24TH RED NATION INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2019 PROGRAM LINEUP

by Red Nation Media Staff | October 10, 2019

The nonprofit Red Nation Celebration Institute, now in its 24th year, today announced the showcase of new American Indian & Indigenous independent feature films …

PRESS CONFERENCE RNCI RED NATION AWARDS NOMINEES INCLUDING RED NATION HONORS

by Red Nation Media Staff | September 26, 2019

This year marks the 24th season of the RNCI Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF) which showcases features, documentaries, and shorts …

END FOR DRY RUN FOR AMERICAN INDIANS ON TV NETFLIX TAKING THE LEAD! (Exclusive)

by Red Nation Media Staff | April 16, 2019

What does Newcomer Sivan Alyra Rose and veteran actress/filmmaker Joanelle Romero have in common …

RECAP: 23rd RNCI RED NATION INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

by Red Nation Media Staff | November 30, 2018

The 23rd RNCI Red Nation International Film Festival & Awards. The Authentic Voice of American Indian & Indigenous Cinema took place November 5-16, 2018 celebrating top native films of 2018 as we close the month officially designated as American Indian Heritage Month in The City Of Los Angeles.

23RD RNCI RED NATION INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL LINEUP & AWARDS CEREMONY

by Red Nation Media Staff | September 29, 2018

2018 Competition Lineup Spotlight on #MeToo #TimesUp and Native Women in FILM’s #WhyWeWearRED Call to Action, Taylor Sheridan, Dolores Huerta, and more.

This year’s competition lineup is stacked with both new and returning talent from the Native perspective. This years’ entries are led by Documentaries & Women, including both U.S. and World Cinema sections for narrative features and documentaries.

The festival’s competition: 53 Official Selections. 21 Directed by Women and 10 Student Shorts.

The art, activism and activity around Indian Market

by Santa Fe New Mexican | August 16, 2018

Part of the magic of Santa Fe Indian Market is how the presence of so many creative, smart people in town encourages — in just these few days in August — so many activities and experiences for people to soak in.

The 23rd Red Nation International Film Festival — an “On the Road” version — is showcasing the lack of roles for Native women in television and film. Earlier this week, festival founder Joanelle Romero and others held a news conference to discuss that lack of diversity and to showcase the movement #WhyWeWearRed, a global campaign to bring attention to missing and murdered Native women. If nothing else, people should go home from Indian Market this year with a better understanding of the tragedy of violence against indigenous women. (The complete schedule of festival films can be found at rednationff.com.

Native women take stand against violence in S.F.

By Elayne Lowe | elowe@sfnewmexican.com | August 14, 2018

A handful of Native American women wore red Tuesday to oppose violence and stand against what they say is systemic misrepresentation in mass media.

Media representation of Native women: invisibility, stereotypes, whitewashing

BY Rebecca Nagle Women’s Media Center | JUNE 12, 2018

In 2018, in the United States, there has never been a television series starring a Native woman. Ever.

Podcast: I am a Powerful agent of change Ilm Deliberate I am not Afraid

by Brettany Shannon USC Bedrosian Center | May 10, 2018

Welcome to the fifth installment of Los Angeles Hashtags Herself. As you know, this spring series highlights the work that remarkable Los Angelenas do in support of social justice and community-making. For the latter half of the season, we are looking at how art, public activism, and the digital age converge. In this week’s guest, they coalesce in one woman, the Native American award-winning film director and producer, actor, singer/songwriter, author, and founder and CEO of multiple media organizations, humanitarian Joanelle Romero.

Radio: Raising awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women in the US

by By ROSE AGUILAR & LAURA WENUS | April 19, 2018

On this edition of Your Call, we discuss missing and murdered Indigenous women and the fight to raise awareness about this crisis. Why do these women and girls get so little recognition in the US?

Native women in the US are murdered at more than ten times the national average. Homicide is the third leading cause of death for Indigenous women ages 10 to 24. Unlike Canada, where Indigenous advocates have pressured the government to confirm the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women, the US has done little to address the issue, according to Indian Country Today. How are advocates fighting to be heard?

