SEELEY LAKE - Tickets are now on sale for the 2017 Maclean Festival in Seeley Lake and Missoula on the festival website: https//www.macleanfootsteps.com.
When Alpine Artisans, Inc. founded a literary festival in 2015 to honor our notable home-town author, we chose the title “In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean” for a purpose. We recognized that Maclean’s novella, “A River Runs Through It” put Montana in the consciousness of fans nationally and internationally but it also influenced two generations of outstanding Montana authors. This second Festival, to be held Sept. 8-10 delivers on that promise, featuring dozens of prominent authors and speakers following in Maclean’s footsteps, including actor Tom Skerritt.
This year is also the 25th Anniversary of the release of Robert Redford’s movie based on Maclean’s 1978 novella. The Festival is bringing together an impressive cadre of those who were instrumental in bringing that book to the big screen.
Actor Tom Skerritt who played the Reverend Maclean, will be joined by the film’s producer Patrick Markey, screenwriter Richard Friedenberg and members of the Maclean family that participated in the film’s production.
Dennis Aig, the producer of the film “Shadow Casting” about the making of the film will be screening his documentary.
Fly fishing legend John Bailey who coached Brad Pitt and others in the art of fly fishing will also be sharing his stories and production photos from the 1992 filming.
Montana filmmakers Alex and Andrew Smith will share how Maclean’s work helped guide them in their successful filmmaking career, most recently with their new film “Walking Out” premiering at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
Author and filmmaker Annick Smith is the Festival’s featured artist. Smith has gathered more than 10 of Montana’s best authors to share their contribution to Smith’s 1996 compilation of stories and essays titled Headwaters about Maclean’s river, the Blackfoot.
The festival theme, “The Story of the Blackfoot,” is explored through the voices of Blackfeet troubadour Jack Gladstone, Salish author Debra Earling and Lewis & Clark historian Stephanie Ambrose-Tubbs. “A River Runs Through It” celebrates the Blackfoot River, as does the festival which features stories of the 30+ year history of Blackfoot River and Blackfoot Valley conservation presented by local ranchers, river guides and fisherman active in the Blackfoot Challenge and the Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Missoula’s acclaimed story-telling program “
Tell Us Something” is wrapping up Sunday’s Festival program with a special
“Up The Blackfoot” theme. They are looking for people with
stories of the valley, the river and its people. Call 406-203-4683 to pitch a story.
The Festival’s presenting sponsor is the Montana Film Office. Additional sponsors include the National Endowment for the Arts, Humanities Montana, Montana Department of Commerce, Seeley Lake Community Foundation and the Montana Cultural Trust Fund.
The presenting organization is Alpine Artisans, Inc. Co-sponsors include The Blackfoot Challenge, Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Seeley Lake Historical Society and Tell Us Something.
For more information on the festival and for the full three-day schedule visit https://www.macleanfootsteps.com or Alpineartisans.org.
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