Oh Whale: Big Sky Film Fest Recap
In February, Lucky Day and Sideyard Studios headed out to Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula—a few bone-chillingly cold days filled with great films, thoughtful conversations, and the kind of creative energy that only a festival can bring.
Representing the Lucky Day crew, Rachel, Dasha, and Aidan made the trip from PDX to celebrate the screening of our documentary short, Oh Whale. The film was featured in Shorts Block 11 alongside a lineup of unforgettable titles: Shell Yeah, Climate Control, No to Min-Bins, and The Time My Grandmother Was Held Hostage by Bank Robbers (a team favorite). Each film brought something completely different to the table, but together created a well-balanced, memorable experience.
There’s something uniquely special about seeing your work on screen with an audience that's viewing it for the first time. Seeing their reactions in real time, sitting in that shared space, and then getting to step outside and hear the chatter of moviegoers. Festivals like Big Sky remind us how powerful that exchange can be.
Outside of the screenings, the trip was filled with the usual festival magic: reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting countless new ones, and soaking in a city that genuinely shows up wholeheartedly for storytelling. Our trip was also filled with a few side quests to local shops like Fact & Fiction bookstore, Cafe Mimosa, and Basecamp. Montana in February is no joke, but the warmth of the Missoula community more than makes up for the cold.
We’re incredibly grateful to have been part of this year’s festival and to share space with so many talented filmmakers. On to the next screening!
Speaking of...
Upcoming Oh Whale Screenings
- 4/10 and 4/11: Cleveland International Film Fest
- 4/11: Oregon Coast Film Fest
- 4/13: Florida Film Fest
- 4/16: Miami Film Fest
- 4/18: Portland Panorama
- 4/19, 4/21, 4/22: Milwaukee Film Fest
- 4/24 and 4/26: San Luis Obispo International Film Fest
- 4/25: Hot Docs
- 4/30-5/3: DocLands
We hope to see you there! 🐋🧨❤️
