Film Screening and Q&A
Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 5–7 pm | Free

In partnership with the University of Utah Department of Film and Media Arts, the UMFA is excited to host a special screening of The Rider (2017), the critically acclaimed film from director Chloé Zhao. 

After a tragic riding accident, young cowboy Brady (Brady Jandreau), once a rising star of the rodeo circuit, is warned that his competition days are over. Back home in South Dakota, Brady finds himself questioning what remains when he can no longer do the one thing that gave his life meaning: to ride and compete. In an effort to regain control of his fate, he sets out on a deeply personal journey to rediscover his identity and redefine what it means to be a man in the heartland of America. 

The film features a remarkable cast of non-professional Lakota actors from the Pine Ridge Reservation playing fictionalized versions of themselves, including Jandreau—who grew up riding and training horses—as well as his father, sister, wife, and close friends. 

Following the screening, join us for a post-film discussion with special guest Sarah Sinwell, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Film and Media Arts at the University of Utah.

The Rider is rated R. This film contains mature themes. Viewer discretion is advised.