Native Spirit Festival is the UK's first and only annual Independent festival to promote Native Filmmakers, Media and Artists, with increasing focus on Narrative Sovereignty. The festival is part of Native Spirit Foundation, founded in 2005 by Mapuche leader Freddy Trequil to promote knowledge and awareness of Indigenous cultures and longer term projects supporting Community-run education in Native Schools. Freddy states "All the [activists] have come to the conclusion that one objective of making video, radio and television is for the other culture to know us. It is necessary to create a bridge to share our culture in an educational form, without losing our identity."

Native Spirit Taiwan established 2019

16th Native Spirit Festival #NSFF2022 (online & in-person) launches on 12th October (Indigenous Peoples Day Americas) and runs to November celebrating Native American Heritage Month and International Inuit Day, 7 November.

All styles of film and storytelling welcome — we ask that your film is not already available Online, or contact us to discuss):

—EXPERIMENTAL
—SCI-FI
—HORROR
—FUTURE GENERATIONS (age under 20yrs)
—MUSIC
—DANCE
—#microINDIGENOUS (5 minutes and under)
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Previous NSF programmes: https://issuu.com/nativespirituk

Awards & Prizes

Native Spirit is a non-competitive festival

Rules & Terms

IMPORTANT — PLEASE RESPECTFULLY NOTE: To be eligible for submission, a Native person must have a designated and genuine key creative role as Director; or Producer and Screenwriter. This must be clearly stated in the Custom Form and Synopsis.

*We ask that your film is not already available to view Online, or contact us to discuss

*non-English language films must have English subtitles hardcoded to your video file to be eligible.

*It is the responsibility of all filmmakers submitting titles to NSFF to ensure they have received clearance from Rights holders of all archive film, stills and music used in the film. NSFF will not be responsible for any rights not cleared in films that are screened as part of NSFF Film Festival.

All media submitted to Native Spirit Festival will be considered by the Festival’s selection team. Films are selected on the basis that the values presented align with that of Native Spirit Foundation’s work. Native Spirit Festival is a charitable project and therefore a non-commercial festival run by dedicated volunteers.

Submitted Films may also be invited to screen at Native Spirit Taiwan and/or at year-round Outreach events in UK.

PROTOCOLS & GUIDES FOR NON-NATIVE FILMMAKERS (available online)
Pathways & Protocols: A filmmaker’s guide to working with Indigenous people, culture and concepts, Terri Janke, Screen Australia 2009

On-Screen Protocols & Pathways: A Media Production Guide to Working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts and Stories, ISO Canada, 2019
15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ray Lee

    Humble, professional and well established film festival from the UK. Appreciate your official selection. Thank you NSFF! You are the best!

    November 2021
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  • steve haining

    Grateful to be part of this festival with our controversial indigenous film. Such a perfect fit

    November 2020
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  • Joy Haskell

    I loved the diversity of this film festival. The communication was on point and had all my questions answered. I don't think I've ever attended such a diverse film festival and the content was amazing.

    October 2020
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  • Jennifer Ille

    Great Film Festival! Very good communication.

    October 2020
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  • Inuk Jørgensen

    For my film, #NSFF was one of the best things to happen in 2020. The dedicated people behind the festival worked around the clock to secure it the perfect platform for screening. Communication and friendliness was top notch and it certainly won’t be my last time submitting to Native Spirit, just as it wasn’t my first (the first time was equally positive). Lots of love and admiration from me

    October 2020
    Helpful