Red Nation International Film Festival & Awards Show

#WhoTellsTheStoryMatters Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF) is a program of Red Nation  Celebration Institute (RNCI) the Creative Enterprise by Natives delivering to all people the stories that shape our world. 

Red Nation Celebration Institute is a pioneer, Native Women-LED, Indigenous enterprise-founded in 1995. Making its mark as the longest standing Native Media, Arts & Cultural nonprofit in the City of Los Angeles and the first Native organization funded by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs includes the largest Native Indigenous Independent Film Festival in the world, serving Indian Country & Entertainment Industry, representing over 570+ Native Nations.

Our core foundation is uniting creatives within our community with Hollywood to bring together a greater voice to the entertainment industry and the world at large. Red Nation Celebration Institute is honored and proud to work with strong leaders within our Native Nations across Indian Country America and our Indigenous talent from directors, producers, writers, actors and crew in front of and behind the camera, fostering the next generation of talent and leaders. #NativesInChargeOfTheirNarrative

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Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI) has established a rich legacy of work supporting more than 5000+ Native and Indigenous filmmakers through its streaming company Red Nation Television Network, amplifying  more than 839 Native Indigenous filmmakers through its Red Nation International Film Festival.

includes Sterlin Harjo, Loretta Todd, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Mark Williams, James Bird, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Kyle Kauwika Harris, Katsitsionni Fox, Daniel Foreman, Alba Enid García, Klee Benally, Yvonne Russo, Randy Redroad, Jeffrey Palmer, Hepi Mita, Chelsea Winstanley, Taika Waititi including allies that have made Native and Indigenous themed films Chloe Zhao, Taylor Sherdian, Joe Berlinger, Rebecca Harrell Tickell, Josh Tickell, Susanna White, Stephen S. Campanelli, Brigitte Timmerman, Deborah Anderson, Kathleen Hepburn, Jaima Chevalier, Joanne Storkan, Haroula Rose, Lesley Johnson, Chris Writs, and Mark Ruffalo.

In the last four years RNCI has screened 103 films directed by women.

