Lumbee Film Festival
The 5th annual Lumbee Film Festival will take place June 29 to July 1 in Pembroke, NC during Lumbee Homecoming. The Lumbee Film Festival showcases bold, original new films made by Native Americans, Indigenous Filmmakers, and American Indians, especially members of the Lumbee Tribe living in North Carolina and across the United States.
“Each year the Lumbee Film Festival gets better and better. I am so excited about this year’s lineup of short and feature films. Some are traditional and some have us thinking out of the box. Some are local and some are far away. Just like in real life. Something for everyone. Come join us. You will be glad you did,” – Kim Pevia, Festival Director
The Lumbee Film Festival is a partnership between the Lumbee Tribe of NC and the Cucalorus Film Foundation.
For questions about the Lumbee Film Festival, email dan@cucalorus.org or kim@kimpevia.org.
2022 Official Film Selections
FEATURES:
CLOSING NIGHT FEATURE: Rumble: The Indians who Rocked the World
Directed by Catherine Bainbridge, Alfonso Maiorana
Canada | 1:43:00
An electrifying look at the Native American influence in popular music — despite attempts to ban, censor and erase Indian culture. Featuring some of the greatest music stars of our time, Rumble: The Indians who Rocked the World exposes a critical missing chapter, revealing how indigenous musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives and, through their contributions, influenced popular culture.
The Transcenders
Directed by Montana Cypress
Two Native Americans struggle to make the transition from their home reservation to the city life, but soon find a solution in an advertised remedy that promises to transform their primitive behavior, to the ranks of the refined and successful.
United States | 01:22:23
SHORTS:
Charlie by the Sea
Directed by Charlie Ekomiak
Canada | 5:29
Discover the world of Charlie Ekomiak. Shot on his birthday, this contemplative documentary pays tribute to Charlie’s uniqueness and challenges and stresses the power of friendship.
Climate Change
Directed by Leanna Deese, Ethan Deese
United States | 15:47
Climate Change explores how climate change and its implications on our local and global community.
Concrete 49
Directed by Justin Deegan
United States | 10:23
There are approximately 35,000 people who identify as Indigenous or Native American, living in New York City. This is three of those stories.
Kakatshat
Directed by Eve Ringuette
Canada | 7:44
In 1829, while portaging, a young man abandons his kukum (grandmother). Years later, his descendant and his son are camping by the haunted spot where she was abandoned.
Lumbee Accent
Directed by Gabby Maynor, Lexie Caulder
United States | 5:42
Lumbee accents examine the prevalence of the “Lumbee” accent and how it affects its speakers. This film explores the concept of code-switching and how it has affected indigenous language.
Lumbee Homecoming
Directed by Kylee Malcom
United States | 1:02
A short introduction to Lumbee Homecoming, a yearly event where the Lumbee Tribe celebrates its culture, history and families.
Lumbee Indians; The color of the sun
Directed by Catherine Oxendine, Nolan Locklear
United States | 6:39
The Lumbee Indians; The Color of the Sun addresses the issue of colorism and how Lumbee Indians come in different shades we are all one.
Lumber River
Directed by Denise Hunt, Tiffany Locklear
United States | 3:45
Lumbee Tribe members discuss the importance of and relationship with the Lumber River.
My son, My Father
Directed by Steven Bignell, Gaberial Constant
Canada | 13:08
Set during the winter of WW2, a father writes to his son back home and faults himself for leaving his son.
Roots of Lacrosse
Directed by Shelby Tsioweri:iohsta Adams, Joanne Storkan
United States | 23:34
Many lacrosse players and coaches often don’t know that the origins of the game of lacrosse has its roots in North American Indigenous nations.This short documentary provides a brief history of the sacred and cultural aspects of this sport, originally played for the Creator, as well as for the health and welfare of the people.
Sardis
Directed by Colleen Thurston
United States | 10:56
Deep in the Choctaw Nation, a picturesque lake hosts an unusual sight: an island populated by rows of headstones. This cemetery floating in a man-made lake is the last relic of what was the town of Sardis, Oklahoma.
The Origin of the Dreamcatcher
Directed by Cassandra Ambroise-St-Onge , Donavan Vollant
Canada | 4:00
Haunted by an evil spirit that keeps him awake, a hunter discovers the secret power of dreamcatchers.
The Red Orchid
Directed by Montana Cypress
United States | 25:00
Deep in the Everglades, an Indian Tribe must retrieve a sacred orchid in time to protect themselves from a dark entity that seeks to feed on the children come nightfall.
The Treaty of COVID-19
Directed by Andy Winstead
United States | 18:16
Native Americans have been at war with the White Man for 500 years. Now the Great Sky Spirit has given the descendant of Chief Sitting Bull a weapon to fight back and reclaim what has been taken.
