Native American Film and Video Festival facts for kids
The Native American Film and Video Festival was a special event that showed movies, videos, and audio projects. It wasn't a competition, so no one won prizes. This festival happened every two years in New York City from 1997 to 2011.
Each time, the festival showed about 50 to 80 different films. These included documentaries (real-life stories), short movies, and animated cartoons. The people who made these films, along with members of the Native communities they represented, would introduce their work.
The films chosen for the festival were picked by a team of experts. This team included filmmakers and cultural activists from Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Staff from the Film and Video Center of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian also helped choose. Some of the filmmakers who helped pick movies were Chris Eyre, Randy Redroad, and Nora Naranjo-Morse. Native American cultural experts like G. Peter Jemison, Beverly Singer, and Paul Apodaca were also part of the team.
What Was the Native American Film Festival?
The Native American Film and Video Festival was a unique event. It was created to share stories and art from Indigenous people through movies and videos. It was a place where their voices could be heard and their cultures could be celebrated.
When Did the Festival Start?
The festival first began in 1979. It quickly became known around the world as the first festival to show films made by Indigenous people from all over the Americas and the Arctic Circle.
Who Participated in the Festival?
Filmmakers from many different countries took part in the festival. These included people from Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, and the United States (including Hawaii). It was a truly international gathering of Indigenous talent.
