Circle of Stories by professor Hank Rogerson Nominated for Best Documentary Short at the 2011 American Indian Film Festival
11.23.2011
Media Contact:
Maria Alexandra Velez
1-505-473-6682
maria.velez@santafeuniversity.edu
Santa Fe, N.M.—November 23, 2011—A documentary by Hank Rogerson, professor of film/video at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the 2011 American Indian Film Festival, which took place in San Francisco Nov. 4–12. Circle of Stories honors the diversity and profound contemporary relevance of Native American storytelling. This is the second time that Rogerson’s work has been nominated for an award at this festival: His film Bless Me with a Good Life won the Best Documentary Short Prize in 1994.
“We’re thrilled that Hank was honored for his documentary work,” said Paula Amanda, associate chair of the university’s Moving Image Arts Department. “Our students in the film program are very fortunate to be able to work with and learn from such a gifted filmmaker.”
The American Indian Film Institute (AIFI), founded in 1975, has established itself as the premiere Native American film festival in North America. More than 75 films—including features, shorts, music videos and documentaries—premiered at the 36th annual event. The AIFI’s American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show honors filmmakers and showcases contemporary Native American talent.
“It’s wonderful to be recognized AIFI and be a part of this festival,” said Rogerson. “Getting a second nomination is a great honor, and I’m pleased that Circle of Stories continues to capture the interest of such an important audience.”
Rogerson is a director, actor and filmmaker who works in both fiction and nonfiction film. His film Shakespeare Behind Bars had its world premiere in the documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival. The film picked up 11 awards on the festival circuit, was broadcast worldwide and had a theatrical run of more than 25 U.S. cities. Rogerson also co-produced, directed and edited Homeland, an award-winning PBS documentary about four families on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Rogerson has taught filmmaking at the University of Southern California, the Sundance Institute and workshops around the United States.
The Moving Image Arts Department at Santa Fe University of Art and Design offers a comprehensive, hands-on, four-year curriculum that integrates film, video and digital production with critical studies and writing. The department is housed in the Garson Communications Center, a 65,000-square-foot production and postproduction facility and one of only two professional film studios on a college campus in the nation. Films such as True Grit, Cowboys & Aliens and No Country for Old Men have been shot at the university’s Garson Studios. The Screen, a popular destination in the Garson Communications Center, shows some of the greatest works of world cinema daily for students and the public.
About Santa Fe University of Art and Design
Santa Fe University of Art and Design, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, provides a unique interdisciplinary curriculum that combines practical experience with core theory to prepare graduates to become well-rounded, creative problem-solving professionals. SFUAD offers a small-size class environment led by faculty members who are practicing artists, passionate about education and committed to involving students in meaningful projects beginning in their freshman year. The curriculum is designed to inspire creativity, passion and outstanding performance in contemporary music, creative writing, performing arts, art, graphic design, moving image arts (filmmaking and video production), and photography. With its diverse international student body and opportunities to study abroad, SFUAD encourages students to develop a global perspective on the arts. The city of Santa Fe also offers an international artistic experience as one of the world’s leading centers for art and design, home to thousands of artists working in all media. The university has recently launched Artists for Positive Social Change, a yearlong series of events, curricula, lectures and performances that explore one high-profile issue or genre; during the 2011–2012 academic year the program focuses on hip hop as a major influence on today’s culture and social fabric. For more information, visit www.santafeuniversity.edu.
Santa Fe University of Art and Design (formerly the College of Santa Fe) is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.