Shining Mountains Film Festival

Schedule Of events

2 Pm - 4:30pm

Cara Romero                                                                                                
A Documentary On Contemporary Fine Art Photographer Cara Romero. An Enrolled Citizen Of The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, Romero Was Raised Between Contrasting Settings: The Rural Chemehuevi Reservation In Mojave Desert, Ca And The Urban Sprawl Of Houston, Tx. Romero's Identity Informs Her Photography, A Blend Of Fine Art And Editorial Photography, Shaped By Years Of Study And A Visceral Approach To Representing Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Cultural Memory, Collective History, And Lived Experiences From A Native American Female Perspective.

Figure itOut 
In This Short Documentary, Award-Winning Indie Filmmaker Mike J. Marin (Navajo/Laguna Pueblo/Washoe) Invites Us Into His Struggle With Trauma And Depression And How The Growing Art Of Action Figure Photography Saved His Life In The Early Days Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And How This New Medium Continues To Serve As An Artistic And Creative Therapy.

We Ride For Her
An Indigenous Women's Motorcycle Group Rides To End The Crisis Of Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women While A Member Of Their Community Desperately Searches For Her Missing Sister And Tries To Heal Her Shattered Family

Brave Wear Braids
A Short Documentary Focused On Encouraging Indigenous Youth Not To Cut Their Hair. Through Personal Stories, We Look At The Challenges Faced By Many Indigenous Families To Continue The Long-Standing Tradition Of Wearing Long Hair In Order To Keep The Connection That Ties Them Not Only To Their Culture And Ancestors But Also To The Creator. Through Education, Understanding, And Allyship This Important Piece Of Culture Can Continue To Be Passed Down To Future Generations.

Joe Buffalo
Joe Buffalo Is An Indigenous Skateboarding Legend. He’s Also A Survivor Of Canada’s Notorious Indian Residential School System. Following A Traumatic Childhood And Decades Of Addiction, Joe Must Face His Inner Demons To Realize His Dream Of Turning Pro.

Homecoming: Buffalo Return To Indigenous Lands
Follow Jason Baldes, An Eastern Shoshone And A Member Of The Intertribal Buffalo Council, As He Leads Historic Transfers Of Bison To Indigenous Communities Which Will Maintain Their Herds To Supply A Healthy Food Source And Cultural Touchstone For Their Tribal Citizens. The Film Explores What Living Among The Bison Once Again Means For Native People—Today And For Future Generations.

Q and A With Short Film Directors and Producers

6:30pm-9:00pm   -Sugarcane
A Stunning Tribute To The Resilience Of Native People And Their Way Of Life, Sugarcane, Julian Brave Noisecat And Emily Kassie's Debut Feature Documentary, Is An Epic Cinematic Portrait Of A Community During A Moment Of International Reckoning.  

In 2021, Evidence Of Unmarked Graves Was Discovered On The Grounds Of An Indian Residential School Run By The Catholic Church In Canada. After Years Of Silence, The Forced Separation, Assimilation And Abuse Many Children Experienced At These Segregated Boarding Schools Was Brought To Light, Sparking A National Outcry Against A System Designed To Destroy Indigenous Communities. Set Amidst A Groundbreaking Investigation, Sugarcane Illuminates The Beauty Of A Community Breaking Cycles Of Intergenerational Trauma And Finding The Strength To Persevere.

QandA Following The Film.

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