By Fischer Genau DIGITAL MEDIA LEAD
The Big Sky Summer Shootout, the annual exhibition featuring local films and photography, will return for its third year on Sept. 29 at The Waypoint in Big Sky. The festival celebrates Big Sky’s culture and character through short documentary and humorous films, and it serves as a unique gathering of the town’s year-round and seasonal residents.
“The stories that are told are kind of unlike anywhere else,” Erik Morrison, the founder of Big Sky Shootout, told EBS. “They’re very specific to the community, so that is a really special thing.”
This year’s lineup will screen twice, once at 6 p.m. and again at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $26. But the festival begins well before the night of the premiere. On Monday, Aug. 31, The Waypoint hosted a Shootout Rerun Party featuring fan-favorite films and photographs from past festivals. Two weeks later, on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m., Shootout Trivia Night at The Waypoint will test locals’ knowledge of past Shootout films, photos and personalities. This event is free and open to the public, and contestants will compete to win 2026 passes for Second Season, Morrison’s company, and a Shootout prize basket.
“Every year, the types of stories that people are choosing to highlight and share just keep getting more diverse,” Morrison said. “It keeps capturing different aspects of our community and the different people and different scenes of it, which is everything I’ve ever hoped for, really, with this event.”
The Big Sky Shootout was founded 11 years ago by Scott and Sally Fisher, the owners of Lone Peak Cinema. The cinema closed during COVID-19, but the Fishers passed the tradition on to Morrison, who revived the Shootout under his project Second Season to continue celebrating Big Sky’s mountain culture. Shootout showings usually have a lively atmosphere, with people hooting and hollering during films when they or their friends appear onscreen.
“Maybe they’re in the film, maybe they’re not, but there really is a sense of ownership,” Morrison said.
At the main event on Sept. 29, festival attendees will get to vote on films for the Live People’s Choice Awards, and they can also participate in the Second Season pass raffle and win door prizes. An awards ceremony and after party will take place at 9:15 p.m., and the Shootout will give out over $3,000 in cash and prizes to festival winners. Attendees can also compete for the Best Dressed Award by donning an outfit and having their picture taken on the Shred Carpet.
The Big Sky Shootout is accepting submissions for this year’s festival until midnight of Sept. 13. Entrants must have been filmed between May 1 and September 2026 of this year and have a close connection to the Big Sky community and mountain culture. Films can be up to five minutes long, and photographers can submit up to six images.