A trailblazing filmmaker wants to make sure Native stories have their place in the American narrative

by Christabel Nsiah-Buadi | PRI GLOBALPOST | March 8, 2018

When Joanelle Romero stepped onto the set of “The Girl Called Hatter Fox,” she made history.

She was the first Native American to carry a lead role in a contemporary film, which aired on TV in 1977. It was also the first modern, Native woman story produced in the United States.

Romero was born into Hollywood, the daughter of an actress, Rita Rogers, who starred in Elvis Presley movies. At the age of 12, Dennis Hopper became Romero’s legal guardian. Yet her story is more than a laundry list of movie industry name drops.

A Trailblazing Filmmaker Wants to Make Sure Native Stories Have Their Place in the US Narrative

This story by Christabel Nsiah-Buadi for GlobalPost is part of a series called “The Media Disruptors” about women challenging long-established narratives. It originally appeared on PRI.org on March 8, 2018, and is republished here as part of a partnership between PRI and Global Voices.

When Joanelle Romero stepped onto the set of “The Girl Called Hatter Fox,” she made history.

Una regista d’avanguardia vuole far sì che le storie dei nativi abbiano il loro posto nei mass media statunitensi

by traduzione 19 marzo 2018

Questa storia di Christabel Nsiah-Buadi [en, come i link seguenti, salvo diversa indicazione] scritta per GlobalPost, fa parte della serie chiamata “The Media Disruptors” (Coloro che scombussolano i mass media) che racconta di quelle donne che sfidano istituzioni consolidate da lungo tempo. Originariamente pubblicata l’8 marzo 2018 su PRI.org, è qui riproposta come parte della collaborazione tra PRI e Global Voices.

Quando Joanelle Romero entrò sul set di “The Girl Called Hatter Fox” (La ragazza chiamata Hatter Fox), scrisse la storia. Era la prima persona nativo-americana ad interpretare un ruolo da protagonista in un film contemporaneo, trasmesso in televisione nel 1977. Fu anche il primo racconto moderno prodotto negli Stati Uniti a narrare di una donna nativo-americana.

Podcast: Latin Heat Hollywood Spotlight on Native Women in Film and Television

by National Hispanic Media Coalition | February 20, 2018

The strength and determination of Indigenous women is incredible. On this episode of Hollywood Spotlight we are spotlighting Native Women in Film and Television and their upcoming Film Festival. We will also be discussing #WhyWeWearRED – A National Global Campaign initiative that aims to bring awareness to murdered and missing Indigenous women, fighting sexual harassment and assault, and inequality for women in workplaces, including Native Women in Film and Television.

Red Nation Film Festival Official Competition Winners Announced

by Red Nation Media Staff | November 3, 2017

Documentaries & Women lead the 21st RNCI Red Nation International Film Festival with Spotlight screening of Wind River in Oscar buzz.

21st RNCI Red Nation International Film Festival The Authentic Voice of American Indian & Indigenous Cinema & Awards. The festival’s competition: 231 Film Submissions. 46 Official Selections. 22 Directed by Women.

The 21st RNCI Red Nation Film Festival 2017 The Authentic Voice of Native Cinema NATIVES IN CHARGE OF THEIR NARRATIVE revealed the first round of announced films. 46 Films.

by Red Nation Media Staff | October 2, 2017

SPOTLIGHT on twenty-two films directed by women, selected to screen at the 12 day festival November 8th – 19th in Los Angeles CA.Films from the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Ecuador, Spain, Greenland, Alaska and Australia. Followed with a full line-up of short film program, conversation series, Native FILM Market, Native Women in FILM, Two-Spirit film series, educational programs, Indigenous Women RISE Climate Change March, parties, On the Red is Green Carpet events and The Industry’s Biggest Night for American Indian & Indigenous Voices, RNCI Red Nation Awards a LIVE broadcast airing Red Nation Television Network Native is Here, scheduled November 18th.

Faith Keeper Oren Lyons to receive The Chief Dan George Award.

