Content not appropriate for children under 13 years

SEEDS

Dramatic Short | Morningstar Angeline

Two sisters, Loretta and Raven, grapple with the loss of their parents after a tragic accident. Loretta, in an attempt to record her memories, documents their story with her VHS camera. Raven falls ill and sends Loretta to get medicine for symptoms she doesn’t yet understand. Along the way, she meets Mariah, a young girl looking for friendship, and Thomas, Raven’s boyfriend reeling from Raven’s state. Loretta struggles to make her film as her grief continues to flow through her. As she spirals from her feelings, it falls upon Raven to be there for Loretta as Loretta was there for her: A new family structure of support is borne out of necessity in the face of sorrow.

TRT: 12 Minutes

Release: November 2, 2021

Morningstar Angeline

Producer
MORNINGSTAR ANGELINE (they/them/she/hers), born as Morningstar Angeline Wilson-Chippewa, is a queer Navajo, Chippewa, Blackfeet, Shoshone, and Latinx actor and filmmaker. They are a 2022 NBCU Launch New Mexico Directors Initiative and 2022 SFFILM Rainin Grant recipient, a fellow in the 2018 Sundance Indigenous Lab, 2022 Fourth World Indigenous Lab, and the 2020 Native American Feature Writers Lab. Morningstar's directing filmography includes short films Seeds, Can't Have It Both Ways, and Yá’át’ééh Abiní, and currently in development is their narrative feature film debut, Rowdy by Nature. Their most recent acting work includes the television series Outer Range and Westworld.

Ajuawak Kapashesit

Producer
AJUAWAK KAPASHESIT is of Anishinaabe, Cree, and Jewish descent. In 2018, he was an Indigenous Film Opportunity Fellow with the Sundance Film Institute and a finalist for the Sundance Indigenous Filmmaker’s Fellowship. His short story, A Fresh Start, was published in the anthology Before the Usual Time by Latitude 46. He was a story editor and contributing writer for the CBC sketch comedy series Tallboyz (2020-2021). Ajuawak is an alumnus of the CBC Actor's Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre (2019), a Vision Maker Media Shorts Fellow (2020), and a 4th World Indigenous Media Fellow (2021). Currently, he is completing a short documentary, Language Keepers, with Homegrown: Future Visions supported by Firelight Media, CAAM, and PBS.

Sydney Freeland

Mentor
SYDNEY FREELAND is an award-winning Navajo filmmaker. She recently sold a pilot that she co-wrote with Shaz Bennett to NBC with Ava DuVernay and WBTV producing called SOVEREIGN. Previously, Sydney directed the Netflix Original Feature, DEIDRA & LANEY ROB A TRAIN, which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival; as well as DRUNKTOWN’S FINEST which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, and was executive produced by Robert Redford. Sydney is currently a member of the inaugural 2019 ReFrame Rise WIF class, and was a part of the 2015 Fox Global Directors Initiative and a 2007 Disney Scholar.

Walt Pourier

Vice Chair

Walt is Oglala Lakota and created the logo for Urban Rez. He is Creative Director, owner of Nakota Designs Advertising Designs and Graphics. Executive Director of the Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.

JORDANA BASS

Project Coordinator​

(Hataža Mani Winga)​

"Cinema Aficionado"

Role: Jordana is excited to engage with different Native/Indigenous communities. Her passion for working with youth will help develop the Native Youth Media Project. She will also assist with the Creative Shorts Fellowship (CSF) to help organize deliverables for filmmakers.