Billy Luther facts for kids

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

Early Life and Education

Billy Luther comes from the Navajo, Hopi, and Laguna Pueblo peoples. He studied filmmaking at Columbia College Chicago and later at Hampshire College in 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 Filmmaking Journey

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

Miss Navajo

Miss Navajo was Billy Luther's first major documentary film. In this movie, Luther explores the yearly Miss Navajo pageant. His own mother won this pageant in 1966! The film shows how contestants need to demonstrate traditional skills. These skills include speaking their language fluently and even shearing sheep. The film was shown at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. It won a special prize 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

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

Rebel Music

Billy Luther also helped direct an episode of MTV World's Rebel Music. This documentary series travels the world. It shows how young people use art and music to create change. The series was very popular online. The episode Rebel Music: Native American came out in 2014. 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

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

alter-NATIVE Web Series

Luther created a web-series called alter-NATIVE. It started in 2018 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 involved in political activism.

The second season was called alter-Native: Kitchen. It featured three Native and Hawaiian chefs. They were Brian Yazzie, Kalā Domingo, and Hillel Echo-Hawk. These chefs prepared traditional foods from their Indigenous cultures. These foods have helped their communities for many generations. The chefs also showed how to make these foods modern for today's generation.

Frybread Face and Me

Frybread Face and Me is Billy Luther's first feature film that tells a 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, traditions, and Navajo culture. He also gains new insights into his own history.