Julia ShermanExecutive Director
Julia Sherman graduated with a BA in Communication Studies and a certificate in African-American Studies from the University of Montana, where she was awarded the Richard Drake Writing Award for her research on the development of visual media and film and its impact on social movements in the 1960’s. A historian at heart, Julia has been deeply embedded in the film industry for the past ten years, working with Tribeca Film Institute's filmmaker department and then Big Sky Film Institute. Her work on film projects around Montana keep her rooted in Missoula as does her own passion for supporting the documentary industry in the Mountain West.
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Director of Sponsorship and Marketing
Sarah McGihon graduated from the University of Montana with a BA in English Literature in 2012. Joining the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in 2012 as the Sponsorship and Events Coordinator, she brings over a decade of institutional knowledge to BSFI. A social butterfly with a knack for building connections across many landscapes, Sarah has a unique ability to nurture and cultivate lasting partnerships and relationships. After three years working in nonprofit develompent and corporate administration in Denver, Sarah is thrilled to return to Missoula to serve the community she loves.
Technical Director
Ken has been the Technical Director of Big Sky Documentary Film Festival since the early days. Outside of BSDFF, Ken Furrow is an independent cameraman/director living in Missoula, MT. Ken has been involved with film and video production since 1988. His documentary credits include BBC, Discovery, National Geographic, Animal Planet, and PBS. He has worked for the major news networks including CNN, ABC World News Tonight, CBS, and NBC. He has numerous credits with educational productions for different government organizations and colleges and has produced commercial/corporate videos. He has also taught video production with middle/high school students.
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Director of Programming (Features & Special Programs)
Ryan Weibush is a non-fiction filmmaker, video artist, and sound recordist. His films have been included in the avant-garde series, The Eyeslicer (2018), and have screened in festivals including Hot Springs, Rooftop, and IFFR. For years, he taught courses in non-fiction film at the University of Montana. He holds an MFA in Film from the University of Utah and an MA in English from the University of Maine. Ryan has also created video work for musicians on labels such as Fire, Kill Rock Stars, Three Lobed, and Spinster.
Director of Programming (Shorts)
Lucy Lerner is a lifelong enthusiast of pop culture and cinema with a rich background in the non-profit arts world. Over the decades she has worn many hats--programmer, curator, critic, and producer--in the documentary festival landscape, where her career includes directorial roles at Mountainfilm, Aspenfilm's ShortsFest, the Telluride Film Festival, and the Psychdelic Cinematique at the biennial Psychedelic Science Conference, and the Psychedelic Puppet Show Presents. Originally from Chicago and based in the Mountain West, Lucy has been a juror for numerous festivals and continues to curate for a wide variety of festivals and events.
Education Programs Manager
Casey Matter is a high school educator specializing in Media Arts. Having grown up internationally, she has lived and traveled around the world, spending the past five years teaching in Vietnam, Laos, and Italy. Before her travels, Casey earned her BFA in Media Arts with a focus in Filmmaking from the University of Montana, and she is currently pursuing her MA in Art Education. She is passionate about connecting students to creative opportunities both in and beyond the classroom, and about sharing her love of the arts through a career that is community-driven, impactful, and joyful.
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Programmers Neha Aziz, Fritz Bitsoie, Cameron Brooks, Jeffrey Bowers, Lynne Chauncey, Gus Gusciora, Kenneth Furrow, Emily Harrold, Marnie Ellen Hertzler, Anna Japaridze (Rowson), Fiona Kass, Hilina Kidane, Maham Khwaja, Kristina Lucero, Angela Mallard, Jonna McKone, Donal Mosher, Andrew Nadkarni, Darby Puckett, Brett Reiter, Maria Rhodes, Laura Tejero, Faye Taskas, Joe Van Eeckhout, Alana Waksman, Kristi Whisler, Nichole Young
Director of Programming Ryan Weibush
Senior Programmer of Shorts Lucy Lerner
Print Traffic Coordinator Katy Sprout
Media Director Nick Davis
Operations Manager Giovanna Zizzo
Venue Managers Michael Higgs, Tanner McKinney, Marley Pine, Miranda Navarro, Conrad Scheid, Fiona Kass
Box Office Managers Lizzy Cook
Volunteer Manager Karissa Trujillo
Travel Coordinator & Filmmaker Liaison Brenna Gradus
DocShop Producers Janet Nuñez
Pitch Producer Rory Thost
Special Events Manager Maggie Doyle
Teen Doc Intensive Instructors Dru Carr & Jordan Hoffmaster
Youth Fellowship Instructor Ryan Weibush
Social Media Manager Brittany Streissguth
Photography Manager Elias Snyders
Festival Trailer Editor Chris Graed & Lane Brown (1:1 Studios)
Projection Design Jason Wiener
Merchandise & Concessions Manager Dan Solmon
Program Guide Design Emma Jacquelyn Design
Festival Key Art Design Kari Workman (Workmanship Co.)
Graphic Animation Rob Truax
Festival Interns Nate Molloy & Addie Fabel
Webmaster Diego Bexar
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