Doug Hawes-Davis and Drury Gunn Carr, co-founded High Plains Films in 1992 and have collaborated on dozens of independent documentaries, branded content, PSA’s, and other media for more than two decades. Their most recent feature film, ALL THE LABOR premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in March 2103. In 2012, their feature documentary FACING THE STORM: STORY OF THE AMERICAN BISON, a co-production of ITVS and Montana Public Television, was broadcast on the national PBS series, Independent Lens. In 2007, their documentary feature, LIBBY, MONTANA was broadcast nationally on the acclaimed PBS Series, POV, and was nominated for a National Emmy Award the following year.
Other well-known High Plains Films include, BRAVE NEW WEST, KILLING COYOTE, VARMINTS, THIS IS NOWHERE, and THE NATURALIST. Challenging in form and content, much of their work is intended to provide insight into the relationship between human society and the natural world. Carr and Hawes-Davis also have worked extensively as free-lance camera operators, producers, directors, and editors, assisting with documentaries, television, web video, and non-profit/corporate video production.
Hawes-Davis is the founder and currently Director of the Academy-Qualifying Shorts Programming of the annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. Now in its 18th year, the festival is consistently recognized as one of the world’s finest documentary cinema events.
Additionally, Hawes-Davis has taught filmmaking at the University of Montana and most recently in the Colorado College Film & Media Studies Program. Dru Carr has taught media production at the MAPS Media Institute in the Hamilton, Montana public school system.
High Plains Films also produces several non-fiction youtube channels including THE MONTANA EXPERIENCE: STORIES FROM BIG SKY COUNTRY.