Review: Keepers of the Game

13th Annual Red Nation Film Festival at Pasadena’s Laemmle Playhouse 7

By Jimmy Centeno Published on LatinoLA | November 14, 2016

SPOTLIGHT on twenty-two films directed by women, selected to screen at the 12 day festival November 8th – 19th in Los Angeles CA.Films from the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Ecuador, Spain, Greenland, Alaska and Australia. Followed with a full line-up of short film program, conversation series, Native FILM Market, Native Women in FILM, Two-Spirit film series, educational programs, Indigenous Women RISE Climate Change March, parties, On the Red is Green Carpet events and The Industry’s Biggest Night for American Indian & Indigenous Voices, RNCI Red Nation Awards a LIVE broadcast airing Red Nation Television Network Native is Here, scheduled November 18th.

Faith Keeper Oren Lyons to receive The Chief Dan George Award.

RED NATION FILM FESTIVAL FOCUS ON STANDING ROCK PROTEST MEDIA BLACKOUT

by Red Nation Media Staff | November 3, 2016

Red Nation Film Festival The Authentic Voice of American Indian & Indigenous Cinema Announces Full 2016 Lineup

Los Angeles, CA. – November 3, 2016 – Red Nation Film Festival Film Festival & Awards, now in its 20th season in Los Angeles, the Premiere Showcase for Native Independent Film & Television, held during American Indian Heritage Month has announced its awards ceremony, competition, spotlights, environmental highlight, conversation series, native film market, short film sections and events for this year’s 11 day festival.

THE REVENANT SHOWCASES NATIVE AMERICANS IN HOLLYWOOD

by Native News Online Staff | January 14, 2016

“LEONARDO DICAPRIO IS TODAY’S BRANDO,” SAYS ACTOR/DIRECTOR JOANELLE ROMERO, FOUNDER OF RED NATIONS FILMS AND ITS ANNUAL FILM FESTIVALS. “NOT SINCE SACHEEN LITTLEFEATHER TOOK THE STAGE AT THE 1973 OSCARS HAS ANYONE SPOKEN THIS MUCH TRUTH TO HOLLYWOOD. LIKE MARLON BRANDO AND A FEW OTHERS, LEO GETS IT.”

‘The Revenant’ showcases Native Americans in Hollywood

by Pechanga.Net | January 13, 2016

Red Nation Films is proud to congratulate Leonardo DiCaprio, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and the cast and crew of The Revenant for their Golden Globe awards. That’s especially true for the movie’s Native performers, including Forrest Goodluck, Duane Howard, Arthur RedCloud, and newcomer Melaw Nakehk’o, who stole the show at the end with her haunting look.

AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR/ACTOR FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF RED NATION FILM FESTIVAL JOANELLE ROMERO INVITED TO JOIN THE
 ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES ARTS AND SCIENCES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO INCREASE DIVERSITY

by Red Nation Media Staff | August 5, 2016

LOS ANGELES, CA August 5, 2016. Joanelle Romero is honored to be a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science to increase their efforts in diversity. Romero will lend her voice and expertise in advancing the American Indian image in the entertainment industry.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BOYCOTT THE OSCARS‘THE REVENANT’ IS AN INDIGENOUS MOVIE

by Red Nation Media Staff | February 19, 2016

“With films like The Revenant, and its 12 Oscar nominations, tells me this is not the time for a boycott,” stated Joanelle Romero, actor, director and founder of Red Nation Film Festival – The Authentic Voice of American Indian & Indigenous Cinema.

ONCE AGAIN NATIVES TAKE THE LEAD IN HOLLYWOOD WHEN IT COMES TO DIVERSITY ITS NOT A BLACK & WHTE CONVERSATION ANYMORE

by Red Nation Media Staff | February 7, 2016

RNCI Red Nation Awards Show is the ONLY Awards show that embraced Diversity. At this years Awards Show, leading up to Awards season, on November 22nd in Westwood, it was ALL about Diversity.

Hosts were Jason George (Grey’s Anatomy), Crystal Lightning (Hip-Hop Artist), Jay Tavare (Bone Tomahawk) and Joanelle Romero, Pow Wow Highway CEO and founder of Red Nation Film Festival and Red Nation Television Network.

Oscar Nominees All White for Second Year in a Row No good news for Natives and other minorities

by Red Nation Media Staff | November 16, 2016

Once again, Hollywood is talking about the lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations. The 20 nominated actors were all white; the group excluded such highly-touted names as Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan, and Will Smith.

