You won’t want to miss out on the Stillwater Protective Association’s remarkable annual summer event, to be held at the Anipro Event Center south of Absarokee on Sunday, July 26.

Director Andrew Renzi, whose award-winning film Fishtail was nominated as Best Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York last year, will be on hand to show clips from the film, tell the story behind his depiction of local ranching life, and answer your questions.

Locally sourced heavy hors d’oeuvres from Wild Flower Kitchen and drinks will be served. There will also be a live and silent auction, and a wine raffle. Doors open at 4:00, and the event begins at 4:30.

Tickets are $30 if reserved by July 19, or $35 at the door. Children under 12 are free.

The event supports the work of the Stillwater Protective Association (SPA), an organization formed in 1975 to protect, preserve, and safeguard the quality of air, water, land, and life in the Stillwater Valley. SPA is leading the fight in Stillwater County to protect the community from unregulated oil and gas activity, and deserves your support.

About the film
Set on the Fishtail Basin Ranch on Fiddler Creek along the Beartooth Front, Fishtail is the story of a local way of life. Director Andrew Renzi visited this ranch, owned by the Abbott family, numerous times and worked there one summer when he was in high school.

Inspired by the experience, Renzi and childhood friend Tylee Abbott decided to collaborate to produce a documentary on the Montana ranching way of life. Andrew was the storyteller and director, following Tylee and ranch manager Brian Young for four days during calving season with a 50-pound, 16mm camera.

Here’s how reviewer Joshua Handler describes the 70 minute film:

“The only narration is a beautiful, rough recording of Harry Dean Stanton reading poetry…. I was mesmerized throughout. The 16MM cinematography gives the film the feel of a classic western. Its faded colors and film grain make this an ode to a time gone by.

“These cowboys are among the last of their kind. They are a group who thrived 150 years ago but have slowly been dying. Renzi’s film captures this sense of melancholy through Stanton’s narration and the cinematography, but it is also a testament to those who live and love this rough way of life. These men rise at sunrise and work through the day caring for these animals.  Their job is their life.…

“The sun-drenched, mystical cinematography by Joe Anderson ranks among the best I’ve seen this year.”

(Photos above from Fishtail Basin Ranch tumblr. You can click to enlarge.)

Related: Read my original post on this film by clicking here.

Get directions to the Anipro Center. (Enter your address at the prompt. Note that Google Maps lists the Center as “Rick Young Auctioneer”.)

Fishtail trailer: