5th Annual EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival in Missoula, Montana: 40 Awards, Eight Nations, One Horse World

Success was measured in miles and smiles at the 2019 EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival®, March 14-17, at The Roxy Theater along the ‘Hip Strip’ of downtown Missoula, MT. The fifth annual EIFF was truly international in scope, with filmmakers, producers, musicians, horsemen and holy men from eight nations (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Mongolia, Northern Cheyenne, Pakistan, Switzerland) and the United States from New York to Hawaii. Braving a Category 2 hurricane-force ‘bomb cyclone’ that cancelled flights through Denver, they celebrated wild mustangs and horse/human bonds while benefiting Horse Haven Montana and its efforts to find forever homes for horses like Dante, a young, green mustang facing abandonment in the snowy wilderness before the rescue stepped in. Thanks to Joe Misner, the real-life horseman behind the EIFF award-winning Story of Healing, Hope & the Horse/Human Bond produced by Autumn Payne, A Horse, A Convict, A Chance for Change, Dante is now legally adoptable and ready to become someone’s saddle horse.

So what are a few gusts of wind to horse people determined enough to gallop across the Gobi Desert or turn a three-strikes mustang into a USEF National Horse of the Year? It didn’t stop EIFF19 from hosting three days of film screenings and honoring creativity and commitment to horses across 40 award categories.

One big winner was Ashley Mancuso and her music video Cobra – Wild to World Champion, performed by Peter Prince, about owner, trainer and mustang adopter Marsha Hartford-Sapp’s transformation of a three-strikes wild horse into an upper level dressage athlete and USEF National Horse of the Year. Cobra – Wild to World Champion was named Best of Festival – Short, Best Film Symbolizing the EIFF Mission, Best Music Video and won the Audience Choice Award (tied with Dear Wild One by Madison Shambaugh).

Their Last Ride, produced by Neta Rhyne and Aku RoDriguez, about the final miles of horses sent to slaughter in Mexico, was Best of Festival – Full Length Feature. It didn’t leave a dry eye in the house and presentations, by Matt Manroe for the Mustang Heritage Foundation and Keith Dane of the Humane Society of the United States, inspired adoption conversations hoping to lead to forever homes or sponsorships for Dante and horses like him.

The inaugural ANGEL Award, in memory of one of Horse Haven’s first adoptions, a spotted pony who became a little girl’s Christmas ‘angel,’ went to Monty Roberts for his work with horses, children (and orphaned deer) and Monty Roberts & Diego: The Movement.

“In life there are individuals who change the world and make a difference through the work they do,” EIFF organizer Janet Rose said, posthumously honoring the late Dayton O. Hyde, founder of the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, with the Icon Award (accepted by Jennifer Breiletz). Julie Veloo received the Champion Award for her service as founder and president of the Veloo Foundation and producer of the annual fundraiser and documentary, The Gobi Gallop. Joining Veloo were guides from the film, in traditional Mongolian riding gear, Bayarzul ‘Zulaa’ Batsaikhan and Ryan Kertanis.

After a Welcome to Montana Reception hosted by Melinda and Rob Corso on Thursday night at The Loft, a Friday night reception at the Wilderness Outpost of the five-star luxury ranch, The Resort at Paws Up, and a weekend of award-winning screenings at The Roxy, on Sunday EIFF guests returned to Paws Up to see healing through horses firsthand with Herd2Human trainer Jeff Patterson (who led a Northern Cheyenne blessing for all two-and four-leggeds), Paws Up equestrian manager Jackie Kecskes, and US Navy veteran and PTSD survivor, Rick Heilman.

“Other festivals are about the films. This festival is about the horse,” said Gianmarco D’Agostino, who came from Italy to Montana and won the Most Original and coveted Best Global Film awards for A Cavallo del Tempo (Riding Through Time).

“And the winners are…” said Rose, “Everyone who had an idea, dared to dream, took a chance, created from the heart and made a film. To the filmmakers I can only add that your stories and passion will resonate beyond EIFF, touch people around the world, and inspire the horse-human bond!” EQUUS INTERNATIONAL Film Festival is on Facebook and http://www.equusinternationalfilmfestival.com.

SIDEBAR: EIFF19 Award Winners

Icon Award: Dayton O. Hyde; Angel Award: Monty Roberts; Champion Award: Julie Veloo.

Best of Festival, Best Spiritual Bond – Native Cultures & Horses
Their Last Ride, Neta Rhyne, M. Aku RoDriguez

Best Film Symbolizing EIFF Mission, Best of Festival Short, Best Music Video
Cobra – Wild to World Champion, A. Mancuso, M. Hartford-Sapp

Best Global Film, Most Original

A Cavallo del Tempo (Riding Through Time), Gianmarco D’Agostino

Best Film for a Cause
The Gobi Gallop – The Veloo Foundation, Julie Veloo

Best Cultural, CINE Award (Cultures, Issues of Nature, Environment)
Boy Nomad, Niobe Thompson

Best Series, Best Training, Best Horse/Human Bond (Ties)
The Movement: Monty & Diego, Jeanine Moret and Lessons at Liberty, Amira’s Case Study, Madison Shambaugh

Best Independent, Best Historical Film
The Knabstrupper – Hunting for Old Genes, Irene G. Scholten

Best Montana Film
MPG Ranch: The Land and Its People

Best Director
Lessons at Liberty, Madison Shambaugh, Mustang Maddy

Best Story of Healing, Hope & Horse/Human Bond
A Horse, A Convict, A Chance for Change, Autumn Payne

Best Spiritual Bond Between Young People and Horses
High-Sensitive-Youth in the Horse-Heart Space, Jolanda Ellenberger

Best Equine Therapy Documentary, Best Story of Child/Horse Bond
Riding with thisAbilities, Matthew Handal

Best Film About Veterans & Horses, Best Documentary Short
Honoring Veterans, Honoring Mustangs, Matt Manroe MHF

Best Education, Best Story of Rescue & Rehabilitation
Don’t Shoot the Zebra Pony, C.Hegarty, K.Lauritzen, Train with Trust

Best Student Film
Fate of the Mustang, Hyatt Mamoun

Best Narrative Short, Best Acting
Secret, Shana Gagnon

Best Solo Performance in a Music Video
The Last Ride, Gareth Laffely

Best Storyline & Best Music Score in a Music Video
Ride It Out, Lynny Prince

Best Music Video – Album
They Were Here, Jennifer Grais, Byran Metcalf

Best Public Service Announcement
Dear Wild One, Madison Shambaugh, Mustang Maddy

Best Advertising and Commercial
Motorcity Horseman, Andrea Claire Morningstar

Best Non-Broadcast, Most Inspirational Film
Wild – Goliath & Red Lady, Clare Staples

Best Equine Sport Film
The Ride, Erik Petersen

Best Documentary Feature
Freedom Tracks, Leila Audrey Pages

Special Recognition Awards: Joe Misner, director, Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center Wild Horse Program; Chris Culcasi, farrier featured in A Horse, A Convict, a Chance for Change.

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