Or is it simply a reiteration that no Native actors were nominated despite their sterling performances in The Revenant. The Academy doesn’t seem to be aware that incredible Native films such as Songs My Brother Taught Me and Mekko, and documentaries “Children of the Arctic,” and “Paya The Water Story of the Paiute,” are winning awards at the prestigious Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles.

The Revenant Showcases Native Americans in Hollywood

by Red Nation Media Staff | January 12, 2016

“Leonardo DiCaprio is today’s Brando,” says actor/director Joanelle Romero, founder of Red Nations Films and its annual film festivals. “Not since Sacheen Littlefeather took the stage at the 1973 Oscars has anyone spoken this much truth to Hollywood. Like Marlon Brando and a few others, Leo gets it.”

BREAKING FIRST OF ITS KIND GLOBAL EVENT REAL HOLLYWOOD NDNZ @ AFM

Red Nation Films, Red Nation Television Network and Film Festival launches the native film genre at AFM 2015!

by Red Nation Media Staff | November 6, 2015

INDIGENOUS EYES FILMMAKER SHOWCASE created for American Indian & Indigenous filmmakers to have a global audience in reaching distribution companies and studios from around the world, set in a unique experience within the worlds global market held during the American Film Market at the Lowes Hotel in Santa Monica CA. November 7, 2015. Ground-Breaking!

AWARD WINNING – OSCAR CONTENDER – NATIVE FILMMAKER GIVES ROBERT RODRIGUEZ A RUN FOR HIS MONEY

by Red Nation Media Staff | October 16, 2015

American Indian actor, director and humanitarian Joanelle Romero launches Native Cinema during American Film Market on November 7th: INDIGENOUS EYES FILMMAKER SHOWCASE.

American Indian images in Hollywood and the media are finally going to be heard like never before. Following Indigenous People’s Day this month, Joanelle Romero and her empire is continuing the push in cementing a positive image of American Indians in film and media.

Tribal elder brings water history to life for students

by Cathy Cockrell, Berkeley News| SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

California’s record-breaking drought may be a wake-up call for many Golden State residents. But for Harry Williams, a Bishop Paiute elder whose reservation occupies 900 parched acres near the California-Nevada border, water scarcity is anything but new.

Back home in the Owens Valley, starting point of the aqueduct that makes metropolitan Los Angeles possible, “we have our own man-made drought,” Williams told a group of Berkeley undergraduates recently as they pored over rare archival materials on California water history.

Hollywood & Indian Country ’s Biggest Night for American Indian & Indigenous Voices, cementing American Indian at the forefront of the Entertainment Industry

by Red Nation Media Staff | November 14, 2014

HISTORY HAPPENED FIRST “LIVE” BROADCAST OF AN AMERICAN INDIAN AWARDS SHOW RNCI RED NATION AWARS SHOW LIVE FROM BEVERLY HILLS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2104 HUGE SUCCESS REACHING MILLIONS WORLDWIDE WINNERS ANNOUNCED.

STAR-STUDDED RED-IS-GREEN CARPET EVENT – A-LIST NAMES FROM INDIAN COUNTRY AND THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY EDWARD JAMES OLMOS, A MARTINEZ, JOHN TRUDELL, JOANELLE ROMERO, SAMUEL HOLIDAY WWII CODETALKER, SAGINAW GRANT, TONANTZIN CARMELO, JEREMIAH BITSUI, LENORE ANDRIEL, HEATHER RAE, JOHNNY SEQUOYAH, JR REDWATER, JOE BILLINGIERE, ZAHN MCCLARNON, GARY
FARMER, ALMA MARTINEZ, CRYSTAL LIGHTNING, LUIS MONCADA, DANIEL MONCADA, CHARLES BAKER, GORDON BIJELONIC, DAVID LLAUGER MEISELMAN, TO NAME A FEW. EXPERIENCING THE BEST OF AMERICAN INDIAN VOICES IN THE HEART OF THE ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

HUM dont know why this is not secured

by Indian Country Today | INDIAN November 17, 2014

HUICHOLES FILM WINS BEST DOCUMENTARY: RED NATION FILM FESTIVAL

by Tracy Barnett | November 14, 2014

he film Huicholes: The Last Peyote Guardians has won Best Documentary Film by the Red Nation Film Festival, the premier showcase for Native American and Indigenous film in the United States. The award was shared with The Life, Blood and Rhythm of Randy Castillo, by director Wynn Ponder and producer Johnny Depp.

