Feature Documentary
World Premiere

BreakPoint: The Untold Story of the Constitution Express reveals one of the most significant yet little-known Indigenous rights movements in modern Canadian history. In 1980, as the Canadian government moved to patriate its constitution and extinguish Indigenous rights, First Nations communities across the country mobilized in an unprecedented act of resistance.

From elders to children, thousands boarded trains bound for Ottawa, transforming a constitutional crisis into a nationwide movement for justice.

The film is rooted in Indigenous long-form storytelling traditions and is carried by Elders who once stood inside the story as young people. Forty-five years later, they speak across time. The narrative circles, as past and present form an intergenerational conversation, and lived experience stands as witness and wisdom.

Led by Grand Chief George Manuel, and sustained through the efforts of Chiefs, activists, and families from west to east, with strategic and legal support from Rudolph “Rudy” Ryser and Louise Mandell, the movement brought Indigenous resistance onto the global stage and forced the state to confront its colonial foundations.

BreakPoint also explores the shared mission and connection between George Manuel and Rudy Ryser, revealing how their distinct journeys, marked by both hardship and conviction, fueled a unified vision for sovereignty and shaped the movement’s strategic direction.

Narrated by Peter Coyote, with an original score by Steve Scalfati, BreakPoint traces how this extraordinary mobilization became a turning point in the centuries-long struggle for Indigenous self-determination, and why its legacy continues to shape the fight for sovereignty today.

Directors: Leslie Korn and Max Montalban
Producers: Leslie Korn and Nadine Brown
Writers: Sam Stoker and Leslie Korn      
Cast:  Protagonists: Grand Chief George Manuel, Doreen Manuel, Rudolph “Rudy” Ryser, Louise Mandell and more.
Cinematographer: Max Montalban
Editor: Max Montalban

Documentary

 West Coast Premiere

 Native high school kids filmed a diversity of members of their Ute Mountain Ute tribe in Towaoc, Colorado to talk about what it means to them to be Ute.

Director:  Bruce Borowsky and Joey Lopez

Producer:  Bruce Borowsky

Writer:  Mike Scalisi            

Editor:  Mike Scalisi

 Documentary

Description/storyline of your film: This short doc was made by Southern Ute high school kids as they were taught professional filmmaking techniques, and then talked to a wide variety of members of their community as they learn more about their original Ute language that is disappearing more and more every day.

Director:  Bruce Borowsky and Joey Lopez

Producer:  Bruce Borowsky

Writer:  Mike Scalisi            

Cinematographer:  Students listed in credits

Editor:  Mike Scalisi

Short Film
I Am Not Your Dusky Maiden is a bold and emotionally charged short drama that follows Ala, a Samoan woman living with Dissociative Identity Disorder, as she navigates a therapy session confronting past trauma. Ala shifts between distinct alter egos – each representing a fragment of her psyche and cultural identity. From the nurturing innocence of FLO to the sensual confidence of EVA, and the volatile rage of SAIA, Ala battles inner chaos and external judgment. When PUIPUI emerges as her fierce ancestral protector, the session spirals into a powerful reckoning. In a final twist, the roles reverse: Ala is no longer patient but therapist. The boundaries between past and present, healer and healed, begin to blur.

The film is a cinematic exploration of identity, colonisation and indigenous healing. Visually rich and culturally grounded, it challenges stereotypes and reclaims the narrative of the Pacific woman.

When a Samoan woman enters therapy, she must navigate a series of alter egos protecting her from painful memories.

Director: Vea Mafile'o
Producer: Nora Aati, Jazz Dos Santos, Seuta’afili Dr Patrick Thomsen
Writer: Nora Aati         
Cast: Nora Aati, Michael Koloi, Carrisse Uta'i
Cinematographer: Maria Ines Manchego
Editor: Lisa Greenfield, Jolin Lee
Awards: Jury Award Best Performance at New Zealand International Film Festival, Best Actress at the Red Movie Awards WINTER EDITION, Absurd Film Festival has awarded “Best Actor/Actress” - Nora Aati
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lapita_productions/

Documentary, Short

World Premiere

Description/storyline of your film: In Labrador, Moïra Ashini meets Sheshatshius chief who shares his concerns about the health of his people. She meets several Innu who are camping at the Gull Island gathering to further their healing process. There she befriends Julie-Ann who is enrolled in the Christian Youth Camp detox program. This young mothers goal is to heal in order to regain custody of her two-year-old daughter.

Director: Denis Boivin

Producer: Dina Bacon

Writer: Denis Boivin    

Cast: Moïra Ashini, Julie-Ann Collins, Shipu Penashue

Cinematographer: Bruno Carrière, Laurent Poliquin

Editor: Xavier Hovington-Dupuis

 This film was shot in Gull Island, Labrador, part of the Nitassinan — the land of the Innu people.

Music Video

Logline: While wandering a cavernous farmland in search of her friends, Julianna encounters a mystifying Clown Host who lures her to “Realize the Show,” pulling her into a dreamlike spectacle, altering from reality to performance.

Synopsis: While wandering through cavernous farmland in search of her friends, Julianna is confronted by a mysterious Clown Host who lures her into a surreal spectacle known as “Realize The Show.” Once inside, the world shifts between reality and performance, revealing an exaggerated world of characters and masked figures that mirror the roles, illusions, and hidden truths she has encountered in her own life. Realize is a personal project that presents my transition into new phases of life, reminding me to protect my morals and stay prepared for the beautiful chapters ahead. This production was a massive period of growth for me, made possible by the incredible community behind it. I am profoundly grateful to have co-directed alongside David Goodson, partnered with producer Jailen Readoux, and worked with director of photography Scarlett Valentine. Surrounded by a diverse, talented team of students who fully supported one another’s craft, I learned what it truly means to bring art to life through all our passions.

