A group of women plan rescue efforts when one of their own goes missing from their reservation. + + + + + <a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/863/485/original/319640268a-headshot.jpg?1625642528" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/863/485/thumb/319640268a-headshot.jpg?1625642528" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;" width="176"></a>Director: Jennifer Varenchik (she/her) is from the Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona. She is writer and director who started as an actress, before moving behind the camera to create more accurate depictions of Indigenous people. Jennifer’s training includes improv at The Groundlings Theater, acting at Stella Adler Academy of Acting (Los Angeles) and screenwriting at Long Beach City College. She has written and directed several short films, commercials and PSAs. Jennifer resides Kaneohe, HI and in January 2021, she won the Hawaii Filmmakers Collective Pitch Contest to complete her short film “In Our Own Hands”.

In Our Own Hands

Nominated for Best Live Short: A group of women plan rescue efforts when one of their own goes missing from their reservation.

Directed by Powertan, a Black Indigenous Yupik Alaskan Native, Discordance is a film where; Two life long friends, as close as brothers, arrive at an impasse. The direction they choose, will change their life forever. + + + + + <a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/751/270/original/b5940cdad4-headshot.jpg?1620838424" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/751/270/thumb/b5940cdad4-headshot.jpg?1620838424" width="317" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"></a>Director: Powertan Blanchett was born and raised in Alaska. He is a Black Indigenous Yupik Alaskan Native. Telling stories in the Yupik culture is an oral tradition, as well as a physical tradition through Yupik Dancing. As a child growing up, Powertan was apart of telling stories through Yupik dance with his older brothers dance/singing group, known as PAMYUA. Powertan would say that watching movies were his babysitter. These many years diving into the world of cinema, inspired Powertan to grow from telling stories within the Yupik Canvas, to use the Canvas of Cinema itself.

Discordance

Discordance is a film where; Two life long friends, as close as brothers, arrive at an impasse. The direction they choose, will change their life forever.

Based on the experiences of Tlingit artist Kiri Geen as she reconnected and reclaimed her Indigenous heritage after her adoption, "Kiri and The Girl" follows young Kiri as she navigates losing her mother and is guided to becoming her true self. <a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/675/421/original/60a13e3770-headshot.jpg?1628023513" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/675/421/thumb/60a13e3770-headshot.jpg?1628023513" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;" width="202"></a>Director: Grace Dove is an Indigenous Actress and Director who has embraced a responsibility to lift up her audience and her community. She co-starred with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy in the Oscar-winning film 'The Revenant' and with Academy Award winning actor Forest Whitaker and Theo James in the Netflix Thriller 'How It All Ends'. She is the leading role in the feature film adaptation of Eden Robinson's novel Monkey Beach. When the red carpet is rolled up and tucked away, she facilitates her youth-empowerment program "Thunderbird Dreams" in communities directing short films that are unique to each Nation. "I had the dream of becoming an actress and want to tell stories of Indigenous Resilience. I created the vision, and I didn't let anyone tell me it's not possible."

Kiri and The Girl

"Kiri and The Girl" follows young Kiri as she navigates losing her mother and is guided to becoming her true self.

Disappearing Moon is a pre-contact short film that follows the journey of Red Cloud, a father who sets out to find his twelve-year-old daughter Morning Star who vanishes without a trace. Along his search he meets Kozano a being from another dimension who might know what happened but only answers in riddles. + + + + + <a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/900/149/original/bc740785b3-headshot.jpg?1630366368" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/900/149/thumb/bc740785b3-headshot.jpg?1630366368" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;" width="193"></a>Director: Micheal Auger has dedicated his life’s work and creativity to bringing an accurate worldview and depiction of contemporary Indigenous life through scripted and factual video productions, music, graphic design and photography.

Disappearing Moon

Disappearing Moon is a pre-contact short film that follows the journey of Red Cloud, a father who sets out to find his twelve-year-old daughter Morning Star who vanishes without a trace.

