2025 Indigenous Film Program at Sante Fe International Film Festival

This month, the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is sponsoring the 2025 Indigenous Film Program at Sante Fe International Film Festival, highlighting five short films created by IAIA student filmmakers. 

The IAIA Student Shorts will screen on October 16, 2025 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM at Sky Cinemas in Sante Fe. The lineup includes films by Jordan Martin (Blackfeet Nation of Montana), Laura Ten Fingers (Oglala Lakota), Alexander Kurowski (Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin), David Arquero (Cochiti Pueblo), and Whit Maloney (Diné).

Each film carries its own heartbeat, from personal stories to powerful visual journeys, these student works show the creativity and spirit shaping the future of Indigenous cinema. IAIA President Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo) shared her pride, saying the bold expression of these filmmakers shows how the future of Indigenous film will be shaped by their creativity, vision, and stories. 

Each of these Indigenous filmmakers bring something unique, reflecting on identity, community, and the stories that connect us. Their work reminds us how Indigenous cinema continues to grow, rooted in tradition yet always reaching for new ways to be seen and heard. 

Through its Cinematic Arts and Technology program, IAIA continues to create space for Native filmmakers to learn, experiment, and tell their own stories. Whether their paths lead to Hollywood or back home to their nations, IAIA’s mission stays the same: to nurture Indigenous creativity and cultural strength through film. 

The Sante Fe International Film Festival runs from October 15 to 20. Tickets for the IAIA Student Shorts can be reserved here.