Attended by Joanelle Romero, Tonantzin Carmelo, Bonnie Abaunza, The Apache Stronghold Women & Girls and more
For 17 years, Women in Film & Television in All Media (NWIFTV) has marked Oscars season with two signature annual events: the Native Women in Film Festival: Women of Color Decolonizing the Entertainment Industry and the NWIFTV Pre-Oscar Industry Gala Celebration.
Together, these distinguished gatherings spotlight Native and Indigenous women filmmakers, visionary storytellers, and impact-driven change makers who are reshaping the entertainment landscape. Timed alongside Hollywood’s most celebrated weekend, these events create a powerful platform for visibility, recognition, and industry connection – honoring artistic excellence while advancing equity and narrative sovereignty.
Through curated programming, red carpet moments, and community-centered celebration, NWIFTV continues to amplify voices too often overlooked, ensuring Native and Indigenous women are not only present during awards season, but leading the conversation about the future of film and television.
This year marked the 4th Annual NWIFTV Pre-Oscar Industry Gala and Media Impact Awards, celebrating films directed by women and honoring visionary storytellers using media as a force for social change.
The 2026 gala was especially powerful, spotlighting the strength and leadership of Apache women and girls. The women and youth of Apache Stronghold received the NWIFTV Media Impact Award for their unwavering commitment to protecting Oak Flat, a sacred Apache site central to their spiritual and cultural identity.
Notably, on the same day as our ceremony, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declined to halt the federal land transfer that would allow Resolution Copper to move forward with plans threatening to permanently damage Oak Flat.
“This fight has never been primarily about law or politics,” said Naelyn Pike of Apache Stronghold. “It is about who we are as human beings – religiously and spiritually. If we allow sacred places to be destroyed for profit, we are saying that nothing is truly sacred.”
The Save Oak Flat movement continues to defend the land, religious freedom, and the protection of sacred sites for future generations.
“So happy and honored to have attended the NWIFTV luncheon to recognize the accomplishments of this year’s filmmakers, and so inspired by the young women of the Apache Stronghold.” Bonnie Abaunza – humanitarian and human rights advocate, recipient of the NWIFTV Media Impact Award 2024.
Native Women in Film Festival opened from March 8–13. With support from Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, NoVo Foundation and Red Nation Television Network, Presented by Red Nation Celebration Institue – welcomed filmmakers, speakers, honorees, tribal leaders for the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians inviting each to say a few words on stage and take part in the annual On the Red is Green Carpet. Actors, producers, directors, activists, songwriters, and more gathered at Alma Cocona De Mexcio – for the occasion.
“I have never waited for a seat at anyone else’s table – we built our own,” said NWIFTV CEO Joanelle Romero, member of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. “Native and Indigenous women remain significantly underrepresented across all media, and it is with the utmost urgency that we uplift and invest in women of color.”
In recognition of Women’s History Month, NWIFTV underscored the importance of supporting women and girls at every stage of wealth-building – from financial literacy and professional membership access to entrepreneurship and long-term investment strategies. The organization continues to advocate for economic empowerment alongside creative opportunity, reinforcing that true equity in media requires both visibility and financial sustainability.
In addition to the festival program, a series of special events further elevated this year’s celebration of Indigenous cinema. Highlights included “An Evening with Eva Thomas,” director of the award-winning feature Nika & Madison.
A 2025 Red Nation International Film Festival alumna, Eva Thomas received Outstanding Achievement in Directing, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay for Nika & Madison. The film also garnered Outstanding Lead Performance for Ellyn Jade and Best Supporting Actor for Billy Merasty. That same year, her film Seeds was nominated for Best Picture, further solidifying Thomas’s reputation as a bold and visionary force in Indigenous storytelling.
The festival also presented a special screening of Songs My Brother Taught Me by RNIFF alumna Chloé Zhao. The acclaimed film received RNIFF honors for Best Picture and Best Director, reflecting the festival’s longstanding commitment to recognizing groundbreaking filmmakers early in their careers.
The Native Women in Film Festival premiered 14 films directed by women, showcasing bold, diverse storytelling from across the globe. Filmmakers from the United States, Canada, and Austria were in attendance, participating in in-person screenings, engaging with audiences, and connecting with industry creatives.
In addition to the live theatrical presentations, 35 films directed by women were streamed on the Red Nation Television Network – the official distribution platform of the Red Nation Celebration Institute – expanding access and visibility for Indigenous and women-led cinema worldwide.
“This year’s NWIFTV honorees are a powerful reminder of the talent, creativity, and resilience women bring to every corner of the media landscape,” the organization shared. “We are proud to uplift this extraordinary group – not only for their excellence in storytelling, but for their unwavering commitment to elevating underrepresented voices, advancing gender equity, and safeguarding one of the industry’s most essential pillars: freedom of expression.”
From NWIFTV’s perspective, these women are not simply creators – they are leaders shaping culture, challenging systems, and defending the democratic values that allow authentic stories to be told.
Founded in 2003, NWIFTV In All Media has built a name fighting for gender equality in Hollywood, working to dismantle gender-based bias, advocating for career-sustaining programs, and promoting representation.
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ABOUT
The 2026 Native Women in Film Festival (NWIFTV) is a groundbreaking, five-day international film festival held annually in Los Angeles during the week leading up to the Academy Awards®. As the first and largest film festival in the world dedicated exclusively to Native and Indigenous women filmmakers, NWIFTV occupies a singular and essential space within the global entertainment ecosystem. The festival elevates Native women’s voices at a moment when the world’s attention is focused on cinema, awards recognition, and cultural influence, ensuring that Native and Indigenous women are not marginalized during awards season-but centered within it.
NWIFTV is produced by the Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI), a Native-led nonprofit organization with over three decades of leadership in advancing Indigenous representation, cultural sovereignty, and artistic excellence across film, television, and media arts. The festival reflects RNCI’s long-standing commitment to dismantling systemic barriers within the entertainment industry while creating sustainable pathways for Native women filmmakers to thrive professionally and creatively.
