Fourth Annual Southwest Native American Film Festival Fall Showcase & Workshops

	Download the Festival Program (PDF 1.6 MB)

Read the news release here.
Click here for info on the workshop.

The 4th Annual Southwest Native American Film Festival will be held in Flagstaff, Arizona at the Museum of Northern Arizona and the Coconino Center for the Arts, October 5–6, 2007. The film festival is a unique showcase of contemporary Native American video, film, and animation made by Indigenous filmmakers from throughout the Southwest.

This years festival will feature 25 films including a special screening of the feature film "Mile Post 398" with director Shonie De La Rosa, members of the cast and crew. Additional festival highlights include: "Crazy INDN" a unique short animation set in the future with a superhero who seeks to reclaim the skull of Geronimo. Director Ian Skorodin will be on hand to talk about the film. "Horse You See" by Melissa Henry is a story that explains the very essence of being a horse in the Navajo Language. "Miss Navajo", the feature documentary that explores the extraordinary ordinary beauty pageant. Eight youth shorts and much more.

The fall festival this fall will also offer professional development opportunities through a “Film Scoring for Film Makers” workshop with renowned Native American composer Brent Michael Davids.
 
The festival, presented in partnership by Indigenous Action Media, Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff Cultural Partners, Tacoho Productions, Native Movement and Outta Your Backpack Media, seeks to provide an opportunity for audiences of all ages to further their understanding of Indigenous cultures today.
Screenings will be held at the Museum of Northern Arizona in the Branigar Hall and the Coconino Center for the Arts.
Weekend festival passes that include admission to receptions with filmmakers can be purchased in advance for $18 ($14 for students) and general and student admission fees will be collected at the door. Passes can be purchased at Winter Sun Trading Co. the Museum of Northern Arizona and the Coconino Center for the Arts.
Call 928/779-2300 for additional information or visit these festival partner websites for a schedule of events at www.indigenousaction.org, www.musnaz.org, and www.culturalpartners.org.
 
2007 Southwest Native American Film Festival Schedule
 
Friday, October 5
7–9:30 p.m.                    Evening Screenings at the Museum of Northern Arizona
9:45–11 p.m.                  Reception at the Coconino Center for the Arts with filmmakers
                                          (open to weekend pass holders)
 
Saturday, October 6
10 a.m.—1 p.m.            Workshops at the Coconino Center for the Arts (register here)
2–4:30 p.m.                   Presentation of Short Films at the Coconino Center for the Arts 
5–6 p.m.                         Meet the filmmakers at the Museum of Northern Arizona
                                         (open to weekend pass holders)
6–9:30 p.m.                   Evening Screenings at the Museum of Northern Arizona
 

FILMS

Friday, October 5

7–9:30 p.m. $10/general admission - $6/students
Evening Screenings at the Museum of Northern Arizona

DC Navajo
Director: Shonie De La Rosa (Dine’), Melissa Henry (Dine’)
2007 | 10 min. | Short Comedy
A short film about a graphic artist trying to collect his pay from the Navajo Nation Washington, D.C. office.

Crazy INDN
Director: Ian Skorodin (Choctaw) | 2006 | 25 min. | Short Animation
In this unique animation, set in the future, the superhero Crazy Ind’n seeks to reclaim the skull of Geronimo, with implications all the way up to the White House.

The Border Crossed Us
Director: Rachael J. Nez (Dine’) | 2005 | 26 min. | Documentary Short
Since time immemorial the Tohono O’odham have crossed borders freely between their communities in the U.S. and Mexico. This work examines the ways in which current immigration and naturalization policy are putting their way of life at risk.

Miss Navajo
Director: William Luther (Dine’/Hopi/Laguna Pueblo) | 2006 | 60 min. | Documentary Feature
No ordinary beauty pageant, the Miss Navajo Nation competition requires contestants to answer tough historical questions in the Navajo language and showcase traditional knowledge.

9:45–11 p.m.                 Reception at the Coconino Center for the Arts with filmmakers
                                    (open to weekend pass holders)
 

Saturday, October 6

10 a.m.—1 p.m.           Workshops at the Coconino Center for the Arts

“Film Scoring for Film Makers” Workshop with Brent Michael Davids
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
At the Coconino Center for the Arts
Cost: $10 /general - $5/students (free for Indigenous youth)
This intensive workshop is designed especially for producers, directors
and editors. Register here.

2–4:30 p.m. $5/general admission - $3/students
Presentation of Short Films at the Coconino Center for the Arts 

Horse You See
Director: Melissa Henry (Dine’) | 2007 | 7 min. | Short
Meet Ross, a horse from the Navajo reservation. Hear his story and share his thoughts as he explains the very essence of being a horse. Navajo with English subtitles.

