Red Nation Film Festival Explained

The Red Nation Film Festival is a film festival focused on films about indigenous people.^[1] The festival was founded in 1995 and is curated by Joanelle Romero. It is unconnected to The Red Nation.

History

The Red Nation Film Festival was founded in 1995 by Joanelle Romero, also its curator. It is run by Red Nation Celebration Institute, also founded in 1995,^[2] which also manages Red Nation Television Network.^[3]

At the 2011 festival, Russell Means was given the Oyate Wayanka Po Win Lifetime Achievement Award, while Michael Jackson posthumously received the Red Nation Humanitarian Award and Jerry Brown the American Indian Heritage Month Award.^[4]

In 2020, the festival was held virtually due to the pandemic. It screened 105 films, of which 73 were documentaries, 35 were directed by women, 12 were created by students and 10 were experimental films. Feature films screened included Monkey Beach and Parallel Minds, while documentaries included Gather, Revolution Moosehide, and . Monkey Beach swept the awards, winning Outstanding Actress In A Leading Role (Tina Marie Lameman), Outstanding Actor In A Leading Role (Nathaniel Arcand), Best Director (Loretta Todd), and Best Picture.^[5]

, the festival was set to be held virtually again throughout November of that year, and additionally shown on Red Nation Television Network.

Activity

The Red Nation Film Festival has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to partner with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to bring Native films into the mainstream., Joanelle Romero was working to make the festival Oscar-qualifying to improve the featured films' chances of being recognized in the Academy Awards.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tangcay. Jazz. 2020-11-13. Indigenous Films to Watch at the Virtual Red Nation Film Festival. 2021-10-10. Variety. en-US.
2. Web site: 2012-11-06. Red Nation Film Festival Coming To LA Nov. 7-14. 2021-10-10. CBS Los Angeles. en-US.
3. Web site: Gibbons. Sammy. March 23, 2021. These award shows honor diverse communities often overlooked by Oscars, Golden Globes. 2021-10-10. USA TODAY. en-US.
4. Web site: 2011-10-27. Red Nation Film Festival To Celebrate The Best In Native American Cinema. 2021-10-10. CBS Los Angeles. en-US.
5. Web site: Tangcay. Jazz. 2020-12-02. 'Monkey Beach' Sweeps at Red Nation Film Festival Awards. 2021-10-10. Variety. en-US.
6. Web site: Hammond. Pete. 2019-12-27. Upsets Looming For The Race? 'Parasite' On The Rise; The Return Of Oscar Legend Sacheen Littlefeather. 2021-10-10. Deadline. en-US.