Native Indigenous Student Academy For Cinematic Arts
The Native Indigenous Student Academy for Cinematic Arts is a program of Red Nation Celebration Institute amplifying emerging Native Indigenous student filmmakers. Each year, students from North American Indian, First Nation Peoples of Canada, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and International Indigenous Peoples from Mexico, South America, New Zealand, age range 10-25 years (College, University), enrolled (full-time or part-time) in a degree-granting program at an eligible school when the film was made or from a Native Reservation or Native based school compete for awards with films being judged in the following categories: Animation, Documentary, Live Action Narrative and Alternative/Experimental.
Native Indigenous Student Academy For Cinematic Arts Film Festival
April 10 – 13, 2024
Film Program TBA March 25, 2024
This is a Virtual Student Festival & Awards Ceremony
Native Indigenous Student Award Winners 2023
Silver
Game Night
Director Cadence Grace Barreda | Live Action
The Sound of Drums
Director Megan James | Live Action
Gold
Lost Travelers
Director Isaac Boss | Animation
Deprived
Director Megan James | Live Action
Bronze
Remembering the Children: The Red Deer Indian Industrial School
Director Penny Gullion | Documentary
We’re proud to announce the 2024 Native Indigenous Student Academy for Cinematic Arts Film Festival
We are honored to have students films representing the next generation of storytellers.
WHO WE ARE: NDN Student Academy for Cinematic Arts is the largest Native Indigenous Student Academy for Cinematic Arts in the country and the first Native Indigenous Student film festival in Los Angeles.
2024 FESTIVAL | This year’s festival will include screenings (ticket), Awards Ceremony and free virtual events dedicated to increasing the visibility of Native Indigenous Student storytellers in the entertainment landscape.
Numerous Films Directed by Students from the U.S., Canada, Venezula and Chile.
#NativesInChargeOfTheirNarrative #NotTodayColonizer
The Native Indigenous Student Academy of Cinematic Arts is an international student academy of excellence in film competition, first established in 1995 with the name Native Youth Matter – If I Can See It I Can Be It. Since 1995, Native and Indigenous students have always been included in the submission process for RNCI program ‘Red Nation International Film Festival’ however in 2021, RNCI Board of Directors recognized that the students needed their own stand alone film festival and awards ceremony.
In 2022, RNCI reimagined the contributions that Native and Indigenous Students have brought to the table through their lens hence Native Indigenous Student Academy for Cinematic Arts was born.
Each year, students from North American Indian, First Nation Peoples of Canada, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and International Indigenous Peoples from Mexico, South America, New Zealand, age range 10-25 years (College, University), enrolled (full-time or part-time) in a degree-granting program at an eligible school when the film was made or from a Native Reservation or Native based school compete for awards with films being judged in the following categories: Animation, Documentary, Live Action Narrative and Alternative/Experimental.
The Mentorship Lab provides opportunities for Native and Indigenous storytellers to connect, grow, and accelerate their career in film and television.
Committed to infusing new narratives and perspectives in front of and behind the camera, the Mentorship Lab provides a robust slate of workshops, educational resources, and professional development and networking opportunities for a cohort of Native and Indigenous writers, filmmakers, actors.
The Mentorship Lab, grants fellows the unique opportunity to enhance their creative skillset through personalized instruction from industry professionals, creating pathways to bring more Native and Indigenous talent into the entertainment industry.
Screenwriters Lab will reopen for submissions in 2024.
Native Indigenous Student Screenwriter’s Lab is a creative environment for students serious about finishing their screenplay.
This is a place for advanced students to continue their writing projects, revise completed scripts, or begin developing new work.
Students will have script assessments, screenplay analysis, and continue to refine their scripts and develop writing projects with the assistance of the mentor and other students dedicated to the craft of screenwriting.
The Lab will meet once a week for three hours over a seven week term and may be repeated indefinitely in subsequent terms.
Each year, a script will be chosen for a table read at Red Nation International Film Festival held in November.
Thank You to All our Sponsors for Your Generous Support
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