Native film festival promotes diversity in cinema

Native and indigenous people are sometimes the most under represented groups in cinema. With such a focus on the lack of diversity in film during this years Academy Awards, one local film festival is looking to change that.

The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is presenting the 15th annual Native FilmFest which features more than 20 films from around the world from visionary directors that would like to see more diversity in film not just here but across the globe. You can see the films at the Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs for free.

“You notice the hash tag for boycotting the Oscars was just #OscarsSoWhite but there is also no Indians ever, so it was like Oscars so white and black I think,” said Sterlin Harjo, an independent film director who movie Mekko is scheduled to be featured Wednesday night.

SEE THE SCHEDULE AND A FULL LIST OF ALL THE FILMS PLAYING AT THE NATIVE FILMFEST

The Native FilmFest gives independent artists, many of them Native American or indigenous themselves, a chance to show their work.

“Whenever you are able to see another culture on TV you learn a little more about them, so in certain parts of America there still is racism between native communities and the non-native communities,” said Steven Paul Judd director of the short film Ronnie BoDean.

“It presents people of different indigenous areas that are able to come in and present their works without having to go through the rigmarole,” said Linda Carnuccio who already has tickets for many of the shows this week.

“It helps people understand that even though people are diverse we are all dealing with the same issues, we are dealing with issues of family life, of raising kids, of trying to sustain the environment and make it livable for future generations,” said Michael Hammond, executive director for the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum.

The films in the festival range from shorts to full length features covering a wide range of topics and styles, including full length dramas, shorts, and documentaries.

Closing night activities will be on Sunday at the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

All the films are free but there is limited seating so you’ll still have to get a ticket at the box office.

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