A lot of Native Americans are getting into movies – and not just in front of the camera. Fast becoming one of the best known and respected venues for Indian filmmakers is the Comanche Nation College Invitational Film Festival. It happens Sept. 21 and 22 in Lawton.
Juanita Pahdopony, one of the founders of the festival, is very happy with this year’s line up of activities, films and filmmakers who will be in attendance, as well she should be. Lawton residents, Pahdopony, a dean at the school; Annette Arkeketa, writer and filmmaker; and Sharon Cheatwood, assistant administrator of Lawton's Arts & Humanities Office, have all been instrumental in organizing the 4th annual Comanche Nation College Invitational Film Festival.
Among backers for this weekend's event are the Oklahoma Arts Council, National
Endowment of the Arts, Lawton Arts and Humanities Council and The City of
Lawton.
One prelim workshop has already been held last weekend.
All activities will be on the campus, 1608 SW 9th St. Attendance is free and open to the public.
On Friday Sept. 21, the workshop "Film Scoring for Filmmakers" will be conducted by award-winning composer Brent Michael Davids, 1-4 p.m. Call (580) 591-0203 to register. Also Friday, Chad Burris will present "Entertainment Law – Intellectual Property, Marketing & Distribution for Film," from 6-10 p.m. Call (580) 581-3470 or 581-3471.
On Saturday Sept. 22, the film festival officially opens at 10 a.m. with a brief welcome followed by a screening of Brent Michael Davids’ 90-minute film "Bright Circle," a documentary about merican Indian athletes from Jim Thorpe to Brett Favre.
The festival will break for an Indian taco lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. This will be a good pportunity for informal talks with filmmakers in attendance from across the region and the country.
When the festival reconvenes, screenings will run back to back. The films vary in length from two minutes to almost an hour, with most being shorter.
Among filmmakers are sunrise tippeconnie, Roderick Pocowatchit, Gladice, Renea Toahty, Weyodi Grandbergs, Cynthia Clay, Annette Arkeketa, Emmy-winner Benjamin L. West, Dan Bigby and Lillian Shangreaux, Clarence "Lane" Kopepassah, Jason Asenap, Robin Seger, Thomas M. Yeahpau, Julianna Brannum, Disney fellowship winner Tvli Jacobs, and Steven Judd.
With the 4th annual Comanche Nation College Invitational Film Festival at the CNC and the 28th annual International Festival on Sept. 21-23 in downtown Lawton, and festivals in nearby MedicinePark and Frederick, and gorgeous weather forecast, it looks to be another fantastic weekend in Southwest Oklahoma. |