3rd Annual Comanche Nation College Invitational Film Festival
Saturday October 21, 2006
Contact: Juanita Pahdopony, Comanche Nation College, 580.591.0203 x 115 or jpahdopony@cnc.cc.ok.us
The Comanche Nation College is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Invitational Film Festival will take place Saturday, October 21, 2006 from 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM at the college located at 1608 SW 9th Street, Lawton, OK.
From documentary short to feature length film, there is something for everyone at the festival. All of the film/video are new works by emerging American Indian Actors and Film Makers of many tribal nations. The following film makers will be presented Steffany Suttle, Lummi Nation; Roderick Pocowatchit, Comanche/Pawnee Nation; Terry Jones, Seneca Nation; Lance Brittan, Choctaw Nation; Jason Asenap, Comanche/Creek Nation; Tvli Jacobs, Choctaw Nation; Marc Hausman, Comanche Nation; Terri Poahway, Kiowa/Comanche Nation; Brent Michael Davids, Mohican Nation; Ava Hamilton, Arapaho Nation, Annette Arkeketa, Otoe-Missouria/Muscogee Creek Nation; Darrel & Mike Kosechequetah, Comanche Nation; Charles Boots Kennedye, Kiowa Nation; & Katela Black Elk, Oglala Sioux Nation
For silent film buffs, there will be a showing of the 1920, “Last of the Mohicans”. The film was restored in 1993. This 2003 edition features visionary film music by living Mohican, one of the hottest composers in the United States, Brent Michael Davids. Davids is a composer with dozens of awards and commissions from notable organizations such as ASCAP, NEA, Rockefeller, Sundance, National Symphony, Kronos Quartet, Chanticleer, and Miro Quartet.
Funding for this film festival has been made possible through the generosity of the National Endowment for the Arts, Oklahoma Arts Council, Lawton Arts and Humanities Council, The City of Lawton, Haits Advertising, and the Comanche National Museum. The festival’s poster was designed by Darrel Kosechequetah, Comanche.
For complete schedule contact Juanita Pahdopony, Comanche Nation College, 580.591.0203 x 115 or jpahdopony@cnc.cc.ok.us
The Comanche Nation College 3rd Annual Invitational Film Festival
October 21, 2006 -- 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
1608 SW 9th Street, Lawton, OK 73501
Name Tribe Production Attending
1. Steffany Suttle Lummi Nation Finding Her Now Yes
Washington (17 min. VHS)
Finding Her Now -- by Steffany Suttle is a powerful inter-generational family portrait of three Native women and their struggles with body image and identity.
Steffany was born and raised in Texas. She’s a graduate from Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi. She’s currently working on her Master’s degree and is a student in the Native Voices documentary filmmaking program at the University of Washington—Seattle. Her interests include photography, traveling, antiquing, reading and filmmaking.
2. Roderick Pocowatchit Comanche/Pawnee Sleepdancer Yes
Kansas (92 min. DVD)
Sleepdancer – by Award winning Roderick Pocowatchit is his second feature film. It is a powerful uplifting experience about finding the strength to rediscover hope. Rod is the winner of the American Indian L.A. Film and TV Awards for Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.
3. Terry Jones Seneca Nation Thomas Indian Yes
New York School Reunion (15.5 min DVD)
Thomas Indian School – From 155 to 1956, the Thomas Indian School (formerly known as Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children) operated on the Seneca territory in New York State. Each year, former students gather and share their experience about the boarding school. These former students share their unique perspective of life as they fought to retain their native identity.
Terry Jones grew up on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation located in Western New York. At age 15, he started attending summer enrichment programs offered through the Johnson O’Malley Program; where he was introduced to photography, script writing and filmmaking. Throughout Terry’s adult life, he continually documents the Indian experience through photography and video. Terry has completed three short films entitled Through the Eyes of Clint and What the Hell is Corn Soup? Thomas Indian School Reunion will be featured in the Comanche Nation College film festival. His most recent film is a full feature documentary entitled Casino Nation, which is scheduled for release on PBS in 2007. He was recently awarded the 2005-2006 ABC/Disney Talent Development Scholarship-Grant and he has just completed a full feature length screenplay about a 13 year old Native American girl’s experience in an Indian boarding school during the 1940s. Terry serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors at the American Indian Community House in New York City.
4. Lance Brittan Choctaw Air Band Yes
Oklahoma/California (13 min. DVD)
Airband – This rock band has it all…fame, fans and fortune. However, the only things they don’t have—are instruments! This story is about a unique rock band that becomes an overnight sensation by performing songs live on stage with imaginary instruments.
Lance Brittan graduated from the Cinema Department at Los Angeles City College. At LACC, he received the Academic Award for Excellence and was on the Dean’s Honor List. He’s coordinated live theatrical programs with notable celebrities as Shelly Winters, Jack Lemmon, Burgess Meredith, Lena Horne, Steward Campbell, Gene Kelly and Ginger Rodgers. As moderator for the Academy, he hosted the Academy UCLA Documentary Series which screened documentary films and included interviews with filmmakers before a live audience at the Melnitz Theater at UCLA. In addition, he assisted in the coordination of the annual Academy Award Nominations international telecast.
Lance continued his work in the entertainment industry as Creative Services Coordinator for the Saban Entertainment and as contracts Department Representative for the Writers Guild of America. His feature “The Living Testament of Larry Darryl” was the first film to screen in the Independent Film Project at the University of Oklahoma and then had a West Coast Premier at Sony Studios in Los Angeles, CA. His work has been viewed at screenings across the country; some of his works include Final Round Placement from the Chesterfield Film Writers Project, the Summit Award in Creative Excellence and the Communicator Award.
