Browse films

Braids

Elise Beers
United States, 2025, 14 min.

In English, Lakota, Navajo with English subtitles.
This film is family friendly.

Braids follows a young Native American boy, Raven, who grapples with identity, tradition, and societal pressures in a world that often misunderstands his heritage causing him to balance cultural integrity and conforming to societal expectations.

Director's Statement

The film aims to provoke thought and empathy, challenging viewers to reflect on the subtle yet profound ways cultural identity is shaped and suppressed in everyday life today. This script is inspired by a few different stories from my family and the current climate of modern colonization through US schools. I want this film to honor my ancestors who were sent to boarding schools and to help shed light on the modern issues

Category: Drama, Short, Award Winner.
Themes: Native American.

More in Drama

  • The Silent Whispers

    The Silent Whispers

    Miranda Zhao
    United States, 2026, 16 min.

    Set in the 1980s, Jenna Duff, a 25-year-old former medical student haunted by her past, returns to her family’s isolated mountain ranch seeking comfort... more ›

  • The Way We Carry Water

    The Way We Carry Water

    Makaio Marcos Frazier
    United States, 2025, 25 min.

    Set in the rural landscapes of northern New Mexico, The Way We Carry Water follows Marcos, a young man grappling with the sudden loss of his beloved... more ›

  • Arman

    Arman

    Farzad Kiyafar
    United States, 2024, 12 min.

    Overwhelmed and isolated on his wedding day, a closeted immigrant speaks to his family on the phone moments before walking down the aisle... more ›