Awards & Announcements
Florida Film Festival
Congratulations to alumni Eric Bendick, Tom Winston, and the Grizzly Creek team’s film Path of the Panther for winning the Audience Award for Best Florida Feature in the Florida Film Festival.
International Wildlife Film Festival
Congratulations to alumnus Johnny Holder for his thesis film Sonora winning Best Student Film and alumnus Colin Ruggiero’s film Tracking Notes: The Secret World of Mountain Lions for winning the Audience Award at the International Wildlife Film Festival.
Now Streaming - Fabric by Emily Lea
MFA thesis student Emily Lea’s first documentary series, Fabric, is now available on Amazon Prime and iTunes for Apple TV.
A first-of-its-kind documentary series chronicling a group of athletes, artists, and activists across snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding, Fabric is a five-part series that illustrates what’s possible when sport is leveraged as a vehicle to affect fundamental change.
Each of the five episodes is centered around a specific theme—from Knowledge and Adaptation to Activism, Cultural Heritage, and Community—and showcases a group of groundbreaking humans united by their connections to people, place, and pursuit.
Fabric is a partnership between FBRC Media and Happy Okay LLC. It’s produced and directed by Robin Van Gyn) and Justin Taylor Smith, edited by Smith and Emily Lea, written by Mary Fenton, and executive produced by Yulin Oliver.
Watch it on ITunes or Prime Video.
MFA Student Interview
MFA Thesis student Olivia Fay Andrus was interviewed by KBZK. She discusses how the MFA in Science and Natural History FilmmakingProgram has influenced the creation of her film company, Genesis Productions LLC.
Youth v Gov Bozeman Premiere
The Bozeman Premiere of the acclaimed feature documentary Youth v Gov, directed by MSU alum Christi Cooper, took place on Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30pm in the SUB Ballroom A. This event is presented by the MSU Leadership Institute, the College of Arts and Architecture, and the School of Film and Photography.
Youth v Gov tells the story of 21 American youths, now aged between 13 to 24, who sued the U.S. government on Fifth Amendment grounds, claiming that their rights to life, liberty, and property have been infringed through actions they claim created a climate crisis that they must inherit. Twelve MSU alumni from the School of Film & Photography’s MFA and undergraduate programs participated in the film. The film has been in 51 film festivals and has won 25 awards. School of Film & Photography MFA Alum Christi Cooper and selected members of the film’s production team will attend the screening and the meet-and-greet reception that will follow it. . The MSU Press Release for Youth v Gov contains additional information about the film and the screening.
On Thursday, March 24th from 12:15-1:15pm, the MFA in Science and Natural History Program hosted a special Q&A for SFP students and faculty with Christi Cooper and several members of the production team in Studio B.
Watch the KBZK coverage of the premiere at the KBZK website.
Dennis Aig wins The Corgi Award!
Congratulations to Dennis Aig, nominated by the students, staff, and faculty of the SFP. The Corgi Award is a monthly award given to an SFP staff, faculty, or student who has shown kindness, commitment, and hard work during their time at the SFP.
Dennis was an exemplary candidate for the award, and the SFP is incredibly grateful for everything Dennis does for the community.
To read Dennis's nominations, please visit The Corgi Award website.
BZN International Film Festival
Congratulations toChristi Cooperand her team for winning the Ted Turner award for Youth v Gov at the BZN International Film Festival.
Jackson Wild Special Jury Recognition Awards for 2021
Youth v Gov, produced and directed by MFA alum Christi Cooper and involved 12 alums from both the undergrad and graduate programs, was cited for its Impact Campaign.
Saving the Florida Wildlife Corridor that featured work from alums Eric Bendick and Danny Schmidt also received the Special Jury Recognition for Impact Campaign.
In the Grand Prismatic Category the MFA has two alumni honorees: Professor Colleen Thruston of the University of Arkansas and Roshan Patel, media producer for Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Congratulations to all the filmmakers!
Alumni win 2020 National Emmy Award
Congratulations to MFA Alumni Tom Winston, Dawson Dunning, Rick Smith and Jeff Reed on winning a 2020 National Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary for the Grizzly Creek production of Epic Yellowstone for the Smithsonian Channel.
Chasing Ghosts wins TWO categories at the 2020 Jackson Wild Festival
“Chasing Ghosts,” a short film directed and edited by MFA alumnus Eric Bendick in collaboration from MFAers Jeff Reed (director of photography and co-editor) and Thomas Winston executive won awards in TWO categories at the 2020 Jackson Wild Festival. The film took honors in the Best Ecosystem (Short Film) and Best Science in Nature (Short Film) categories. The project was produced by Grizzly Creek Films.
