADVISORY BOARD
DANIEL GLICK
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
DYLAN HALE THORNTON
ADVISORY BOARD
IVAN MACDONALD
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JASON BURLAGE
ADVISORY BOARD
JD HOCK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
HEATHER NODELMAN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LAYNEE JONES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LIZ KNOWLES
COMMUNITY BUILDER
RENE JONES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THAD BEATY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BAYARD DOMINICK
Bayard Dominick is Vice President of Planning and Development of Lone Mountain Land Company. In his role with LMLC, Bayard is primarily involved with overseeing the firm’s commercial, residential, and hospitality projects in the Town Center neighborhood, and developing workforce housing projects throughout the greater Big Sky area.
BILL WEINSTEIN
Bill Weinstein has spent 25 years in the media business. He started his career at Endeavor, then co-founded and ran a talent agency, Verve, from 2010 to 2024. During that time, he structured deals for his clients to be involved in award winning and commercial hits like Inside Out, Inside Out 2, Lord of the Rings, Wandavision, Toy Story 3, Soul, Crazy Rich Asians, Hidden Figures, House of the Dragon, and more.
BROOKE PEPION SWANEY
Brooke Pepion Swaney, an enrolled Blackfeet tribal member and a Bitterroot Salish descendant, works to tell Indigenous stories, and stories from marginalized people. Recent work includes: Daughter of a Lost Bird (PBS America Reframed), her first feature documentary, Lily Gladstone: Far Out There (PBS American Masters and AMC+), and Tinder on the Rez (the Blacklist’s Inaugural Indigenous List). She holds an MFA in Film from NYU, teaches screenwriting at the Institute of American Indian Arts, and lives and works in her homelands, aka Polson, Montana.
DANIEL GLICK
Daniel Glick is an Emmy-winning filmmaker who has directed and produced two feature documentaries and more than a dozen shorts – both narrative and documentary - over the past two decades. Five of his most recent projects, including the Emmy-winning short Iniskim, were set on the Blackfeet Reservation. His work has been supported by The Redford Center, Doc Society, The Sundance Institute, SFFILM and The Gotham.
DYLAN HALE THORNTON
Dylan Hale Thornton is a father, ski guide, social responsibility consultant, community builder, and descendant of civil rights pioneers. As the founder of Hale Creative Consulting he specializes in providing social responsibility solutions for the outdoor sports and recreation industry and beyond. He also collaborates with art and cultural heritage organizations to promote diverse and inclusive events across the Greater Yellowstone Region.
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IVAN MACDONALD
Ivan MacDonald is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe. His work has been seen on Showtime and ESPN and has been supported by ITVA, Sundance, IDA, Vision Maker Media, Firelight Media and Illuminative.
LAYNEE JONES
Laynee is a transformative advisor tackling today's complex environmental and infrastructure problems with technology and innovation. She has a background in environmental consulting, transportation, and major events including the Olympics and Sundance Film Festival.
LUCÍA ORTEGA TOLEDO
Lucía Ortega Toledo is a writer, director and producer whose work has been supported by the 4th World Indigenous Media Lab. She has a B.A. in Communication Studies and a Masters and Doctorate in Hispanic Literature from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico. Lucia’s other professional experience includes academic research, writing, teaching, translation, curating and story editing.
RENE JONES
Rene Jones is a Partner & Chief of Social Impact at United Talent Agency (UTA), the leading global talent, sports, entertainment, and advisory company. In 2004, she launched the UTA Foundation, advancing the company’s social impact efforts for employees and clients across the agency.
THAD BEATY
Having toured for nearly 2 decades with Grammy winning, multi platinum country juggernaut Sugarland, guitarist Thad Beaty has shared the stage with everyone from Beyoncé to Bon Jovi. Now making his home with his family in Big Sky, Montana, Thad performs in the area with his wife Annie (bassist Sugarland/Maren Morris/Amos Lee) and is an entertainment manager with Lone Mountain Land, bringing world class music, household names and the best musicians of the Montana region to Big Sky.
