Colorado is a melting pot of cultures, music and art. Groups are encouraged to freely express themselves through dance, song, meetings and even through film.
The International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management is a law and policy research non-profit based in Denver that focuses on empowering native peoples.
The organization looks at cutting-edge issues and how they relate to native people’s control over and management of their lands and resources. A main goal of the organization is to spread awareness about indigenous peoples, big and small, local and international. Although they are based in Denver, the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management relies on the support of associates around the country and in Canada, New Zealand and Australia.
Each year the organization hosts the Annual Indigenous Film & Arts Festival. The festival gives people a glimpse into the lives, stories and challenges of indigenous peoples from around the world. These stories are meant to bring awareness to issues happening in today’s society.
This year’s twelfth annual festival is Oct. 7-13 and includes 15 films by and about indigenous peoples. Two of this year’s films are made by native youths with a passion for film and an even bigger passion for their culture.
Each film will be screened at a different venue throughout the Denver metro area. Thus, the festival can be brought to various neighborhoods and can introduce a broader group of people to indigenous film. A short discussion is held after each film viewing to encourage conversation and interaction with the filmmaker or participating artists.
“It’s an opportunity for people to hear indigenous voices straight from the source,” said Jeanne Rubin, Film Festival Director. “Our hope is to educate people about the issues pertaining to native cultures and groups while also offering an open venue for native people to share their stories.”
This year’s festival, themed “People and Place” is estimated to bring in around 1,500 viewers including school groups and a general audience reflecting Denver’s diverse population, including members of Denver’s American Indian and Native Hawaiian communities.
Videos range from highlighting traditional native foods like stone soup (The Path of Stone Soup on Oct. 13) to following in the footsteps of a young native Navajo transgender female (Drunktown’s Finest on Oct. 10). Climate change is another common theme found intertwined in the films. Art from local Navajo artist, Melanie Yazzie, can also be viewed on Oct. 8 in her exhibit “Histories Beyond Homeland” with its focus on quiet and balance.
“This is not your typical film festival,” said Rubin. “There are no awards given and no admission prices requested. This festival is designed to encourage creativity among native people and bring contemporary issues to the forefront.”
The International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management Annual Indigenous Film & Arts Festival brings together various groups of people with the common love for culture and film.
See the box below for a brief schedule. For more information on the festival visit iiirm.org/iiirm_home.htm. All films are free and open to the public. A $5 donation is suggested at each film viewing to keep the tradition of the festival alive.
12th Indigenous Film & Arts Festival October 7 - 13, 2015
Love a good story? The Indigenous Film & Arts Festival, now in its twelfth year, offers an array of intriguing stories told by native peoples from around the world. This year’s presentation, themed People & Place, features a multicultural variety of full-length films, shorts and documentaries from indigenous writers, actors, filmmakers and cultural experts.
Wed, 10/07, 7:00-9:00p.m.
Nallua
Q&A with co-producer José Gérin-Lajoie
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver
Thu, 10/08, 5:30-7:30p.m.
Art Opening: Histories Beyond Homeland, with artist Melanie Yazzie
Reception: 5:30p.m., Artist Talk: 6:15 p.m.
Fri, 10/09, 6:00p.m.-8:30p.m.
Visions in the Dark: The Life of Pinky Thompson
University of Denver Lindsay Auditorium Sturm Hall, 2000 E. Asbury, Denver
Sat, 10/10, Double Feature
4:00-6:00p.m.
Short Films from Around the World
6:30-9:00p.m.
Drunktown’s Finest
Student Commons Bldg., Room 1500 Auraria Campus, Denver
Sun, 10/11, 6:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
We Are All Related Here
History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver
Mon, 10/12 9:30a.m.-5:15p.m.
Roundtable: Native Chefs, Attorneys and Anthropologists in the Kitchen: Creating Indigenous Gastronomies
12:45-1:45p.m.
Film & Brown Bag Lunch – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC -
The Path of Stone Soup, with Chinantec Chefs César Gachupín de Dios and Victor Gachupín Velasco
Krugman Conference Room, Research 2 Bldg. Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
6:00-8:30p.m.
Finding Gaston
Hensel Phelps Room, Research 1 North Tower Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
Tue, 10/13, 6:30-8:00p.m.
The Path of Stone Soup
Su Teatro, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver
Image from Alma y Esperanza, Courtesy of Lista Calista Films.
