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