PALM SPRINGS—The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum will be presenting the 2014 Native FilmFest at Camelot Theatres on Tuesday, March 4 through Sunday, March 9.

As stated on its website, “The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum inspires people to learn about the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and other Native cultures. We keep the spirit alive through exhibitions, collections, research, and educational programs.”

The thirteenth season of Native FilmFest will feature a lineup of the best in available feature, documentary and short films by, about, and starring Native Americans as well as other Indigenous people.

New native feature films will be presented such as “Navajo Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope,” a production in Navajo with English subtitles. Additional films with important messages and beautiful artistic style include “Desert Dreams,” “Miss Chief: Justice of the Piece” and “Maïna” which stars award-winning Canadian actress Tantoo Cardinal.

The festival will open on Tuesday evening with Views on Native Film, a free lecture by Nancy Marie Mithlo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Art History and American Indian Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Doctor Mithlo will be Chair of American Indian Studies at Autry National Center in Los Angeles beginning in fall of 2014.

Cardinal will be presented the 2014 Richard M. Milanovich Award for Distinguished Contributions to Indigenous Film on Saturday, March 8 at 8 p.m. The award was named in honor of the late Chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians who was a lover of film and attended the Native FilmFest each year.

Cardinal has over 80 credits in films such as “Dances with Wolves,” “Black Robe,” “Smoke Signals” and “North of 60.” In addition to achieving unlimited success in an industry that previously had few roles for Aboriginal women, Cardinal has dedicated her time to upholding the Aboriginal culture and current issues affecting their communities. Cardinal was inducted as a Member into the Order of Canada for her outstanding contributions.

Tented public receptions will be presented daily between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. screenings. Tickets, screening information and film synopses can be found at www.accmuseum.org.

By Ivetta Babadjanian