FILM SYNOPSES

2008 PALM SPRINGS FESTIVAL OF NATIVE FILM AND CULTURE

FEATURE FILM SHORT SYNOPSES
With Short Films and Short Film Synopses

March 5 - 9, 2008
Camelot Theatres
2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs



SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. - OPENING NIGHT PUBLIC RECEPTION

(Screening at 8:00 p.m.)
FOUR SHEETS TO THE WIND (USA, Drama, 84 Minutes)
Beautifully crafted and set under the gorgeous Oklahoma skies, this poignant and wryly humorous story of familial healing, reunification and transformation following the death of one family’s patriarch ultimately emerges as an eloquent testament to the power of emotional openness, courage based in love and the modern traditions of the Indian experience.  Sterlin Harjo, writer/director, Cody Lightning, Jeri Arredondo, Tamara Podemski, Laura Bailey, Richard Ray Whitman, Christian Kane, Mike Randleman, star.

PLUS SHORT! 
CLOUDBREAKER (Canada, Drama, 15 Minutes)
As the seasons change, a young boy goes to dangerous lengths to transform himself.  If he is successful, he will be able to move the very clouds in the sky; if he fails, the results could be fatal.  Adam Garnet Jones, Director.

Total Film Program Running Time:  99 Minutes
Program Rating:  Some Mild Language, Adult Situations and Themes, Mild Sexual Content.


Thursday, March 6, 5:00 p.m.
A PLACE BETWEEN:  THE STORY OF AN ADOPTION (Canada, Documentary, 74 Minutes)
Emotionally driven personal documentary where one man’s reconciliation between biological and adoptive families of different ethnicities and cultures leads to a rigorous re-awakening of how to deal with the loss of a traditional Native identity.  Curtis Kaltenbaugh, Director.

PLUS SHORT!
RECLAIMING OUR CHILDREN:  A STORY OF THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT (USA, Short Documentary, 28 Minutes)
Prior to 1978, Indian children were being placed in foster care at a national rate 10 to 20 times higher than non-Native children.  This searing short documentary takes an in depth look at the Child Welfare System, the emergence of the Indian Child Welfare Act and the laws that worked against it which denied Indian children access to their Native rights.  Marcella Ernest, Director.

Total Film Program Running Time:  102 Minutes
Question and Answer Period with Directors Curtis Kaltenbaugh and Marcella Ernest (20 Minutes)
Program Rating: Content Suitable For All Audiences.

Thursday, March 6, 7:00 p.m. - Public Reception

Thursday, March 6, 8:00 p.m.
MARIA TALLCHIEF (USA, Documentary, 57 Minutes)
Accomplished biography of the legendary Native American ballerina who began dance lessons at age four in Oklahoma, left her Osage Indian Community shortly there after to find stardom in the Big Apple and later became near immortal by helping to establish the New York City Ballet while serving as the muse for her husband/choreographer, George Balanchine (The Nutcracker).  Sandra Osawa, Director.

PLUS TWO SHORTS!!
HAWAIKII (New Zealand, Drama, 11 Minutes)
Delicate and beautifully rendered story of a father and a daughter as they take their first steps into a foreign world.
BACK SEAT (Australia, Drama, 7 Minutes)
Impressionistically design tale of the confusing experiences a young foster child has upon meeting her biological family for the first time.  

Total Film Program Running Time:  75 Minutes
Program Rating: Content Suitable For All Audiences.

Friday, March 7 , 5:00 p.m.
HERDSWOMAN (Sweden, Documentary, 58 Minutes) – North American Premiere!
Compelling documentary of Aina, Elisabeth and Lisa, three Sami herdswomen of different generations who are powerfully determined to continue living traditional lives and practicing their ancient right to access reindeer pastureland in Sweden.  Kine Boman, director.

PLUS TWO SHORTS!!
AMY GOES TO WADJEMUP ISLAND (Australia, Drama, 9 Minutes)
When seven-year-old Amy visits Wadjemup Island for a holiday, she discovers a magical way of connecting with indigenous animals.  Denise Groves, Director.

ATI-WIHCASIN (IT’S GETTING EASIER) (Canada, Short Documentary, 7 Minutes)
A Cree Elder celebrates her life through the significant changes she has witnessed during her first vigorous 80 years.  Tessa Desnomie, Director.

Total Film Program Running Time:  73 Minutes 
Question and Answer Period with Director Kine Boman (20 Minutes)
Program Rating:  Content Suitable For All Audiences.

