From Badlands to Big Screen: “Medora: Empress of the Badlands” Brings North Dakota’s Epic Love Story to Life

New feature film from University of Mary's Daniel Bielinski premieres across the state as excitement builds for Medora's national spotlight this spring

BISMARCK, N.D. - The sweeping drama, romance, and grit of North Dakota's frontier past are riding back into the spotlight with "Medora: Empress of the Badlands," a new feature film set to premiere across the state beginning this week.

Directed and produced by Daniel Bielinski, director of the Dramatic Arts program at the University of Mary and founder of Canticle Productions, the film tells the remarkable true story of the Marquis de Mores and his wife Medora, whose bold dreams helped shape the town that still bears her name. The film follows Bielinski's 2025 release, "Hazel's Heart," continuing his work of bringing North Dakota's most compelling true stories to the big screen.

The film premieres in Bismarck April 17-18 at the Grand Theater, before traveling west to Medora's Old Town Hall Theater on April 19. Additional premiere showings will follow in Williston (April 24), Watford City (April 25), Belfield (May 1), Minot (May 2), and Devils Lake (May 3), offering audiences across North Dakota a chance to experience the story on the big screen.

The Journey to Today

For Bielinski, the journey to bring "Medora: Empress of the Badlands" to life has been more than a decade in the making.

"I have been developing this project as part of a long-term vision to bring North Dakota's history to the screen," Bielinski said. "This film follows a decade of research and preparation to properly honor the scale of Medora's story."

That story first captured his imagination years ago during a family visit to the Badlands.

"I knew it would make a great film the first time I heard the story when we visited Medora as a family," he said. "It just took a while to make it happen."

What began as a larger-than-life frontier tale-complete with ambition, danger, and international intrigue-eventually revealed a deeper, more personal core.

"At its heart, this is a story about the sacramental marriage between the Marquis and his wife Medora - the sacrifices that get poured into marriage," Bielinski said.

Filmed on location in Medora for exterior scenes and in Bismarck for interiors, the production embraced the rugged beauty and authenticity of the region.

"Being able to shoot in the Badlands - where the Marquis and Medora themselves walked - was a very cool experience," Bielinski said.

Student Engagement

The production itself was no small feat. Over six weeks of six-day shoots, the team built entire Western towns, constructed dozens of sets, and raced against the ever-fading prairie light.

"It was a big film," Bielinski said. "Building two western towns, dozens of interior sets, moving between remote locations in the Badlands, always fighting the setting sun and losing light-lots of challenges."

Those challenges, however, also created unique opportunities-especially for students from the University of Mary, who worked alongside seasoned industry professionals throughout the production.

"It was awesome for our students to be able to work side by side with great industry pros, both behind and in front of the camera," Bielinski said. "Providing students with professional credits and real-world sets prepares them for the industry in a way that traditional classroom instruction cannot."

That experience left a lasting impression on student crew members, including Zach True, a junior dramatic arts and accounting major from Mendota Heights, Minnesota, who served as a production assistant on the film. His responsibilities ranged from preparing daily script materials for actors to coordinating extras and assisting across departments on set.

"I had an amazing experience working on 'Medora: Empress of the Badlands.' It was so much fun to work on set, meet so many talented, incredible people, and learn from them," True said. "Film is an incredible medium to inspire people and true stories, especially when done well, are very moving."

Growing Awareness

Beyond its cinematic appeal, "Medora: Empress of the Badlands" arrives at a moment when the region's history is gaining renewed national attention. With the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library set for July 4 in Medora, Bielinski sees the film as part of a larger cultural moment.

"This is a great time to bring a story like this to the big screen," he said.

For audiences, the film offers more than just a night at the movies-it's a chance to reconnect with a defining chapter of the American West.

"Medora's story is a vital chapter of the American West," Bielinski said. "It challenges the typical 'cowboy' narrative by introducing elements of international intrigue and industrial ambition to the Badlands."

And, he hopes, it will leave viewers with a renewed sense of pride and connection.

"I hope audiences gain a profound appreciation for the richness of North Dakota's history and feel a deeper connection to the real people who shaped the history of our state," he said.

With its blend of action, romance, and historical drama, "Medora: Empress of the Badlands" promises to be a cinematic homecoming-one that invites North Dakotans to see their own story, larger than life, on the big screen.