A Walk Through The Land of 1,000 Hills wins Best Student Short Film
Congratulations to Chema Domenech! His film, A Walk Through The Land of 1,000 Hills won Best Student Short Film at the 2020 Ireland International Film Festival!
To read the write up about the film, please visit the Ireland International Film Festival website.
Deia Schlosberg wins John de Graff Environmental Filmmaking Award
Deia Schlosberg won the John de Graaf Environmental Filmmaking Award at Wild and Scenic 2020. The award, named in de Graaf’s honor, is presented each year at the Wild and Scenic Film Festival in California. De Graaf is the Executive Director of Take Back Your Time and co-founder of The Happiness Initiative.
A Walk Through The Land of 1,000 Hills wins Student Filmmaker Award
Chema Domenench won the Student Filmmaker Award at Wild and Scenic 2020 for this film A Walk Through The Land of 1,000 Hills.
I Am Still Here selected as the Best Documentary at NY State International Film Festival
Cynthia Huber’s second-year film, I Am Still Here, was selected as the Best Documentary at the New York State International Film Festival 2019. I Am Still Here was also a selection at 2019 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, WilmFFilm’s Cinema Sisters International Film Festival, Dumbo Film Festival, January 2019 Feel the Reel International Film Festival, Big Fork International Film Festival, Long Island International Film Expo, The Open Door Short Film Showcase, Spotlight Documentary Film Awards, JellyFEST Film Festival, and Blow-Up Film Fest.
The Story of Plastic wins Best Sustainable Planet Film at IWFF 2020
Congratulations to Deia Schlosberg! The Story of Plastic won Best Sustainable Planet Film at IWFF 2020! The Story of Plastic also screened on Discovery Channel last Wednesday in honor of Earth Day AND the film received a recommendation from Jason Momoa on his personal Instagram account.
Alain Douchinsky wins the Helix for Best Student & Emerging Science Filmmaker
Congratulations to to Alain Douchinsky for winning the Helix for Best Student & Emerging Science Filmmaker at 2018 SMASH!!
Jason Roehrig wins Top Student Prize at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in NYC
Congratulations to SNHF thesis student Jason Roehrig for his recent win at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival! Jason produced, filmed and edited the film for the Western Land Owner's Alliance focused on the conservation efforts by landowner David Spicer to protect the Amargosa toad in Nevada.
Learn more about Jason's experience through a Montana State article or check out the award winning film!
The MFA Student and Alumni behind those popular viral videos at NOAA
Student Annie White (Cohort 11) with alumni Emily Narrow (Cohort 10) and Caitlin Bailey (Cohort 12) are interviewed about the work they do for NOAA aboard the ship Okeanos Explorer.
In the article , Annie, Emily and Caitlin talk about the ups and downs of working on a ship, exploring never before seen locations on the bottom of the ocean, and the women who inspired them to pursue their work.
Congratulations to SNHF at the 40th International Wildlife Film Festival
Congratulations to MFA students Katie Mullen, Hugo Sindelar and Jason Roehrig for screening their films at the 40th International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, MT. IWFF is the oldest and longest running wildlife film festival in the world.
Katie Mullen (Cohort 14) screened her film Birding Blind, and Hugo Sindelar (Cohort 14) screened Voice of Fire.
Additionally, congratulations to Jason Roehrig (Cohort 14) for winning Best of Fest in the Student Category for his film LUMOS about glowworms in caves in New Zealand.
MFA Alumni make a splash at BLUE Ocean Film Festival
Congratulations to both Stephani Gordon (Cohort 6) and Eric Bendick (Cohort 4) on
their films at BLUE Ocean Film Festival!
Congratulations to Stephani Gordon for her film My Haggan Dream chosen as a finalist for the Children's Category!
Additionally, congratulations to Eric Bendick and the Grizzly Creek crew for their honorable mention in the Broadcast Program Category with The Forgotten Coast!
Element Film Festival 2016
The Annual Element Film Festival run by students showcasing student films from across
the globe on a variety of topics in science and natural history. 
Element Film Festival was lead this year by the students of Cohort 15 (Sarah Lanier,
Colleen Harvey, Anna Sagatov and Jonathan Spear).
Congratulations to Billy Collins (Cohort 14) for winning Element Film Festival's Audience Choice Award!
