Image from We Are Nuche courtesy of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media.
Native Lens, in partnership with the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media, is honored to announce the fourth annual showcase of Indigenous storytelling at the Durango Independent Film Festival (DIFF) on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
The Native Lens Showcase will take place at the Durango Arts Center at 2:00PM. This curated program highlights the depth and diversity of Native voices, featuring a selection of eight films that range from poignant documentaries to compelling narrative shorts and local premieres. Each work represents the vision of Indigenous creatives from across Colorado and the broader region.
Native Lens Project Producer Colleen Thurston says, “For four years we’ve partnered with DIFF to offer this community screening of Native film. Native Lens is thrilled to be back once again at this festival on Ute Land to celebrate Indigenous voices, histories and cultures through film and video.”
Event Highlights
- Film Showcase: A screening of eight diverse films produced by Indigenous creators.
- Premiere Content: Exclusive shorts not seen elsewhere in the festival.
- Collaborative Spirit: Hosted in conjunction with the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media.
The program includes:
- Speaking Ute directed by John Oberly, Faustino Joy, Tallias Cantsee, Phillip Velasquez
- Sacred Ink directed by Antonia Hatch
- Facing the Storm: Youth Activism directed by Mikayla Gingrey
- The Red Echoes directed by Annette Nowlin and Josh Sorter
- Healing Rituals directed by Raven Sienna Myers
- Ripple Effects directed by Lynn Melling, Ian Planchon
- Kusi Smiles directed by Sisa Quispe
- We Are Nuche directed by Aliysha Arnold, Kaldurian Pinnecoose, Bright Highelk, Maximus Hatch, Kaitlyn Redhorse, Konrad Jacket, Angel Heart, Ohnday Oo-Ota
Post-Showcase Reception at Sorrel Sky Gallery
Following the screening, the public is invited to attend a community reception at the Sorrel Sky Gallery from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with the Native Lens team and meet Indigenous filmmakers featured in various programs throughout the festival.
- Where: Sorrel Sky Gallery, Durango, CO
- When: March 7, 2026 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Cost: Free and open to the public
- Light finger foods and non-alcoholic beverages will be served.
About Native Lens
Native Lens is a media project focused on providing a platform for Indigenous stories and perspectives. By empowering Native creators to tell their own stories through film and digital media, Native Lens fosters authentic representation and community connection.
About the Durango Independent Film Festival
The Durango Independent Film Festival (DIFF) is an annual event that brings together filmmakers and film lovers to celebrate the art of independent cinema through screenings, workshops, and community events in Southwest Colorado.
About the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media
The Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) attracts and facilitates content creation in the state to generate economic growth. It promotes the state’s film and television industry locally, nationally, and internationally while highlighting Colorado’s unique rural areas.
