28 March 2025 | 15:30 - 17:00 (MDT)
Open Session - ON-SITE ONLY
Room: Indigenous Pavilion
Drum Song: The Rhythm of Life, is about Indigenous climate adaptation in Alaska. This documentary was a collaborative effort involving Indigenous Alaskans and Arctic Scientists, with support from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), Eskimo Walrus Commission (EWC), Alaska Arctic Observatory and Knowledge Hub (AAOKH) and International Arctic Research Center (IARC). Its premiere occurred at the UNFCCC's COP 28 in Dubai at the ICCI's Cryosphere Pavilion.
Drum Song’s title track, Reclamation, is a rock 'n' roll call to action for Indigenous peoples (and their allies) to protect their lands, waters, and peoples from the impacts of climate change and further industrial development. Kelly says, "It has been an honor and privilege to return to my homeland and learn from the co-creators of Drum Song: The Rhythm of Life. Expanding my storytelling scope from music to filmmaking has been a natural exploration since I grew up watching documentaries with my dad during the dark and cold winters in Fairbanks. My team and I acknowledge our ancestors, family, community, knowledge-holders, and future generations who inspire us as we work to uplift our Indigenous storytellers, apply Indigenous principles to our filmmaking, and strive to become future elders. Each stage of the research and filmmaking process has been and will continue to be led and approved by the local Indigenous communities who’ve co-created it so we may “lift the diversity of our voices and resound together.”
Drum Song Films has garnered Awards of Excellence at the Accolade Global Film Competition for Short Documentary, Direction, and Music Video; Outstanding Excellence in Documentary, Direction, Cinematography, Original Song, Voiceover Talent, Viewer Impact: Inspiration, SFX: Animation at WRPN Women's International Film Festival (Delaware); Director, Woman Filmmaker, Cinematography in Nature Awards from Ecovision Global Film Festival (Sydney, AUS); a Jury Award for Best Made in Alaska Feature Documentary; an Audience Award and a Jury Award for Best Made in Alaska Feature Documentary; Nominations for Direction and Documentary from Toronto International Women's Film Festival; and was an Official Selection at BlackStar Selects x Confluence at Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Arts and Sciences (Philadelphia).
Join us after the viewing for a conversation and question and answer with the movie director Kelly Moneymaker
