RNCI the Creative Enterprise by Natives
Delivering To All People
The Stories That Shape Our World
Amplifying Native Indigenous content creators in front of and behind the camera, since 1995.
The nonprofit enterprise Red Nation Celebration Institute along with its partners of inclusion, hosts screenings and events year-round throughout the United States, as well as abroad and online, to celebrate Native Indigenous independent storytelling, help artists refine their craft, and reach global audiences.
Founded 1995 by Joanelle Romero is the longest standing Native Women-Led, Indigenous media arts cultural pioneer nonprofit enterprise in the Entertainment Industry.
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Schedule
RNIFF 27th Season – 71 “Official Selections’ 4 Features, 11 Documentaries, 24 Doc Shorts, 16 Narrative Shorts, 6 Animation, 6 Episodic, 29 Directed by Women, 5 Retrospectives, including RNCI Red Nation Awards, 17 virtual events and two films that are up for Oscar consideration: A Love Song and Burros.
The lineup includes 1 world premiere, 1 international premiere, 4 U.S. premieres, 2 West Coast premieres, 11 Festival premieres, and 46 Los Angeles premieres. There are 10 directors returning to RNIFF with their latest projects.
RNCI Alumni Leya Hale film ‘Bring Her Home’ won EMMY honored by the Upper Midwest Emmy Awards for Outstanding Topical Documentary!
Acknowledgment
Truth to Power
Award-winning film ‘Sacheen: Breaking the Silence’ WON ‘Best Doc Short’ while Littlefeather was the recipient of RNCI ‘Brando Award’ in 2019/RNCI Red Nation Awards ceremony.
From 1973 to 2019 the 46 year long wait in silence forced the Academy to rethink the treatment of Native Americans in Cinema.
Only after three more years did the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences apologize to Littlefeather, June 2022.
Event
October 10
Joanne Shenandoah
1957-2021
The tribute, featuring dear friends family members, includes performing artists: Irv Lyons, Jr & The Light (Oneida Nation); world-renown singer/songwriter Pura Fe (Tuscarora/Taino); LA recording artist, actor & humanitarian, Joanelle Romero (Apache/Dinétah/Paiute); Joanne’s sister, Diane and daughter, Leah (Oneida Nation); and Sherri Waterman-Hopper’s Haudenosaunee Singers and Dancers (Onondaga Nation).
Special Presentation
October 13
Burros became Oscar-qualifying when it won the Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the New York International Children’s Film Festival.
Moderator Joanelle Romero with special quests: Tohono O’odham Executive Producer, Larry “Bear” Wilson, Dir Jefferson Stein and Producer Liz Cardenas.
Special Presentation
October 25th
2022 RNCI Red Nation Awards Ceremony Nominees Press Conference on Thursday, October 20th where we will be announcing the Film Festival nominations LIV…
Virtual Event
November 1
RNCI in 2006 established The Sacred Water of Life Ceremony along the Los Angeles River and at Playa del Rey Ballona Wetlands. RNCI and with the support…
Virtual Conversation Series
November 2
California Native Indigenous Film Commission brings together Natives in Charge of their Narrative with industry allies.
Virtual Conversation Series
November 3
Meet with RNIFF Documentary Filmmakers as we discuss the Documentary Story.
Virtual Conversation Series
November 4
Meet with RNIFF Documentary Filmmakers as we discuss the Documentary Story.
Virtual Conversation Series
November 5
This is our moment right now with the huge success of Reservation Dogs, Dark Winds, Prey, Wild Indian, Wifelike, it is now officially cemented WHO TELLS THE STORY MATTERS! Native Indigenous at the forefront of the Entertainment Industry. We are the new Hollywood!
Virtual Conversation Series
November 6
Meet the Women Directors of RNIFF, who are decolonizing the entertainment industry. RNIFF has changed the trajectory not only of their careers and their lives but within the last four years Red Nation Celebration Institute program RNIFF has screened 103 films directed by women.
Virtual Conversation Series
November 7
Meet the Women Directors of RNIFF, who are decolonizing the entertainment industry. RNIFF has changed the trajectory not only of their careers and their lives but within the last four years Red Nation Celebration Institute program RNIFF has screened 103 films directed by women.
Virtual Conversation Series
November 8
Meet the Women Directors of RNIFF, who are decolonizing the entertainment industry. RNIFF has changed the trajectory not only of their careers and their lives but within the last four years Red Nation Celebration Institute program RNIFF has screened 103 films directed by women.
