Albuquerque Film Office and Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Partner for Indigenous Film Workshop

June 11, 2021

The Albuquerque Film Office and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center are hosting film industry professionals to lead a free virtual workshop June 12-13 for aspiring Indigenous filmmakers throughout New Mexico.

Participants in the “Indigenous Film Industry Workshop: Process to Production” will engage with resources, action items, and professional contacts that can help launch or advance a career in the industry. The targeted learning experiences provided in this unique event will feature a variety of topics to the local audience by experts in their fields, including Indigenous writers, actors, and composers.

“The diversity of people and cultures in Albuquerque has always been part of our strength. We appreciate those who are leading the way for Indigenous inclusivity in film,” said Mayor Tim Keller.

Presenters secured for the event include:

• The Netflix team of all-indigenous writers/creators behind the animated children’s series “Spirit Rangers” about three siblings who transform into animal spirits to conserve a national park. Karissa Valencia, Joey Clift, and Carlee Malemute will be discussing their writing process, the use of traditional art in the animation, and how the show developed.  
• Mo Brings Plenty, a Cheyenne River Sioux actor on such productions as Yellowstone, The Revenant, and Cowboys & Aliens, will provide insights on preparation for work on camera.  
• Annie Chang, vice-president of Creative Technologies for NBCUniversal, will be part of a panel on emerging technologies and the importance of their use in storytelling for film. 
• Brent Michael Davids, America’s most seasoned Native American composer of concert music and film scores, will speak about music composition.
• Scott Rowe, former marketing executive for Warner Bros., will serve as a moderator.

“This event is designed to provide Indigenous filmmakers with information, opportunity, and resources necessary to create, produce, and celebrate their own stories,” said Karen Criswell, liaison for the Albuquerque Film Office.

“IPCC is excited to co-sponsor this workshop,” said Beverlee McClure, who is coordinating the effort for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. “As the film industry continues to grow, we want the number of Native Americans working in the industry to grow as well. This workshop will provide an overview of the careers in the film industry, as well as make meaningful connections.”

The event will be live-streamed from 1-5 p.m. each day.

To register, visit https://indianpueblo.org/event/indigenous-film-industry-workshop-from-process-to-production/2021-06-12/.