Quirky Horror-Comedy 'Sharktana' Filming in Montana

Local filmmaker's wild imagination and state grant bring frozen sharks to ski slopes

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Filming for the quirky horror-comedy 'Sharktana' is underway near Lost Horse Lodge in Montana, where frozen sharks have invaded the ski slopes thanks to a local filmmaker's imagination and a $40,000 state film grant.

Why it matters

Sharktana is a homegrown Montana film production that is taking an outlandish movie concept in a fresh direction, showcasing the creativity and resourcefulness of local filmmakers who are able to bring their wild ideas to life with the support of state funding.

The details

The basic plot of Sharktana involves a warm winter melting the ice in a remote mountain cave, unleashing frozen sharks onto the local ski slopes. The concept came from Robert Shippy, a former chairlift operator, who teamed up with independent filmmaker Christina Ackerman from Hamilton to direct the low-budget production. Sharktana received a $40,000 grant from the Montana Film Office to help with production costs.

  • Filming for Sharktana kicked off this month (February 2026) near Lost Horse Lodge, outside of Hamilton, MT.

The players

Robert Shippy

A local former chairlift operator who came up with the concept for Sharktana.

Christina Ackerman

An independent filmmaker from Hamilton, MT who is directing the Sharktana movie.

Montana Film Office

Provided a $40,000 grant to help fund the production of Sharktana.

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What they’re saying

“Sharktana's storyline is a doozy. Described as a horror-comedy film, the basic plot goes like this: a warm winter (like we're having now??) melts the ice in a remote mountain cave, and frozen sharks are suddenly unleashed onto the local ski slopes. Think 'Sharknado' on a snowboard.”

— Michael Foth, Author (kmhk.com)

What’s next

No word yet on a release date for Sharktana, but since it's an indie production, it will likely make the rounds in the indie film circuit before landing on streaming sites or potentially the big screen at local theaters.

The takeaway

Sharktana showcases the creativity and resourcefulness of local Montana filmmakers who are able to bring their wild ideas to life with the support of state funding, proving that independent, homegrown productions can still thrive and find an audience in the modern entertainment landscape.