August 2005

Announcements

Lincoln’s newest film festival. Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT) and the Mary Reipma Ross Media Arts Center (The Ross) present the Flatwater Native Film Festival, August 6-18 in Lincoln, Nebraska. For additional schedule and ticket information, contact the Ross Theater at 402-472-5353 or on the web at http://www.theross.org and on NAPT's website, http://www.nativetelecom.org. Funding for the festival comes from the Nebraska Arts Council and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Promotional support is also provided by the Lincoln Journal Star and Native Voice Newspapers.

Freedom, Creativity and Risk in the Media Arts

National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture (NAMAC) 2005 Conference. September 28 - October 2, 2005 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvia. Register online today! Early bird registration deadline: Wednesday, August 17 http://www.takingliberties2005.org/RegistrationBrochure.pdf.

Program Updates

On the AIROS Radio Network

National Powwow. The MCI Center will come alive in a colorful expression of song and dance during the weekend of August 12-14 when the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) holds its second nationwide powwow. NMAI and AIROS are proud to bring this live event to you and your listeners. For more information on the powwow go to http://www.AmericanIndian.si.edu. For broadcast schedules: http://www.nativeradio.org or http://www.airos.org.

Schemitzun. AIROS is pleased to bring you once again the sounds of this celebration of Native American culture. Hosted by the Mashantucket Pequots of Connecticut, the Schemitzun Powwow is the Annual Feast of Green Corn & Dance and is one of the largest powwows in the country. Live webcasts Friday August 26 - Sunday August 28. To learn more about the celebration: http://www.schemitzun.com/index.html. For broadcast schedules: http://www.nativeradio.org or http://www.airos.org.

The Indolent Boys. In cooperation with the Wells Fargo Radio Theatre program and the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, AIROS will broadcast the radio adaptation of N. Scott Momaday’s The Indolent Boys. Written by Lori Tubert, the radio play is based on historical events and Kiowa oral tradition. Set in Anadarko, Oklahoma Territory, in 1891, it tells the story of three homesick Native boys who ran away from a Kiowa Indian boarding school to return to their family’s camp and the consequences the boys and boarding school staff faced as a result. Until now, this story was passed on through the Kiowa oral tradition. http://www.nativetelecom.org/news/spring-summer05/boys.html

Coming to Public Television Stations

Check your local listings for times.

Indian Casinos: What's Next? NET Television, Nebraska’s state public broadcasting network, in association with Native American Public Telecommunications, will produce a broadcast “town hall” style meeting on the future of casino gambling on American Indian reservations. The taping is a feature of the annual conference of the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), to be held in Lincoln, Nebraska. Indian Casinos: What's Next will be fed to stations through NETA on September 3, 2005. The complete press release on this program is available at http://www.nativetelecom.org/feature.html.

Aleut Story. In the throes of World War II, Aleut-Americans were taken from their homes and placed in government camps. In this little known struggle for civil rights, the Aleuts joined Japanese-Americans in seeking justice.

Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action. From Alaska to Maine, Montana to New Mexico, see the stories of Native American activists dedicated to protecting Indian lands against environmental hazards, preserving their sovereignty and ensuring the cultural survival of their peoples.

Walela: Live in Concert. Join pop-singer Rita Coolidge, her sister Priscilla Coolidge, and Priscilla’s daughter Laura Satterfield in this musical journey of the spirit. Winner of the Native American Music Award for Best Short or Long-Form Video. Walela: Live in Concert is also available for purchase at http://www.visionmaker.org/walela_h.html.

The Native Word: Stories Past and Present. Travel to Wisconsin to see historic Oneida journals from the 1930s, to Oklahoma for the oldest running American Indian radio program, and go around the world with musician/poet Joy Harjo.

In the 2005-2006 Independent Lens Series

Race is the Place. Actors, poets, comedians and performance artists give voice to the underrepresented Americans. See this innovative and entertaining look at race relations from African-American, Latino, Asian American, Native American and Pacific Island communities.

Trudell. Follow the life work of poet/activist John Trudell - from his occupation of Alcatraz to the devastating death of his family in a suspicious fire. Hear the words and music of Native America’s most eloquent philosopher.

Opportunities

Open Call. NAPT seeks provocative and engaging project proposals from Native independent or public television producers. We encourage works that address new and current issues reflecting the changing identity of our community, including the following: works that focus on underrepresented or unheard voices; works that are innovative, original and compelling to a national audience; works that explore issues of universal interest from a unique Native American perspective; works that view the history of Native Americans through contemporary stories; and works that use new technology and/or provide new models for television production.

Deadline: September 1, 2005 AT 5:00 PM (CDT) http://www.nativetelecom.org/producers_guidelines_ocp.html

Native Radio Theatre (NRT) Calls For Scripts. The goal of NRT is to bring audio theater to AIROS, using works by Native authors, theater and recording artists. The first phase of this effort is a call for scripts. This is a project of Native American Public Telecommunications and Native Voices at the Autry with planning funds from the Ford Foundation. See http://www.airos.org/theatre/ for application procedure. The deadline for receiving scripts is November 15, 2005.

