Dreamkeeper screening - LA November 25, and AIFISF winners press release
Friday, March 28th, 2008UCLA
AMERICAN INDIAN STUDIES CENTER
&
MELNITZ MOVIES
Presents a Screening
DREAMKEEPER–the miniseries
courtesy of
Hallmark Entertainment &
The ABC Network
Tuesday, November 25, 6:00 pm
The James Bridges Theater
Melnitz Hall, NE Corner of UCLA Campus
(Enter Campus at Sunset and Westwood Blvd., Parking: $7)
Admission Free. Limited seating.
Reception and refreshments start at 6 p.m.
Screening followed by panel discussion.
Panel to include:
Hanay Geiogamah, UCLA Professor of Theater, Moderator
John Fusco, Screenplay Writer
Eddie Spears, Actor
DeLanna Studi, Actress
Steve Barron, Director
Robert Halmi Sr., Executive Producer
Please forward this message.
– F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E –
November 12, 2003
Direct all inquiries to Wishelle Banks, AIFI Publicist, 775/324-3613
American Indian Film Institute, 415-554-0525
HALLMARK’S DREAMKEEPER SWEEPS AMERICAN INDIAN MOTION PICTURE AWARDS
The Hallmark Entertainment-ABC Television Network mini-series
DREAMKEEPER swept the 28th annual American Indian Film Festival’s
American Indian Motion Picture Awards in San Francisco on Sat. Nov.
8, 2003 in San Francisco, capturing four top honors. Now Native
America - the film’s litmus-test and toughest critical demographic -
issues its highest praise for the epic odyssey of a Lakota grandfather’s
final storytelling.
“It’s the first time in my career - which spans 40 years - that I
have sat through something, that I was a part of, all the way,” said
August Schellenberg, whose captivating portrayal of Dreamkeeper Pete
Chasing Horse earned AIFF’s Best Actor Award. “I can’t stand to watch
myself, but this film has inspired me so much because of the writing, the
direction and the incredible cast. It’s always an honor to win an award,
but to win such a prestigious award is a ‘feather in my bonnet.’ [American
Indian Film Festival director] Michael Smith has done a wonderful job with
the festival. He’s a wonderful man.” A near capacity crowd filled the
Palace of Fine Arts Theater, where popular actors and AIFF-winners Michael
Horse, Elaine Miles and Gary Farmer joined longtime festival emcee Susan
Masten and Smith as co-host of the awards ceremony. The evening began with
a special memorial tribute to Coast Miwok-Kashaya Pomo storyteller Lanny
Pinola, whose sudden death last April created a painful void at the
American Indian Film Festival, where for the past decade Pinola provided
traditional prayer songs, always asking for a special blessing on the
veterans. Fiancee Susie Moore and clan offered an especially poignant
prayer song in his memory. Evoking the reverence of angels, Yakama tribal
member Fawn Lily Brown and her daughters Morningstorm and Mistyeve,
dressed in traditional Indian outfit, interpreted a musical rendition of
“Amazing Grace,” with the fluid movement using Native sign language.
A grateful Eddie Spears accepted the Best Supporting Actor Award for his
role in DREAMKEEPER. The Lakota actor reflected on that magical moment
when he heard his name called. “It was so humbling to receive that award,”
Spears said, “and the fact that my very first award came from the Native
people made it 10 times more special. To receive something from your own
people, it gives you that sense of pride. For all the awards that
DREAMKEEPER got, for all the hard work, it paid off. It was a film that’s
authentic to Native Americans - it didn’t have stereotypes in it. It was
just humbling to be at the festival and to receive the award. I’m glad
everybody enjoyed that film.” The Best Actress Award went to Alex Rice for
her role as Janet Pete in Coyote Waits, while Delanna Studi’s turn as
Talks a Lot in DREAMKEEPER earned her the award for Best Supporting
Actress. A pair of Horizon Awards were presented to newcomer Rodrick
Pocowatchit [Dancing on the Moon], and to 17-year-old
actress-screenwriter-recording artist Sage, whose dual roles in
DREAMKEEPER is a major coup on an already impressive resume.