Knowledge is Dangerous
Director: Outta Your Backpack Media (Red Team) | 2006 | 5 min. | Youth Short
"Sometime in the future, knowledge is outlawed..."

Inner Voices
Director: Outta Your Backpack Media (Green Team) | 2006 | 3 min. 30 sec. | Youth Short
"A skateboarder has an accident and finds that he can hear something strange..."

How to Love
Director: Katrina Molnar | 2007 | 6 min. | Experimental Short, Youth
Produced by Outta Your Backpack Media, this video is a story about a lover who is not sure how to show her love for her one and only.

Amore'
Director: Donavon Sechili (Dine') | 2007 | 2 min. | Youth Short
Alcohol can make you see weird things.

A Change is Gonna Come
Director: Donavon Sechili | 2007 | 4 min. | Youth Short
A drug dealer makes his last stand.

Spreading the Love
Director: Diedra Peaches (Dine'), Donavon Sechili | 2007 | 30 sec. | Youth, Commcerial
Paper bag finding love at first sight.

Real Love
Director: Diedra Peaches, Donavon Sechili | 2007 | 4 min. | Youth, Commercial
Can paper bags dream?

Rape PSA
Director: Diedra Peaches, Donavon Sechili, Shelby Ray | 2007 | 5 min. 30 sec. | Youth, PSA
This PSA was made along with Outta Your Backpack Media & the P.E.A.C.E. Project.

Origins
Director: Kelly Byars (Chocktaw) | 2004 | 5 min. | Experimental Short
A discovery of self.

A Century of Genocide in the Americas: The Residential School Experience
Director: Rosemary Gibbons and Dax Thomas (Laguna Pueblo/Acoma Pueblo)
2002 | 17 min. | Documentary Short
This is a short but powerful documentary about how Indian Residential Schools became a haven for institutionalized sexual abuse. The inspiration for the film comes from the First Nations survivors who have taken legal action against the institutions that perpetuated this destructive cycle; these are the very same institutions whose purpose and mandate was to "provide" for their well being.

Poison Wind
Director: Jenny Pond, Norman Brown (Dine') | 2007 | 6 min | Documentary Short
This short video addresses uranium mining and effects of radiation in the Southwest. (work in progress)

Making a Stand at Desert Rock
Director: Klee Benally (Dine') | 2006 | 8 min. | Documentary Short
On December 12th, 2006 community members in Burnham, New Mexico established a blockade to prevent preliminary work for the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant.

Overwhelming
Director: Klee Benally (Dine') | 2007 | 3 min. | Music Video
The award winning Dine' punk-rock band Blackfire takes on global warming with a twist in this quick paced video.

Tears
Director: Klee Benally (Dine’) | 2007 | 4 min. | Music Video)
A compelling music video that reflects on former Miss Navajo Nation Radmilla Cody’s trying past.

Cry
Director: Shonie De La Rosa | 2007 | 4 min. | Music Video
Music video for Coalition from the motion picture soundtrack to Mile Post 398.

Self Inflicted
Director: Shonie De La Rosa (Dine') | 2007 | 4 min. | Music Video
Music video for Ethnic Degeneration from the motion picture soundtrack to Mile Post 398.

The Last Trek
Director: Ramona Emerson (Dine') | 2006 | 27 min. | Documentary Short
Elder Helen Bitsilly is one of the few Navajo people who still make the arduous journey on foot twice a year to take their sheep to distant grazing lands. The filmmaker follows Bitsilly on what the elder has said will be her last trek.

Share the Wealth
Director: Bennie Klain (Dine') | 2006 | 7 min. | Short
A Native woman on an urban street encounters stereotyped misunderstanding in this poignant drama and ironic parable.

5–6 p.m.     Meet the Filmmakers (open to weekend pass holders)

6–9:30 p.m. $10/general admission - $6/students
Evening Screenings at the Museum of Northern Arizona

Mile Post 398 (special feature with members of the cast and crew)
Director: Shonie De La Rosa (Dine') | 2007 1 hour 50 min. | Feature
“Mile Post 398” is about a Navajo man named “Cloyd” in his mid 30’s living in Kayenta that is dealing with his alcohol problem. One day Cloyd decides to turn his life around by quitting drugs and alcohol and making mends with his wife, son and family. Although Cloyd may think this may be easy, he soon realizes how hard it is to face his demons and deal with the unrelenting peer pressure of his so-called friends.

Weaving Worlds
Director: Bennie Klain (Dine’) | 2007 | 57 min. | Documentary Feature
An exploration of the intricate relationships between Navajo rug weavers and reservation traders, this insightful documentary reveals the delicate balance between maintaining cultural traditions, economic survival, and the artistic validation sought by many weavers.