Producers: Sky Hopinka, John Cardellino, Adam Piron

Vidiots, Mezzanine, and Cousins Collective invite you to special screening of Sky Hopinka’s new documentary Powwow People followed by a conversation with Sky Hopinka moderated by Micah Gottlieb of Mezzanine and the Los Angeles Festival of Movies.

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 considering 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 community and a gesture toward the continuities of Native life.

Doors for the screening will open at 6:30pm, Screening will start at 7:30pm with conversation to follow.

Please note that this screening is first-come-first-served, and your RSVP does not guarantee entry. As we are hoping to accommodate as many people as possible, all free screenings are overbooked to account for no-shows. We recommend an early to on-time arrival, we may not be able to accommodate late entries.