Bozeman Film Society and the Historic Ellen Theatre Welcome 2023 with a Screening of the Award-Winning Montana Made Film “The Year of the Dog”

The Bozeman Film Society kicks off its 2023 season with a screening of the award-winning independent feature, The Year of the Dog, a heartwarming story about two strays: Matt, an alcoholic struggling to maintain sobriety and Yup’ik, a rescue dog with an unusual athletic gift. The screening will take place at Bozeman’s historic Ellen Theatre, on Wednesday, January 4th at 7 pm. Tickets are available for purchase at the box office and online.

Rob Grabow, the films writer, producer, co-director and lead actor is a fourth generation Montanan who lives in Bozeman, and is a Park High School graduate from Livingston (like his grandfather). Grabow says, “Having this screening in Bozeman, at such a historic theatre as the Ellen Theatre, is not only an opportunity to share this film with the community but more importantly to have our local cast and crew members who worked on the film, on location in Bozeman, recognized for their amazing work. Making this film in Montana with so many Montana locals who made the film possible and then to have this chance to share our film, which we think is special, with our Montana family means a lot.”

Along with Grabow, The Year of the Dog features a cast of accomplished film and television actors including: Jon Proudstar (veteran of 43 films and television shows) who was short-listed for Emmy consideration for his performance as Leon in Reservation Dogs; Lakota actor and Bozeman actor Michael Spears (Dances with Wolves, Skins, Into the West, Yellow Rock, Longmire and Reservation Dogs, Season 2); Broadway actor Aaron Finley a Bozeman High School graduate (Emmy Award-winning Moulin Rouge, Kinky Boots, and Rock of Ages); Logan Hanley (an Emily Dickinson Elementary School student); Cat Lofgren, a local Bozeman actor; and reality TV actor Abram Boise who is also from Livingston (MTV’s Road Rules South Pacific and The Challenge).

Bozeman cast and crew locals include Rob Grabow (Matt), Michael Spears (Fred), Aaron Finley (Matt’s dad), Cat Lofgren (Matt's mom), Logan Hanley (Young Matt), Heather Hanley (Matt's sister & producer), Michael Peterson (Co-director & Editor), George Potter (Director of Photography), William Springstead (Sound & Editing), Andy Thie (Key Grip), Erika Share (Assistant Camera), Ashley Moore (Scripty), and dozens of extras.

Grabow, who is also an award-winning screenwriter says that “The Year of the Dog is more than a feel-good dog film; it’s a heart-warming journey of forgiveness, finding purpose, being vulnerable, making connections, and ultimately healing.” In addition to being a well-acted, interesting film with great music and an abundance of cool dog moments, Grabow hopes that his movie “inspires people to continue to open themselves up emotionally and to connect with those they love.”

Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter. Production stills, cast and crew information, trailers and information about upcoming screenings are available online at www.theyearofthedogmovie.com, Instagram: @theyearofthedogmovie, Facebook: @TheYearoftheDogMovie, and Twitter @YearofDogMovie.