Billy Luther facts for kids

Billy Luther is a Native American filmmaker. He writes, produces, and directs independent films. He has created many documentaries and short movies. Billy Luther is part of the Navajo, Hopi, and Laguna Pueblo tribes. He is well-known for his films like Frybread Face and Me (2023) and Miss Navajo (2007). He also worked on the 2022 television series Dark Winds.

Early Life and Education

Billy Luther comes from the Navajo, Hopi, and Laguna Pueblo peoples. He studied filmmaking at Columbia College Chicago. Later, he continued his studies at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. In 2000, he had an internship at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in New York City. There, he helped with the museum's Native American Film + Video Festival.

His Film Career

Billy Luther started directing and making short films while he was a student. One of his early films was Face Value (2000). This was a short documentary about how people are sometimes judged unfairly based on their appearance.

Miss Navajo Documentary

Miss Navajo was Billy Luther's first major documentary film. He explored the yearly Miss Navajo pageant in this movie. His own mother won this pageant in 1966. The film shows how contestants must prove traditional skills. These skills include speaking their language well and even shearing sheep. The film was shown at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. It also won a special award there. Miss Navajo has been shown at over 300 festivals. It is also used to teach students in schools and colleges around the world.

Grab and Community Traditions

Grab was Billy Luther's second big documentary. It premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. In this film, Luther shows a Navajo community that faces many challenges. Despite these, they continue to practice their old traditions. The movie tells the story of a Laguna ceremony called "giving." During this event, families throw food, cultural items, and other gifts from their rooftops. People below then "grab" these items. The actress Parker Posey narrated the film Grab.

Rebel Music Series

Billy Luther also helped direct an episode of MTV World's Rebel Music. This was a documentary series that traveled around the world. The series looked at young people who use art and music to create change. The episode about Native Americans was MTV's first long program shown on Facebook. It featured Frank Waln, a hip-hop artist working to protect the environment. It also showed pop musician Inez Jasper, who speaks up for women's rights.

Red Lake Short Film

Luther directed and produced Red Lake, a short documentary. This film is about a difficult event that happened at a high school. The movie follows three people who were there. They reunite ten years after the event. The 30-minute film was shown at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Festival. It was also nominated for an award.

alter-NATIVE Web Series

In 2018, Luther's web-series alter-NATIVE debuted on PBS' IndieLens StoryCast Youtube Channel. The first season followed Native fashion designer Bethany Yellowtail. It showed her journey to create a clothing line. This line was inspired by women who are active in important causes. The second season was called alter-Native: Kitchen. It featured three Native and Hawaiian chefs. These chefs prepared traditional foods from their cultures. They also showed how to make these foods modern for new generations.

Frybread Face and Me

Frybread Face and Me is Billy Luther's first narrative feature film. This means it tells a fictional story. It premiered at the 2023 SXSW film festival. The movie is about an 11-year-old city boy. He is sent to his grandmother's ranch on the Navajo reservation. There, he learns important lessons about family and Navajo culture. He also gains new insights into his own history.