Smoke Signals - 25th Anniversary Screening

a screening and celebration in Bellingham, Washington

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Join Children of the Setting Sun Productions for the 25th Anniversary Screening & Celebration of Smoke Signals!

Friday | July 14, 2023 | 6:00PM

Selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry in 2018, Smoke Signals is recognized as the first modern feature-length film directed, written, and co-produced by Native Americans to ever receive major national and international distribution, This celebration of Chris Eyre’s award-winning film is brought to Mount Baker Theatre by Children of the Setting Sun Productions, a Bellingham-based organization dedicated to creating and sharing Indigenous stories as told through the performing arts. Drawing upon generations of Lli'aq TeMish storytelling and culture-preserving traditions, CSSP and their Executive Director Darrell Hillaire have been instrumental in the success of many Native-led programs, including Setting Sun Institute, The Salmon People Project, The Young Tribal Leaders Program, Jesintel, and many other community projects.

On the Coeur d'Alene Reservation, nothing ever changes—until the estranged father of Victor Joseph bites the dust in Arizona and Victor is tasked with collecting the cremated remains. Victor can't afford the bus fare, but awkward nerd Thomas Builds-the-Fire will float Victor a loan if Thomas can tag along. This tale of self-discovery is based on acclaimed author Sherman Alexie's 1993 collection of interwoven short stories, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven.

Rating: PG-13 | Runtime: 88 minutes
Director: Chris Eyre | Writer: Sherman Alexie
Cast: Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Irene Bedard, Gary Farmer, Tantoo Cardinal

The celebration kicks off with an opening song by the Westshore Canoe Family at 6pm on the Main Stage, with a brief introduction to the film by screenwriter and essayist Sherman Alexie. Following the screening members of CSSP’s Young Tribal Leaders Program will facilitate an audience-judged costume contest. Mr. Alexie will then return to the stage with Evan Adams (Thomas Builds-the-Fire) and Elaine Miles (Lucy) for a short Q&A.

VIP tickets include admittance to a post-show reception with Alexie, Adams, Miles, Children of the Setting Sun Productions, and local Tribal leadership and community members.