Native Filmmaker Initiative Shares Film Talks
The Native Filmmaker Initiative Film Club is a virtual youth education outreach program that screens a curated selection of Indigenous- made documentary films in classrooms across Montana. Following the screenings, filmmakers visit classrooms virtually for live Q& A, discussion and activities.
Film Club discussions are led by the Big Sky Film Institute in collaboration with Montana Office of Public Instruction’s Indian Education Specialists, as well as participating filmmakers who talk in-depth about the process of filmmaking.
Humanities Montana was a major supporter of the fall Film Club. The 2021 Film Club finished in December with a virtual discussion of the powerful vérité short “Sweetheart Dancers.” OPI’s Mike Jetty, director Ben-Alex Dupris and Sweetheart Dancers Adrian Stevens and Sean Snyder talked with Montana educators about the film and Adrian and Sean’s desire to pursue their dreams and their journey in navigating tradition and redefining social norms.
Earlier in the fall, the Film Club offered “The Water Walker,” featuring young Canadian Anishinabek activist Autumn Peltier and her work as chief water commissioner as she prepares to speak at the United Nations. And in November, the NFI Film Club selection, “Fruits of Labor,” explored the universal themes of how a young woman, Ashley Solis, navigates family obligation, cultural traditions, and the desire to pursue her dreams, co-written and narrated by the subject herself. Educators and students can access information about these films, the classroom discussion guides, and the recorded discussion sessions on the NFI Film Club webpage, bigskyfilmfest.org.
The Native Filmmaker Initiative Film Club is just one component of Humanities Montana’s A More Perfect Union grant, which uses National Endowment for the Humanities funds to explore Native American experiences, an important component of Montana’s American story.
The Humanities Montana board of directors will meet on Zoom Thursday, Feb. 3, 5–7 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 4, 1–3 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, with time for public comment scheduled on Friday, Feb. 4.
Email info@humanitiesmontana. org for more information.
