The RNCI Red Nation Awards 2025 proudly kicks off Hollywood’s awards season, celebrating 30 years of amplifying Native and Indigenous voices in cinema.

NOMINATIONS: ‘Nika & Madison,’ ‘Sweet Summer Powwow,’ ‘In The Fire Of War,’ ‘Seeds,’ for Best Feature, ’Yanuni,’ ‘You’re No Indian’ for Best Documentary, includes Best Doc Shorts, Animation, Best Live Action, Best TV Series and Red Nation Honors – FULL LIST

IT’S OFFICIALLY THE START OF FILM AWARDS SEASON AND IT ALL BEGINS WITH NATIVE AND INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION!

Ellyn Jade, Kaniehtiio Horn, Joshua Odjick, Dallas Goldtooth, Graham Greene, Hinerangi Harawira-Nicholas, Billy Merasty, Jennifer Podemski, Gail Maurice arę among Best Lead and supporting Performance nominees.

The RNCI Red Nation Awards, the only prominent Native Indigenous awards ceremony of the awards season, has announced its 2025 nominations, recognizing 4 feature films, 24 documentary, 47 shorts, 5 series, and 23 performances in ten award categories.

WATCH RNCI Red Nation Awards (virtual) nomination announcement here.

RNCI Red Nation Awards is thrilled in supporting three films up for Oscar consideration ‘YANUNI’, ‘COURAGE’ and ‘QOTZUNI: PEOPLE OF THE LAND’

Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds) to receive the RNCI Lifetime Achievement Award

RNCI Red Nation Awards concludes with the 30th Red Nation International Film Festival with 55 films directed by women.

Over the course of the last eight years, we have wholeheartedly championed the screening of impressive 272 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.

RNIFF is the largest Native and Indigenous film festival in the World – founded in the U.S. first of its kind in Los Angeles, produced by the Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI) the longest running Native Women-Led Indigenous Media Arts and Cultural non-profit enterprise in the history of the Entertainment Industry. Representing over 570+ 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, since 1995.

RNCI The Creative Enterprise by Natives delivering to all people the stories that shape our world. Bringing greater inclusion and greater equity for Indigenous artists – #NativesInChargeOfTheirNarrative remains the guiding principle of RNCI.

The 30th Annual RNCI Red Nation Awards will take place on November 16th at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills CA, broadcasting the only Native Indigenous Awards Show on Red Nation Television Network.

RNCI Red Nation Awards Live Nomination Announced
Below is the list of full nominees.

Best Picture

Sweet Summer Powwow”
Seeds”
In The Fire Of War”
Nika & Madison”

Achievement in Directing

Darrell Dennis For Sweet Summer Powwow”
Kaniehtiio Horn For Seeds”
Mike Jonathan For In The Fire Of War”
Eva Thomas For Nika & Madison”

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Tatyana Rose Baptiste For Sweet Summer Powwow”
Kaniehtiio Horn For Seeds”
Miriama Smith For In The Fire Of War”
Ria Paki For In The Fire Of War”
Hinerangi Harawira-Nicholas In The Fire Of War”
Ellyn Jade For Nika & Madison”
Star Slade For Nika & Madison”
Amanda Brugel For Nika & Madison”

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Joshua Odjick For Sweet Summer Powwow”
Dallas Goldtooth For Seeds”
Graham Greene For Seeds”
Temuera Morrison For In The Fire Of War”
Cliff Curtis For In The Fire Of War”
Paku Fernandez For In The Fire Of War”

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in Supporting Role

Billy Merasty For Nika & Madison”
Dyan Cook For Nika & Madison”
Te Wakaunua Te Kurapa For In The Fire Of War”
Tuwhanauroa Rangihau For In The Fire Of War”
Dylan Cook For Seeds”

Best Original Screenplay

Darrell Dennis & Katya Gardner For Sweet Summer Powwow”
Kaniehtiio Horn For Seeds”
Tim Worrall For In The Fire Of War”
Michael McGowan & Eva Thomas For Nika & Madison”

Best Documentary

YANUNI”
You’re No Indian”
Boil Alert”
The Snake & The Whale”
The Long Hope”
Dream Touch Believe”

Best Live Action Short

Courage”
Kusi Smiles”
The Woman Who Married A Bear”
Good Daze”
This Means Forever”

Best Animation Short

The Forgotten Soles”
Super Indigenous”
Baah The Perfect Bread”
Indigenous Economics Enoughness The Prequel”
When We Say Evaluation, It Isn’t The Same Thin”

Best Doc Short

Qotzuni: People Of The Land”
Red Girl Rising”
Cheyenne Creation Story”
Kanenonwe – Original Seeds”
A Wilderness Act”
Oceanbone”

Best Television Series

Dark Winds – AMC Networks”
1923 – Paramount+”
North Of North – Netflix”
Facing The Storm: Quinault Relocation”
Facing The Storm: Youth Activism”

Red Nation Honors will present the recipients the night of Awards Ceremony for ‘The Brando Award,’ ‘The Edward R Roybal Award,’ ‘The Chief Dan George Award,’ ‘The Film Consultant Award,’ ‘The Edward Albert Jr Award,’ ‘The Joanelle Romero Global Impact Award,’ ‘The Courage Award,’ and ‘The American Indian Heritage Month Award’

RNCI Red Nation Awards Ceremony

Hollywood & Indian Country’s Biggest Night for Native and Indigenous Representation
Streaming LIVE on Red Nation Television Network
Sunday, November 16, 2025

CONTACT

Red Nation Media Inc.
Liz Kramer
E: media@rednation.com
P: 818.665.5753