ElyFilmFestivalProgram-2026

MAR 11 - 15, 2026 • ELY, MINNESOTA

Boozhoo akinaa wiiyaa! It is an honor to be involved in directing, planning, and facilitating the Ely Film Festival this year. I have been with the festival key team since 2022 and currently serve as the director. Our incredible team works endless hours putting this festival together for you, and we are very glad you’re here! In addition to this role, I serve as the Ojibwe Language and Culture Teacher at the Nett Lake School, on the Nett Lake Reservation, with over 20 years of experience working in schools. I also lead programming across the region and state as the director of Waawaate Programs, a land-based teachings nonprofit. I live in the Ely area with my wife, Linda, and our six children, where we spend much of our time enjoying the lakes and woods. The Ely Film Festival is as unique as the town itself. We bring in filmmakers from all around the world to our special corner of northern Minnesota to experience the amazing people who make up our communities and the living history of our surrounding natural world. I encourage you to check out the town and come back for a canoe trip this summer. One of my favorite projects since 2022 has been the Indigenous Youth Film Day, which is in its fourth year. This program brings Indigenous youth from local schools to experience a day of sponsored films and special programming meant to expose and encourage positive teachings from Indigenous film. Ely is a community of historic and present Indigenous culture, and as a team, we strive to highlight this during our festival. Over one-third of our films come from Indigenous filmmakers! While you’re with us, it is my hope that you will enjoy your time, make new friends, learn something new, be challenged in your worldview, meet some great people, and want to come back next year for the 5th annual Ely Film Festival. Please let me know if I can assist you in having a great time while you’re here. welcome TO THE FOURTH ANNUAL ELY FILM FESTIVAL!

Miigwech and cheers to another awesome Ely Film Festival!

DIRECTOR, ELY FILM FESTIVAL Ryan Bajan Favorite “Indie” movie: Smoke Signals

FOURTH ANNUAL ELY FILM FESTIVAL | MARCH 11-15, 2026

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Special Thanks:

FESTIVAL STAFF

Justin Burum BOARD CHAIR

Ian Lah MARKETING

Jacob White MEDIA PRODUCTION

Lucy Soderstrom PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Lacey Squier VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Lindsey Dare FILM PROJECTIONIST

In addition to serving as the Projectionist and tech specialist for the Ely Film Festival, Lindsey is the General Manager of Functional Fitness and owns a travel agency. She is passionate about the festival’s focus on the indigenous culture and environmental narratives of our region, and she loves how the event brings visitors to showcase our incredible town. For her, the festival is a vital way to connect folks through storytelling. Favorite “Indie” movie: Memento

Lacey serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Ely Film Festival as part of her role as manager of Boundary Waters Connect, a nonprofit sponsor of the festival. Boundary Waters Connect seeks to connect people and resources in ways that grow our Wilderness-edge economy and makes our community even more vibrant – and our Ely Film Festival does just that! Favorite “Indie” movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

In addition to serving as the program director of the Ely Film Festival, Lucy serves as Director at Ely Folk School, where she was initially drawn to its encouragement of the curious mind. She is excited about the upcoming festival and loves the opportunity to work with folks of diverse creative backgrounds. Favorite “Indie” movie: The Princess Bride

James Scarbrough EHST THEATER MANAGER

Dave Casey EHST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Having worked at Ely's Historic State Theater since it reopened in 2020, James took over as Operations Manager in January 2025. With 20 years of management experience and a total of 30+ years in various customer service positions, this is his favorite job so far. "Everyone who comes through the door is looking to enjoy themselves. I love helping to make sure that their experience is a good one and that they leave feeling appreciated." Favorite “Indie” movie: Kaijuburbia!

Dave Casey first arrived in Ely in 1974 as an Outward Bound student. He worked at their base outside of Ely from 1976 to 1981 and again from 1985 to 1994. In 1995, he joined an international consulting firm and worked in various countries worldwide, including a three-year stint in the United Kingdom. In the spring of 2024, Dave joined the Board of Ely’s Historic State Theater and accepted the role of Executive Director that fall.

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Sarah Vogl POSTER/MERCH ARTIST & PROGRAM DESIGNER

Sarah Vogl is an illustrator, content creator, and graphic designer living on a small homestead just outside of Ely. Operating under Studio Vogl and The Little Forest, her creative practice explores the intersection of disciplined design and whimsical fine art, both heavily influenced by the flora, fauna, and seasonal rhythms of the Northwoods. She is most inspired when adventuring in the woods with her husband and two children. Favorite “Indie” movie: Napoleon Dynamite

SCAN TO VIEW THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF ILLUSTRATING THIS YEAR’S POSTER ARTWORK! OR VISIT LITTLEFORESTLIFE.COM

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The Lord of All Future Space and Time - Relational Shorts block, Saturday 4:30 PM, Greenstone Cinema

Gardener of the Galaxy - Nourishment Shorts block, Saturday 10:00am, State Theater

Salt Circles - Darker Side Shorts block Friday 7:30 PM, Greenstone Cinema

The Retirement Party - Relational Shorts block Saturday 4:30 PM, Greenstone Cinema

The Solution - Darker Side Shorts block Friday 7:30 PM, Greenstone Cinema

Maah Daah Hey: Together - Sunday 4:00 PM, State Theater

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CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS SHORTS 3:00 - 5:00 PM State Theater

Wednesday 3/11

Across time and space, there is a tendency toward creation in the vast landscape of human experience. Creativity gives us space to process emotion, release grief and anger, to share our feelings and beliefs, and so much more. This block showcases stories of just a handful of ways humans know to be creative. Sit back & be inspired.

