The Bozeman Doc Series continues on Thursday, April 9th, at the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture with the brilliant new doc, A Life Illuminated. This screening is being co-presented by the Lone Peak Film Festival. The film screens at 7pm.
A Life Illuminated follows trailblazing marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder – one of the first women in her field and one of the first humans to explore the ocean’s twilight zone – as she descends 3,300 feet into the ocean’s darkest depths. From capturing the first-ever footage of the elusive giant squid to unveiling the glowing mysteries of deep-sea bioluminescence, Edie embarks on her most daring quest yet: to document a bioluminescent phenomenon that could forever change how we understand life on Earth.
“An incredible film… It takes us to one of the most extreme places on Earth, it reveals previously unseen phenomena, it takes us on the journey of scientific discovery, and it is an inspiration… This is a story of awe and wonder, backed by perseverance, tenacity, and human ingenuity.” – Film Threat
Lone Peak Film Festival director Daniel Glick will attend and share stories of the festival’s successful first edition and info about the upcoming second year of the new Big Sky-based festival.
The series wraps its eleventh season on Thursday, April 23rd, at the Emerson Center with the Bozeman premiere of the brand new, award-winning documentary, Nuisance Bear. Presented in association with Gallatin Valley Earth Day, the film screens at 7pm.
The screening will be preceded at 6pm by a reception in the Emerson ballroom with food and drink, the annual silent auction, as well as Earth Day information and opportunities from event sponsors.
Winner of the 2026 Sundance Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary, Nuisance Bear is a powerfully moving and visually striking examination of the relationship between humankind and nature. A polar bear is forced to navigate a human world of tourists, wildlife officers, and hunters as its ancient migration collides with modern life. When a sacred predator is branded a nuisance, it becomes unclear who truly belongs in this shared landscape.
“Transfixing… a doc of lingering beauty, sadness, insight and even unexpected humor.” – The Hollywood Reporter
Tickets are available at the door or before the show www.bozemandocseries.org, where you can learn more about the series and view trailers for upcoming films. The series will return in October for its twelfth season. •
