Monday, August 24, 2026
59.0°F

FLIC screens 47 films, and the winners are …

BERL TISKUS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 6 months AGO
by BERL TISKUS
Reporter Berl Tiskus joined the Lake County Leader team in early March 2023, and covers Ronan City Council, schools, ag and business. Berl grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and earned a degree in English education from MSU-Billings and a degree in elementary education from the University of Montana. Since moving to Polson three decades ago, she’s worked as a substitute teacher, a reporter for the Valley Journal and a secretary for Lake County Extension. | February 16, 2025 11:00 PM

With 47 films screening at the Showboat Stadium 6 Theatre, the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest was a big presence in Polson last weekend, thanks to David and Jessica King and their crew of FLIC volunteers.

Even a determined snowfall didn’t stop FLIC fans or film personnel from filling the Showboat’s theaters and attending several social events.

"Water Girl," a Montana-produced narrative feature film by Nigerian-born writer, producer and director Nnamdi Kanaga, reaped three awards: Best Feature, Best Actress (Moriyah Faith Jackson) and Best Original Score (Blessing Agu and Udemadu Kasiemobi).

The audience favorite was "Columbia River Canoe Project," about cousins Robert Lester and Braxton Mitchell who attempt a 1,300-mile canoe expedition from the Continental Divide near Butte, down the Clark Fork and Columbia rivers, all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Other award winners were:

Impact Award – James Bauer, General Manager, Showboat Stadium 6 theatre

Best Animation – “Yellowstone 88 – Song of Fire”

Best Montana Film – “Bring Them Home”

Best Cinematography – Akash Raje – “Anuja”

Best Actor – Chris Pang – “Neither Donkey Nor Horse”

Best Documentary Short – “Journey of Transformation”

Best Documentary Feature – “Capturing Kennedy”

Best Director – Paul Schwartz – “Stop Time”

Best Picture, Short – “Neither Donkey Nor Horse”

Audience Award – “Columbia River Canoe Project”

Encore week continues through Thursday, Feb. 20, with screenings at 4 and 6:30 p.m.

    Robert Lester picked up the FLIC Audience Award for the "Columbia River Canoe Project," a documentary about the journey he and his cousin Braxton Mitchell took from the Continental Divide near Butte to the Pacific Ocean. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
 
 
    FLIC producer David King helps Nnamdi Kanaga who wrote, directed, and co-produced "Water Girl", arrange his awards for a photo. "Water Girl" won Best Picture--Feature, Best Original Score, and Best Actress at the film festival. (Berl Tiskus/:eader)
 
 


ARTICLES BY BERL TISKUS

Dirt flies for the groundbreaking of Mission Valley Ice Arena
August 13, 2026 midnight

Dirt flies for the groundbreaking of Mission Valley Ice Arena

The first shovels of soil marked the groundbreaking for the Mission Valley Ice Arena after ten to 12 years of fundraising.

Cruisin’ by the Bay brings classic cars to Polson
August 13, 2026 midnight

Cruisin’ by the Bay brings classic cars to Polson

Smoke veiled the Missions, but it didn’t discourage car buffs from bringing their prized autos to Cruisin’ by the Bay, the Mission Mountain Cruisers’ annual show. Car lovers didn’t stay home either; they gathered and discussed their favorites, peeked at the engines, sometimes even looked at the suspension.

Ronan Pioneer Days offers plenty of Horsin' Around
August 6, 2026 midnight

Ronan Pioneer Days offers plenty of Horsin' Around

Horsin’ Around was the theme for the 2026 Ronan Pioneer Days, held last weekend. While there were a few horses involved, there were lots of humans at play during the three-day event.