Q&A

20m

15m

11m

Breaking Ice: The Making of Cracks in the Ice Breaking Ice follows photographer Jason Lindsey as he creates his “Cracks in the Ice” series, prompted by his son's question about what the world will look like due to climate change. Unable to give clear answers to a child who craves stability due to his medical history, Lindsey turns to art to explore this question.

The Survival of the Wooden Canoe People around the world have travelled in canoes they have proudly made themselves since time began. The Survival of the Wood Canoe chronicles the adventures of one couple who, over 50 years, built a business based on teaching the art of canoe-building ensuring the survival of the Wooden Canoe.

The Book of George

Martini

On the last day of filming for an amateur film, a group of filmmakers go through their own personal conflicts to obtain the Martini shot.

From Brooklyn's concrete jungle to the heart of the Everglades, meet George McKenzie Jr., a Black photographer transforming his lens into a beacon of change. Swapping the a gun for a camera, George found his calling amid nature's raw grandeur, capturing everything from city pigeons and rats to elusive panthers.

21m

Strawberry Picker From a little boy growing up in labor camps to a world-class artist, a look at generations of struggle and resilience in the Chicano Art Community through the experiences of Juan R. Fuentes.

Creator

Dev. Stop. Fix.

God creates the universe out of nothingness— but when she creates mankind to enjoy her work, she gets a little carried away with seeing things from their point of view. As her indulgence grows, the beautiful world she once loved above all else is overwhelmed.

An experimental documentary exploring the process of darkroom photo printing. This film project was produced at the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Superior

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Wednesday 3/11

3:30 - 5:15 PM Greenstone Cinema The Only Way Out is Through

1hr 29m

Q&A

Kieran Thompson, Director

Three friends head into the wilderness to reconnect. When one vanishes, the journey becomes a test of friendship, trust, and what it means to truly be there for one another.

Land of Canaan Ely Folk School Potluck Dinner

Land of Canaan

6:30 - 8:00 PM State Theater

5:00 - 6:15 PM

Ely Folk School

1hr 27m

Q&A

Maggie Lemere, Director

As Palestinian culture and land are threatened with systematic destruction, this documentary feature film presents a rare and intimate view of Palestinian farmers and their ancient olive trees - symbols of resilience, heritage, and home. Olive trees have been integral to Palestinian culture and well-being for thousands of years. Faced with ongoing political violence and the loss of their land, a visionary olive farmer brings thousands of small-scale olive farmers together in fair trade cooperatives that connect them to global markets and create a future for their families, one that is life affirming and nurtures their ancestral relationship to the land and the ancient olive trees they serve.

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Wednesday 3/11

His Monster

7:00 - 8:30 PM Greenstone Cinema

1hr 27m

Q&A Erich Cannon, Director

When his young daughter is mysteriously swept out to sea, a struggling alcoholic remains alone, hunting the woods to find what he believes is responsible. His Monster explores the idea that the true horror is the grips of addiction and grief.

after party 8:00 - 10:00 PM at Insula Restaurant

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

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FILMMAKER Q&A SESSIONS

Kieran Thompson - Director, The Only Way Out Is Through Wednesday 3/11, after 3:30 PM showing

Maggie Lemere - Director, Land of Canaan Wednesday 3/11, after 6:30 PM showing

Erich Cannon - Director, His Monster Wednesday 3/11, after 7:00 PM showing

Dibaajimowin Shorts Block Thursday 3/12, after 10:00 AM block

Chris Jourdain and Guests - Remaining Native Thursday 3/12, after 1:00 PM showing | Friday 3/13 after 7:00 PM showing

Leya Hale - Director, Medicine Ball Thursday 3/12, after 3:30 PM double feature

Paige Bethman - Director, Remaining Native Friday 3/13, after 7:00 PM showing

Eva Thomas - Director, NIKA & MADISON Thursday 3/12, after 7:30 PM showing

Nourishment Shorts Block Saturday 3/14 after 10:00 AM block

Vanessa M.H. Powers - Director, Silly Little Wounds Thursday 3/12, after 7:30 PM showing

CURE MN - Sponsor, Plastic People Saturday 3/14, after 4:00 PM showing

Mississippi Speed Record Friday 3/13 after 12:30 PM showing

Relational Shorts Block Saturday 3/14 after 4:30 PM block

Neighborly Shorts Block Friday 3/13 after 3:00 PM block

Dallas Hudson - Key Cast, Observer Saturday 3/14 after 7:00 PM showing

Kevin Schreck - Director, Enongo, Pre-Recorded Saturday 3/14 after 8:00 PM showing

Life Online Shorts Block Sunday 3/15 after 11:30 AM block

Family Dynamics Shorts Block Sunday 3/15 after 2:30 PM block

BTS shot from Silly Little Wounds - Thursday, 7:30pm, Greenstone Cinema

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DIBAAJIMOWIN SHORTS 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM State Theater

Thursday 3/12 Indigenous Youth Film Day

Q&A

Dibaajimowin is the Ojibwemowin word for the telling of a story. As a foundational element to our cultural traditions, storytelling conveys our essential teachings. Our stories give us insight for how we might continue to brave new challenges with ancestral knowledge.

