ALL EVENTS AND SCREENINGS ARE FREE. LIMITED SEATING. RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED.

On January 24 through January 25th, 2020, the 1st Annual Sarasota Native American Film Festival will take place on the campus of New College of Florida at the Mildred Sainer Pavillion, 5313 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, Florida. This festival will showcase films that speak to the Native American/Indigenous Peoples experience in America. The films include Buffalo Hunt, Moses on the Mesa, Music on the Road and Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World. Each film will include an opportunity to interact with the filmmakers, producers and the subjects involved in the film. Highlighting the festival will be an opportunity to hear from Julian Bear Runner, Oglala Sioux Tribe President. The festival will also feature Native American music and dance. This festival is presented by The Boxser Diversity Initiative and the Sarasota Film Festival and supported by New College of Florida, AMIFlorida, and Path Florida.

Friday January 24th, 2020 at 4pm

NATIVE TRADITION IN THE 21st CENTURY: A WORKSHOP

Mildred Sainer Auditorium

The Buffalo Hunt (2019) depicts different challenges facing Native Americans on the Pine Ridge reservation against the backdrop of a longstanding tribal tradition: the hunting of a buffalo. This workshop features a conversation with Julian Bear Runner, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Phillip O’Leary, the film’s producer, and Jessica Young, Assistant Professor at New College of Florida, and will explore the socio-economic and political challenges facing Native Americans today. We will discuss the impact of the film, how indigenous resistance movements such as the one at Standing Rock are galvanizing the larger Native American community, and the importance of maintaining tribal traditions in the 21st Century.

Friday, January 24th, 6.30pm

THE BUFFALO HUNT (2019, 87 mins)

An intimate and visceral portrait of one of the most extreme places in the Western Hemisphere—the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. Using a sacred Buffalo Hunt as a jumping off point, this documentary film takes the viewer on an emotional journey into the neighborhoods and homes of the Lakota.

With Julian Bear Runner, Oglala Sioux Tribe President, in attendance, along with  producer Phillip O'Leary. Film followed by Q&A.

Saturday, January 25th, 5.00pm 

MOSES ON THE MESA  (2013, 18 min)

A real-life story of a German immigrant who becomes governor of the Native American tribe of Acoma and defends it against enemies in the late 1800s.

The film is followed by Q&A with director Paul Ratner and producer Petra Ratner..

MUSIC ON THE ROAD (2019, 18 min)

JJ Otero, a native american musician from New Mexico has self proclaimed his musical genre : Native Soul Rock ! From the Navajo reservation of Torreon with his family to the city of Albuquerque with his band Saving Damsels, he tells his story in the most significant and touching way.

Followed by Q&A with JJ Otero.

Music break with food: 6.00 - 7.00pm

Performances by Guest Musician Navajo Hopi Native JJ Otero - soul, blues, rock

and Lowery Begay, Navajo World Champion Hoop Dancer and flutist.

Saturday, January 25th, 7.00

RUMBLE: THE INDIANS WHO ROCKED THE WORLD (2017, 103 mins)

This revelatory feature documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival is about the role of Native Americans in popular music history, tells the story of a profound, essential, and, until now, missing chapter in the history of American music: the Indigenous influence. Featuring music icons Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Jesse Ed Davis, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Robbie Robertson, Randy Castillo, and others, Rumble will show how these talented Native musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives.