By: Kyrie Sismaet By: Kyrie Sismaet | November 7, 2022 | People, Parties, Politics, Culture, Celebrity, Art, Awards, Trends, Events, Women of Influence Latest, Television, Movies, Entertainment, Community, List - Entertainment,
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November is National Native American Indian Heritage Month, and to ring in the cultural commemoration, the historic American Indian Film Festival is premiering its 47th year with a weeklong of incredibly talented, compelling, and artistic films in San Francisco from November 4-12, 2022.
With over 70 films and 17 programs (13 being free to attend), this year is slated to be even bigger and better than ever, providing resources, a November 11 fundraiser with local renowned superstar Chef Crystal Wahpepah, panel discussions, and a diverse range of enlightening media provide accurate, authentic, and empowering representations of modern native culture and historical movements.
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The festival will have the films all played throughout San Francisco, which you can catch at the SOMA Arts Cultural Center, the Letterman Digital Arts Center, Fort Mason's Southside Theater, and for free screenings, at the San Francisco Public Library's Koret Auditorium.
From gripping documentaries, to ingenious animation, here is a glimpse at the spectacular AIFF movies to get excited for this year.
See also: SF Bay Area Indigenous & Native American Organizations To Know
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Koret Auditorium / Mon, Nov 7th, 11:00 AM
This is a wonderful stop-motion film that depicts the Mink legend 'Nakwax'daxw, spoken in the Bak̓wa̱mk̓ala language by late elder Ida Smith to her grandson. The mink, "Məca" is a mischievious and impatient son of the Sun who must journey to find humility and growth.
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Koret Auditorium / Tue, Nov 8th, 1:30 PM
MisTik focuses on post-apocalyptic survivors NiiPii and SiiPii, two Cree twins who hold the last healthy trees on their backs and must navigate following the spirit world.
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Koret Auditorium / Tue, Nov 8th, 3:30 PM
Powerlands is an impactful film that exposes the displacement of Indigenous people in different countries due to chemical companies exploiting land and devastating the local environment through the voice of Indigenous activists affected by them.
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Koret Auditorium / Wed, Nov 9th, 1:15 PM
Conviction was brilliantly created from the 2022 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival commission/mentorship program and follows Joseph'slife and recovery after being released from prison.
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Broken Angel sheds light on domestic abuse as Angel, mother to Tanis, seeks protection in a women's shelter on her reservation from her partner Earl.
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Koret Auditorium / Thu, Nov 10th, 12:45 PM
Okpik follows Inuit/Gwich’in Hunter Kylik Kisoun attempt to recover the lost art of constructing a traditional Inuvialuit sod-house to affirm off-grid housing security and revitalize his culture.
There are truly so many more must-see films, including The Doctrine Of Recovery, Indianland, Kanatenhs–When The Pine Needles Fall, My Indian Name, No More Pipeline Blues (On This Land Where We Belong), and Unlord The Land. The week will regally conclude with the AIFF Film Awards at the SOMArts Cultural Center, which you can purchase tickets for here.
This iconic festival is wholeheartedly a stunning way to gain further appreciation and support for vibrantly thriving Native arts, progress, and community. You can view the entire schedule and purchase tickets here.
See also: Your Guide To The Most Anticipated Titles At The SF LGBTQ+ Film Festival This June
Photography by: marekuliasz/Getty Images
