PROGRAM TWO: Short Film Program includes the following films:
- The Road is an award-winning short film starring the Indigenous girls of Stardale Women’s Group. It explores various themes pertaining to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls regarding the legacy and inter-generational impact of colonialism in Canada. These stories and experiences are shared through the lens of young women in on the prairies, as they grow and exist in this space of fear, loss, and trauma. 14 min. + Q&A
- Healing of the Dragonfly. Meet Joe Pulliam, an Oglala Lakota Sioux artist living in Rapid City in the state of South Dakota. Father of 4, Joe Pulliam opened an art gallery exclusively with his work, painting on ledgers inspired by his culture and traditional life. This documentary tells his story, and his artistic journey from Pine Ridge reservation, to his last exhibition in Rapid City, SD. 13 min. + Q&A
- Paddle Tribal Waters: The First Descent of the Klamath River.
When the largest dam removal in history begins, a group of indigenous youth learn to whitewater kayak in hopes of becoming the first people to paddle the restored river from source-to-sea. As the young paddlers reconnect sections of the Klamath River that have not flowed freely for more than a century, they use kayaking to galvanize a movement while reconciling a stolen history and building a future of hope and healing.
9 min. + Q&A - Games of the North. For thousands of years, traditional Inuit sports have been vital for survival within the unforgiving Arctic. Acrobatic and explosive, these ancestral games evolved to strengthen mind, body and spirit within the community. Following four modern Inuit athletes reveals their unique relationship to the games as they compete across the North. As unprecedented change sweeps across their traditional lands, their stories illuminate the importance of the games today. 27 min. + Q&A
- Waniyetu Wowapi. Welcome to the Cheyenne River Youth Project. Come with us into the heart of our circle, where you’ll meet our kids, parents, elders, artists, and partners. You’ll discover why art is so central to Lakota culture. You’ll experience how we are reclaiming spaces in our community. You’ll learn how we are revitalizing our language, ceremonies, and life ways through our own contemporary version of the Winter Count. And, you’ll share our joy as we bring to life our stories, truths, and messages for our people. 35 min. + Q&A
The Shining Mountains Film Festival was started in 2019 to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the City of Aspen passing a resolution removing the celebration of Columbus Day and replacing it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
The purpose was: through films/documentaries produced, and directed, stories told by Native Americans – First Nations’ voices, we would provide a platform to educate non-Indian communities about the true history, genocide, challenges, and struggles as well as sharing the rich Native culture, talents, wisdom and traditional ways. Thus, breaking the stereotypes, and shining light on the reality of what has been done to the Indigenous Peoples since colonization, the ongoing racism, and systemic injustice. In recognizing all the talents, and positive and unique impacts that the Indigenous Peoples contribute to the world, showing that a strong spiritual connection with Mother Earth and all beings leads to a balanced and harmonious world. Shining Mountains Film Festival showcases feature films and documentaries as well as shorts for two days at the iconic Wheeler Opera House in the heart of Aspen.
The festival opens with a Blessing Prayer by a Ute tribe member. We aim to bring as many film directors, producers and talent for live Q & A after each screening. There is also a live dance performance exhibition and genuine Native art for sale in the lobby area. This is an award film festival with Best Long, Best Short and Audience choice.
Presented by the Aspen Indigenous Foundation
