Wichita’s AlterNative Film Festival puts spotlight on Indigenous films
I am the founder, programmer and director of the AlterNative Film Festival. The third edition will be held Friday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Mid-America All-Indian Museum, 650 N. Seneca (please park at Exploration Place and enter the museum through the Keeper of the Plains entrance — the museum’s parking lot is reserved for those who are elderly or handicapped).
Admission to everything is free and it’s open to the public. Films are unrated and may not be suitable for all audiences.
When I first approached April Scott, director of the museum, about the film festival, we wanted to make this a gift to the city (hence free admission). And Wichita is a perfect place for a Native film fest! I’m proud to have created another venue for these films, made by or about Indigenous people, to be seen.
Many people are surprised to discover that there are many Native American film festivals across the United States and Canada, as so many people don’t even know these films exist. I curated this entire event. Here’s a look at the festival’s schedule and films and why I chose them.
FRIDAY, NOV. 15
6 p.m. – An opening reception with free small bites and limited beer and wine.
7 p.m. - Opening night film: “Hey Viktor” (Written and Directed by Cody Lightning) – This hilarious “mockumentary” takes place 25 years after former real-life child actor Cody Lightning had a brief role in the groundbreaking 1998 Sundance Film Festival hit “Smoke Signals.” Lightning plays himself, but also a character he created that is egotistical yet clueless. Now a train-wreck of a grown-up, he still holds on to that inkling of fame and attempts to get a sequel to “Smoke Signals” made, with hilariously disastrous results. Lightning boldly and bravely charges forth and you can’t take your eyes off of him. (Note: Contains profanity and brief male frontal nudity.) (102 min.)
This will be preceded by the animated short film “RKLSS” (Written and Directed by Tank Standing Buffalo) – A man runs into trouble with the law, is jailed and subjected to solitary confinement and intense brutality. His art allows him to find a way to be in the world and to reflect on his own reality. It’s a vibrant, soulful experience.
SATURDAY, NOV. 16
2 p.m. – Shorts program 1: This is an eclectic collection of short films that includes a documentary look at an all-female Choctaw stickball team, a narrative drama about a young Ojibwe photographer who keeps a sacred fire alive for four consecutive nights in mourning of his father, and a sci-fi thriller about a hunting expedition gone awry. This is a perfect example of Native people keeping their traditions alive while embracing the contemporary world around them.
3:30 p.m. – “Cold Road” – This narrative thriller takes place on a frozen highway in the remote Canadian North, where an Indigenous woman and her dog are hunted by a stranger in a semi truck. This resonates with a sparse sense of place and Roseanne Supernault gives a spellbinding performance, showcasing Native womens’ resilience.
6 p.m. – A centerpiece reception with free small bites and limited beer and wine.
7 p.m. – A screening of “Prey” (Directed by Dan Trachtenberg) presented by Hulu, a pre-quel to the “Predator” franchise that follows a skilled warrior of the Comanche Nation who fights to protect her tribe against highly-evolved Predators who land on Earth, (hundreds of years before Arnold Schwarzenegger ever shows up). An all-Comanche language-dubbed version of the film with English subtitles will be shown, followed by a Q&A with Comanche producer and special guest Jhane Myers, who made it all happen.
SUNDAY, NOV. 17
1 p.m. – Shorts program 2: These seven shorts that run the gamut from sci-fi to drama to animation to documentary and comedy. It shows how truly diverse the Native world is unto itself. (60 min.)
2:30 p.m. – A showcase of my short films that includes comedy, drama, sci-fi and horror. (53 min.)
4 p.m. – “The Death Tour” (Directed by Stephan Peterson and Sonya Ballantyne) – This rousing, robust documentary follows wrestling hopefuls across remote Indigenous communities in Canada’s far North on the most grueling tour in indie wrestling (think WWE). This test of strength will show how far some of them are willing to go to fulfill their dreams. You don’t have to like wrestling to enjoy this – it’s more of an examination of the human spirit than a film about wrestling. But it’s a fascinating look into that world, too. Because they aren’t just wannabe athletes, they’re artists. It’s beautiful, emotional work.
6:30 p.m. – Closing night film: “Red Fever” (Catherine Bainbridge and Neil Diamond) – This comes directly from its its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is an in-depth look at the ways Indigenous cultures have been reduced to stereotypes appropriated by mainstream popular culture, and its impact on Indigenous peoples. Sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious, this takes those stereotypes and turns them upside down. Truly triumphant. Followed by an exclusive virtual Q&A with co-director Diamond.
A full schedule is available at www.AlterNativeFilmFestival.org.