Talking Stick Film Festival | Talking Stick Film Festival | Santa Fe, New Mexico | Talking Stick Film Festival | TSFF | Santa Fe, NM | A New Native Film Festival and Conference is Launched

Talking Stick Film Festival is kicking off its inaugural event today and will run to June 28.
According the the New Mexico Film Office's Web site:

Billed as the largest U.S. independent film festival of its kind, the event touts 104 works of native American and indigenous people from around the world, showcasing their vision of storytelling through film. Of 165 submissions, 78 films will compete in dramatic feature, documentary, short documentary, short feature and animation. In all, 104 film and video screenings are slated, including student works. Twenty - five awards will be given including People�s Choice in several categories as well as a New Mexico Emerging Artist award.

New Mexico boasts one of the largest percentages of Native American population in the world yet most New Mexicans rarely get a glimpse into the storytelling world for which our indigenous neighbors are famous for.

"We are proud to convene such a gathering of people, their unique voices and extraordinary creativity," said Karen Redhawk Dallett (Catawba/Scottish), festival director. "It�s a rare opportunity for the general public to see such diverse film and video in its own backyard. Fans usually have to travel to New York, San Francisco, or Toronto. With such a range of film, video, music, educational workshops, and panels, we hope the public will be inspired by the entire event experience. It�s a time to celebrate, honor, learn, share, and grow as creative, responsible human beings. New Mexico is the perfect location." There are five World and two US premieres with 82 percent of the programs being New Mexico - premiering films. Twelve workshops and four in - depth panel discussions with the filmmakers regarding their work and the impetus for their stories comprise the educational suite. Keith Secola, Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers, and Star Naeya weave entertainment nightly throughout the week at several different venues, along with regional Native musicians for the "Fantastic Nights of Music." Tributes to esteemed director and producer Shirley Cheechoo and to the late Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman, musician, activist and actor, are also planned.