PBS buys 'Dark Money' film on Montana politics

People who want to see the award-winning documentary “Dark Money” about campaign finance in Montana will be able to do so from the comfort of their home in a few months as the Public Broadcasting Service purchased the film.

PBS acquired the North American rights to the film, plans to have it a theatrical release and then show it on TV this fall prior to the Nov. 6 midterm elections, the documentary’s director and PBS officials said Wednesday.

“I think it’s a fantastic fit,” said Kimberly Reed, the former Montana resident who directed “Dark Money.”

“One of the things I wanted to do with the film was to have a lot of Americans see it. Every filmmaker wants that,” she said, adding that she wanted to avoid a venue that would require a subscription or have people pay a substantial sum.

“This was designed to be a bipartisan film that reaches across the aisle,” she said.

Reed said showing the 99-minute film on the PBS documentary series show POV (point of view) “is a super good fit.”



She said having it shown on POV makes for "a very good way for us to get our film out in front of as many Americans as possible and to a good cross-section of the American public," Reed said, adding it was important for her to have the film seen for free on broadcast.



PBSd Head of Theatrical Distribution Erin Owens said in a news release that "'Dark Money' is essential viewing in 2018."

“Now more than ever, the American electorate needs and deserves to be aware of the influence of money in our politics and the ways it affects our everyday lives. Through the human story at its center, 'Dark Money' allows viewers to connect deeply to a problem that governs every single issue we face as Americans," Owens said.



PBS said it was committed to showing the film to a wide audience prior to the November general election.



The movie taps into the state’s history with Copper kKngs of the 19th and 20th centuries, who influenced elections and politics, leading to changes.

The film, which features former Great Falls Tribune reporter John S. Adams, is about the Citizens United ruling, in which the U.S. Supreme Court found in 2010 the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent expenditures for communications by nonprofit corporations, for-profit corporations, labor unions and other associations.

In 2011, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in a case involving Western Tradition Partnership that state law limiting corporate contributions had a compelling reason to maintain the restrictions. It found these restrictions on speech were narrowly tailored and did not contradict Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected that opinion.

The documentary made its world premiere in January at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival and received the Sundance Institute/Amazon Studios Producers Awards.

It was also shown three times at the 15th annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Feb. 16-25, in Missoula.



"It was great," Reed said, adding despite a big snow storm they had to turn away people at the door. She said the film received a standing ovation.



"It’s what you hope for," she said. "It was gratifying to show a lot of the subjects in the film what we’ve been up to."

She said she is speaking with the Montana Film Office about bringing the film to communities across Montana.

Reed said she could not disclose the terms of the PBS agreement.

“No documentary filmmaker is in it for the money,” she said. “What I hope for us to cover our costs. This is not about profit, but covering costs.”

She said she is trying to determine her next project.

Phil Drake can be reached at 406-422-0772 or at pdrake@greatfallstribune.com.