SANTE FE, NM, July 8, 2010

The Santa Fe Film Festival has announced that Val Kilmer will serve as the Honorary Chair for the 11^th Santa Fe Film Festival.   The dates for this year’s edition of SFFF will be October 20-25.   A long time supporter of the film festival, the actor and Santa Fe resident has taken a great interest in the promotion and revitalization of the celebrated event as part of his support for the Santa Fe community. The announcement follows Kilmer volunteering the use of his ranch of his Pecos River Ranch in Rowe, New Mexico for a fundraising event on behalf of the SFFF on June 27.   Kilmer said, “The Santa Fe Film Festival is a wonderful event offering the opportunity for everyone in Santa Fe and the surrounding areas to see amazing films from around the world and meet the filmmakers that made those films. And I look forward to helping bring some of the best filmmakers I know and have worked with to enjoy our city and see firsthand why I love it and have made it my home.”   SFFF Co-Director Michael Hare said, “Val has been a champion of this film festival for years and this announcement only serves to put an official stamp on the unwavering support he has offered to this event and this area. We look forward to putting something very special together in our eleventh year.”   The fundraising event at Kilmer’s Pecos River Ranch featured a day of fly fishing, jeep tours of his 6000 acre ranch and a gourmet meal. Notables enjoying the hospitality included Laurent and Nathalie Gruet of Gruet Winery, local philanthropists Lee and Susan Berk, writer and philanthropist Michael Pettit, SFFF board members Gunther Maier, Bill Dedmon, Pat Hall, and Nick Durrie & Sandy McGovern Durrie, as well as SFFF Co-Directors Hare and Rose Kuo.   Additional information can be found at www.santafefilmfestival.com.    

About The Santa Fe Film Festival The Santa Fe Film Festival (SFFF) is a cultural, not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization whose mission is to recognize and celebrate the art of cinema in all forms by showcasing New Mexico, national and international films and filmmakers. Through its exhibition, education and community development programs, SFFF is building, stimulating and entertaining audiences. The festival supports and encourages filmmakers by offering essential networking opportunities and open dialogues with intelligent and inquisitive consumers and industry professionals. By attracting local, national and international markets, the festival promotes the city of Santa Fe and the state of New Mexico as a cultural center that contributes to the financial and cultural success of the city and the state.

An exhibition of the moving image, including stop-motion, 3D and other animation techniques, Big Eye showcases Aboriginal animations from Australia and Canada in a unique cross-tribal exchange of ideas and world views.

Aboriginal Australian screen artists use digital storytelling techniques to bring cultural knowledge and contemporary exploration of country to the fore, with an original and distinctive voice.

Big Eye builds on its 2008 debut screening at 24HR Art (Northern Territory Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin) featuring prominent Aboriginal Australian artists to now include works by Aboriginal Canadian Animators and Artists.

Star Aboriginal Canadian artist Skawennati Tricia Fragnito’s new media practice uniquely centres on creating projects specifically for the internet, which she believes is ‘an extraordinary art delivery system’. Skawennati’s work responds to cultural misconceptions and generalisations about gender and race.

“First World” countries Australia and Canada are two of very few countries in the world who recognise their first people as Aboriginal. Philosophically, this exhibition explores a shared heritage by Aboriginal Canadians and Aboriginal Australians through the intersection of Aboriginal Aesthetics and Culture, with the endurance of a similar colonisation as a background.

Featuring Dark Thunder Productions, Raven Tales, Skawennati Tricia Fragnito & Abtech, Rabbit and Bear Foot, The Healthy Aboriginal Project and Anthony Wong, Frank Mcleod & Aboriginal Nations, Aroha Groves, Christine Peacock & Rebekah Pitt & John Graham, the Gunbalanya Community & Gozer Media, and artist/curator Jenny Fraser.

The exhibition opens at QUT Creative Industries Precint ‘the Block’ at Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Australia – Tuesday April 28th, 2009 – 6 for 6.30pm

Opening hours Tuesday & Wednesday 2pm – 6.30pm, Thursday & Friday 2pm – 8pm,
Saturday 4pm – 8pm

Showing until May 16th 2009.

* also with a drop-in Animation Lab by appointment

Exhibition Design by Lubi Thomas.

