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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2024 Schedule

Festival Program Guide (PDF)

RNIFF 29th Season – 76 “Official Selections’ 6 Features, 21 Documentaries, 25 Doc Shorts, 14 Narrative Shorts, 4 Animation, 4 Episodic, 37 Directed by Women.

The lineup includes World, U.S., Festival and Los Angeles Premieres.

Countries include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Austria, Germany, Greenland, Costa Rica and France.

The competition offers audiences a first look at groundbreaking new voices from the Native Indigenous perspective in independent film.

How To Fest

How to Fest

Plan Your Visit

Press

Merch

Merch

American Holocaust

Special Presentation | Virtual
October 14

Indigenous Peoples Day

American Holocaust: When It’s All Over I’ll Still Be Indian. Short-Listed for an Academy Award. This powerful, hard-hitting documentary reveals the link between Adolf Hitler’s treatment of German Jews and the U.S. government’s treatment of American Indians depicts disturbing parallels between these two Holocausts and explores the historical, social and religious roots of America’s own “ethnic cleansing.”

RNCI Announcement

Special Presentation | Virtual
October 18

RNCI Awards Nominees Announcement

2024 RNCI Red Nation Awards Ceremony Nominees Press Conference on Monday, October 18 where we will be announcing the Film Festival nominations LIVE on Red Nation TV Network and Social Media Platforms.

Red Nation Celebration Concert Series

Retrospective - Replay | Virtual
November 1

Red Nation Celebration Concert Series

Music has the Power to Bring Us All Together in solidarity for systemic change through the arts! Join Joe Walsh and Jennifer Warnes allies to Indian Country and other renowned Native Indigenous Artists.

Retrospective - Replay | Virtual
November 2

The Conversation Series
Native Women in Film

Over the course of the last eight years, RNIFF have wholeheartedly championed the screenings of an impressive 215 films directed by women. In a remarkable feat, we have even surpassed prominent film festivals like Toronto, Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, & the Oscars in terms of the sheer numbers of women-directed films featured.

Two Worlds Virtual Stage Reading: Spider Woman Stories

Retrospective - Replay | Virtual
November 3

Two Worlds Virtual Stage Reading:
Spider Woman Stories

The Conversation Series is a dynamic set of events occurring throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons annually.

RNCI Global Film & TV Location Scouting & Career Development

Retrospective - Replay | Virtual
November 4

RNCI Global Film & TV Location Scouting & Career Development

The Conversation Series is a dynamic set of events occurring throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons annually.

Retrospective - Replay | Virtual
November 5

First time in the history of Strasberg's Institute. Native Activists and Actors.

The Conversation Series is a dynamic set of events occurring throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons annually.

Retrospective - Replay | Virtual
November 6

American Indian Heritage Month: How AIHM Came About in Los Angeles

The Conversation Series is a dynamic set of events occurring throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons annually.

Native Indigenous Gaming Coalition

Virtual
November 7

Indigenous Gaming Coalition
In Partnership with Treyarch

Winner of the Adaptation Award at IndieCade 2019, When Rivers Were Trails is a point-and-click adventure game about the impact of colonization on Indigenous communities in the 1890’s.

RNIFF 2024

Film Program / In Person
November 8 - 15

The Authentic Voice of
Indigenous Cinema

LA’s Premiere Native & Indigenous Film Festival. Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF) is the world’s largest Native Indigenous film and media arts festival and the first of its kind in Los Angeles.

Native Film Market

Native Film Market @ AMC The Grove
November 16

Economic Development on Native Land

A one-of-a-kind event with Festival Filmmakers, distribution companies, production companies, and esteemed members of the entertainment industry.

Oyate Woyaka ( The People Speak )

Opening Night
November 8

Oyate Woyaka
(The People Speak)

Oyate Woyaka ( The People Speak) is a documentary film that follows traditional Lakota elders and fluent speakers as they work with younger generations to restore their beautiful language …

YINTAH

Opening Night
November 8

YINTAH
In Partnership with Netflix

Spanning more than a decade, the film follows Howilhkat Freda Huson and Sleydo’ Molly Wickham as their nation reoccupies and protects their ancestral lands.

