Feature Film: UNBRANDED
Directed by Phillip Baribeau
2015 USA / Duration: 105 mins
WINNER of the 2015 MOUNTAINFILM AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD and the 2015 TORONTO HOT DOCS FILM FESTIVAL AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD!
Currently, 50,000 wild horses are in government holding facilities in the United States awaiting adoption. Many will languish there. After taking mustangs on a pack trip and watching them outperform their domestic counterparts, Ben Masters, a young Texas horseman, wanted to prove the worth of wild horses and raise awareness about their plight. He gathered three of his best friends and hatched an outrageous plan to adopt, train and ride wild horses 3,000 miles from the Mexican border to Canada through some of the American West’s wildest terrain. What ensues is an epic journey of self-discovery, friendship and big landscapes that entails runaway horses, perilous mountain passes, debilitating injuries, booming thunderstorms, personal clashes, rodeo rides, sweeping vistas and one sassy donkey. Expertly woven with gorgeous cinematography, interviews with wild horse experts and just the right dose of levity, Unbranded is a soaring tale of resilience and adventure that will make you laugh, cry and develop a newfound deference for these emblematic Western creatures.
Q&A SESSION: DENNIS AIG, producer of Unbranded, has produced and/or directed both documentary and dramatic productions for the Walt Disney Company, National Geographic Television, PBS, Lifetime Television, the Outside Channel, the History, Channel, and the Independent Television Service (ITVS). His productions include Shadow Casting: The Making of “A River Runs Through It,” Visions of Grace: Robert Redford and “The Horse Whisperer,” Guide Season, Sacred Journey of the Nez Perce, Test Pilots of the Body, America’s Outdoor Heritage, and A Shout Across Time. Aig’s works have won over 100 awards. A Ph.D. from The Ohio State University with advanced work in English and Film, Aig is also a tenured professor in and Director of the School of Film and Photography at Montana State University and the Director of its much-honored MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking.
Accompanying Short Films:
Nature RX – Directed by Justin Bogardus
Denali – Directed by Ben Knight
Post-Screening Event:
OPENING NIGHT PARTY at Piazza D’Angelo Ristorante
Sponsored by OCD Productions
Join us after the film screening for the OPENING NIGHT PARTY at Piazza D’Angelo Ristorante! Mingle with fellow Mountainfilm fans, filmmakers and guest speakers as you enjoy complimentary wine, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and live music. Your ticket to the “Untamed & Unbranded” screening (or a Full Festival Pass) is required for admission to the Party.