How to get there: http://www.ciprecinct.qut.com/whatshappening/howtogethere.jsp

Raven Tales: http://www.raventales.ca

Aboriginal Nations http://www.thedreamingstories.com.au & http://www.ablnat.com

Dreamtime Animations http://www.dreamtimeanimations.com

Skawennati: http://www.skawennati.com

Dreamtime Animations http://www.thedreamingstories.com.au

QUT http://www.ciprecinct.qut.com/shows/details.jsp?news-event-id=23115

cyberTribe http://www.geocities.com/cybertribeoz

and yes,
we went to Noumea!

with the others : the touring exhibition of the other APT held at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia

read a review of the show by Matt Poll:

http://mathewpoll.blogspot.com/2008/12/fight-power.html

and a news story featured in the Koori Mail:

http://www.geocities.com/dot_ayu/writing4.htm

or see some of the install photos here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=56568&id=551291075&l=e36e8

happy 2009!

jenny fraser
http://www.geocities.com/dot_ayu/index.htm

The NATV Presidential coverage, from the Campaign to the Parade will be on the air within the next two weeks on Verizon’s on Demand Channel.

Check your local listings for dates and times.

NATV would like to thank “Injunuity” for their talents and music that is featured in the finished piece.

You can find out more about the band at www.injunuity.net and www.myspace.com/injunuity

Feel free to contact me to discuss NATV and how you can contribute to our community media voice with your tax deductible donation.

Note:  NATV is now also on Facebook and Twitter

www.facebook.com/pages/NATV-Native-American-Television/51629342901
www.twitter.com/natvonline

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian announces today that the opening night film for the 14th Native American Film and Video Festival (NAFVF) in its 30th running year, will be the world premiere of “We Shall Remain: Trail of Tears” directed by Chris Eyre (Cheyenne/Arapaho), on Thursday, Mar. 26, 2009 at 7 p.m. The screening will be introduced by Chris Eyre, executive producer Sharon Grimberg, and lead actor Wes Studi (Cherokee). The festival will run from Thursday, Mar. 26 through Sunday, Mar. 29 at the National Museum of the American Indian in New York, the George Gustav Heye Center.

The screening is free and open to the public, but reservations are strongly suggested. For reservations, email fvc@si.edu or call (212) 514-3737.

As part of the acclaimed series from PBS, “We Shall Remain: Trail of Tears” is narrated by Benjamin Bratt (Quechua) and explores the resolve and resilience of the Cherokee Nation, who resisted removal from their homelands in the Southeast in every way they knew: assimilating, adopting a European-style government and legal system, accepting Christianity, and even taking their case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite decades of struggle to keep their land, in 1838, thousands of Cherokee were forced from their homes in the Southeastern United States, driving them toward Indian Territory in Eastern Oklahoma. More than 4,000 died of disease and starvation along the way. “Trail of Tears” is the third episode in American Experience’s five-part miniseries, “We Shall Remain.”

This evening’s screening will be preceded by the New York Premiere of Courtney M. Leonard’s “Untitled.” Produced as part of ReelNative, a nation-wide community outreach video training project of the We Shall Remain series, this film presents how the death of a 60-foot finback whale on the shores of the Shinnecock Reservation in Long Island inspires a young artist to preserve the memory for future generations.

Support from the festival has come from The Academy Foundation, the New York State Council for the Arts, and federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.

Located in New York City and Washington, D.C, the Film and Video Center of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian is an international leader in the presentation of indigenous film and video projects. National and international programs include the Native American Film and Video Festival, the annual Native Cinema Showcase in Santa Fe, and daily screenings for youth and general audiences. FVC produces the bilingual Native Networks Website with information and resources on indigenous film, video, and radio: www.nativenetworks.si.edu and www.redesindigenous.si.edu. Media information is provided through the website, by phone and E-mail; on-site research and video viewing are available by appointment.

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian’s George Gustav Heye Center is located at One Bowling Green in New York City, across from Battery Park. The museum is free and open everyday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Thursdays until 8 p.m. Call (212) 514-3700 for general information and (212) 514-3888 for a recording about the museum’s public programs. By subway, the museum may be reached by the 1 to South Ferry, the 4 or 5 to Bowling Green or the R or W to Whitehall Street. The museum’s Web site is www.americanindian.si.edu.

Hooray 2009 is here!

