Wichita’s AlterNative Film Festival to showcase all-indigenous films for second edition

I am the founder and director of the AlterNative Film Festival, Wichita’s first all-Indigenous film event.

The second edition will be held Nov. 10-12 at the Mid-America All-Indian Museum, 650 N. Seneca. The event is free and open to the public. The festival is sponsored by the Mid-America All-Indian Museum, NorthStar Comfort Services Inc., FX Networks, Alex M. Thomas, Emily Bonavia, the Hotel at Old Town and Handcrafted Wine and Spirits.

I recently announced the lineup. Here’s a look:

The highlight of the festival will be a special screening of two episodes of the groundbreaking hit FX on Hulu series “Reservation Dogs,” with cast member and tattoo artist Nathalie Standingcloud, who is Cherokee, in attendance for a reception at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, preceding the special screening at 7 p.m. with a Q&A after.

It took jumping through some hurdles to secure this, but I’ve been working for months with folks at FX Networks to secure the rights for the screening, and after many emails and calls it’s all finally confirmed. So excited!

I previously worked with Nathalie on a film shoot in Oklahoma, and she’s great in her role on “Reservation Dogs.” She plays the optometry receptionist in the “NDN Clinic” episode in season one, as well as one of the “aunties” who go to the Indian Health Services conference in the “Wide Net” episode from season two. We’ll be screening both episodes.

Even if you haven’t seen the series, the episodes can stand on their own as entertaining. “Reservation Dogs” is truly a game-changer, and I’m proud to support it.

“Beans” will be the opening night film at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10. Directed by Mohawk-Canadian filmmaker Tracey Deer, the film explores the 1990 Oka Crisis at Kanesatake, which Deer lived through as a child. It’s a coming-of-age story told through the eyes of Tekehentahkhwa (nicknamed “Beans”), a young Mohawk girl whose perspective on life is radically changed by these events.

The film premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and stars several cast members of “Reservation Dogs” before they became stars. An opening reception will be held before the film at the Indian Museum at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 11, “Gift of Fear” will start at 2 p.m. Directed by Katy Dore and Jack Kohler, a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. The film follows Mili, who witnessed her mother’s murder 11 years ago. Mili now has a family with a Jiu Jitsu team, but the gang she once ran with decides to teach her a lesson. Now Mili must risk everything to save her friend from a life of sex trafficking.

Following that at 4:30 p.m. will be “Dadiwonisi (We Will Speak),” directed by Schon Duncan and Michael McDermit, a documentary chronicling the efforts of Cherokee activists, artists and educators fighting to save the Cherokee language.

The lineup on Sunday, Nov. 12, begins at 2 p.m. with a shorts program that includes “Must Love Pie,” starring Wichitan Daniel Pewewardy (Comanche). He will be in attendance for a Q&A.

Following that will be a 20th anniversary screening of “Dancing on the Moon” at 3:30 p.m., my first feature film, which was supported by the Sundance Institute. It follows three friends who get stranded on the road to a pow-wow. I’ll discuss my filmmaking journey after the screening.

Closing the festival at 6:15 p.m. is “Fancy Dance,” directed by Erica Tremblay (Seneca–Cayuga), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Following her sister’s disappearance, a Native American hustler (Lily Gladstone, about to make waves as the lead in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon”) kidnaps her niece from the child’s white grandparents and sets out for the state powwow in hopes of keeping what is left of their family intact.

This year’s festival is dedicated to my mother, Deanie Eaton, who recently passed away.

All films are unrated and may not be suitable for all audiences. A full schedule will be available soon at www.alterNativeFilmFestival.org.

As a reminder, the museum’s parking lot is reserved for the handicapped and elders. Public parking is available at Exploration Place, then enter the museum through the gates by the iconic Keeper of the Plains.

I’m so honored to be able to offer another venue for Native films like these that people might not ordinarily get the chance to see.

Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rodrick@rawdzilla.com.