Sarasota Native American Film Festival

The 2nd Annual Sarasota Native American Film Festival was held virtually from March 19 to March 28, 2021. The festival’s mission was to present cinematic works highlighting the experiences of Indigenous peoples throughout the Americas, offering audiences a rich and diverse exploration of Native American culture, history, and contemporary life.

Presented by the Sarasota Film Festival and the Boxser Diversity Initiative (BDI), in partnership with the Native Reel Cinema Festival, the Stranahan House Museum, and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum of Seminole Culture and History, the festival showcased over 20 films. Among the highlights was the world premiere of Finding Angola: Manatee’s County First Black Community, a feature documentary by Charles Clapsaddle that tells the story of the Bradenton, Florida-based community founded by escaped slaves and Seminoles in the early 1800s.

The festival also featured a retrospective of films by First Nations Mi’kmaq filmmaker Catherine Anne Martin, including the world premiere of her new documentary The Basket Maker, which honors generations of women preserving traditional arts through their skills and knowledge.

Additional programming included films by Seminole/Muskogee director Sterlin Harjo, short films by emerging Indigenous filmmakers, music videos by Seminole artists, and a special spotlight on alligator wrestling. Noteworthy screenings included the seminal 1998 road-trip dramedy Smoke Signals directed by Chris Eyre, and Songs My Brother Taught Me, the debut feature by Academy Award-nominated director Chloe Zhao, which focuses on life at the Pine Ridge Reservation of the Oglala Lakota.

The virtual festival offered live Q&A sessions with filmmakers and panel discussions addressing key issues in Native American life. The panel titled Listen and Learn: Key Issues in Native American Life featured leaders from the Lakota, Navajo, Seminole, Pueblo, and First Nations communities who engaged in vital conversations about Indigenous experiences and challenges.

Everett Osceola, President and co-founder of the Native Reel Cinema Festival, expressed his honor in collaborating with the Sarasota Film Festival, emphasizing the importance of broadening the spotlight on Native and Indigenous films, directors, actors, and stories.

The full program was accessible via the official festival website as well as the Sarasota Film Festival’s online platforms, allowing audiences worldwide to engage with this important cultural event.