Yanuni, Courage, and Qozuni: People of the Lake received top honors at the RNCI Red Nation Awards Ceremony on November 16th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. This marks the fifth un-consecutive year that the Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF) has presented films that advanced as Oscar contenders. Last year, Sugarcane won RNIFF’s Best Documentary Award and went on to earn an Academy Award nomination—the first time in Academy history that a Native director was nominated.
Related Story: History of Oscar Contenders Native Representation Matters
All three Oscar-contending films have been invited for distribution on Red Nation Television Network, the first Native and Indigenous-owned streaming entertainment platform—launched before Netflix and every other major streamer. Unlike mainstream platforms, Red Nation TV is dedicated exclusively to showcasing films, series, and original content told through the Native and Indigenous perspective, preserving cultural narrative sovereignty while amplifying authentic storytelling.
YANUNI – Director Richard
Indigenous chief Juma Xipaia fights to protect tribal lands despite assassination attempts. Her struggle intensifies after learning she’s pregnant, while her husband, Special Forces ranger Hugo Loss, stands by her side.
Awards – Jackson Wild Media Awards (Oct 2025): Won the prestigious Grand Teton Award, recognizing the year’s most impactful film, SCAD Savannah Film Festival (Oct/Nov 2025): Won for Best Documentary and Best Director (Richard Ladkani), International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards (Dec 2025): Received an Honorable Mention for Feature Documentaries and was nominated for Best Cinematography.
COURAGE – Director Eric Michael Hernandez
When a young Native American boy struggles with self-confidence and societal expectations, his uncle re-introduces him to the transformative art of Hoop Dance. Through this tradition, he discovers strength, resilience, and the courage to embrace his heritage. Inspired by true events, Courage is a heartfelt story about identity and empowerment.
Awards – IndyShorts International Film Festival (Heartland Film): Winner of the Jenni Berebitsky Legacy Award (2025), HollyShorts: Named a 2025 Film Winner, World Culture Film Festival: Won “Best Narrative Short”
QOTZUNI: People of the Lake – Director Micheal Salama, Gaston Zilberman
The Uru communities of Bolivia have lived on Lake Poopó for generations. Faced with its disappearance, they must grapple with what it means to be Qotzuñi, or People of the Lake, when the lake ceases to exist.
Awards – Grand Jury Prize for Best Short at DOC NYC in 2024, the Best Short Film Prize at NaturVision Film Festival (Germany).
Related Story: RNIFF Full Winners List
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RNCI Red Nation Awards, Founded by Joanelle Romero, the RNCI Red Nation Awards is the longest-standing Native and Indigenous awards show in the entertainment industry. Dedicated to amplifying authentic Indigenous storytelling, RNCI continues to recognize outstanding contributions to film, television, and media.
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LA’s Premier Native & Indigenous Film Festival
The Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF) is the U.S. and world’s largest Native Indigenous film and media arts festival and the first of its kind in Los Angeles. Presented by RNCI annually in November. RNIFF has been empowering Native Indigenous storytellers since 1995.
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Red Nation Television Network® (RNTV) The World’s First Online Streaming Entertainment Company.
Red Nation Television Network is a media content provider at the forefront of the Entertainment Industry. Native Indigenous Women owned entertainment media company. CEO and founder Joanelle Romero is an Award-Winning Director/Producer/Actor, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences member, short-listed for an Academy Award and founder/president of Red Nation Celebration Institute the longest-running Native Women-Led Indigenous Media Arts and Cultural non-profit enterprise in the history of the entertainment industry. Based in Los Angeles with offices in Santa Fe New Mexico, serving Indian Country & Entertainment Industry. Representing over 575+ Native Nations, amplifying more than 5000+ Native and Indigenous content creators through its streaming company Red Nation Television Network, supporting 2700+ Native Indigenous filmmakers through its Red Nation International Film Festival, including films directed by women through its Native Women in Film & Television in All Media. In the last eight years as of 2025 RNCI has screened 274 films directed by women.
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Red Nation Celebration Institute® (RNCI) the longest-standing Native women-led Indigenous media, arts, and cultural nonprofit enterprise in the history of the entertainment industry. It is the first Indigenous nonprofit to receive funding from the City of Los Angeles, serving over 575 Native Nations in the U.S. and a total of 1,200 globally. Headquartered in Los Angeles, with an additional office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, RNCI continues to drive meaningful representation and visibility for Native and Indigenous voices in media and the arts.
