THE 2020 AWAKENING BILLINGS
Montana International Film Festival
Indigenous Voices Films
Beginning September 17, 2020
Indigenous Filmmaker's Panel
September 20th Livestream
THE 2020 AWAKENING BILLINGS HOME MMIP COMMUNITY GATHERING REDress EXHIBIT ROBERT HALL/BLOOD QUANTUM SEEING PATTERNS EXHIBITION COMMUNITY GROVE INTERTRIBAL COMMUNITY PARK RELATED EVENTS PARTNERS & PRESENTERS
MONTANA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
September 17 - October 10, 2020 Virtual Festival Passes here for $25 Indigenous Filmmaker's Panel September 20th at 2:00 pm MDT livestream Indigenous Voices Films Beginning September 17, 2020 See catalog for films and viewing options, including Crow Stories: 3 Short Films, Indigenous Documentary Short Films, Arapahoe Truths, Blackwater, Crow Country: Our Right to Food Sovereignty, The Day the Sun Died, Dear Georginia, Future Ancestor, Kii Nche Ndutsa (Time and the Seashell), Return to Foretop's Father, Rez Dogs, Totems, Warrior Women, and Wirun. |
Indigenous Filmmaker's Panel
September 20th at 2:00 pm MDT livestream
Join us for this moderated conversation with three film directors discussing the topic of their craft, process, trends in Hollywood, and what the future holds for greater Indigenous films. After unlocking, panel may be viewed any time.
September 20th at 2:00 pm MDT livestream
Join us for this moderated conversation with three film directors discussing the topic of their craft, process, trends in Hollywood, and what the future holds for greater Indigenous films. After unlocking, panel may be viewed any time.

Jane Lind, Panel Moderator
Jane Lind was born in Perryville, Alaska, USA. She is an actress known for her work in the films Wolfen (1981), Salmonberries (1991), Return to Lonesome Dove (1993), Crazy Horse (1996), and Hunting (2011). She is also known for her work in the theater productions of Black Elk Speaks, The Vagina Monologues, Unto These Hills, Ravens Odyssey, Whale Song, Wakonda's Dream, an Trojan Women.
Lind is known as an actress, director, and founding member of the Native American Theater Ensemble, created in New York City in 1975. Educated in theater, dance, and every aspect of the performing arts, within a few years of her arrival at New York University she was asked to join the Native American Theater Ensemble under the leadership of "La MaMa" ETC, and while there, produced, directed, and performed in plays under the direction of playwright Hanay Geiogamah.
Jane Lind was born in Perryville, Alaska, USA. She is an actress known for her work in the films Wolfen (1981), Salmonberries (1991), Return to Lonesome Dove (1993), Crazy Horse (1996), and Hunting (2011). She is also known for her work in the theater productions of Black Elk Speaks, The Vagina Monologues, Unto These Hills, Ravens Odyssey, Whale Song, Wakonda's Dream, an Trojan Women.
Lind is known as an actress, director, and founding member of the Native American Theater Ensemble, created in New York City in 1975. Educated in theater, dance, and every aspect of the performing arts, within a few years of her arrival at New York University she was asked to join the Native American Theater Ensemble under the leadership of "La MaMa" ETC, and while there, produced, directed, and performed in plays under the direction of playwright Hanay Geiogamah.

Steven Tallas, Director
Growing up in a small town in the Navajo Nation. Steven grew up around storytellers. He didn’t take the normal route of film school but learned film through YouTube and being an extra in film sets around New Mexico. He found his voice in the cinema. Right now he is working hard on completing a feature film called Rez Dogs which is a coming to age story on the Navajo Nation. His style and focus are on the Native American community where he feels lacks in media representation. You can find some of his work on NativeNationsproductions.com.
Growing up in a small town in the Navajo Nation. Steven grew up around storytellers. He didn’t take the normal route of film school but learned film through YouTube and being an extra in film sets around New Mexico. He found his voice in the cinema. Right now he is working hard on completing a feature film called Rez Dogs which is a coming to age story on the Navajo Nation. His style and focus are on the Native American community where he feels lacks in media representation. You can find some of his work on NativeNationsproductions.com.

Boise Esquerra, Director
Boise Esquerra hails from Parker, AZ, and is a Native American (Hopi)/Hispanic filmmaker enrolled in the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Parker, AZ. He is currently attending school at the New York Film Academy (Screenwriting) and is in his 9th year of filmmaking. He currently holds his BA in Digital Filmmaking and Video Production and an MFA in Filmmaking. He has a great passion for the entire spectrum of filmmaking and every aspect that goes into it. Some of Boise's inspiration comes from much of his life's experiences and stories from real-life events. Currently, Boise resides in Santa Clarita, CA with his wife Olivia.
Boise Esquerra hails from Parker, AZ, and is a Native American (Hopi)/Hispanic filmmaker enrolled in the Colorado River Indian Tribes in Parker, AZ. He is currently attending school at the New York Film Academy (Screenwriting) and is in his 9th year of filmmaking. He currently holds his BA in Digital Filmmaking and Video Production and an MFA in Filmmaking. He has a great passion for the entire spectrum of filmmaking and every aspect that goes into it. Some of Boise's inspiration comes from much of his life's experiences and stories from real-life events. Currently, Boise resides in Santa Clarita, CA with his wife Olivia.

Justin Deegan, Director
Justin Deegan is Arikara Sahnish, Oglala Lakota, Hunkpapa Dakota, and an enrolled citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation. He was raised on the plains of North Dakota. Justin never intended to be a filmmaker. He caught the acting bug after being cast as, Chief Bromden, for the stage play, "One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest," Fargo Community Theater in Fargo, North Dakota. Justin received wide acclaim for his performance and was encouraged to audition for films by the Director, Larry Schwarz, of Cuckoos Nest. Later he auditioned for a short film and landed a role, however, they shot the film without him. Which, is where he knew in order to guarantee a movie role, he would have to create those movie roles. So, he decided to make his own movies.
TOTEMS, is Justin's second short film followed up by his first, ABOUT THAT LIFE. Both projects were originally composed and written by Deegan. ANOTHER SCAR OF GENOCIDE is Justin's first full feature.
Deegan has had the many opportunities to work for Pharrell William's and his Adidas HUMAN clothing line. Justin also worked on the JOHN LEGEND music video, LOVE ME NOW, Standing Rock portion of the video production.
Justin Deegan is Arikara Sahnish, Oglala Lakota, Hunkpapa Dakota, and an enrolled citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation. He was raised on the plains of North Dakota. Justin never intended to be a filmmaker. He caught the acting bug after being cast as, Chief Bromden, for the stage play, "One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest," Fargo Community Theater in Fargo, North Dakota. Justin received wide acclaim for his performance and was encouraged to audition for films by the Director, Larry Schwarz, of Cuckoos Nest. Later he auditioned for a short film and landed a role, however, they shot the film without him. Which, is where he knew in order to guarantee a movie role, he would have to create those movie roles. So, he decided to make his own movies.
TOTEMS, is Justin's second short film followed up by his first, ABOUT THAT LIFE. Both projects were originally composed and written by Deegan. ANOTHER SCAR OF GENOCIDE is Justin's first full feature.
Deegan has had the many opportunities to work for Pharrell William's and his Adidas HUMAN clothing line. Justin also worked on the JOHN LEGEND music video, LOVE ME NOW, Standing Rock portion of the video production.
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