American Indian Film Festival facts for kids

The American Indian Film Festival is an annual non-profit film festival in San Francisco, California, United States. It is the world's oldest venue dedicated solely to Native American/First Nations films and prepared the way for the 1979 formation of the American Indian Film Institute.

According to the Institute, the Festival was first presented in Seattle, Washington in 1975 and moved in 1977 to San Francisco, where it remains today. In 1979, the Festival was incorporated.

Over 3,100 films have been screened from Native American/First Nations communities in the U.S. and Canada, and the festival includes events such as film screenings, panel discussions, an awards ceremony and networking events.

This festival is not to be confused by the Native American Film and Video Festival, which was founded in 1979.

Winners

Recent festival winners include:

• films and documentaries: Barking Water, Given to Walk, Le jour avant le lendemain, Imprint, Expiration Date, Johnny Tootall, Dreamkeeper, The Doe Boy, Unbowed, Smoke Signals, Healing of Nations, PahaSapa... The Struggle for the Black Hills, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, Maïna
• directors and filmmakers: Chris Eyre, Nanci Rossov, Randy Redroad, Steve Barron, Rodrick Pocowatchit, Shirley Cheechoo, Aaron James Sorensen, Rick Stevenson, Sterlin Harjo, Marie-Hélène Cousineau, Madeline Ivalu, Georgina Lightning, Kevin Willmott
• documentarians: Mel Lawrence, Peter von Puttkamer,
• actors: Adam Beach, Jay Tavare, James Duval, Jeri Arredondo, Judy Herrera, Robert A. Guthrie, Cody Lightning, Tonantzin Carmelo, Carla-Rae, Trevor Duplessis, Candace Fox, Wes Studi, Misty Upham, Casey Camp-Horinek, Winter Fox Frank, Roseanne Supernault, Michelle Thrush, Earnest "Ernie" David Tsosie III

Best Films

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s