About this Event
"Rapturous. Stunning. At times, Maɬni Feels like a richly woven ghost story." — Ela Bittencourt, Hyperallergic
“Watching Maɬni…I felt a sense of replenishment. A lyrical art film that uses ancestral storytelling techniques to share experiences of Indigenous living and political resistance.” — Cassie Da Costa, Vanity Fair
"Hopinka subtly inverts the tropes of the ethnographic documentary to depict indigenous life from an indigenous perspective.”— Cayley James, Cinema Scope
“Stunning. Hopinka’s use of color in Maɬni is nothing short of astonishing. One of the most awe-inspiring films I saw.”— Vikram Murthi, RoberEbert.com
7th House and Los Angeles Filmforum are proud to present the mesmerizing and poetic experimental debut feature by filmmaker Sky Hopinka: MALNI—TOWARDS THE OCEAN, TOWARDS THE SHORE (2020). An acclaimed artist of Ho-Chunk and Pechanga heritage, Hopinka’s work – which spans video, photo, and text – centers around personal positions of Indigenous homeland and landscape, designs of language as containers of culture expressed through personal, documentary, and non fiction forms of media. Best known for his singular short films, his feature debut has been lauded by The New York Times as “an essential portrait of contemporary Indigenous life…(that) beckons audiences onto its wavelength by tapping into something more intuitive, the stuff of dreams.”
Circling the origin of the death myth from the Chinookan people in the Pacific Northwest, Maɬni (pronounced “moth-nee) follows two people as they wander through their surrounding nature, the spirit world, and something much deeper inside. At its center are Sweetwater Sahme and Jordan Mercier who take separate paths contemplating their afterlife, rebirth, and the place in-between.
Spoken mostly in the chinuk wawa language, their stories are departures from the Chinookan origin of death myth, with its distant beginning and circular shape. Probing questions about humanity’s place on earth and other worlds, Hopinka’s film will have audiences thinking (and dreaming) about it long after.
Dir. Sky Hopinka, 2020, 80 mins, English/Chinuk Wawa w/ English Subtitles, Unrated, Digital.
Tickets: $10 (All Screenings Are In Person Only)
Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.
ABOUT LOS ANGELES FILMFORUM
Los Angeles Filmforum is the city’s longest-running organization dedicated to weekly screenings of experimental film, documentaries, video art, and experimental animation. 2025 is our 50th year. www.lafilmforum.org
ADVISORY DISCLAIMER
With some exception, The Philosophical Research Society’s 7th House Screenings does not typically provide advisory warnings about potentially upsetting content or subject matter, as sensitivities are particular to each viewer. Please be sure to read event listings, research on the web, or visit Common Sense Media, IMDb, and DoesTheDogDie.com for thorough info on content and age-appropriateness. If you have any specific content advisory questions, please email [email protected].
CONTENT DISCLAIMER
The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.
ACCESSIBILITY
PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.
REFUND POLICIES
All sales are final. There are no refunds for PRS events , except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test. Ticket exchanges may be granted on a case by case basis, pending circumstances.
In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.
PARKING
Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in both the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east) and back lot (entry from first alley way, off Griffith Park Blvd. from intersection with Los Feliz Blvd.), as well as street parking on Griffith Park Blvd. and (after 7 PM) on Los Feliz Blvd. We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking.
PRS EVENT POLICIES
- We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States
USD 12.51












