The Magic Rat Film Showcase will present a special screening of the independent crime thriller, “’Til Harvest Comes,” filmed entirely in Greeley, on Wednesday, April 15, at The Magic Rat venue inside The Elizabeth Hotel.
Set against the stark agricultural landscapes of Northern Colorado, “’Til Harvest Comes” is a tense, character-driven thriller that follows individuals pushed to the brink by circumstance as they confront buried truths, difficult choices and the moral consequences of survival. The film highlights the cinematic potential of regional storytelling while showcasing emerging talent both in front of and behind the camera.
The evening will include a filmmaker Q&A and audience talk-back designed to foster meaningful dialogue around the creative process and the growing momentum of independent filmmaking in Colorado.
Watch the trailer here.
The film is directed and produced by Ken Womble, an award-winning filmmaker and head of the BFA acting program at the University of Northern Colorado. His previous work includes the L.A. Olympus Film Festival award-winning short, “An Equal Opportunity,” and the documentary “James A. Michener: An Epic Life.” Screenwriter Ben Klingemann, whose original feature screenplay, “Gravel,” was optioned in 2024, brings a grounded and emotionally resonant voice to the crime thriller genre.
“When I read Ben Klingemann’s script for ‘’Til Harvest Comes,’ I was immediately moved by its protagonist, Jim Bauer,” says director Ken Womble. “A young farmer, Jim reminded me of my father, who grew up in a family of tenant farmers and worked tirelessly just to survive—up before dawn to milk cows, going to school during the day, then returning home for more chores. To me, he and many others of his generation were everyday heroes. Jim is a hero too. While my father fought an unfair economy, Jim is fighting an unfair healthcare system that fails families like his. With no options left, he turns to crime to pay for his daughter’s life saving surgery, sacrificing his own freedom to save her. The film asks a difficult question: Why must a good man in a wealthy society make this kind of sacrifice? As rural hospitals close and access to care declines, Jim’s story feels urgent and necessary to tell now.”
The Magic Rat Film Showcase was created to elevate independent filmmakers and connect creative voices with new audiences in an intimate hospitality setting.
“Independent filmmakers often create powerful work without traditional distribution pathways,” says Shantel Hansen, creator of the Magic Rat Film Showcase. “This showcase exists to give these films a stage not just to screen them, but to surround them with community, conversation and momentum.”
The schedule for the evening will include:
- 6 p.m. – Happy hour
- 7 p.m. – Film screening
- 7:30 p.m. – Live Q&A with director, producers and cast
Hosted at The Elizabeth Hotel, the series reflects a broader vision to position Fort Collins as a destination for artists through curated screenings, filmmaker residencies and collaborative creative programming.
“We believe hotels can serve as vibrant cultural hubs,” says Carl Pratt, general manager of The Elizabeth Hotel. “Partnering with the Magic Rat Film Showcase allows us to support storytellers while creating authentic creative experiences for both guests and the local community.”
Tickets are donation based, with all proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs Youth Filmmaking Program, supporting the next generation of storytellers in Northern Colorado.
Tickets and event details here.
The April 15 screening is part of the showcase’s upcoming Season Two: Year of Collaboration, an expanded initiative focused on bringing together filmmakers, musicians, visual artists and community partners through immersive programming and regional premieres designed to strengthen Colorado’s independent film ecosystem.
The Magic Rat Film Showcase was founded following conversations about how hospitality spaces can transform into cultural gathering places for artists and audiences. Inspired by a shared vision with The Elizabeth Hotel to create more immersive creative experiences, award-winning documentary director Shantel Hansen launched the series as a way to give independent films a living, breathing environment beyond traditional theaters.
What started as one curated screening quickly grew into a recurring creative platform fostering collaboration, audience engagement and new momentum for regional filmmakers and storytellers.