RNCI continues into the next 25 years with #RNCILegacyProject

Thank you Joanelle Romero and the Red Nation Film Festival ! You were a big part of us in getting selected at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and for the Sesame Street Workshop Summit for Native American Writers.!
Sharlene MillangProducer
This was a wonderful festuval to be a part of and attend they were very helpful and had a great venue. The team is top notch and overall a great experience and opportunity for which i am grateful. Thanks red nation #wearethenewhollywood
Jack BelhumeurDirector, Respect your elders, Chum.
It was outstanding! The best experience I had so far on a festival of this caliber. A festival I felt at home at, with our indigenous sisters and brothers from the film industry. RNCI thank you!
Alba Enid GarciaDirector
WOW So much fun and beauty! So very impressed!!! gratitude !!
Fox RedskyDirector, Keep the Fire Lit – lost tribes of Texas
Thank you for selecting Needs Must Film’s MY BLOOD IS RED in your splendid festival! And grateful to your for helping a shoestring-budget music documentary spread the message of what is happening in Brazil today
Carly BryantDirector, My Blood is Red
A wonderful festival deeply rooted in Native American film and artists. So grateful for the opportunity to premier our film at this festival.
Deborah AndersonDirector, Women of the White Buffalo
Real honour being included in the 25th RNCI Red Nation Film Festival. Fantastic communication with festival organizers, great media presence/marketing, discussion panel, awards, etc. One of the best few festivals I’ve ever been involved with.
Christopher DartonDirector, Essence of Goodness: The Harold Axtell Story
It’s a virtual year. That changes how we share music, film, painting: the arts. I am a skeptic of virtual events personally. The incredible access skillfully created by Red Nation International Film Festival staff was impressive. Very smooth. It was an wonderful month to be part of RNIFF. Thanks so much! fogata films
Fogata Films
I enjoyed being back at RNIFF with my new film Without A Whisper and the premier of new series -Rematriation. The festival was virtual this year and provided many opportunities for the filmmakers to share about their films. It is a unique and exciting festival for Indigenous filmmakers!
Katsitsionni FoxDirector, Without A Whisper
This was a well organized festival and represented filmmakers well. I admire the dedication to advancing work from native filmmakers. The only downside was out of their control: the lockdown. I was looking forward to going to Los Angeles to network with folks. Even so, they did a good job regarding online communication. I would highly recommend this festival to all indigenous filmmakers.
Gary Medina Cook
So honoured to be part of the RNIFF and such a rich selection of films. The organisers were great at reaching out, and promoting the participating films and film makers through interesting and well curated side events. The world really needs festivals that promote native-/indigenous storytelling and for my film this was a great platform to reach a wide audience. Thank you so much to everyone at RNCI for the opportunity. You have my highest recommendations and kudos for pulling everything off with such passion during the pandemic. Lots of love. Qujanaq (thank you)
Inuk JørgensenDirector, In the Shadow of the Tugtupite
An honor for “Becoming: ORLANDO DUGI” to be included in this event, the largest Indigenous film festival in the US. I especially enjoyed our Q&A with the founder and president, Joanelle Romero, who clearly has a genuine and passionate appreciation for film and filmmakers, and has a lot of dedication to make this event happen year after year, Covid or no.
Kaela WaldsteinDirector, Orlando Dugi
Thank you for the beauty and the hope you bring into the world! So honored to have my film included!
Efi AmanatidouDirector, We’re in Quarantine
It was a significant honor for the cast, crew, and executive producers of ANGELS LADDER to have been selected as part of the 25th Red Nation International Film Festival. While this was an online event for 2020, it was exceptional. Communication with the festival team was excellent, and the presentation of our work online was handled securely and professionally. In addition, there was also opportunity to speak about our work in an online Q&A plus the added benefit of viewing the films of our colleagues.
John PowersDirector, Angels Ladder
An honor to have Cowgirls and Indians included in the festival. It was based on an experience I had many years ago but was highly fictionalized. Working with Native American actors was amazing. Each one brought great ideas and energy to the film. I plan to use them again in other films just to see them again. Thanks for including us.
Kate DavisDirector, Cowgirls and Indians
Thank you Joanelle Romero! You were a big part of us in getting selected at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and for Sesame Street!
Daniel Foreman Director, Raven and the Dogfish Woman
“Had a wonderful experience at Red Nation. The Awards Ceremony was beautiful and the entertainment was amazing. I met many directors, writers, producers, musicians and Native actors. So many quality films this year!”
Brigitte TimmermanDirector, UmoNhoN Iye The Omaha Speaking
“Professional setting. Great vibes and communication. Very memorable experience at the film festival! Great job RNCI staff.”
Ryan CraigDirector
“I was so disappointed that I couldn’t make it to the festival. Life is like that sometimes. My film Just One Word was nominated for an award. The support and communication was stellar. The pics posted from friends that went proved my suspicions that this is a festival to submit to and attend!”
Jani Lauzon
“To be fair, I did not attend the film festival, so my ratings is purely on communication and photos/videos I saw on their website and their social media.”
Joseph Yates
“It was a great honor to have my documentary film Taino Daka (I Am) represented along with the many other prestigious films. They made the process easy and ensured that my film was at it’s highest quality and presented in the best venue. Looking forward in continuing our partnership. Ha’hom.”
Alex ZacariasDirector, Taino Daka (I Am)
“I actually didn’t make it to go down but I would have loved to. I am very honored they choose to screen my film.”
Tristin GreyeyesDirector
“Honored to have our film selected. Great communication with the festival and look forward to future additions.”
Tom Strnad
“My experiences at the RNFF were excellent! Joanelle Romero and her staff worked tirelessly to make the screening event for our film The Women In The Sand and the entire festival an extrordanary success. Thank you!”
Steve JarvisDirector
“An amazing film festival and platform for Indigenous voices. Many thanks to Joanelle Romero and A. Martinez for being an advocate for those voices. Looking forward to next year’s event. Thank you so much for the award for Best Environmental Documentary for our film I Stand: The Guardians of the Water.”
Kyle HarrisDirector, I Stand: The Guardians of the Water
"Thank you RNCI for selecting my film for the 2021 film festival. This is one of my favorite festivals. Truly honored to have been selected. Thank you."
Justin DeeganDirector, Concrete 49
"Excellent festival! So honored to be a part of it for our film Home From School: The Children of Carlisle. Thank you!"
Rose Steller Burke
"We were honoured that our VeRONAka film by The Aunties Dandelion was featured at RNCI Red Nation International Film Festival and Awards. We loved the online gathering of women Indigenous filmmakers and the hospitality was evident from the fact that none of us who were presenting wanted to get off the call! Nya:wenkò:wa for all of your hard work and generosity."
Aunties Dandelion
"We had an amazing experience premiering our documentary Mariposas del Campo at the 26th Red Nation International Film Festival. The festival was hybrid this year—first half in a theater, followed by two weeks online. In this ongoing pandemic climate, we were thrilled to be able to show our film to a sizeable but distanced in-person audience, with a Q&A. Festival Director Joanelle Romero and her RNCI team were so welcoming. We were nominated for Best Documentary Feature and attended the well-produced Awards show in a gorgeous theater. Winning that golden statuette was the icing on the cake. Thank you RNCI for the memories!"
Robin Rosenthal
"I am so pleased with the RNIFF awards and then the conversation we as filmmakers had the next day over zoom. It was eye opening to hear the stories from the other filmmakers about their challenges and triumphs! FilmFreeway has made it possible for many films to be watched. I am most grateful to both organizations and I look forward to producing more native stories!"
Pake SalmonDirector, MANA I MAULII OLA
"It has been an honor to share our documentary "The Keepers of Corn" at this highly important Film festival that showcases Indigenous voices. The organizers of the festival created an unforgettable awards ceremony. An event with a lot of heart."
Gustavo Vazquez
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“Hollywood & Indian Country’s Biggest Night for American Indian & Indigenous Voices”™

Hollywood has the Oscars, Broadway had the Tony, Television has the Emmy and Indian Country has the Red Nation Film Award for Excellence™

Who Tells The Story Matters

COMING SOON–Join us for an encore broadcast of the full 26th Red Nation Awards Ceremony, originally aired in November 14, 2021 at the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills. Stay tuned for the announcement of the re-broadcast date this holiday season right here #NativesInChargeOfTheirNarrative

Encore Presentation Streaming Soon on Red Nation Television Network

#OnTheRedRoadToGold #OnTheRedIsGreenCarpet

LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship
Native Indigenous Women in Hollywood

The 2021 RNCI Red Awards Ceremony
Streaming Now

The 2021 RNCI Red Nation Awards Ceremony – is an event of 26th Red Nation International Film Festival. A representation of the Red Nation Celebration Institute. STREAMING NOW on Red Nation Network A Media Broadcast Streaming Company.

2022 Festival Key Dates – BE in the Know

The Red Nation International Film Festival is the connection to cultural bridging of independent Native Indigenous artists and audiences, amplifying emerging voices and perspectives for the Native Indigenous storyteller. The 2022 Festival will take place
November 1 – 30.

2022 Red Nation International Film Festival: InPerson Screenings, Online Platform, Health Safety, & Ticketing Details

Time to begin planning your experience at the largest Native Indigenous Film Festival in the country. 2022 Details include: ticketing options, venues, and RNIFF health and safety for our artists and audiences.

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