Native Cinema
November 9 - 19
In-Person
Now in its 27th year, the Red Nation International Film Festival curator Joanelle Romero says, “Who Tells the story Matters! I have created a 27-yea…
Native Cinema
November 9
Opening Night
In a rare lead role, Dale Dickey, one of contemporary cinema’s finest character actors, takes center stage as Faye, a widow waiting for a night that could change her life.
Native Cinema / Spotlight
November 12
World Premiere
Inspired by real events, ON SACRED GROUND follows Dan, a war vet journalist who suffers from PTSD, during what becomes the spiritual transformation of a lifetime.
Collaboration
November 17
Collab
Special Retrospective / Spotlight
November 18
In partnership with AMC Networks, IFC and AllBlkTV
A former champion boxer embarks on the fight of her life when she goes in search of her missing sister.
Native Cinema
November 19
Closing Night
In the wake of the Dakota Access Pipeline Protests, Indigenous People across the nation are using their newfound platform to shed light on the wide array of injustices committed against
Gala Presentation
November 20
“Hollywood & Indian Country’s Biggest Night for American Indian & Indigenous Voices” Cementing Native image at the forefront of the industry, highli…
Festival at Home
November 21 - 30
Red Nation International Film Festival™ (RNIFF) is dedicated to breaking the barrier of racism by successfully replacing American Indian stereotype …
Virtual Conversation Series
November 22
RNCI / City National Bank COLLAB
Fireside Chat Natives Rising through Storytelling
Invitation Only
Meet Joanelle Romero ‘Powwow Highway & Wild Indian’ and Cara Jade Myers ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’.
Distribution Matters
November 28
A one-of-a-kind event with Festival Filmmakers, distribution companies, production companies, and esteemed members of the entertainment industry. Em…
Virtual Event
November 29
Join us in Conversation with CARA ROMERO. Cara Romero is a Chemehuevi photographer creating monumental fine art photographs.
Virtual Event
November 30
His Actor’s Intensive workshops have helped a great many actors, writers and directors to build strong acting technique, and tell compelling stories with clarity and conviction. His acting classes empower artists to fully be who they are while realizing their absolute potential.
Event
November 30
Honoring Our Ancestors
The American Indian Holocaust Memorial was established in 2007 by RNCI, Downton Los Angeles. The ceremony was held at The Los Angeles State Historic Park, where the Tongva and Chumush used to meet at the Water portal, ceremony was in association with the City of Los Angeles reopening of The Los Angeles State Historic Park.
Event
November 6, 13, 16, 27
In Celebration of American Indian Heritage Month, Red Nation Celebration and Fine Arts Theatre partner to bring to the public four Native themed movies.
Virtual Event
December 3
Looking Through the Native Lens:
WHO TELLS THE STORY MATTERS! Native Indigenous at the forefront of the Entertainment Industry. We are the new Hollywood!
RNCI Partners With Edward James Olmos LALIFF
“Special Screening of films produced by the Indigenous Latino Cohort of the 2022 LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship”
The five participants in the Indigenous Latino cohort are William D. Caballero, Nicole Mejia, Sebastian Rea and Kristi Uribes.
These filmmakers completed a short film that premiered at LALIFF 2022!
RNCI Partners With Fine Arts Theatre
In Celebration of American Indian Heritage Month, Red Nation Celebration and Fine Arts Theatre partner to bring to the public four Native themed movies.
Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI), The Authentic Voice for American Indian & Indigenous Nations, founded 1995. The Creative Enterprise by Natives delivering to all people the stories that shape our world. The longest standing Native Women-Led, Indigenous media arts cultural pioneer nonprofit enterprise in the Entertainment Industry. Based in Los Angeles and Santa Fe NM, serving Indian Country & Entertainment Industry, representing 570+ Native Nations, established a rich legacy of work by supporting 894+ Native Indigenous filmmakers. Mission is to break barriers of racism by creating systemic change through media and pop culture in order to eliminate Native American stereotypes. Our Vision for the future of cinema is one in which Native Indigenous perspectives are authentically pictured, recognized, and valued in a way that promotes strong authentic Native identities, economic outcomes, equity, and wellness for our Indigenous communities.
Meet RNCI Board of Directors https://rednationff.com/board-of-directors/
RNCI Properties include: Red Nation International Film Festival, RNCI Red Nation Awards, Red Nation Television Network Native Indigenous Media Streaming Company (predating Netflix and all other streaming services), Native Women in Film & Television in All Media, RNCI Crew, California Native Film Commission, New Mexico Film Commission, American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles, Native Studies Center, Native Indigenous Student Academy for Cinematic Arts #NotTodayColonizer, and #NativeYouthMatter – If I Can See It I Can Be It.
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