Get to know the MFA Students

Corey Elliott is a documentary filmmaker and experimental wildlife photographer with a diverse professional and educational background. After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2022 with a B.S. in Journalism and a Minor in Animal Science, Corey spent time as a climbing instructor, camp counselor, paraprofessional, outdoor guide, and media specialist before moving to Bozeman to take a job as a Big Sky children's ski instructor. He enrolled in the SNHF program to synthesize these past experiences with a passion for visual media, animals, and a desire to be pushed creatively. Corey's primary interests lie in our understanding of and relationships with animals and the natural world.

Drew Racioppa is from Upstate New York. He earned his B.S. in Conservation Biology from St. Lawrence University in Canton. He chose the SNHF program for several compelling reasons, primarily centered around the theme of connection. He aims to bridge the gap between the natural world and the people who inhabit it, while also deepening his own connection to both nature and community. Since relocating to Bozeman, He’s thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The program has introduced him to a diverse array of inspiring individuals and provided him with a fresh perspective on Bozeman.

Kaiden Hancock is a filmmaker from central Florida with a B.F.A. in Film Production from The University of Tampa. During her undergraduate degree, she found a passion for telling stories of the natural world and embraced this passion through documentaries that spoke on the ecological issues of coastal waterway systems as well as the wildlife in them. This, partnered with her long-time appreciation for history and exploration of all kinds, made MSU’s Science and Natural History Filmmaking MFA the perfect next step to learn how to combine all of her long-term interests into something that could one day interest and inspire others.

Madison Sherman is a documentary filmmaker from Tucson, Arizona. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Allegheny College. With a background in nature education, she has worked as an interpretive guide for both the National Park Service and US Forest Service, and has taught aquatic ecology and watershed science to children. She taught English in the south of Spain before pursuing her MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking at MSU. Her creative interests involve exploring human stories and their connection to scientific and environmental topics. Alongside her work as a student filmmaker, she is the Graduate Student Assistant for the SNHF program.

Mitch Milbauer is a filmmaker and photojournalist who is driven to tell a wide variety of stories about the natural world and the interaction between humans and the environment. His main focus is where climate change intersects with outdoor recreation. Much of the time you will find him in the mountains on skis, ropes, bikes, or exploring the ocean. His passion for long days outside has propelled him all over the globe. This has led him to document everything from surfing down the Chilean coastline, high-consequence skiing and climbing in the Tetons, and bikepacking in far-flung locales.

He is currently working towards his MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking at Montana State University and his AMGA Ski Guide Certification.

Timmy Mooring is conspiring to travel the world and look at animals by becoming a wildlife photographer and videographer. From San Diego, California, Timmy studied Environmental Studies with a concentration in Biology at Point Loma Nazarene University. Since graduating in 2022, they have worked seasonal conservation jobs and internships in Colorado, New Mexico, Costa Rica, and Montana. They chose this program due to their passion for conservation and wildlife, and they hope to be involved in film projects that contribute to the preservation of biodiversity.  

You can take a look at some of their photos here at www.tmoowildlife.com/portfolio

Akash Gulati is a physicist turned filmmaker whose interest lies in science communication. He earned his bachelor's degree in physics from Panjab University and subsequently attained a master’s degree in physics from the distinguished Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, specializing in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics. During his master’s, he investigated the optical properties of 2D Van der Waals heterostructures at ultra-low temperatures. He also has considerable experience in theatre and storytelling which he intends to combine with his passion for physics to create films that entertain, educate, and inspire.

Film interest: Akash Gulati is interested in films that lie at the intersection of science and society. Through his work, he aims to explore our society's ever-changing relationship with science and technology. Additionally, he is passionate about creating accessible science communication content in various regional languages.

Savannah Schneider is a human-sized gremlin coming into the SNHF program as part of Cohort 23. She was born and raised in the extreme climate of Minnesota and has lived in many nations in and outside of the United States. She has been poor (financially) for much of her life, and states the best part of being poor is learning to be resourceful, while cultivating a dark, deadpan sense of humor is a close second. She hopes to someday be less poor, or perhaps just more resourceful. She is a lifelong creative weirdo and is excited to start working on projects and learn from other human and non-human teachers in her new community.

Her film interests are varied and subject to much development and change but often focus on sensory aspects and experience of reality. She enjoys illuminating the complexity and entanglement of natural systems through a combination of wide and narrow focus. She is also interested in exploring variations of narrative form as a way to facilitate engagement in a more holistic, empathetic form of science storytelling.

Wish her luck.

Zachary Garmoe is a documentary filmmaker and photographer with a background in coastal and marine sciences. Zachary graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2017 with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Cinematic Arts. He then proceeded to work for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, managing a remote educational center and witnessing firsthand the rapidly eroding tidal landscape. Following this position, he worked as an estuarine scientist for the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, managing a continuous water quality program and monitoring forage fish populations. Zachary is particularly interested in films focusing on both overlooked and charismatic ecosystems, found in backyards, national parks, interstate medians, and everywhere in between.

His work can be viewed at www.zacharygarmoe.com.

Andrew Motte is a visual artist from New York City who has worked in interior design, fashion photography, and reality television. During his first year in the SNHF Program, he crafted films on a wide variety of topics, from the portrait of an acclaimed local nature writer, to an experimental odyssey across the deserts of Arizona. He wishes to continue to push the boundaries of nonfiction by incorporating surrealism and advanced sensorial techniques into his filmmaking.

Leif Everson is a graduate student and filmmaker currently living in Bozeman, Montana. As a member of the Science and Natural History Filmmaking Program at Montana State University, Leif enjoys telling an array of visual stories, especially those relating to the environment, humanities, and the sciences. Prior to the graduate program at MSU, Leif attended Boise State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. Leif’s current research is focused on the relationship between humans and nature, as well as the specific challenges and opportunities which arise when the two intersect.

Lex Harold is a filmmaker focused on the intersection of fiction and nonfiction as well as the relationship between humans and the environment. He graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in biology.

His current research interests include 16mm film, social justice advocacy, and expanding the form and ambitions of documentary storytelling.