Almost Ancestors
Overview
The short tells the story of a young Hopi woman facing displacement in a changing landscape, threatening her connection to the land and her family. However, her kinship with a Lobo and her call toward community guide her on an incredible journey to a sacred place called "home." The film tells the story of her journey, the displacement of Tribal people and Lobos, and the parallels between the two. The film will be in the Hopi language, with English and Spanish subtitles, and filmed in Arizona, where a Hopi cultural advisor on set will ensure the cultural accuracy of the story. The idea behind the film is to use the power of motion pictures to educate viewers on the displacement of Lobos and indigenous cultures and inspire them to help alter the ramications of history.
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Director Biography - Brišind
Brišind has won various awards, from the City of Albuquerque to the Tokyo International Film Festival. His short film, "Not In Our Name," about the significance of the grizzly bear in Tribal cultures, is one of the only films ever to be entered into the Congressional Record of the United States. Rain’s films “Somebody's Daughter” and “Say Her Name” unravel many causes through the voices of family members who’ve lost loved ones and are demanding justice. They shed light on the history of violence towards Tribal women and relatives, a history that began with overt colonial violence and has become embedded in pervading racist thought and indifference, complicated today even more so by a maze of jurisdictions and legal loopholes. Brišind's films have been featured in “Oprah Magazine” on the “Dr. Phil Show” and on the highest-rated talk radio show in North America, “Coast-to-Coast AM.” In addition to filmmaking, he is a bestselling author. Hip-hop pioneer, actor, and cultural icon Ice-T describes Brišind as “part poet, part prophet, and all truth-teller.” Brišind is an award-winning film director and author. The International Romani Union (IRU) President, Zoran Dimov, describes Brišind as “one of our great Roma authors.” Brišind identifies as Roma (Kalderash, Manouche, and Romanichal tribal heritage) and has been included in popular lists of “notable Romani people." Director’s Filmography: Say Her Name: Feature Documentary (2020.) Described as “one of the most impactful Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls documentaries ever made.” Somebody’s Daughter: Feature Documentary (2020), described as “one of the most important documentaries made on not only MMIW, but also on Indian Country in the twenty-first century.” Somebody’s Daughter, 1492 - Feature Doc (2021) 2nd Edition Family - Short (2021): featuring award-winning actress Crystle Lightning (Trickster/Yellowstone), a short film on how wolves are foundational to Indigenous cultures that received over 170,000 views in just 4 days. Reviewed as “both beautiful and moving, its breathtaking visuals matched only by its emotional impact.” Download Images Not In Our Name - Short (2019), featuring Zahn McClarnon (Westworld, Fargo, Reservation Dogs, Longmire), is the most-watched short film on Sierra Club’s SM platforms and is one of the few films ever entered into the US Congressional Record. Remaking the Sacred Hoop - Short (2018) |
Director Statement
We use a line in the film about "the symbiosis of sorrow" shared by Tribal people and lobos. Historical amnesia has terminal consequences not just for us, but all living things. Look around, what do you see happening to the Earth? Healing and a pathway to the perpetuation of life begins with remembering. "Almost Ancestors" is a visual genetic memory with a narrative spoken in a dialect rooted in time immemorial, the Hopi language. We must remember. Our future survival depends upon it.
We use a line in the film about "the symbiosis of sorrow" shared by Tribal people and lobos. Historical amnesia has terminal consequences not just for us, but all living things. Look around, what do you see happening to the Earth? Healing and a pathway to the perpetuation of life begins with remembering. "Almost Ancestors" is a visual genetic memory with a narrative spoken in a dialect rooted in time immemorial, the Hopi language. We must remember. Our future survival depends upon it.
Still Photos
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