2022 Sarasota Native American Film Festival

SARASOTA, Fla —The third annual Sarasota Native American Film Festival takes place in a hybrid format from September 9 until September 15, 2022. The mission of the free-to-attend event, based in Sarasota, Florida, is to present cinematic works related to the experience of Indigenous people in the Americas. The festival is produced by the Sarasota Film Festival and the Boxser Diversity Initiative (BDI), in collaboration with the Native Reel Cinema Festival.

Showcasing a diverse program, presented both in-person and online, this year’s SNAFF features over 25 films and experiences focused on Native American art and music, the history and culture of the Seminole Tribe in Florida, as well the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Among the films are Rez Metal, the story of a Navajo heavy metal band, as well as Seven Ridges, the first feature drama ever to be produced in the Seri language and Changer: A Hand Telling — an innovative film with Deaf Native storytellers performing the Salish origin stories.

Among other programming highlights are feature documentaries Bring Her Home and Somebody’s Daughter about the plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women, and Modoc Nation: An Untold Story of Survival — the tragic and inspiring story of the Modoc people. Rounding out the program are stunning short films from the 2022 Sundance Institute Indigenous Short Film Tour.

The festival’s live events spotlight a performance by Seminole musician Doc Native, an MTV VMA winner, writer, producer and rapper, as well as live painting by noted Seminole painter Wilson Bowers.

Conversations include a talk with Shaandiin Tome, an award-winning Diné filmmaker, whose films have screened at the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW. She is the Marie Claire’s "Top 21 Creators to Watch" in 2022. Also notable is the panel on the history of the Seminole Tribe with Everett Osceola, filmmaker and founder of the Native Reel Cinema Film Festival, and Uzi Baram, professor of anthropology at New College of Florida.

The in-person screenings and live events will take place at New College's Sainer Pavilion on September 9 and 10, while online showcases will be available from September 9-15.

“I am always excited about taking the amazing cultural plunge into all things Native American,” said Mark Famiglio, president of the Sarasota Film Festival. “This year we are especially enthusiastic about our dive into Florida’s native culture with in-person visits from Seminole Tribe’s filmmaker and cultural ambassador Everett Osceola, musician Doc Native and artist Wilson Bowers.”

“I am very honored to have Native Reel Cinema Festival collaborate with the third annual Sarasota Native American Film Festival, said Everett Osceola, cultural ambassador of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. “Together we are sharing the beautiful world of native/Indigenous culture through art, music and film for the people of Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Mvto, thank you!”

“As a community who has limited contact with Native American culture, it is important to learn about their history, their lives and their impact on Southwest Florida,” said Dan Boxser, chair and co-founder of BDI. “We are very fortunate to be able to cooperate with Native Reel and the Seminole tribe for the Sarasota Native American Film Festival to achieve this.”

“The Sarasota Native American Film Festival is an opportunity to explore and experience indigenous and First Nation culture through film, live performance and art,” added Judge Charles E. Williams, member of the board of directors of BDI.

More information on the Sarasota Native American Film Festival and how to register for free tickets is available through the website SarasotaNativeFF.com.

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For any questions about the film festival, please contact Josephine Eisenberg, chief operating officer of BDI.