Black Hills State University’s short documentary, “Welcome to the BHUC,” has been selected for screening at two regional film festivals this fall. Produced by Scott H. Thornburg in BHSU’s Office of Marketing and Communications, the nine-minute film explores the groundbreaking research taking place nearly a mile underground at the BHSU Underground Campus (BHUC) and the university’s role in the global search for dark matter at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF).
The film will screen at the Vermillion Vortex Film Festival on Saturday, September 26, during Drama Block B beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Coyote Twin Theater in Vermillion. It has also been selected for the Black Hills Film Festival, where it will screen on Saturday, October 3, during Session C beginning at 3:15 p.m. at the Journey Museum in Rapid City.
“It's incredibly rewarding to see ‘Welcome to the BHUC’ selected for these festivals,” said Thornburg. “This project was an opportunity to share the cutting-edge work taking place beneath the Black Hills and highlight the people who have dedicated themselves to expanding our understanding of the universe. I'm grateful that these screenings will help bring their stories to a wider audience, especially as new observations and data are being published. Talking with them, you can really feel their excitement for the future.”
Originally premiering at BHSU earlier this year, the documentary takes viewers underground to explore the unique partnership between BHSU and SURF. Through interviews and footage captured deep below the surface, the film highlights the scientific research, discovery, and collaboration taking place at BHUC.
At the Black Hills Film Festival, Thornburg will also participate in a filmmaker panel discussion titled “Documenting History and Nature” at 10 a.m. on October 3.
“I'm fascinated by the long history of underground research in the Black Hills,” Thornburg said. “There’s a real sense of mystery and wonder in the study of dark matter and the cosmic unknown, and the brilliant people building these experiments deep underground are uniquely driven.”
“Welcome to the BHUC” is available to watch on the BHSU YouTube channel.