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Press Release November 13, 2006 31st ANNUAL AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL San Francisco, CA- The 31st Annual American Indian Film Festival, presented by the American Indian Film Institute (AIFI), closed Saturday, Nov. 11 to a sold-out audience at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. With an attendance of over 4,000 during the nine-day film event, the American Indian Film Festival continues to be the most dominant outlet for Native American films from US American Indian and Canada First Nation communities. For over 31 years the American Indian Film Festival has featured ground-breaking films and documentaries from American Indian people. This year was no exception with two select theatre venues at the Lumiere Theatre and the historic Palace of Fine Arts. Showcasing over 70 films, documentaries and shorts, including 4 independent feature films, the American Indian Film Festival remains committed to Native artistic growth and development. The 31st Annual American Indian Film Festival welcomed various US and World premieres to the Festival. Many were nominees at the 2006 American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show. The Bay Area premiere of EXPIRATION DATE, a dark comedy about young man turning 25 and his impending death by milk truck The premiere of UNNATURAL AND ACCIDENTAL based loosely around the "unnatural and accidental" drowning deaths of native women living on skid row The premiere of FINDING DAWN, a documentary about three of the estimated 500 Aboriginal women who have been murdered or gona missing in Canada over the past thirty years The premiere of THE JOURNALS OF KNUD RASMUSSEN by award winning director Zacharias Kunuk, a tale about an Inuit family in the 1920s and the struggle to uphold their traditional values as a people Other noteworthy screenings: THE CANARY EFFECT, directed by Robin Davey and Yellow Thunder Woman, took an in-depth look at the devastating effect that U.S. policies have had on the Indigenous people of America. INDIAN SUMMER: THE OKA CRISIS, directed by Gil Cardinal, fiction based on headline news events that took place in the summer of 1990 in the town of Oka, near Montreal, QC; the actual events drew global attention, placing Native rights issues center-stage. ONE DEAD INDIAN, directed by Tim Souttham, a timely story based on the Ipperwash Crisis, the tragic 1995 incident whose aftermath reverberated from Dudley George's family and community to the halls of Queen's Park GANG AFTERMATH, directed by Francis Campbell, a no-holds-barred look at gang culture and lifestyle, with insights from current and former gang members THE TRAIL OF TEARS, directed by Chip Richie, a film about America's darkest period: Jackson's Indian Removal Act and the forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation to Indian Territory in 1838 On opening night, the Festival celebrated its 31st anniversary, with 3 screenings at the Lumiere Theatre in San Francisco. The opening night feature film was the highly- anticipated THE VELVET DEVIL, a visually compelling adaptation of Andrea Menard's play about a young Metis (Native American and European) woman who leaves her mother, her native culture, and her home to find fame as 1940s singing sensation "the Velvet Devil". Two other films also premiered, TEACHINGS OF THE TREE PEOPLE, directed by Katie Jennings, and THE BALLAD OF PETER LAFARGE, directed by Sandra Hale Schulman. AIFI's Tribal Touring Program -- a Native youth film workshop program -- along with tribal host partners, successfully screened over thirty films representing four tribes from across the USA: Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and United Auburn Indian Community. The student-made films were seen by Bay Area students as well as the student filmmakers themselves. Comedy and drama were the themes of the films, which were met with an enthusiastic audience. The Festival also offered two workshops this year. The workshops brought award-winning, industry professionals to San Francisco to teach, inspire, and share their knowledge with the next generation of filmmakers. The topics included "Composing Music for Film", moderated by well-known film composer Brent Michael Davids, and "Entertainment Law", moderated by Richard Trudell, Executive Director of the American Indian Law Resource Institute, joined by Chad Burris, attorney/producer and owner of Indion Entertainment Group, and Harris Tulchin, attorney/producer and leading partner of International Entertainment, Multimedia & Intellectual Property Law & Business Network™. Also in attendance was a panel of expert filmmakers, which included directors Carlos Peinado and Annie Frazier Henry. On Saturday, Nov. 11, the festival closed to a capacity crowd at the American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show. The Awards Show has recognized excellence in American Indian cinematic achievement since 1978 and remains one of the most prominent venues in Indian Country. In addition to being a rendezvous for American Indian artists, directors, and producers, the Awards Show showcases the exceptional talent of both established and emerging Native artists and performers. This year's show was hosted by actors Stacy DaSilva, Dakota House, and Michael Horse, and featured an eclectic mix of performers, including a ventriloquist, several award-winning singers, a classical violinist, and a Tlingit Raven Dancer. Fourteen prestigious awards were presented for exceptional achievement in Native cinema. 2006 American Indian Motion Picture Award Winners The 2006 American Indian Film Festival was produced by the American Indian Film Institute with the generous support of our sponsors.
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