In the documentary categories, veteran Native filmmaker Alanis
Obomsawin’s Is the Crown at War With Us? earned the Best Documentary
Feature Film Award, and the Best Documentary Short Award went to World of
American Indian Dance, directed by Randy Martin. Tru Rez Crew’s I’m a
Lucky One won for Best Music Video, director Randy Redroad’s Moccasin
Flats won the Best Live Short award, while filmmaker Gary Robinson won the
Best Industrial Film Award for Pathways to Tomorrow. Cree comedian Don
Burnstick performed at the American Indian Motion Picture Awards, then
picked up the award for Best Public Service Video for the biographical Don
Burnstick: You Might Be a Redskin.
American Indian Film Festival Director Michael Smith presented the
festival’s highest honor, the Eagle Spirit Award, to Mohican
recording artist Bill Miller, who headlined the awards ceremony.
Approaching his third decade of performing, this was Miller’s first
appearance at AIFF. The American Indian Motion Picture Awards also
featured live entertainment by First Nations triple-threat Tamara
Podemski, classical musicians Cindy Minkler and Swil Kanim, plus
Aboriginal recording artists Eagle & Hawk.
The spotlight remained on DREAMKEEPER, which also won the award for
Best Film. From Eagle Boy’s vision quest [Lakota] and the Akwesasne
Mohawk’s Thunder Beings, to the stories of the Kiowa, Pawnee and
Cheyenne, DREAMKEEPER is truly a masterpiece, masterfully written by John
Fusco [Thunderheart, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron], directed by Steve
Barron and produced by Robert Halmi Sr. [Arabian Nights, Merlin] and
Robert Halmi Jr. [Dinotopia, Frankenstein]. Shot on location in Alberta,
Canada, Pine Ridge, South Dakota and Arizona and New Mexico, DREAMKEEPER’s
historical accuracy and cultural integrity are steadfastly maintained,
with exquisite cinematography ranging from the resplendent tone of an
Edward S. Curtis photogravure, to the muted pastels of a watercolor
painting, to the contemporary, true-to-life colors of the elder and his
grandson’s desert trek. Co-stars Gary Farmer, John Trudell, Alex Rice and
Michael Greyeyes were also in attendance.
The American Indian Film Festival continues through Thurs., Nov. 13
at the UA Galaxy Theaters [Sutter at Van Ness], with matinee and
evening show times. At 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Galaxy, AIFF will
screen its Closing Night Films: the documentary Spirit of the Game,
followed by the unforgettable Cowboys & Indians: The Killing of J.J.
Harper, starring award-winning actors Adam Beach, Eric Schweig and Gordon
Tootoosis. The CBC-Aboriginal Peoples Television Network collaboration is
based on the true story of Manitoba leader John Joseph Harper, who was
fatally shot by Winnipeg Police Constable Robert Cross. In the conspiracy
and cover-up that ensued, Inspector Ken Dowson committed suicide the same
day he was to testify in the case, which divided the city and became the
catalyst for the establishment of the Manitoba Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.
This compelling feature film, produced by Eric Jordan and Jeremy Torrie,
was directed by Norma Bailey.
# # #
The American Indian Film Institute is a non-profit media arts
center created to foster understanding of the culture, traditions and
issues of contemporary Native Americans. Founded in 1979 with late actor
Will Sampson [One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest] among its founding members,
AIFI employs film as a tool to preserve and record our heritage; a vehicle
for Indians and non-Indians alike to “unlearn” damaging stereotypes and
replace them with multi-dimensional images that reflect the complexity of
Native peoples. Today, AIFI is the major Native American media and
cultural arts presenter in California, and its festival is the world’s
oldest and most recognized international film exposition dedicated to
American Indians in cinema.