Who Tells The Story Matters. #WhyWeWearRED
Creating Systemic Change through the Arts and Media

Native Women in Film & Television in All Media - Film Festival. The first and largest representation of Native and Indigenous Women Filmmakers. NWIFTV is a program of Red Nation Celebration Institute. NWIFTV serves under its fiscal partner Red Nation Celebration Institute The Creative Enterprise by Natives delivering to all people the stories that shape our world. RNCI the pioneer longest standing Native Women-Led Indigenous Media, Arts & Cultural nonprofit in the City of Los Angeles, Empowering Native and Indigenous Storytellers.

Native Women in Film & Television in All Media (NWIFTV) advocates for Native and Indigenous Women’s Rights in all media platforms, with a focus on equal opportunities for Native & Indigenous women in front of and behind the camera, encouraging the creative narrative, exploring and empowering authentic and honest portrayals of Native and Indigenous women, expanding empowerment initiatives and campaigns in the arts, media, social justice, civic engagement, economic empowerment, research, training, professional development programs, grants and international relation.

NWIFTV serves under its fiscal partner Red Nation Celebration Institute The Creative Enterprise by Natives delivering to all people the stories that shape our world. RNCI the pioneer longest standing Native Women-Led Indigenous Media, Arts & Cultural nonprofit in the City of Los Angeles, Empowering Native and Indigenous Storytellers.

PURPOSE

To empower American Indian & Indigenous Independent women filmmakers; to create diverse roles for American Indian & Indigenous women; to increase exposure for movies made by Native & Indigenous women, showcasing feature and short length narratives, documentaries, animation films, television movies, and music videos.

PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES AND CAMPAIGNS

To provide mentorship for girls on & off the reservations. Initiative develops leadership, gives girls the confidence and skills in community, film, media, and activism. Native Youth Matter – If I Can See It I Can Be It – Native youth initiatives.

#WhyWeWearRED is an initiative that aims to bring national and global awareness to our Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, in addition to fight sexual harassment, assault and inequality for women in all kinds of workplaces, and Lack of Inclusion in film and television.

Native Women in Film & Television In All Media encourages supporters everywhere to wear RED and/or share #WhyWeWearRED as a show of unity and empowerment.

In 2003, there was a study that women made up only 17% of all directors, executive producers, writers, cinematographers and editors working on top 250 domestic grossing films.

In order to inspire the next generation of film enthusiasts and to encourage a genre of Native and Indigenous women filmmakers to create their own stories, Red Nation Celebration Institute launched Native Women in Film and Television and Native Women in Music (1995), to bring awareness and content to the film and music industry. Sustainability requires a bankable market. Founder Joanelle Romero, “one can not build on success with one film every ten years” said Joanelle Romero, we need to have one film, right after the other in order to create our market.

Native Women in Film & Television in All Media’s continued commitment supports excellence in education, self-esteem, healthy lifestyles, community building, economic development, empowerment and inspirational opportunities for women and girls with its continued year round programs.

RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR 2023 SUBMISSIONS

The following is an explanation of the Rules and Guidelines governing the submissions of a film to the 2023 NWIFTV Film Festival. Compliance with these Rules and Guidelines is necessary in order to participate in the Film Festival. Submission of a film implies unconditional acceptance of the Rules & Guidelines, therefore, please carefully read through the Rules prior to submitting your film. If you have any questions, please contact the NWIFTV Film Festival: rednation@rednation.com or 818.665.5753.

** NWIFTV accepts films that are made by WOMEN of/about North American Indian, First Nation Peoples of Canada, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and International Indigenous Peoples from Mexico, South America, New Zealand.

** Films must have been made between September 2022 - December 2023 to be considered.

1. The NWIFTV Film Festival accepts submissions for films in the following categories: Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short (45 minutes), Animated (45 minutes), Doc Shorts (45 minutes), International Indigenous Narrative Features.

2. The Entrant/s submitting the film must hold all legal rights for the submission, as well as all necessary clearances for public exhibition.

3. The Filmmaker/s retain/s all submission and intellectual property rights.

4. Films may be submitted electronically via FilmFreeway (filmfreeway.com) OR Vimeo with the completed submission form and correct entry fee.

5. The electronic submissions should be formatted for NTSC and labelled with Title, Running Time.

6. To submit film via FilmFreeway.com: Log onto the website, set up an account, and submit your film to NWIFTV Film Festival. Your fee will also be taken over the internet. After submitting your film through FFW.

