Celebrating Native Voices: Lumbee Film Festival returns to Pembroke for the 7th year

Pembroke, NC- The 7th annual Lumbee Film Festival returns to Pembroke, North Carolina, with a dynamic lineup of 11 original films directed by Indigenous filmmakers. Dedicated to showcasing bold, original work by Native American and Indigenous storytellers — including members of the Lumbee Tribe from North Carolina and beyond — the festival celebrates the richness and diversity of Indigenous voices in film. This year’s festival takes place on Saturday, July 5 during the 2025 Lumbee Homecoming at the University of North Carolina Pembroke.“The Lumbee Film Festival is for Native American filmmakers and for anyone who loves movies,” said Festival Director Cheyenne Oxendine. “This year’s films cover important topics the world needs to hear — and we need to share.”This year’s festival kicks off at 1 p.m. in Moore Hall with Qaqsoss naka Wahantuhsis (Fox & the Tiny Demon), a Wolastoqey animated allegory that follows a fox named Qaqsoss as she battles both inner turmoil and a mischievous demon named Wahantuhsis. Set in an enchanted forest, the film explores mental illness, trauma, and generational pain through an Indigenous lens, ultimately revealing a powerful journey of self-healing, resilience, and connection.A dynamic shorts block begins at 4 p.m., featuring compelling Indigenous stories that celebrate resilience, identity, and culture. From honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in snowy Montana (End the Silence) to a playful take on environmental awareness in Ni Wapiten (I See), each film offers a unique lens. Highlights include a young Abenaki basketmaker (Abaznoda), a boxer’s path to redemption (The Fighter), a powwow-powered quest in Joey Clift’s Pow, cursed Cherokee gold (Fool’s Gold), and the transformative art of Hoop Dance in Courage. Wrap it all up with René Locklear White’s Whoz Ya People, an interactive trivia game that celebrates Lumbee culture and invites everyone to learn, laugh, and connect.The festival closes with Drowned Land, a powerful documentary by award-winning filmmaker Colleen Thurston, screening at 7 p.m. A group of water protectors in southeastern Oklahoma fight to save the Kiamichi River—one of the most ecologically and mussel-diverse rivers in the world. As the state moves to divert 85% of its flow, the community takes a powerful stand against environmental exploitation in the heart of the Choctaw Nation.The Lumbee Film Festival is a partnership between the Lumbee Tribe of NC and the Cucalorus Film Foundation, with support from the North Carolina Arts Council and PBSNC.Lumbee Film Festival screenings are free and open to the public, taking place in Moore Hall on the campus of the University of North Carolina Pembroke. While admission is free, a suggested donation or pay-what-you-can contribution is encouraged to support the festival. For the full festival schedule, visit lumbeefilmfestival.eventive.org.

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