Production Employment Opportunity with AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Public Television’s Premiere American History Series

American Experience, the award-winning national public television series, is seeking Native American associate producers and production assistants to work on a five-part documentary series. This landmark series examines three hundred years of Native American history, from the era of first contact with the Europeans to the birth of the American Indian Movement, and will be broadcast during prime time on public television stations nationwide.

Job Description: Under supervision of the series producers, production assistants and associate producers will assist the production team in all aspects of production, including supporting field production and ongoing research.

Skills Required: Strong organizational and planning skills are necessary, including experience setting up film shoots, making travel arrangements, assisting with location scouting, researching and scanning archival material and maintaining a database for footage and archival materials. Proficiency in Mac-based operating systems, Filemaker, Excel, and Internet research preferred. Prior production experience helpful.

Interested applicants please send resumes to:

John Van Hagen, Business Manager, American Experience, WGBH-TV, 125 Western Ave., Boston, MA 02134, John_van_hagen@wgbh.org.

American History and Civics Initiative. The American History and Civics Initiative represents a major commitment by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to use its educational mandate, reach, and creative capacity to address critical shortfalls in middle and high school students' knowledge of American history, our political system, and their roles as citizens. Deadline: November 1, 2005. http://www.cpb.org/grants/historyandcivics/.

INDN's List Announces Warriors Circle INDN's List (the only national organization dedicated to recruiting, training, and supporting Native American candidates for political office) announces today the first 16 members of the Warriors Circle, who have pledged to support the organization with their financial gift of $1,000 or more.

"I'm delighted that these fine people share our vision of a country in which Indians have a voice in their own destiny," said INDN's List President and Founder Kalyn Free. "Indians are drastically under-represented in public office on all levels - the generosity of these Warriors will change the face of power and politics in Indian Country."http://www.indnslist.org

KCTS in search of film and video submissions for 'about us' series. KCTS Television is seeking film and video submissions for the second season of About Us, its acclaimed series showcasing the work of Northwest independent filmmakers. About Us explores topics and experiences unique to life in the region and features productions ranging from thought-provoking documentaries to light-hearted works to historical pieces. While entries in the series vary greatly in terms of subject matter and theme, they are united by their local spirit and nature. Filmmakers who would like additional information may contact Eric Maki at 206.443.6710 or emaki@kcts.org. You can also visit the website at: http://www.kcts.org/aboutus/submission.asp.

First Nations Film and Video Festival. The purpose of the First Nations Film and Video Festival is to advocate for and celebrate the works of Indigenous American film and video that break racial stereotypes and promote awareness of Indigenous American issues. Film and video entries will be accepted form Indigenous American individuals who have written, produced, or directed the film or video which is being submitted. Preference will be given to independent projects for which the applicant has primary creative control. Public service announcements, training material or promotional work will not be considered. The deadline for submissions is August 31, 2005. For more information and an application visit: http://www.fnfvf.com/.

For Chicago-based filmmakers: The 2006 IFP/Chicago Production Fund is a grant of equipment, film stock, donated post-production services and discounted equipment and services valued upwards of $100,000 for the production of a short film shot by an IFP/Chicago member in the Midwest. Please note that this is a production fund not a completion grant. Applicants must be IFP/Chicago members and the film must be shot in the Midwest region. The Midwest is defined as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. For more information, email: chicago@ifp.org or visit the website at http://www.ifp.org. Deadline: September 16, 2005.

Independent Lens, a 29-week national PBS series showcasing independent documentary programming and dramas, is seeking submissions of completed films for consideration for broadcast during the October 2006 - June 2007 season. Jointly curated by PBS and ITVS, Independent Lens welcomes the full spectrum of film - from history to drama to animation to shorts to social-issue subjects. Programs accepted for the series must be compelling, pro-social stories, well told, with elements suited to attracting a national audience. Independent Lens seeks work that is innovative, provocative, character driven, and well-crafted. We welcome individual expression and are committed to presenting diverse points of view.

For more information, guidelines and eligibility requirements, please visit: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/submissions.html. Deadline: September 23, 2005.

Sundance Film Festival - Call For Entries. Submissions are now being accepted for the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, scheduled to run January 19-29, 2006 in Park City, Utah. This year, Festival programmers are actively focused on securing world premieres from U.S. and international filmmakers. The 2006 Festival will present roughly 120 feature-length films in seven distinct categories. To learn more about submitting a film to the 2006 Sundance Film Festival please visit: http://institute.sundance.org/jsps/site.jsp?resource=pag_ex_home. Early Deadline: August 19, 2005 Regular Deadline: September 16, 2005 for features; September 2, 2005 for shorts.

The International Cherokee Film Festival (ICFF) warmly welcomes Native American and multi-cultural filmmaker entries for the 2005 International Cherokee Film Festival scheduled for October 12 - 15, 2005 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Entry Deadline is August 15, 2005. Please visit the ICFF website for full details and a downloadable entry form at: http://www.internationalcherokeefilmfestival.com.

Information Freedom: Calling for international film entries. Long and short movies. Open for Producers, Directors, Film Makers, Independent Film Makers, Film Festivals and Organisations. First International Open Film Event in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Transmitted live on the Internet. Five webcams in location. Selected movies will be transmitted live on the Internet. Deadline: August 22, 2005 and on-going. http://cablemodem.fibertel.com.ar/informationfreedom

Native American Public Telecommunications is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.