13m

21m

13m

Bizhiki: A Modern Indigenous Experience Bear Witness Media’s documentary captures Bizhiki’s residency in Cook County, presented by the North Shore Music Association, offering an inside look at their musical artistry, cultural teachings, and the meaningful connections they formed with local students and community members.

Unraveling the Ribbon

Tahnaanooku’

Tiger

For thousands of years, the Indigenous Peoples of what is now known as North and South Dakota co-existed reciprocally with the Missouri River, its waters offering life while also inspiring legends and languages. Tahnaanooku’ explores the severing of this relationship between native communities and the river, the result of over 80 years of US government efforts to control the Missouri.

Dana Tiger was just five years old when her father, legendary Muscogee Creek artist Jerome Tiger, passed away. She turned to his art as a way to know him, the richness of her culture, and the bounty of her family’s artistic tradition.

Explore the deep cultural, spiritual, and political meaning of the Native American ribbon skirt. Worn with pride, each skirt tells a personal and collective story of resilience, identity, and ancestral connection. Once forced underground, the ribbon skirt reemerged after the 1978 Religious Freedom Act, becoming a powerful symbol of Indigenous survival and sovereignty.

Waawaate Programs Sponsored Lunch Panel 12:00 - 1:00 PM at Ely Folk School Chris Jourdain and guests on Indigenous Athletes in Minnesota

11m

15m

AAUW Sponsored Student Lunch 12:00 -1:00 PM at the Ely Community Center With Live Music by Keith Secola and Gary Farmer

Ñuuyii (Earth)

Bdote: A Birthing Island A short that traces the Dakota people's profound connection to Bdote, where the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers meet. Through the lens of Dakota oral histories Bdote delves into the cultural and sacred significance of the island, showcasing the resiliency of Dakota people through generations.

A young man, born and raised in the vastness of the galaxy, lands on an unknown planet. As he

surveys the landscape, he recognises fragments from

ancient stories. Driven by a quiet urgency, he contacts his ship’s command to retrieve archival recordings of the last humans to abandon earth.

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COOL JOBS DOUBLE FEATURE 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Greenstone Cinema

Thursday 3/12

There’s an adventurer in all of us - where might life lead when you say yes to the unique opportunities that come within reach? Tap into the experiences of these college students as they explore unusual potential career paths. Burgeoning professionals in these films check out architecture in the Arctic and intercontinental research.

1hr 13m

18m

URSA

Building on the Edge

URSA is a short documentary that follows UMD undergraduate researchers as they travel to Morocco with academic goals in mind, and return forever changed. But what makes this place, program, and people so unique?

A group of architecture students embark on an epic adventure when they set out to design and build a research station on one of the least hospitable places on the planet, Antarctica.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

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A regional 501c3 nonprofit directly serving Bois Forte and surrounding communities. Our focus is restoring our relationship with the land, learning from our elders, and helping all generations

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Thursday 3/12 Indigenous Youth Film Day

1:00 - 2:30 PM State Theater Remaining Native

1hr 28m

Chris Jourdain and Guests Q&A

A coming-of-age documentary told from the perspective of Ku Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner, struggling to navigate his dream of becoming a collegiate athlete as the memory of his great-grandfather's escape from an Indian boarding school begins to connect past, present, and future. Also playing on Friday at 7:00 PM in the State Theater.

1:30 - 3:15 PM Greenstone Cinema The Bear Inside the Whale

1hr 31m

Stan Hill Jr. is a Haudenosaunee artist living in Miawpukek First Nation Reserve, Conne River, Newfoundland. In "The Bear Inside a Whale," he and his family discuss racism, identity, religion, creation and art, along with the cultural extinction of the Beothuk of Newfoundland. Throughout the film, we follow Stan carving a bear out of a whale vertebra. And we visit The Rooms (museum) in St. John's, Newfoundland, where Stan talks about viewing and reclaiming Indigenous artefacts, and faces resistance from management.

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DOUBLE FEATURE 3:30 - 5:30 PM State Theater

Thursday 3/12

48m

57m

Q&A Leya Hale, Director

4:00 - 5:00 PM Greenstone Cinema The Insides of Our Lives A Tale of Two Qallunaat This documentary is about two intrepid women artists who travelled to the Arctic in the early 1970s and left a lasting legacy of their art and love of the Inuit and their land. The two women travelled to Pond Inlet in the early 1970s and left a unique legacy of stories, film footage, and sketches. Inuk Elder, Navalik Tologanak, brings Sheila Burnford’s non-fiction book “One Woman’s Arctic”, her film footage, and hundreds of Susan Ross sketches to share with Elders and youth.

Medicine Ball

Through basketball, Native athletes confront their campus’s boarding school legacy. Minnesota-based director Leya Hale is a 2025 Bush Fellow and documentary filmmaker from the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Diné Nations. She is a multiple regional Emmy award- winning producer for Twin Cities PBS, where her work elevates Indigenous lifeways and centers community-driven stories rooted in culture, history, and lived experience.

50m

The Insides of Our Lives is a poetic blend that combines fiction with found footage. A selection from thousands of hours of found footage - mostly 8mm material - tells the coming-of-age story of two girls growing up along a border in Europe, as the border gradually drives them apart. The story sensitively portrays what it means to grow up in a world where one day fences appear, creating an 'us' and a 'them'. The film, though composed with footage of hundreds of different lives that have been filmed, is crafted in such a way that it feels like the life of one person.

