''The Million Dollar Duck'' is a 2016 documentary film directed by Brian Davis. The film follows participants in the Federal Duck Stamp contest as they create and submit work, as well as exploring the wider history and culture of the competition.

Background

Duck stamps are admission stamps purchased annually by American hunters prior to hunting for migratory waterfowl. Outside of their use within hunting regulation, duck stamps have a wider appeal to artists and collectors. Initially the illustration on these stamps were provided by cartoonist Ding Darling, however this was later opened up for public submissions. Started in 1949, the Federal Duck Stamp contest is an annual contest that determines the illustration that will be depicted on the following year's duck stamp. Director Brian Davis initially grew interested in the contest after his high school friend's Father, Ron Louque, won the contest in 2003. Davis told film review website

IndieWire IndieWire (sometimes stylized as indieWIRE or Indiewire) is a film industry and review website that was established in 1996. The site's focus was predominantly independent film, although its coverage has grown to "to include all aspects of Hollyw ...

“We were talking about it and he said, ‘My stepdad painted a duck. It got on a stamp, and now we’re set for life.’ That phrase just stuck with me.”

Synopsis

''The Million Dollar Duck'' follows a small number of artists in the 2014 contest - from their initial entry sketches, through to the final contest. Featured artists include Adam Grimm, the youngest ever winner of the contest with his 2000 entry, eccentric multi-media artist Rob McBroom, and two time winner

Robert Hautman Robert Hautman is an American painter, residing in western Minnesota. The artist is best known for his realism wildlife art, particularly the U.S. Federal Duck Stamp. The artist's paintings have been featured on the 2001 and 1997Mpls. Star Trib ...

Reception

''The Million Dollar Duck'' won the Audience Award for Documentary Feature and the Jury Award for Documentary Feature at the 2016

Slamdance Film Festival The Slamdance Film Festival is an annual film festival focused on emerging artists. The annual week-long festival takes place in Park City, Utah, in late January and is the main event organized by the year-round Slamdance organization, which als ...

, with the decision statement commenting "artfully shot and edited, with a colorful cast of characters, the film weaves these human stories into the larger picture of how the annual competition has served to create and protect America's many wildlife refuges. It's about more than the duck." ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' called it a "fascinating and lively documentary".

References

External links

The Million Dollar Duck
official website {{DEFAULTSORT:Million Dollar Duck, The 2016 films American documentary films 2016 documentary films 2010s American films