Audience Awards Names Native American Documentary Challenge Finalists

From the eight finalist films, the jury will select the best documentary and award $1,000 and 1 FilmStro soundtrack license. The global audience is invited to vote for their favorite film between April 4-10, 2018. The most voted film wins $500 and 1 FilmStro soundtrack license.

The goal of this challenge is to accelerate Native American filmmakers’ careers and filmmakers have been encouraged to apply to be one of four BSDFF Native American Fellows with leaders in the Indigenous filmmaking community and the film industry at large.

Lights, camera, action

ADRIAN MANYGOATS

Jake and Deidra started filmmaking at a young age, and to date, they are the youngest Native filmmakers to have their work accepted at Sundance Film Festival. Their short film Rocket Boy (2010) was one of 60 films chosen from a pool of 650 submissions.

"For Native people, storytelling is central to maintaining knowledge and culture…our voices and concerns are not represented in mainstream media."

Paper Rocket Productions uses their talent to serve over 500 tribes across North America, with a particular focus on encouraging young people to creatively use technology to connect with their culture. Having participated in a number of youth workshops themselves in their early days of filmmaking, Jake and Deidra are using what they’ve learned to launch their own workshops and mentor Native youth.

Young Navajos get Sundance nod

CINDY YURTH

Seschillie knew Peaches in grade school, but didn't know she was also making movies until they met again in a high school broadcasting class. She made "Imagine" in response to a National Museum of the American Indian project called "Thanksgiving Revisited," and it was selected for screening as part of that exhibit.

"Basically, it was an invitation to show what you're thankful for," she recalled. "I'm thankful for imagination."