Pechanga Hosts Calif. American Indian, Indigenous Film Festival

From Pechanga Resort Casino:

TEMECULA, Calif. (Feb10, 2020) – The stage has been set for the 2020 California’s American Indian and Indigenous Film Festival (CAIIFF). One of the largest Native American film festivals in the country, the three-day event takes place February 20-22 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. It features a powerful lineup of full-length films and premieres, shorts and documentaries that have all feature Native and Indigenous stories, directors, actors, producers and more. The event also includes youth activities and Q&A sessions. Tickets are $10 per day and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased by visiting Pechanga.com or by calling (877) 711-2946.

The three-day festival in February will feature a line-up of dozens of films, shorts and documentaries by American Indian & Indigenous filmmakers, producers, directors, and actors. It will also offer several Q&A sessions with actors and an exclusive, invite-only reception at Pechanga’s rooftop venue, the Eagle’s Nest, to honor those making a significant impact in American Indian and Indigenous arts.

Ticket pricing and line-up are as follows:

• Thursday screening – Blood Memory (California premiere): $10
• Friday screenings - nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up and Blood Quantum (California Premiere): $10
• Saturday youth program (screenings, hands-on activities and musical performances): FREE
• Saturday afternoon screenings: The Mountain That Weeps and Sisters Rising (California Premiere): FREE
• Saturday closing night screening and awards presentation – The Grizzlies (U.S. Premiere): $10
• Saturday night VIP reception: Invite only

“This year’s festival comes at a time when Native issues have been thrust into a forefront of the collective conversation in North America,” said Dr. Joely Proudfit, CAIIFF Director. “This year’s festival highlights stories to teach the future Seventh Generation to maintain traditions and customs, resources and to stand up against injustice. We can expect depictions of these and of course, many fun and uplifting titles to be screened at the event this February.”

The theme of this 7th annual CAIIFF is the Seventh Generation. This year’s festival highlights stories to impart for the Seventh Generation highlighting the importance of maintaining traditions and customs, cultural and environmental resources and to stand up against injustice. Opening Night will feature the California premiere of the documentary feature Blood Memory, Directed by Drew Nicholas. Our Friday Night double Feature will begin with a screening of nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, Directed by Tasha Hubbard. Friday night fright feature will include the California premiere of Blood Quantum, Directed by Jeff Barnaby. Saturday we will showcase two afternoon screenings The Mountain That Weeps and Sisters Rising followed by our Saturday night U.S. Premiere of The Grizzlies, Directed by Miranda de Pencier. Along with this year’s diverse lineup of 13 films, shorts and documentaries and riveting Q&A’s, we are offering a youth track facilitated by artist/filmmaker Steven Paul Judd and we will showcase several musical artists such as PJ Vegas, Cody Coyote and Drezus.

The artwork for this year’s festival was commissioned by Anderson Gould, Jr., (Navajo) an alumni of California State University San Marcos and official CAIIFF photographer.

The VIP reception is not open to the public, however credentialed media are welcome to cover it and the rest of the three-day event. Members of the media should contact Tiffany Rodriguez at 951-526-1470 or trodriguez@pechanga.com to cover the screenings, Q&As or the VIP reception.

About Pechanga Resort Casino

Pechanga Resort & Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA TODAY and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino provides an unparalleled getaway. Offering more than 4,500 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 1,090 hotel rooms, dining, spa and championship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort & Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort & Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free 1-888-PECHANGA or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort & Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @PechangaCasino. Pechanga Resort & Casino is open 24-hours. Guests must be 21 and older to enter the casino.

About California American Indian & Indigenous Film Festival

California's American Indian & Indigenous Film Festival (CAIIFF) provides California moviegoers with a unique opportunity to encounter American Indians in uplifting and empowering film narratives about what it means to be Indian in the 21st century. CAIIFF highlights American Indian storytelling traditions which are the sinew connecting our community, our identity, our history, our present, and our future. CAIIFF is coordinated by the California Indian Culture & Sovereignty Center (CICSC) in partnership with many tribal and community and campus sponsors. The CICSC fosters collaborative research and community service relationships between the faculty, staff, and students of CSU San Marcos and members of Tribal communities, for the purpose of developing and conducting research projects that support the maintenance of sovereignty and culture within those communities. For more information, visit www.caiiff.com and www.csusm.edu/cicsc/. Follow CAIIFF on Facebook and Instagram. Follow CICSC on Facebook and Instagram.

This press release was produced by Pechanga Resort Casino. The views expressed here are the author's own.