PRESS RELEASE
ILLUMINATIVE TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL INDIGENOUS HOUSE:
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2024
A Celebration of Native and Indigenous Community, Excellence and Joy from January 19-21
Park City, Utah (January 8, 2024) – IllumiNative, the Native woman-led social justice organization dedicated to building power for Native peoples, announced today the return of the Indigenous House: Sundance Film Festival 2024. Opening its doors on Main Street in Park City, Utah, the Indigenous House will serve as a hub to celebrate Indigenous stories, voices, art, and innovation and for powerful conversations fostering unity among Natives and allies in recognition of community, excellence, and joy.
Indigenous House: Sundance Film Festival first made its debut in 2023, bringing together filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives to recognize and uplift Native creatives, artists, and industry leaders who are advancing representation and inclusivity in the entertainment industry.
“We are beyond thrilled to once again open the doors to the Indigenous House: Sundance Film Festival,” said Crystal Echo Hawk (Pawnee), founder and executive director of IllumiNative. “Last year, we saw the positive impact of Native representation and Native-led content, and while we recognize that there’s still progress to be made, this year’s Indigenous House promises to build on our commitment to presenting the diversity of Indigenous stories, fostering crucial conversations and inspiring future generations of storytellers. We’re excited to welcome everyone back to Park City to celebrate with our Native community and allies for another year of incredible films and impactful discussions.”
From January 19-21, the Indigenous House: Sundance Film Festival will host a mix of events and panel discussions that will build power for Native peoples and amplify contemporary Native voices, stories, and issues within the film and television industry. Discussions will include: the history of Indigenous boarding schools in Canada and the U.S. and the path towards healing and justice with Julian Brave NoiseCat (Canim Lake Band Tsq’escen/Lil’Wat Nation of Mount Currie), one of the directors of the documentary Sugarcane; a conversation with Reservation Dogs’ writer, director, and producer Tazbah Chavez (Dinè, Nüümü, San Carlos Apache) and friends about storytelling, filmmaking, and art; a fireside chat with director Sydney Freeland (Navajo) about her creative process and upcoming works, including Marvel Studios’ Echo; and more. The Indigenous House will also feature music, art, food, and more to immerse attendees in Native culture and celebrate its impact.
The Indigenous House: Sundance Film Festival is brought to life with support from our presenting sponsor the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and our sponsors Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Pop Culture Collaborative, Christensen Fund, MacArthur Foundation, Nia Tero, Paskenta Nomlaki Foundation, and Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.
Since 2018, IllumiNative has utilized audience and industry research, organizing, consulting, and advocacy to disrupt the invisibility of Native peoples, re-educate and engage industry leaders and the general public, and build power for Native peoples. During last year’s Indigenous House: Sundance Film Festival, IllumiNative and Nielsen, the audience measurement, data and analytics organization, unveiled findings of the “Seen on Screen” case studies regarding the impact of Native-led content and the economic value they bring in terms of attracting new viewers and audience and platform retention, noting that Native-led storytelling has helped revitalize streaming and audience retention.
Some of IllumiNative’s recent initiatives also include: “The Time is Now: The Power of Native Representation in Entertainment A Guide for Industry Professionals,” in partnership with The Walt Disney Company, the Episodic Directors Program with Amazon Studios, the Producers Program with Netflix, The Indigenous List with the Sundance Institute, and a documentary-style podcast titled “American Genocide: The Crimes of Native American Boarding Schools” that examines the atrocities and human rights violations committed against Native American children at Native American boarding schools by the U.S. federal government and Catholic Church. IllumiNative was also on the frontlines of the campaign to end all use of Native sports mascots, names, and imagery and successfully led to mascot and name changes for the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians. Through grassroots and digital organizing, IllumiNative was on the forefront of driving voter engagement in 2020 through their Natives Vote campaign, and through the #debforinterior campaign – which included town halls, activations in D.C. and media storytelling about the need for Native representation in President Biden’s Administration – they led a groundswell of support for the appointment of Secretary Deb Haaland.
For more information or to inquire about attending the Indigenous House: Sundance Film Festival, please contact IllumiNative@ssmandl.com. For more information about the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, please visit https://festival.sundance.org/.
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About IllumiNative
IllumiNative is a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of—and challenging the narrative about—Native peoples. Our mission is to build power for Native peoples by amplifying contemporary Native voices, stories, and issues to advance justice, equity, and self-determination. We envision a future where the self-determination and sovereignty of Native peoples is respected and supported; where our children see themselves reflected in the world around them; and where Native peoples author and drive our own narrative.
