Sacred Run Film Screening

Turtle Island Production's James Fortier, in asscociation with Diamond Island Productions, recently was the Director, Co-Writer, and D.P. for the feature length film/video documentary "Alcatraz Is Not An Island," about the American Indian reclaiming and occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969-71. Working with Producer Jon Plutte and Bay Area Indian activist and filmmaker Millie Ketcheshawno (Executive Producer), Turtle Island Productions' James Fortier recently provided production equipment and crews for several location shoots in the Bay Area, Boulder, CO, and Oklahoma. In addition, "We Hold the Rock" a short exhibit video about the Alcatraz occupation, was completed in July 1997 as the centerpiece for a new permanent exhibit on the island commemorating this historic event. Diamond Island Productions, taking it's name from the Pit River Tribe's oral narrative relating to the creaton of Alcatraz Island, was formed by Jon Plutte, Millie Ketcheshawno, James Fortier, and Dr. Troy R. Johnson, to exapand on the the short video and produce a feature length documentary, resulting in "Alcatraz Is Not An Island." A special preview screening was held at the 24th Annual American Indian Film Festival in November, 1999, and the documentary was then awarded Best Documentary Feature the following night. We are now eagerly awaiting word from the Sundance Film Festival for acceptence in their upcoming Independent Film Festival in January, 2000. Looking beyond Sundance, we are scheduling additional screenings for the Bay Area Indian community, and we plan to enter the film in the San Francisco International Film Festival, as well as additional Native American film festivals such as Red Earth, Two Rivers, Vancouver, Denver, Chicago, Montreal, and Toronto.This documentary is available for special screenings at Native American conferences, special events, and functions. We are also seeking sponorship to bring this story of Indian empowerment to reservation areas across the country. Go to http://www.diamond-island.com for more information about this powerful documentary film.