The Filmmakers
Director
Award-winning Director and Cinematographer Cynthia Matty-Huber is known for her films that capture the American West’s rugged beauty and vanishing lifestyles. Cynthia transitioned into documentary filmmaking with an extensive background in photography already under her belt. Always having her eye on the Montana landscape and the people who occupy it, her first series of short films followed an aging Montana rancher, John Hoiland. The second film I Am Still Here (2019), was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the Big Sky Film Festival. The third and final installment in the series, For Love of the Land (2021), received critical acclaim at festivals across the country. Hard Twist is Cynthia’s first feature film.
Team
Cynthia Matty-Huber
Director-Producer-cinematographer
After obtaining a BA with a concentration in still photography, Cynthia earned an MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking from Montana State University. For her thesis she directed a multi-award-winning film about elderly cattle rancher John Hoiland. That experience led her to further explore the rapidly, inevitably changing Western lifestyle and landscape through the transformational experience and art of Barbara Van Cleve.
Dennis Aig
Producer
Veteran producer Dennis Aig has worked in many genres over the course of his career. He has produced feature documentaries, narrative films, non-profit media, and commercials with Columbia Pictures, Netflix, The Walt Disney Company, Hulu, PBS, Peacock, and National Geographic as well as independently financed productions. He is also a professor emeritus from Montana State University, where he taught for more than 30 years.
Jeff Steen
Executive Producer
A native of Cuero, Texas, Lias “Jeff” Steen has developed and produced 26 outstanding feature films and documentaries along with several podcasts and theatrical productions. He additionally contributes his support and financial knowledge to universities and museums, including the Houston Museum of Natural History and Texas A&M.
Felicitas Funke
Consulting Creative Producer Executive Producer
Felicitas Monty Funke (“Feli”) was born in Northern Germany and has lived in the high mountains of Idaho for the last thirty years. She is an author, publisher, and filmmaker. Her work about the West has been published in European and American publications and platforms. Feli is a partner and Creative Producer at 1922 Films and VEB Filmwerk. She is a third-generation member of the Funke Media Group.
Aram Mandossian
Composer
Born and raised in Hollywood, Aram Mandossian began his career by playing piano and guitar in rock bands on the Sunset Strip. In college he composed scores for student films and graduated from USC with a master’s degree. His many scores for film and television include work for the recent Perry Mason series, the main themes for NBC’s Indy 500 coverage and Fox’s pro bowling shows, and music for the blockbuster productions Jack Ryan, Jungle Book, and NCIS.
Adam Miklos
Editor
Adam Miklos is a Hungarian documentary filmmaker and editor, and co-founder of Arrabona Studio. He has contributed to nonfiction productions across Europe, India, and the United States. His most recent film as an editor and director is Beyond Rock Bottom. Other works include Daughters of Dolma, The Legacy of Menla, and two award-winning short films by Cynthia Matty-Huber: For Love of the Land and I Am Still Here.
Maddie Madsen
Music Supervisor
Maddie Madsen is a music producer, supervisor, composer and executive with 30 years experience specializing in budgeting, sync licensing, and creative song selection. She has produced sessions with A-list actors including Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, Darren Criss, and Ross Lynch. Her expertise spans theme songs, scoring, and editing for networks and content creators. She is a Berklee graduate and board member of The Balcony of LA.
Will Lake Springstead
Sound Design & Mixing
William “Lake” Springstead has worked as a location sound recordist, picture and sound editor, post sound mixer, and sound designer. His credits include Unbranded, Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story, Youth v Gov, and Thine Ears Shall Bleed. His shorter form work has included productions for the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Oakley, Patagonia, Yeti, and the Montana Office of Tourism.
Scott Sterling
Colorist & Finishing Editor
Scott Sterling has been a colorist for National Geographic Channel, The History Channel, Smithsonian Earth and Independent Lens on PBS. As a producer and director at Montana PBS, his work includes the documentaries The Violin Alone and Fort Peck Dam, and the signature Montana PBS series 11th & Grant with Eric Funk. Scott has earned eleven Emmy® Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences – Northwest Chapter.