Awards Season kicks off each year with Native and Indigenous Representation at the 29th RNCI Red Nation Awards — as it rightfully should.
Hollywood has Oscar, Broadway has Tony, Television has the Emmy, and Indian Country has the Red Nation Film Award of Excellence. In attendance at the annual event were Native and Indigenous filmmakers, celebrated and honored with one of the most prestigious awards in the entertainment industry.
The 29th annual Red Nation International Film Festival has announced the winners of the 2024 RNCI Red Nation Red Nation International Film and Television Awards on Sunday night bringing filmmakers together from all over the world, including AMPAS Members, and traditional American Indian drum group Sungmanitu Tanka Owuya Okolakiciye The Wolf Society, lead by Joe Brings Plenty from the Cheyenne River reservation spotlighting Murdered and Missing Native relatives.
The telecast streamed on Red Nation Television Network and featured awards in 21 categories.
“Birds Who Fear Death” swept up with Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Outstanding Lead Performance by an Actress, Outstanding Lead Performance by an Actor, Outstanding Supporting Performance by an Actress, Outstanding Supporting Performance by an Actor and Best Director. Birds Who Fear Death directed by Sanjay Patel and stars Adam Beach, Graham Greene, Simon Baker, Carmen Moore, Tanaya Beatty, Nathaniel Arcand, Glen Gould, Michelle Thrush, Huxley Fisher. Two brothers, disinherited and desperate for cash, journey into the Canadian wilds to find themselves, their people and their fortune.
Oscar contenders “Sugarcane” (National Geographic | USA) took home ‘Best Documentary Feature’ and “Yintah” (Netflix) for ‘Best International Documentary Feature.’
True Detective Night Country went to Director Issa Lopez (HBO/Warner Bros) for Best Episodic & Television Series. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama, Comedy, Limited Series went to Kali Reis for True Detective Night Country. Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama, Comedy, Limited Series went to John Leguizamo for “The Green Veil”. Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama, Comedy, Limited Series went to Ellyn Jade for “Little Bird”. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama, Comedy, Limited Series went to Eric Schweig for “Little Bird”.
Mary McDonnell (Dances with Wolves, Battlestar Galactica) and Irene Bedard (The Green Veil) co-hosted with presenters Kali Reis (True Detective Night Country), Tai Woodville (singer/songwriter/RNCI Boardmember), Rebecca Brando (Tetiaroa Society/RNCI Boardmember), Ed Begley Jr. (Young Sheldon), Rudy Ramos (Yellowstone), Tonantzin Carmelo (Dark Winds), Danniel Warrior (Killers of the Flower Moon), Shauna Baker (The Salmon’s Call) and Zion White (Quechan Tribal Council Member/RNCI Boardmember).
Renowned American Indian traditional singer Zion White, from the Quechan Nation, performed Bird honor songs during the “In Memoriam” segment of the show. The event also featured a performance by singer-songwriter Tai Woodville and a special appearance by past Grammy contender Joanelle Romero and her band.
In attendance were Hollywood royalty representing four generations of industry families: Rebecca Brando, daughter of Marlon Brando; Tai Woodville , daughter of Edward Albert Jr.; Ed Begley Jr., son of Ed Begley; and Joanelle Romero, daughter of Rita Rogers.
Red Nation Honors Award is a special recognition, dedicated to honoring individuals for their contributions in cinema and social justice.
Irene Bedard received the RNCI Lifetime Achievement Award. Ed Begley Jr. received the Edward Albert Jr Award. Water for Life director Will Parrinello received The Courage Award. Oyate Woyaka (The People Speak) director George McAuliff received the Joanelle Romero Impact Award. Joe Brings Plenty received The Misty Upham Award on behalf of his son Cole Brings Plenty.
Upon receiving the Edward Albert Jr. – Ed Begley Jr stated “Globally things that we did, we must do that now to combat climate change we can do it with the wisdom of our Faithkeepers Chief Oren Lyons from the Onondaga Nation Nation, Gabrielino-Tongva, Chumash. They know what’s up, they how to protect Mother Earth, let them do it, let them advise us.”
