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 and 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 year’s festival will feature 25 films, including a special screening of the festival’s feature filmMile Post 398, with director Shonie De La Rosa and 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 making Crazy INDN. 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 festival’s feature documentary, explores this extraordinary beauty pageant. Eight youth shorts are also included.
This year’s festival will also offer a professional development opportunity with renowned Native American composer Brent Michael Davids, who will present a Film Scoring for Filmmakers Workshop.
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’s Branigar Hall and the Coconino Center for the Arts.
Weekend festival passes that include admission to receptions with filmmakers on both Friday and Saturday nights can be purchased in advance for $18 ($14 for students). 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. Film Scoring for Film Makers Workshop at the Coconino Center for the Arts
(register at www.indigenousaction.org)
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.
Evening Screenings at the Museum of Northern Arizona
$10/general admission, $6/students
DC Navajo
Director: Shonie De La Rosa (Diné), Melissa Henry (Diné)
2007 | 10 min. | Short Comedy
A short film about a graphic artist trying to collect his pay from the Navajo Nation’s 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 Indn seeks to reclaim the skull of Geronimo, with implications all the way to the White House.
The Border Crossed Us
Director: Rachael J. Nez (Diné)
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.
Tears
Director: Klee Benally (Diné)
2007 | 4 min. | Music Video
A compelling music video that reflects on former Miss Navajo Nation Radmilla Cody’s trying past.
Miss Navajo
Director: William Luther (Diné/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.
Friday, October 5, 9:45–11 p.m.
Reception with Filmmakers at the Coconino Center for the Arts
(open to weekend pass holders)
_______________________________________________________
Saturday, October 6, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Film Scoring for Filmmakers Workshop with Brent Michael Davids
at the Coconino Center for the Arts
$10 /general, $5/students (free for Indigenous youth)
This intensive workshop is designed especially for producers, directors, and editors.
Saturday, October 6, 2–4:30 p.m.
Presentation of Short Films at the Coconino Center for the Arts
$5/general admission, $3/students
Horse You See
Director: Melissa Henry (Diné)
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 Youth Short
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.
Amoré
Director: Donavon Sechili (Diné)
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 (Diné), Donavon Sechili
2007 | 30 sec. | Youth Commercial
A paper bag finds 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 with Outta Your Backpack Media and the P.E.A.C.E. Project
Origins
Director: Kelly Byars (Chocktaw)
2004 | 5 min. | Experimental Short
A discovery of self.
Lye
Director: Dax Thomas (Laguna Pueblo/Acoma Pueblo)
2005 | 5 min. | Experimental Short
An evocative experimental film takes on the concept of culture in today’s world.
Poison Wind
Director: Jenny Pond, Norman Brown (Diné)
2007 | 6 min | Documentary Short
This short video addresses uranium mining and the effects of radiation in the Southwest.
(work in progress)
Making a Stand at Desert Rock
Director: Klee Benally (Diné)
2006 | 8 min. | Documentary Short
On December 12, 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 (Diné) | 2007 | 3 min. | Music Video
The award-winning Diné punk rock band Blackfire takes on global warming with a twist in this quick paced video.
Self Inflicted
Director: Shonie De La Rosa (Diné)
2007 | 4 min. | Music Video
Music video for Ethnic Degeneration from the motion picture soundtrack to Mile Post 398.
Cry
Director: Shonie De La Rosa
2007 | 4 min. | Music Video
Music video for Coalition from the motion picture soundtrack to Mile Post 398.
The Last Trek
Director: Ramona Emerson (Dineé)
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 (Diné)
2006 | 7 min. | Short
A Native woman on an urban street encounters stereotyped misunderstanding in this poignant drama and ironic parable.
Saturday, October 6, 5–6 p.m.
Meet the Filmmakers
(open to weekend pass holders)
Saturday, October 6, 6–9:30 p.m.
Evening Screenings at the Museum of Northern Arizona
$10/general admission, $6/students
Mile Post 398 (festival’s feature film with members of the cast and crew)
Director: Shonie De La Rosa (Diné)
2007 | 1 hour 50 min. | Feature
A Navajo man named Cloyd in his mid-30s, living in Kayenta, is dealing with his alcohol problem. One day Cloyd decides to turn his life around by quitting drugs and alcohol and making amends 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 (Diné)
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.