Still from Ice Fishing in a Climate Crisis that Precedes a Global Pandemic
Film Production Manager and faculty member Pete Johnston’s latest short film had its online premiere through NoBudge this week. The short documentary essay, titled Ice Fishing in a Climate Crisis that Precedes a Global Pandemic, was first conceived as a straightforward documentary piece about a yearly ice fishing trip. When a mild January made it look like the weekend wouldn’t allow any actual ice fishing, the film turned into a meditation on the importance of getting together with friends. Later, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent closures made that meditation all the more prescient.
NoBudge is, according to the New York Times, “One of the best places to sample what’s happening in low-budget cinema worldwide.” Curator Kentucker Audley writes about the film “though the localized dilemma is admittedly low stakes… the warmer weather is a warning sign with massive global implications… Despite the existential threats, Johnston maintains a gentle conviviality and an endearing Midwestern sense of humor throughout.”
Watch the film and see the director interview here.
