Sundance hopes to inspire Indian filmmakers

by Euan Kerr, Minnesota Public Radio

Representatives of the organization which runs the famed Sundance Film Festival are in Minnesota to encourage filmmaking in the state's Indian communities.

St. Paul, Minn. — Bird Runningwater is associate director of the Sundance Institute's Native American Program.

He's traveling with Seminole film director Sterlin Harjo, who recently made a family drama, "Four Sheets to the Wind," in his home state of Oklahoma.

Their visit includes screenings of the film on the Mille Lacs reservation and at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

MPR's Euan Kerr talked with Runningwater and Harjo about the project.

Runningwater said his mandate is to encourage filmmaking of all kinds in Native American communities.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 07/10/2008, 4:45 p.m.