RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Black Hills Film Festival returns to Rapid City this weekend with a new award designed to recognize films produced in South Dakota.
The 17th annual festival runs Friday through Sunday at The Journey Museum and will feature 19 independent films from around the United States and around the world. Festival organizers say the lineup was selected from roughly 100 submissions and highlights a variety of stories, perspectives, and filmmaking styles.
Making its South Dakota premiere is Catching Pinecones, a film about legendary Black Hills climbers and cavers Jan and Herb Conn. The documentary is the first recipient of the festival’s new REEL SD Film Award, created to honor films shot partially or entirely in South Dakota and encourage more filmmaking in the state.
In addition to film screenings, the festival will feature filmmaker panel discussions, audience question-and-answer sessions, student films, documentaries, and Native American storytelling. The event concludes Sunday with the presentation of the Audience Choice Award.
Organizers say the festival continues to celebrate independent filmmaking while showcasing stories that connect with audiences across the Black Hills and beyond.
