7th Annual Festival of Native Film & Culture in Palm Springs--March 5-9, 2008

A few years back, while doing research for The Way Home, I spent an afternoon at the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Festival in Palm Springs. If you're in the area, here's another event that sounds fun.

On March 5-9, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians will host the 2008 Festival of Native Film & Culture at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum in Palm Springs. The Festival showcases films by, about, and starring Native people that includes feature films, documentaries, and short films by Native American and international indigenous filmmakers.

On Thursday evening, February 28th, live Native performers sponsored by the museum will be featured at VillageFest in downtown Palm Springs. The Festival officially begins on Wednesday, March 5 at 7:00 p.m. with a reception and screening of Four Sheets to the Wind that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

At this year’s American Indian Festival, Four Sheets to the Wind won awards in the Best Director (Sterlin Harjo) and Best Actor (Cody Lightning) categories. Camelot Theatres, located at 2300 Baristo Road, will host the screenings and receptions.

Check out the complete Festival schedule at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Web site, www.accmuseum.org or by calling (760) 778-1079, Ext. 101.

The non-profit Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, a member of the Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program, is located at 219 South Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs. The Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.