Native American film festival plays Ross, Sheldon

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The fourth biennial VisionMaker Film Festival, Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, will feature screenings at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center and Sheldon Museum of Art.

The VisionMaker Film Festival showcases Native American film and video projects. The festival provides a forum for these productions to gain media and viewer attention.

The festival features a range of generations from the story of Standing Bear, a Ponca chief who went to court in 1877 to prove he was a person in the eyes of the law and in the process redefined what it means to be an American, to the story of four young Native Alaskan athletes as they compete in the traditional sports of their ancestors.

On Oct. 1-2, the festival will offer a "social media-friendly" weekend, allowing half of the theater to text message and update statuses via Facebook and Twitter. The initiative is designed to increase public awareness, public engagement, strengthen social movement and promote social change. Filmmakers will also be available for question and answer sessions via Skype.

For more information, including a complete list of films showing, go to http://www.nativetelecom.org/festival.