“This year’s Festival was a tremendous success, thanks to our talented storytellers and our new home at AMC The Grove,” says Joanelle Romero, founder and CEO of RNIFF. “Walking into AMC The Grove and seeing our Festival poster displayed alongside blockbuster films marks a historic glass-ceiling breakthrough. This moment was long overdue. Native and Indigenous stories have proven to be a powerful and bankable force in the entertainment economy.”
The 29th Red Nation International Film Festival screened in person and streamed 76 “Official Selections’ 6 Features, 21 Documentaries, 25 Doc Shorts, 14 Narrative Shorts, 4 Animation, 4 Episodic, 37 Directed by Women. Over the course of the last eight years, we have wholeheartedly championed the screening of 215 films directed by women. This laudable initiative serves as a resounding testament to our unwavering commitment to promoting inclusivity within the film industry. In a remarkable feat, we have even surpassed prominent film festivals like Toronto, Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, & the Oscars in terms of the sheer numbers of women-directed films featured. The lineup included World, U.S., Festival and Los Angeles Premieres. Countries include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Austria, Germany, Greenland, Costa Rica and France. The competition offers audiences a first look at groundbreaking new voices from the Native Indigenous perspective in independent film.
RNIFF will be in selected theatres across the country from November 22 to 23.
Full list of winners below:
Best Picture
The Birds Who Fear Death
Sanjay Patel, Producer
Best Director
Sanjay Patel
The Birds Who Fear Death
Best Original Screenplay
Sanjay Patel
The Birds Who Fear Death
Outstanding Lead Performance by an Actress
Carmen Moore
The Birds Who Fear Death
Outstanding Lead Performance by an Actor
Adam Beach
The Birds Who Fear Death
Outstanding Supporting Performance by an Actress
Tanaya Beatty
The Birds Who Fear Death
Outstanding Supporting Performance by an Actor
Nathaniel Arcand
The Birds Who Fear Death
Best Documentary Feature
Sugarcane
Directors Emily Kassie, Julian Brave NoiseCat
Best International Documentary Feature
YINTAH
Director Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano
Best Doc Short
Kumeyaay Land
Directors Dylan Verrechia, Fausto AngelDiaz
Best Live Action
Lumbeeland
Director Montana Cypress
Best Animated Short
Dangerously Ever After
Director Alba Enid Garcia
Best Episodic & Television Series
True Detective Night Country Director Issa Lopez (HBO/Warner Bros)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama, Comedy, Limited Series
Kali Reis
True Detective Night Country (HBO/Warner Bros)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama, Comedy, Limited Series
John Leguizamo for
The Green Veil
Outstanding Supporting Actress in Drama, Comedy, Limited Series
Ellyn Jade
Little Bird
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama, Comedy, Limited Series
Eric Schweig
Little Bird
RNCI Lifetime Achievement Award
Irene Bedard
Edward Albert Jr Award
Ed Begley Jr.
The Courage Award
Water for Life
Director Will Parrinello
Joanelle Romero Impact Award
Oyate Woyaka (The People Speak)
Director George McAuliff
The Misty Upham Award
Joe Brings Plenty received on behalf of his son Cole Brings Plenty
The 29th RNCI Red Nation International Film and Television Awards are now streaming on Red Nation Television Network through November 25.
Additionally, an edited presentation will be available December 12 on Red Nation Television Network.
For more information, please visit RNIFF.
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Red Nation Celebration Institute® (RNCI) The Creative Enterprise by Natives Delivering to All People the Stories that Shape our World. The longest-running successful Native Women-Led Indigenous Impact Media Arts and Cultural non-profit organization. It is the oldest Native-Led enterprise in the entertainment industry and the first Indigenous non-profit funded by the City of Los Angeles. Serving over 575+ Native Nations in the U.S. and collectively on the planet 1200. Based in Los Angeles with an office in Santa Fe New Mexico.
ABOUT
LA’s Premiere Native & Indigenous Film Festival
The Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF) is the 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.
Amplifying more than 5000+ Native and Indigenous content creators through its streaming company Red Nation Television Network, supporting 2855+ 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 past eight years RNIFF has screened 215 films directed by women.
