SULPHUR, Okla. -- Many genres of First American films and a bevy of talented filmmakers were celebrated during the 2024 Holba' Pisachi' Native Film Festival, Aug. 9-10 at the Chickasaw Cultural Center.
Holba' Pisachi' means “Showing Pictures” in Chikashshanompa' (the Chickasaw language).
“The goal of the Holba' Pisachi' Native Film Festival is to promote the art of First American cinema through cultural awareness using mass media,” said Fran Parchcorn, Executive Officer of the Chickasaw Cultural Center. “We are blessed with the opportunity to use our state-of-the-art Anoli' Theater to host this event and shine a light on the Chickasaw Cultural Center.”
“The 2024 theme, ‘Celebrating the Indigenous Narrative: Creativity, Voices and Experiences,’ reflects the featured array of works and the way accomplished First American filmmakers and actors have preserved their stories through film,” Parchcorn said.
Indigenous artists from First American nations throughout the United States attended Holba' Pisachi'.
The headliner of this year’s film festival was “Dark Winds,” featuring lead actor Zahn McClarnon (Hunkpapa Lakota) and director Chris Eyre (Cheyenne and Arapaho). The actor and director answered questions following the screening of two episodes of the AMC+ series.
Kahara Hodges (Dine/Chicana), who plays Aunt Lucy in “Frybread Face and Me,” offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the making of the popular independent movie.
“There was complete Indigenous representation, in front of the camera and behind the camera,” she said.
Hodges said the movie’s theme of reconnecting with one’s Indigenous roots resonated with her, as she would visit her grandmother each summer of her childhood.
Gary “Litefoot” Davis spoke following the screening of his film, “Strong Hearts: An Indigenous Love Letter to My Sons,” encouraging the audience to believe in one another.
Davis (Cherokee) is an internationally acclaimed actor, film director, writer and rap music artist.
New this year, the Holbaꞌ Kanalliꞌ Ikfalaꞌhoꞌ (short films) section featured seven short films produced by First American filmmakers, including Lauren John (Chickasaw) and Brandon Hart (Chickasaw/Cherokee). A question-and-answer session followed the screening.
Wilson Nenaikita and Rena Flowers, both from Shawnee, attended the film festival for the second consecutive year.
Nenaikita said they enjoy the film festival because it showcases a wide variety of First American films.
A daylong filmmaker workshop hosted by LaRonn Katchia (Warm Springs/Wasco/Paiute) and Ryker Sixkiller (Cherokee) was conducted Aug. 10 for First American youth and others.
Friday included a screening of the feature film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” introduced by Margo Gray (Osage), a descendant of Osage murder victim Henry Roan. Gray participated in the acclaimed film as the character Grace Bigheart.
Chickasaw actor Tommy Shultz, who played Blackie Thompson in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” attended the film festival and said it was exciting to be celebrating film within the Chickasaw Nation.
“It’s right here at home. I’ve been here my whole life and (my family) has been a part of the Chickasaw Nation for a very long time,” said the Ada native.
He described the film festival as an “eye-opener” to many First American filmmakers’ talent and skill.
“People miss out on it a lot of times and it’s good to go off the beaten path and see what else is around the corner.”
Parchcorn said the Chickasaw Cultural Center staff received positive feedback from festival attendees.
“The theater has been full for every screening; you can’t ask for more than that.”
For more information about the Chickasaw Cultural Center, visit
ChickasawCulturalCenter.com or call (580) 622-7130.