Powwow Highway

Spotlight
November 9

Powwow Highway
35th Anniversary

Two Cheyenne Indian friends with very different outlooks on life set off on a road trip. Philbert Bono (Gary Farmer) is a spiritual seeker trying to find the answers to life’s questions; his pal, Buddy …

Sugarcane

Spotlight
November 9

Sugarcane
In Partnership National Geo

An investigation into abuse and missing children at an Indian residential school sparks a reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve.

Borders

Exclusive
November 12

Borders

An Indigenous Tribe divided by the U.S. and Mexico fights to preserve their traditions while dealing with Border conflicts.

Bring Them Home

Closing Night
November 15

Bring Them Home
Narrated by Lily Gladstone

Bring Them Home tells the story of a small group of Blackfoot people and their mission to establish the first wild buffalo herd on their ancestral territory …

The Green Veil

Exclusive
November 16

The Green Veil

Anthology series concerning oppression in America.

The Green Veil is a scripted anthology series about oppression in America from John Leguizamo, Aram Rappaport, Irene Bedard.

Oscars

Awards Show
November 17

RNCI Red Nation Awards
Ceremony

“Hollywood & Indian Country’s Biggest Night for American Indian & Indigenous Voices” Cementing Native image at the forefront of the industry, highli…

The Birds Who Fear Death

Native Cinema
November 8 - 15

FEATURES

Native Indigenous Cinematic Excellence: Six Feature Films to experience. Natives in Charge of their Narrative.

reEarth ...rights of Nature

Native Cinema
November 8 - 15

DOCUMENTARIES

Native Indigenous Cinematic Excellence: Twenty-one Documentary Films to experience. Natives in Charge of their Narrative.

Gloria

Native Cinema
November 8 - 15

DOC SHORTS

Native Indigenous Cinematic Excellence: Twenty-five Doc Short Films to experience. Natives in Charge of their Narrative.

Butterfly/Bataplai

Native Cinema
November 8 - 15

LIVE ACTION

Native Indigenous Cinematic Excellence: Fourteen Live Action Films to experience. Natives in Charge of their Narrative.

Dangerously Ever After

Native Cinema
November 8 - 15

ANIMATION

Native Indigenous Cinematic Excellence: Four Animation Films to experience. Natives in Charge of their Narrative.

Facing The Storm: The Indigenous Response to Climate Change (Episode 1 Mazaska Talks)

Native Cinema
November 8 - 15

EPISODIC

Native Indigenous Cinematic Excellence: Four Episodics to experience. Natives in Charge of their Narrative.

RNIFF in Selected Theatres
November 22 - 23

Across The Country
In Selected Theatres

Bringing the Red Nation International Film Festival to selected theaters across the country.

RNCI On The Road

RNIFF in New Mexico
November 23

NM's Premiere Native & Indigenous Film Festival

The Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF) is the world’s largest Native Indigenous film festival and the longest-running of its kind in New Mexico. Presented annually by RNCI each November, RNIFF has been empowering Native Indigenous storytellers since 1995.

Festival at Home
November 8 - December 31

Streaming on Red Nation Television Network

RNIFF mission to break barriers of racism by creating systemic change through film television in all media in order to eliminate American Indian stereotypes.

RNCI Crowdog

Event | November 30

American Indian Holocaust Memorial

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.

WHO TELLS THE STORY MATTERS

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.

Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts and your experience ‘On the Red is Green Carpet’ with us on Twitter @rednationff Facebook Red Nation Film Festival and Instagram

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31 YEARS OF IMPACT

Elevating Native and Indigenous Voices Through Storytelling

Celebrating Culture & Community

Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF) is the largest Native & Indigenous Film Festival in the U.S. and worldwide!

The first of its kind in Los Angeles.

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