17th Native Spirit Festival #NSFF2023 (in-person & online) launches on 12th October (Indigenous Peoples Day, Americas) with selected dates through to 7th November celebrating International Inuit Day and Native American Heritage Month.

All film styles and storytelling welcome — Experimental, Animation, Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Horror & Sci-fi, Documentary, Music, Dance, Artists', viral and low-budget work; films in Indigenous Languages and Future Generations filmmakers up to 20yrs.

Native Spirit Festival is the UK's first and only annual Independent festival to promote Native Filmmakers, Media and Artists, celebrating Indigenous Languages and 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) runs independently every November on Paiwan land. contact nativespirittaiwan@gmail.com

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Previous NSFF programmes: https://issuu.com/nativespirituk

Awards & Prizes

Native Spirit Festival is non-competitive.

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 Online, or contact us before submitting

*Indigenous / non-English language films must have English subtitles hardcoded to the video file to be eligible (except for films in cinematic language that speak to everyone)

*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, or Outreach events.

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
18 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Stephanie Alton

    Native Spirit Film Festival was a great experience all around. The festival took great care of me while visiting, I highly recommend this festival.

    January 2023
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  • Jim Warne

    Great people associated with the Native Spirit Film Festival. Pilámaya (thank you) for selecting our film, "Remember the Children". Töksa

    November 2022
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  • Katrina Brook Flores

    Great festival with a lot of heart and intention in curation and programming. Thank you so much for including Assaman in your 2022 Official Selection!

    November 2022
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  • 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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