Experiencing Interruptions?

Red Hand

A young Navajo girl named Dakota lives her everyday life on a reservation but experiences one of her most challenging losses she's ever had. After coming back home from school, Dakota's older sister has gone missing without any sign of communication. Months pass while Dakota and her family are still struggling to find her older sister. When Dakota declares her concerns and frustrations to her mother about the FBI's failure of trust in making them a priority, Dakota storms out but too soon to find an old friend. Now, Dakota knows what she must do in order to have her older sister's voice mean more than an unknown case.

  • Octavia Brandy Endischee
    Director
  • Octavia Brandy Endischee
    Writer
  • Yanhan Lin
    Producer
  • Sage Hemstreet
    Key Cast
    "Dakota"
  • Rainie Jones
    Key Cast
    "Amber"
  • Lynette Willie
    Key Cast
    "Nicole"
  • Lynee Castillo
    Key Cast
    "Naomi"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 3, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    3,300 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Navajo
  • Shooting Format:
    35mm/50mm RedCode Raw
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Arizona State University
  • Arizona State University Film Senior Showcase
    Tempe, Arizona
    United States
    May 6, 2023
    Short Film Premiere
    F. Miguel Valenti Award for Ethical Filmmaking
Director Biography - Octavia Brandy Endischee

Octavia Endischee, is an upcoming Indigenous director and filmmaker who aspires to create/share Indigenous narratives and stories in response to growing the native film community. As a filmmaker, she is passionate about making films based on who she is and representing the beauty of her culture and people.

Being a Diné woman (Áshįįhí nishłį, Yé’ii dine’é Táchii’nii báshishchíín, Tł’izilání dashicheii dóó, Tódich’ii’nii dashinálí) Octavia grew up in Kayenta, Arizona located on the Navajo Reservation. Her work is based on where she grew up and from learning the traditional teachings and stories which continue to influence her representation.

In Spring 2023, she directed her first short film titled Red Hand a story that focused on the alarming reality of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. In honor of completion, her short film Red Hand received the F. Miguel Valenti Award for Ethical Filmmaking at the Arizona State Univsity Senior Showcase. Shortly following, Red Hand was featured twice in the Arizona State State INSPIRE program (a summer indigenous youth program) where she got to share her experience/journey as a young Diné woman filmmaker to high schoolers in hopes of inspiring the youth into filmmaking.

She is an Arizona State University graduate where she attended the Sidney Poitier New American Film School earned her Bachelors of Arts in Film and Media Production as well as a Minor in Fashion. Currently residing in Arizona, Octavia aims to be the change in Indigenous filmmaking by sharing her unique experiences and passion through important narratives.

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Director Statement

Being an Navajo woman, I have always had a constant respect for all the maternal figures in my life that including my mother, aunties, and grandmothers. For my entire life, their matriarchy has been such a strong symbol of women empowerment and resilience which has impacted my life forever, to be stronger and remember where you came from.
Moving away from my home on the Navajo Reservation, I experienced a huge change of cultural shock as I had to adapt to the city and people. I soon realized what little Indigenous representation there was in the film community amongst my college peers and what that meant to me as a Navajo woman.
For my Senior Capstone, I was deeply inspired by the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, that I decided to create a short film to give those a voice who couldn't and most importantly bring awareness to an ongoing crisis. This fictional story is not only representing Indigenous resilience, it is also portraying real life occurrences that happen amongst women in Native Country today. I really wanted to give this film a strong sister foundation because families on the reservation are so close-knit, I definitely wanted to emphasize that. Going back to my own family, I was reminded of the strong women figures that guided me to where I am today, which made me create characters like Dakota and Naomi. Despite their hardships, Dakota and Naomi can depend on one another and be there to understand each other's feelings. Their bond is so strong it makes Dakota realize what she must do to represent her sister Amber who she will fight for until found.
I made this film in hopes of bringing awareness to MMIW and give a wake up call to others who are unaware of this national epidemic. I also dedicate this film to my amazing, talented cast and crew who worked endlessly to bring this film to life. It was way more than I could ask for. My passion for filmmaking is not only to represent stories unheard but also to represent Indigenous resilience, the truth of where we come from and the important stories that we have to share with the world.