A conversation between a mother and her daughter; memories of passing from the hut to the house. + + + + + <a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/720/375/original/d6fe7cf158-headshot.jpg?1614011848" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/720/375/thumb/d6fe7cf158-headshot.jpg?1614011848" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;" width="347"></a>Director:&nbsp;Mary Menie Mark was born in Pakuashipi. She holds a Diploma in special education from the Cégep de Sept-Îles and a Certificate in special needs intervention for children aged 0 to 6. She has held several positions in the community, including addiction counsellor, daycare supervisor and Chief of the community of Pakuashipi. She then worked as a maternal and child health worker before becoming Executive Director. Inniun ueshkat mak anutshish is her first experience with the Wapikoni team.

Inniun ueshkat mak anutshish

A conversation between a mother and her daughter; memories of passing from the hut to the house.

A young woman recounts her journey, which led her from her home community to an urban setting. After experiencing culture shock in the city, this is where she wants to live from now on. + + + + + <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/8d676f105cac50493dd707666d25b3db.jpg" width="333" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">Director: Maïlys Flamand is from the Innu/Atikamekw Nation. She was born in Roberval on August 13, 1994 and spends a lot of time on the road for her studies. She holds a certificate in Indigenous Youth Intervention from UQAC and is currently enrolled in a Psychosocial Intervention certificate program. She directed her first short during the 2017 workshop in Manawan, called Tetci nin? (Why Me?), and in 2018, she directed a second film during the Concordia workshop. Both films share the same subject, that of belonging to more than one place.

Iskwew-Ishkueu

Iskwew-ishkueu: a movie gently born from a force of resilience.

Before embarking on a journey of a better life for himself. Dylon, a young Navajo teen faces a decision that may jeopardize his future and lead him to a darker life. + + + + + Director Biography -&nbsp;Lonnie R Begaye<a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/736/566/original/61c37953a1-headshot.jpg?1625192198" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/ff-storage-p01/press_kits/headshots/001/736/566/thumb/61c37953a1-headshot.jpg?1625192198" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;" width="255"></a>Lonnie R Begaye, Navajo, born and raised on the Navajo Reservation. Growing up on the Rez, he brings forward the stories and life experiences of a Native reservation into his screenplays and film ethic.

Kónááhoot’éhé

Before embarking on a journey of a better life for himself. Dylon, a young Navajo teen faces a decision that may jeopardize his future and lead him to a darker life.

Dramatic Shorts: part 1

General Admission

American Indian Film Institute 1446 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102 (AIFI IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION. TAX ID 95-3646346)

Donation to {{American Indian Film Institute}}

Donate

These are all the passes tied to your account. Now, use our online schedule to reserve tickets. You can access your tickets via {{my_tickets_link|"My Tickets"}} or via the PDFs attached to each ticket order confirmation email. {{buy_pass_link|Looking to buy more passes?}}

These are all your purchased tickets. Open this page on your phone, and at the door tap the "Show Barcode" button and show your screen to the attendant. Prefer paper? Print the PDF attached to the order confirmation email, or click one of the gears below and select "Download tickets PDF". If purchasing multiple tickets, be sure to print or show each unique ticket barcode.

None available

Our virtual program begins November 5th and runs through November 13th. Purchase individual tickets by browsing through the Film Catalog. Once ordered, you can begin streaming Video-On-Demand content beginning November 5th. Click on the Log-In button (located in the top right corner) to use your ticket. All programs will be available to view for the duration of the Festival (November 5- 13). Once you begin watching a program, you'll have 24 hours to finish. If you still have questions please click the "Need Help" button in the top right corner of this page.

Celebrating our 46th Season, the American Indian Film Festival®, the first and longest film festival showcasing films dedicated to American Indians, Alaska Natives and First Nation Cultures, will showcase excellence in contemporary Native Cinema between November 5 - 13, 2021. 

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.