The selection was the only Latin American film to be awarded.

Danny Trejo: Heart, Soul & Conscience of “Strike One,” Where Cruelty of Injustice Is Examined

by Rlia Esparza Layin Heat ” November 5, 2015

Filmmaker David Llauger-Meiselman’s award-winning indie Strike One, starring Danny Trejo, will have its west coast premiere at the Red Nation Film (RNFF) Festival on November 10, 2014, 8:45 PM at the Laemmle Music Hall Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA. Strike One also stars Billy Gallo, Alma Martinez, Maria Isa Perez, Johnny Ortiz, French Stewart, James Russo, Lawrence Smilgys, Reginald VelJohnson, and Zahn McClarnon,

Strike One is a family, coming-of-age, crime drama set in Boyle Heights—a Los Angeles community backdrop that comes to life as its own character—while the main characters deal with one family’s “life chose me” circumstances. Strike One is not a movie about gang bangers but rather an anatomy of the dangers of living in low-income and at-risk communities. It is also about the injustice of California’s Three Strike Law and how they devastate the lives of 80% of the youth living in these communities.

SETTING THE FACTS STRAIGHT ON FIRST BROADCAST OF AMERICAN INDIAN AWARDS SHOW

by Red Nation Media Staff | October 23, 2014

While Mike Smith’s American Indian Film Institute in San Francisco believes it to be the first to broadcast an American Indian awards show, Red Nation Film Festival’s, RNCI Red Nation Awards did just that at its November 2013 Red Nation Film Festival, partnering with Comcast | NBCUniversal, the largest cable company in the country.

Fest unveils Awards Show, Music Legends, Retrospective, New Initiatives Lifetime Achievement Award Experience Native Cinema at Red Nation Film Festival

by Red Nation Media Staff | October 1, 2014

39+ Film Screenings. Inside the Festival Initiatives. Awards Show.

2 Host Venues: Laemmle Music Hall Theater & The Laugh Factory.

Red Nation Film Festival – The Authentic Voice of American Indian & Indigenous Cinema is one of the fastest growing native independent Festivals in the country, now in its 11th season. Presented by Red Nation Celebration Institute, Honest Engine Films, NBC Universal.

Red Nation Film Festival (RNFF) screening venue Laemmle Music Hall Theater in Beverly Hills, the Laemmle family has been RNFF venue since the festivals inception in 2003. RNFF lineup of native independent films, studio films, Indigenous international films, including native documentary’s generating plenty of awards buzz. This is the festival that screens Academy Award winning films and Emmy Award winning films before they were nominated — for the past 7 years. “Frozen River”, “The Garden”, “Honor the Treaties” were screened here at Red Nation Film Festival. In addition, RNFF was the first festival in the world to screen before its premier and to the general public in partnership with Summit Entertainment “Twilight Saga- New Moon” were all screened here at Red Nation Film Festival. This is the festival to experience native cinema.

Red Nation Film Festival Founder Joanelle Romero and Randy Castillo home town of Alb. New Mexico KOAT 7 Coverage! Randy Castillo film Opens 11th Red Nation Film Festival Nov 4th.

by KOAT Channel 7 | September 4, 2014

11th Red Nation Film Festival in the News in USA, Spain, Greece, Argentina, Russia, Japan, Bulgaria with Opening World Premiere The Life, Blood and Rhythm of Randy Castillo.

Read what their saying:

Red Nation Film Festival To Celebrate The Best in Native American Cinema

by CBS News | October 27, 2011

For the eighth year in a row, the Red Nation Film Festival will be honoring the best in Native American cinema.

“Hollywood has Oscar, Broadway has Tony, Television has the Emmy, and now the American Indian has the Red Nation Film Award,” said President/Founder Joanelle Romero.

The festival will take place in Los Angeles Nov. 1-7. It will feature screenings, a Red is Green Carpet celebration and an awards gala that will cap off the week-long celebration during American Indian Heritage Month.

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