Films
Exploring Indigeneity in filmmaking
Our comprehensive film list offers over one hundred documentaries, dramas, comedies, and art films centered on Indigenous people. We list short and independent works alongside major-release films, and focus on highlighting the works of Indigenous directors, writers, producers, and actors.
Films for Native American Heritage Month 2022
WARRIOR WOMENMothers and daughters fighting for Indigenous rights in the American Indian Movement.
INHABITANTS : INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES ON RESTORING OUR WORLD – Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship and resilience in a changing world.
MANZANAR DIVERTED: WHEN WATER BECOMES DUST – Intergenerational women from Native American, Japanese American and rancher communities form an unexpected alliance to defend their land and water from Los Angeles
POWERLANDS – A young Navajo filmmaker investigates the displacement of indigenous people and the environmental devastation caused by global corporations.
THE CONDOR AND THE EAGLE Bringing light to the interconnected nature of social and environmental issues, indigenous leaders from trans-continental communities impacted communities unite to fight for climate justice.
| WARRIOR WOMENMothers and daughters fighting for Indigenous rights in the American Indian Movement. |
| INHABITANTS : INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES ON RESTORING OUR WORLD – NEW RELEASEIndigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship and resilience in a changing world. |
| MANZANAR DIVERTED: WHEN WATER BECOMES DUST – NEW RELEASEIntergenerational women from Native American, Japanese American and rancher communities form an unexpected alliance to defend their land and water from Los Angeles |
| THE CONDOR AND THE EAGLEBringing light to the interconnected nature of social and environmental issues, indigenous leaders from trans-continental communities impacted communities unite to fight for climate justice. |
INHABITANTS: INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES ON RESTORING OUR WORLD (new window), a 2022 documentary that follows five Native American communities as they restore their traditional land management practices in the face of a changing climate.
AmericanIndian.si.edu/ncs (new window)
visit the Bullfrog Films online catalog (new window) for a selection of documentary films honoring Native American Heritage Month. See also https://gooddocs.net/collections/native-american-indigenous-pacific-islander-studies; and We Shall Remain (new window) from American Experience films.
Film and Discussion: Mankiller
April 4, 2019 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
2018 Documentary on Cherokee Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller – pathbreaking activist. New South Screening Room (with pizza).
Co-sponsors: Indigenous Studies; Doyle Engaging Difference
Mother Tongue Film Festival
February 21, 2019
The Smithsonian’s Mother Tongue Film Festival showcases films that celebrate the cultural richness of Indigenous and endangered languages.