SIFF Partners With Nia Tero on Special Series of Drive-In Screenings as Part of cINeDIGENOUS

SEATTLE—Friday, April 9, 2021—SIFF is proud to be partnering with Nia Tero on the recently launched cINeDIGENOUS Program. The cINeDIGENOUS year-round film presentations and classes focus on global Indigenous filmmakers' influences within cinematic culture. Centering Indigenous creatives and media makers amplifies voices and perspectives that are essential to our global wellbeing.

The first event takes place tonight, April 9th at the Skyline Drive-in Movie Theater in Shelton, Washington, with a double-screening of the films Fruits of Labor and The Song of the Butterflies. This will be followed by a double-screening of the films Beans and Love and Fury on Saturday, April 10th. The programming repeats the following weekend at the Blue Fox Drive-In Movie Theater in Oak Harbor, Washington. Admission is free, but advance registration is required. You can register through Eventbrite.

Bringing Indigenous-made films to local communities during the ongoing pandemic remains an important focus of Nia Tero’s Managing Director of Storytelling, Tracy Rector: “We are incredibly inspired by the beautiful cinematography, new approaches to storytelling, and authentic vision in the film line-up. At Nia Tero, we strive to uplift, amplify, and celebrate Indigenous stories, and make them accessible to Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples here in Coast Salish territory and beyond. A drive-in experience provides a fun, safe environment to gather in community during these times.”

Additionally, there will be a panel and roundtable discussion around related topics as part of the Seattle International Film Festival. cINeDIGENOUS films included in this year’s festival programming are: Ancestors (Short Film Package), Beans, Fruits of Labor, Love and Fury, The Song of the Butterflies, and Waikiki.

"I am so excited to be part of the launch of the cINeDIGENOUS program, and to be taking this next step in SIFF’s commitment to elevating and centering Indigenous filmmakers and voices,” said SIFF Festival Programming Manager Stan Shields.

Read on for more about these special events and the cINeDIGENOUS program.

EVENT DETAILS

cINeDIGENOUS Drive-In Movies Presented by Nia Tero with Seattle International Film Festival:

Fruits of Labor and The Song of the Butterflies
Friday, April 9th, 2021, 6:30 PM
Skyline Drive In Theater
182 Southeast Brewer Road
Shelton, WA 98584

Beans and Love and Fury
Saturday, April 10th, 2021, 6:30 PM
Skyline Drive In Theater
182 Southeast Brewer Road
Shelton, WA 98584

Kin Theory: Indigenizing Film Industry Spaces - Festival Forum
A frank discussion with two Sundance Indigenous Program leaders moderated by Tracy Rector
Saturday, April 10, 2021 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PDT
FREE
Presented via Zoom webinar

cINeDIGENOUS: Roots and Ancestors Roundtable
Emily Cohen Ibañez (Fruits of Labor) and Christopher Kahunahana (Waikiki) discuss shaping narratives that counter balance prevailing stereotypes and presumptions of the settler colonial gaze
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM PDT
FREE
Presented via Zoom webinar

Fruits of Labor and The Song of the Butterflies
Friday, April 16th, 2021, 7:00 PM
Blue Fox Drive-In Theatre
1403 North Monroe Landing Road
Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Beans and Love and Fury
Saturday, April 17th, 2021, 7:00 PM
Blue Fox Drive-In Theatre
1403 North Monroe Landing Road
Oak Harbor, WA 98277

*1 ticket per car. First come, first served. 300 capacity. Tickets/proof of registration required for admission.

DRIVE-IN GUIDELINES: These guidelines apply to all events and movies taking place at the Skyline Drive-In!

Per Washington State law, all guests must wear a mask if they are away from their vehicle for any reason.

Guests can sit in their vehicle, including in the covered or uncovered bed of a truck/SUV. Guests can also sit directly in front of their vehicles in chairs provided that they are not impeding the view or movement of other guests. You do not need to wear a mask if you are seated in or directly in front of your vehicle. If you have questions or concerns, field managers will be on hand to assist you.

ABOUT THE FILMS

Ancestors: The spirit remembers what it means to be in relationship to all beings, past, present and future, seen and unseen. (Short Film Package)

Beans: A 12-year-old Mohawk girl’s coming of age story and political awakening during the Oka Crisis. Tracy Deer’s fresh voice reminds us of the importance of authentic representation and culturally specific storytelling in cinema. Drawing upon her documentary roots and her experience growing up in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, Deer delivers a timely film grounded in authentic history. Watch the Trailer

Fruits of Labor: Fruits of Labor is a character driven account that explores universal themes of how a young Chicanx woman in high school navigates family obligations, life as a farmworker and the desire to pursue her dreams despite the predicaments of our times. Learn more about this film.

Love and Fury: A bold and honest look at the complexities of Native identity and art, through the lens of Sterlin Harjo, in conversation with Indigenous artists living in the US and abroad. This yearlong portrait of 20 creatives (musicians, poets, sculptors, performance artists, muralists, comedians) reminds the viewer of the rich, diverse and sometimes brooding artistic expression of Native peoples. Watch the Trailer

The Song of the Butterflies: Rember Yahuarcani, a member of the Uitoto Nation, struggles in his every existence to find new artistic inspiration. He returns home to the forests, to learn the stories of how his people were nearly extinguished and how his loving grandmother survived to nurture the memories of their ancestors. Watch the trailer

Waikiki: In this honest portrayal of the gritty side of paradise, Kanaka Maoli filmmaker Christopher Kahunahana, depicts the story of Kea, a part-time Hawaiian teacher, hula dancer, and nightclub hostess, who crashes her beat-up van into a mysterious homeless man in the dead of night. Kea is quickly triggered to face her own past traumas and a new perspective.

ABOUT cINeDIGENOUS

The cINeDIGENOUS year-round film presentations and classes focus on global Indigenous filmmakers’ influences within cinematic culture. Centering Indigenous creatives and media makers amplifies voices and perspectives that are essential to our global wellbeing. cINeDIGENOUS is curated and presented in partnership with Nia Tero with the purpose to create awareness and access to Indigenous-made stories and worldviews.

ABOUT NIA TERO

Nia Tero is a US-based non-profit working in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and movements worldwide with a mission of securing Indigenous guardianship of vital ecosystems. We are committed to an antiracist and inclusive culture centering Indigenous rights, wisdom, practices, worldviews, and protocols.

Website: www.niatero.org | Facebook: @NiaTero | Twitter: @NiaTero | Instagram: @niatero

ABOUT SIFF

Beginning in 1976 with the annual Seattle International Film Festival, expanding into year-round programming, and our five-screen SIFF Cinema—SIFF creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world. Recognized as one of the top film festivals in North America, the Seattle International Film Festival is the longest, most highly attended film festival in the United States, traditionally reaching more than 150,000 annually. Renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming, this year’s Festival is presenting over 200 features, short films, and documentaries from over 69 countries.

For press inquiries, please contact jason.baxter@siff.net.

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