May 26, 2016 in Venice, California
With the Mission of Preserving the Values and Aspirations of Indigenous People and Garifuna Cultures, Venice-based Festival Supports Native Culture Through Art and Film
WHO:
LOS ANGELES — Standing out among the packed film festival circuit as a respected cultural ambassador among indigenous communities, the Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival (GIIFF) is returning to Venice for its 5th annual event this coming May. Founder, Executive Director and Garifuna indigene, Freda Sideroff, is excited and honored to once again be able to showcase a wide range of films and documentaries created by noteworthy cultural activists, Garifuna filmmakers and other indigenous people. Included in the program are submissions from international filmmaker Alex Munoz (Escape, Catnip Fever, Duendes Gone Bad), Vietnamese Emmy Award-winning director Duc Nguyen (BOLINAO 52, STATELESS), VICE and Al Jazeera video journalist Jesse Freeston (RESISTENCIA: THE FIGHT FOR THE AGUAN VALLEY), International Hollywood actor/producer/director Marcello Thedford (ER, The Game, Sons of Anarchy, Shameless, Southland), and Academy Award-winning producer/screenwriter, Victoria Mudd (Broken Rainbow), among others.
WHAT:
The GIIFF is a six day event that acts as a platform to bring together the indigenous from around the globe, converging in Southern California to discuss and witness, through film and video, many of the important topics facing their communities. The overwhelmingly comprehensive GIIFF program includes features and short films, documentaries, panel discussions, workshops and cultural presentations by some of today’s most respected indigenous-focused filmmakers and activists. The 41 films spanning these various genres come from more than 22 countries and will be screened throughout the six day event. These films run the indigenous-focused creative gamut, and range from documentaries about how various indigenous groups’ past experiences with human rights violations have affected their present lives, the challenging and often beautiful rediscovery of indigenous cultural roots, community collaboration aimed at bringing forth resolutions and unity between cultures, as well as sectional biographies of many important human rights activists. The list of actors and public figures involved in these films is also worthy of note, and includes His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon, International Hollywood actor/director Tien Pham, Golden Globe-winning Actor Martin Sheen, and award-winning American actor/producer/
director/screenwriter, Ed Harris, among many others.
WHEN:
Begins: 6:00pm PST
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Concludes: 7:00pm PST
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
WHERE:
GIIFF VIP Welcome Event-
Thursday, May 26, from 6:00pm till 9:45 pm
424 Beverly Hills Lounge
424 N. Beverly Hills Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
GIIFF Screenings-
The Electric Lodge
1416 Electric Avenue
Venice, CA 90291
-and-
Garifuna Museum of Los Angeles
1517 West 48th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90062
WHY:
The GIIFF was founded in 2012 with a mission to preserve the values and aspirations of all
indigenous people and Garifuna cultures. Founded by Freda Sideroff, an indigene of the
Garifuna, the GIIFF acts to support the preservation of all indigenous cultures in the world
through art and film, while providing an annual event where leaders and members of the
community are recognized for their contributions to the betterment and elevation of the dignity of
humanity. At a time when Western civilization is struggling with global problems, the GIIFF
showcases important lessons to be learned from indigenous cultures such as
interconnectedness, the wisdom of our elders, sustainable living and how to exist in harmony
with nature.
Click here for the complete GIIFF Event Schedule
For tickets to attend and more information, please visit: garifunafilmfestival.com
To request Media Credentials or sponsorship information, contact:
Charles Anchang, Media: info@garifunafilmfestival.com
Joy Kliewer, Sponsorships: garifuna@garifunafilmfestival.com
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Main: (310) 663-5813
Email: garifuna@garifunafilmfestival.com
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Instagram: Instagram.com/officialgarifunafilmfestival
Twitter: @GarifunaI