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Opening Ceremony THURS • 6:30 - 7:30 PM in the State Theater

Thursday 3/12

NIKA & MADISON

7:30 - 9:15 PM State Theater

1hr 27m

Q&A

Eva Thomas

Two young Indigenous women are on the run from the law after defending themselves from a police assault. Through the eyes of two young women navigating systemic misogyny, police violence, and the failures of justice, this film sheds light on the intimate strength it takes to endure in a world not built to protect you.

Silly Little Wounds

7:30 - 9:30 PM Greenstone Cinema

1hr 42m

after party 9:00 - 11:00 PM at Boathouse Brewpub

Q&A

Vanessa M. H. Powers

When Park River High School's drama director passes away, six former theater students gather in their hometown for his funeral. With the pressures of marriage, kids, and careers set aside for the weekend, the once tight-knit group finds itself falling into old patterns.

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with Jess Edberg of Dorothy Molter Museum 10:00 - 11:45 AM Depart from Theater History Walking Tour Passholder Breakfast 9:00 - 10:00 AM Theater Lounge

Friday 3/13

Everest Dark

12:00 - 1:45 PM State Theater

1hr 30m

Mount Everest has become a graveyard strewn with the bodies of fallen climbers. To appease the gods, famed Nepalese mountaineer and national hero Mingma Tsiri Sherpa risks everything to remove the body of a fallen climber from the sacred mountain.

12:30 - 2:15 PM Greenstone Cinema Mississippi Speed Record

1hr 28m

Q&A

Embark on an epic journey with four adventurous spirits as they undertake the ultimate test of endurance and determination. This film follows their incredible quest to paddle the entire 2,340 miles of the Mississippi River in a single 23-foot canoe, aiming to set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest time down the river. They paddle 24/7 for over 2 weeks, eating, sleeping, and even going to the bathroom in the canoe.

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PROUD ELY FILM FESTIVAL SPONSOR!

BTS shot from Silly Little Wounds - playing Thursday 7:30 PM, Greenstone Cinema

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Stop by Ely Folk School Friday 3/13 & Saturday 3/14 from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM for the Northern Lights Clubhouse Lunch fundraiser!

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NEIGHBORLY SHORTS 3:00 - 5:00 PM State Theater

Friday 3/13

One of our most fundamental rights is that of assembly. Getting together and defining our own story is one of our most essential sources of power. This block highlights a sampling of stories from Minnesotans. Join us as we bear witness to the space they’ve taken to explore their own stories – unequivocally, uncensored. Will you resonate with the joys and yearnings expressed here? Will we highlight you next year?

Q&A

23m

15m

10m

12m

EFS: A Retrospective

Half Marathon All Canoe On the mend from a knee replacement, ultra marathoner Dane Rauschenberg attempts to break a record in the half marathon portage category — even though he's never before lifted a canoe!

My People

A Wilderness Act Guided by the wisdom of college professor Evan Larson and Anishinabe student Melonee Montano, we learn how the very definitions penned to protect our country’s most precious landscapes can destroy them instead. United by their desire to preserve the Red Pine forests of Minnesota's BWCA, the two join together to educate upcoming generations on how returning fire to the land, and returning the land to its people, can be healing for all.

In early 2025, Cleveland Cliffs announced that over 600 Iron Range steelworkers were set to be laid off. In this short documentary, I talk to Stuart Van Orsdel and Barbara Barker, two miners who were affected by the layoffs. They talk about how it's impacting themselves, their community, and why it's so important.

In honor of the Ely Folk School's tenth birthday on June 7, 2025; we spent some time talking with the people who created it.

25m

10m

Reasons for Moving

Reasons for Moving is a short documentary film that poetically connects immigrant experiences and bird migration. It features footage of the performance of the same title alongside testimonies by Monica Bryand, Executive Director of the Urban Bird Collective, senior immigration attorney Alexis Dutt, and scholars Ernesto Cappelo, Arjun Guneratne, and Roopali Phadke.

Building strong, healthy communities starts with raising strong, healthy children. At Ely, Minnesota's Adventure School, Ben "SunShine" Gardner helps kids explore the forest, develop resilience, and learn to navigate the complexities of being good humans - all while climbing trees, catching squirrels, and playing in the dirt. Adventure School

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Friday 3/13

4:00 - 5:15 PM Greenstone Cinema River of Grass

1hr 25m

An ode to the Florida Everglades, past and present, told through the prescient writings of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and those who today call the region home. Sasha Wortzel uses video, installation, sculpture, sound, and performance to explore how this country’s past and present are inextricably linked through resonant spaces and their hauntings.

7:00 - 9:00 PM State Theater Remaining Native

1hr 28m

Q&A

Paige Bethmann, Pre-Recorded

Ku Stevens (17) is the solo runner at his high school with no coach. Living on the Yerington Paiute reservation in Northwest Nevada he needs more to be seen by his dream school, the University of Oregon. As Ku trains, unreconciled emotions unearth the memory of his great-grandfather, Frank Quinn. At 8 years old, Frank ran 50 miles across the desert to escape an Indian boarding school. Frank’s story becomes interwoven with Ku’s journey to run a collegiate qualifying time. Also playing Thursday from 1:00 - 2:30 PM in the State Theater.

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Friday the 13th 7:30 - 9:30 PM Greenstone Cinema 6m 20m 10m Friday 3/13 DARKER SIDE SHORTS For those who enjoy a little light horror… this shorts block creatively delves into our baser impulses.

