Powwow People (Arizona Premiere)

#PowwowPeople #SkyHopinka #NativeCinema #IndigenousFilm

Powwow People is a vérité-style documentary grounded in the rhythms, relationships, and lived experience of a contemporary Native gathering. Rather than entering as outside observers, the filmmakers organized the powwow itself, inviting dancers, singers, vendors, and community members to participate in the making of this film. Structured around the arc of a single day, the film follows four central figures: Gina Bluebird, who frames the powwow’s shape and guides its setup; Ruben Littlehead, the MC whose presence anchors the present moment; Jamie John, a non-binary dancer imagining the future of these traditions; and Freddie Cozad, a singer and drummer who considers the past. The film culminates in a 30-minute unbroken shot of a Northern Traditional dance special, drawing the viewer into the textures, movement, and collective presence of the powwow. It is both a reflection of a beloved and complicated community and a gesture toward the continuities of Native life.

Powwow People (Arizona Premiere)
Directed by Sky Hopinka
Produced by John Cardellino, Adam Piron
USA/2025/88 min
www.instagram.com/shifty_shellmound

Director Sky Hopinka! Documentary had its #WorldPremiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Screening Room, 127 East Congress Street, Tucson, United States