Sessions
RNIFF THE MARKET: The Native & Indigenous Film & Entertainment Marketplace
Coming Soon....
RNIFF THE MARKET: The Native & Indigenous Film & Entertainment Marketplace
The NIFM Sessions will offer two full days of programming dedicated to exploring today’s Native and Indigenous narratives and envisioning the future. The Future is Indigenous. From film screenings, to pitching your film for funding to in-depth conversations on the latest topics and technologies—spanning financing, production, distribution, streaming, AI, sustainability, diversity, and networking—these sessions provide insights through the Native and Indigenous lens across all facets of the industry.
To submit a speaker for consideration, please email Liz Kramer at nifm@rednation.com +1.818.665.5753
November 16 | 1PM - 5PM
Location manager POV working with Native communities1PM – 1:45PM
Moderators: Joanelle Romero, David McKinney
Sheila Ryan
Bio
Sheila Ryan (Hollywood Teamster Local 399, LMGI, ATAS) is a nominated and award winning Location Manager and Scout born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She started her career working on independent films later joining the Hollywood Teamsters 399 Location Managers Union and Location Managers Guild International and has worked on projects such as Westworld, Ambulance, Joker: Folie à Deux, Maxxxine, and the highly anticipated Freaky Friday 2.
Ernest Belding
Bio
I am a career Location Scout/Manager. Born and raised in Southern California, I’ve had a lifelong love of filmmaking and teamwork and people and photography, and consider myself quite lucky to have a found a good union job that lets me enjoy all of those things. I began working in Production in 1995, and have had the pleasure of filming many other states and 2 other countries, as well as all over California. I love finding the hidden corners of the world, seeing behind the curtain, and find the most perfect example of the simplest places.
David McKinney
Bio
Before becoming a Location Manager, David was a scholar-athlete at UCLA, winning the first ever Pacific-10 Division Rowing Championship for the university, then went on to become a world class sailor, competing in the Olympic Trials in the International Star Class. David gained facility in the Spanish language through advanced studies in Spanish and experience as a work exchange student in Spain while earning a degree with a double major in English Literature and Political Science with field emphasis in International Relations and Public Administration from the University of California Los Angeles.
Since 1989 David has worked on location internationally for every type of production including print, music videos, tv commercials, television and Academy Award winning features and has won numerous awards for outstanding work as a Location Professional.
David has been known to spend summers sailing private yachts around Baja California, the Florida Keys, the Canary Islands, and the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza, as well as an occasional foray into international dual sport off road motorcycle adventures in California, Portugal, Spain, and Morocco.
Streaming Goes Native
2PM – 2:45PM
Joanelle Romero
Joanelle is founder and CEO of Red Nation Television Network.
Red Nation Television Network holds the distinction of being the world’s first streaming company, predating not only Netflix but all others, and stands as the longest-running Native Indigenous television network. The station delivers distinctive content encompassing Native Indigenous culture, heritage, education, entertainment, and lifestyle.

Keynote
3PM – 3:45PM
Chris Lane
VP of Distribution @ Participant | Worldwide Distribution & Marketing Campaign Management
I have a track record for delivering cross-functional, data-driven, and revenue-tied business operations improvement strategies. I work across all distribution windows and build opportunities for teams to iterate based on data. My holistic approach is trusted by filmmakers, global partners, and executive leadership.
Bonnie Abaunza
Bonnie Abaunza has dedicated her life to humanitarian work, human rights, and social justice advocacy.
Through her own company, the Abaunza Group and GSD, the social impact agency she co-founded, she works closely with filmmakers, artists, production companies, distributors, and non-governmental organizations to develop and execute social impact campaigns for films and documentaries. Bonnie’s work has addressed myriad human rights and civil rights issues as she has brought hard-hitting campaigns and major celebrity engagement to issues as diverse as child slavery, campus sexual assault, human trafficking, genocide, racial and environmental justice, girls’ education, food safety and animal rights.
Joanelle Romero
Joanelle is founder and CEO of Red Nation Television Network.
Red Nation Television Network holds the distinction of being the world’s first streaming company, predating not only Netflix but all others, and stands as the longest-running Native Indigenous television network. The station delivers distinctive content encompassing Native Indigenous culture, heritage, education, entertainment, and lifestyle.

4:00 to 4:45
Exclusive Screening
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.