Starve

Salt Circles

Mr. Mittens

After a long shift at the restaurant, an artist returns home and pointedly avoids her studio. As she boils water for pasta, her dinner preparations begin to unravel behind her back. She is not alone, and whatever is with her has only one demand: sit before the canvas and paint.

Betty, a high school student from a strict, traditional family, discovers that she is pregnant. She finds help in an unlikely ally, Emma, her sullen goth classmate, who suggests they summon a demon to remedy the situation.

Mr. Mittens lived with a loving family until one day they decided to neuter him, leaving him with no choice but to get revenge on every person involved in the removal of his testicles

17m

12m

The Solution

Thumb Man

The Dogfather

A math professor, rejected over and over again for publication, finds herself supplanted by her genius-level teaching assistant, and resorts to drastic measures to re-assert her authority.

A group of friends are dragged on a camping trip led by their dear friend, Bobby. Little do they know that this trip has more waiting for them then they bargained for.

In this dog eat dog tale, Detective basset hound is on the trail for the city's most vicious mob boss.

after party 9:00 - 11:00 PM

---

at Frisky Otter

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10:00 AM - 12:00 PM State Theater NOURISHMENT SHORTS

Saturday 3/14

Q&A

9:00 - 10:00 AM Theater Lounge Passholder Breakfast

To nourish is to provide with the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition. It is to show love in its most recognizable form – caring for a person and the wellbeing of their body and mind. For how can we show up if we don’t have the energy to expend?

18m

17m

47m

19m

Radical Neighbouring What do humans who aren't consumers look like? What happens when we find ways of feeding ourselves and each other without buying or selling food?

4DWN

This Land

Las Jíbaras An intimate portrait of two generations of Puerto Rican women reclaiming their connection to the land and one another through traditional farming practices. Set between the lush mountains of Puerto Rico and the city of San Juan, the film follows the rhythms of planting, shared wisdom, and community building, revealing a way of life rooted in care, resilience, and reciprocity.

The unconventional and deeply personal story of the 4DWN South Dallas skatepark — a resilience hub rooted in skate culture tackling the challenges of food insecurity and social justice in one of the city’s poorest communities.

Why aren’t there more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers in MInnesota? The 2020 Emerging Farmers in MN Legislative Report states, “principle operators of Minnesota farms are 99.16 percent white. Nationally, non-white farmers own less than 4 percent of agricultural land, and in Minnesota, that rate is even lower.” The film follows the stories of land seekers, land owners, and land sharers to raise and explore questions about land justice in the US.

10m

Gardener of the Galaxy World renowned astrophysicist and planetary scientist Dr. Edward Guinan reflects on his life, work, and involvement in the “Red Thumbs Mars Garden Project” at Villanova University, which experiments with growing sustainable food sources on Mars.

Ripple Effects A powerful short film that explores the deep and irreplaceable connection between clean water and Minnesota’s communities, culture, and future — highlighting the sacred Ojibwe maple sugar traditions of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

AFTER THIS SHORTS BLOCK:

Nourishment Mixer

AT POTLUCK KITCHENWARE 12:00 - 2:00 PM, SATURDAY 3/14

PROUD ELY FILM FESTIVAL SPONSOR!

101 E Chapman St, Ely

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FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHORTS 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Greenstone Cinema

Saturday 3/14

Take an hour on Saturday morning to enjoy light-hearted shorts that everyone in the family will enjoy! Beware, though – you might be seeing Sasquatch hiding in every wooded shadow after this block!

Q&A

10m

11m

Adventure School

Lloyd Kennedy Professional Sasquatch Photographer Lloyd Kennedy is frustrated, failing, going in circles... literally. He needs to adapt and to work smarter if he is ever going to become the worlds first professional Sasquatch photographer. It would be a good start if he could find a Sasquatch.

Timun Mas

The story of a child born from a golden cucumber and a lonely widow's deal with a magical ogre. A quirky retelling of a Javanese folktale by the 4th and 5th grade students of Crestwood Elementary in Madison, WI.

26m

13m

Beast of the North Woods

Of Two Worlds

A story about hardship, growth, and resilience that many Indigenous women experience. Filmmaker Mikayla Swanson is a Wisconsin native who is a tribal member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

In a rural northern community, a creatures born of radioactive fallout has developed a taste for the locals. After the discovery of multiple victims, local sheriff Bob Jenson calls in game warden Joe Miller to help identify the creature responsible. With the help of local guide Elaine Skogland they set out into the wilderness in order to put a stop to the beast one way or another.

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1:00 - 3:00 PM State Theater HEY HUMAN SHORTS

Saturday 3/14

Hey human…you’re incredible and resilient. One essential truth of humanity is our ability to withstand shock, turbulence, and tragedy. Our innate resilience makes us incredible. The stories in this block showcase fortitude, love, and connection – how people show up with hope and action, even when facing hardship. Join the team from The Life We Have for a 1-mile run from Functional Fitness Gym to EHST at 12:00 PM! Meet just before noon at 760 Miners Dr E.

30m

24m

21m

The Life We Have

Taha's Theorem

The Long Labor

For over three years, Rob Shaver, 48, has run at least a mile every single day. Through rain, pain, and the weight of a terminal cancer diagnosis, his daily streak has become more than a habit — it’s an act of resilience, a step- by-step refusal to surrender to his disease.

As Iraqi-Kurds, Taha Muhammad and his family escaped the persecution of Saddam Hussein in the 1990s and made the harrowing journey to the United States. Today, Taha focuses on trying to solve the world's hardest math problems, both to bring recognition to the Kurdish people and to heal old wounds.

