The film industry has a reputation for being competitive and cutthroat. Writers struggle every day to outshine the competition and find a willing publisher. Musicians play their hearts out in the backs of bars in the hopes that, someday, a larger audience will take notice. Everyone has a message they want to send out into the world, but these messages are stifled, more often than not, by intense competition. Dreamers get frustrated. Their innovative thinking and its potential power to change the world gets lost. Where would our world be if great thinkers like Einstein, Curie, Mandela, Spielberg, and Morrison had been unable to find any encouragement?

HATCH, a local organization, has been working since 2004 to ensure that the great minds of the next generation are not stifled, but instead heard and inspired. For four days in early October, competition gets left in Hollywood and New York. The only cutthroats are the trout. Bozeman transforms into a hub of creativity and inspiration because HATCHfest will be back, bringing with it creative minds from all over the world. Every fall, innovative and creative thinkers come together for a four-day summit to share ideas and inspiration while networking with a select artistic community. Since 2004, mentors in various artistic industries, ranging from photography and art to architecture and entrepreneurship, have come to Bozeman to share their experiences with a younger generation of up-and-coming artists.

HATCH is an organization that works year-round to connect mentors with young artists and offer aspiring talents the opportunity to display their work; HATCHfest is the annual culmination of the year’s efforts. It is a chance for 100 people from different creative industries to come together and see what develops. It is an unparalleled melding of minds where musicians meet architects, filmmakers meet fashion designers, and entrepreneurs meet photographers. As they discuss their individual strengths, participants “hatch” new ideas, partnerships, and collaborative possibilities. They come from all over with the common drive to use creativity to improve the world. The push for positive social change is cloaked in a creative summer camp of sorts, where education and inspiration become synonymous.

In 2004, Yarrow Kraner returned to Bozeman after eight years in Los Angeles. Some friends started talking about starting a film festival, and Kraner started talking about starting something more. “That’s when the concept of multiple disciplines, and mentorship came about, and after coming up with twenty names for this entity, HATCH was my favorite and we moved forward with that brand. It’s a verb. HATCH something exceptional. Different. Daring. Innovative. HATCH a Better World,” Kraner explained in a recent email interview.

HATCHfest receives a lot of local support, and is run completely by volunteers. “We have an amazing Volunteer base—in fact, HATCH is 100% volunteer. Without volunteers, there would be no HATCH,” Kraner said. Many of the volunteers have been helping with the festival since it started. There are limited volunteer opportunities available, but Kraner said they are always looking for individuals looking to inspire and be inspired.

Participants at HATCHfest are welcomed by invitation only. Past mentors include Peter Fonda, Margot Kidder, Michael Keaton, and Jeff Bridges. Mentors come from all corners of the globe, and bring with them all kinds of experiences. Filmmaking is a prominent topic, but far from the only topic at the festival where writers, designers, activists, musicians, and others congregate. These mentors interact with “Groundbreakers,” young, talented people from all over the world that are selected to attend by a jury. HATCHfest has received applications from almost 100 countries, and people have come from as far away as Australia to participate. Since its inception, over 5,000 students have benefited from the mentorship they have found at the HATCHfest. The festival has been able to award $200,000 in scholarships since 2004, which has allowed over 100 students to attend HATCHfest with all their expenses paid.

As the economy has weakened, fundraising has become more difficult, but that hasn’t slowed HATCHfest down. “With the economy hurting, funding has been harder, but we just get more creative to ensure that HATCH thrives,” Kraner said. A number of local companies lend their support. “The Menke Foundation, Montana State University, The State of Montana Film Commission, CTA Architects, Locati Architects, Double T River Ranch, Classic Ink, The Zebra Cocktail Lounge, Jereco Studios, Peach Street Studios, Moonlight Basin, Music Villa, The Moose, and many more, come together to make HATCH possible,” Kraner added.

The benefits to the local community are boundless. “HATCH is where local innovators can network and tap into global influencers,” Kraner said. Some of the students attending the festival are local, and they are able to learn from people who have won Grammys, Oscars, Emmys and Pulitzer prizes. This results in a kind of inspirational ripple effect that generates new ideas. “We live by, and have witnessed that ‘The Power of One Can Impact The Lives of Millions’,” Kraner added.

The 2012 HATCHfest kicks off at the Double T River Ranch in Clyde Park. Participants will move to Bozeman on Friday, October 5 for more collaboration. The event concludes with a showcase for the public on Saturday, October 6, at The Emerson Cultural Center. The showcase includes keynote speakers, music, and film from 7pm to 10pm. If you are interested in seeing what HATCHfest is all about, visit the website . The website includes a schedule of this year’s activities and ways to contact HATCH if you are interested in getting involved.

Sarah Cairoli is truly inspired by the creative melting pot Bozeman becomes in early October. She can be reached at scairoli30@hotmail.com