Programmers' Picks: Tracy Rector

Moving Poetry: Indigenous Stories

Gorgeous and poetic short films made by Indigenous storytellers from around the world from Greenland to Fiji. They are filled with hope, healing, and bubbles of joy!

Bring Them Home

Land, people, and iinnii come together in this Blackfeet story of connection between all beings and Indigenous knowledge. This is the first feature documentary directed by Blackfeet siblings Ivy and Ivan MacDonald, who are also 4th World Media Lab alumni.

The Tundra Within Me

Snow, reindeer, family tension, and a dose of romance make for great storytelling in this Sámi-made film about unexpected love and reflection in Sápmi territory.

Sugarcane

This investigative documentary film by first-time filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat is an absolute must-see film to better understand the impact of residential school abuses on First Nations people across generations.

Standing Above the Clouds

Let’s talk about this film for a very long time by women, about women, maybe even for women, who are all badass and doing the work of protecting the ancestors and the sacred—specifically Mauna Kea in the Kingdom of Hawai'i.

Through Rocks and Clouds (Raíz)

It was such a pleasure to see this film's premiere at Berlinale and meet everyone involved in making this beautiful story. Set against stunning vistas of a snow-capped Andes mountain range, the narrative revolves around Feliciano, an eight-year-old alpaca herder and avid soccer fan who is giddy about Peru’s increasing chances at qualifying for the World Cup, while a mining company’s exploits threatens his mountaintop village’s way of life.

Enchukunoto (The Return)

As the first female Maasai filmmaker, Laissa Malih initially set out to document the land-based practices of her people in northern Kenya. In returning to the IL-Laikipiak Maasai village that her parents left when she was a child, Malih realizes how she can give back to the community. Plays with the feature film Battle for Laikipia.

Moloka'i Bound

In watching this feature narrative, you can feel the vibe of Native Hawaiian community in every detail, from the yearning to do better and be better to the absolute love for one’s people, culture, and islands. The father reminds me of so many cousins and uncles, too.

Porcelain War

A beautifully made yet unusual film about three Ukrainian artists and their families—lives interrupted—when they face the Russian invasion.