Bigfoot has been haunting the edges of American folklore for generations, but after nearly 60 years, the most famous footage allegedly showing the creature may still have secrets left to reveal. A new teaser for Capturing Bigfoot, the SXSW documentary from XYZ Films and director Marq Evans (Claydream), is here, and the film promises to dig into a newly discovered reel of 16mm footage connected to the infamous 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film.
That original 59-second clip featuring the figure known as “Patty” has been debated for decades, but Capturing Bigfoot brings a potentially fascinating new piece of evidence into the conversation. According to the filmmakers, the additional film was discovered inside a safe more than five decades after the original footage was shot.
The documentary arrives Oct. 20, 2026, in New York, Los Angeles, and select theaters nationwide, with a limited rental and purchase release on Prime Video in the U.S. and Canada. The date also happens to be National Bigfoot Day and the 59th anniversary of the Patterson-Gimlin footage.
Evans takes a closer look at the people surrounding the case, including Bob Gimlin, Bob Heironimus, Jeff Meldrum, Greg Long and Bill Munns. The film also features interviews with Roger Patterson’s son, Clint Patterson, and widow, Patricia Patterson, who have not previously participated in interviews about the subject.
After premiering to a sold-out crowd at SXSW, the documentary was kept out of additional festivals to protect its previously unseen material. The filmmakers are even taking precautions during theatrical screenings and not allowing recording devices.
A companion podcast will also launch on YouTube with extended interviews and additional footage, while bonus material will be available through Patreon.
We’ve spent enough years staring at that grainy footage and arguing over whether Patty was the real deal, so we’re damn curious to see what this newly discovered material brings to the table. Capturing Bigfoot hits theaters Oct. 20.