Wes Anderson to Present His 16MM Film Fest Feb. 5th

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The Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series is hosting its 25th season with a special event featuring Wes Anderson, the curator of the Barnes County Museum, presenting "Wes Anderson's 16mm Film Fest #4" on Thursday, February 5th, 2026 at the museum. The event will showcase the museum's collection of mid to late-20th-century 16mm educational films covering a range of topics.

Why it matters

This annual film festival event allows the community to experience a unique slice of history by viewing vintage 16mm educational films, which were commonly used in classrooms decades ago. The event celebrates the museum's film collection and the curator's passion for sharing this cinematic legacy with the public.

The details

The 16mm film festival will feature movies covering topics such as national and international politics, science, the Cold War, Vietnam, environmental issues, social issues, and health. Attendees will have the opportunity to watch the films on a 16mm projector, just as students would have experienced them in classrooms years ago. The event will also include fresh buttered popcorn and homemade root beer provided by the BCHS Board.

• The 16mm film festival will take place on Thursday, February 5th, 2026 at 7pm.
• This is the 25th season of the Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The 16mm film festival event is an annual occurrence, so the next iteration will likely take place in February 2027.