Native Spirit Festival & Horse Hospital : WORLD INDIGENOUS SHORTS 4:45-7pm

We acknowledge support of The Horse Hospital

Festival enquiries: [email protected]

Māori, Aotearoa (New Zealand) 2024 Dir: Awanui Simich-Pene 11'05

In Aotearoa, 1826, on the cusp of colonisation, a young Māori girl’s encounter with a dying man and his horse exposes her to the best and worst of her rapidly changing world.

Karelian, Russia 2024 Dir: Arina Mado 15’37

Оn the eve of grandfather’s funeral a little girl discovers her beloved cow has disappeared. To find the animal, she is forced to contact the world of the dead.

Lur, Iran 2025 Dir: Payam Shadnia 11’50

It should be noted that the sitting cat symbolizes Iran's geographical map, which holds significant importance for Iranians. Cat follows people forced to leave Iran due to economic and political challenges. They board a ship to reach their intended destination, but are hijacked by murderous smugglers. One person survives—through rescuing a cat.

Koches, Assam 2024 Dir: Pranami Koch 26’19

In a personal search for ancestral connection and identity, Pranami travels to Harisong, Borkonasong, and Kumlisong villages, and lives with her matrilineal Koch community’s women. Impressions of life on the land intermingle with subjective and often poetic reflections on topics such as the loss of language and culture.

Koches, Assam 2024 Dir: Pranami Koch 14’37

A found journal triggers memories, leading a filmmaker on a journey to uncover harrowing stories of accused witches in remote Assam villages. Boi Thaka meditates on memory, the act of remembering, and the archival of trauma, and attempts to express the resilience and strength emerging against patriarchal systems that continue to perpetuate practices such as witch hunting.

Potiguara Katu, Brazil 2025 Dir: Rodrigo Sena 25’00

Mukunã prepares to become the Shaman of the Potiguara Katu village in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, older than us, the power plants become the teacher, teaching environmental care.

Quechua, Peru 2024 Dir: Suni Sonqo Vizcarra Wood 17’35

After being injured in the protests, a young Quechua man experiences a supernatural encounter which leads him to question his history, revealing his true identity and decolonizing his inner self.

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Host or Publisher Native Spirit UK