Native Women in Film & Television in All Media #NWIFTV founded in 1995 and started as a Native Women in Music Festival in Santa Fe NM. #NWIFTV went on to having its own program of screenings at the annual Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF), films directed by women screen annually in November. In 2003, Native Women in Film & Television needed to become a stand alone Film Festival leading up to The Academy Awards, out of a direct need to keep our image at the forefront of the entertainment industry. NWIFTV is the only film festival dedicated to Native & Indigenous women filmmakers, hence Native Women in Film & Television in All Media Festival was born. 

At the height of #MeToo actor/director/founder/humanitarian Joanelle Romero (AMPAS) founder of NWIFTV  coined and founded #WhyWeWearRED with a media coalition to address a Global Call to Action initiative that aims to bring awareness to Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women & Girls and the lack of inclusion of Native Women in Film & Television. Every year in March, leading up to the Academy Awards the annual Native Women in FILM Festival takes place along with Conversation Series and Women of Influence.

MISSION  

Native Women in Film & Television in All Media (NWIFTV) advocates for Native and Indigenous Women’s Rights in all media platforms, with a focus on equal opportunities for Native & Indigenous women in front of and behind the camera, encouraging the creative narrative, exploring and empowering authentic and honest portrayals of Native and Indigenous women, expanding empowerment initiatives and campaigns in the arts, media, social justice, civic engagement, economic empowerment, research, training, professional development programs, grants and international relation.  

NWIFTV serves under its fiscal partner Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI) The Creative Enterprise by Natives delivering to all people the stories that shape our world. RNCI is the longest standing Native Women-Led Indigenous Media, Arts & Cultural nonprofit in the Entertainment Industry. Empowering Native and Indigenous Women in all media.

PURPOSE

To empower Native & Indigenous Independent women filmmakers; to create diverse roles for American Indian & Indigenous women; to increase exposure for movies made by Native & Indigenous women, showcasing feature and short length narratives, documentaries, animation films, television movies, and music videos.

PROGRAMS,  INITIATIVES AND CAMPAIGNS 

To provide mentorship for girls on & off the reservations.  Initiative develops leadership, gives girls the confidence and skills in community, film, media, and activism.  Native Women Write, Why We Wear RED, Only One Water and Native Youth Matter – If I Can See It I Can Be It – Native youth initiatives.

#WhyWeWearRED is an initiative that aims to bring national and global awareness to our Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, in addition to fight sexual harassment, assault and inequality for women in all kinds of workplaces, and Lack of Inclusion in film and television.

Native Women in Film & Television In All Media  encourages supporters everywhere to wear RED and/or share #WhyWeWearRED as a show of unity and empowerment.

In 2003, there was a study that women made up only 17% of all directors, executive producers, writers,  cinematographers and editors working on top 250 domestic grossing films.

In order to inspire the next generation of film enthusiasts and to encourage a genre of Native and Indigenous women filmmakers to create their own stories, Red Nation Celebration Institute launched Native Women in Film and Television and Native Women in Music (1995), to bring awareness and content to the film and music industry. Sustainability requires a bankable market. Founder Joanelle Romero, “one can not build on success with one film every ten years” said Joanelle Romero, we need to have one film, right after the other in order to create our market.

Native Women in Film & Television in All Media’s continued commitment supports excellence in education, self-esteem, healthy lifestyles, community building, economic development, empowerment and inspirational opportunities for women and girls with its continued year round programs.