5. Jason Asenap Comanche/Creek Running Guns Yes
New Mexico (11 min)
Running Guns – Jason Asenap is originally from Walters, OK and now resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the past two years. He has a degree in English from The University of Oklahoma. Jason made Running Guns in the summer of 2006 through the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) film and television workshop. It was inspired by the events of the Red Earth 49 murder in the summer of 2006. Jason Asenap is a writer and a director.
6. Tvli Jacobs Choctaw The Proposal Yes
Oklahoma
The Proposal – Tvli is from Oklahoma. He has written, directed and produced several shorts and a feature length film. At present, he is writing a script for ABC/Disney and developing and seeking funding for a feature film.
7. Marc Hausman Comanche The Gash No
California (2 min)
8. Terri Poahway KiowaComanche Banished Misfortune Yes
Oklahoma
Banished Misfortune – “Eat nothing with a face,” the film cover warns. The film is about an ancient Celtic prophesy, mad cow disease and hula dancing. Can Bruno Bifkin train the next generation of heroes to save America? The film is a Matt Jenkins picture and features Terri Poahway. It is an exciting and dramatic film that will have the audience at the edge of their chairs. Terri Poahway was born in Cache, Oklahoma and began public speaking and performing on stage at an early age. She has won such titles as Miss Lawton in 2001 and represented Lawton in the Miss Indian Oklahoma. She auditioned for “American Indian Graffiti: This Thing Called Life,” and captured one of the leading roles. She will receive her bachelor’s degree in Communications and Radio TV in December, and is currently working for KSWO TV as a production technician and fill-in reporter and anchor, all while maintaining a full time student schedule at Cameron University. She has a loving and supportive family that helps lead her in a “good path.”
9 Brent Michael Davids Mohican Last of the Mohicans No
Minnesota
The Last of the Mohicans – This is the 2003 Edition features a visionary film music by a living Mohican, one of the hottest composers in the United States. The film was originally made in 1920 by Maurice Tourneur and Clarence Brown. This film restoration was completed in 1993 and Brent Michael Davids, took the daunting challenge of composing and scoring an all-new music soundtrack for this classic film. This magnificent feature of the score functions as a 100% full-fledged “concert” work for orchestra, and can be performed while the film shows in the concert hall with a live orchestra. Davids is a composer with dozens of awards and commissions from notable organizations such as ASCAP, NEA, Rockefeller, Sundance, National Symphony, Kronos Quartet, Chanticleer, and Miro Quartet.
10. Ava Hamilton Arapaho Everything Has a Spirit Yes
Colorado (30 min)
Everything Has a Spirit – is a film about the Peyote religion and the history of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and how the religious rights of Native people are violated. Ava Hamilton is an international award winning filmmaker. She originated the Native American Producers Alliance (NAPA). She is an advocate for the copyrights of American Indians and tribal histories and stories.
11. Annette Arkeketa Otoe-Missouria/Muscogee Creek Storytellers Yes
Oklahoma (5 min)
Storytellers – This film has Comanche stories as told by Comanche speakers Sandra Karty and Barbara Asepermy. The stories are richly illustrated by Comanche artist Tim Saupitty. Filmmaker Annette Arkeketa is a graduate from Texas A & M University at Corpus Christi, Texas. She is a Contracting Officer, at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma but her true passion is filmmaking. She is the Founder and President of Hokte Productions; a published poet, playwright and a speaker on issues concerning American Indian rights and issues.
12. Darrell/Mike Kosechequetah Comanche Comanche Nation Fair Yes
Oklahoma 2005 (14 min)
Comanche Nation Fair – This film documents the 2005 Comanche Nation Fair weekend. The film documents the annual Comanche cultural event with interviews and scenes from the four day weekend. Darrell and Mike are both accomplished graphic artists and filmmakers.
13. Charles Boots Kennedye Kiowa Keeper of The Past Yes
Oklahoma (30 min)
Keeper of the Past -- was created by OETA Photojournalist and Pawnee silversmith, Bruce Caesar. Caesar comes from a line of silversmith artists. Recently, he was recognized for his artistry by Hilliary Clinton in Washington, D.C.
15. Katela Black Elk Oglala Sioux Spirit Riders No
“Warrior Woman" (90 min)
Spirit Riders – The Lakota Native American Indian tribe has a long tradition of ceremonial horseback rides, which are used to celebrate within the community or bring positive spiritual energies towards matters of concern. In 1990, members of the Lakota Nation felt it was time the tribe addressed the growing need for peace around the world, and with this in mind, they began a series of rides dedicated to ending war and bringing greater understanding to the peoples of the Earth. Documentary filmmaker James Kleinert examines the growing Native American peace movement in Spirit Riders, which looks back to Lakota traditions and takes them into the present with the continuing phenomenon of the Spirit Rides for Peace. The film includes interviews with activists and ride participants, including Charlotte Black Elk, Chris Leith, Ron His Horse Is Thunder, and actor Viggo Mortensen; Peter Coyote narrates. –Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
* Funding for this Program has been made possible through the generosity of: Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment of the Arts, Lawton Arts and Humanities Council, The City of Lawton, Haits Ad, and the Comanche National Museum.
Juanita Pahdopony, CNC FF Contact: 580.591.0203 x 115 or jpahdopony@cnc.cc.ok.us