Showcase Film Schedule
Join us for the Daybreak Star Radio Winter Indigenous Film Showcase, a week-long celebration of Indigenous filmmaking running from February 16–22, 2025, at the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Seattle, WA. Below, you’ll find a detailed schedule featuring powerful films, thought-provoking documentaries, and engaging short film blocks. Many screenings include live or virtual Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. Corresponding links for each film are included for more information about the stories, directors, and creative teams behind these remarkable works.
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*Sunday, February 16, 2025
11:00 AM – MURU (The Raid)
Virtual Q&A with Cliff Curtis & Tearepa Kahi following the screening. Inspired by true events, MURU follows Police Sergeant ‘Taffy’ Tawharau (Cliff Curtis) as he faces a moral dilemma during a government-led armed raid on his Ruatoki community.
2:00 PM – Short Film Block 1
Short Films include – I Was Never The Siren, The Queen’s Flower, Cleanings A Cakewalk, HAAGUA, & Tribal Food Sovereignty. A collection of diverse short films by Indigenous filmmakers, showcasing powerful stories and creative artistry.
4:00 PM – TBD
6:00 PM – Short Film Block (18+)
Short Films Include – Fool’s Gold, The Dark Valley, Po’ele Wai, How Time Flies, & They’re Not Here. Q&A with Tokala Tatum & Ryan Craig following the screening. An edgy and bold selection of short films for mature audiences, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and creativity. This screening is limited to attendees 18 years of age or older.
*Monday, February 17, 2025
5:00 PM – Short Film Block 2
Short Films include – Standing Above The Clouds, Facing The Storm, Tribal Food Sovereignty, War For The Woods, & Roots of Modern Native Activism. Q&A with Matt Remle & Frank Hopper following the screening. Another lineup of compelling short films by Indigenous creators, offering unique perspectives and narratives.
7:30 PM – WaaPaKe
Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin’s deeply personal documentary explores the silence and resilience of residential school Survivors through truth, freedom, and power. Parental Advisory.
*Tuesday, February 18, 2025
5:00 PM – Spirit Rangers
Virtual Q&A with Karissa Valencia following the screening. This animated series by Karissa Valencia follows Native American siblings Kodiak, Summer, and Eddy Skycedar, who secretly become Spirit Rangers to protect the land and its spirits.
7:00 PM – Indian Road Trip
Two Native con-artists are tasked with driving a cranky elder across the reserve, only to encounter supernatural forces trying to disrupt their journey.
*Wednesday, February 19, 2025
5:00 PM – Short Film Block 3
Short Films Include – HAAGUA, Cleanings A Cakewalk, Commodity, The Queen’s Flower, & Janelle Niles: Inconvenient. Virtual Q&A with Janelle Niles following the screening. Featuring a Q&A with comedian and filmmaker Janelle Niles, including her short Inconvenient. Parental Advisory.
7:30 PM – The Knowing
Q&A following the screening. Journalist Tanya Talaga embarks on an eight-decade search for her matriarch Annie Carpenter, uncovering a story deeply connected to Canada’s residential school system.
*Thursday, February 20, 2025
5:00 PM – Café Daughter
Q&A with Shelly Niro following the screening. A coming-of-age story about Yvette Wong, a young Chinese Cree girl in 1960s Saskatchewan who learns to embrace her Cree identity despite societal pressures.
7:30 PM – Joey Clift Spotlight
Q&A with Joey Clift during the screening. An evening dedicated to celebrating Joey Clift’s contributions to Indigenous storytelling, featuring highlights from his impressive career.
*Friday, February 21, 2025
5:00 PM – Bring Them Home
Q&A following screening. This powerful documentary tells the story of Blackfoot people working to reintroduce wild buffalo herds to their ancestral lands, a journey of cultural restoration and healing.
7:00 PM – Hey! Viktor
In-Person Q&A with Cody Lightning following the screening. In this comedy-drama, Cody Lightning stars as a former child actor trying to produce a sequel to Smoke Signals decades after his fleeting fame. This screening is limited to attendees 18 years of age or older.
*Saturday, February 22, 2025
11:00 AM – Fish War
Explore the 1974 decision that upheld Indigenous fishing rights in Washington, a pivotal moment in environmental stewardship and activism.
2:00 PM – Imagining the Indian
In-Person Q&A with Ben West & Yancey Burns following the screening. This award-winning documentary delves into the fight to end Native American mascots in sports and beyond.
6:00 PM – Filmmakers’ Function
Join us for the Filmmakers’ Function, the grand finale of the Winter Indigenous Film Showcase! Taking place on February 22, 2025, at the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, this exclusive event is a celebration of Indigenous creativity and storytelling. Connect with filmmakers, artists, and creatives in a vibrant, collaborative atmosphere. Enjoy engaging conversations, networking opportunities, and a chance to honor the incredible talent showcased throughout the festival. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening celebrating the power of Indigenous storytelling! Sponsored in part by Tito’s Vodka. Love, Tito’s!
