Covellite International Film Festival

Founded in 2015 by Don Andrews and Brian Boyd, CIFF built a filmmaker community from the ground up. Over its first five years, it showcased 600+ films from 36 countries, transforming historic Uptown Butte venues into spaces for unforgettable storytelling.

Now, in 2025, the Covellite International Film Festival is following the vein back to its lode—honesty, resilience, and the everyman experience. This isn’t just a film festival—it’s a gathering place where filmmakers connect year after year, film lovers have a voice, and buyers discover candid, uncompromising work.

This isn’t just another film festival. Forged in fire, built on solidarity—The Covellite International Film Festival is a place to come as you are and leave a little changed. No gatekeepers, just grit, goodwill, and A Vein of Truth.

Schedule:

10:00 PM to Midnight: Sean Eamon

Friday Afterparty featuring Sean Eamon and Magic & Mentalism from The Reverends Jones

Sean Eamon is a soundscape explorer of country music from Butte, Montana, an old mining city nestled high up in the Rocky Mountains. He infuses mariachi-style horns, New Orleans-style horns, pedal steel guitar and other instruments into songs that evoke hard-living heartbreak, glimpses of humor in self deprecation and anthemic music movements. Some songs are sad, some songs are funny. Kinda like life.

Jones Family Magic, led by Sir James the Magnificent, Madame Azira, and Lord Alden Blackhand, offers a captivating blend of traditional sleight of hand, illusions, mentalism, and daring feats, entertaining audiences of all ages. Beyond their regular performances and day jobs, they actively support mental health initiatives, promoting resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24/7, confidential support to individuals in distress. Regularly gracing events such as MisCon, Montana's longest-running science fiction convention, and Butte's annual "Second Halloween" celebration, Jones Family Magic has become a cherished fixture in the local community.​

A quirky entrance and cocktail lounge atmosphere are what makes 51 Below Speakeasy so special! Located in the basement of The Miner's Hotel, the bar gives all patrons an experience like no other. Once a fur vault, our building has been uniquely modified to be a true speakeasy, complete with "hidden" entrance! Once inside you're surrounded by prohibition style decor, vintage furs and friendly staff ready craft your perfect cocktail. Enjoy a variety cocktails, local beers, wine, non-alcoholic options and sharable appetizers!