Broadcast Documentaries
No Small Idea: A Chautauqua Story
No Small Idea: A Chautauqua Story explores the history, community, and enduring cultural significance of Colorado Chautauqua. Matt edited the documentary, shaping hours of interviews and archival material into a focused story celebrating the people and ideas that have sustained Chautauqua across generations.
The film screened at the 2026 Boulder Histories Film Festival, where it received the Best Film: Preservation award. The screening was followed by a filmmaker Q&A.
Winner, Best Film: Preservation, Boulder Histories Film Festival, September 13, 2026
A Broadcast version is in progress.
Words Are Power: Colorado Poetry Out Loud 2024
"Words are Power" is a celebration of creative young minds and poetry within Colorado. See Colorado's High Schools compete in the Poetry Out Loud State 2024 championships. The winner will go on to represent our state at the POL National Finals in Washington DC. Learn from each student’s perspective on poetry and how they prepared for this event.
Alumni from Community College of Aurora's Cinematic Arts Department and myself were able to work on this 1 hour special showcasing Colorado's Poetry Out Loud 2024's state wide competition. Thanks to my Alumni film crew: Brekon Baxter, Aaron Koehler, and Diana Flood
Colorado Poetry Out Loud is presented through the collaborative efforts of the Colorado Creative Industries, Empowered Consulting, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation
57mins TRT PBS12 March 4th, 2025
Never Going Back
"Never Going Back" is a half hour Documentary that explores Colorado's recidivism rate specifically through one organization that has been able to dramatically lower their rate from the national average of 40 to 50%. Through the Second Chance Center, the rate of people going back to prison is down to 5 to 10%. Other states are now looking at the Center and what can be replicated across the United States. Here is a link to the Full film on RMPBS’s streaming site.
27mins TRT Aired: Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 8:30pm on RMPBS
Words By Heart: Colorado Poetry Out Loud 2023
See Colorado's High Schools compete in the Poetry Out Loud State 2023 championships. The winner will go on to represent our state at the POL National Finals in Washington DC. Learn from each student’s perspective on poetry and how they prepared for this event.
57mins TRT Aired: Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 7:00pm on PBS12
Words by Heart: A Showcase of the 2022 Colorado Poetry Out Loud State Finals
See Colorado's teens compete in the Poetry Out Loud state 2022 championships. The winner will go on to represent our state at the POL National Finals.
55mins TRT Aired: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 8pm on PBS12
A Tribute to Ellen Kohner
To honor her legacy, Aspen Film collaborated with some of Ellen's closest friends, colleagues and family members to produce this program. This tribute was originally shown during Filmfest 21 at the Wheeler Opera House. Due to the volume of requests we received after the screening, we've now decided to make the program available online for those who were not able to join us in-person. Right now I am unable to post a link to this film.
The above link takes you to a donation page, to watch the film. All contributions will directly support THE ELLEN FUND. The purpose of the fund is to educate, support, inspire and recognize young and upcoming filmmakers. Requests can be made for a private link through my contact information at the top of this site.
60mins TRT Premiered: Aspen Filmfest 2021
Photo of Ellen Kohner
Own It: A Colorado Story
Employee-owned businesses offer life-changing cultural and financial benefits that other business models simply can’t match. Follow the stories of 5 Colorado-based companies who have transformed the fabric of their communities – and the lives of their workers - by becoming employee-owned.
26:40 TRT Aired: Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7:30pm on PBS12
Words by Heart: A Showcase of the 2021 Colorado Poetry Out Loud State Finals
In this film, you will see all three rounds of the POL competition, with the poem recitation from every competitor for both Rounds 1 & 2. In the third and final round, you will see videos of the three finalists, which are the competitors with the highest cumulative scores from rounds one and two.
55mins TRT Aired: Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 7pm on PBS12
The Youtube edit is different than the edit that aired, I can send the PBS12 version upon request.
Colorado Counts Census 2020
Colorado Counts is a half-hour documentary about the 2020 Census. The film focuses on the importance of achieving a complete count in terms of congressional representation in Washington DC, funding within the state and embracing our diverse identities as Coloradans.
26:40 TRT Aired: Friday, March 27, 2020 on PBS12; Sunday, March 29, 2020 on RMPBS; Friday, April 10, 2020 PBS12.
Promo for Colorado Counts Census 2020
Art Tank Stage To Street
This film follows artists and community organizers from local non-profit groups as they prepare for and perform in a live event “Art Tank” where they present bold, innovative, "business unusual" ideas to compete for over $50,000 in grants dedicated to advance innovation and engagement in the Metro Denver arts community.
26:40 TRT Aired: Thursday March 1, 2018 RMPBS
Promo Art Tank Stage To Street
Cultivating Creativity
Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Jane Chu, visits several communities and organizations that benefit from NEA partnerships. She speaks with the public at a Denver town hall meeting, visits with residents at ArtSpace Loveland, observes rehearsals of the Phamily Theater Acting Company, and interacts with students at Northfield High School. Filmed and produced by students and faculty from the Colorado Film School at the Community College of Aurora, Cultivating Creativity, provides a glimpse into how public funding of the arts directly contributes to the rich culture of local communities.
26:40 TRT Aired: April 26, 2017 PBS12:
Promo Cultivating Creativity
National Governors Association: Governors’s Get it Done
An hour documentary displaying The NGA and history, featuring the both 2016 meetings in Iowa and DC. I am unable to post the final film however can send per request.
56:40 TRT Aired: Summer of 2017 PMPBS
Promo for The National Governors Association: Governors’s Get it Done 2017
Behind the Scenes of Colorado Film School students who attend and document the National Governors Association (NGA) semi-annual meeting.
The Last Bill A Senator’s Story
In her last session, Colorado State Senator Linda Newell produced this behind-the-scenes documentary short of a senator’s real-life story carrying a bill through the legislature. You’ll see from an insider’s view how difficult it can be to turn a bill into law, all with a bit of humor and fortitude.
26:40 TRT
Alamo Drafthouse Premiere for “The Last Bill A Senator’s Story”
Discovering Damien: Saint of Molokai
An hour documentary presenting the life story of Saint Damien and a group of youth retracing his steps in Hawaii. Due to project restrictions I am unable to provide a link to the whole film.
Web Special #1: https://www.facebook.com/ewtnonline/videos/10153696782037582/
Web Special #2: https://www.facebook.com/ewtnonline/videos/10153696803137582/
Web Special #3: https://www.facebook.com/ewtnonline/videos/10153696813327582/
60mins TRT Aired: 2016 EWTN: Global Catholic Network
