Jessica Hayes joins the Film North Dakota Podcast to talk about making movies in Fargo, building creative momentum in the Midwest, and learning to trust herself as a filmmaker.

Jessica shares how a background in acting eventually led her into casting, producing, and writing indie films being made right here in North Dakota. 

From Pretty: The Musical to Roommate and Amal's Christmas Reunion, she talks about the grassroots collaboration behind independent filmmaking and the network of artists helping each other create opportunities in the region.

Jessica also dives into the future of filmmaking in North Dakota, why smaller communities can be powerful production locations, and how local creators are proving you don’t need Hollywood to start making films.

Host and filmmaker Matt Fern sits down with returning guest and indie filmmaker Steven Gerald Warkel to talk about his new feature film Small Talk and the lessons he’s learned making low-budget movies in the Midwest.

Steven shares how he built the film with a team of friends and collaborators, found music from indie artists, and navigated the creative challenges of making a feature with limited resources.

Matt and Steven also discuss the Midwest film community, the collapse of Glasser Images, and why you don’t have to leave the region to make meaningful movies.

Listen and subscribe on all major podcast platforms. Connect and watch more at FilmNorthDakota.com

Keep making movies in North Dakota. 🎬

🎙️ The Film North Dakota Podcast is back! Welcome to the first episode of the newly rebooted podcast, with host and filmmaker Matt Fern sitting down with Scottie Knollin, co-founder of the North Dakota Film Society, to break down the 2026 NDFS Awards and what they reveal about this year’s Oscars race.

Since their last conversation, the North Dakota Film Society has continued to grow  across the state and build a national reputation as North Dakota’s voice on film. From early recognition of some of the most celebrated films to a track record that often predicts the Academy Awards, NDFS has become a trusted voice during awards season.

In this episode, Matt and Scottie explore what sets the NDFS Awards apart from other critics’ groups, why Sinners isn’t just a horror movie, which performances feel like locks heading into Oscar night, and how the North Dakota Film Society became part of Netflix history.

This episode kicks off a new chapter for the Film North Dakota Podcast, spotlighting the people and movies shaping film culture across North Dakota and beyond.

Listen and subscribe on all major podcast platforms. Connect and watch more at FilmNorthDakota.com

Keep making movies in North Dakota.

Dan Bielinski (Canticle Productions) moved his family from New York to North Dakota to become Theatre Program Director at the University of Mary. Since arriving in Bismarck, Dan has also become a prolific writer, director and producer of plays, shorts and feature films that celebrate the history and culture of the Great Plains.

This podcast is brought to you by the North Dakota Film & Media Association. Our mission is to connect, advance and promote North Dakota's audio and visual media industries and to further local development and economic impact.

Connect with other Filmmakers in North Dakota and learn more at www.FilmND.org

On this week’s episode of the #FilmNorthDakotaPodcast, we interview Danielle Monzelowsky (Miss Dani Mo) and hear how she creates and stars in Miss Dani Mo, a popular children’s education series with videos across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

This podcast is brought to you by the North Dakota Film & Media Association. Our mission is to connect, advance and promote North Dakota's audio and visual media industries and to further local development and economic impact.

Connect with other Filmmakers in North Dakota and learn more at www.FilmND.org

This week on the #FilmNorthDakotaPodcast, Jason Allen (Directors Guild of America) shares how the film industry has been transformed by the pandemic, why collaboration is key to filmmaking and what Hollywood can learn from North Dakota.

This podcast is brought to you by the North Dakota Film & Media Association. Our mission is to connect, advance and promote North Dakota's audio and visual media industries and to further local development and economic impact.

Connect with other Filmmakers in North Dakota and learn more at www.FilmND.org

Filmmaker and magician Nick MacArthur (Project Visual) shares how he started his film career shooting magic tricks on an iPhone, his advice to be successful in media and how being a magician influences his filmmaking.

This podcast is brought to you by the North Dakota Film & Media Association. Our mission is to connect, advance and promote North Dakota's audio and visual media industries and to further local development and economic impact.

Connect with other Filmmakers in North Dakota and learn more at www.FilmND.org

Since 2014, Kevin Ackley and Oscar De Leon (Chamber Six Media) have been producing films, commercials and music videos that have been shown around the world. This week on the #FilmNorthDakotaPodcast, Kevin and Oscar share how they fell in love with filmmaking, how North Dakota's film community has changed since they started and why they continue to tell stories in North Dakota.

This podcast is brought to you by the North Dakota Film & Media Association. Our mission is to connect, advance and promote North Dakota's audio and visual media industries and to further local development and economic impact.

Connect with other Filmmakers in North Dakota and learn more at www.FilmND.org

This week on the #FilmNorthDakotaPodcast, Chelsy Ciavarella & Gregory DeSaye (Her, Him & The Fellas) share how they started working together, what they love about filming in North Dakota and how they made and distributed their new award-winning documentary ‘Balkowitsch’.

This podcast is brought to you by the North Dakota Film & Media Association. Our mission is to connect, advance and promote North Dakota's audio and visual media industries and to further local development and economic impact.

Connect with other Filmmakers in North Dakota and learn more at www.FilmND.org

This week on the #FilmNorthDakotaPodcast, Adam Dyess (Dyess Media) talks about how he became a filmmaker, what he likes about filming in North Dakota and how he started his side hustle clothing company Cinepparel.

This podcast is brought to you by the North Dakota Film & Media Association. Our mission is to connect, advance and promote North Dakota's audio and visual media industries and to further local development and economic impact.

Connect with other Filmmakers in North Dakota and learn more at www.FilmND.org