The Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival deliberately chooses films that don’t shy away from controversial issues.
So, it’s no surprise to find “Hail to the Breadsticks” on the program at this year’s festival. A long-time fan of the Washington, D.C. football team, writer and producer Donick Cary, a veteran of “The Simpsons” and “Parks and Rec,” never questioned his team’s moniker until his young son asked him if it was racist.
His son’s suggestion that they ask Native Americans their feelings about the name resulted in a cross-country odyssey that ultimately became “Hail to the Breadsticks,” screening at the festival on Saturday at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
The theme for this year’s festival is resilience. The ability to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity and trauma is a key component in films such as “Bearing Witness,” “Remaining Native,” “Ireland and the Native Americans,” “Free Leonard Peltier,” and especially on the festival’s final film, “Midnight in the Orange Grove,” among others.
“Virginia Indians are practicing resilience by developing strong connections through organizations and events like Pocahontas Reframed, the Virginia Native Arts Alliance, and Virginia Tribal Education Consortium,” says Pamunkey member Brad Brown, the festival’s executive director. “The festival reflects the strong sense of community developing among Virginia Indians.”
“This year is just the beginning of our efforts to become a truly international film festival with films from Indigenous and Aboriginal peoples from around the world.”
New Australian First Nations programming
New this year is the opening day Australian First Nations Film Program, which came about as a result of the relationship that the festival’s organizers have developed with the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum in Charlottesville. “Their executive director offered to help curate an Australian First Nations Film Program,” says Brown. “This year is just the beginning of our efforts to become a truly international film festival with films from Indigenous and Aboriginal peoples from around the world.”
As part of the festival Saturday morning, the VMFA will host the Family Day Powwow, a joint effort dedicated to educating non-Natives about Native culture. The Powwow event is an immersion into Native culture through drumming, singing, dancing, storytelling, films, and music, designed to be both fun and informative for all ages.
The Tsenacommacah Eastern Indian Marketplace will run Saturday and Sunday at VMHC and features vetted vendors offering only authentic Native American arts and crafts. “With the festival taking place in late November, it’s a perfect opportunity for Native artisans to be able to sell their goods right before Christmas,” Brown points out.
Short films, Sundance and returning musicians
Music is also on tap, with Native musicians performing at a Saturday evening concert. Both artist and activist Pura Fe and picker Cary Morin performed to acclaim at Pocahontas Reframed a few years ago. “We’ve been trying to get them back ever since, because their music is genuine and the songs reflect our theme of resilience,” says Brown. “Their concert will be one of the highlights of the weekend.”
Given that the short films selection is always an audience favorite, Saturday and Sunday’s programming features an array of short films by Native American filmmakers and about Native American topics. “Short films deliver powerful stories in a concise format,” Brown says, adding that most of the submissions to the festival are short film format. “This year we were honored to be chosen by the Sundance Film Festival Indigenous Tour to screen seven films.”
As part of Sundance’s offerings, Loren Waters, an award-winning filmmaker, will be in attendance to screen her short film, “Tiger,” which focuses on an Indigenous artist and elder, Dana Tiger, her family, and the resurgence of the iconic Tiger T-shirt company. The festival will also feature three short films made in Virginia about Virginia Indians, including “Pamunkey Portrait,” “Resilience on the River” about the Chickahominy people and “Life in the Heartland: Monacan Nation.”
For a fascinating history lesson on how films have long been used as powerful propaganda tools distorting history and perpetuating harmful stereotypes, check out the Virginia premiere of “Bearing Witness: Native American Voices in Hollywood.” The insightful film uses Native people to dissect the classic Westerns that became a vehicle for American racism while completely ignoring the genocide on which the country was built.
Then for a wonderfully comedic take on the issue of sports teams using Native mascots based on negative stereotypes rather than cultural understanding, check out “Hail to the Breadsticks.” Its strength is how Donick Cary uses real Native Americans to weigh in on a cultural issue many fans didn’t even consider for most of their lives.
Says Brown, “The results are surprising.”
As is the scope of the 9th annual Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival.
The Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival will be held Nov. 20-23 at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Visit the festival website for the complete schedule and to learn more. Tickets