MFA Alumni win EMMY
Congratulations to alumni John Shier (Cohort 1) and Dawson Dunning (Cohort 6) for
winning an EMMY for Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary and Long Form for their
work on Wild Yellowstone!!!
Congratulations!!
MFA Alumni win awards at Science Media Awards (SMASH) 
Congratulations to Rosh Patel (Cohort 11) for winning "Best Student & Emerging Filmmaker" for his film RedwolfRevival!!!
And congratulations to Abby Kent (Cohort 12) for winning a Special Jury Award for her film Transistors: Teeny Tech that Changed the World!!!!!
MFA Alumni chosen as finalists at Science Media Awards (SMASH)
Congratulations to Abby Kent (Transistors: Teeny Tech that Changed the World), Brett Kuxhausen (Pork.0), and Rosh Patel (Red Wolf Revival) on being chosen as finalists for the 2016 SMASH (Science Media Awards & Summit in the Hub) Student Filmmaker/Emerging Filmmaker category!
Additionally, Secret Earth: Yellowstone Supervolcano, produced by a team of MFA alumni and local filmmakers at Grizzly Creek Films, was
selected as a finalist in the Science Ambassador category.
Congratulations everyone!
Congratulations to Sarah Lanier
Sarah Lanier (Cohort 15) was recently chosen out of 300 applications as a SMASH (Science Media Awards & Summit in the Hub)! The Science Media Awards will be
held in Boston September 20th - 22nd. http://www.sciencemediasummit.org/
Congratulations to Eddie Roqueta
Eddie Roqueta (Cohort 12) recently acknowledged at the Emmy's for winning the College
Television Award for his film "Silencing the Thunder."
Congratulations to Deia Schlosberg
Deia Schlosberg (Cohort 9) was recently nominated for a National Student Emmy for her film "Backyard"
Congratulations to Roshan Patel
Roshan Patel (Cohort 11) recently was awarded Best Short at International Wildlife Film Festival for his film "Pride"
SNHF Alums and Students Nominated for Regional Emmys
Congratulations to Charles Dye, Daniel Schmidt, Dawson Dunning, Rick Smith, Christi Cooper, Katie Lose Gilbertson, Andy Adkins and Jaime Jelenchick Jacobsen for their recent regional Emmy nominations for the film "Indian Relay"!
Science and Natural History Filmmaking (SNHF) Program's 10th Anniversary Year, Slideshow
Science and Natural History Filmmaking (SNHF) Program's 10th Anniversary Year, Slideshow
Watch a slideshow featuring news and highlights celebrating 10 years of the SNHF program...
Kathy Kasic, SNHF Alum Joins MSU SFP Faculty for AY 2012-13
Kathy Kasic, a 2007 graduate of the MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking (SNHF) Program, will be joining the School of Film and Photography (SFP) as non-tenure track faculty member for the 20112-13 academic year.
SNHF Interns and WITNESS Win Honors
Videos produced by Science and Natural History Filmmaking (SNHF) students as part of a special production internship program supporting a legal approach to address human-induced climate change have receiving multiple international honors.
Chris Palmer Receives the 2012 Tobias Award
Chris Palmer Receives the 2012 Tobias Award Legendary filmmaker, author, conservation activist, and educator Chris Palmer of American University received the 2012 Ronald B. Tobias Award for Achievement in Science and Natural History Filmmaking Education at a ceremony during the Tarkio Retreat at the International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, Montana, on May 10.
A Record Thirteen SNHF Students Successfully Defended Their Thesis Work in AY 2011-12
The following MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking students successfully defended their thesis work in the 2011-12 academic year..
MFA Students Intern at Field Museum
Currently, two MFAers are creating videos for the prestigious FieldMuseum in Chicago.
SNHF at the CMS Vatavaran Environment & Wildlife Film Festival in New Dehli
For the first time, the MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking program participated in the 6th CMS Vatavaran Environment & Wildlife Film Festival in New Dehli, India, in December 2011. Several hundred filmmakers from Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas screened films, met for panel discussions, and discussed the many different facets of environmental filmmaking.
News Archive
- "Getting Reel" by Anne Cantrell in Mountains and Minds, Spring 2012
- "New MSU TV Commercial Showcases Students" by Carol Schmidt in Collegian, Spring 2012
- "Nature U: Science and Wildlife Filmmaking Goes to School" by Belinda Baldwin in documentary, Vol. 30, No.3, Summer 2011
Ideas for our news feed? Email us at snhf@montana.edu.