Two Brothers
Directed by Montana Cypress
United States | 10:14
In the midst of the Florida Seminole Wars in 1830, a pair of estranged brothers contemplate what lies ahead for their people as they stare out over their homeland for what could possibly be their last time.
Wajak: At the End of the Lake
Directed by Peter Poucachiche, Kobe Wawatie
Canada | 4:00
On a Sunday morning, as the sun is rising, Peter Poucachiche wakes his grandson up to go moose hunting. A rather silent journey on Kitiganik’s territory.
Wearing My Culture
Directed by Ulivia Uviluk
Canada | 3:22
Wearing my Culture explores the pride that individuals in Inuit communities take in making and wearing their winter apparel. Thomassie looks at the bonds that are created within family, culture, and the environment through the creation of clothing.
2022 SCHEDULE of Screenings and Events
Thursday / June 30, 2022 / 7pm
FREE and Open to the public / James A. Thomas Hall auditorium on the UNC Pembroke campus
Opening Night Shorts: The Sun Shines, The Water Flows
Short films include: Charlie by the Sea / Climate Change / Wajak: At the End of the Lake / Lumbee Indians; the Color of the Sun / Sardis / Lumber River
Friday / July 1, 2022 / 7pm
FREE and open to the public / James A. Thomas Hall auditorium on the UNC Pembroke campus
Friday Night Feature / The Transcenders by Montana Cypress (in attendance)
Screening followed by Q and A with Efrain Colon
Saturday / July 2, 2022 / 4pm
Free and open to the public / James A. Thomas Hall auditorium on the UNC Pembroke campus
A live table read with Montana Cypress
Sign up for the table read here.
*Event time: 2.5 hours
Saturday / July 2, 2022 / 7pm
FREE and open to the public / James A. Thomas Hall auditorium on the UNC Pembroke campus
Roots Run Deep: Shorts Block 2
Lumbee Homecoming / Wearing my Culture / Lumbee Accent / The Origin of the Dreamcatcher / Concrete 49 / Roots of Lacrosse
Sunday / July 3, 2022 / 5pm
FREE and open to the public / James A. Thomas Hall auditorium on the UNC Pembroke campus
All my Relations – Shorts block 3
Two Brothers / Kakatshat / The Treaty of COVID-19 / My son, My Father / Red Orchid
Sunday / July 3, 2022 / 7pm
FREE and open to the public / James A. Thomas Hall auditorium on the UNC Pembroke campus
Closing Night feature / RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World
with live musical intro by Charly Lowry
Awards to follow screening
Lumbee Film Festival Staff
Kim Pevia, Festival Director
Kim Pevia is an experienced life strategist, an engaging keynote speaker, and a skilled workshop facilitator. Her workshops are experiential and transformational. She specializes in identifying the issues that keep us stuck and addresses them by developing a personalized toolbox to help us hurdle over them. Her favorite work is done in circles. Her favorite topics include Emotional intelligence, Gifts of Conflict, Impacts of Historical Trauma, Cultural Healing, Innocuous Nature of Fear, most of which she includes in Race, Equity and Inclusion work. Born and educated in Baltimore, MD she currently lives in Robeson County, NC where her roots run deep as a member of the Lumbee Tribe.
She serves on many local, state and national boards that support community activism and local economy through arts, food, culture and tourism. She recently served as Chair of the Board of Alternate Roots. In 2015 she founded Artist Market-Pembroke, providing retail opportunities for local and regional artists in southeast North Carolina. Her love of community and films is expressed as the curator of the annual Lumbee Film Festival (along with Cucalorus) and the quarterly CommUnity Cinema (in partnership with Working Films). She expresses her creativity as a writer and workshop/training facilitator.
