Covellite Presents:
A Double Feature Night
With Jon Jost
Friday, August 1st
Uptown Butte Artwalk
Artist Reception
5-8 PM | Light refreshments provided
AND
In Association with the Covellite International Film Festival Series:
A 30th anniversary film screening:
BELL DIAMOND (1985)
On the Big Screen
Cover @ $5 (support the filmmaker!) and FREE POPCORN!
Showtime at 7:00 PM
Followed by a Q&A with filmmakers and local cast
Jon Jost is a fiercely independent artist known for his boundary-pushing work
in film, photography, painting, and poetry. Since the 1960s, he’s carved a
singular path through the arts, driven by curiosity—not commercial trends.
With decades of work spanning the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Jon has called
Butte home on and off since 1986, when he shot Bell Diamond locally.
Jost’s raw, poetic visual style captures overlooked communities and quiet
emotions with honesty and power. His work has shown at major festivals
including Berlin, AFI, and New Directors/New Films. But more than accolades,
his focus remains on truth and human connection. Join us for a rare evening
of art, conversation, and reflection, featuring both his paintings and
a 30th anniversary screening of Bell Diamond, followed by a live Q&A.
*****
Bell Diamond tells the quiet, powerful story of a Vietnam vet in Butte,
Montana, navigating isolation, love, and small-town life in the wake of
trauma. Filmed entirely in Butte with non-professional local actors, the
movie is an intimate, improvised portrait of a place and its people.
Praised for its realism and slow-burn emotional depth, the film is visually
gorgeous and deeply moving. The 30th anniversary screening brings this
rare gem back to the big screen—right where it began. Expect poignant
scenes, striking imagery of Butte’s landscapes, and a storytelling approach
unlike anything in commercial cinema. Stay after the film for a
Q&A with Jon Jost and original cast members from the community.
