RNCI & The Academy Awards: Elevating Indigenous Excellence on Hollywood’s Highest Stage
For more than three decades, Red Nation Celebration Institute® (RNCI) has championed Indigenous artists whose work rises to the highest levels of the film industry. Through strategic advocacy, curated platforms, and sustained industry engagement, RNCI has helped cultivate a powerful pipeline of Native talent whose contributions have reached – and been recognized by – Hollywood’s most prestigious honor, the Academy Awards.
RNCI alumni, honorees, and program participants have gone on to become nominees and winners, reflecting the organization’s long-standing commitment to excellence, access, and visibility within the global entertainment marketplace.
RNCI does not simply celebrate achievement; it builds the foundation for it.
Within the film industry, and particularly at the Academy Awards, meaningful progress for Native filmmakers began in 2000 when the first Native filmmaker was short-listed for an Academy Award. This milestone marked a crucial step in the long-overdue recognition of Native voices telling their own stories on the world’s biggest stage. Within the film industry, and particularly at the Academy Awards, meaningful progress for Native filmmakers began in 2000 when the first Native filmmaker was short-listed for an Academy Award.
This milestone marked a crucial step in the long-overdue recognition of Native voices telling their own stories on the world’s biggest stage.
There have only been 3 Native filmmakers, that we know of, that have made the Oscars short-list in its 98-year history as of 2025! American Holocaust: When Its All Over I’ll Still Be Indian 2000 for Best Doc Short, director Joanelle Romero, Apache. Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice 2021 for Best Animated Short Film, director Zacharias Kunuk, Inuk Nation. Sugarcane 2025 for Best Documentary Feature, director Julian Brave NoiseCat, Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation.
On Thursday, the Red Nation Celebration Institute and Red Nation Television Network revealed the dates for the 31st RNCI Red Nation Awards Ceremony and Red Nation International Film Festival.
The 31st RNCI Red Nation Awards will take place on Sunday, November 15, 2026. The show will air live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Red Nation Television Network in more than 200 territories worldwide from the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Red Nation International Film Festival takes place November 9-14 at AMC The Grove.
Watch Replay 30th RNCI Red Nation Awards on YouTube.
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Press Contact:
Liz Kramer
media@rednation.com
818.665.5753
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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.
ABOUT
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.