After losing her mother in childbirth, a Mexican immigrant grows up to become a women’s health nurse practitioner. Fueled by personal loss and years of experience, she becomes a certified midwife and joins forces with local women to offer dignified care and revive ancestral healing traditions for indigenous farmworker communities.

13m

15m

Friday Night Blind

Queen of the Catskills After a series of traumatic events, a high school English teacher in the South Bronx begins retreating to the mountains looking to heal. As the wilderness starts to mend her spirit, she rediscovers a past love of skiing, and embarks on a multi-year quest to become the first woman to backcountry ski 33 of the highest peaks in the Catskill Mountains alone.

This is the warm, quirky, inspiring story of three visually impaired bowling friends and the way they roll. The Milwaukee Beer Barrels Blind Bowling League is an eclectic mix of visually impaired and sighted bowlers with a simple focus: making friends, having fun, taking life one frame at a time.

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Saturday 3/14

Land With No Rider

1:30 - 3:30 PM Greenstone Cinema

1hr 30m

In a remote corner of Southwestern New Mexico, the last remaining cowboys eke out a fragile survival between industrial and protected lands. Their herds diminished, these aging stewards of the land live in a shrinking world of isolation, vulnerability, and rugged beauty. A poetic story of intimacy with the land, Land with No Rider captures a wisdom rapidly disappearing from the American landscape.

Plastic People

4:00 - 6:00 PM State Theater

1hr 24m

Q&A

Are we becoming plastic people? This ground-breaking feature documentary investigates the growing threat of microplastics on human health. Almost every bit of plastic ends up ground down into “microplastics”. These microscopic particles drift in the air, float in the water and sit in the soil. And now, leading scientists are finding them in our bodies: our organs, our blood, and even the placentas of new mothers.

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RELATIONAL SHORTS 4:30 - 6:15 PM Greenstone Cinema

Saturday 3/14

Our human relationships are our greatest source of joy, but also frustration. We rely on our relationships with others to nurture us, but they also cause jealousy, grief, and yearning. Films in this block include powerful and relatable representations of human interactions.

Q&A

14m

16m

Dobrina

The Retirement Party A meek antique dealer is gaslit by a bombastic, hyper-confident coworker who leads half of the office to believe an absurd alternate version of the previous 10 minutes of their shared reality.

Most Likely to Succeed

Ish Meets a Mermaid An artist in a slump meets a mysterious woman from a realm beneath Lake Superior and finds success in the last place he ever expected: death.

Lotte Reiniger meets Sergio Leone in this animated short, where desire burns as bright as the desert sun. A brand-new animated short that premiered in June 2025, successfully touring the festival circuit now.

Allie finds herself languishing in domesticity with a husband and two kids. She spends her days fantasizing about the exotic life of classmate turned influencer, Autumn. The two come face to face at their 20-year reunion.

20m

13m

The Actor The Liar The Murderer In the last days of their tumultuous relationship Julian and Laura are confronted with a life changing event and now have to bear the consequences.

The Mourning After

Arousal Broom Inspired by decades of cleaning product commercials, a company creates a product to address the gender gap in household labor.

Double Date

A newly out middle-aged lesbian panics before a third date and impulsively hires a sex worker to help her prepare.

Two strangers find a bond in their grief. Director Michael Winingham is an award-winning BIPOC writer and director currently living in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Lord of All Future Space & Time

Cinders

23m

A man ascends through a dry and inhospitable landscape, searching for the appropriate place to perform his intimate and personal rite of expiation, as a vital need to reconnect with his environment.

The Lord of All Future Space & Time is a classic western tale of revenge interrupted by sci-fi insanity. It's a tall tale in a short film.

FOURTH ANNUAL ELY FILM FESTIVAL | MARCH 11-15, 2026

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Saturday 3/14

Observer

7:00 - 9:00 PM State Theater

1hr 36m

Q&A

Dallas Hudson, Key Cast

Keen-eyed observers - scientists, artists, a hunter - are brought to locations around the world and are asked to simply describe what they see. What unfolds is a deep exploration of the power of observation: what happens when you find new ways to sense and perceive the world around you?

Enongo

8:00 - 10:00 PM Greenstone Cinema

1hr 32m

Q&A

Kevin Schreck, Pre-Recorded

With her autobiographical and afrofuturism-inspired music, Enongo tackles various subjects including (but certainly not limited to) mental health, growing up, and relationships. Through a combination of actuality and animation, "Enongo" tells a universally-relevant, intimate, empowering story of identity, artistic creation, and survival. Notably, "Enongo" is the first feature-length film of any genre in history to have an all-Black-women animation team.

after party 9:00 - 11:00 PM

at Kwazy Wabbit

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Award Ceremony

Sunday 3/15

Invitation Only • 9:00 - 10:30 AM Grand Ely Lodge

Her/Mine

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM State Theater

1hr 22m

At ten, filmmaker Alexandra Shiva lost her mother Susan to cancer – a diagnosis her mother had kept hidden from virtually everyone. 36 years later, as Alexandra is set to outlive her mother, she embarks on a cinematic journey to understand her mother and explore the mother- daughter bond through its absence. As Alexandra dives into the vast collection of her mother’s belongings that her father had kept nearly untouched since her passing, she is unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer. Now in the middle of cancer treatment with two young children, she finds herself navigating the very same parenting challenges that her mother once faced.

