Black Hills Film Festival Brings Mount Rushmore Buffalo Stories and World Cinema to Rapid City

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Rapid City is preparing for a powerful October weekend as the Black Hills Film Festival returns with stories from South Dakota, the United States and across the world. The 17th annual event will run from 2 to 4 October 2026 at The Journey Museum in Rapid City.
The festival will bring together filmmakers, students, local audiences and visitors. It will show adventure films, documentaries, short films, animation and stories about people, culture and nature. It will also give travellers a new reason to visit the Black Hills after the busy summer season.
This is not only a festival for film fans. It is also a celebration of South Dakota places. Several films take viewers inside the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Jewel Cave, Sioux Falls and the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead.

Three Days of Films and Fresh Ideas

The festival starts on Friday, 2 October, at 6.30pm. Opening night will feature two adventure films. The programme will continue through Saturday and Sunday with film sessions, talks and audience activities.
On Saturday morning, visitors can join two free panel discussions from 10am to noon. KOTA News anchor Alicia Garcia will moderate the panels. Film screenings will begin at 1pm on Saturday. More sessions will follow at 3.15pm and 6.30pm.
Sunday will continue with screenings at 1pm and 3.15pm. The festival will end with the Audience Choice Award presentation at 6pm. This gives visitors a full weekend of independent cinema in downtown Rapid City.
The festival will take place at The Journey Museum, located at 222 New York Street. Its theatre has 144 seats, high-definition projection and premium sound. The museum also gives visitors another attraction to explore during the festival weekend.

A Black Hills Adventure Story Opens the Festival

One of the most important films is Catching Pinecones. This documentary tells the story of Jan and Herb Conn. They were famous climbers and cave explorers who lived in the Black Hills.
The Conns completed more than 200 first climbs in the Black Hills Needles. They also helped map more than 60 miles of Jewel Cave. Their work changed how people understood some of South Dakota’s most remarkable natural places.
Jan Conn also made history in 1952. She completed the first all-female climb of Devils Tower with Jane Showacre. The film shares the couple’s adventurous life and their lasting connection with the Black Hills.
Catching Pinecones was filmed mainly in South Dakota. It will receive the festival’s REEL South Dakota Film recognition. This makes it a strong draw for travellers who want to understand the landscapes they are visiting.
The opening night will also include The Great Nomad Expedition. This adventure film follows a long journey across Mongolia. Travellers move from the Gobi Desert to high mountain areas by camel, yak, horse and reindeer. The story brings a global travel feeling to Rapid City.

Mount Rushmore and the Buffalo Roundup Take Centre Stage

The 2026 programme includes several films closely linked with South Dakota. One is Mount Rushmore: Carved in Stone. The documentary looks at one of America’s best-known landmarks through several viewpoints. It explores presidential history, Indigenous perspectives and the workers who created the mountain carving.
This film gives visitors a deeper way to think about Mount Rushmore. It moves beyond the famous view and asks people to look at the complex history behind it.
Another major South Dakota story is Rumble on the Plains. The documentary follows the annual Custer State Park buffalo roundup. It shows the work of park staff, cowboys and community members.
The buffalo roundup is more than a public spectacle. It is also about wildlife care and conservation. The film explains how people manage and protect the herd. For travellers, it offers a fresh reason to explore Custer State Park and learn about the region’s natural heritage.

Indigenous Voices Bring Powerful Stories to the Screen

The Black Hills Film Festival will also present films about Indigenous life, history and identity. Courage follows a young Native American boy who finds strength through Hoop Dance. The film is family-friendly and focuses on cultural resilience.
Dream Touch Believe tells the life story of Indigenous artist Michael Naranjo. A grenade blast during the Vietnam War took his sight and left him with the use of only one hand. He continued to create admired sculptures and built an inspiring life.
Healing Ribbons, One Stitch at a Time follows Indigenous women across generations. It looks at shared wisdom, healing and strength. Another film, Poos, is an animated adventure with elements of Blackfoot culture.
The programme also includes Ireland and the First Nations. The documentary explores how Irish people and First Nations communities connected in North America. It includes a section linked with Dakota history and Wounded Knee.
These films give the festival a wider cultural role. They invite visitors to listen, learn and see different experiences through cinema.

Science Food and Nature Add More Reasons to Visit

The festival reaches beyond history and culture. Welcome to the BHUC explores dark-matter research at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead. It also highlights work connected with Black Hills State University.
This film creates a strong science-travel angle for the Black Hills. The region is not only known for monuments, caves and wildlife. It is also a place where researchers study major questions about the universe.
Another South Dakota documentary, Chasing Tables, follows a Sioux Falls chef who returned to his home state after training in leading Pacific Northwest restaurants. His story looks at ambition, food and the changing restaurant scene in Sioux Falls.
The festival also includes films about conservation, caves, wildlife, immigration, family life and world cultures. The selected films come from South Dakota, other US states, Canada, Ireland, Romania, Spain, France, Germany and beyond.

A New October Reason to Choose Rapid City

The Black Hills Film Festival gives visitors a chance to enjoy Rapid City in a different way. During the day, travellers can visit Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Deadwood, Jewel Cave or nearby Black Hills communities. In the evening, they can return to the museum for a film session and discussion.
The festival has ticket choices for different visitors. A VIP pass costs $100 and includes access to films and festival activities, as well as the Saturday-night filmmaker and VIP reception. Student and active-duty military VIP prices are lower. Individual sessions cost $20, with reduced prices for students and active-duty military visitors.
Seats are limited, and organisers recommend reservations. This adds a sense of urgency for travellers planning an October Black Hills break.
The Black Hills Film Festival is set to make Rapid City a meeting place for stories, creativity and travel inspiration. It will bring global cinema to South Dakota while placing the Black Hills at the heart of the screen.