Friday, March 7, 7:00 p.m. - Public Reception

Friday, March 7,  8:00 p.m.  CENTERPIECE FILM!
TKARONTO (Canada, Drama, 105 Minutes) – United States Premiere!
A dramatically rich exploration into the desire for a more authentic Native identity erupts when an unexpected emotional connection grows between a married Metis writer and a married Anishnabe painter.  Shane Belcourt, writer/director, Melanie McLaren, Duane Murray, Lorne Cardinal and Cheri Maracle, star.

PLUS SHORT!
FISH (USA, Dramady, 5 Minutes)
Two urban Indian teens discover each other through skateboarding, fish, hot chicken up the street and a little magic.  A Longhouse Media Youth Project

Total Film Program Running Time:  110 Minutes
Question and Answer Period with Director Shane Belcourt, Actor/Producer Duane Murray, Actor Melanie McLaren (20 Minutes)
Program Rating:  Mild Language, Adult Themes.

Saturday, March 8,  5:00 p.m.  DOCUMENTARY DOUBLE BILL!!
KILLER WHALE AND CROCODILE (Canada/Papua New Guinea, Documentary, 48 Minutes)
Captivating documentary feature following two artists, one from British Columbia and one from Papua New Guinea, as they journey to each other’s home countries for a vibrant cultural exchange of traditional art making processes.  Peter Campbell, Director.

WEAVING WORLDS (USA, Documentary, 59 Minutes) – West Coast Premiere!
The intricate relationships between Navajo rug weavers, reservation traders and the delicate balance between maintaining cultural traditions, economic survival and artistic validation are examined in this fascinating documentary which highlights Navajo tales of “how the West was spun.”  Bennie Klain, Director.

Total Film Program Running Time:  107 Minutes
Question and Answer Period with Director Peter Campbell (20 Minutes)
Program Rating: Content Suitable For All Audiences.

Saturday, March 8, 7:00 p.m. - Public Reception

Saturday, March 8,  8:00 p.m.
OUR LAND, OUR LIFE (USA, Documentary, 74 Minutes)
Eloquent and visually striking documentary portrait of Carrie and Mary Dann, two elderly Shoshone sisters, whose thirty-year battle with U.S. government over the rights to their own land has taken them to the Supreme Court…and beyond.  George Gage, Beth Gage, Directors.

PLUS SHORT!
WRITING THE LAND (Canada, Short Documentary, 8 Minutes)
Visually expressive short of Musqueam Elder Larry Grant reveals loss and eventual reunion with his heritage, land and language.  Kevin Lee Burton, Director.

Total Film Program Running Time:  82 Minutes
Question and Answer Period with Directors Beth Gage, George Gage (20 Minutes)
Program Rating: Some Strong Language.

Sunday, March 9,  5:00 p.m.
MISS NAVAJO (USA, Documentary, 60 Minutes)
The design of the conventional “beauty contest” is completely subverted in this fascinating behind the scenes documentary focused on the crowning of “Miss Navajo” where contestants are judged on their inner beauty, how fluent they are in Navajo and their proficiency in the skills essential to daily, traditional tribal life: frying-bread, rug weaving and sheep butchering.  Billy Luther, Director.

PLUS TWO SHORTS!!
PAGEANT  (USA, Drama, 6 Minutes)
A former contestant of a Miss Tribal Nations pageant tries to prep and steer her daughter toward a “victory”.  Sonya Oberly, Director.
NANA  (Australia, Short Documentary, 7 Minutes)
A young girls tells the charming AND surprising story of her grandmother’s life.  Warwick Thornton, Director.

Total Film Program Running Time:  73 Minutes
Program Rating: Some Strong Content.

Following the film will be a closing night Public Reception at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 9,  8:00 p.m.  CLOSING NIGHT FILM
WATER FLOWING TOGETHER (USA, Documentary, 77 Minutes)
This candid, intimate portrait of ballet great, Jock Soto, follows one of the most recognizable and influential dancers of the America stage from his early roots on a remote Arizona reservation, through a career filled triumphant performances to his tremendously emotional retirement from the New York City ballet, at age 40, in 2005.  Gwendolen Cates, Director.

PLUS SHORT!
RACCOON AND CRAWFISH (USA, Animation, 8 Minutes)
A hungry raccoon searches for food and finds a crawfish on a quest for glory.  Their battle will decide the fate between an ego full of pride and a bell full of food.  Based on an ancient Oneida legend.  Dale Rood, Director

Total Film Program Running Time:  85  Minutes
Question and Answer Period with Director Gwendolen Cates (20 Minutes)
Program Rating: Some Adult Themes.



In keeping with the Museum’s mission of education and community outreach, ticket prices for the Festival are very reasonably priced. All screenings are $8.50 for adults and $6.50 for seniors (55+) and children/youth 16 and under. This has been made possible through underwriting provided by generous sponsors..

All screenings at Camelot Theatres
2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs