Released: September 26, 2011
Lincoln, Neb. - Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT) is proud to announce its biggest celebration yet - the fourth biennial VisionMaker Film Festival. Held September 30 through October 6 in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney, Nebraska, the Festival will showcase 37 works by Native filmmakers and culminates in the celebration of NAPT's 35th Anniversary. Festivities begin at 5:30 pm on Friday, September 30 with the opening reception at the Van Brunt Visitor's Center at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's City Campus.
Friday's opening reception will honor NAPT's founding executive director Frank Blythe (Eastern Band of Cherokee/Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota). Blythe is the 2011 recipient of the Mary Riepma Ross Award. The award pays tribute to an established film or video artist whose roots or artistic concerns are grounded in the Great Plains region and culture.
Throughout the weeklong screenings in Lincoln, six Native filmmakers will be in attendance including: Princella Parker (Omaha) for "Standing Bear's Footsteps," Chris Eyre (Cheyenne/Arapaho) for his latest work, Christina King (Creek/Seminole/Sac and Fox) for "Up Heartbreak Hill," Billy Luther (Navajo/Hopi/Laguna Pueblo) and cast member Josephine Seymour (Laguna Pueblo) for "GRAB," Heather Rae (Cherokee) for "Family: The First Circle," and Bennie Klain (Navajo) for "Columbus Day Legacy." Filmmaker Sande Zeig will participate in an audience Q&A via Skype after the screening of "Apache 8" on Saturday, October 1.
The Festival features four special presentations.
- On Tuesday, September 20, Film Streams' Ruth Sokolof Theater (1340 Webster Street) in Omaha, Neb., will screen "Reel Injun" at 7 p.m. followed by a Q&A with actor Gary Farmer (Cayuga) and moderator Edouardo Zendejas (Omaha).
- On Monday, October 3 at NETV (1800 N. 33rd Street) in Lincoln, the Center for Asian American Media's Stephen Gong will present "The West, 1898-1938: Treasures from the American Film Archives."
- Also on Monday, October 3, at 5 p.m. at the Merryman Performing Arts Center (225 W 22nd Street) in Kearney, Neb., the Nebraska Department of Education and Multicultural Education will host a teacher workshop and screening of "Standing Bear's Footsteps" with associate producer Princella Parker (Omaha).
- On Tuesday, October 4, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Sheldon Museum of Art will be hosting a screening of "GRAB" at 7 p.m. with filmmaker Billy Luther (Laguna Pueblo) and cast member Josephine Seymour (Laguna Pueblo).
Saturday and Sunday screenings will be social media friendly - encouraging interaction and live Facebook posts and Twitter tweets using hashtag #vmff2011 during the screenings amongst audience members. Also, don't miss "Little Big Shorts" on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1, showcasing eight incredible Native short films including the hilarious parody "Powwow Driveway" in homage to "Powwow Highway," as well as works by NAPT's multimedia fellows.
To find out more about the fourth biennial VisionMaker Film Festival, to purchase tickets and All Access Passes for your group, or to download the full Festival schedule, visit us online at nativetelecom.org/festival or theross.org. Also, be sure to keep current on Festival announcements by following us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vmfilmfest.
Interested in helping to share Native stories with the world? Become a Friend of NAPT by visiting www.friendsofnapt.org.
Thank you to our fourth biennial VisionMaker Film Festival Sponsors for making this event possible!
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- Nebraska Humanities Council
- Nebraska Arts Council & Nebraska Cultural Endowment
- Film Streams
- Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center
- Sheldon Museum of Art
- NET Television
- Lincoln Journal Star
- Region V Systems
- University of Nebraska-Omaha Native American Studies Program
- The Cornhusker Marriott Hotel
- Creighton University's Office of Multicultural Affairs
- Southeast Community College
- Complete Music
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Native American Studies
- Indian Center, Inc.
- Nebraska Department of Education
- Downtown Lincoln Association
- Ho Chunk, Inc.
- Lincoln 55+ Seniors Paper
- Lincoln Arts Council
- Focal Point Publishing
- Kauffman & Associates, Inc.
- Woodlands National Bank
About NAPT
Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT), a non-profit 501(c)(3) which receives major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, shares Native stories with the world through support of the creation, promotion and distribution of Native media. Founded in 1977, through various media - public television, public radio and the Internet - NAPT brings awareness of Indian and Alaska Native issues. NAPT operates AIROS Audio, offering downloadable podcasts with Native filmmakers, musicians and Tribal leaders. VisionMaker is the premier source for quality Native American educational and home videos. All aspects of our programs encourage the involvement of young people to learn more about careers in the media - to be the next generation of storytellers. NAPT is located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. NAPT offers student employment, internships and fellowships. Reaching the general public and the global market is the ultimate goal for the dissemination of Native-produced media.