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Sundance Institute Holds Native Forum at Sundance Film Festival
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The Sundance Institute held a Native Forum
program during the 2003 Sundance Film Festival in January in Park City, Utah,
highlighting films made by Native Americans and indigenous peoples.
This year’s Native Forum opened with the U.S. premiere of Alanis
Obomsawin’s new documentary Is The Crown At War With Us? It also included
three feature-length and seven short films, and is a blend of new projects from
such established filmmakers as Randy Redroad and Shirley Cheechoo, and such
emerging filmmakers as Ivan
Sen, Darlene Naponse, Shane
Hannigan, Puka Moeau, and
Nicholas Boseley.
With four world premieres
and four U.S. premieres, the
ninth annual Native Forum
continued to emphasize SUNDANCE INSTITUTE
innovation
in
Native
filmmaking and give life to the rich history of artistic expression and storytelling
inherent to indigenous life.
In addition to the 11 films screened in the Native Forum program, the institute
also presented two seminars. “Indigenous Documentary Filmmaking,” with
acclaimed documentarian Alanis Obomsawin, explored the specific challenges
faced by indigenous filmmakers and their responsibility to their communities and
the story. Renowned New Zealand filmmaker and screenwriter Merata Mita led
“Screenwriting From The Indigenous Perspective,” a screenwriting seminar that
focused on the unique forms of storytelling used by indigenous filmmakers.
Selections for the 2003 Sundance Film Festival Native Forum were:
Program I
Moccasin Flats by Randy Redroad (Western Cherokee), USA, World Premiere -
This short film is about Native youth experiencing the love and harshness of
modem inner-city life.
Admirational by Shane Lee Eagle Hannigan (Yakama Nation), USA — A short
drama with spoken-word narrations over images of a young man falling in
love with a girl and realizing he has choices in life.
Sailing The Master Home by Gilbert Salas (Tarahumara), USA - A short
documentary that takes viewers on a sailing journey through the South Pacific,
navigating by the stars.
Withdrawl by Dax Thomas (Laguna Pueblo), USA, World Premiere - A visual
flurry of images representing sex, identity, and ongoing conflicts as seen
through the eyes of a young Laguna Pueblo man.
Program II
Is The Crown At War With Us? by Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki Nation), Canada,
U.S. Premiere - A feature documentary offering a gripping portrait of the
Esgenoopetitj Mi’gmaq First Nation during the summer of 2000 as the
Canadian government appears to wage war on the community for exercising
its inherent and court-affirmed fishing rights.
Program III
Pikutiskwaau (Mother Earth) by Shirley Cheechoo (James Bay Cree), Canada -
A feature-length documentary tracing the Cree philosophy of Mother Earth
and the responsibilities of the Cree people to honor her and those who continue
to give life to the Cree people.
Bundle In Good Standing by Gabriel Whiteturkey (Eastern Delaware), USA, U.S.
Premiere - This short documentary is about the filmmaker's grandmother
and her ceremonial responsibilities within Lenape society.
14 , □
SilçU News.
. February 2003.
Program IV
Cradlesong by Darlene Naponse (Whitefish Lake Ojibway), Canada, World
Premiere - A musically driven feature with original songs that create a journey
through the consequences and realities of a rural Native community leading
up to one character’s moment of madness.
Rangimarie by Puka Moeau (Rongowhakaata/Mahaki), New Zealand, World
Premiere - A short documentary about kapa haka (traditional Maori dance)
champions Rangimarie, their kaupapa (philosophy), and their messages of
peace to the world.
Program V
Beneath Clouds by Ivan Sen (Gamilaroi), Australia, U.S. Premiere - A story of
two youth who meet while hitchhiking on the road to Sydney. Both are
indigenous Aborigine, though Lena is blonde and blue-eyed and Vaughn is
“black” by Australian standards. Their brief journey leads to changed
perceptions about their own lives and destinations.
Shit Skin by Nicholas Boseley (Arremta), Australia, U.S. Premiere-A short drama
where a grandson guides his grandmother back to the land and the people she
was stolen from as a child.
Presenting sponsors for the 2003 Sundance Film Festival included
Entertainment Weekly; Zenith Electronics Corporation; Volkswagen of America,
Inc.; and Hewlett-Packard Company. Leadership sponsors were American Express;
The Coca-Cola Company; DirecTV; Microsoft, Inc.; and the Sundance Channel.
Sustaining sponsors were ABC 4; AT&T; Bonterra Vineyards; CESARa Food
For Small Dogs; DEJ Productions, Inc.; The New York Tinies; Park City Visitors
Bureau and Film Commission; SKYY Vodka; Sony Electronics, Inc.; and the
Utah Film Commission.
Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, the Sundance Institute is dedicated to
developing artists of independent vision and exhibiting their new work. Since its
inception, the institute has grown into an internationally recognized resource for
filmmakers and other artists.
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