Battersea

1:30 - 3:15 PM State Theater

1hr 30m

A dialogue-driven, complex character study about estranged siblings that reconvene at their childhood home in small-town Ohio, where they spend a precarious weekend drinking and talking, uncovering the narratives and secrets that have shaped their lives.

FOURTH ANNUAL ELY FILM FESTIVAL | MARCH 11-15, 2026

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LIFE ONLINE SHORTS

Sunday 3/15

11:30 AM - 1:15 PM Greenstone Cinema

Much of human culture and connection today is shaped by how we interact and what we see online. Amidst ongoing conversations about screen time, artificial intelligence, current and future relationship dynamics and health, the shorts in this block examine the collision of digital life and physical life.

Q&A

11m

15m

IRL

Clitoris Andromeda

Benefits

The Right Vintage Notorious for committing multiple cybercrimes, Sonny Marcato has served his sentence in a prison stationed on the edge of a black hole, where time is essentially frozen. For his release, Sonny requested nothing more than to enjoy his favorite whisky on his way back to Earth… to celebrate what is to come.

Leah, a 19-year-old gamer who clings to an online romance as a lifeline against her anxiety and isolation. When her family questions Jasper’s existence, Leah is forced to confront the blurred line between digital intimacy and real-world connection, ultimately rediscovering her creativity and opening herself to authentic relationships.

A hapless father brings his one- year old to his first day of work at an office job, and is unwittingly absorbed into the "work family" of his overbearing supervisor.

After dropping out of college mid- semester, Shayla moves back home to Minnesota and begins performing as an online sex worker under the noses of her parents.

10m

15m

10m

The Muster at Marquette

Portal P

Workday

An independent game developer, after his violent game is rejected, discovers a mysterious cube that draws him into a cycle of real violence—where the game is no longer just on the screen.

Grinding through a depersonalized workday during the pandemic, two people struggle to find a shred of genuine intimacy in their lives.

Follow The Tolkien Fandom Oral History Collection, which aims to gather 6,000 oral histories from fans around the world. The project is led by Dr. William Fliss, the archivist in charge of a special

collection of J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.

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FAMILY DYNAMICS SHORTS 2:00 - 3:45 PM Greenstone Cinema

Sunday 3/15

Family – whether given or chosen – are people who will be there for us through thick and thin. The shorts in this block explore how we approach legacy, artistry, health, grief, and teaching moments.

Q&A

31m

13m

17m

The Last Houseboat

Everybody Knows The Ecstasy of Honey

VENO - Struggling Artist Creative artist Javen Moreno, aka Veno, shares his life's ups and downs, from felon to father to digital music creator in this short documentary based on a web series comprised of brief self- revealing episodes. His goals are simple, but, certainly not easy: to succeed at his craft and elevate himself to a better place where he is an inspiration to others.

Jo is thrown into a family event where everybody knows that they have recently had a mental health breakdown.

The Last Houseboat is a heartfelt short documentary that delves into the history of a unique wooden vessel, lovingly crafted by a family patriarch in 1970. Anchored on the Rhode Island coast for over 50 years, the houseboat became more than a structure—it was a landmark, a cherished family tradition, and a symbol of connection across three generations.

A young woman is caught between love and a future profession in the midst of her own family's disintegration.

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Blackout

The Part We Keep In a hospital waiting room, Victor and his wife find themselves desperate to hear news of their daughter’s health condition. In a turn of events, the tragic news of their daughter’s death sends Victor down a spiral of emotions, he confront parts of his past and the hidden gift he was born with.

As Youssef, 13 years old, is waiting in the dark for the

electricity to come back, his father comes home, starting a discussion about Moroccan history.

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Sunday 3/15

4:00 - 5:30 PM State Theater Maah Daah Hey: Together

1h 12m

In the 2024 edition of the Maah Daah Hey 100, Gordon Wadsworth and Thomas "the Hitman" Turner try to take down Kelly Magelky's long standing course record. But the pair doesn't know what they are getting into and their adventure in the mysterious Bad Land will galvanize their friendship beyond anything they could have anticipated.

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Ely’s Historic State Theater was built in 1936 by the Swanson family of Ely. It was a beloved community hub for many years, closing and falling into disrepair in 2008. Alley A Realty took on the daunting task of renovating the theater to its original glory in 2014, a project that took more than five years, a lot of hard work, and local support. The theater reopened in 2019, facing the uncertainty of pandemic closures shortly thereafter.

The theater is once again a vibrant community hub, a gathering space for all things arts and culture. As we look to the future, our goal is to finish renovating the “Third Space” lounge. This space will host live music, screenings, workshops, and both public and private events.

To play a starring role in bringing Project “Third Space” to life, donate to EHST! Submit donations at the concessions counter Donate online at givemn.org/organization/Elystatetheater Or mail a check to: Ely's Historic State Theater, P.O. Box 34, Ely, MN 55731

elystatetheater.org

Mission: ignite imagination, foster connection, and celebrate the art of storytelling.

FOURTH ANNUAL ELY FILM FESTIVAL | MARCH 11-15, 2026

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ONLY TAKES 5 MINUTES & HELPS US IMPROVE THE FESTIVAL & VISITOR EXPERIENCES

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Kevin Obsatz - Director, Benefits • Kevin’s recent focus has been on short narrative films with only a few characters and locations, thematically focused on the absurdities of family, parenthood, and work.

