Denver Indigenous Film & Arts Festival Set to Open October 12

Native News Network Staff in Entertainment. Discussion »

The Lifetime Work

DENVER - Love a good story? The Indigenous Film & Arts Festival, now in its eighth year presents over a dozen intriguing stories told by native peoples from around the world when it hits neighborhoods throughout Denver. This year's presentation, themed Adaptation: Finding Balance in a Changing World, features a multicultural variety of full-length films, shorts and documentaries from indigenous writers, actors and filmmakers.

Presented by the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management, the Festival is the only collaboration of its kind in Colorado, displaying artistic works and films from North and South American Indian, Canadian First Nations, Native Hawaiian, Maori and Aboriginal Australian participants. Mark your calendars, because you won't see these films anywhere else.

The Festival opens on October 12th at the Denver Botanic Gardens with a tour of the Allan Houser sculptures in the Native Roots/Modern Form exhibit followed by a screening of Allan Houser/Haozous: The Lifetime Work of an American Master. This beautiful film presents the multi-faceted Allan Houser - generous teacher, father, spirited musician and pioneering artist - and his art.

Allan Houser touched stone - reverently, with the spark of genius, with decades of knowledge and skill, and brought it powerfully to life. The spirit of Houser's Warm Spring Chiricahua Apache heritage is the source of his imagery: his father's stories, his own early memories of women's shawls and skirts around the bonfire of the Apache Mountain Spirit dance, the bitterly won taste of his tribe's freedom after a generation of forced relocation and imprisonment. Allan Houser was a world-class artist whose name continues to grow in stature and respect. His story, told through the lens of world-renowned director Phil Lucas, is a celebration of the creative genius of both artists. Executive Producer Phillip Haozous, Allan's son and an artist and sculptor in his own right, will be on hand for audience Q&A.

The Festival travels to a different Denver neighborhood every night. The eclectic mix of films highlight the importance of family, identity and language as foundations of culture that have helped native peoples survive and thrive in the face of adversity. Most of the events are free. For schedule and ticketing information email film@iiirm.org or call 303-744-9686.

posted September 15, 2011 7:00 am edt