Fargo Film Festival Celebrates Local Talent and Filmmaker Homecomings

FARGO — The Fargo Film Festival, which ran from March 17th to 21st, 2026, showcased a diverse range of films and served as a significant homecoming event for several filmmakers with ties to the region. The festival highlighted both established and emerging talent, fostering a sense of community and celebrating the art of storytelling.

A Full-Circle Moment for Rich Sommer

Actor Rich Sommer, known for his role as Harry Crane in “Mad Men” (2007-2015), returned to the Fargo Theatre to screen his new film, “Bigfoot Woods.” Sommer’s connection to the Fargo Theatre dates back to his time as a student at Concordia College, where he spent a week attending screenings during a Library of Congress Preservation Tour 25 years prior. “To reach to a place that was a jumping off point for my understanding of what storytelling was in film, to be back in that room is really special,” Sommer said. InForum

Local Roots and Returning Filmmakers

The festival frequently draws filmmakers back to their roots. Elizabeth Chatelain, director of “Bigfoot Woods,” grew up in Fargo and first showcased her work at the festival in 2010. She has had four subsequent films selected for the annual event. “I love being part of the Fargo Film Festival,” Chatelain said from her home in Hibbing, Minnesota. “The Fargo Theatre is so crucial. So many small towns have lost their theaters. To continue to have cultural events there is really special. It’s always a privilege to play there. I’ve always valued growing up in Fargo and the ability to come back.” InForum

Spotlight on Local Stories

The festival also provided a platform for local stories. Jordan Taylor, a chef from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was featured in the short film “Chasing Tables,” which documents his culinary journey. The documentary, produced by South Dakota Public Broadcasting, was selected in the Northern Plains Voices category. Taylor used a post-screening Q&A session to gather dining recommendations from the audience. He owns and operates Perch, Pizza Cheeks and Bread & Circus in Sioux Falls, with the latter having been featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” in 2021. InForum

“Grit & Grace” Premieres and a Fargo Native’s Triumph

The Fargo Film Festival opened on March 17th with “Grit & Grace,” a documentary profiling Katie Stensgard, a Fargo native and single mother of four, as she pursued a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu championship. The film had its theatrical premiere at the Fargo Theatre last summer and was invited back to the festival. “It was such a cool experience to be invited back to the Fargo Theatre,” Stensgard said. “What made it especially meaningful to me is that I was born and raised in Fargo, so it was so cool to share my story with a Fargo audience at the festival.” InForum

The Fargo Theatre: A Cultural Landmark

The Fargo Film Festival took place at the Fargo Theatre, an independent movie theatre in downtown Fargo, North Dakota, that screens a variety of films. Fargo Theatre Established in 1925, the theatre was restored to its original glory in the 1980s and remains the area’s only remaining vintage movie palace with a vaudeville stage. NDSU Library The theatre also houses a restored theater pipe organ, the “Mighty Wurlitzer.” NDSU Library

A Memorable, Though Sometimes Painful, Experience

Sommer recalled a humorous incident from a previous festival appearance in 2012, where he hosted a game of “Celebrity” and was accidentally hit in the mouth with a toy car thrown by actor Dayna Del Val. Despite the mishap, he expressed enthusiasm for returning to the festival. “I don’t think anyone that was in that room that night hasn’t asked me about that since it happened,” Sommer said. “But no, no cringe feelings about being back. I wish we were playing that game again on stage.” InForum