The critical importance of an independent free press to a thriving democracy and the vital role played by small-town newspapers will be center stage at a special screening of an award-winning documentary on Monday.

“Storm Lake: A newspaper, a family, a community” will be shown at 7 p.m. Monday at the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride.

The film, to be aired on PBS later this year and directed by Jerry Risius and Beth Levison, is the moving story of a courageous small-town editor determi...