May 2006

Indian Country Diaries Selected as Remi Winners at WorldFest-Houston Film Festival

Both films from the Indian Country Diaries series, A Seat at the Drum and Spiral of Fire, were selected as Remi Winners at the 39th annual WorldFest-Houston -- the 3rd oldest independent film showcase in North America. These awards assume special significance this year, as more than 4,500 category entries were competing from 33 countries. WorldFest remains "Fiercely Independent" as one of North America's largest film & video competitions. http://www.worldfest.org

Indian Country Diaries is a two-part public television series that explores issues facing contemporary Native Americans in urban and reservation settings. Compelling narrative stories weave themes of identity, sovereignty, health, assimilation, religion and more into a fascinating portrait of a people too often invisible in American society. http://www.indiancountrydiaries.org/

AIROS will Launch Podcasts on Native Nation Building

On Tuesday, May 23, AIROS will begin podcasting the NNI Radio: Native Nation Building Series. The podcasts for each of the 10 programs will be released weekly on Tuesdays and the complete series is available for $5. http://www.airos.org/podcasts.html

Program Description: Building effective governments, developing strong economies that fit a variety of cultures and circumstances, solving difficult social problems, and balancing cultural integrity and change - these are just a few of the challenges facing contemporary Native Nations across the United States and Canada. These nation-building challenges are the focus of a the 10-part radio series debuting on Native Nations Institute Radio (NNI Radio), an initiative of the Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management and Policy (NNI) at the University of Arizona. http://udallcenter.arizona.edu/nativenations/nniradio.htm

American Indian Summer Institute

On behalf of the FOX Entertainment Group Diversity Development Department and the Native Media and Technology Network, we would like to announce the fifth annual FOX-2006 American Indian Summer Institute, presented in association with NMTN. This is an opportunity for twenty American Indian participants to experience behind-the-scenes of the entertainment industry in an intensive six-day hands-on workshop, lecture series and field trips held in Los Angeles from July 16 to July 21. Participant desired age range is 18 and 25.

Once in Los Angeles, the Institute covers 100% of the cost of the program and related expenses, including lodging and meals. Roundtrip travel to Los Angeles is not included as part of these expenses. Native American participants can apply for up to $500 for airfare through NAPT’s Producer Opportunity Fund. http://www.nativetelecom.org/producers_guidelines_oppfund.html

For additional information on NMTN and the 2006 FOX American Indian Summer Institute visit http://www.thundermountainmedia.com

In Memory of Community Radio Leader Steve Alvis

Steve Alvis, (58) General Manager of KZUM in Lincoln, Nebraska, died Sunday while on vacation in Venice, Florida. Reports indicate Steve suffered fatal head injuries from a fall while riding a four-wheel service vehicle. Alvis was proud of the diverse programming and international languages spoken on the community radio station KZUM.

Alvis also worked from 1984 - 2002 at Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET), as the Executive Producer for NET Sports. NET is also the home of NAPT. Currently NAPT's Eric Martin and John Gregg serve as volunteer programmers at KZUM in their spare time, bringing Native beats to the airwaves. John also served on KZUM's governing board and during his term, worked with General Manager Steve Alvis on various station projects.

Our hearts and prayers will be with the staff of KZUM, and Steve Alvis' wife Tammy and their families during this difficult time. The funeral for Steve Alvis is this Friday in Lincoln. http://www.kzum.org

Opportunties

• Local Independents Collaborating With Stations (LINCS): http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#lincs
• 2006 American Indian Film Institute Tribal Touring Program Dates: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#aiff
• Call for Submissions Radio: imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#imaginenative
• Pacific Film Archive's How to Read a Film: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#readafilm
• 22nd Annual IDA Awards Competition Entry Form is Now Available: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#ida
• CBS Diversity InstituteWriters Mentoring Program - Now Accepting Applications for the 2007 Session: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#cbs
• ABC Writing Fellowship Program: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#abc
• WGBH'S Third Annual Open Call - 6:55 Shorts: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#wgbh
• Sundance Producers Conference, August 3-6: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#sundance
• New Tools Introduced at NCO Annual Conference: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#nco
• ITVS Open Call: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#itvs
• P.O.V.'s 2006 Call for Entries: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#pov
• Third Coast International Audio Festival: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#tcf
• IFP Spotlight Award Deadline Approaching: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#ifp

Congratulations

• Benton Foundation Names Former FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani President http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#benton_pres
• ITVS Films Showing at INPUT http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#input
• FCC Announces the Hiring of Shana Barehand as Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#fcc
• NVR Awards $715,000 to 22 U.S. Media Artists: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#nvr
• Sundance Institute Announces 14 Projects for 2006 June Directors AND Screenwriters Labs http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#institute
• Sundance Institute Names New Director of Documentary Film Program: http://www.nativetelecom.org/ff.html#mertes

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