It’s a new year with a new president and now a new edition of NAICA online. I know, I know, you’ve been waiting so long for us to put up something new, but we were waiting for the right time, and this week is probably one of the best so far. I mean, sure it’s only, like, the third week into the new year, and it could actually turn out to be crap, but we’re feeling hopeful! (Thanks Obama!).

It probably goes without saying, but in this edition we focus on national, local and personal politics.

Following McCain’s example we have reached across the isles to introduce you to our most exciting Artists in Residence to date – the creators of bro’Town – a wicked smart and truly hilarious ‘adult cartoon’ from New Zealand. For those of you Stateside you can catch the first two seasons on Link T.V., but once you’re hooked, and you will be, you’ll have to purchase the succeeding seasons from the Official bro’Town website. Yes, they are NTSC format!

Photo: Courtesy Leonard Gath (pictured)

Photo: Courtesy artist Jim Brown (pictured)

In People, Places, Things we meet Jim Brown, an L.A. artist and musician with a heart of gold (He’s not a Fake Indian!), and we travel to San Carlos Apache Reservation to glimpse the inner working of Rez poltiics according to Sonny Grant.

Photo: Courtesy designer Victor Pascual (pictured)

Photo: Courtesy author/curator Paul Chaat Smith (pictured)

We focus the Spotlight on graphic/web designer Victor Pascual with an interview conducted by associate editor Torry Mendoza; we consider the importance of non Indian Indian painter Fritz Scholder in an in depth discussion with co-curator Paul Chaat Smith. You can bet your ass that discussion was quite political (though perhaps not overtly so).

The personal is political, and you know, that other stuff is too.

Check it out tonight, or tomorrow morning, or whenever.

NAICA online

Native American Television was granted official press passes to cover everything from the Swearing In ceremony to Indigenous oriented parties, meetings and more that will coincide along all the D.C. insider balls and hoohaw. A wonderful turn for Natives in America! Here is the official NATV press release and link to their new website.

BREAKING NEWS:  As you know, this year’s Presidential Inauguration is a historic event, especially for our Native American community and the world.

NATV has the honor and privilege of being the first and only Native American news media source that is covering the Presidential Inauguration including the Swearing in Ceremony directly alongside the major networks.

Many other one time events that also require the press credentials provided by the Senate Radio/TV Gallery and the Presidential Inaugural Committee will be covered by NATV from a Native American perspective now confirmed to include the biggest of the officially sanctioned Inaugural Balls where the President of the United States will be in attendance.  Just as important is the coverage of Indigenous events that will be NATV exclusives.

The Inaugural events begin in days, and this year NATV will showcase Native America as an active community and relevant voice in the National media, as well as worldwide via the web.

New Website

Native American Television is also pleased to announce that we have another new website www.natvonline.org.  This website has been created to showcase content and current events and as of today it is under construction, but up and running with major changes slated for the very near future; especially the coverage of the Inaugural events!

NATV is a Federally Trademarked nonprofit, multimedia organization.  All information associated with NATV is proprietary and copyright protected.

The upcoming film and video festival will see New York City flooded with more Indigenous folks than a…wow, I can’t think of anything clever (read: non-smart ass) to insert here. If you can, email me!

This year’s guest selectors are Nanobah Becker, Chris Eyre, Fred Rickard, and Zezinho Yube.

The festival is worker friendly in that the screenings take place in the evenings and on the weekend. Also this time around there are 70 films and videos aas opposed to over 100 back in 2006. Less is more – more time for Q&A’s and Meet & Greets. The point of a festival like this is that it provides the opportunity to interact with the media makers and festival staff on an intimate level. So, mark your calendars!

As Chitimacha legends continue to be passed down from generation to generation, children learn and understand them through a new lens that comes with fresh ideas applicable to their environment. The Chitimacha reservation is on land that our ancestors walked on and many of these stories relate to a landspape that exists today. The Chitimacha Tribal School students designed the Water Legends Mural Project. All eighty-six student of the school reviewed a selection of Chitimacha legends pertaining to water and developed a personal meaning which they visually articulated through drawings. I then painted a wall mural, 10 feet by twenty-eight feet, based on these drawings

