New Documentary ‘Capturing Bigfoot’ Blows the Legend of the Sasquatch Wide Open — Watch Trailer

Fifty-nine years ago, friends Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin visited the Six Rivers National Forest in Northern California and claimed to have an encounter with a Sasquatch. The minute-long film they shot of the alleged Bigfoot has been a source of worldwide fascination ever since, undergoing endless attempts to authenticate or discredit it.

The ongoing interest in both Bigfoot and the Patterson-Gimlin film was fully evident earlier this year when the Sasquatch documentary “Capturing Bigfoot” premiered before a sold-out crowd at SXSW in Austin, Texas. The screening electrified Bigfoot enthusiasts with its revelations and sparked new conversations about the myths behind both the Sasquatch and the Patterson-Gimlin footage, but there was no way to see the movie after that initial premiere — until now.

XYZ Films will release “Capturing Bigfoot” in New York, Los Angeles, and other select cities nationwide on October 20, otherwise known as National Bigfoot Day. The film will also be available for a limited time to rent or buy exclusively on Prime Video in the U.S. and Canada that same day. It’s the first opportunity to see the movie since its initial premiere, as the filmmakers opted to hold it back from other festivals to preserve the mystery of the never-before-seen footage featured in it and allow audiences to experience the movie’s surprises at the same moment.

The idea is to give audiences an opportunity to experience the film communally, mirroring how Roger Patterson screened the original Patterson-Gimlin film across the country. That footage effectively went “viral” before the digital age and grossed over $5M in the US box office (adjusted for inflation). For the upcoming theatrical screenings, there will be heightened security to protect the integrity of this newly discovered footage with recording and digital devices strictly prohibited.

“Capturing Bigfoot” follows the story of Roger Patterson’s pursuit of Bigfoot, who on October 20, 1967, captured 59 seconds of film showing a creature (dubbed “Patty”) walking through the woods of Northern California — footage that became the most analyzed and debated in history. When a reel of 16mm film discovered in a safe five decades later blows the legend wide open, the people who were there come together to give the full picture.

Director Marq Evans (“Claydream”) and producer Tamir Ardon (“Claydream,” “Skywalkers: A Love Story”) give this story of family and fabulists considerable emotional heft, with never before seen archival footage and original interviews with figures both famous and infamous within the vibrant Bigfoot community. Bob Heironimus, Bob Gimlin, Jeff Meldrum, Greg Long, and Bill Munns, as well as Roger’s own son, Clint Patterson, and Clint’s mother Patricia Patterson, both of whom have never before engaged in interviews on the subject, are all featured.

The filmmakers claim that the doc amounts to the most momentous shake-up of the billion-dollar Bigfoot industry to hit the big screen since Patterson himself toured the nation with his proof of Patty. In a written statement, director Marq Evans said, “That footage is one of the most recognizable images in the world, but the people behind it have privately carried its weight for almost sixty years. This film is their story; about family, loyalty, and the truths they’ve held onto or finally let go of. I’m grateful they trusted me to help them finally tell it.”

The release of the film will coincide with a companion podcast launching this week on YouTube with additional content featuring interviews, never-before-seen footage, and bonus episodes available exclusively on creator platform Patreon. Below, take a look at the film’s new trailer, an IndieWire exclusive.

For more information on the film, visit the movie’s website.