RNCI & The New Mexico - RNCI Film Commissions

Red Nation Celebration Institute
State of New Mexico

The Creative Enterprise by Natives Delivering to All People the Stories that Shape our World.

Est. 1995

Red Nation Celebration Institute, the longest-standing Native women-led Indigenous media, arts, and cultural nonprofit enterprise in the history of the entertainment industry. Serving over 575 Native Nations in the U.S. and a total of 1,200 globally. Headquartered in Los Angeles, with an additional office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, RNCI continues to drive meaningful representation and visibility for Native and Indigenous voices in media and the arts.

Founded and created by Joanelle Romero in 1995 and led by Native and Indigenous peoples. RNCI’s mission is to break barriers of racism by creating systemic change through film television in all media in order to eliminate American Indian stereotypes. Our vision for the future of cinema and the arts is one in which Native Indigenous perspectives are authentically pictured, recognized, and valued in a way that promotes strong authentic Native identities, economic outcomes, equity, and wellness for our Indigenous communities.

RNCI ground-breaking events, programs and initiatives
in the State of New Mexico

RNCI INITIATIVES

Native Indigenous New Mexico Film Commission (launched 2020 and in Los Angeles in 2015)
American Indian Heritage Month in the State of New Mexico; supported by Former Governor Richardson and Dept Of Indian Affairs (launched 2008)
NWIFTV ‘Why We Wear Red’ (launched 2018)

EVENTS

Red Nation International Film Festival. As the world’s largest Native Indigenous film festival and the longest-running of its kind in New Mexico, RNIFF provides a vital platform for Indigenous filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with broader audiences. rednationff.com (from 1995 to 2025).
Native Women in Film & Television ‘Why We Wear Red’ with Deb Haaland (2018) annual event.
Red Nation Celebration ‘Concert Series’ (on-going).
RNCI Red Nation Award – Inaugural launch of Award 2009. Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI) created the *Red Nation Film Award* and tapped New Mexico sculptor artist Phillip Mangas Haozous, of the Fort Sill Chiricahua Apache people (N’de) son of the late Apache sculptor artist Allan Houser to design “The Red Nation Statuette”.

FILMEd IN NM

Dark Winds – SEASON 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 * Longest running Native TV Series (2002 – 2026).
American Holocaust: When It’s All Over I’ll Still Be Indian – First Native film short-listed for an Academy Award (2000).
Powwow Highway – Powwow Highway is the groundbreaking Native feature that revolutionized the film industry and forever transformed the Native Narrative, trailblazing a path for Indigenous storytelling in cinema (1989).
Home, Home on the Rez – First all Native drama series (pilot), streaming now on Red Nation Television Network (1996).
The Girl Called Hatter Fox – The Girl Called Hatter Fox was a groundbreaking film – the first to feature a Native actress in a leading role, the first contemporary story centered on a Native woman, and the first Native film to address themes later recognized as part of the #MeToo movement. (1977).

RNCI New Mexico Sponsors over the years

Santa Fe Mayors Proclamations

Red Nation Celebration Institute's (RNCI) Historic Firsts Indian Market (SWAIA)

Since its founding in Santa Fe during Indian Market in 1995, the Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI) has launched pioneering programs, events, and industry initiatives that have helped elevate Native Indigenous voices and expand opportunities in film, television, media, arts, and entertainment. The following milestones represent many of the historic firsts introduced by RNCI that have contributed to the growth and evolution of Indian Market and Native Indigenous creative industries.

Red Nation Celebration Institute State of New Mexico