The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Aug. 17–20 for the Native Cinema Showcase.
Free Film Screenings
The annual celebration of the best in Indigenous film includes 41 films this year. The Native Cinema Showcase provides an unparalleled forum for engagement with Native filmmakers from Indigenous communities throughout the Western Hemisphere and Arctic. Two of the feature films, Hey Viktor! and Fancy Dance, will have their New Mexico premiere during the showcase. All screenings will take place at the New Mexico History Museum; seating is first come, first served.
Altogether, this year’s program includes 41 films (35 shorts, six features) representing 33 Native nations in seven countries: U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Colombia and Finland. And, the films are diverse. For example, actors speak 15 Indigenous languages in the films. Genres are likewise diverse, and include documentaries, music videos, kid-friendly shorts, films in Indigenous languages and more.
The free screenings are held at the New Mexico History Museum. Saturday night’s family-friendly screening of Disney’s Encanto takes place at the Santa Fe Railyard Park.
Special Performance and Appearances
In addition to the screenings during the Native Cinema Showcase, the Museum will host a special performance Saturday, Aug. 19. The event will also include music video screenings, music by DJ Emcee One and a live performance by Battiest Brothers (Seminole Tribe of Florida). Other special appearances include an evening reunion event Thursday, Aug. 17, with some of the original cast of Smoke Signals—Cody Lightning, Adam Beach, Irene Bedard, Simon Baker and Gary Farmer. Friday evening, Aug. 18, actor Lily Gladstone (Blackfeet/Nimíipuu) and director Erica Tremblay will participate in a Q&A following the screening of Fancy Dance.
The Native Cinema Showcase screenings and dance party are free and open to the public. All programs are subject to change; the full schedule is listed on the Museum’s website.
Native Cinema Showcase is an official program of the Santa Fe Indian Market, which is sponsored by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts. Also, special support for Native Cinema Showcase is provided by The Walt Disney Company.