Jonathan Thunder - Director, Ish Meets a Mermaid Jon infuses his personal lens with real-time world experiences using a wide range of mediums. Jon is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Eva Barr and Michelle de la Vega - Filmmakers, This Land • This Land is a documentary directed by artist and activist Michelle de la Vega and LSP member Eva Barr.

Brett Ross - Director, Adventure School & EFS: A Retrospective • An Ely resident since ‘98, Brett raised two children here, working as a photographer, filmmaker, radio broadcaster, and podcaster.

Cláudia Tatinge Nascimento - Director, Reasons for Moving • This film puts the natural world, familial stories, song, and dance from diverse heritages in close conversation.

Michael Winingham - Director, The Mourning After • Michael is a passionate storyteller and an award-winning BIPOC writer + director based in Minneapolis, MN.

Reyna Rios-Starr - Producer, The Part We Keep A moving Minnesota-made short film filled with love of the supernatural and a little sci-fi action. Reyna is an indie film actor, writer, and producer.

Vanessa M.H. Powers - Director, Silly Little Wounds & Salt Circles • Vanessa M. H. Powers is a prolific and award-winning film director whose films have been seen in festivals around the globe.

Gwen Briesemesister - Director, Unraveling the Ribbon • Gwen is an independent filmmaker, with recent work focused on documentary shorts. She spent years teaching film students.

Harrison Reeder - Director, Beast of the Northwoods • An homage to the ‘monster flicks’ of the 50s - pure fun intended to be watched in a packed theater with others reacting along side you.

Parker Winship - Director, Workday Parker is an MFA graduate of the American Film Institute, a 2021 Resident Filmmaker of the Eastern Oregon Film Festival, and a cornfed Wisconsin boy.

Justin & Kristin Schaack - Directors, The Retirement Party • We are a comedy directing duo - we’ve been making award-winning films and collaborating on visual media for over 25 years!

Patric Douglass - Director, My People When you watch the news, remember that miners on the Iron Range are more than just a number on a graph. They are real people. These are my people.

Nicklaus Fritz - Director, Thumb Man Thumb Man was shot in MN with MN actors and crew. A group of friends are dragged on a camping trip that has more waiting for them than they bargained for.

Tristan Crawford - Director, The Dogfather In this dog eat dog tale, detective basset hound is on the trail for the city's most vicious mob boss.

FOURTH ANNUAL ELY FILM FESTIVAL | MARCH 11-15, 2026

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Jacob White - Director, Half Marathon All Canoe Jacob is a filmmaker with 15 years experience spanning narrative, documentary, and commercial work. He is the founder of Ely Film Festival.

Adam Olson - Director, The Ecstasy of Honey, IRL Adam Olson is a filmmaker who creates innovative and evocative stories and whose work has been screened worldwide.

Clara Coyle - Director, Everybody Knows Clara was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN and is based in St. Paul, MN. MPLS Community College + Pratt Institute in New York.

M Baxley - Director, Bizhiki: A Modern Indigenous Experience • Blending performance and behind- the scenes footage and interviews to introduce Bizhiki’s roots in Anishinaabe music & storytelling.

Ora Hues - Director, Arousal Broom • Ora is a writer and director. In 2024, Ora wrote and directed "Arousal Broom," which earned them the First-Time Filmmaker Award at the Z-Fest Film Festival.

Kieran Thompson - Director, The Only Way Out Is Through • Kieran Thompson is a filmmaker guided by his deep belief in both community & connection. He helps to run a thriving production hub in Arizona.

Erich Cannon - Director, His Monster Erich started writing early on in his childhood, winning a young writer’s award and cementing a life long love for writing, story and art.

Maggie Lemere - Director, Land of Canaan Maggie is a global filmmaker, oral historian and National Geographic Explorer whose work explores people’s relationship with the environment.

Leya Hale - Director, Medicine Ball & Bdote Leya Hale is a 2025 Bush Fellow and documentary filmmaker and Multiple Emmy award-winning producer from the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Diné Nations.

Justin Deegan - Director, Tahnaanooku’ • Justin is an enrolled member of MHA Nation, cinematographer, photographer, and award-winning filmmaker. His work has screened at Sundance & more.

Kelly Applegate - Producer, Ripple Effects This film focuses on the proposed Tamarack Mine, which threatens the state’s most valuable resource — clean water.

Eva Thomas - Director, NIKA & MADISON Eva’s directorial short film debut, REDLIGHTS, premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and was the inspiration for NIKA & MADISON.

Margaret Renner - Writer & Producer, Martini On the last day of filming for an amateur film, a group of filmmakers go through their own personal conflicts to obtain the Martini shot.

Oliver Yehlik (pictured), Director & Daniel Gustofson, Field Production, URSA • Through conversations and immersion in a new culture, “URSAns” confront questions of race & belonging.

Ella Thomsen - Writer, IRL IRL follows Leah, a 19-year-old gamer who clings to an online romance as a lifeline against her anxiety and isolation.

Peter C. Potswald - Director, Dev. Stop. Fix An experimental documentary exploring the process of darkroom photo printing, produced at the Dept. of Communication, Media and Theatre at UW-Superior.

Greg Balkin - Cinematographer, The Life We Have This film confronts profound questions at the heart of the human experience: What gives life meaning when time feels fragile? How do we keep moving forward when suffering feels endless?

Robb Fischer - Director, Friday Night Blind Friday Night Blind is the warm, quirky, inspiring story of three visually impaired bowling friends and the way they roll.

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