The people of the Flathead Valley in Montana were stunned when a domestic terror cell's plot to kill local leaders was uncovered. Ex-cop Brenda Kitterman and environmentalist Mike Raiman wanted to do something to address the local tensions, but the community was torn. Many residents were losing their jobs in timber and mining, and blamed environmentalists. Adding fuel to the fire was a radio talk show host who declared environmentalists an enemy to be annihilated. Over a stormy two-year period, The Fire Next Time follows a deeply divided group of Montana citizens caught in a web of conflicts intensified by rapid growth and the power of talk radio.
OSI presented a screening and discussion of the film on June 29.
The Fire Next Time premieres nationally on the PBS series P.O.V. on July 12 at 10 p.m. (check local listings). For more information go to www.pbs.org/pov/thefirenexttime/.
Major funding for the production was provided by the Sundance Documentary Fund, formerly the Soros Documentary Fund of the Open Society Institute.