Chad Locklear, Communications Director
Chad Locklear is from St. Pauls, NC. He is the director of marketing for the Givens Performing Arts Center at UNC Pembroke and was recently selected to join the 2020 South Art’s Emerging Leaders of Color inaugural cohort. He has performed at numerous venues as a member of the traditional native group, the Deer Clan Singers. His previous work was in journalism and graphic design at UNC Wilmington and the Fayetteville Observer. Chad earned a graduate degree in liberal studies from UNC Wilmington and bachelor’s degrees in communication and art studies from N.C. State University. He is currently completing his thesis for an M.A. in digital communications at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Read More about the Third Annual Lumbee Film Festival in 2020
Here’s the full schedule of 2019 films:
Wednesday, July 1
8:00 PM| SHORTS: Youth Making Their Way (46:33)
“Keep My Memory” / Alexis Raeana Jones, Matthew Ruprich / 3:45
Native and American / Taylor Hensel, Brit Hensel / 16:04
Hard Learning / Daniel Fortin / 6:51
Little Chef / Erica Tremblay / 11:40
Puktew Muin (Fire Bear) / Daniel Fortin / 8:13
Thursday, July 2
8:00 PM| SHORTS: Stories We Tell (42:01)
Totems / Justin Deegan / 14:00
The House Tour / Evan Ramseur / 2:54
You Love Who You Love / Ryan Craig, Javier Morin, Jr. / 11:48
Jhana / Evan Ramseur / 3:37
Portrait Of An Artist / Evan Ramseur / 6:47
Caenis or Caeneus? / Keith Carter / 2:55
Friday, July 2
8:00 PM| SHORTS: The Past Ensures Our Future (37:15)
Now Is the Time / Christopher Auchter / 16:00
Zibi Yajdan/The River Tells It / Brit Hensel, Taylor Hensel / 8:01
Tecendo nossos caminhos (Weaving our paths) / Cledson Kanunxi, Jackson Xinunxi e Marta Tipuici / 5:40
SKY AELANS (Ski Islands) / Edward Manuga, Georgianna Lepping, Jeremy Gwao, Regina Lepping, Zahiyd Namo, Junior Patrick Makau, Manner Levo, Neil Nuia, Daniel Kakadi / 7:34
Saturday, July 4
8:00 PM| FEATURE: Another Scar of Genocide: Diabetes in Indian Country (52:34)
Sunday, July 5
6:00 PM| CLOSING NIGHT FEATURE: maɬni – towards the ocean, towards the shore (80:16)
Read More about the Second Annual Lumbee Film Festival in 2019
Here’s the full schedule of 2019 films:
Thursday, May 16
5:30 PM: Shorts / 47:23
Telling People You’re Native American When You’re Not… / Joey Clift / 2:02
Shiny Object / Kevin Tikivik / 5:00
Lumbee Art Legacy / Landon Oxendine / 6:34
Raven Goes Fishing / Daniel Foreman / 9:26
Gʷidəq (Geoduck) / Tracy Rector / 6:13
Gutk’odau (Yellow) / Adam Piron / 8:24
The Violence of a Civilization without Secrets / Adam Khalil, Zack Khalil, Jackson Polys / 9:44
7:30 PM: Feature / 85:00
Words from a Bear (Kiowa) / Jeffrey Palmer / 85:00
Friday, May 17
5:30 PM: Shorts / 49:43
Shell No / Tracy Rector / 6:52
Inuk Hunter / George Annanack / 4:05
What Lumbee Means to My Family / Evan Ramseur / 7:56
A History of Service (Auburn Veterans) / Tracy Rector / 4:23
Maintaining Cultural Identity as Lumbee Women / Reagan Cummings / 7:09
Mommy goes race / Charlene McConini / 5:50
Sweetheart Dancers / Ben-Alex Dupris / 13:28
7:30 PM: Feature / 90:00
Kayak to Klemtu / Zoe Hopkins / 90:00
Read More about the First Annual Lumbee Film Festival in 2018
Read Festival Director Kim Pevia’s interview with the Fayetteville Observer.
The First Ever Lumbee Film Festival took place on June 23rd, 2018 from 3 to 9 p.m. in the Thomas Family Entrepreneurship Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, 202 Main St. in Pembroke. The highlight of the festival was a 7 p.m. screening of “Warrior Women,” directed by Christina D. King and Elizabeth A. Castle. The film tells the story of the American Indian movement from the perspective of Madonna Thunder Hawk of the Oohenumpa Lakota tribe. Thunder Hawk and King attended the festival to discuss the film.
Here’s the full schedule of 2018 films:
3pm: Shorts Block
Real Indian / Malinda Maynor Lowery
After All / Brannigan Carter
Get Up / Brannigan Carter
Creation & Hope / Keith Carter, Gia Kereselidze
Ohero:kon / Katsitsionni Fox
Water Warriors / Michael Premo
4:30pm: Panel Discussion
Who Tells Our Stories: Extraction and Appropriation in Indigenous Communities
Featuring community organizers, filmmakers and tribe members discussing cultural extraction, cultural appropriation, and other issues faced by indigenous communities and their work within the cultural sector.
5:30pm: Grand Opening Celebration
Launching the Lumbee Film Festival: Reception with refreshments and special guests
7pm: Feature Film
Warrior Women, directed by Christina D. King and Elizabeth A. Castle
featuring Special Guest Madonna Thunder Hawk
Screens with: Lumbee Spring Moon Powwow / John “ManiQ” Whittemore
**Films from the Lumbee Filmmaking Challenge were shared at both screenings**
THANK YOU to our sponsors!
