A Warm Closing for the San Diego American Indian Film Festival
A Warm Closing for the San Diego American Indian Film Festival
Written by Terria Smith
The closing day of the 2nd Annual San Diego American Indian Film Festival proved to be first class, positive and very inspiring.
The California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center hosted the event Nov. 20-22. The first two days of the festival took place on the California State University, San Marcos campus. On the final day, it all moved north to the beautiful Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif.
A documentary, produced by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, called “Our People. Our Culture. Our History” started the day off. The film – which journeyed through the resilient history of the Kumeyaay people – has received a 2014 EMMY Award, Pacific Southwest region, for outstanding achievement in television.
That screening was followed by “Indian 101,” a thorough historical documentary about the life of Comanche activist LaDonna Harris. Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association’s executive director, Dennis Turner (Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians) moderated a Q & A with Harris after the film.
While these screenings were going on, artist and filmmaker Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa/Choctaw) was leading a youth track filled with short films including “Legacy of Exiled NDNZ,” “We Shall Remain” and “#nightslikethese.” All were selected with youth in mind.
The final documentary of the day was “Once We Had a River.” The piece valiantly takes on the challenge of the very complex dispute over water access rights for the five tribes – Pala, Pauma, La Jolla, Rincon and San Pasqual – whose reservation lands are along the San Luis Rey River. Rincon Chairman Bo Mazzetti and La Jolla Chairwoman LaVonne Peck offered their perspectives on the issue during a Q & A after the film.
The VIP reception was an earnest and warm gathering of old as well as new friends. The food was tasty, the company was lively, the atmosphere was joyous.
The festival concluded with a screening of the feature film “Empire of Dirt” and photos on the red carpet.
Overall, the closing events had the personal touch and close knit feel of our Southern California tribal communities. Yet, it had all the class, glamour and sophistication expected of a major Hollywood event. It’s going to be so exciting to see this very cool little festival grow in the years to come!
Dennis Turner (Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians), executive director of the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, moderates a Q & A session with LaDonna Harris (Comanche Nation), president of Americans for Indian Opportunity, after the showing of the documentary “Indian 101” at the 2nd Annual San Diego American Indian Film Festival.
