The LA SKINS FEST, the premier Native American film festival, presented by COMCAST NBCUniversal, announced its online schedule for this year’s virtual film festival. The events and screenings will take place from November 18th – 22nd, 2020 and feature the incredible talent from Indian Country. This year’s festival will be the most accessible version to audiences yet, and both filmmakers and film lovers will be given unique opportunities to connect and enjoy digital screenings, panels, filmmaker Q&As, musical performances and other original content online. The festival will celebrate indigenous people throughout North America by telling diverse stories, commemorating heritage, and fostering dialogue on a variety of platforms.

“We are excited to celebrate our fourteenth year of incredible cinema from Native America. Every year poses new challenges, we hope to provide a strong dose of positivity by sharing the resilient voice of Native America. As always, we have an exceptional showcase of films, several great events, and an incredible awards gala.” Announced Patricia Gomes, festival director.

The festival kicks off Wednesday, November 18th with the 9th Annual Native American Writers Pitch Fest, sponsored by Spectrum and the Cherokee Nation Film Office. The pitch fest will have Native American writers pitch their scripts, current projects and themselves to several network and studio development executives, as well as managers, and agents. The pitch fest will be followed by a virtual panel of creative executives who will discuss next steps, following up and how to make the most of their pitching experience. The day will conclude with a virtual staged reading of scripts from our TV Writers Lab and Feature Film Writers Lab.

Thursday, November 19th the virtual festival will focus on opportunities for Native American actors and host our annual Native American Audition Workshop and Actors Panel, Sponsored by the Cherokee Nation Film Office and NBCUniversal. The virtual workshop will be comprised of two components. The first portion is an in-depth online panel with NBC casting personnel and Native American actress Amber Midthunder. They will discuss breaking into the industry and building your acting career. This is followed by “mock” auditions for Native American actors to receive feedback and insight on executing a great audition.

Friday, November 20th we launch the inaugural Native American Unscripted Panel, Sponsored by Verizon Media. This program is designed to offer new opportunities for Native Americans with a background in documentary filmmaking. This will include a panel of creative executives from ESPN, Bravo and Verizon Media. The purpose of the panel is to empower Native American filmmakers to tell their stories that represent the cultures, experiences, and values of indigenous people.

Friday November 20th through November 22nd we launch numerous screening series on our virtual platform. This year’s festival film lineup includes more than fifty Native American independent productions that represent hundreds of reservations, nations and tribal organizations from North and South America. This collection of indigenous films and filmmakers makes the festival a truly incredible event. The film programs will highlight Native Americans in sports, youth from around the US and indigenous women filmmakers.

The festival will wrap with our 9th Annual Native American Award Ceremony. Our annual awards gala will also be going virtual and will continue to honor the filmmakers, leaders and youth who show great talent and make a genuine difference in Indian Country. We will honor filmmakers from across Indian Country and the great achievements in Native American cinema. The celebration features live music, special guests and appearances from Native American actors.

Corporate support of the LA SKINS FEST plays an essential role in the life of the festival and emphasizes the festival’s commitment to quality, exploration, and excellence in the art of cinema. The LA SKINS FEST is privileged to partner with some of the world’s most renowned consumer and entertainment brands, including Comcast NBCUniversal, Spectrum, Cherokee Nation Film Office, AT&T, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Verizon Media, Bank of American, Academy of  Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), Motion Pictures Association, Bad Robot, USC School of Cinematic Arts, USC Vision & Voices, Google American Indian Network (GAIN), Kung Fu Monkey Productions, SnowPants Production, Topple, Walt Disney Studios, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, Cast & Crew, STARZ, Inter-Tribal Council of AT&T Employees, SAGIndie, UCLA American Indian Studies Center, Buffalo Nickel Creative, ASIFA Hollywood. Los Angeles is a great place to propose due to the weather and many different proposal backdrops like the beach and mountains. Ceative ways to propose in Los Angeles from the nation’s leading surprise proposal photography company Paparazzi Proposals.

About LA SKINS FEST

The prestigious LA SKINS FEST ranks among the country’s best film festivals and is an annual gathering for film industry insiders, cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers, and critics. LA SKINS FEST is considered a major launching ground for Indian Country’s most talked about films. Our long‐standing commitment is to join filmmakers and film connoisseurs together to experience great Native America cinema. The LA SKINS FEST is a program of the Barcid Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non‐profit educational organization. Festival headquarters are in Los Angeles, CA.