Director(s):

Julianna Revilla: Julianna Revilla is a passionate Filipino-American multi-hyphenate artist from Houston, TX, whose work spans from narrative films, live performance, and music. Ever since she was a kid, the desire to see representation in the entertainment industry has been the driving force behind her creative journey. She is thrilled to showcase her music video at the LA Asian Film Festival, a project that merges her passions for storytelling along with her musical artistry. From touring nationally with Kidz Bop to creative directing stage performances and films at UT, Julianna’s background fuels her love. Currently interning in TV Development at Alcon Entertainment, she aims to base her multi-hyphenate career in Los Angeles post-grad to continue pushing boundaries and bringing Asian-American stories to the forefront.

David Goodson: David Goodson is a mixed-race director and storyteller from Dallas, Texas, whose filmmaking journey began in middle school and has carried through college into a growing professional career. As a writer and director, he has led projects such as Visionary and co-directed the music video Realize. Beyond his directorial work, David is also a notable gaffer in commercials, television, and films, recognized for his sharp visual skills and collaborative approach on set. His work reflects his commitment to craft, visual impact, and compelling stories. 

Producer: Jailen Readoux

Writer:   Julianna Revilla        

Cast: As Herself - Julianna Revilla, Mr. Clown Host - James Appleyard , Dancer 1 -  Celine Lowe , Dancer 2 -  Sarah Vo , Dancer 3 - Megan Zhong , Dancer 4 - Aneliese Guardiola 

Cinematographer: Scarlett Valentine

Editor: Belton Gaar

Website: https://juliannarevilla.com/

Instagram: @juliannarevilla https://www.instagram.com/juliannarevilla/?hl=en  

@musicbyjuliannarevilla https://www.instagram.com/musicbyjuliannarevilla/?hl=en 

Documentary / Short

Los Angeles Premiere

Ngarridurndeng Kured (We Going Home Now) follows Dean Yibarbuk, his family and community as they returnto their traditional homeland in Kuwarddewardde – the rock country – to help protect their territory from devastating wildfires and reestablish their communities and support their families’ and way of life.

Director: Dean Munuggullumurr Yibarbuk and Emma Masters

Producer: Dean Munuggullumurr Yibarbuk and Emma Masters   

Cast: Dean Munuggullumurr Yibarbuk, Lois Nadjamerrek, Terrah Guymala, Onenita Nayinggul, Richard Nadjamerrek, Sarina Namarnyilk Yibarbuk

Cinematographer: Sam Hariss

Editor: Bryan G. Cole, Jacob Bearchum

Australia Independent Film Festival – Brisbane, AUS, October 31-November 1, 2025 *Best Documentary Winner

Website: https://www.wayfinderscircle.org/films

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfinderscircle, https://www.instagram.com/niatero/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/niatero/

Documentary / Short

California Premiere

Niitstitapi (The Real People) journeys across the vast ancestral territory of The Blackfoot Confederacy – an ancient alliance of Blackfoot speaking people bound together by land, language, and culture.

Director: Bryan Gunnar Cole

Producer: Liz Fox, Tyson Running Wolf        

Cast: Tyson Running Wolf, Rose Fox, Johnathon Red Gun, Lona Running Wolf, Doane Crow Shoe, Siobahn Mountain Horse, Darby Fox

Cinematographer: Nils Cowan

Editor: Jacob Bearchum

Website: https://www.wayfinderscircle.org/films

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfinderscircle, https://www.instagram.com/niatero/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/niatero/

Your Film's Trailer: https://www.wayfinderscircle.org/films/niitsitapi++

Peru - Connection

Feature Documentary

World Premiere

It explores the injustice from the Peruvian government against these people as well as history of forced sterilization of women, to the most current protests on inequality. 

Director: Louis Lam

Producer: Yi Wu

Writer: Louis Lam             

Cast: Yuri Flores Quero, Jonathan Huahuacondori Espinoza, Clarissa Shumara Paucar Caballero

Cinematographer: NIKOLAS DIENER

Editor: MICHAEL HUDSON

Documentary / Short

California Premiere

Te Pito o Te Henua (The Navel of the World) explores the cultural identity and close connection to the land andwater shared by the Rapa Nui People through a visceral, behind the scenes exploration of the island’s most important cultural festival – Tapāti Rapa Nui

Director: Martin Kingman, Nils Cowan

Producer: Irene “Veri” Teave Tuki

Cinematographer: Martin Kingman

Editor: Jon Ayon

Website: https://www.wayfinderscircle.org/films

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfinderscircle, https://www.instagram.com/niatero/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/niatero/

Short

The delayed train becomes his excuse to linger. He wanders the streets, letting his eyes trace every familiar corner, absorbing each fleeting detail of his surroundings, grappling with a farewell that is anything but quiet.

Director: Keith Qi Chen

Producer: Celine Li

Writer: Keith Qi Chen  

 Cast: Henry Dwan, Julia Yixiu Bao, Tiffany S. Huang, Michael Wang, Ying Chen, Bingchen Liu, Till Seide, Jia Lv Zhang, Allen Di Lu, Keyu Zhou.  

Cinematographer: Keith Qi Chen 

Editor: Keith Qi Chen

Golden State Film Festival 2026 Selected, Los Angeles Short Film Award 2026 Selected, Mila Indie Film Festival 2026 Winner, Hollywood Shortsfest 2026 Honorable mention. 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSXDtZfCfOx/?igsh=aDFkM2dybHl0ZGR6

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14eywTMRT2y/?mibextid=wwXIfr