Downtown Bozeman’s Ellen Theatre will host an inspiring evening with Preserved, the acclaimed documentary showcasing one of the most consequential conservation experiments in the American West. The film premiere screening is set for Friday, August 28th, beginning at 7pm.
Uplifting and hopeful, Preserved unveils Vermejo – a 558,000-acre living laboratory where rarely seen wildlife behaviors unfold: bears stealing mountain lion kills, microscopic life thriving in seasonal potholes, and animals adapting to a rapidly changing world. In this feature-length documentary, scientists, ranchers and conservationists reveal how the seemingly impossible has been achieved here, from North America’s largest native trout restoration to the return of beaver, elk and bison. Rich in discovery and layered with human history, Vermejo stands as the pinnacle of conservation in the United States – and a bellwether for what’s possible elsewhere.
In 1996, media mogul Ted Turner purchased this vast expanse in northern New Mexico and launched an ambitious conservation vision. Vermejo’s iconic Park Plateau has been home to Indigenous communities, roaming herds of bison and elk, and has witnessed civilizations rise and fall. In the 19th century, mining stripped the land, leaving scars that would take generations to heal.
Shot over more than 130 days, Preserved takes viewers deep into this breathtaking landscape, following the passionate stewards working to restore this thriving, biodiverse ecosystem. In an era of wildfires, drought and species collapse across the American Southwest, Vermejo is living proof that restoration is not only possible – it’s happening. And it’s a blueprint for what comes next.
Moderated by journalist Todd Wilkinson, a live conversation will additionally feature Director Ben Clark, as well as Mike Phillips from the Turner Endangered Species Fund and Sophie Gilbert from the Property & Environment Research Center. Limited VIP Experience packages also available with pre-screening social hour. See host website for additional details.
Wine, beer and concessions will be sold in the lobby one hour before the event. Ticketing and further information about other upcoming happenings is available at www.theellentheatre.org. For additional inquiries, call the box office at (406) 585-5885. •