All photos: Courtesy Sarah Sense @ www.sarahsense.com

City and County of San Francisco

WHEREAS, the annual American Indian Film Festival was founded in 1975 in Seattle, WA and then moved to its permanent home in San Francisco in 1977 and then incorporated its governing body, the (AIFI), two years later in 1979; and WHEREAS, as the nation’s most prominent outlet for Native American films, the American Indian Film Festival will premiere over 80 new feature films, shorts, public service, music videos and documentaries of USA American Indian and Canada First Nation communities at this year’s event; and WHEREAS, the goals of AIFI are inherently educational: to encourage Native/non-Native filmmakers to bring to the broader media culture the Native voices, viewpoints and stories that have been historically excluded from mainstream media; to establish Indian and non-Indian audiences for this work; and to advocate tirelessly for authentic representations of Indians in the media. WHEREAS, the AIFI uses the medium of film as a tool to preserve and record their heritage, and as a vehicle for Indians and non-Indians alike to challenge damaging stereotypes and replace them with multi-dimensional images that reflect the complexity of Native peoples;now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Gavin Newsom, Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco, do hereby proclaim November 7-15, 2008 as American Indian Film Festival Week in San Francisco!

Source

Starting this weekend NOV. 7-15 in SAN FRANCISCO, CA

The American Indian Film Institute (AIFI) proudly announce the 33rd annual American Indian Film Festival, November 7-15. As the nation’s most prominent outlet for Native American films, the American Indian Film Festival will premiere over 80 new feature films, shorts, public service, music videos and documentaries of USA American Indian and Canada First Nation communities.Among the feature films, the U.S. Premiere of Drew Hayden Taylor’s In a World Created By A Drunken God , Nov.7; World Premiere of “Coloring the Media”, Nov. 13 ; and U.S. Premiere of Zacharias Kunuk’s (Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner), Before Tomorrow will screen Friday Nov. 14.The 2008 American Indian Film Festival, presented over nine days, will run Nov. 7-12 at the Landmark Embarcadero Center Cinema, One Embarcadero Center, Promenade Level; and conclude Nov. 13-15 at the Palace of Fine Arts,3301 Lyon St. @ Bay Street.A special film and music tribute “Remembering Floyd Red Crow Westerman (1936-2007)” will be presented November 13 at the Palace of Fine Arts. Westerman was an accomplished singer/songwriter whose 1969 debut album “ Custer Died for Your Sins” earned critical acclaim. He also was a human rights activist who performed with Sting in the rainforest benefits; and actor receiving world-wide attention and acclaim as “Ten Bears” in Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves. The music tribute will be directed by Indian songwriter/performer Keith Secola and hosted by comic Charlie Hill and Max Gail.

On Friday Nov. 14 at Theater 39@Pier 39, AIFI’s Tribal Touring Program, a Native youth film workshop program supported by tribal host partners, will showcase 16 films from the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, Brooks, CA; Stop the Violence Coalition, Hoopa, CA; and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Rohnert Park, CA. ADMISSION IS FREE.

AIFI’s American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show, beginning at 6:00pm, honoring filmmakers and showcasing contemporary Native American talent, will be held on Saturday November 15 at the Palace of Fine Arts.

Guest awards host include actors Michael Horse, Tonantzin Carmelo and Michael Spears. Fourteen awards will be presented including Best Film, Best Actor and Best Documentary. The awards show is an eclectic mix of live entertainment by established and emerging Native artists and performers. The line-up includes: New country artist Crystal Shawanda, You Can Let Go (single) -Dawn of a New Day CD, recording artist Shea Keck along with Grammy award winner Micki Free, violinist Swil Kanim, Yaaw Tei Yi Tlingit dancers from Juneau,AK, comic Drew LaCapa, and singer Claude McKenzie.

A complete schedule is available on our website www.aifisf.com. All programs are open to the general public and will require tickets for admission.

Advance Tickets available thru AIFI: 415-554-0525 visa & mastercard. On-site tickets available at the following theater venues (on day of show.)

The 2008- 33rd Annual American Indian Film Festival is sponsored by: Seminole Tribe of Florida;Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians,CA; San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, CA; Jackson Rancheria,CA; SantaYnez Band of Chumash Indians,CA; Two Rivers Circle,CA; Ak-Chin Indian Community,AZ;CBS, NY; Fox Diversity,CA; International Gaming Technology(IGT), NV; NBC Universal,CA; Oneida Indian Nation, NY; Salt River Pima –Maricopa Indian Community,AZ; 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians; Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians,CA; Wells Fargo Bank, CA; Landmark Theatres; San Francisco Grants for the Arts; San Francisco Arts Commission; San Francisco Bay Guardian; and KQED TV-9.