Audience Awards announces the eight finalists in the Native American Documentary Challange. The challenge asked Native American, Hawaiian Pacific Islander and First Nations of Canada filmmakers to submit their short documentaries for a shot at a share of $5,500 in cash and prizes and film festival screenings at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Vision Maker Film Festival and Audience Awards Film Festival.
The Native American Documentary Challenge’s jury panel is championed by Native American filmmaker and actor, Forrest Goodluck best know for appearing in the award-winning epic, The Revenant; First Nations Of Canada film and television actress, Kawennahere Devery Jacobs who debuted in the leading role in the award-winning feature film, Rhymes for Young Ghouls; and Native American filmmaker, Shaandin Tome, alumna of the 2016 Sundance Full Circle Fellowship.
From the eight finalist films, the jury will select the best documentary and award $1,000 and 1 FilmStro soundtrack license. The global audience is invited to vote for their favorite film between April 4-10, 2018. The most voted film wins $500 and 1 FilmStro soundtrack license.
The goal of this challenge is to accelerate Native American filmmakers’ careers and filmmakers have been encouraged to apply to be one of four BSDFF Native American Fellows with leaders in the Indigenous filmmaking community and the film industry at large.
ABOUT AUDIENCE AWARDS: Audience Awards provides filmmakers the opportunity to change the world through stories, win prizes and build an audience. Films are judged by the audience as well as industry professionals. Previous jurors represent Vice, YouTube, Variety, Sundance and the list goes on. We are committed to providing a stage for diverse, emerging talent and their creative work. Our platform is dedicated to celebrating the power of storytelling and building an audience. Created by filmmakers, for filmmakers, Audience Awards offers an invaluable platform for exposure. Our filmmakers don’t just gain exposure – like press and social media engagement – but also opportunities to accelerate their careers.
ABOUT BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL: The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. Big Sky offers an ideal setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and develop lasting relationships with fellow filmmakers and industry. The festival draws an audience of 20,000 and film entries from every corner of the globe to a uniquely intimate mountain town setting with a local Montana flavor.
ABOUT VISION MAKER FILM FESTIVAL: Vision Maker Media empowers and engages Native People to tell stories and envisions a world changed and healed by understanding Native stories and the public conversations they generate. The biennial Vision Maker Film Festival is set for April 20-26, 2018.
ABOUT AUDFEST: Your days at AudFest will be filled with invaluable industry panels and workshops, your nights filled with screenings, networking parties and awards ceremonies. AudFest is the capstone of 365 days full of stellar filmmaking and an opportunity for us to provide opportunity and exposure to our filmmaker family. We play with cameras, gear, learn from industry experts, get mentored by industry execs. We award three pioneer filmmakers and screen your amazing films. Everyone who submits to this festival receives a pass to attend AudFest!
For more industry news, happenings, and filmmaking opportunities visit: audnews.com
