About the Event:
Sarasota, Florida (March 16, 2021) -The 2nd annual Sarasota Native American Film Festival will take
place virtually from March 19th until March 28th, 2021. The mission of the event, based in Sarasota,
Florida, is to present cinematic works related to the experience of indigenous people in the Americas. The
festival is presented by the Sarasota Film Festival with support from the Boxser Diversity Initiative, in
collaboration with the Native Reel Cinema Festival, the Stranahan House Museum, and the Ah-Tah-Thi-
Ki Museum of Seminole Culture and History. The event is free and open to the public to watch.
Showcasing a diverse program of over 20 films, the Sarasota Native American Film Festival will
feature the World Premiere of the feature documentary “Finding Angola: Manatee’s County First
Black Community,” directed by Charles Clapsaddle, about the Bradenton, Florida-based
community founded by escaped slaves and Seminoles in the early 1800s. The festival will also
feature a retrospective of films from the First Nations Mi’kmaq filmmaker Catherine Anne Martin,
including the World Premiere of her new documentary “The Basket Maker” that honors
generations of women who have used their skills and knowledge to create traditional art.
Among other programming highlights are films by the noted Seminole/Muskogee director Sterlin Harjo,
short films by emerging indigenous filmmakers, music videos by Seminole artists, and a spotlight on
alligator wrestling. The festival will also showcase “Smoke Signals,” the seminal 1998 road-trip dramedy
directed by Chris Eyre, as well as “Songs My Brother Taught Me,” the debut feature from the
celebrated, Academy Award-nominated director Chloe Zhao. Her film’s story focuses on life at the Pine
Ridge Reservation of the Oglala Lakota.
The virtual program will showcase films, live Q&As with the filmmakers behind the films, and panels that
speak to the Native American/Indigenous Peoples experience. Of particular note is the panel Listen and
Learn: key issues in Native American Life, which will feature leaders from the Lakota, Navajo, Seminole,
Pueblo and First Nations people discussing vital topics.
"The resounding success of last year's Sarasota Native American Indian Festival was indicative of
audiences yearning for more representation of undertold stories in arts and entertainment," said Mark
Famiglio, President of the Sarasota Film Festival. "This year's festival will continue to champion this
important community and we hope audiences continue to be delighted with the groundbreaking
storytelling with our lineup.”
"For the past 12 years, our mission has been to encourage a better understanding of the diverse groups,
racial, religious and gender in Southwest Florida. In partnership with the Sarasota Film Festival, the first
Native American Film Festival was held in 2020,” said Dan Boxser, of the Boxser Diversity Initiative. “It's
purpose is to inform, educate and entertain about a group of peoples who might not be on everyone's
radar. We are excited that this year we can are bringing together indigenous peoples from all over North
America.”
“I am very honored that the Sarasota Film festival reached out to The Native Reel Cinema Festival
to help be involved with their beautiful event. With this great collaboration I feel it will broaden the
focus and light on Native/Indigenous films, Directors, actors, and most importantly our stories.
MVTO!,” said Everett Osceola, President and Co-founder of Native Reel Cinema Festival.
The Sarasota Native American Film Festival will be available through the website
www.sarasotanativeff.com as well as on Sarasota Film Festival’s website starting on March 19th.
For more information on the Sarasota Film Festival, which will be taking place April 30th-May 9th,
2021 please go to: www.sarasotafilmfestival.com.
About The Sarasota Film Festival
Held annually in Sarasota, Florida, the Sarasota Film Festival emphasizes the best in cinema alongside
exciting programs and events, with more than 200 films screened each year including features,
documentaries, shorts, and kid-friendly picks. Entering its 23rd year, the festival brings the best new and
established independent filmmakers to the Festival with local and kid-friendly programs that showcase its
idyllic Gulf Coast community. The festival is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization and also offers a year-round
educational program, which reaches thousands of local students through classic film showcases, film
contests, summer camps and instructional
For additional information please visit: https:// www.sarasotafilmfestival.com/
Press Contact | FRANK PR
Bess Donoghue | bess@frankpublicity.com
Lena Rawley | lena@frankpublicity.com
