CATHEDRAL CITY — Now in its 18th year, Native FilmFest is one of the nation’s most highly regarded festivals of its kind. The two-day festival will be March 8-9, 2019 at Mary Pickford is D’Place in Cathedral City.

NativeThe Festival features the best in films by, about, and starring Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples. The Festival showcases enlightening films, documentaries and short films from some of today’s premier Indigenous filmmakers.

This event has welcomed some of the most creative and prestigious Native cinematic artists to the Coachella Valley in its almost two decades of existence. These guests then provide their unique insights and thoughts through interactive panel discussions.

Continuing its commitment to the community and nurturing the next generation of Native and indigenous filmmakers. We are pleased that Saturday afternoon will once again feature a “youth” track screening family friendly, and youth focused films and shorts, Kate Anderson, director of public relations for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians said in a prepared statement. This portion of the FilmFest is open to all and will be followed by a special panel discussion led by a Native youth moderator.

Once again, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum will be collaborating with Dr. Joely Proudfit, Director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center (CICSC) and President of Naqmayam Communications. Through her expertise and connections the Native FilmFest will be able to screen some of the most important and unique films available today.

The Native FilmFest is returning to the Mary Pickford is D’place for entertainment in Cathedral City for the second year. Attendees will be treated to comfortable seating, and the option to utilize the full service refreshments including adult beverages.

Through its recent switch-over to state of the art solar collection technology, the theater is nearly electrically independent and the first of its kind in the United States. Once again showing that you can showcase the best the Native Community has to offer while preserving the sacred lands.

Photo caption above — Pat Vegas, Native American musician