LA Skins: George RR Martin, Wes Studi and More Among Festival Lineup

The 2024 LA Skins Fest has announced its 13-section program, which includes a lineup of narrative, documentary, and animated films.

Among the films screening are “Kenji,” a short film by Billy Luther. The film follows the life and work of Japanese photographer, Kenji Kawano, explored through his extraordinary five decade long journey documenting the WWII Navajo Code Talkers through his lens.

Wes Studi will star in “The Great Cherokee Grandmother.” Anthony Sneed’s film tells the story of a pleasant date between a man of Cherokee heritage and a Caucasian woman goes downhill when the woman flagrantly fixates on the very bane of Cherokee peoples’ existence: the Cherokee Grandmother syndrome.

“Mary Margaret Road-Grader” is produced by George R.R Martin and is based on Howard Waldrop’s 1976 sci-fi short story. The film is adapted by write rand director Steven Paul Judd.

The festival will include screenings, a night of showcasing traditional performances, an award ceremony and industry afterparties available to those with tickets. With over 80 selections, the 18th annual Native American festival highlights works from indigenous filmmakers across the world. LA Skins Fest is presented by Comcast NBCUniversal and will be held at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood from Nov. 19 – 24. 

The festival opens on Nov. 19  with an industry mixer at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) hosted for Native American Media Alliance program fellows, community leaders, and supporters. On Saturday, Nov. 23, the festival will host its sixth annual Hollywood Pow Wow, showcasing traditional dancing, singing, and drumming performances at the Hollywood Courtyard. The festival also hosts two filmmakers after-parties. One on Nov. 20 at the Roosevelt Hotel’s Sherley’s Brasserie Restaurant, honoring participants of the year-round development programs from the Native American Media Alliance. The other, follows Saturday night screenings on Nov. 23 at the Lucky Strike in Hollywood. 

The event concludes with the 13th Annual Native American Media Awards at the Hard Rock Hollywood starting at 7:30 PM PT. The ceremony will be hosted by Indigenous actors Q’orianka Kilcher from “Yellowstone” and Kiowa Gordon from “Dark Winds.” It will also include performances from Emmy-nominated composer Olivia Komahcheet, musician Noah Watts, and youth performers from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

A complete listing of the festival’s film schedule can be found at its website, www.laskinsfest.com. Tickets for the 2024 LA Skins Fest went on sale Oct. 10 and are still available through the website.