7. The Filmmaker/s is/are responsible for making sure all submission material are submitted by the submission deadline indicated. If your film does not arrive or is not uploaded by the deadline for which you have registered, you may be required to pay the higher submission fee or withdrawn.

8. The following concerns submission deadlines and submission fees. Note, the deadlines are not the postmark dates, but the dates by which the submission must be in the NWIFTV Film Festival office or registered with FilmFreeway. Each submission must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. Submission fees are in are U.S. Dollars per submission and is non-refundable. These fees may be paid by check, cashier’s check, money order, made payable to: Red Nation Celebration Institute. Cash is not accepted.

9. If a film received 50% or more of it’s funding from sources outside of the United States, the film can only be submitted as an International Film. If a film received 50% or more of it’s funding from sources within the United States, the film can only be submitted as a Domestic Film.

10. All films must be in English or with English subtitles. Non-English language films without subtitles will be considered under special circumstance.

11. Please test your media prior to submission to make sure they run properly and are not damaged.

12. The NWIFTV Film Festival is not responsible for any damage to materials that occurred while in transit. If your film arrives damaged, we will contact you to request another copy.

13. Filmmakers are allowed to submit more than one film for the Festival provided that each film is submitted separately and meet NWIFTV Film Festival guidelines.

14. Filmmakers are allowed to resubmit a film that was previously submitted provided significant changes were made and all eligibility requirements are met. When re-submitting the film, include a brief letter detailing the changes made.

15. Entrants may contact the NWIFTV Film Festival to find out if the Festival received the submission: rednation@rednation.com or (818) 665.5753. Filmmakers submitting through FilmFreeway can check their status through the website.

16. The Filmmaker is responsible for all shipping costs, domestic or international.

17. All personal contact information is to remain confidential and not to be shared with any third parties.

18. NWIFTV Film Festival reserves the right to use images from films selected in the Festival for marketing purposes.

19. All decisions regarding award winners are considered final and incontestable.

20. Los Angeles Premiere is not required but the programing team may consider a films local premiere status when making final decisions.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • A very uplifting event, feel very grateful about the way I was greeted and accompanied all through the festival. Many many thanks. Long live BNative Women in Film Festival.

    March 2024
  • KALIE GRANIER

    This festival was absolutely incredible! Being a part of it brought me immense joy and fulfillment!

    March 2024
  • Alika Mteuzi

    Having my film featured at the Native Women in Film Festival at AMC The Grove was a great experience. The Q&A session before our screening created a genuine connection with the audience, emphasizing the importance of our stories. The festival team did an outstanding job promoting our films on social media. Although I missed the brunch, it was a significant gathering of renowned Indigenous actors and filmmakers, a prime opportunity for networking and collaboration I wish I hadn't missed. This festival serves as an important platform for sharing work of Indigenous women and engaging with a community dedicated to uplifting Indigenous filmmakers.

    March 2024
  • Congratulations to Joanelle Romero, the RNCI Board of Directors, the organizing team and to the other Women Filmmakers who were selected for the 14th Native Women in Film Festival. This film festival hosted the world premiere of our film, The Nature of Healing—Surviving the Mohawk Institute. From the moment the planes landed, until take off, the experience was a memorable and inclusive adventure.

    When we rolled camera all those months ago fighting against the wind, little did we know what became a full feature documentary, would be celebrated in Beverly Hills through the Red Nation Celebration Institute. Many of the Elders, Grandmothers, Grandfather, featured in the film🧡🧡🧡 along with family, friends and allies, were able to be in attendance for the whirlwind couple of days, the perfect launch.

    I can’t even begin to imagine what this means to the people who were once children of the Indian Residential School—but one Grandmother said to me “Faith, this is a lifetime event!” The festival’s final event, The Matriarchs of Cinema still moves me—I felt invited and welcomed to take my place as a filmmaker in a room of seasoned industry professionals. The sincere offer of future assistance extended that day was unexpected and extremely encouraging. As a new filmmaker, it’s easy to feel uncertain, maybe a bit weak in the knees at times. I think we all came home stronger for participating in The Native Women in Film Festival. 😍🥰 Nia:wen!!

    March 2023
  • This festival was awesome. It was so inspiring to see all the Native women producers and directors. Native Women in Film Festival is one I would recommend to all Native women in film!

    March 2023