Told in the cinematic tradition of classic westerns, “Cowboys: Documentary Portrait” is a feature-length film that gives viewers the opportunity to ride alongside modern working cowboys on some of America’s largest and most remote cattle ranches. (SIFF/Courtesy)
The Sedona International Film Festival presents the northern Arizona theatrical premiere of “Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait” showing Aug. 20-25 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, according to a news release.
The film’s creative producer, Felicitas (Feli) Funke will be in Sedona to present the first two screenings of the film (Friday and Saturday) and host a Q&A with the audiences at both shows.
Told in the cinematic tradition of classic westerns, “Cowboys: Documentary Portrait” is a feature-length film that gives viewers the opportunity to ride alongside modern working cowboys on some of America’s largest and most remote cattle ranches. The movie documents the lives of the men and women working on these “big outfit” ranches — some of which are over one million acres — and still require full crews of horseback mounted workers to tend large herds of cattle.
Narrated through first-hand accounts from the cowboys themselves, the story is steeped in authenticity and explores the rewards and hardships of a celebrated but misunderstood way of life, including the challenges that lie ahead for the cowboys critical to providing the world’s supply of beef.
“Cowboys” was filmed on eight of the nation’s largest cattle ranches across ten states in the American West, including right here in Arizona.
Creative producer Felicitas (Feli) Funke will host a Q&A discussion at the first two screenings of the film — Friday and Saturday, Aug. 20 and 21. Funke was born in Northern Germany and has spent decades studying and writing about the American West. In 2000, she published and wrote the book, “Gathering Remnants - a Tribute to The Working Cowboy.” and currently serves as the associate publisher of “Big Life Magazine” in Ketchum, Idaho.
“Cowboys: A Documentary Portrait” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre Aug. 20-25. Show times will be 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20, 21 and 22; and 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 24 and 25.
Tickets are $12, or $9 for film festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. State Route 89A, in west Sedona. For more information, visit: SedonaFilmFestival.org.
Information provided by the Sedona International Film Festival.